Weekend - February 09, 2023

For the latest listings of WMass events, go online to masslive.com/entertainment

Weekend

LIVEWIRE: Barenaked Ladies coming to Mohegan Sun, E4

BEER NUT: A perfect Valentine’s Day beer, E6

CALENDAR: Events at museums, galleries in WMass, E10 Leonardo’s Lab:

at Symphony Hall

Hands-on fun awaits at Leonardo’s Lab

Leondaro da Vinci inspires exhibit at Springfield Museums

By C ori U rban Special to The Republican

Powers, director of science at the museums. “All of us have imaginations, and it’s important for us to make time to use them and to understand that even playful ideas can sometimes change the world for the better.”

aerodynamics. Inspired by his reverse-print method, they can write backwards so it seems correct when viewed in a mirror. They can also put their own spin on his most famous work, The Mona Lisa, using different art techniques.

THE

ARTWORK

AND invention of Leonardo da Vinci continue to inspire generations of people worldwide, and an exhibition, Leonardo’s Lab — on exhibit until April 23 at the Springfield Science Museum — is doing just that in Western Massachusetts.

“We hope that museum visitors will be excited to learn more about the way he used his imagination to produce so many things the world had never seen before, from wild inventions to the most famous art in the world,” said Jenny

Visitors to the exhibit can immerse themselves in the mind of da Vinci, the original “Renaissance Man.” Explore all the fascinating facets of his work across multiple disciplines in hands-on ways while building, sketching, testing and designing via activities tied to his era and ideas. The brain challenges, opportunities for creative expression and intriguing ideas are for children and adults alike.

Visitors can recreate da Vinci’s tool-and-hardware-free interlocking bridge and assemble an air-powered flying ‘copter, making changes to improve the

“The best thing about this exhibit is that it is entirely handson,” Powers said. “Whether it’s building, drawing, engineering or other creative thinking, this exhibit is full of tactile experiences that we hope can serve everyone.”

Parents, grandparents or other caregivers will have fun engaging and solving challenges with the children that they bring to the museum, she said. “We hope kids will feel inspired to use their own creativity to make the world a better place.”

For more information, go to springfieldmuseums.org/ exhibitions/leonardos-lab.

Samuel Ziegler of Suffern. N.Y., puts his head into a portrait of Leonardo da Vinci at the new Leonardo’s Lab exhibit at the Springfield Science Museum. (DON TREEGER / THE REPUBLICAN)

Ilan Ziegler, 13, of Suffern, N.Y., draws a horse on a chalkboard at the new “Leonardo’s Lab” exhibit at the Springfield Science Museum. (DON TREEGER / THE REPUBLICAN)

“The best thing about this exhibit is that it is entirely hands-on. Whether it’s building, drawing, engineering or other creative thinking, this exhibit is full of tactile experiences that we hope can serve everyone.”

Jenny Powers, director of science, Springfield

Museums

Gears ‘n Pegs activity area gives patrons the opportunity to mix and match ratio-coordinated gears to create their own 2D and 3D interlocking mechanisms at Leonardo’s Lab at the Springfield Museums. (HOANG ‘LEON’ NGUYEN / THE REPUBLICAN)

Above is the Take Flight activity area where patrons can cut out and fold their own air-powered flying helicopter at Leonardo’s Lab at the Springfield Museums. (HOANG ‘LEON’ NGUYEN / THE REPUBLICAN)

‘Menopause The Musical’ arrives at Symphony Hall

Show features parodies of classic pop songs from 1960s to ’80s

By C ori U rban Special to The Republican

CREDIT THE LONGEVity of “Menopause The Musical” — now in its 22nd year and 17th as the longest-running musical in Las Vegas history — to its topic.

“It’s timeless. It’s something we are all going to be able to relate to. … Someone you know is going through menopause” or has gone through it, said

IF YOU GO

Event: “Menopause The Musical”

When: Sunday, 3 p.m.

Where: Symphony Hall, 34 Court St., Springfield

Tickets: Start at $45

For more information: Online, MenopauseTheMusical.com

Donna J. Huntley, who plays Professional Woman in the production that is coming to Symphony Hall for one performance on Sunday. “It’s relatable. It’s a story that can

always be told,” and if a woman lives long enough, she will go through menopause.

The story is set in a department store ,where four women meet while shopping for a black lace bra at a lingerie sale. After noticing similarities among one another, the cast jokes about their woeful hot flashes, mood swings, wrinkles, weight gain and other symptoms of “The Change.” These women form a unique bond with the audience as they rejoice in celebrating that menopause is no longer “The Silent Passage.”

“Everyone is represented as far as symptoms and how they

Cast members of “Menopause The Musical,” from left, Teri Adams, Donna J. Huntley, Rebecca Fisher and Megan Cavanagh.  (ML PORTRAITS BY ALLISON CHRISTINE)

Barenaked Ladies coming to Mohegan Sun

Nightclubs

THURSDAY

Doc’s Place: Karaoke. 1264 Granby Road, Chicopee

Southwick Inn: Open mic hosted by Steve Piper of Roadhouse Band. 479 College Highway, Southwick

The Drake: Yasu Suzuki Method + Fundraiser. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst

The Still: Drink specials. 63 Springfield St., Agawam

BARENAKED LADIES will make a stop at Mohegan Sun Arena on July 7 as part of the band’s Last Summer on Earth Tour.

Of course, this erroneously named tour began in 2012 — based on the idea that the ancient Mayan calendar predicted that year to be the end of the world.

The band has replicated the tour, which is now in its seventh incarnation. But that won’t stop fans from going to see the two-time Grammy nominees, who will be supported by both Five For Fighting and Del Amitri.

Tickets are $33.50 and are on sale via ticketmaster. com. Tickets are also available at the Mohegan Sun Box Office, subject to availability.

Liner notes

• Michael Franti & Spearhead will play the Pines Theater at Look Park in Northampton on June 22.

The show was recently announced as part of Franti’s Big Big Love 2023 Tour. The

tour will stop in more than 50 venues from May to August. The tour will also stop in Boston at Leader Bank Pavilion.

“I believe that we all need ‘big big love’ in our lives, especially today. To me, that’s holding space for those we love closely, those we may have differences with and for the world as a whole,” Franti said on his website.

Tank & The Bangas will open the show.

• Comedian Tape Face will play MGM Springfield’s ARIA Ballroom on April 21 at 8 p.m.

Tape Face is a character created by performer Sam Wills, who was a finalist on “America’s Got Talent.” Willis

spans a wide array of popular culture in his act, including silent film, vaudeville, mime puppetry, Motown and even the films of Patrick Swayze. Simon Cowell compared him to a modern Charlie Chaplin. Tickets go on sale today at MGMSpringfield.com

• There have been rumors that Dolly Parton endorses a certain brand of CBD and keto gummy products bearing her name.

But although Parton likes sweets as much as anyone, she’s “more the cake, cookie, and cornbread type,” according to a post on her Instagram account. Advertisements for these gummies have been appearing online, with photos of Parton as well as claims that the formula can “reverse dementia.” However, a post on Instagram insisted she has never endorsed these products.

“Dolly Parton is not affiliated with, has not endorsed and is not associated with any keto or CBD gummy product,” a representative going by the moniker “Team Dolly” wrote.

Parton is currently promoting a line of baking products for Duncan Hines.

Brinnel. 827 Williams St., Longmeadow

Theodores’: Sweet Daddy Cool Breeze. 201 Worthington St., Springfield

West Springfield Fish and Game Club: CD jukebox, pool table. 329 Garden St., Feeding Hills

SATURDAY

Delaney House: Lisa Martin. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke

Doc’s Place: Karaoke. 1264 Granby Road, Chicopee

West Springfield Fish and Game Club: CD jukebox, pool table. 329 Garden St., Feeding Hills

Whip City Brew: DJ with dance. 287 Elm St., Westfield

FRIDAY

Delaney House: Frank Serafino.

3 Country Club Road, Holyoke

Doc’s Place: Karaoke. 1264 Granby Road, Chicopee

East Mountain Country Club: Dayblazer. 1458 East Mountain Rd, Westfield

MGM Springfield: MGM Free

Music Fridays: Studio Two. 1

MGM Way, Springfield

The Drake: Outro, Spanish for Hitchhiking, Eat Fire Spring. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst

The Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center: Horns & Halos

Costume Rave. 289 Main St., Greenfield

The Meeting House: Dave

The Drake: Roll Over White, Senior Year. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst

The Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center: Cindy Foster

Valentines Day Comedy Day Show. 289 Main St., Greenfield

Theodores’: Cheryl Arena. 201 Worthington St., Springfield

Whip City Brew: DJ with dance. 287 Elm St., Westfield

SUNDAY

Doc’s Place: Karaoke. 1264 Granby Road, Chicopee

TUESDAY

The Drake: Open MicValentine’s Edition. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst

The Hawks & Reed Performing Arts Center: Do You Believe in Life After Club. 289 Main St., Greenfield

SEE NIGHTCLUBS, PAGE E12

Barenaked Ladies will play the Mohegan Sun Arena on July 7 as part of their Last Summer on Earth Tour.

Michael Franti performs on Sept. 18, during Sea.Hear.Now music festival in Asbury Park, New Jersey. He will play the Pines Theater in Northampton in June.

George Lenker

LiveWire

Winter brings game dinners to Western Mass.

LATE WINTER HAS been the traditional season for restaurant game dinners, events where guests can “bite back” when it comes to the like of alligator, bison, venison, and more.

Elk has been a staple of these game event dinners for a number of years now. Like all meats served at game dinners, the elk must be farm-raised rather than hunter-harvested; the meat is processed for human consumption under USDA supervision.

Elk meat is produced from North American Elk, a larger relative of the common white-tailed deer. A number of wild elk sub-species are native to the West, the Midwest, and the southern Appalachians

Elk meat is similar to venison — deep red in color, more fine-grained, leaner, and somewhat sweeter than beef. Its meat is nutritionally superior to nearly all red meats commercially available. Low in fat and cholesterol, elk meat is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid.

Given its nutritional virtues, elk is beginning to migrate from special event menus to instead appear as a regular a la carte option on culinary agendas.

Elk USA, a Del Notre, Colorado, producer of ranchraised game meats, has an informative website, elkusa. com, that details the raising, nutritional characteristics,

and uses of elk and other game meats.

Side dishes

• On Saturday, Wheelhouse Catering and Events in Amherst will host a “Pop Up Bar Night” at its 383 Main St. storefront. The event, which will run from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m., will feature “quirky” cocktails and “irresistible” snacks and is open to all who are 21 and older.

Wheelhouse promises to preview the pop-up’s offerings on its Instagram feed, @wheelhouse.farm.

Wheelhouse answers at 413-323-3322.

• Villa Napoletana in East Longmeadow is holding its annual Valentine’s Day celebration Feb. 14 from 4 to 9:30 p.m.

The restaurant will be

serving an a la carte menu as well as a special dinner-fortwo, with a complimentary Valentine’s Day rose as part of each couple’s dinner experience. The restaurant is also suggesting that folks “dress to the nines” for this celebration of love.

Reservations are essential, and they can be made by calling the restaurant at 413732-9300.

• Waypoint Spirits in Bloomfield, Connecticut, has organized a “Love Stinks” Valentine’s mixology class for Friday, starting at 6:30 p.m. The class will be led by the distillery-taproom’s chief mixologist, who will lead the group through the preparation of two distinctive cocktails. Participants will also engage in spirits tastings and

The Munich Haus German restaurant in Chicopee is among area restaurants offering game dinners this winter, featuring a lineup of exotic game meats, including wild boar, venison, alligator, bison and mountain goat. (DON TREEGER / THE REPUBLICAN)

Hugh Robert Off The Menu

A perfect Valentine’s Day beer

Wines from Georgia, the country, are worth discovering

WINE POP QUIZ: Which country in the world has been making wine the longest?

Is it France? Perhaps Spain or Italy? Not even close.

Head further east and a few thousand years earlier for the correct answer: Georgia, where people have been making wine for nearly 8,000 years since 6,000 B.C.

But Georgia isn’t stuck in the past. In fact, its wine industry is growing.

Ken Ross Wine Press

So what type of wine does Georgia make? And what do they taste like?

I’VE NEVER BEEN A big fan of Valentine’s Day.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s not that I turn my nose up at romance. In many ways, I used to be the most hopeful of hopeless romantics. It’s just that I didn’t see the need for one special day to celebrate the love of your life. I always felt that a love so special should be celebrated every day. I know that sounds like a cliché, but clichés often come out of truths.

Although my days of romance are now

behind me, I am not a curmudgeon. So every once in a while I use this column to guide beer lovers to beers that might be appropriate to share with their romantic partners.

This week is one such occasion, since Valentine’s Day is upon us. It also coincided with a new beer I just sampled that is a perfect fit for the day for lovers: Building 8’s stout, the Dark One, with Mexican chocolate.

You almost couldn’t make a more perfect brew for Valentine’s Day. It’s rich, sensuous, a bit boozy and a tad sweet if we’re talking about the Mexican chocolate version.

Building 8 had a special release party for the beer, and I stopped by. There were four iterations of the stout: the new Dark One; the new one with Mexican chocolate; the 2021 Dark One; and a special cask

Georgian wine exports to the U.S. increased by 7% from 2021 to 2022, according to Wines of Georgia, the organization that represents and promotes wines from the country and the National Wine Agency of Georgia. Specifically, Georgia exported 944,766 bottles of wine to the U.S. in 2022 compared to 2021, when 881,470 bottles of Georgian wine were shipped to the U.S.

The short answer? Many different types, and they taste great.

This week’s column shares more about wines from Georgia, along with tasting notes for three wines under $25 a bottle, two whites and one red.

Located on the eastern shore of the Black Sea, Georgia is widely considered the birthplace of winemaking. In 2015, archaeologists uncovered

SEE WINE, PAGE E8

THURSDAY

Minimum Admission $50

1 - 1199 Progressive w/ Climbing Consolation Prize

2 - $500 Cover Alls

3 - $200 Special Games

Building 8′s stout, the Dark One, with Mexican chocolate, is perfect for Valentine’s Day.

(GEORGE LENKER PHOTO)

George Lenker Beer Nut

You almost couldn’t make a more perfect brew for Valentine’s Day. It’s rich, sensuous, a bit boozy and a tad sweet if we’re talking about the Mexican chocolate version.

be given a tour of the distillery. Take-home “swag” will include a set of bar tools and a bottle of Waypoint’s Vodka.

The event carries a “stinks” label because the complimentary snacks provided will incorporate flavors and aromas from the potently aromatic onion and garlic family.

Tickets are $80 plus tax, gratuity, and convenience fee; they are available on Eventbrite.com

Waypoint picks up at 860904-6583.

• Jae’s Restaurant at the Hilton Garden Inn in Pittsfield is running a contest on social media, the grand prize of which is a gift card for $50 and a bottle of Prosecco.

To enter the raffle, Jae’s asks that it be “liked” on both Facebook and Instagram and that those doing the liking “tag a friend” while doing so. The winner will be announced Feb. 13.

Jae’s Restaurant can be reached at 413-464-8791.

• In conjunction with Hitchcock Brewing Company of Bernardston, the Steaming Tender Restaurant in Palmer will conduct a free tasting of Hitchcock’s product lineup today from 5:30 to 8 p.m. The event will include giveaways and a special complimentary dessert with the purchase of any Hitchcock pint.

Hitchcock’s co-owner and brew master Rich Pedersen favors primarily American ales, often using local produce like raspberries, blueberries, maple syrup, pumpkin, and squash as enhancements.

Pedersen’s brewing style emphasizes crisp and clean flavors that are true to American brewing traditions.

The Hitchcock Brewing Company maintains a taproom and pub that pours

house-made beers and serves snacks like nacho chips, jumbo pretzels, pizza slices, and hot dogs.

Hitchcock Brewing Company answers at 413648-3172; Steaming Tender Restaurant answer at 413283-2744.

• Steak & Ale, a chain restaurant brand founded in the 1960s, was an industry trailblazer that helped define casual dining and popularize innovations like an all-you-care-to-eat salad bar. Eventually growing to almost 300 locations, Steak & Ale was known for its menu of herb-roasted prime rib and Hawaiian chicken as well as its Tudor-themed pub ambiance.

As restaurant concepts often do, Steak & Ale went into decline, closing its last restaurant in 2008. Rights to the brand eventually passed to a new owner, Legendary Restaurant Brands, in 2015.

Legendary has updated Steak & Ale while at the same time maintaining much of the original operation’s ambiance. The result is what its new owners like to call “a polished, value-focused chain with a legacy.”

The new Steak & Ale will feature a prime rib carving station and tableside salad preparation as well as preserving the iconic salad bar. Craft beer and some new culinary fusion menu specialties will join Steak & Ale’s traditional food and beverage line-up.

Fifteen locations across the Midwest are scheduled for development over the next several years, with the first new unit to open in the

On Feb. 14, Valentine’s Hadley with live music and Twin Lobster Tails being specially crafted for the Dinner will be served from 4 to 8 p.m.; reservations can be booked online at Boathousedining.com

The restaurant picks up at 413-536-2342.

• Historic Deerfield’s series of cooking demonstrations at the Hall Tavern Visitor Center in Deerfield will continue Saturday and Feb. 18 with those two programs running from 4 to 8 p.m.

“Cooking with Fire” is billed as “an evening of fun and cooking” during which participants will make and subsequently enjoy a simple savory meal that uses traditional fireplace approaches to frying, stewing, and roasting.

The meal will also include a dessert of freshly-baked gingerbread and a cup of hot chocolate, the latter prepared in a reproduction copper chocolate pot. Tickets to the dinner, which can be purchased online at historicdeerfield. org/events, are $75 per person.

The telephone number at Historic Deerfield is 413774-5581.

• Chain restaurant limited-time-offerings this month include sweet treats at Sonic and a savory sandwich creation at Arby’s Through late March, Sonic Drive-In locations are offering two miniature sundae desserts.

The OREO Cookies & Chocolate Sweet Mini features OREO cookie pieces and chocolate syrup as garnishes for vanilla soft serve, while a similarlystyled Snickers Bar & Caramel Sweet Mini is topped with candy pieces and caramel syrup.

At participating Arby’s locations the current (through March) menu feature “de jour” is a Steakhouse Garlic Ribeye Sandwich of garlicseasoned beef topped with Swiss cheese, fried onions, and garlic aioli all assembled on a toasted

There’s a Sonic Drive-In on Boston Road across from Five Mile Pond. The local Arby’s Restaurant can be found at the intersection of

Granby Road and Route 33 in Chicopee.

• Dunkin’, the coffeeand-all-day-snack chain, has introduced a February lineup of what it is describing as “swoonworthy” drinks, donuts, and more.

Beverage specialties for the month include a Cocoa Mocha Signature Latte and a Strawberry Dragonfruit Dunkin’ Refresher.

As part of the chain’s strategy to drive digital and loyalty program sales, a Brownie Batter Signature Latte can only be ordered thought the Dunkin’ app. Two donut specialties are also making an appearancea Brownie Batter Donut and

a heart-shaped, strawberryfilled Cupid’s Choice Donut. The brand has also partnered with Philadelphiabased Frankford Candy to produce two Dunkin’inspired Valentine’s treats, Dunkin’ Chocolates and Dunkin’ Iced Coffee Flavored Jelly Hearts. Both candies are available online at FrankfordCandy. com

Hugh Robert is a faculty member in Holyoke Community College’s hospitality and culinary arts program and has nearly 50 years of restaurant and educational experience. Robert can be reached online at OffTheMenuGuy@aol. com.

Featured at Dunkin’ for Valentine’s Day are heart-shaped doughnuts along with the Cocoa Mocha Signature Iced Latte and Strawberry Dragonfruit Refresher. (PHOTO COURTESY DUNKIN’)

Wine

CONTINUES FROM PAGE E6

ancient vessels in Georgia that contained wine grape residue from 6,000 BC. Nowadays, this relatively small country (roughly the same size as West Virginia) has nearly 136,000 acres of wine vineyards throughout Georgia.

As of 2020, there are 25 Protected Designation of Origin (PDOs), meaning specific geographic areas in the country recognized for their distinct wine. Georgia’s largest wine region is Kakheti, which is in the eastern part of the country and produces the vast majority of Georgia’s wines. Other important winegrowing regions in Georgia include Kartli (known for its sparkling wines), Imereti, Racha and Meskheti, one of the highest wine-growing regions in the world.

There are more than 500 grape varieties indigenous to Georgia, including a wide range of red and white wine grapes. But in general, Georgia produces far more white wine than red. Specifically, roughly 75% of Georgian wine is white wine and 25% is red wine.

The most popular white wine grape varieties in Georgia include:

• Rkatsiteli, the most popular white wine grape in Georgia and which accounts for 43% of all white wine produced in the country, Kakhuri Mtsvane, and Kisi.

• The most popular red wine grape varieties in Georgia include Saperavi, Georgia’s leading red wine grape variety, which

Beer

CONTINUES FROM PAGE E6

version of the new version with cocoa and coconut.

I, of course, tried the “plain” version of the new one on tap, but then remembered there was a

accounts for 10% of all red wine from Georgia, Tavkveri, and Mujuretuli.

Here are my tasting notes on three Georgian wines under $25:

• 2019 Kisi Qvevri Glekhuri ($23 Suggested Retail Price)

Tasting notes: This golden-colored white wine, made with 100% Kisi grapes from the Kakheti region, has a light, fragrant aroma and finish that tastes like a cross between a sauvignon

cask ale version and spent the rest of the afternoon quaffing that. (Cask beer is far too rare, and I will not forgo an opportunity to drink it when it’s available.) I would have felt remiss not to try the Mexican chocolate version, so I grabbed a four-pack to go.

blanc and a slightly sweet riesling, with hints of tart pear and lemon. Hints of orange peel and peach also peek through at times in this lively, refreshing wine.

• 2019 Terra Georgia Winery Rkatsiteli ($18 SRP)

Tasting notes: This rose-like dry white wine (described by the winery as a “dry amber wine”) is a blend of rkatsiteli, mtsvane and kisi grapes. From Akhmeta in the Kakheti

I’m glad I did. Although I’m not a huge fan of adding chocolate to stouts (or adding random flavors to most beers), this one was delicious. The cocoa notes are right up front, but they blend so well with the other dark malts that the beer isn’t cloyingly

region, It has a slight pink color and a crisp, sea saltlike finish with hints of apricots, fresh picked apples and sparkling zesty-like finish. A wonderful wine perfect for a warm summer afternoon or before a relaxing winter meal.

• 2018 Zenishi Saperavi ($17 SRP)

Tasting notes: Absolutely delightful smooth, dry red wine from Kakheti with a long velvet-like finish, this light, bright wine made entirely with saperavi grapes

sweet. Don’t get me wrong, the sweetness is there, but not it’s not treacly. There are chilis in the mix, but they’re not very noticeable. A nice pinch of cinnamon adds a nice touch. The beer finishes somewhat dry, which only makes you want more

At 10% ABV, this is

has hints of raspberry flavors mixed with a dash of blackberry and cherry. No wonder Georgia’s famous for making great wines for thousands of years. And red wines made with saperavi grapes in particular deserve a much wider worldwide audience.

Cheers!

Wine Press by Ken Ross appears on Masslive.com every Monday and in The Republican’s Weekend section every Thursday.

definitely one (or two, or maybe three if you’re not driving) you can share with your romantic partner. But that booze lever is not apparent in the flavor, so be careful. This is definitely a brew that can sneak up on you. Just like love sometimes does.

M. Night Shyamalan brings signature touch, good and bad, to ‘Knock at the Cabin’

By K atie Walsh Tribune News Service

IT SEEMS THAT M.

Night Shyamalan has the end of days on his mind. A couple of years ago, he pondered the quandary of aging in “Old,” based on the graphic novel “Sandcastle,” by Pierre Oscar Levy and Frederik Peeters. In his latest film, he turns toward the apocalypse, or at least the idea of it, in “Knock at the Cabin,” adapted from Paul Tremblay’s 2018 horror novel “The Cabin at the End of the World.”

Tremblay’s novel is terrifying in its unpredictability and ambiguity. Structured around a home invasion that takes place over the course of a couple of days, it explores the ways in which a stunning amount of suffering can occur if someone believes enough in their mission, misguided or not. “Knock at the Cabin,” adapted by Shyamalan, Steve Desmond and Michael Sherman, is faithful to the source material until it is not, because this wouldn’t be a Shyamalan movie without his own original take on the ending.

Shyamalan films are always perfectly cast, thanks to longtime casting director Douglas Aibel, who has worked with the director since “Unbreakable” in 2000, and “Knock at the Cabin” is no exception. There are no better actors to play the main trio than Ben Aldridge, Jonathan Groff and Dave Bautista, who tear into these challenging roles with an emotional and technical rigor. The rest of the small cast is uniformly excellent, including the incredible Kristen Cui in her first film role.

‘KNOCK AT THE CABIN’ rrts

Rated: R (for violence and language)

Running time: 1:40

Playing at: Regal MGM Springfield; Cinemark Enfield, Hampshire Mall, and West Springfield; Greenfield Garden Cinemas.

Cui plays Wen, the young adopted daughter of Andrew (Aldridge) and Eric (Groff). She’s catching grasshoppers outside their remote lakeside vacation rental when a strange person approaches. Leonard (Bautista) seems to be a gentle giant, but soon he’s intoning scary promises about hard choices that will shortly need to be made. She scurries inside and her dads lock the doors, but the quartet of Leonard, Redmond (Rupert Grint), Sabrina (Nikki Amuka-Bird) and Adriane (Abby Quinn) make their way in nevertheless, with brute force and odd weapons, in order to present the family with a choice: sacrifice one of their own, or watch the apocalypse unfold.

It’s a straightforward if extreme concept, and the majority of the film takes place inside the walls of this vacation rental, unfolding almost like a play. There are detours into Eric and Andrew’s flashbacks, and TV news reports that seemingly underline Leonard’s warnings, but the power of this story is that it takes place entirely among this group of

seven — four of them trying to convince the other three that if they choose one to kill, they can save the world. The persuasive tactics the four strangers employ are violent, and bloody, and often directed at each other.

Shyamalan likes to get creative with unique framing choices, and working with cinematographers Jarin Blaschke (Robert Eggers’ collaborator on “The Northman,” “The Lighthouse” and “The Witch”) and Lowell A. Meyer, he works to cinematically activate the space inside and around the cabin, alternating fluid dolly shots with steady, locked-off compositions that speak to the shifting alliances within. The opening sequence between Wen and Leonard is shot and edited to show these characters coming together and the world tilting on its axis as the conversation turns toward the ominous. Later, the camera will frame Andrew and Eric together, then apart, shifting from one side of the frame to the other as Leonard and his gang drive a wedge between them.

The characters often speak directly into the camera in centered close-ups, calling to mind that classic fourth-wall breaking moment in Alfred

Hitchcock’s “The Birds” when Tippi Hedren accuses the audience as being the responsible parties for her torment. Rather than confront us, Shyamalan seems to be posing the central question to us too — what would we believe?

What’s most fascinating about the request Leonard makes is the request itself, and the way in which the things that we choose to believe, and the things of which we can be convinced are so deeply personal. Whether or not the apocalypse is actually happening is not the interesting part of this story of

humanity, love and destruction. In his book, Tremblay hit on something that would become worryingly relevant in the past few years — the phenomena of collective mass delusions that can cohere online, usually revolving around doomsday scenarios. It’s the delusions that are horrifying here, not the doomsday. Tremblay knows that, but it seems that Shyamalan and his co-writers don’t subscribe to that notion, and their tweaks to this story, despite the impeccable cinematic craft and tremendous acting on display, hobble the adaptation’s power.

Ben Aldridge, from left, Kristen Cui, and Jonathan Groff appear in a scene from “Knock at the Cabin.” (UNIVERSAL PICTURES VIA AP)

Dave Bautista, from left, Abby Quinn, and Nikki Amuka-Bird appear in a scene from “Knock at the Cabin.” (UNIVERSAL PICTURES VIA AP)

Events

THURSDAY

Jazz Faculty Concert: Thu., 7:30 p.m., Bezanson Recital Hall. Free. North Pleasant Street, Amherst, 413-545-2511 or umass.edu.

MGM Casino: Thu.-Sun., MGM Springfield, featuring retail stores, restaurants, Regal Cinemas and more. For more information, visit mgmspringfield.com. 1 MGM Way, Springfield.

“Native Gardens”: Thu., 7:30 p.m.; Fri., 8 p.m.; Sat., 2 and 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m. Majestic Theater, through Sunday. Tickets start at $29. 131 Elm St., West Springfield, 413-7477797 or majestictheater.com

Square Dance Classes: Thu., 6:30 p.m., American Legion 0239, $5. For more information, contact Gloria at 413-467-3352 or email ladicaller@gogtt.ent, 66 State St., Belchertown.

“These Shining Lives”: Thu.-Sat., 8 p.m., Mapleton Hall, through Feb. 25. For tickets, visit suffield players.org or call 800-289-6148. Performances today, tomorrow and Feb. 19 will require all audience members to wear masks. Performances on Saturday, Feb. 17, 18, 24, 25 are mask-optional. Tickets are $20 per person ($15 opening night). 1305 Mapleton Ave., Suffield, 860-668-0837 or suffieldplayers.org

FRIDAY

Baby Time: Fri., 11 a.m., Chicopee Main Library, for children to age 2. Free play time with songs and rhymes. 449 Front St., Chicopee, 413-594-1800.

“The Bridges of Madison County”: Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m. Enfield Annex, 15% off tickets available for the Saturday performance only. Use the code BeMyValentine at checkout or call the Box Office at 860-292-6068 and mention the sale. Group discounts are available: 10% off 10 tickets and 20% off 20 tickets. Call the box office to use the group discount, $25. 124 North Maple St., Enfield.

Draw The Line: A Tribute To Aerosmith: Fri., 7:30 p.m., The Colonial Theatre, $25. 111 South St., Pittsfield, 413-997-4444 or thecolonialtheatre.org

MGM Casino: See Thursday listing

MGM Roar Comedy Club: Fri.Sat., 8 p.m., MGM Springfield, Matt Friend in the armory. For tickets, visit ticketmaster.com/ artist/2955874?venueId=9264, $25. 1 MGM Way, Springfield.

Movie Life Stories Program: Fri., 6-8 p.m., South Berkshire Friends

Meetinghouse, This program is created for and geared toward the Berkshire immigrant population and their allies. These workshops provide opportunities to share personal journeys, stories, and connections to places past and present through movement games, exercises, dancing and community building. For more information visit berkshirepulse.org/classes-pro grams/special-programs/, 280 State Road, Great Barrington.

Music at Amherst Series: Fri, 8 p.m., Buckley Recital Hall, “Welcome to Indian Country.”

Opening words and song by Larry Spotted Crow Mann. For the latest COVID-19 concert protocols visit amherst.edu. For tickets, visit amherst.universitytickets.com, Assigned seating. General public $28; senior citizens (65+) $22; students, with valid ID $12. General seating: general $18; senior citizens (65+) $12; students with valid ID $10. Intersection of Routes 9 and 116, Amherst, amherst.edu

“Native Gardens”: See Thursday listing

“These Shining Lives”: See Thursday listing

Wine with Friends: Fri., 5-7 p.m., Edwards Public Library, presented by the Friends of the Edwards Public Library. Five wine samples, refreshments, drawings; this is a 21+ event only. Members are free, $20 nonmembers. Snow date Feb. 17. 30 East St., Southampton, 413527-9480.

SATURDAY

37th annual High School Honor Band Concert: Sat., 7 p.m., Tillis Concert Hall, formerly the Fine Arts Center Concert Hall. Free. 151 Presidents Drive, Amherst, 413-5452511 or fineartscenter.com

A.P.E. and Serious Play Theatre Ensemble presents “Plant”: Sat., 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m. A.P.E. Gallery, sliding scale $10-$25. Tickets can be purchased at the door. 126 Main St., Northampton, 413-5865553 or apearts.org.

Berkshire Bach presents The Organ Masters - Rene Anne Louprette: Sat., 2 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Meeting House. $35 general public; $30 Berkshire Bach members; free for children and students with ID. 1089 Main St., Housatonic.

Besties Bash: Sat., 11 a.m., Edwards Public Library with the Enchanted Rose Princess, to help attendees make valentines for their BFFs. Enjoy snacks and singing. 30 East St., Southampton, 413-5279480.

“The Bridges of Madison County”: See Friday listing

CALENDAR

Cancer Survivors - Stories of Hope and Resilience: Sat., 7 p.m. Academy of Music Theatre, an evening of live storytelling presented by Paradise City Dragon Boat. Cancer survivors selected and coached by the Moth producer Susanne Schmidt will share their experiences of living with cancer. The event also features music by June Millington, the singer, songwriter and guitarist who is cofounder and artistic director of the Institute for the Musical Arts in Goshen. The event is a fundraiser for Northampton-based Paradise City Dragon Boat’s racing team of cancer survivors and supporters, $25-$40 (plus ticket service fees).

274 Main St., Northampton, 413584-9032 or aomtheatre.com

Crossroads Kickoff: Sat., 6 p.m., Shea Theater. Storytelling, a short local film and live music. Hear an introduction to the crossroads exhibit and related programming with Leo Hwang, UMass Amherst Assistant Academic Dean. Refreshments and cash bar starting at 6 p.m., followed by program at 7 p.m. 71 Avenue A, Turners Falls, 413863-2281, theshea.org

Drive-In Collection of Donations: Sat., 1-3 p.m., Foster Memorial Church. Nonperishable food for the Emergency Food Cupboard of the Open Pantry; focus is soup. 1791 Wilbraham Road, Springfield, 413-782-2112.

MGM Casino: See Thursday listing

MGM Roar Comedy Club: See Friday listing

“Native Gardens”: See Thursday listing

Romance at the Ranch: Sat., 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Berkshire HorseWorks Inc. presents a couple’s photo opportunity with rescue horses and donkeys. Enter a raffle for a chance to win an exclusive Eagala Model 60 min. couple’s session. All proceeds go toward medical care and food for the rescue herd. Cocoa and cookies will be served. Call 413-698-3700 with any questions, 101 Patton Road, Richmond.

“These Shining Lives”: See Thursday listing

SUNDAY

A.P.E. and Serious Play Theatre Ensemble presents “Plant”: See Saturday listing

“The Bridges of Madison County”: See Friday listing

MGM Casino: See Thursday listing

“Native Gardens”: See Thursday listing

Pre-Purim Puppet Show & Costume Swap: Sun., 2:30 p.m. Blue Room at CitySpace, get ready for the Jewish holiday of Purim, free.

43 Main St., Easthampton.

Square Dancing Classes: Sun, 6:30-8 p.m. Union Church of Christ, the first 2 dances are free and then it is $5 per person. The instructor is Gloria Vivier. For more information, call 413-467-3352, 51 Center St. Route 21, Ludlow, 413583-5717.

UMass Opera presents “Love & Lust: Lost & Found”: Sun, 3 p.m., Bowker Auditorium. Featuring works by Puccini, Mozart, Verdi and others accompanied by UMass Symphony. Tickets may be purchased at the Fine Arts Center Box Office, by phone at 413-545-2511 or online at fineartscenter.com/ musicanddance. $25 general; $20 for seniors, students; children 17 and under are free. 80 Campus Center Way, Amherst, 413-5452511 or umasstix.com

Quadrangle

Dr. Seuss Sculpture Garden: Outdoor sculpture garden of larger-than-life bronze statues of Springfield native Dr. Seuss at his drawing board surrounded by some of his most beloved characters including Horton the Elephant, the Grinch, the Lorax and others. Free on the green.

George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum: Permanent exhibit: “Ancient Treasures,” a display of artifacts from ancient China, Greece, Rome and Egypt. Handson making activities in the Hasbro Games Art Discovery Center. Part of the free family activities.

Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History: “The Grinch: A Car with a History,” through Nov. 1. Permanent exhibit: More than two dozen Indian motorcycles and related memorabilia.

Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts: “New/Now: Contemporary Art Acquisitions,” through July 30. Museum a la Carte: Today, 12:15 p.m. “Ancient Monsters in Modern Art” $4, members free. Presented by Debbie Felton, Professor of Classics at University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Springfield Science Museum: “Leonardo’s Lab,” through April 23. Visitors can recreate Leonardo’s tool-and-hardware-free interlocking bridge and assemble an air powered flying ‘copter, making changes to improve the aerodynamics and more. “We’re Still Here,” through June 30. Native Voices Initiative begins with contemporary perspectives. Curated by Aprell May Munford.

The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum: Permanent exhibit. First

floor exhibition provides interactive three-dimensional exhibits. Second floor contains Geisel’s personal memorabilia. Timed tickets required. For reservations, visit springfieldmuseums.org

Quadrangle admission - $25 for adults, $16.50 for seniors (60+) and college students with ID, $13 for children ages 3-17; free to children under age 3 and members, Springfield residents are free with proof of residency. Welcome Center and Museum store. Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Museums

Amelia Park Children’s Museum: Permanent exhibit: Hands-on activities and creative exhibits, including the Hurricane Simulator. Sign up online for a play session at ameliaparkmuseum.org. Mon., 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Thu.-Sun., 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Open for groups Tues. and Wed. $8 adults; $8 children (12 months and older); $4 grandparents/seniors (60+); military personnel and teachers receive a 10% discount off the price of regular admission; members and infants free. 29 S. Broad St., Westfield or ameliaparkmuseum.org

Berkshire Museum: “The Art of Storytelling: Celebrating Illustration and Literature,” featuring three exhibitions, “Storyland: A Trip through Childhood Favorites,” “Childhood Classics-100 Years of Illustration for the Art Kandy Collection,” and the work of author Ty Allan Jackson. 39 South St., Pittsfield or berkshiremuseum.org.

Children’s Museum at Holyoke: Permanent exhibit includes the Wiggle and Wash Vet Clinic, a toddler merry-go-round and a STEM-based cash register for kids. Tues.-Fri., 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun., noon-4 p.m. Closed Mondays. In the event of severe weather conditions, check Facebook or Instagram, or local TV Station 22 for closures. Children and adults $8; seniors (62+) $5; children under 1 and members are free. 444 Dwight St., Holyoke or childrensmuseumholyoke.org.

East Longmeadow Historical Commission Museum: Permanent exhibit: Historical artifacts. Featured at the museum are East Longmeadow artifacts pertaining to the quarries, local Native Americans, period clothing, the railroad system, and much more. Open 1-3 p.m. on the third Saturday of the month, Sept.-June, weather permitting. Free. 87 Maple St., East Longmeadow

Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art: “What Might You Do?

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Christian Robinson,” through June 4. “Eric Carle’s Book Birthdays,” through March 5. “ Everyday Art Project,” through March 12. “The Carle Collection: Recent Acquisitions,” through April 9. Bilingual Storytime (English and Spanish) Feb. 26, 2 p.m. Permanent exhibit: Gabrielle Healy Carroll Storytime Programs are held Tues. and Fri. 10:30 a.m.; Sat. 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.; Sun. 2 p.m., free with admission. Museum hours: Weds.-Fri, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun, noon-5 p.m. $6, $9, $22.50 for a family of four, 125 West Bay Road, Amherst or carlemuseum.org

Holyoke Heritage State Park: Permanent exhibit. Preserving the history and culture of Holyoke through permanent exhibits on the paper and textile industry. Also featuring a new scale model of Mountain Park. Visitor Center open Tues.-Sun., noon to 4 p.m. Closed Mon. Free admission. mass.gov/ locations/holyoke-heritagestate-park. 221 Appleton St., Holyoke, 413-534-1723.

Josiah Day House: Permanent exhibit: Featuring guided tours, artifacts, furniture, clothing and documents from 1754-1902. Call for open house schedule and individual tours. $3, $1 children 6-12, free for members, 70 Park St., West Springfield, 413-734-8322.

Mead Art Museum: Permanent exhibit: Various American and European paintings, Mexican ceramics, Tibetan scroll paintings and more. Tues.-Thu. and Sun., 9 a.m.-midnight; Fri., 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. 220 South Pleasant St., Amherst or amherst. edu

Naismith Memorial Basketball

Hall of Fame: Permanent exhibit: three floors with dozens of handson exhibits, a regulation sized basketball court and more than 900 artifacts on display. The museum is now open. In addition to a new technologically advanced visitor experience including the following:

“High Above Center Court,” “Hall of Honor,” “1891 Gallery,” “Players Gallery,” “James Goldstein Superfan Gallery,” and “Jerry Colangelo Court of Dreams.” Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $28 adults (16-24); $23 seniors (63+); $19 youth (5-15); $23 students with valid high school or college ID; free for ages under 5. 1000 West Columbus Ave., Springfield or hoophall.com

Norman Rockwell Museum: “Eloise and More: The Life and Art of Hilary Knight,” through March 12. Permanent exhibit. Thu.-Mon., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed Tues. and Wed. Advance ticket purchase required.

$20 adults; $18 seniors, AAA, retire military; $10 college students, free children ages 18 and under, members and active military. 9 Route 183, Stockbridge or nrm.org

Old Sturbridge Village: Permanent exhibit: visit Kidstory, a new indoor learning gallery in the Visitors Center where kids ages 3-10 can try on period costumes and imagine life in the 1830s; “Neat and Tasty: Getting Dressed in Early New England”; apparel in portraiture.

Hours: Jan.

13-Feb. 21, Fri.-Sun. 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. $28, $26 seniors, $14 college students with ID & children 4-17, free for children 3 and under. Route 20, Sturbridge or osv.org

Springfield Armory National Historic Site: Ranger-led interpretive programs offered in the museum in the afternoon. Junior Ranger programs conducted frequently each day. Wed.-Sun., 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. 1 Armory Square, Springfield or nps.gov/spar.

Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum: Permanent exhibit: Daniel Anthony’s Store, The Legacy Room, The Birthing Room, The Portrait Gallery. Open Fri.-Sun., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. $10 adults, $8 seniors, $6 students and children 6-17, free for children under 6 and NARM/ NEMA/ROAM members. 67 East Road, Adams or susanbanthonybirthplace.com

The Emily Dickinson Museum: Homestead and Evergreens: Admission to the museum is by guided tour, for which advance-purchase timed tickets are required. Visit EmilyDickinsonMuseum.org/ Visit to purchase your tickets and for more information. 280 Main St., Amherst or emilydickinsonsmuseum.org.

Titanic Museum: Permanent exhibit: Exhibits from the collection of the International Titanic Historical Society. Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. $4, $2 children and students, 208 Main St., Indian Orchard or titanic1.org

University Museum of Contemporary Art - Fine Arts Center: Permanent exhibit. The Fine Arts Center requires patrons to be fully vaccinated to attend performances. Masks are not required, but are welcome and encouraged. The University Museum is open through May 1 Tue.-Fri., 11 a.m.4:30 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., noon-4 p.m.; and first Thursdays until 8 p.m. Closed Mondays, holidays, and academic breaks. Check for snow days at umass.edu/closing/. 151 Presidents Drive, Amherst.

Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum: Permanent exhibit: Guided tours of the first and second floors. Open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Self-guided tours are on the hour with the last self-guided tour weekdays at 2 p.m.

and weekends at 3 p.m. Masks are required and social distancing will be practiced. Call to reserve at 413637-3206. Admission is $18 adults, $17 seniors (65+), $10 students with ID, $7 children 5-17, and free children 4 and younger. “Valentine Cabaret & Tea: Love Me or Leave Me,” Feb. 12, 3:30 p.m., featuring Sheri James Buxton accompanied by Bob Shepherd. Tickets may be purchased online at gildedage. org or by calling 413-637-3206. Payment is required to make a reservation. $45 per person, $35 per person for Berkshire County residents with ID. 104 Walker St., Lenox or gildedage.org

Volleyball Hall of Fame: Permanent exhibit. Online ticket purchasing strongly recommended $2.50$3.50, 444 Dwight St., Holyoke or volleyhall.org

Windsor Historical Society: “Explore Black Family History” today, Feb. 16, 23, 5:30-7 p.m. on Zoom. This program will be focused on African American and Caribbean genealogy led by Sandra Taitt-Eaddy. Participants may register for individual sessions or for the full series. Advance registration is required. Register at windsor historicalsociety.org/eaddygenealogy. $20 per session or $50 for the complete workshop series, 96 Palisade Ave., Windsor or windsorhistoricalsociety.org

Wistariahurst Museum: Permanent exhibit: Gardens and grounds open daily from dawn to dusk. Carriage House and gift shop open Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. For information about house tours, group tours and upcoming events, visit wistariahurst.org. $7 Holyoke residents; $5 seniors: $5 youth (under 18); free museum members, active military and family members. 238 Cabot St., Holyoke or wistariahurst.org.

Yiddish Book Center: Permanent exhibit, “A Velt mit veltelekh: The Worlds of Jewish Culture.” The center will be open to the public on Thu., Fri., Sun. and Mon. from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed Shabbos (Saturday) and Jewish and legal holidays. $8 adults, $6 seniors, free for members, students and children. 1021 West St., Amherst or yiddishbookcenter.org

Galleries

A.P.E. Gallery: Permanent exhibit. Tues.-Thu., noon-5 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., noon-8 p.m.; Sun., noon-5 p.m. 126 Main St., Northampton or apearts. org

Amy H. Carberry Fine Arts Gallery: Permanent exhibit. Tues.-Fri., 12:30-4:30 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. First floor of building 28. 1 Armory Square, Springfield, 413-755-5258.

Forbes Library: Paintings and digital art by Sunny Allis, Ella N. Alkiewicz, and Jay Smith, through Feb. 28. 20 West St., Northampton or forbeslibrary.org.

Gallery A3 Amherst Art Alliance: “Showing the Unseen” by members of Gallery A3 Cooperative, through Feb. 25. Art forum online Feb. 15, 7:30 p.m. Register at gallerya3. com. Thu.-Sun., 2-7 p.m. 28 Amity St., Amherst, 413-256-4250. Hope and Feathers Framing and Gallery: “Glued Down” by Jules Jones, through Feb. 25. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Thu., 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 319 Main St., Amherst or hopeandfeathers framing.com

Indian Orchard Mills Dane Gallery: All new exhibits every month featuring the artists at Indian Orchard Mills. Sat., noon-4 p.m. or by appointment. 34 Front St., Indian Orchard or 413-543-3321.

J. H. Miller Custom Framing and Gallery: Featuring the works of local artists. Mon.-Fri., 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thu., 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 86 Elm St., West Springfield, 413-732-9128.

Jasper Rand Art Museum: Permanent exhibit. Mon.-Thu., 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. 6 Elm St., Westfield or westath.org

Rendezvous: “Montague at Work and Play” exhibit, through March 18. Reception Feb. 19, 4 p.m. 78 Third St., Turners Falls or thevoo.net

Sunnyside Road Gallery: Featuring the work of Carolyn Avery. Sat., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or by calling 413569-0384. 52 Sunnyside Road, Southwick.

Outdoors

Great Falls Discovery Center: Great Hall exhibit: “Crossroads: Change in Rural America,” through March 18. Tues., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Wed.-Sun., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Feb. 20, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. “Nice and Easy Walk: Crossroads Edition,” Fri., Feb. 17, 24, 1-2 p.m. An easy-paced, 1 to 2 mile guided walk along the Canalside Rail Trail or downtown Turners Falls. Geared for seniors, but open to all ages. Meet at the main entrance. 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls or greatfallsma.org.

Mt. Greylock State Reservation: “Nice and Easy Hike,” Fri., Feb. 24, 1-2:30 p.m. Easy-paced, 1-3 mile hike geared for seniors, but open to all ages. Dress appropriately for winter weather; hiking poles and traction devices for boots (or snowshoes) recommended. Trails may be snow-covered, icy or muddy. Bring water and a snack. Inclement weather cancels. Friday’s hike is guided, Feb. 24 hike is self-guided.

“Mt. Greylock Photo Group MeetUp” Sat., 1-2:30 p.m. “Water & Ice/

Hearts in Nature.” Bring a camera, tablet or cellphone and take a short, easy walk, over a moderately steep trail, to Pecks Brook Falls. Meet at the second trailhead parking lot on Gould Road in Adams, Ma. Be prepared for winter weather, bring hiking poles, wear traction devices for your boots. Bring water and a snack. All skill levels and ages welcome. Inclement weather cancels. For information and directions, call 413-499-4262 on their Facebook page. “Nature Scavenger Hunt,” Sundays in Feb., 10 a.m.-3 p.m. For children and families, and different ages and skills. Program is self-guided. Pick up your scavenger hunt at the Visitor Center. Family Movie Matinee: Feb. 12, 1-2:30 p.m. All ages welcome. Offered every second Sunday, through March. Feb.’s feature film is “Purple Mountain Majesty: A History of the Thunderbolt Ski Run.” Best for ages 8 and up. 30 Rockwell Road, Lanesborough

Natural Bridge State Park: Visitors Center exhibits daily, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., year-round; explore the park story through displays, artifacts and scavenger hunts. $2 parking fee, programs are free. 107 McAuley Road, North Adams

Norcross Wildlife Sanctuary: “Norcross Wildlife Winter Lectures,” Sat., 1 p.m., “Massachusetts Forest Update.” In this presentation, learn to identify current and future threats to state forests and how DCR Forest Health Program monitors and manages them. Space is limited, registration is required, call 413-2475-1353 or email info@ norcrosswildlife.org. Free, 30 Peck Road, Wales.

Markets

Winter Farmers Market at the Hampshire Mall: Inside the Target hallway of the Hampshire Mall. Find vegetables, meats, baked goods, crafts and more. Sat., 10 a.m.-2 p.m., through March 25. Family friendly and handicap-accessible. EBT/HIP accepted. Located on the PVPA 43 & FC buslines. Free and ample parking, wfmhm.com/. 367 Russell St., Hadley

Northampton Winter Farmers Market: Northampton Senior Center, Sat., 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Feb. 11, 25; March 11, 25. 67 Conz St., Northampton or northampton seniors.com.

The Republican is not responsible for unannounced schedule changes. Listings must be received two weeks before the date of the event. Items should be mailed to Entertainment Guide, The Republican, P.O. Box 1329, Springfield, MA 01102-1329, emailed to pmastriano@repub.com or submitted to masslive.com/myevent

Menopause

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deal with them” by the four women, Huntley said. “Each of the characters deals with menopause in her own way.”

The cast of “Menopause

The Musical” also includes Terri Dixon (Iowa Housewife), Adrianne Hick (Soap Star) and Melanie Souza (Earth Mother). Inspired by a hot flash and a bottle of wine, “Menopause The Musical” was created as a celebration of women who find themselves at any stage of “The Change.” The laughter-filled 90-minute production gets audience members out of their seats and singing along to parodies from classic pop songs of the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. For example, Aretha Franklin’s “Chain of Fools” becomes “Change of Life” and “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees becomes “Stayin’ Awake.”

Huntley offered words of encouragement during a phone interview from Charlotte, North Carolina: “Menopause is the change of life, not the end of life.” And if a woman looks at this change in the right light, it can be empowering, she continued. “You learn how to rediscover things about yourself.” Her advice for women going through this change is to not be hard on themselves,

Nightclubs

CONTINUED FROM PAGE E4

WEDNESDAY

Doc’s Place: Karaoke. 1264 Granby Road, Chicopee

to try to have a good attitude about it and to thank God every day for another day.

“People tend to relate menopause to being old,” she said. “It’s a change your body is going through. It doesn’t mean it’s the end.”

She related a conversation she had with a woman after one of the “Menopause The Musical” performances: The woman told her the production made her feel like she was not alone going through menopause. “It’s empowering,” she said. Huntley is an Ohio native who has entertained with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and acted in numerous regional commercials and television shows as well as in Broadway, Off-Broadway and regional theater productions.

In “Menopause The Musical,” “we’re doing something that allows people to … be transported to someplace you’re going to laugh over a shared situation with everybody in that room,” she said, and men will recognize the humor in it too. “It’s funny.”

“Menopause The Musical” has played in every state in the continental United States and in more than 500 cities worldwide; it has been translated into nine languages.

For more information, visit MenopauseTheMusical. com.

The Republican is not responsible for unannounced schedule changes. Listings must be received two weeks before the date of the event. Items should be mailed to Entertainment Guide, The Republican, P.O. Box 1329, Springfield, MA 01102-1329, emailed to pmastriano@repub. com or submitted to masslive.com/ myevent

Cast members from left, Teri Adams, Megan Cavanagh, Donna J. Huntley and Rebecca Fisher act out a scene from “Menopause the Musical.”  (ML PORTRAITS BY ALLISON CHRISTINE)