The Marion Art Center is in final preparations for its summer theatrical production, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, which opens its six-performance run on Thursday, August 11. Winner of the 2013 Tony Award for Best Play and described as “hugely entertaining,” the story follows middle-aged siblings Vanya and Sonia, who share a home in Bucks County, PA, where they bicker and complain about the circumstances of their lives. Things become complicated when their movie-star sister, Masha, swoops in with her new boy toy, Spike, leading old resentments to flare. Adding to the comic complexity of the foursome’s antics are the future-predicting maid, Cassandra, and a lovely young ingénue, Nina.

The cast features an accomplished group of actors, some of whom are quite familiar to local audiences. Portraying Vanya is David Horne, who has performed in many MAC productions, to include Thornton Wilder’s classic, Our Town, and The Seagull by Anton Chekov. David is Choral Director and Chapel Organist at Tabor Academy, where he is also a house parent. David is very active with Tabor’s theater program, having done stage direction and musical direction for more than 30 productions. Suzie Kokkins appears as Masha. Her many MAC credits include: A Bad Year for Tomatoes; Light Up in the Sky; Love, Loss and What I Wore; and The Seagull. Suzie is active with the MAC in a variety of capacities, serving as a volunteer, board member and part of the theater committee. She lives with her family in Marion and is a registered dietitian with Southcoast Hospitals Group. Sonia is played by Cynthia Latham, who first appeared on the MAC stage in The Fourth Wall by A.R. Gurney. Cynthia’s list of MAC theatrical credits include: A Bad Year for Tomatoes; Love, Loss and What I Wore; and The Seagull, to name a few. She also does film and TV work, including Men in Black 3 and The Good Wife. While the role of Spike marks Adam Roderick’s debut with the Marion Art Center, he’s no newcomer to community theater. A native of Cape Cod now living in our area, Adam’s stage appearances include Beyond Therapy (also by Christopher Durang), Biloxi Blues and the classic, To Kill a Mockingbird. Adam is also an accomplished set designer, director and film maker. Adam is joined onstage by his wife, Sam Roderick, who plays aspiring actress Nina. Sam is a native of Cape Cod and has been in performing arts since she was a young girl. She lists among her credits: The Graduate, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Play it Again Sam, and Of Mice and Men. Rounding out the cast in the role of Cassandra is Susan Sullivan, who was seen on the MAC stage last summer in A Bad Year for Tomatoes, by John Patrick. Susan is a New York native now living in Fairhaven. She came to the Southcoast after retiring from her career as a television engineer. Her professional life in broadcasting started in Boulder, CO, where she helped build public radio station, KGNU, including a stint as on-air talent.

The show’s production crew is a distinguished one as well. Director Kate Fishman premiered at the MAC last summer, when she served as stage and production manager for A Bad Year for Tomatoes. Kate has 15 years of experience in community theater as an actor, director and stage manager. Among her favorite productions are Miss Witherspoon, Lady Windermere’s Fan, Blithe Spirit, and Fiction. Lighting and Sound Director Steven McManus has worked on many recent productions at the Art Center, to include: An Evening of One Acts by Christopher Durang; The Seagull; Dixie Swim Club; A Bad Year for Tomatoes; and Crimes of the Heart. Now a Marion resident, Steve moved to the U.S. 16 years ago from Edinburgh, Scotland, where he owned a sound and lighting rental company for musical and theatrical productions. Although he no longer works professionally in “the business,” he continues to occasionally provide his services to worthy causes. Stage and Production Manager Natalie Monroe is new to the MAC. She moved to the area from Tennessee and works as a lash stylist at Allure Lash Studio in Marion. Set crew for the production is a family affair, and includes Fairhaven resident (and husband of Susan) Geoffrey Sullivan and Wareham resident (and fiancé of Natalie) John White.

The production of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike will run August 11, 12, 13 and 18, 19, 20 at 7:30 pm. The Marion Art Center theater will be arranged with general seating, as well as eight cabaret tables, which are available for reserved parties of four. As seating is limited, reservations are highly recommended. Tickets are $18 for the public and $15 for MAC members. Reservations may be made by calling the Marion Art Center at 508-748-1266 or emailing marionartcenter@verizon.net.

A glass of wine, some good friends, a little music, a sunlit ocean and a cool breeze. It turns out that these are the secret ingredients to hosting a successful community picnic – if you add in oysters, of course.

The 200 or so residents who came to Mattapoisett’s first annual “Great Community Picnic” enjoyed this recipe for fun. A relaxed summer outing, the picnic was jointly hosted by the Mattapoisett Land Trust and the Mattapoisett Historical Society. Picnickers found themselves at Munro Preserve, seated at round tables and sipping wine as they looked over the idyllic seaside at the Mattapoisett Wharf. Laughter was in the air, and so was music, which drifted from a nearby flowery hollow. The smell of oysters hung in the air, and waitresses darted to and fro.

Land Trust President Mike Huguenin explained the joint venture between the two entities. Gesturing at Munro Preserve, he explained, “This used to be Barstow Shipyard, where the whaler Acushnet was launched.”

The historically-minded of us will recall that the Acushnet carried Herman Melville, who would later go on to write Moby Dick.

“So we always had that historical tie-in together,” Huguenin continued. “It was just figuring out what we could do together for the community, and to raise awareness.”

Historical Society President Jennifer McIntire said the picnic was harder to put together than one might expect.

“We knew we wanted to work together, so we formed a little committee with members of each organization,” said McIntire. “Then we tossed ideas around. A summer clambake seemed like a good choice,” she said, “but then some of us had allergies, so we couldn’t do that, either!”

Eventually, they decided that people could bring their own food, with appetizers and drinks made available.

The musicians, tucked away in a small clearing surrounded by purple flowers, added to the beautiful day. Boston-based band Glowbox played, as did Wareham native Grace Morrison. David Dunn of Marion and his band Huxster also joined in, strumming against the clinking of glasses and lapping waves.

The smiles and laughter, along with the crowd of over 200 gathered on the tiny preserve, would indicate that the picnic’s aim succeeded.

“It’s not really a fundraiser,” explained McIntire. “It’s an introduction to us [the Land Trust and the Historical Society], a chance to get to know us, and a chance for us to get on our own feet in terms of what we can do in the future. Today was meant to be a fun day, though.”

Huguenin agreed.

“We’d like to do more in the future,” said Huguenin. “The money we do raise today will be split between the Land Trust and the Historical Society. Today though, was more of a ‘fun’-raiser,” he said with a smile.

By Andrea Ray