Kids Camp - Seacoast Scene - 06/06/2024

JUNE 6 - 12, 2024

Advertising Staff

Charlene Nichols

Seacoast Scene Advertising Sales Manager (603) 625-1855, Ext.126

Charlene@seacoastscene.net

Roxanne Macaig

Seacoast Scene Account Executive (603) 625-1855 Ext. 127 rmacaig@hippopress.com

Editorial Staff

Editor

Michael Witthaus editor@seacoastscene.net

Editorial Design

Corinne Robinson

Contributors

Matt Ingersoll, Betty Gagne, Curt Mackail, Amy Diaz, Jennifer Graham,

Production

Corinne Robinson, Jennifer Gingras

Circulation Manager

Scott Booze, 625-1855, Ext. 35 sbooze@hippopress.com

Have an event or a story idea for the Seacoast Scene? Let us know at: editor@seacoastscene.net

Unsolicited submissions are not accepted and will not be returned or acknowledged. Unsolicited submissions will be destroyed.

COVER STORY

4 A wide range of camp choices for the kiddos.

ARTS

8 Two exhibits at 3S Artspace.

FOOD

11 New Hampton Beach spot for clams and more.

POP CULTURE

16 Amy Diaz reviews Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

NITE LIFE

18 Ellis Paul at Music Hall Lounge, comedy and more BEACH BUM FUN

22 Crazy news

Courtesy Photo. Water Monkey Camp.

KIDS CAMP

With the school year over until Labor Day, it’s time for youngsters to channel their energy in other ways. The learning doesn’t have to stop if they don’t want it to, though. Summer camp activities around the region include learning about how farms and animal shelters work, doing daily brain teasers or honing robotic skills. Of course, there’s plenty of old-fashioned fun available — swimming, archery, basketball, soccer and the like, along with camps aimed at improving singing, dancing and acting skills.

Brentwood Recreation Day Camp

1 Dalton Road, Brentwood, 642-6400, brentwoodnh.gov Youth Camp for grades 1-4 and Adventure Camp for grades 5-8, with programming that includes arts & crafts, games (water and non-water), team-building activities, trail walks, magic shows, and field trips to places like Cider Hill Farm for blueberry picking and a wildlife encounter. When: June 24-Aug. 16 (no camp on Thursday, July 4, and Friday, July 5). Full eight-week and half four-week sessions. A camp day is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with options for before care from 7:30 to 9 a.m. and/ or after care from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Cost:

Full $900 for residents, $950 nonresidents, half $600 residents, $650 nonresidents

Camp Birch Hill 333C Birch Hill Road, New Durham, 859-4525, camp-birchhill.com Classic New England summer camp for kids ages 6 to 16, with a focus on fun. This family-owned camp’s elective program allows campers to choose from more than 50 activities to create a personalized schedule throughout their two-, four- or six-week stay. When: First session starts June 30 Cost: Starts at $3,800 for two-week session

Camp Foss 242 Willey Pond Road, Strafford, 232-8642, graniteymca. org Hosted by Strafford YMCA, a traditional camp for girls with activities that rotate between recreation, waterfront, and hobbies such as target sports, arts & crafts, dance, soccer, volleyball, basketball, swimming and a par course. When: First session starts June 23, final session starts Aug. 11 Cost: One-week $1,450, two-week $2,450

Camp Gottalikachallenge Session

1 at Lions Camp Pride, 154 Camp

Pride Way, New Durham, and Session 2 at New Hampton School, 70 Main St., New Hampton, 868-2140, camp-gottalikachallenge.org Problem-solving camp with a goal of empowerment. Activities include hands-on projects and traditional summer camp fun like swimming and field games to learning to screen print, or playing improv games, creating a scavenger hunt, or learning how to use power tools.

When: July 29-Aug. 2 and Aug. 4-9

Cost: $850, with financial assistance available

Camp Lincoln 67 Ball Road, Kingston, 642-3361, ymcacamplincoln.org

Traditional day camp with programs for K-2, 3-5 and 6-9. Activities include arts and crafts, swimming, archery, boating, pottery, and sports, with older “Voyagers” doing paddle boarding and hatchet throwing. Speciality camps also offered: Mountain Biking, Kids Kitchen, Pottery, Woodworking, Fantasy: Magic the Gathering or Fantasy: Dungeons & Dragons. When: Opens June 17 Cost: Starts at $370 for oneweek session

Camp Seawood 350 Banfield Road, Portsmouth, 888-474-9686,

girlscoutsgwm.org Near downtown Portsmouth, this camp offers nature trails for hiking, a program center, an archery range, fire-circles, cabins and more. It’s open to Girl Scouts who have completed kindergarten through grade 8 with one-week programs. Campers who have completed fifth grade and up can participate in twoweek programs. When: Opens July 8 Cost: $100 deposit required

Challenger Sports Soccer Camp

Various locations in New Hampshire, 800-878-2167, challengersports.com

From a tiny tikes introductory camp to elite programs for 11-year-olds and up, these week-long camps focus on skill development, sportsmanship and developing leadership skills. They’re hosted by various recreation departments throughout the state. Kids age 2 to 14 are eligible. When: Monday through Friday sessions, exact dates depend on location. Cost: varies; see website

Hogan Camp Various locations in New Hampshire, 340-1719, hogamcamps.com Retired NHTI Athletic Director Paul Hogan’s camps focus on development of basketball funda-

mentals and team concepts. Specialty camps include Point Guard/Post Player, Rip City, Shooter’s Gold and others. Open to grade 1 and up, with speciality camps, age requirement varies. When: Beginning June 21. Cost: $400 per player

LEtGO Your Mind Locations: Amherst, Bedford, Concord, Dover, Londonderry, Manchester, Nashua, New London, Pelham, Portsmouth, Salem and Windham, 731-8047, letgoyourmind.com, STEM fun at this camp, with Amusement Park Thrill Rides & Stop Motion Animation plus

Build, Modify, Code LEGO Amusement Thrill Rides for kids ages 6-8 , and Robotic Challenges focused on Stop Motion Animation & Minecraft or Minute-2-Win It for kids ages 9-13. When: First one-week session begins July 8, and camp ends July 19. Cost: $390 per session

New Hampshire SPCA 104 Portsmouth Ave., Stratham, 772-2921, ext. 113, nhspca.org Children ages 6 through 12 learn how an animal shelter works and help animals in need through hands-on activities. They’ll gain a deeper understanding of ani-

Soccer Sphere. Courtesy Photo.

SEABROOK LOBSTER POUND

Eat

mal rescue, animal behavior, training and caregiving through animal interaction, chores, outdoor games, arts, crafts, gardening and summer fun. When: Programs begin June 23 and run through Aug. 23 Cost: $350 for each camp regardless of age

Nike Basketball Camp The Sports Barn, 95 Drakeside Road, Hampton, 800-645-3226, ussportscamps.com/ basketball/nike Coach Daniel Kassner along with ASA Hoops help boys and girls ages 7-16 hone their basketball game, working in a small group setting with players of similar skill level on drills, techniques, and game play situations to improve footwork, shooting technique, team skills and more. When: Session I: July 15-19 and Session II: Aug. 5-9 Cost: Full day 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. $415, half day 9 a.m. to noon $195.

teaches the do’s & don’ts of the sewing studio, including not running with scissors, and the mechanics of their Baby Lock sewing machines and beyond. Multimedia Summer Camp has watercolor and acrylic painting, drawing, sketching, 3D sculpture and clay, quilling, paper folding, pastels and Zen drawing, along with daily art challenges. When: Beginning June 24. Cost: $99/day and $450/week

Soccer Sphere Summer Soccer Camp Locations in Portsmouth and Madbury; soccersphere.org Half- and full-day camp options available for youngsters looking to improve their soccer skills, with options including one-on-one and team training, along with a goalkeeper academy. When: Beginning June 17. Cost: $195 and up

3 Great Shops in One Seacoast NH Destination!

Come

Seacoast ArtSpot 2992 Lafayette Road, Unit 3, Portsmouth, 436-1203, seacoastartspot.com Arts & Crafts camp has arts and crafts projects and outside fun and games, Sewing camp

Route 1 Antiques

Antiques

Water Monkey Camp 298 Merrymeeting Road, New Durham, 855-9253, watermonkeycamp.com

Traditional overnight camp experience focused on wakeboarding, water skiing, wakesurfing and wakeskating for campers of all skill levels ages 9 to

Camp Seawood. Courtesy Photo.

17. When: Eight one-week sessions, June 23-Aug. 9 Cost: $2,975/week

Musical Arts Academy of Theatre & Dance The Word Barn, 66 Newfields Road, Exeter, 778-4862, musicalarts.org Summer theater camp open to ages 9-17 where campers hone their singing, dancing and acting with professional artists from around the Seacoast, while learning a full-length musical, Peter Pan JR. It all culminates with a final performance. When: July 8-19 Cost: $650/camper

Seacoast Rep Academy 125 Bow St., Portsmouth, 433-4472, seacoastrep.org Kids learn songs from music and dances from Rock of Ages , Willy Wonka , Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat , Cats and more during Mainstage Season Camp, June 24 through July 5. Learn how to sing a capella in the style of Pentatonix and Rockapella at Pitch Perfect Camp, July 8-19. Both are for ages 7-13. Other camps include Mean Girls, Villains and Through the Ages. Cost: $100 and

Community Roots Farm 118 N. River Road, Lee, 498-0180, communityrootsnh.org A working farm is the classroom, as kids learn through daily outdoor sensory explorations, imaginative play, creative art and hands-on experiences. One-week sections include All Around the Farm, Love Your Farmers, Farm Art and Sunny Celebrations When: Tuesdays through Thursdays, July 9 - Aug. 1 Cost: $205/ student ($195 for additional siblings)

Bayventures Day Trips 89 Depot Road, Greenland, 778-0015, greatbay. org This “tidally awesome” environmental education program series is an outdoor estuary adventure for children held Wednesdays at the the Great Bay Discovery Center. Two programs, one for first through fourth grade and another for first through sixth grade. When: July 10 through Aug. 16 Cost: $20/day

Water Monkey Camp. Courtesy Photo.

3S ARTSPACE

3S Artspace opens two intriguing gallery shows

By Curt Mackail

Two new gallery shows at 3S Artspace in Portsmouth promise a look into the minds of the artists as well as samplings of their considerable work.

In the lobby gallery, “New Beginnings: Art of Discovery and Resilience” is a one-person show by Christopher Johnson. Running through June 30, Johnson’s high-key mixed media paintings have an acrylic foundation that often incorporates unconventional material from construction sites, recycled waste and natural matter. His palette is bright with primary colors, and he’s not afraid to use high-chroma pinks and oranges that border on neon. Built-up impasto passages give a three-dimensional feel to some of his work.

Johnson says his work is a powerful means of self-expression and healing. “Each work is a story or compilation capturing the nuances of how I felt growing through realized sexual trauma, acknowledging my sexuality,

maturing into fatherhood, and my developing science career. Through my work, I navigate the complex terrain of identity, resilience, and vulnerability by sharing my experiences and emotions. I aim to foster empathy, empower others, and contribute to a broader conversation about the LGBTQ+ community and the lasting effects of trauma. Ultimately, my art serves as a testament to the strength and resilience of those who have faced adversity and emerged as stronger people,” Johnson says in his artist statement.

A self-taught artist, Johnson is a senior scientist with the Wyss Institute, part of Harvard University Medical School. His artistic impulses tracing to childhood were reignited during the pandemic, serving as both expression and stress relief, he said. Johnson resides in Kingston, New Hampshire, with his partner and two children.

Food and community combine in “Dish”

In the main gallery, Laura Tanner’s

colorful, finely wrought mixed-media drawings comprise her show “Dish.”

The exhibition is part of Tanner’s ongoing project that explores how local traditions surrounding food’s production and consumption define a community’s identity.

Tanner’s work commonly incorporates delicate, hand-cut Mylar as a base for the figurative imagery she creates with ink, gouache and other drawing media. Tanner says the subject matter of her work reflects contemporary challenges communities face, including

Christopher Johnson says his work is a powerful means of self-expression and healing. “Ultimately, my art serves as a testament to the strength and resilience of those who have faced adversity and emerged as stronger people,” Johnson said. In “The Chatter,” his use of explosive color and symbology contribute to a chaotic abstract landscape. Courtesy Photo.

food insecurity and climate change. She first gathers oral histories from farmers, chefs, restaurant patrons and home cooks, then uses that material to inspire her drawings.

Tanner, who hails from Georgia, is assistant professor of studio practice in the Department of Visual Art and Art History at Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton. The “Dish” project began in the South, focusing on antebellum culture. She is now reiterating the project along the East Coast, examining differing regional traditions and social history.

Tanner says, “My drawings act as a visual archive of research that examines the consequences of American colonialism and addresses the sense of white fragility that continues to pervade Western culture. In the midst of widespread anxiety over the collective American identity, there has been a revival of many of the country’s unresolved historical battles, including contentious race relations, sexism, nativism, and an ever-growing wage gap. I employ the Americana aesthetic of the Old South to parallel historical and contemporary acts of resistance to racial, economic, and gender diversity.”

Art that encourages discourse

3S Artspace executive director Beth Falconer said, “With Laura Tanner’s ‘Dish,’ we recognized an opportunity to add to an artist’s portfolio and have the site-specific work shared with future communities. Laura invests time in the places she visits, and thoughtfully highlights both unique cultural conditions and universal threads that affect coastal food pathways.” “With Christopher Johnson, what first spoke to us were the colorful abstract paintings that draw you in and hold your attention. As we delved deeper, we felt the tension between anxiety and confidence, confusion and joy, that he speaks to as his process of coming to terms with his own bisexuality. The ultimately uplifting pieces are a special way to celebrate Pride Month and encourage collectors new and old with a modest price point. Purchasing art is the best way to support contemporary artists,” Falconer said. One way to buy local artists’ works is the 3S Artspace YART Sale, Sunday, June 9, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. There’s no admission fee. Hundreds of artworks from more than 30 New England artists will be available, all discounted 40 percent.

Get a seat at the table

As part of the “Dish” project while in Portsmouth, 3S Artspace and the Portsmouth Historical Society are collaborating on “Read it and Eat! + Dish Summer Dinner Party,” a potluck affair, Wednesday, July 24, at the Society’s 10 Middle St. location. “Read it and Eat!” is the society’s thrice-yearly event combining seasonal home-cooking brought by attendees to a 90-minute dinner when family stories are shared. Laura Tanner will attend and participate in the event. Visit portsmouthhistory.org for tickets.

restaurant patrons and home cooks, then uses that material to inspire her drawings. Tanner, who hails from Georgia, is currently an assistant professor of art at Florida Atlantic University. She says the “Dish” project began by focusing on antebellum culture in the South and how it conveys a false narrative of Americana traditions. Tanner is now reiterating the project along the East Coast, examining differing regional traditions and social history.. Courtesy Photo.

“New Beginnings: Art of Discovery and Resilience” and “Dish” are on view now at 3S Artspace galleries, 319 Vaughan St., Portsmouth. Open Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. No admission fee. Telephone 603- 766-3330. Email info@3sarts.org.

Laura Tanner says her art reflects contemporary challenges communities face, including food insecurity and climate change. She first gathers oral histories from farmers, chefs,

OUT FOR A BITE

AT THE SHUCK SHACK

Brand new to Hampton Beach, The Shuck Shack (3 D St., Hampton Beach, theshuckshackhb.com, and on Instagram @theshuckshackhb) is the hottest place to be for raw bar oysters, street tacos, lobster rolls, beer, wine and more. The 50-seat outdoor-only eatery is the latest venture of Swell Oyster Co.’s Russ Hilliard and Conor Walsh, who have been harvesting fresh Atlantic oysters in Hampton Harbor for nearly a decade. The pair of surfers and University of Rhode Island graduates, who also run Swell Oyster Shack just over a mile to the south, saw an opportunity to expand their offerings when the former Pat’s World Famous space on D Street became available. The Shuck Shack’s raw bar, in addition to Swell’s own oysters, has others grown from farms across neighboring New England states like Maine and Massachusetts, plus non-oyster options like shrimp cocktail, Jonah crab claw, littleneck clams, ceviche and caviar. But even if you’re not a seafood lover, there is plenty to enjoy here, from the pork carnitas or chicken adobo street tacos to small bites like street corn with mayonnaise, scallions, lime and queso fresco. “Maybe you love the raw bar, but who you’re with doesn’t, and so we try to accompany everyone’s palates … and just make it a fun, casual place to come hang out and eat some good food before you hit the beach,” Hilliard said. The Scene recently caught up with Hilliard, a Hampton Falls native, to discuss some of his must-try recommendations for visiting The Shuck Shack this summer.

How long has The Shuck Shack been around?

We did a soft opening on Thursday [before Memorial Day weekend] with friends and family, and then we just went right into it after that. We had a great first weekend.

What makes The Shuck Shack unique?

We have a complete raw bar … [and] we’re also affiliated with our own oyster farm, which is super cool. All of our staff are really well-trained in shucking oysters, so they are presented really well. … We also don’t have a frialator here; just super clean, fresh, good-tasting food.

What is your favorite thing on your own menu?

I’ll give you three. I love our Baja fish taco, I think the street corn is phenomenal, and then I also really enjoy the salmon tartare that we offer.

What is something that everyone should try?

If you’re an oyster lover, I would say you should try one of each oyster and see which one you like the best. … Sure, I love our Swell’s, but I like all of the other oysters as well, and each person’s palate is different. … I [also] think our warm butter

lobster roll is really good here. We’re really happy with how it turned out. … [It’s] super simple, [with] lemon, a little bit of sea salt, and, of course, butter on a nice toasted bun. You can’t really go wrong with that.

What celebrity would you like to see eating at The Shuck Shack?

I’d like to see Sterling Spencer. He’s a surfer and a pretty funny guy.

What is an essential skill to running a restaurant?

Not necessarily [having] management experience, but just having experience

working in a kitchen and knowing how kitchens work [is helpful]. … If you have that little bit of background, you can make all the right moves.

What is your favorite thing about being on the Seacoast?

I just really love being on the water. … So many people come to Hampton Beach from all around as a vacation, and we get to just drive down the road and be in that same spot.

Photo courtesy of The Shuck Shack on Hampton Beach

Photo courtesy of The Shuck Shack on Hampton Beach

Photo courtesy of The Shuck Shack on Hampton Beach

DRINKS WITH JOHN FLADD

Magnolia Maiden

Sometimes something is perfectly fine on a small scale, but all in all just Too Much — saunas, triplets, you get it. This classic cocktail is Just Enough.

Magnolia Maiden

1½ ounce bourbon

1½ ounce orange liqueur – Grand Marnier or Orange Curacao

1/3 ounce simple syrup (see below) splash (about 1 ounce) plain seltzer or club soda

Combine bourbon, orange liqueur and simple syrup over ice in a cocktail shaker. There are several types of shakers, but I like something called a Boston shaker. It consists of two cups, one large and one smaller. When you’ve added everything you want to shake to the large cup, turn the little one upside-down and wedge it into the big one. This will create an airtight seal and allow you to shake a drink

without it making a break for freedom and drenching your kitchen with bourbon. Shake the cocktail thoroughly. When the mystic voice of the cocktail lets you know that it is ready (or when you feel the ice start to break up inside the shaker) break the seal on the shaker. As you’ve chilled the cocktail, you’ve also chilled the air inside the shaker, which has contracted, tightening the already air-tight seal.

Strain the cocktail over fresh ice in a rocks glass. If you’re using a Boston shaker, pull the two halves apart slightly, making a shallow V shape. Your drink will pour out, leaving the ice behind. “There, there,” you can say to the shaker, “doesn’t that feel better?”

Top it off with a generous splash of club soda, and stir gently.

The only thing about this drink that is too much is its name. The bourbon isn’t too bourbony. The orange liqueur isn’t too sweet. It is neither too flat nor too bubbly.

It tastes like something a relaxed person would drink.

Simple syrup

Drink recipes throw around the term “simple syrup” like everyone knows what that means. It’s one of those phrases like “slip differential” or “antioxidant” that everyone pretends to understand, but I think a surprising percentage of people don’t.

Have you ever added a packet of natural sugar to an iced coffee, and some of it ends up in a little pile at the bottom of the cup? Simple syrup is sugar that has been put into a solution with water, so that won’t happen to your cocktails.

The reason it is called “simple syrup” is that it consists of equal amounts of water and sugar; there is no recipe to memorize. Add equal amounts of white, granulated sugar and water — this can be by weight,

or by volume — to a saucepan. Bring it to a boil on your stove, at whatever temperature you want, stirring occasionally. Let it boil for a few seconds to make sure all the sugar has gone into solution; then remove it from heat, let it cool, and store it in your refrigerator indefinitely. Don’t worry about it getting lonely; it’s very approachable and will make friends with your condiments quickly.

Magnolia Maiden. Photo by John Fladd.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (R)

Golf &

World Famous Seafood Chowder & Lobster Rolls Daily Specials IndoorGolf

A young girl is stolen from a “place of abundance” and introduced into the harsh world of post-apocalyptic Australia in Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, a downbeat and fairly unnecessary origin story for the character played by Charlize Theron in Mad Max: Fury

I mean, I assume it’s Australia, because of the accents and the Mad Max of it all.

As we learned in Fury Road, Furiosa (Alyla Browne as a kid, Anya Taylor-Joy as an older angrier girl) grew up in the “green place” in a world (or, at least, an Australia) that was otherwise a war-torn, resource-scarce desert. Due to some technical difficulties at the theater I went to, I missed the first few minutes of the movie and started watching as young girl Furiosa is thrown over the seat of some marauding grungy dude’s motorcycle. Her mother (Charlee Fraser) goes after her, both to save Furiosa and to prevent the three grungy bikers who are stealing her away from telling anybody about their hidden fertile land. With the help of a resourceful Furiosa, her mom is able to eventually kill all the kidnappers before they can tell the secrets of the “place of abundance” as they describe it. But she can’t get to Furiosa before the girl is taken to Dementus (Chris Hemsworth, thoroughly de-handsomed with some fun prosthetics), the biker gang leader. Furiosa won’t give up her homeland’s location, even when he is torturing her mother, but Dementus decides to keep her around, perhaps hoping that one day she might lead him there.

Eventually Dementus hears about another “place of abundance” — the Citadel run by Immortan Joe (Lachy Hulme), the skullface-breathing-mask guy from Fury Road Dementus decides he and his gang will take it over but his first attempt fails in the face of Joe’s overwhelming force of War Boys. He hatches a craftier scheme to gain control of Gasland, one of the wasteland fortresses and the source of fuel for Joe’s empire. Eventually, Dementus makes a deal with Joe for him (Dementus) to run Gasland in exchange for Joe getting Furiosa as one of his eventual brides. Furiosa is still a kid, mostly non-talking, when this deal is made, and after a few days of watching a childbirth and trying to dodge Joe’s creeper sons (Josh Helman, Nathan Jones) she runs off and hides among the mechanics at the Citadel, posing as a boy.

Years later, when she has grown into Taylor-Joy, Furiosa becomes a worker on a newly crafted War Rig. After a battle with raiders during the initial run, the truck’s driver Praetorian Jack (Tom Burke) realizes: that Furiosa is a badass during a fight, that Furiosa is a girl and that he rather likes this badass girl. They do food-for-fuel runs together, with Furiosa hiding her rage toward Dementus until his growing recklessness puts him in direct con-

flict with Immortan Joe — and eventually with her.

In Fury Road it was Theron doing the big, interesting performance; here it’s Hemsworth. Not unlike Mad Max, Dementus lost his family — a stuffed animal that belonged to his long-gone children is always strapped somewhere to his person. He seems to cause chaos and suffering not for any particular thrill but because it’s something to do. Likewise, his interest in seizing power seems more like a nonchalant troll than an ambition for leadership. Hemsworth, the actor, seems to enjoy the scruffy unprettiness of his character.

His general rightness for the role unfortunately highlights the “not quite” fit of Taylor-Joy with the Furiosa role. Or maybe it’s the role that’s just not that exciting. Something about the character just doesn’t quite have the same pull as in Fury Road.

Also not quite standing up to the predecessor for me are the visual elements. Though one of Furiosa’s more successful components, they don’t quite smack you in the face the way they did in Fury Road. I do think the fact that we’ve seen this desert wasteland and the mutant-like people who populate it before — all dirt-caked and weird hats and the whole War Boy body paint thing — reduces the wow factor. Also, you know, it’s more sand. The second Dune maybe filled my “the beautiful wasteland of sand dunes” needs for a while. I said about Fury Road that it was a B movie with first-class movie visuals, and that is true here. The B-movie-ness pokes through constantly and it’s a not unfun aspect of the movie. I don’t know if it’s a sense of humor, exactly, but the movie definitely has a smirky quality that when paired with the stop-motion-y-speedy-closeup thing does give you that overall “schlocky in a good way” vibe. At 90-ish minutes, this would be kind of a bummer romp — all despair and ruin but with hints of camp. At its actual two-hour-and-nearly30-minute run time, it’s got more of a saga feel, yes, but in the slog sense rather than the “sweeping epic adventure and drama” sense. I feel like this movie, like the cobbled together cars in it, should get me in the audience all revved up and “ha, let’s go, crazy racers!” Instead, I felt more grumpy, more “OK, movie, tick tock, let’s go.” C+

Rated R for sequences of strong violence and grisly images, according to the MPA on filmratings.com. Directed by George Miller and written by George Miller and Nick Lathouris, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga is two hours and 28 minutes long and is distributed in theaters by Warner Bros.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

The Guncle Abroad, by Steven Rowley (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 320 pages)

It took me a minute to get back into the world of Patrick O’Hara, also known as GUP (Gay Uncle Patrick) to Maisie and Grant, Patrick’s now 14- and 11-yearold niece and nephew, respectively. The last time we saw these characters, in Rowley’s The Guncle , they were five years younger. Maisie and Grant had just lost their mom, and their dad, Greg, was struggling with addiction, so a very unprepared Patrick stepped in as their temporary guardian while his brother checked himself into rehab. Hilarity, along with a good dose of all the emotions that come with family, love and loss, ensued.

Now GUP is back in charge as he leads Maisie and Grant on a journey to understand love ahead of their dad’s impending wedding to Livia; meanwhile, Maisie and Grant are on a mission to get Patrick to get their dad to call off the wedding. They’re not fans of Livia (although they seem to like their soonto-be Launt — Lesbian aunt — much to Patrick’s annoyance).

“The key was not so much for the kids to understand their own [love] languag-

es … but for Patrick to open their eyes to the ways in which Greg and Livia might be a good match, and ways in which Livia might be expressing love for the two of them that they were currently missing. Guncle Love Languages.”

The wedding is set to take place in Lake Como, Italy. As Greg and Livia prepare for their big day, Patrick takes Maisie and Grant to some pretty amazing places that he believes exemplify love: Salzburg, Austria (where they all joy fully revive some famous Music moments), Paris and Venice. The locations make for beautiful backdrops for this quest of Patrick’s, even while his message is largely unheard and his niece and nephew dig their heels in.

which makes sense because they’re older

getting Grant and Maisie to accept Greg and Livia’s relationship, he’s nursing his

Patrick’s conversations with the kids are often hilarious — he doesn’t cod dle or hold back his opinions in the way most adults might. The kids aren’t quite as fun as they were in the first book,

Troubadour

Ellis Paul returns to Music Hall Lounge

By Michael Witthaus mwitthaus@hippopress.com

When he quit his day job to perform fulltime in 1992, the music business for Ellis Paul was a guitar and a suitcase packed with cassettes to sell at shows. Now, he’s a oneman vertical integration chain of folk songs. He writes, records, promotes and even creates his own videos.

He also runs a Patreon page along with making tutorial films and conducting oneon-one clinics on the Truefire website. It was a strategy that helped him keep his income somewhat steady during lockdown while others struggled. Another thing: Paul’s also quick to share with other artists all that he’s learned about these new realities of his industry.

One way he does that is through an annual end-of-summer songwriter retreat that he started eight years ago. “Coming up in the Boston music scene, I had all this mentorship from people like Bill Morrissey, and there was this community,” he said in a recent phone interview. “I was thinking, what if I could condense that kind of experience into a long weekend?”

Assistance in the form of tuition scholarships is offered to eight “up-and-coming people that can benefit from a retreat,” Paul said. “We’re pinpointing people … so they can be exposed to these master songwriters with 30 to 40 years of touring under their belt, that already have a big audience.”

The next retreat happens at the end of August in Chester, Connecticut, with hosts Paul and his partner Laurie MacAllister. Mentors include songwriters Lynn Miles, Vance Gilbert and Seth Glier, along with guitar master Eben Pariser.

Paul also helps out musicians by offering them opening slots, like his upcoming show at Portsmouth’s Music Hall Lounge; Connor Garvey will kick off that one. “He’s by no means young, I think he’s in his 30s, but he’s up in Maine and I like his music a lot,” Paul said. “I’m trying to help him out with a few gigs here to help him build his audience.”

His last album is 2023’s 55, named due to his age at the start of the pandemic, when he began writing it. The title track is a journey through the past that touches on rotary phones, home milk delivery, eight-track tapes, Polaroids and the death of John Prine,

and ends at lockdown.

“Turn the bus ’round boys, it’s over/this virus don’t care if you’ve got mouths to feed,” he sings fearfully.

He wrote 30 songs for 55, ultimately selecting a dozen, in a creative fit inspired by The Beatles.

“I couldn’t go into a recording studio, and I couldn’t hang out with musicians face to face,” he recalled. “So I would watch Get Back for two or three hours until I got whipped up and then I’d run downstairs and start laying down tracks, pretending I was the fifth Beatle.”

He’s begun the writing process for a new album, and fans in Portsmouth can expect a few selections from that.

“I’m going to be telling stories and singing new songs and old songs and songs that have yet to be recorded,” he said. “I’m going to be starting to introduce the newer stuff to people just to help break them in in front of an audience. They’ll hear a few songs that haven’t been recorded as well as stuff from the new album (55) and then sort of the classics from my back catalog, the ones that they know.”

Though he’s lived in Virginia for the past several years, most New Englanders consider Paul theirs. After all, the University of Maine awarded him an honorary doctorate in 2014, and he’s in the Boston Music Hall of Fame. “I feel it, trust me,” he said. “I love it down here … it’s beautiful, the weather is great; but I’m definitely a kid from Maine and Boston, and I can’t shake that.”

Ellis Paul w/ Connor Garvey

When: Sunday, June 9, 7:30 p.m.

Where: The Music Hall Lounge, 131 Congress St., Portsmouth Tickets: $36 and up at themusichall. org

DAILY EVENTS

Ellis Paul. Courtesy photo.

Exeter

Sawbelly Brewing 156 Epping Road 583-5080

Sea Dog Brewery 9 Water St.

Shooter’s Pub 6 Columbus Ave. 772-3856

Swasey Parkway 316 Water St.

Hampton Bernie’s Beach Bar 73 Ocean Blvd. 926-5050

Bogie’s 32 Depot Square 601-2319

Community Oven 845 Lafayette Road 601-6311

CR’s The Restaurant 287 Exeter Road 929-7972

Thursday, June 6

Hampton

Goat: Justin Federico, 8 p.m.

Smuttynose: Truffle Duo, 6 p.m.

Newburyport

Goat: Chris Toler, 8 p.m.

Newmarket

Stone Church: Comedy Series w/ Karen Morgan, 7 p.m.

Portsmouth

Goat: Isaiah Bennett, 8 p.m.

Gas Light: 21st & 1st Band, 7 p.m.

Press Room: Superfrog, 8 p.m.

Friday, June 7

Exeter

Shooters Pub: Doug Mitchell, 6 p.m.

Hampton

Bernie’s Beach Bar: Joe Samba, 8 p.m.

Goat: Mike Jetti, 8 p.m.

The Goat 20 L St. 601-6928

Hampton Beach Sea Shell Stage Events on southern stage

L Street Tavern 603 17 L St. 967-4777

Logan’s Run 816 Lafayette Road 926-4343

Smuttynose: Conniption Fits, 6 p.m.

Wally’s: Fast Times, 9 p.m.

Newburyport

Goat: Chris Powers, 8 p.m.

Newmarket

Stone Church: Jazz is PHSH, 9 p.m.

Portsmouth

Goat: Chris Toler, 8 p.m.

Gas Light: Alex Roy Band, 7 p.m. (deck); DJ Koko P, 9 p.m. (nightclub); Colin Hart, 7 p.m. (pub) Press Room: Andrew North and The Rangers, 8 p.m.

Saturday, June 8

Exeter

Shooters Pub: Tin Palace, 6 p.m.

Hampton

Bernie’s Beach Bar: Joe Samba, 8 p.m.

Goat: Justin Federico, 1 p.m.; Chris Toler, 8 p.m.

Sea Ketch 127 Ocean Blvd. 926-0324

Shane’s BBQ 61 High St. 601-7091

Smuttynose Brewing 105 Towle Farm Road

Wally’s Pub 144 Ashworth Ave. 926-6954

Sea Ketch: Clint Lapointe, 1 p.m.; Richard Wallace, 8 p.m.

Smuttynose: Malcolm Salls, 1 p.m.; Max Sullivan Group, 6 p.m.

Wally’s: Pulse, 2 p.m.

Newburyport

Goat: Caylin Costello, 10 a.m.; Taylor Hughes, 8 p.m.

Newmarket

Stone Church: Darlin’ Corey, 8 p.m.

Portsmouth

Goat: Mike Jetti, 8 p.m.

Gas Light: Paul Warnick, 2 p.m. (deck); DJ Koko P, 9 p.m. (nightclub); Fat Bunny Band, 7 p.m. (deck); Matt Luneau, 9:30 p.m. (deck)

Press Room: The Edd W/ Zoo Logic, 8 p.m.

Salisbury

Uncle Eddie’s Oceanside Tavern: Chris Michaels, 5:30 p.m.

KAREN MORGAN

Karen Morgan, performing Thursday, June 6, 7 p.m. at Stone Church (5 Granite St., Newmarket) is a former trial attorney who began her comedy career as a finalist on Nickelodeon’s Search for the Funniest Mom in America. She now tours nationwide with her clean comedy shows, and has Dry Bar Comedy specials. Her third album Shiny Happy People Laughing will be released soon. $15 at stonechurchrocks.com

WHYM

853 Lafayette Road 601-2801

Newmarket Schanda Park off Creighton Street

Stone Church 5 Granite St. 659-7700

North Hampton Locals Restaurant & Pub 215 Lafayette Road 379-2729

Portsmouth Clipper Tavern 75 Pleasant St., 501-0109

The Gas Light 64 Market St., 430-9122

Sunday, June 9

Hampton

Bernie’s Beach Bar: Schwayze, 8 p.m.

Goat: Chris Toler 1 p.m.;

Justin Jordan 8 p.m.

Sea Ketch: Ray Zerkle, 1 p.m.

Smuttynose: Ralph Allen 12:30 p.m.; Redemption, 6 p.m.

Newburyport

Goat: Justin Jordan, 10 a.m.; Jonny Friday, 8 p.m.

Newmarket

Stone Church: Irish Matinee, 8 p.m.

Portsmouth

Goat: Rob Pagnano, 8 p.m.

Gas Light: Rebecca Turmel, 2 p.m.; Dave Ayotte Band, 6 p.m.

Press Room: Nick Goumas Quartet, 8 p.m.

Gibb’s Garage Bar 3612 Lafayette Road

The Goat 142 Congress St. 590-4628

Grill 28

Pease Golf Course 766-6466

Herbert’s Restaurant 1500 Lafayette Road 431-5882

The Statey Bar & Grill 238 Deer St. 431-4357

Summer in the Streets Pleasant Street to Porter Street to Market Square

Monday, June 10

Hampton

Bernie’s Beach Bar: Country Nights, 7 p.m.

Goat: Caylin Costello, 8 p.m.

Newburyport

Goat: Alex Anthony, 8 p.m.

Portsmouth

Goat: Andrew Dostie, 8 p.m.

Gas Light: Justin Jordan, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, June 11

Hampton

Bernie’s Beach Bar: Reggae

Night Mike Francis, Green Lion Crew, 7 p.m.

Goat: Ryan Flynn, 8 p.m.

Wally’s: Musical Bingo, 7 p.m.

Newburyport

Goat: Rob Pagnano, 8 p.m.

Portsmouth

Goat: Isaiah Bennett, 8 p.m.

Gas Light: Max Sullivan, 7:30 p.m.

Thirsty Moose Taphouse 21 Congress St. 427-8645

Tuscan Kitchen 10 Ledgewood Drive 570-3600

Rye Atlantic Grill 5 Pioneer Road 433-3000

Seabrook Chop Shop Pub 920 Lafayette Road 760-7706

Red’s Kitchen + Tavern 530 Lafayette Road 760-0030

Press Room: Jazz Jam, 6 p.m.; Soggy Po’ Boys, 9 p.m.

Wednesday, June 12

Hampton

Goat: Justin Jordan, 8 p.m.

Smuttynose: Living on Island Time - Redemption, 6 p.m.

Wally’s: Live Band Karaoke, 8 p.m.

Newburyport

Goat: Brooks Hubbard, 8 p.m.

Portsmouth

Goat: Rob Pagnano, 8 p.m.

Gas Light: Pete Peterson, 7:30 p.m.

Press Room: Joe Kaplow w/ Kate Possi

EXETER CALLING

Over the past decade, The Wolff Sisters have forged a compelling New England twist on the Americana genre. Fresh off a powerhouse set at the Boston Calling music festival, they touch down at the Word Barn (66 Newfields Road, Exeter, 244-0202, thewordbarn.com) on Friday, June 7, at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $12.50 to $25, plus fees.

Unclear on the Concept

Corey Harris, 44, attended his pre-trial hearing on driving with a suspended license remotely, over Zoom, on May 15, The New York Times reported. No problem with that, but as Harris checked into the meeting with the Washtenaw County District Court in Michigan, he told the judge, “I’m pulling into my doctor’s office, actually, so just give me one second, I’m parking right now.” Huh. Video showed Harris in the driver’s seat and turning the wheel as he located a parking spot. “So maybe I don’t understand something,” Judge J. Cedric Simpson said. “This is a driver with a license suspended?” Harris’ attorney, Natalie Pate, confirmed the charge. “And he was just driving?” Simpson asked. Seconds of silence went by, with Harris appearing to realize his mistake. “That is correct, your honor,” Pate said. “I don’t know why he would do that,” the judge answered, right before he revoked Harris’ bond and ordered him to turn himself in by 6 p.m. His next hearing is on June 5.

Clothing Optional

A Virgin Australia flight headed for Melbourne had to return to Perth on May 27 after a man allegedly ran naked down the aisle shortly after takeoff, The Guardian reported. Police said the man also “knocked a crew member to the floor.” One passenger reported “a lot of yelling and screaming” near the cockpit as the man charged forward. The man

SUDOKU

was pinned to the floor by air marshals; he was then handcuffed and led to the rear of the plane. Federal police met the aircraft on its return to Perth and arrested him.

Enough Is Enough

Lopburi, Thailand, also known as monkey town, has had it up to HERE with about 2,500 marauding macaques terrorizing the townsfolk, the Associated Press reported. As such, on May 24, the town launched the first phase of a plan to catch and remove the monkeys: cages baited with rambutan fruit, their favorite. The problem? The simians are smart: “If some of them go into the cage and are caught, the others outside won’t enter the cage ... because they’ve already learnt what’s happened to their friends,” said Patarapol Maneeorn from the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation. Lopburi’s mayor said that while the monkeys bring in tourists, shops and malls have lost income and people’s homes have been damaged. Those that are caught will be sterilized and tattooed so they can be tracked. Then they’ll move to large holding pens, where they’ll await repatriation.

In Snettisham, Norfolk, in the U.K., it’s feral chickens that are plaguing the town. The flock of 100 or so chickens dig up gardens and are so loud that residents have to use earplugs at night, United Press International reported. The Snettisham Parish Council said

it is “seeking specialist advice from various sources,” but some residents object to the idea of moving the chickens away. “They are part of the fabric of the village,” said chicken supporter Rebecca Chilvers. The council invited residents to a meeting to air their opinions.

Fan-atic

Tara Berry of Topeka, Kansas, has secured a Guinness World Record for the most tattoos of the same musician on her body, United Press International reported on May 23. Berry, who sports 18 tattoos of Madonna, said she got the first one in 2016. The inks span the singer’s career. Berry estimated she’s spent nearly $10,000 on them.

RIP

The Smoking Gun reported on May 24 that the world’s most arrested man, Henry Earl, 74, had passed away. Earl racked up more than 1,500 arrests in his lifetime and spent 6,000 nights in jail. Since 2017, he had lived in a nursing home in Owenton, Kentucky, near where his first arrest took place in July 1970 (for carrying a concealed weapon). Most of his offenses were fueled by alcohol and didn’t include violent crimes. He was laid to rest in the Owenton cemetery.

Weird Warfare

The South Korean military announced on May 29 that it had found 260 balloons that had

drifted across the demilitarized zone between it and North Korea, The New York Times reported. The balloons were carrying bags full of ... trash, such as cigarette butts, used shoes and compost. The bags were reportedly released according to timers attached to the balloons. “We issue a stern warning to North Korea to stop this anti-humanitarian and dirty operation,” South Korea warned. But North Korea pledged to send more to exercise its “freedom of expression.”

It’s Nice To Have a Hobby

For 10 years, residents of North Enid Avenue in Azusa, California, have been putting up with a pesky nuisance: a serial slingshot shooter. The New York Times reported that people would find broken windows on their cars or homes and little ball bearings strewn about. “Many times I came outside, and I would find little BBs by the front door,” said Monica Palomino. Finally, police have nabbed the vandal: 81-year-old Prince Raymond King, who also lives on the block. Azusa Police Cpl. Benjamin Cypher said several recent incidents had allowed them to narrow their search down to King’s address, where they found the slingshot and ball bearings. “We’re not aware of any kind of motive other than just malicious mischief,” Lt. Jake Bushey said. King was ordered to stay away from his neighborhood and return to court on June 17. He pleaded not guilty.