Some friends and I went to see the Port Gamble production of Niel Simon's Rumors last Friday. We did a little shopping and ate dinner at the Butcher and Baker. It was a very fun time with friends just enjoying a day out in a small community. I highly recommend it and it gets you out of Sequim protests and poor taste. Sorry you had to endure the cringe, CJ.
From what I've heard about this year's show it sounds like an accurate summation. I've seen the last two interations of the show (2024 & 2025) and found them to do a good job of poking general fun at beaurocracy, with a tinge of left leaning direct pokes. I don't plan on seeing this year's show because of my understanding of it.
I have been going to see shows at OTA for a few years now and have found that nothing like this has ever crept into a show. For essentially an all volunteer community group they've put on some ripping good theater that rivals high cost big city theater. If in general you like theater there are a few other groups around if you don't want to give your business to OTA, closest being PA Community Players. See you out there.
Yea, Woolf was very hard to watch because of the content. The actors did it immense justice though and supports my assertion of the caliber of the shows. A stunned audience reduced to tears, the lack of outward appreciation, and not returning from an intermission because of the performance were demonstrative of how well it was performed.
Nunsense last year, and Spamalot the year before for their annual musicals were great.
As to PACPs, which I've only been to twice, The Play That Goes Wrong, aces!
Reading this comment now, I just realized why my HS theater teacher was so willing to help me escape a very dysfunctional, abusive home situation. I imagine me selecting a Virginia Woolf monologue for my semester final was a subconcious hint.
We’re always surprised how many don’t return after intermission. Chalked it up to “Sequim”! Happens less now that the productions start a 7pm. Doesn’t seem to be as common in PA.
First, I’ve attended many events at OTA, both before and after Dave Herbelin took over as leader. It was like night and day! He was energetic, inclusive, and resourceful. He was a a great and funny actor. I’ve never met him, but just being around him at performances was enough to demonstrate that he cared about OTA. I did not know until last week that his wife is the volunteer coordinator at OTA, and they also own Old Barn Lavender, which was featured in one of the scenes. The Lavender Melodrama was fun a couple times, but last year we decided we wouldn’t attend again as it was becoming repetitive. Then, when we learned that Dave had passed, we decided at the last minute to purchase tickets.
Ugh, again.
In all honesty, it’s obvious this was written by someone who is dying and has an axe to grind. The actors were great, and the sets were great, and I agree the use of technology was excellent; especially the Seatac to Sequim scenes! Unfortunately, there was so much filler that it was obvious the writer just lacked the mental capacity to pull it all together. And that is too bad, because this is probably what I’m going to remember most. While I’m all for poking a little fun at local figures, but yea… it was SO heavy on the Watchdog that the whole play stopped being a parody of Sequim and became a personal attack. I especially didn’t appreciate the slanderous line from The Watchdog about making up facts. And while I don’t agree with it, I did admire the reference to the Cultural Access Tax. In fact, that is exactly how I think people should be promoting their position on this sort of thing. The artist presents their view and as the consumer of the art, I consider it and am free to research and disagree with it. Which I do.
I hope the next performance I attend returns to the theme of entertaining the audience rather than grinding an axe.
ETA, it seems like there are a few of us who enjoy good community theater! I would love to plan a future outing!
I was already highly skeptical of local theater groups due to the manner in which some of them welcomed in convicted child pornographer Frances/Frank Barevich (aka Frank Reuter) until he was outed by concerned parents in the community.
Thanks for sitting through that, now I know I am not missing anything.
Side note, Barevich is now using his wife's last name to run a small toy manufacturing company that goes to lots of local fairs and festivals with his R2 toy robot giving him opportunity to get close to kids.
Some friends and I went to see the Port Gamble production of Niel Simon's Rumors last Friday. We did a little shopping and ate dinner at the Butcher and Baker. It was a very fun time with friends just enjoying a day out in a small community. I highly recommend it and it gets you out of Sequim protests and poor taste. Sorry you had to endure the cringe, CJ.
Enduring it with Jeff made it better. 😁
From what I've heard about this year's show it sounds like an accurate summation. I've seen the last two interations of the show (2024 & 2025) and found them to do a good job of poking general fun at beaurocracy, with a tinge of left leaning direct pokes. I don't plan on seeing this year's show because of my understanding of it.
I have been going to see shows at OTA for a few years now and have found that nothing like this has ever crept into a show. For essentially an all volunteer community group they've put on some ripping good theater that rivals high cost big city theater. If in general you like theater there are a few other groups around if you don't want to give your business to OTA, closest being PA Community Players. See you out there.
Agreed! I wish I had heard about the content of this year’s production. Looking forward to Witch at PACP!
Which shows have you liked at either theater?
We really enjoyed A Facility for Living and The jerk at OTA. Almost, Maine and The Play that goes wrong are Favorites at PACP.
I wanted to poke my eyes (and ears) out during Whose afraid of Virginia Woolf. The actors were great but the play was…. Not to my taste, lol.
What do you enjoy?
Yea, Woolf was very hard to watch because of the content. The actors did it immense justice though and supports my assertion of the caliber of the shows. A stunned audience reduced to tears, the lack of outward appreciation, and not returning from an intermission because of the performance were demonstrative of how well it was performed.
Nunsense last year, and Spamalot the year before for their annual musicals were great.
As to PACPs, which I've only been to twice, The Play That Goes Wrong, aces!
Reading this comment now, I just realized why my HS theater teacher was so willing to help me escape a very dysfunctional, abusive home situation. I imagine me selecting a Virginia Woolf monologue for my semester final was a subconcious hint.
We’re always surprised how many don’t return after intermission. Chalked it up to “Sequim”! Happens less now that the productions start a 7pm. Doesn’t seem to be as common in PA.
Ugh, I agree with most of this. So cringe.
First, I’ve attended many events at OTA, both before and after Dave Herbelin took over as leader. It was like night and day! He was energetic, inclusive, and resourceful. He was a a great and funny actor. I’ve never met him, but just being around him at performances was enough to demonstrate that he cared about OTA. I did not know until last week that his wife is the volunteer coordinator at OTA, and they also own Old Barn Lavender, which was featured in one of the scenes. The Lavender Melodrama was fun a couple times, but last year we decided we wouldn’t attend again as it was becoming repetitive. Then, when we learned that Dave had passed, we decided at the last minute to purchase tickets.
Ugh, again.
In all honesty, it’s obvious this was written by someone who is dying and has an axe to grind. The actors were great, and the sets were great, and I agree the use of technology was excellent; especially the Seatac to Sequim scenes! Unfortunately, there was so much filler that it was obvious the writer just lacked the mental capacity to pull it all together. And that is too bad, because this is probably what I’m going to remember most. While I’m all for poking a little fun at local figures, but yea… it was SO heavy on the Watchdog that the whole play stopped being a parody of Sequim and became a personal attack. I especially didn’t appreciate the slanderous line from The Watchdog about making up facts. And while I don’t agree with it, I did admire the reference to the Cultural Access Tax. In fact, that is exactly how I think people should be promoting their position on this sort of thing. The artist presents their view and as the consumer of the art, I consider it and am free to research and disagree with it. Which I do.
I hope the next performance I attend returns to the theme of entertaining the audience rather than grinding an axe.
ETA, it seems like there are a few of us who enjoy good community theater! I would love to plan a future outing!
Good morning CJ,
Bravo , Bravo ...encore the play please. So sadly hilarious.
Thanks to all and Have a great day.
I was already highly skeptical of local theater groups due to the manner in which some of them welcomed in convicted child pornographer Frances/Frank Barevich (aka Frank Reuter) until he was outed by concerned parents in the community.
Thanks for sitting through that, now I know I am not missing anything.
Side note, Barevich is now using his wife's last name to run a small toy manufacturing company that goes to lots of local fairs and festivals with his R2 toy robot giving him opportunity to get close to kids.
Bravo!!!🙌🏼