“Love, Loss and What I Wore” brings technological magic to the Lincoln Theatre.
The River Company and Lincoln Theatre have teamed up for an insightful stage production of “Love, Loss, and What I Wore,” a reading of short stories, stories and monologues based on Eileen Beckerman’s best-selling book, on Friday, June 28th at 7pm and Saturday, June 29th at 2pm and 7pm at the Lincoln Theatre in Damariscotta.
Damon Reibert, technical director of the Lincoln Theatre, is the unsung hero who quietly works behind the scenes to make the impossible possible on stage. There is a scene in Love, Loss and What I Wore where the narrator/protagonist paints live onstage, something that would be difficult for the audience to see in a cinematic space like the Lincoln. Reibert brought in local artist Mary Sue Weeks to paint, and filmed her completing her piece, as well as the actress mimicking her hand movements. When the show was all over, it looked like the actress was painting live at the easel for the audience, while the painting was simultaneously projected onto a screen above her head, making it look as if it was “created” on the spot.
Reibert moved to Lincoln County in 2017 with his wife, the painter Madeline Mann, where he keeps a low profile. It’s a special beauty of this region that people who would be stopped on the street in Boston end up part of a gang here in Maine. He has a long and varied career that includes being a highly accomplished violinist and a successful musician in and around Boston, heading an audiovisual business called Live Art Technologies, and serving as managing director of the Rockwell Theatre in Somerville, Massachusetts. He has also been a member of the Irish Comedy Tour (theirishcomedytour.com) since 2012, and still tours annually as the “fiddle-playing leprechaun” in what he calls an “R-rated” gig.
Co-directors Nick Azzaretti and Ellie Busby say The River Company is pleased to have Damon Reibert at the technical helm for this stage adaptation: “Damon makes it all look easy. The collaboration between our actor-centric, non-technical group and Lincoln Theatre means we have the benefit of this incredible talent and we’re so grateful.”
Zola Margolis, who appears to be painting on stage, will be the first to declare that she is not an artist. She is an artist, just not of that nature. Margolis is the only character actually named in the play, “GINGY,” the author’s nickname. Margolis is a playwright herself, and has experience in television and film; she was the “Before” model for the old Virginia Slims ads in the “You’ve Come a Long Way Baby” series many years ago. Margolis’ original musical, “Tanglin’ Hearts,” will make its East Coast debut at the Waldo Theatre in September.
River Company co-directors Eleanor Cade Busby and Nick Azzaretti have assembled a dynamic Midcoast cast of actors, including Dagny Ernest, Christina Belknap, Carol Frohman, Judy McQuillan, Zola Margolis, Christine Talia Andersen and Laurie Brown, to tell the stories of 29 women. Everyone in the audience may have memories of an outfit they loved or hated, or of their mother telling them as a child, “You can’t go out in that,” or “You look too skinny,” or “You’re too fat,” or “You’re pale,” or whatever.
The River Company and Lincoln Theatre rely on the Skidonfa Library for rehearsal space, the Waldo Theatre for various props, and support from friends and neighbors — in the true spirit of community theatre, it takes a village, or several, to stage a live play.
“What I love about it is that you never know what’s going to happen,” said Jenny Larson, who was outside the theater one day last week. “I’m looking forward to seeing Love/Loss. I’ve seen River Company before, but this is the first time I’ve seen it on a big stage. You can really feel the energy that emanates from that stage.”
Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for Lincoln Theatre members and $5 for youth under 18. All ticket sales are final and there are no refunds or exchanges.
All tickets will be available at the venue beginning 30 minutes before showtime or can be purchased in advance through the Lincoln Theatre’s online box office at lcct.org.
*To enter, please print your advance ticket or confirmation email, or enter your email address at the box office when you arrive at the theater to check in. Presented in partnership with The River Company and Lincoln Theatre
