Owen, 4, flies a kite for the first time. He loved it.

A Family At Easter

Annette invited me to enjoy an Easter mid-day meal with her family in Lynchburg Sunday and it was a delightful time with outgoing, interested, intelligent people who know how to enjoy each other.

I had my trusty Nikon in tow, so I shot photos when Annette and her family weren't looking. I like the result.

 

A Spectacular Salvage at MMT

The real story behind Mill Mountain Theatre's production of "In the Heights" is not that is so superbly performed, that it is drawing big crowds, or that it is satisfying regional theatre. All of that is true, but the story lies in the fact that it was produced at all, given the circumstances.

Most of you know about the kerfuffle over casting, when a member of the initial cast complained that one of the leads went to a non-Latinx actress, which caused a temporary storm, leading to temporarily cancelling the play, which was written by "Hamilton" writer Lin-Manuel Miranda. It is a play that has been troubled by casting decisions since it was first produced (the initial complaint that the African-American community was not sufficiently represented).

Hector Flores Jr.

For MMT, the challenge was great. Should it simply cancel the play, or should it give it this group's best shot, make the needed adjustments, postpone the opening and show the world what having a great attitude at a learning moment could produce?

MMT gets an A+ for effort here. Another A+ for being grown up enough to admit an error, correct it and produce a memorable play with a brand new director, one who represents the Latinx community with his credentials and his talent. That would be veteran Hector Flores.

MMT board president David Allen explained the situation thusly: "We acknowledge we were not as thoughtful in that process [hiring appropriate actors] as we needed to be. We needed to do a better job on the front end to assure we were thinking holistically about the authentication of that role and assuring we had the right person in place. Clearly, we did not do that." Ultimately, however, and correctly, it did.

The controversy received national attention and was the source of some vicious attacks on MMT via the internet. However, the staff persevered and went ahead with the play, shortening its run because it was forced to essentially begin the process again. The show had been cancelled for a brief time, but a decision was made to go ahead, bring in some new people and make the experience positive. The initial problem was caused by a miscasting (an Italian actress playing a Latinx part) and that was solved quickly, then a new creative team was brought in, led by Flores.

The result is little short of spectacular for this production which is heavy on Latinx culture. The big voices, broad dance moves and high energy dominate for two hours of theater that brought the audience to its feet at the end and cheers throughout.

It is a loud production (the sound guy could hit the soft pedal a little more often) that must be exhausting to produce, but the young cast of mostly Latinx and African-American actors doesn't seem to break a sweat.

"In the Heights" is not flawless. There was a light reflected off a glass surface inside the deli, which is part of the set, that was distracting to a portion of the audience throughout the play. The sound was loud, as mentioned. It was occasionally difficult to understand the dialogue/lyrics. Those flaws are easy to correct.

It is not really enough to simply recommend "In the Heights." It is must-see theatre because it is good and because MMT showed--with grace, dignity and humility--how to correct an oversight, which is what this was. I am not surprised at the outcome, given a superb board and leadership from Artistic Director Ginger Poole.

 

Mason Mill Park is on Tinker Creek in Roanoke, not far from U.S. 460.

Weekend Surprise: Mason Mill Park

On the way back from Bedford Saturday, I took a wrong turn in a new shortcut I was trying wound up with a delightful surprise: Mason Mill and dam in a Roanoke park. I didn't stop at first because I had to meet Annette at my house and didn't want her stuck without a key.

So, instead of the stop, I met her at the house and suggested we go back and give the mill/waterfall a once-over. It was simply lovely with a lot of water, early spring green and flowers beginning to peak out. I had no idea this delightful park was back in the off-roads of Roanoke, nor that yet another park also on Tinker Creek was just down the road. It was quite a find. Here's some of what it looked like.

The old man at the mill.

The mill is more than 100 years old.

Annette Marcuson looking fetching.

Annette gets busy.

Somebody is a smartass ... and it ain't the old man. 

I like the side view of this lovely woman.

Rough water just below the dam.

Annette at the wheel ... so to speak.

The Wheel at Mason Mill in Roanoke.

Annette records the water.

The falls at Mason Mill.

Annette gets a lovely shot of the falls in the sun.

Sometimes it's enough to just  look.

Are the roots holding up the dam, or threatening to break it?

 

Maple tree. 

My backyard this morning.

Pink dogwood.

Forsythia and bird house.

Staymen apple.

More dogwood.

Violets in the grass. 

Dandelion.

Mint.

 

The New Direction of MMT's 'In the Heights'

I've been sitting back, waiting for the right moment to weigh in on the controversy that has faced Roanoke's most significant live professional theatre, and I think the time has come. 

MMT has undergone harsh and often unfair criticism (mostly anonymous and online) for its casting decisions regarding the Latinx Broadway musical "In the Heights," which begins its brief run April 13 on the main stage. The reaction was in reference to the casting of a non-Latinx actress to a part that required a member of that community. The criticism was correct in pointing out that sensitivity to minority communities in the arts should be a requirement.

Hector Flores Jr., Director 

MMT made a mistake in the casting and, fortunately, the young woman who was cast (an Italian) gracefully resigned and opened the part for a woman of the correct ethnicity. MMT's every move since the initial criticism has been equally classy and correct--from admitting the mistake to correcting it as gracefully, completely and quickly as possible.

Unfortunately, as is often the case, correcting a mistake and trying to atone for it, is not enough for some critics. You almost have to kill somebody for some to be satisfied, once the blood is in the water. MMT has done everything right--as those of us who know its people would expect--since the initial mistake. These are good, sensitive, intelligent people, but they are people and people make mistakes.

Now comes news that MMT has hired a director who is perfect for this play. Veteran Hector Flores Jr. has taken over. An MMT release says, "Mill Mountain's production is a turning point in how the national theatrical community will look to produce works by, with and about people of color. The theatre has worked hard to bring in [Latinx] members of the creative team, including Flores, and a cast to tell this important story of community, neighborhood, family and hope."

MMT "has been working closely with a diversity, equity, including and belonging (DEIB) consultant with the cast and will continue to do so following the production ... to ensure cultural sensitivity in all productions. MMT is committed to working with marginalized communities throughout the region."

Flores has performed in several regional productions of "In the Heights." He is "an executive staff member at New York Theatre Barn, an anti-racist non-profit theatre company dedicated to the incubation of culture-shifting musicals, an original Broadway cast member" of the play.

The new creative team includes veterans of the show: Mikey Sylvester, associate director and choreographer; John Daniels as music director; and Eric Montesa as production stage manager.

"In the Heights" begins performances a week later than originally scheduled because of the changes and runs through April 24. Tickets are available at millmountain.org or at 540-342-5740.