A PBC release describes the production as follows:
The quintessential story of unrequited love, this classic ballet follows Giselle through her first love, betrayal, heartbreak, death and then into the afterlife as she ultimately saves the man who broke her heart.
Giselle is an innocent country maiden, beloved by the local gamekeeper Hilarion. She falls desperately in love with Count Albrecht, a nobleman who showers Giselle with his affections while disguised as a peasant.
When Giselle discovers that Albrecht is already engaged to a noblewoman, she loses her mind and tragically dies of broken-hearted madness at the end of the first act.
She returns in act two as a ghost to join the Wilis, other ghost maidens who have died before their wedding nights, also the victims of heartbreak.
Between midnight and dawn the Wilis emerge from their tombs to seek revenge, forcing any man who enters their domain to dance to his death (this is also the origin of the phrase, “it gives me the Wilis”).
Albrecht, laden with feelings of guilt and remorse, visits Giselle’s grave in the forest. She appears in ghost form and forgives him, saving him from the same fate as the other men who enter the forest. Giselle then retreats with the Wilis, understanding she is one of them for the rest of time.
The part of Giselle will be shared by Megan Buckley and Jennifer Jones. The role of Myrtha is shared by dancers Mary Stride and Morgan Sanborn. Joseph Jefferies portrays Albrecht, and Matthew Begin dances as Hilarion.
Tickets cost $35 for adults and $15 for children. They are available through PortTix either by phone at 842-0800 or online at www.porttix.com. Visit www.portlandballet.org for more information.
Franco Center rolls out dance party
LEWISTON — The Franco Center, 46 Cedar St., will host Decades Dance Party with VJ Pulse and DJ Hanzo tonight.
“Our dance parties are funforward, and friendly for all flavors,” a release from the center states.
Doors for the 21-plus party open at 9 p. m. Admission costs $ 7. Buy tickets at www.brownpapertickets.com /event/234632.
Mad Horse stages ‘Gamma Rays’ revival
PORTLAND — Mad Horse Theatre Company’s production of “The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man- in- the- Moon Marigolds,” by Paul Zindel, continues this weekend at Lucid Stage, 29 Baxter Blvd.
A Mad Horse release describes the play as follows:
Zindel’s masterpiece, which won an Obie Award, a New York Drama Critics Circle Award, and the coveted Pulitzer Prize for Drama, tells the story of single mother Beatrice Hunsdorfer, and her teenage daughters, Ruth and Matilda.
Abandoned by her husband and saddled with two children, Beatrice hates the world. She thinks she just needs the right opportunity, and everything will get better.
Older sister Ruth knows the reputation her mother has around town, but she seems sadly fated to repeat her mother’s mistakes in her own life.
Shy Matilda, or Tillie, is the joke of her school and her family, until a teacher opens her eyes to the wonders of science. When Tilllie’s project on the effect of gamma rays on man-in-the-moon marigold seeds is chosen for the school science fair, the dysfunctional family dynamic comes to a head.
Zindel’s semi-autobiographical work is loosely based on his own experience growing up in a single-parent household with a mother who constantly threatened suicide.
“The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man- in- the- Moon Marigolds” runs through April 1. Show times this week are Thursdays, Fridays at Saturdays at 8 p.m., as well as at 2 p.m. Sundays.
A “Talk Back” session with the director and the actors will follow the matinee performance on March 25. A silent auction to benefit Mad Horse Theatre Company will coincide with all performances.
Show times for next week have been adjusted to allow patrons to attend special preshow auction receptions.
Tickets cost $22 for adults or $ 20 for students and seniors. Mad Horse also offers pay-what-you-can performances every Thursday. Call the box office at 899-3993 or order tickets online at www.lucidstage.com.
Piano Men hammer out tribute to Joel, John
LEWISTON — L/ A Arts will hold a fundraising reception and performance by Piano Men, featuring Joe Boucher and Chris Eastburn, on Saturday at the Franco American Heritage Center, 46 Cedar St.
The reception starts at 6 p. m. Vaudeville performer Randy Judkins will roam the crowd to entertain with juggling and music.
The performance is scheduled to begin at 7: 30 p. m. Admission for the performance only costs $25. Admission to both the reception and the performance costs $35.
Piano Men, performing with the Southern Maine Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Robert Lehmann, will perform a concert of “the best songs of the ’ 70s” by Billy Joel and Elton John.
This concert combines a four-piece rock band featuring Boucher on piano and vocals, with Eastburn on bass and backup vocals. Gary Backstrom plays guitar and Steve Hodgkin plays drums.
The performance includes the Southern Maine Symphony Orchestra conducted by Robert Lehmann and with arrangements by Eastburn.
For more information about Piano Men, visit www.pianomenmusic.com.
For more information or tickets, call 782- 7228 or go online to www.laarts.org.
Lecturer plunges into ski history
YARMOUTH — The Yarmouth Historical Society lecture series will feature “Down Mountain and Cross Country: 140 Years of Skiing in Maine” at 7 p.m. Monday.
Scott Andrews, research director at the Ski Museum of Maine, will present a narrated digital slide show detailing Maine’s skiing history featuring more than 130 photographs, some more than a century old.
The lecture will be held at the Log Cabin, 196 Main St. The suggested donation is $3 for members or $5 for nonmembers.
For information, call 846- 6259 or email info@yarmouthmehistory.org.
City Theater stages comedy tryouts
BIDDEFORD — Auditions for City Theater’s production of “ The Last Romance,” a stage comedy by Joe DiPietro, will take place at 6 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.
The company will cast roles for two men and two women.
For more information, call 642-7840 or visit www.citytheater.org.
Skidompha screens ‘A Night to Remember’
DAMARISCOTTA — Skidompha Library will screen “A Night to Remember,” a 1958 film about the Titanic disaster, at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the Porter Meeting Hall.
The film depicts the ocean liner’s sinking in a straightforward fashion without the addition of fictional subplots,” a library release states.
Admission costs $5. Enter through the library’s Elm Street entrance. For more information, call 563-5513.
Church serves up ‘Bach’s lunch’
NEWCASTLE — The Second Congregational Church in Newcastle will host an organ and choral concert to benefit the Community Energy Fund at noon on Wednesday.
The musical program will include two of Bach’s organ works, “Prelude and Fugue in B Minor,” played by Jane Wilmot, and the “Wedge Prelude” and Fugue,” played by Sean Fleming.
A choral ensemble will sing “Lobet den Herrn” to round out the concert in honor of J.S. Bach’s 327th birthday.
The appropriately themed “Bach’s (Box) lunch” will consist of German Potato Soup, Black Forest Ham Sandwich and a German Chocolate Cup Cake. Guests are invited to enjoy their lunch at the church after the concert or as take-out.
A free will offering will be accepted at the door. Checks can be made out to the Second Congregational Church. Box lunches cost $ 10 each. Call 563-1747 to reserve lunches.
Sassafras Stomp spices up contradance
ROCKPORT — The monthly fourth- Saturday contradance at Simonton Corners in Rockport takes place at 7 p.m. March 24.
This month’s dance features the Maine band Sassafras Stomp, with fiddling Johanna Davis and guitarpicking Adam Nordell, plus Kim Roberts calling.
Admission is $8 for adults. Kids get in free.
Free snacks and well water will be provided. Partners and experience are not required.
For more information, call 832-5584.
Restaurateurs rally for Gary’s House
PORTLAND — Mercy Health System’s seventh annual Gourmet Gala for Gary’s House Food and Wine Extravaganza will be held on Wednesday at the Holiday Inn by the Bay.
The event will feature 16 restaurants and chefs from greater Portland’s restaurants and caterers.
Gary’s House opened in 1998 as a safe and affordable place for families to stay when a loved one is in the hospital.
Hosted by comedian Joe Ricchio with guest judge Sam Hayward, James Beard Award winner and Chef at Fore Street, the gala includes both a silent and a live auction, as well as live music by Paper Street Jazz Band. New this year will be a beer tasting.
This event is open to the public. Doors open at 6 p.m. Judging will run from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Admission costs $40 per person.
For tickets or information, call Kim Toppi at 879-3605.
For information about Gary’s House, call 879-3486 or visit www.mercyhospital.org.
Mustache film festival sprouts in Portland
PORTLAND — No Umbrella Media, organizers of New England’s largest mustache pageant, announce plans to host the first International Moustache Film Festival.
The festival will be held immediately before the fifth annual Stache Pag on March 30 at Port City Music Hall, 504 Congress St.
The film festival will begin at 7: 30 p. m. The mustache pageant will start at 10 p.m.
The festival is open to all film makers. Films must be eight minutes or less in duration. The winner will be chosen and receive a cash prize. The film selection committee must receive all film submissions by March 24.
The beneficiaries of the festival and fifth annual Stache Pag will be Northeast Historic Film, MENSK and Mystache Fights Cancer.
Some of the many film categories will be: Best Foreign Mustache Film, Best Growth Story, Best Collection of Mustaches in One Film and Best Fake Mustache Movie.
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