Presenting the Pearl!
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October 13, 2011 |
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| Carolyn
Testa, right, tells Rotary member and
county treasurer Jenny Fessler a little
about the work underway to ready the
Pearl Theater for its official opening
October 21. |
Both the Bonners Ferry Chamber of Commerce and
the local Rotary Club have had the early
privilege recently of seeing the community's
newest gem ... and this one's a pearl ... The
Pearl Theater.
"A comfortably sized, eclectic venue that will
draw musicians and theatrical performers from
around the country to Bonners Ferry," Colet
Allen wrote in this month's Chamber bulletin
about the Chamber's newest member. "Our little
theater will showcase local talent by providing
a professional setting for quality entertainment
that our community can look forward to on a
regular basis."
Said the brain, fiancier and much of the brawn
behind the on-going renovation of what was a
simple Community Church on Ash Street, Carolyn
Testa said, "our goal is to foster youth
leadership and small business development by
providing opportunities to the school as well as
individuals interested in all aspects of the
entertainment industry and the performing arts."
"As you have heard from the buzz (not just the
sound of saws in the little church ...)" Colet
wrote, "no pun intended ... the excitement
created around the opening of the Pearl ... will
encourage more live theater in Boundary County."
Even while renovation is underway, rehearsals
for the first "official" Pearl presentation, "No
Cure For Love: An Electric Romance," are going
on, a play of two acts written and directed by
Boundary County resident and artist Paul
Rawlings, set to debut October 21 for a six show
run.
The play features 25 actors, a live band and
half a dozen original songs, featuring local
actors and musicians.
But promotions for that play, particularly the
black and white flyer all over town, have also
stirred a bit of unfounded controversy.
"Looking at the flyer," said KBFI personality
JoJo Baker, "it looks like two guys kissing! Is
this a Gay Electric Romance? I've had several
people asking."
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"Miss
Hathaway," Nancy Culp (right), with
Jethro Bodine (Max Baer, left) in "The
Beverly Hillbillies." |
While Paul was busy with rehearsals and not
answering the phone, Carolyn assurred that it's
not ... not, she said, that there's anything
wrong with that.
"It's a girl," she said of the woman in the
forefront of the photo. "Vintage silent screen
from the 1920s. She's the girl who was voted
'Best Personality,' not Marilyn Monroe!"
A more modern but still aged example might be
Miss Hathaway of the classic Beverly Hillbillies
... someone many readers may no longer remember,
but she was assuredly a girl.
On October 11, Carolyn gave members of the
Rotary a tour of the Pearl, most of them still
licking their lips for the last crumb of the
great pizza they enyoyed at Mugsy's. The tour
came less than a year after she first spoke to
the club about her dream November 23, 2010.
"Upon entering the new theater," Rotarian Bill
McClintock wrote, "it was obvious from those who
had been there for church services that many
changes had occurred and a lot of manual labor
had been accomplished."
As she's done nearly every day since launching
the project, Carolyn wiped another smudge off
her face and said, "thanks!"
Tickets for the premier event that will launch
the Pearl Theater are on sale now, and those who
line up to buy are going to be well-treated for
jumping on the bandwagon early ... and seating
is limited to 165 people.
For a mere $12, you'll not only see a great show
... you'll likely get some great deals from the
many business owners who are wishing Carolyn
well.
You can find out more by calling (208)
267-PEARL.
Yep ... one number too many, but it's an "art"
thing. The phone will start ringing right before
you hit the final "L," hopefully. That's a hard
number to plug into speed dial, however.
Carolyn assures that it was just another
foruitous coincidence.
Try (208) 267-7327, and call often to keep up
with the Pearl Theater. |
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