DENNIS – At Cape Playhouse through Saturday, “God of Carnage” employs a prestigious fight director. Given the incendiary title, perhaps that’s no surprise. But surprise you it does, a dark comedy about polite society peppered with self-deprecating hilarity and rapid-fire insights into parenting, marriage, and the human character. There are four protagonists – two married couples dealing with the aftermath o...

Even as a young girl I loved mysteries. Like many girls growing up in the 1960s, I was an unabashed fan of Nancy Drew. My love of mysteries continues today. I’m especially fond of British and cozy mysteries, not to be confused with suspense, international intrigue, or other more violent sorts. This penchant for carefully searching and teasing out the real clues from the multiple red herrings mystery writers de...

“If music be the food of love, play on,” proclaims Orsino in the famous opening moments of William Shakespeare's “Twelfth Night.” Playing on is exactly what members of the newly minted Cape Cod Shakespeare Festival in Chatham intend to do. With outdoor performances of two of the Bard's most beloved comedies taking place at the Whit Tileston Bandstand in Kate Gould Park for two weeks of summer evenings, eager a...

Some of us are early risers each morning, and some of us sleep in until mid-morning or later. I’ve been an early riser since I was a child. I even got up early when I was a teenager and a college student. Early morning is my time. When I was growing up life was tumultuous in my house and early morning was a time of quiet, peace, and calm. I got up at dawn to read, stare out the window, cuddle with the dog and ...

In early May I put out the oriole feeder with fresh orange halves and a little dish of grape jelly. I bought this feeder for what felt like an outrageous amount of money at the time, but it has paid me back more than quadruple in enjoyment over the years. It is bright orange, like the birds it attracts, has a nice little landing pad and a clear plexiglass roof. Putting it out fully loaded is one of my favorite sp...

Two stellar women pack a powerful Cape Playhouse performance of “Always, Patsy Cline,” though theirs is mostly a tale of woe. Color mood lighting designed by Christopher Ash enhances a simple set: a raised stage. To the right is a lively six-piece orchestra. Stage-left is Louise’ Seger’s kitchen somewhere in Houston, Texas. Patsy Cline, portrayed by Gillian Louis, passionately sings “Sweet Dreams of You.” Y...

“I am the Queen!” Lilly sure knows how to make an entrance. “I am the Queen!” she yells again and again. With her outlandish attire that includes red cowboy boots and a cape, Lilly doesn’t seem to care what people may think. But she loves being the center of attention; in fact she craves it. At home, her parents lovingly indulge her precocious nature, that is until baby Julius arrives. Lilly doesn’t take kindly t...

The boogeyman, a banshee, a ghost; whatever name you have for someone who’s scary and wants to harm you. On the isle of Jamaica, it’s Duppy. And Duppy wants your hair, your beautiful hair. Ziggy is not only afraid of Duppy, but she’s afraid of everything in general. She’s afraid to leave her room and “experience life,” her mother cries. “Stop watching TV and get outside!” Eventually Ziggy listens to her friend...

“Mamma Mia” is the kind of show you want to see again and again. The music is catchy, the story fun and silly, and with this ensemble of talented folks it’s a surefire fun night out. Cape Rep nailed it the first time a few years ago, and nails it again in the summer of 2022. This time around it’s performed in their outdoor theater and transporting you to an island in Greece. There was an unscripted crescent moon ...

     Chatham author Darby Hobbs will appear at three local bookstores over the next few weeks to sign and read from her new book for young readers, “Hockey Island.” During her signing events Hobbs would like to enlist the talent of any young bookstore visitors who might be interested in lending a hand to contribute to a future book.      “ At each book signing I am inviting children to participate in my next ...

     On Thursday, July 7 the Cranfest in the Courtyard Concert Series, presented by the Harwich Cranberry Arts and Music Festival, will open to the unique sound of Runa, an award–winning Celtic-American Roots supergroup known for pushing the boundaries of Irish folk music. The concert series will continue for five consecutive Thursday evenings, finishing up on Aug. 4.      Admission is $25 per show, with a seas...

Summer, Cape Cod, ice cream. What better combinations are there? Here at the Cape's elbow, there is an especially dense collection of businesses devoted to satisfying the craving for frozen treats. Of the town's half a dozen ice cream shops, the two longest-running are under new management. But tradition dies hard here, and the new operators of Short and Sweet in South Chatham and Buffy's Ice Cream downtown...