by Shera Cohen
Most people who live in Springfield, MA do not consider a
trip to Boston as a vacation. For those like me, who until the recently rarely
traveled further than Chicopee (well, okay, there were trips to FL), Boston was
an opportunity for a journey filled with culture. For those who read my “On the
Road” articles, it should be no surprise that within three days, I packed in
six museums, two plays, improv, and a walk on Newberry Street -- one of my
favorite pedestrian-friendly sites in the U.S. that’s east of Main Street,
Disney World.
“Shear Madness,
Charles Theatre, Boston
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| "Shear Madness" |
We started with laughter provided courtesy of “Shear
Madness.” How often can a person see this show without being board? In my case,
I had already been twice, and this third time was just as much fun as the first
and second. Obviously, I must not be the only one who thinks that since “SM”
started its run in 1980.
As you would guess from the title, the set was a beauty
salon (ah, ha, “shears”). “SM” was a slapstick farce with a tad of mystery
thrown in; a “who done it.” But, no one in the audience cared, because the plot
was just so purposely stupid. Although, to avoid a spoiler alert, there were
numerous endings to these shenanigans. Malaprops, demonstrative entrances, comic
asides, and missed lines added to the game of who’s afoot.
The seven actors onstage seemed to be having as much fun --
in fact, as much as the audience members. It would have been very easy for this
septet to phone in their lines, so to speak. However, this “SM” freshly shined
as in the past.
Improv Boston, Cambridge
Surprisingly (to me), I had never attended improv. For some
reason, I was always in fear of being called up to the stage to join in. Didn’t
happen. Whew!
Five young cast members acted like a well-oiled machine,
each taking his/her turn at the wheel. Yet, as the proverbial wheel slowed, one
in the troupe instantly started a new story. There’s a skill in knowing when a
skit has worn out. If you thought that improv is fast, it’s even faster than
that. One could almost see the brain cells dancing in the actors’ heads as they
thought about the plot (such as it is) as words simultaneously spewed out. It
was a bit of a masochistic joy to watch. I’m not sure, however, if the words
preceded the thinking. By its nature, these onstage people become
playwright/actor all in one.
The theatre and its stage were small, as improv works best
in an intimate setting. Lots of college kids sat nearby -- some of them “got
it” before we (Baby Boomers) did. That was okay; it was not a contest. We all
won an evening of fun. www.improvboston.com
Museum of Fine Art, Boston
My impetus for seeing this museum was the exhibit “Over
There - Posters from WWI.” I think I can safely say that so few of us in the
U.S. know much about this incredibly devastating war -- on all sides. “Over
There” ran the length of at least three long corridors. Frankly, I got a bit
lost, so I might have missed some of the pieces.
The “Hokusai” showing provided a excellent second reason for
coming. Many may not know the
artist, but think “The Wave” -- that’s Hokusai. Surprisingly, that famous work
is rather small, yet other art spanned the length of an entire museum wall. Not
necessarily related to this exhibit, was a powerfully compelling Japanese
photographic display of post-earthquake/tsunami of 2011. Strews about the
museum in strategic posts were giant glass, modern, and multi-colored
sculptures.
With six art genres and eras on three floors (including
works of Gordon Parks, the Rothschild Family Treasures, and da Vinci), at least
two visits are mandatory to experience most of what MFA offers. If, however,
you have stamina and/or time, there are four in-museum restaurants to stop for
lunch. www.mfa.org
“City of Angels” at Lyric Stage
There’s no reason for me to write my usual play review of a
play seen last April which ended in May. Instead -- some broad strokes. I had
not been to Lyric Stage in over a decade; enough time for me to forget the
high-quality, professional productions mounted here. Yes, Boston has a few
neighborhoods occupied by several large, old, grand theatres which showcase the
best of Broadway but in MA. Then, there are a few of the smaller venues whose
companies tackle plays and musicals that are or weren’t blockbusters. Lyric
Stage is at the top of this list.
Lyric skimps at nothing. Equity actors each in dual roles, a
top notch band, an onstage chorus, a multi-level set indicating two stages,
expensive costumes, and whatever else I neglected to mention make this venue’s
productions worth a trip to Boston. Trust me, you can see “Phantom” anywhere.
But a rarely produced musical a la film noir as “City of Angels” is a surprise
treat. Why this play is not done more often is a shame. Yet, staging in
particular, seems an extremely difficult assignment. Needless to say, Lyric
Stage was undaunted, and the results proved excellent. www.lyricstage.com
Peabody Museum, Cambridge
I naturally thought when I inquired about going to the
Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology that my visit would be two or
three hours, until I was told that Peabody was actually a complex of four
museums, two of which are connected, the other two directly across the street.
The main museum displayed artifacts from the Americas (the current exhibit was
Native Americans) in three floors of galleries.
Exiting, which meant walking a small hallway, to the Harvard
Museum of Natural History, the highlight for me were hundreds of glass flowers
displayed in their own exhibit room.
The two smaller museums which I also ventured into were the
Harvard Semitic Museum and the Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments,
both of which were free to the public.
This museum’s draw was Arts of War which showcased the
intricacies of armor, weaponry, masks used by warriors through the centuries.
What a novel concept for an exhibit, that I wondered why I never seen anything
at all similar in my decades of museum visits. www.peabody.harvard.edu
Peabody Museum is one of the Harvard Museums of Science
& Culture. All Harvard museums mentioned in this article are part of this
consortium.
Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston
The most striking component of this elegant museum/mansion
is its courtyard. Upon entering and walking down stoned corridor lined with
tapestry, the next turn faces one of four sides of the lush gardens, fountain,
maze-like walks, and statues. Large open archways on the first and second
floors of the museum align the periphery of the pristine courtyard. The beauty
of this natural work of art was amazing in the spring months. Although, when I
visited the museum on a mid-winter day several years ago, the courtyard still
displayed a loveliness, and by no means dark and somber.
Each of the large rooms spoke to the demeanor and style of
the Stewart-Gardner riches. Besides the paintings by artists of renown and
elaborate furniture, the architecture created an amazing intricate design.
I had not realized that a new wing extended the museum,
primarily housing a large three-story performance auditorium showcasing the
talents of young classical musicians. I was also unaware of workshops,
lectures, touring exhibits, and youth activities offered by the museum. With
each visit, I learn and see more. www.gardnermuseum.org
