Local author’s new play to make world premier Thursday

Few different things I’d like to write about this week:

• The result of a decision between my wife and I to “do something cool” last year resulted in a season membership to the Actors Guild of Lexington. We’ve enjoyed each of the productions by AGL immensely, even though neither of us could really be considered theater connissuers by any stretch. Every show is top quality.

Starting Friday, AGL will begin a month-long run of its final play of the season, and it has a local connection. “Long Time Travelling” was written by famous author, and Lily resident, Silas House. House has been working closely with the Actor’s Guild on the production and it will make its world premier at the Downtown Arts Center in Lexington this Thursday at a pay-what-you-can performance.

From then it will play every Friday and Saturday (8:00 p.m.) and Sunday (2:00 p.m.) through May 17.

So what’s “Long Time Travelling” about? In House’s own words: “This play is about something people don’t talk much about: change – the acceptance of change, the resistance of change … It’s about people accepting themselves and others. And some of the characters refuse to change, or accept others changing.”

We can’t wait to see what an interesting story House has managed to weave. Anyone who wants to join my wife and I to see the show is welcome to tag along.

Tickets can be purchased at the LexArts Box Office by calling 859-225-0370 or going to www.tix.com. More info can be gleaned by visiting www.actorsguildoflexington.org.

• I would likely be flogged by my fellow board members with the local Fine Arts Association of Southeastern Kentucky if I failed to plug what should be quite an interesting night of musical entertainment this Thursday. Scottish Balladeer Colin Grant-Adams will be performing at the Conway Boatman Chapel on the campus of Union College in Barbourville Thursday at 7:30 p.m. I’ve watched preview videos of this man perform and I can tell you it should be a very interesting show. Tickets for the performance are only $10 at the door ($5 for students) which I can tell you is an insanely good bargain for this caliber of entertainment. Don’t miss it!

• For the last four or five years I’ve attended/covered the Laurel Lake Cleanup for the News Journal. I am continually amazed at how much trash volunteers are able to remove from and around the lake. I’m pretty certain all that garbage comes from campers and boaters who visit our area from Ohio and Indiana. There’s no way locals would trash such a beautiful natural resource that way, is there?

• Nevermind. Strike that last sentence. Just took a drive up US 25 going toward London. Trash and junk everywhere. Some of it must be us after all.

• Last year we asked Corbin City Commission candidates a few questions in advance of the election, one of which referred to the city’s largely useless Internet website. I knew at the time the question was asked that it probably wasn’t at the top of the priority list, but it was something that needed to be addressed.

Well, it looks as though city leaders are going through with their promise to make it better (see story about this on page A-1). I hope the city puts together something that is all encompassing, shows a commitment to public openness and is packed with useful info that is kept up to date. It sounds like they are going in the right direction.

• Motley Crue at The Arena! Are you kidding me! That is the music of my youth. I’m there.

• Speaking of The Arena, everyone seems to have their list of little issues that could make it a better venue. Most of the things don’t really distract me from having a good time when I am there, but one thing does. The sound systems used for events seem continually lacking. I don’t know about the country music shows and such, but for the circus and the Globetrotters, it was often very hard to understand what was being said. If there’s a way to pump up the volume, this patron would be very happy.