A theater season for the ages

Published 12:00 pm Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Nothing energizes a cast like a full house.

So Bainbridge Light Opera performers must have been in fine form one evening in 1957, when 900 islanders – which in those days must have seemed like half the population – turned out for a production of “Song of Norway.” The only problem: the hall didn’t have enough seats for the patrons.

So resourceful audience members solved that predicament by heading out into the parking lot and returning with their car seats in tow.

Such colorful lore reflects the Bainbridge community’s long-time dedication to its local theater company. Productions have been staged in a variety of locations over the years – the historic Fort Ward Timber Lodge auditorium (sadly lost to a fire in the 1980s), Commodore School, the high school LGI room, the Storefront theater in today’s Village shopping center, and even in a tent on High School Road. It’s true; in 1983 and 1984, BPA did two seasons under the proverbial big top, staging productions including “Oklahoma” and “Fiddler on the Roof.”

Regardless of venue, though, the costumes have been just as colorful, the acting as spirited, the tunes as jaunty, the lights as bright.

This year marks the 50th season of what was founded as Bainbridge Light Opera, and many islanders have grown up within and alongside the organization. For those of younger vintage, consider the milestones of just the past 25 years. In 1980, the troupe was rechristened Bainbridge Performing Arts to reflect the broader creative purpose that it shows to this day. In 1981, the first children’s theater production, “Peter Pan in Never Never Land,” was staged, establishing a now-thriving theater education program.

In 1991, ground-breaking for a permanent theater space put an end to the company’s peripatetic ways, establishing the Playhouse as the community’s undisputed center of arts and humanities events.

Testimonials from patrons suggest the transcendent, if not in fact transformative local theater experience. From Alexa and Michael Rosenthal: “We’ve shed tears of sadness and laughter. There are not many activities that we can do as a family that entertain us all, but we eagerly anticipate each new production.”

From Barbara Winther: “My husband, Grant, and I are habitués of the once-a-month performance of the Improv at the Playhouse. Life isn’t always what it should be and the world seems more and more in turmoil, so we go to Improv because we need to laugh at it all. Once a month we can be part of an audience that finds good medicine in laughter.”

And from Len Bonifaci: “As a 30-year participant and supporter of the orchestra, I am proud of the quality of its performances today. The orchestra concerts are wonderful, just jewels. I go away from them inspired every time…”

BPA’s golden anniversary season commences this week with a production of Tom Stoppard’s “Arcadia,” adult-oriented fare that suggests the growing sophistication of both theater and audience, even as old favorites like December’s “The Wizard of Oz” will bring out the whole family. Music performances and special events promise a season of surprises.

Take in a show and honor your community theater. You don’t even have to bring your own seat.