Beginning its eleventh year, Hamilton-Gibson’s Acting Up! for senior citizens resumes on Tuesday, September 13, 2011, and continues through May 22, 2012. “We are looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones,” according to Larry and Barbara Biddison, coordinators of Hamilton-Gibson’s popular “readers theatre” program for adults age 55+.
Since its beginning in 2002, an ever-changing group of fun-loving senior citizens has gathered from 2 until 3 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at the H-G House (29 Water Street) to read stories, plays, and poems to each other. There are no fees and no long-term commitments. This year the Biddisons will again coordinate Acting Up! for Hamilton-Gibson. Even though regular attendance is not required, Larry is pleased with the strong repeat turnout. “We continue the friendly philosophy of Kate Sholonski, the originator of the program: ‘No one gets to be wrong!’”
The one-hour sessions bring together congenial and mutually supportive people, and the relaxed, informal atmosphere provides a low key, low pressure opportunity to experiment with “reading with expression.” According to Barbara, “It’s a safe place for persons who have a fear of speaking in public, as well as for those who have always wanted to act but weren’t ready for the stage.”
Each Acting Up! session is self-contained, and those present are not obligated to attend other sessions. All are invited to bring short poems, humorous stories, or uplifting articles to share aloud with the group. “There have even been some offerings of original pieces,” commented Larry. “But the main focus of each session is a group reading of a longer story or play. During past years we’ve enjoyed bringing to life several scripts from vintage radio, such as Our Miss Brooks, Fibber McGee and Molly, and Father Knows Best. We’ve also read poems, stories, or plays by Robert Frost, Edwin Arlington Robinson, Stuart MacLean, Jeannette Buck, Robert Fulghum, Mark Twain, and Eudora Welty. And in addition to selections from Mountain Home, from Marley and Me, and from The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, we also read original short plays written by Acting Up participants. And we plan to continue reading a lot of fun stuff between September and May.”
If any of this appeals to you, or if you have questions, you are encouraged to contact Larry or Barbara Biddison at 724-4586.
