SCARY FLICKS: The best horror films of 2024 (so far), D4
LIVE WIRE: Plenty of musical treats in the area this Halloween, D4
‘LES MISERABLES’: To be staged at the Bushnell in Hartford, D7
‘A Moon for the Misbegotten’
Actor, director James Warwick at helm of Majestic Theater’s latest production
By K eith O ’C onnor
Special to The Republican
Well known in Great Britain for his acting roles on stage in the West End and on television, actor-turned-director James Warwick will direct “A Moon for the Misbegotten” onstage at the Majestic Theater, opening today in West Springfield.
Eugene O’Neill’s final and most personal play, “A Moon for the Misbegotten” is set on a dilapidated Connecticut farm. The play focuses on Josie, a woman commanding and tough outside but sensuous and sensitive inside, and Jamie Tyrone, a dissipated former actor with an astonishing capacity for alcohol.
Josie’s father, Phil Hogan, a tenant farmer, suspects that Jamie intends to sell the farm to a hated neighbor and sets a plan in motion to bring Jamie and Josie together. This American classic play is a requiem about being able to love and be loved with a unique blend of comedy, tragedy, autobiography and imagination.
The cast includes Sue Dziura as Josie Hogan, John Thomas Waite as Phil Hogan, Jay Sefton as James Tyrone, Jr., Mike Hogan as Caleb Chew and Tom Dahl as T. Stedman Harder.
Tickets to the show range from $35 to $38 and can be
purchased in person at the box office or by calling 413747-7797. Box office hours are Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
A fascinating and charming Brit who now calls America his home, Warwick took time from rehearsals at the West Springfield theater to answer some questions about his amazing career.
Q. Growing up in England, what led you to get into acting/directing?
A. I started at school. I was very lucky to have a theater teacher, his name was Max Fuller, and I had a good couple of years with him. While there, I played Nick Bottom in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” by William Shakespeare as well as Mark Antony in Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar.” And I really knew at that time at the age of 11 that acting is what I wanted to do,
Actors John Thomas Waite and Sue Dziura are pictured in a scene from the production “A Moon for the Misbegotten,” opening at the Majestic Theater in West Springfield today. Pictured at top left is director James Warwick. (PHOTO BY KAIT
or maybe landscape gardening because I liked growing my own carrots. I ended up going to drama school in London because I thought that I couldn’t make a living just growing carrots. I had this nonsensical idea that I could be an actor if I worked hard and trained well.
So, I went to the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama when I was 17 until the age of 20. My first big break was a year’s contract at Birmingham Repertory Theater, where I played the gentleman caller in “Glass Menagerie,” then I was off to Manchester Stables The-
ater which was affiliated with Granada Television. While there I started doing my first television work at about the age of 21. We did a play every three weeks and they would be broadcast live on Granada. So, I had an early taste
RANKINS; SUBMITTED PHOTO)
to try something completely insane in another country ... and, of course, I had all these problems associated with getting a green card to work, which I finally did get in 1997 after the play closed on Broadway.
I had gotten an H1 temporary work visa earlier before applying for my green card, so in 1993 I was permitted to start working in theater in LA and doing television. I hadn’t started directing plays yet though. My first production as director was in 1994 with a David Hare play called “The Secret Rapture.” It was an English play and I knew some English actors in LA and we got the money together to produce it. I had a wonderful cast and got an award — Best Director from Showcase
‘Moon’
CONTINUES FROM PAGE D2
of what it was like to work incredibly hard and have to rehearse during the day then perform in the evening. But it was just a wonderful experience.
Q. What brought you to London’s West End?
A. I was at Bristol Old Vic in 1973, a very reputable theater, at the time playing Leontes in “A Winter’s Tale,” when I got a call from my agent. He wanted me to go to London, which was a three-hour drive, to meet with a producer who was looking for someone to play an American in a new stage rock musical called “The Rocky Horror Show” — it wasn’t called the “Picture Show” until it had been on stage for the first year of its seven-year run in the West End. Its stage title was “The Rocky Horror Show,” which, of course, now has a cult following in the later filmed version. I told him that I really didn’t sing and wasn’t conversant with rock music, but he was persistent, telling me they heard I was a good actor and
wanted one who only sings a bit. So, I ended up getting the role of an all-American boy named Brad Majors and spent the next 15 months of my life in London. However, my favorite role in the West End was playing Mr. Darcy in “Pride and Prejudice” at the Old Vic Theatre. It was one of my most fulfiling parts because I’ve always been attracted to language-driven, thought-provoking characters.
Q. What brought you to America and to eventually becoming a citizen?
A. I came here on a publicity trip for WGBH-TV Boston, who produced and paid for the BBC television series “Masterpiece Theatre.” They had a cultural division and I came across to Los Angeles to do publicity for a television series I was in while in England called “Partners in Crime.” I did that for three years and it really became a little bit of a cult hit. So, here I was on the West Coast of America and I got a national tour for the musical “Camelot,” which I had done in England. I was playing King Arthur, and because I was the king, I negotiated
for a double seat on the bus. We did 37,000 miles on the bus, no kidding, going from Canada and all across America. And I realized by the end of the tour that America was this extraordinary place with so much variety and so large in territory. So, when I got back to LA, I decided to cast fate to the wind and make the transition to staying here after being a rather wellknown actor in England, but an unknown quantity in America.
The first thing I did was to get an agent in LA and, as luck would have it, I was doing a play there when I got a call from my agent in London who told me about a British producer, who was bringing across to Broadway the Oscar Wilde play “An Ideal Husband” and they wanted me to play the lead role of Sir Robert Chiltern. So, I headed back to New York, that was around 1996, and thought, well, the horse is clearly going in this direction, so I might as well stay on the horse and see what happens. I sold my condo in London and threw my life up in the air, I was single at the time, to see where it would all land. And it seemed the right time
Magazine — and I was literally off and running. I was still acting in theater as well as directing, and got a Critic’s Award for Harold Pinter’s play “Old Times” at South Coast Rep in California. Then, I got an offer to do a play at the Berkshire Theater Festival in 1999 and my life was about to change again. I started going back and forth from LA to the Berkshires.
Q. How do Broadway and the West End in London compare?
A. They are so different. I can’t really compare them. I’ve directed a couple of plays off-Broadway, but I’ve only been on Broadway in one of the big marquee theaters with
Actors Sue Dziura (as Josie Hogan) and Caleb Chew (as Mike Hogan) share a moment in Eugene O’Neill’s “A Moon for the Misbegotten,” onstage at West Springfield’s Majestic Theater through Dec. 1. (PHOTO BY KAIT RANKINS)
The best horror films of 2024 (so far)
Get a jump on Halloween with these flicks
By Jim H arrington Bay Area News Group
It’s been nothing short of a banner year for horror movies.
Since 2024 kicked off nearly 11 months ago, gore hounds have been treated with a seemingly nonstop supply of good fright flicks.
They’ve come in all shapes and sizes, from monsters and mad men to creeps and creatures to slashers and space aliens.
Throughout it all, I’ve paid very close attention — perhaps more closely than one would say is healthy — to all the bloodbaths, jump scares and things that go bump in the night, picking the winners from the losers, with the goal of delivering my list of the best horror films of 2024
(thus far) to you in time for Halloween.
And, jeepers, do I ever think I’ve succeeded in that goal.
All of my picks were released widely this year, although some may have premiered earlier at film festivals and whatnot. Also, they are listed in order, from the very best to — in the case of this particular year — still really worth watching.
More significantly, all of creepy offerings are available to stream/rent/download. So, read on and pick a few that sound intriguing. Then — if you dare — go right ahead and host your own Halloween movie party.
‘In a Violent Nature’ Director Chris Nash flips the
script on standard slasher film fare, creating something that feels refreshingly new and — most terrifyingly – real in a genre that has been plagued by cliches and laziness for decades.
The result is a film that doesn’t resemble anything I’ve ever seen in the genre, which is clearly not a statement I thought I would be making in 2024.
The sheer creativeness with the gore and effects is what grabs the headlines, but this film’s best moments come from how Nash strikes — and then holds — the feeling of menace basically throughout the entire film.
Plus, the genre definitely now has a new slasher icon in
Plenty of musical treats in the area this Halloween
HALLOWEEN IS just around the (dark and scary) corner, which means the Pioneer Valley has been loading up with entertainment treats you can sample.
Today we’ll take a look at some of the spooky (and musical) offerings you might want to attend.
First up is a pre-Halloween blast at Progression Brewing in Northampton on Friday at 7 p.m. Carol Devine & The Mighty Fine will provide the music.
Saturday will see a range of spooky shenanigans across the Valley. Dewey’s Lounge in Springfield will host a Dead Celebrities Halloween Party at 8 p.m., featuring DJ WhyNot. Guests are invited dress up and dance among the ghosts of Hollywood’s finest for this bash. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door, if any are left.
Also on Saturday, Marigold Theater in Easthampton will feature a Halloween dance party with Shokazoba, starting at 8 p.m. Along with being a party, the night will also serve as a tribute to local DJ I-Ganic Sound System, who is recovering from a stroke he suffered in September.
Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door.
On the same evening, JJ’s Tavern in the Florence section of Northampton will hold its annual Halloween costume party at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance, and the night will feature a costume contest and parade, a raffle and live music. There also will be prizes for best, worst, sexiest (all genders) and funniest costumes.
Two more events on Saturday will be a Halloween “Good vs. Evil Dance Party” at the Majestic Saloon in Northampton and the eighth annual Devils Ball Halloween show at Luther Co-op in Easthampton. The Majestic party will feature a costume contest at midnight along with dancing to DJs, while
George Lenker LIVE WIRE
Clockwise from top left: Demi Moore stars in “The Substance”; Maika Monroe stars in “Longlegs”; and Lupita Nyong’o stars in “A Quiet Place: Day One.”
my name above the title once, but it was a fantastic experience and a thrilling time in 1996-1997. I’ve also done about 7 plays in the West End with my name above the title, but again, the experiences are so different. It was quite a time for me because I was already in transition, and once I did the play on Broadway, I really did feel that I was destined to be in America. It was however, quite a gamble and I was in my late 40s at the time. They were all wonderful experiences and I’ve been very lucky in life, very rarely have I been disappointed or had a bad experience in the theater.
Q. What is the difference between working for television in America as opposed to England?
A. I did over 10 television series when I was living in London. The difference was when I worked in television in England, we rehearsed like a theater play, maybe for a week, in BBC rehearsal rooms located a ways from the studio. Then we would travel to the studio to shoot and everything that we had rehearsed and the sets would be there and everything was ready for filming. When I came to America, there were no rehearsals at all. You would learn your lines, maybe run it through on camera, then go for a take. The difference here was that you really had to learn your lines and not knock over the furniture before you got into the studio and on camera. So, things were done incredibly quickly. I used to love being on television in England. There was a lot of camaraderie and you would go to the pub at lunchtime. There is none of that today even in England. It’s all done very quickly and actors learn their lines at home. What really amazes me is if you do something different on camera, you really confuse the director, who doesn’t want you to do something different, but exactly what you did at the
“If
a town or city has live theater, it serves as a
center for that community that doesn’t exist in any other art form. If a theater sets up as a community center and serves the wide variety of tastes and experiences of its community members, I think there is no other experience like it.”
James Warwick, director, ‘A Moon for the Misbegotten’ at Majestic Theater
ing to New York in the winter to direct plays at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. So, I said ‘yes’ and did that for two years before serving as president of Theatre of Arts in LA from 2009 to 2014.
By this time, I realized my heart was not in LA in academia, but that I had left my heart in the Berkshires. In 2013, I decided that I was ready to leave LA and handed in my notice. They were appalled and wondered how could I leave, telling me I could do much better with them, but I said, “No, I have to go, sorry.” I bought a house in Sheffield and had the enormous good fortune to go back to Chester to direct “Madagascar,” which got me Best Production of the Year from Jeffrey Borak, a theater critic at The Berkshire Eagle. There is no moving me now. This is where I belong. And I have been so fortunate to direct for Shakespeare and Company in 2018, and I’ve
worked there every year since and at Chester Theatre Company again, and, of course, for Danny at The Majestic Theater, and also for Great Barrington Pubic Theater. I think as long as I keep my head up and work hard and have good fortune to be employed, that gives me great fulfillment. I’m happier than I’ve ever been and I feel my life is on an even course for the foreseeable future. If I fell off my twig tomorrow, I’d say I had a wonderful life.
Q. Why do you enjoy directing regional theater and what do you see as its importance in the world of art?
A. For me personally, I have over 50 years’ experience in professional theater. If a town or city has live theater, it serves as a center for that community that doesn’t exist in any other art form. If a theater sets up as a community center and serves the wide variety of tastes and experiences of its community members, I think there is no other experience like it. You can’t get the same experience watching television or at the movies — it is a unique experience shared with other people in your
audition, which isn’t nearly as much fun.
Q. What about directing?
A. “The Secret Rapture” in Los Angeles was one of several plays I directed until 1999, when Kate Maguire (artistic director and CEO of the Berkshire Theatre Group) asked me to travel there to play this horrible old army colonel in the play “The Crucifer of Blood.” Kate asked me back the next year to play Professor Higgins in “My Fair Lady.” That was in 2000 and in 2001, she asked me back to direct “H.M.S. Pinafore” and another play called “Coyote on a Fence.” Byam Stevens (artistic director of Chester Theatre Company) saw me at
the Berkshire Theatre Festival and liked what he saw. He asked me to come to Chester to direct and I was there for about four years directing plays full-time. I think I did about 10 plays, but no acting. Then I got a call from LA, by that time I had moved here and was living in western Massachusetts from 2002 to 2007, with a request to come back to Los Angeles to serve as the interim director of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, the oldest drama school in America. I really had no indication at the time that I could make a living here and that western Massachusetts would be my home forever. I couldn’t make a living directing a few plays in the summer then go -
Actors Sue Dziura, left, and John Thomas Waite are pictured in a scene from “A Moon for the Misbegotten,” playing at the Majestic Theater in West Springfield through Dec. 1. (PHOTO BY KAIT RANKINS)
Hugh Robert Off The Menu
Question 5 to weigh minimum wage for tipped workers
ON NOVEMBER’S ballot, voters will find Question 5, Minimum Wage for Tipped Workers, a measure placed before the public by our state’s initiative petition process.
Question 5 is designed to eliminate the minimum wage tip credit, gradually phasing it out over the next five years. The proposed law will also allow employers to set up tip pools within their establishments, with those tip pools sharing customer tips among all employees, including those in the “back of the house.” Such “everyone included” tip pooling is currently not permitted in Massachusetts — only those who actually serve customers can currently be part of such a pool.
Without going into the pros and cons of Question 5 itself, how will restaurant servers and customers likely to be impacted if the measure passes? No one knows for sure, of course, but it’s possible to draw inferences from both the proposed law itself and the experiences of other jurisdictions where similar legislation has been adopted.
First of all, the proposal will primarily impact table
CONTINUES FROM PAGE D5
community. And I think that is its great strength and why it will survive despite COVID and other challenges. Theaters went dark at the height of the pandemic from 2020 to 2022 and it left a huge gap in the confidence of the theater-going public. Subscriptions were once very hot for the entire year, but now single ticket sales are far more prevalent, even though subscriptions are an incredible value. But people are wary of committing themselves long term, and I hope it will come back.
Q. You have also done science fiction, “Star Wars” and “Dr. Who.”
A. I did the voice of Qui-Gon Jinn for “Star Wars” video games and was a voice double for Liam Neeson in the role. It was very bittersweet. Liam had just lost his wife in a skiing accident. It was a terrible tragedy and he wasn’t up to continuing the voice over given his wife’s death. So, I did the video games and a spinoff on the Cartoon Network called “Clone Wars.” I had to audition because they wanted someone who was a soundalike for him. I did one line and got the job. The line I had to do for them was “Get the pod racer Obi-Wan-Kenobi, they are about to attack” and that got me the job. In fact, it is so funny, when I go into the Verizon store in Great Barrington, the kids working in there recite that line when I enter. For me, it was one of the least memorable jobs I’ve done because I did it alone in front of a microphone in a studio. The money was good, but it wasn’t fulfilling. However, it brought me attention and a certain amount of fame with the younger generation. I also did four episodes of “Doctor Who” playing Captain Scott, a space ship commander. And the director wanted someone Cockney, you know, from East London and he said, “James, could you toughen it up a bit on the
“After the play, I met Danny in the theater’s café, where we had a little chat. He looked at me with a piercing look that only Danny can do and I said to myself, ‘Something is going on here.’”
James Warwick
first day of filming. So, Capt. Scott turned out to be a bit of a thug. People asked me afterwards why I wanted to do that part and I simply said, “It was fun.”
Q. What brought you to Danny Eaton and The Majestic?
A. I went to see a friend of mine, Russell Garrett, who was appearing in Noel Coward’s “Blithe Spirit” at The Majestic, and because it is a very English play, I wanted to see how American repertory presented it.
I was very impressed with the sets and the standard of acting was extraordinary, and Russell was very good. After the play, I met Danny in the theater’s café, where we had a little chat. He looked at me with a piercing look that only Danny can do and I said to myself, “Something is going on here.” The next day I decided to drop him an email to thank him for welcoming me
to “Blithe Spirit” and included my resume. That afternoon I got a call from Danny saying that he assumed since I sent him my resume that maybe I wanted to direct a play for him, and I said “Righto.” He asked me to direct “Native Gardens” which was coming up at the theater, and I said “Righto.” And that is how I got started with The Majestic. I’ve also directed “The Lady Slipper,” which Danny wrote. He is a very interesting writer and that play was a wonderful story. In fact, he has written another play, a courtroom drama, that we are going to be doing a reading for very shortly. He is a thinking man and a very good writer and I have enjoyed working with him over the past couple of years.
Q. What can you say about the play you are directing now for The Majestic –“Moon for the Misbegotten?”
A.It’s an American classic,
one of the great American plays of this century. It didn’t get a really full production until 1957 on Broadway. It was a sequel to a play Eugene O’Neill had written earlier called “A Long Day’s Journey into Night.” Both these plays are autobiographical. He came from a very dysfunctional Irish family, as you can imagine with a name like O‘Neill. His father was a Broadway actor, in fact, he was born in a hotel in Times Square while his father was appearing on Broadway. His father was very well known for the “Count of Monte Cristo” which he played on Broadway. (While he was on tour) Eugene and his brother Jamie would travel with their father. Jamie became an actor, but not nearly as successful as his father. “A Moon for the Misbegotten” is about what happened to his brother when he was left on a Connecticut farm by his father, and his battle against alcoholism. It’s also a story of the woman he loved deeply but could not commit himself fully to. It is a tragic, beautiful love story about a man who was well known in his own right as a Broadway actor and this woman who was a tenant farmer on his estate. It Is a fascinating story about love mismatched ... a great love affair.
TUESDAY
Chicopee Elks #1849
431 Granby Road, Chicopee 413-592-1849
Bingo Tuesday
Doors Open at 4PM
2 Progressive Jackpots
6:15PM Early Bird
6:20PM Start
Min. Entry Package $15
Open Seating
2 Halls for Players Handicap Restroom 1st Floor
WEDNESDAY
Polish American Citizens Club
355 East Street, Ludlow, 583-6385
Bingo Wednesdays 6:30-9:30pm
Doors Open at 4pm.
Minimum Admission $50
1 - 1199 Progressive Betty Boop 50/50 Prize $900
2 - $500 Cover Alls
THURSDAY
Fairview Knights of Columbus 1599 Memorial Drive, Chicopee (413) 532-2011
DOORS OPEN 4:30PM
MASKS OPTIONAL Progressive Jackpot 6:15pm Early Bird 6:20pm Start
Electronic Bingo Aval. Snack Bar, Open Seating, Handicap Restrooms
Min. Entry Package $15
‘Les Miserables’ brings 19th-century France to Bushnell
By K eith O ’C onnor Special to The Republican
Jean Valjean, who spent 19 years in prison for the crime of stealing a loaf of bread to save his sister’s son from starvation, is alive and well.
Valjean, the protagonist in Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel “Les Miserables,” will make a triumphant return to The Bushnell for an encore presentation of the play beginning Oct. 29 through Nov. 3.
Set against the backdrop of 19th century France, “Les Miserables” tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption. It features a dramatic score by Boublil and Schönberg’s that includes the classic songs “I Dreamed a Dream,” “On My Own,” “Bring Him Home,” “Do You Hear The People Sing?,” “One Day More,” “Master of the House” and many more.
Since Cameron Mackintosh first conceived the acclaimed new production of “Les Miserables” in 2009 to celebrate the show’s 25th anniversary, it has traveled the world with record-breaking runs in countries including North America, Australia, Japan, France
and Spain. The most recent North American production toured from 2017 to March 2020, playing 94 engagements until it was halted due to the global pandemic. The current North American tour launched on October 2022 at Playhouse Square in Cleveland, Ohio, stars Nick Cartell in the role of Jean Valjean. Cartell recently took time between performances on the road to answer a few questions for The Republican.
Q.While you were with the tour since the beginning, why did you take a break from the role even before the pandemic?
A. I kicked off the national tour of “Les Miserables” in the role of Jean Valjean in January 2017 until 2019, leaving just before the pandemic, then relaunching the tour in October 2022. I left the tour because I had been doing it
for 2-and-a-half years and my body needed a break, my voice needed a break, and my wife and I were pregnant with our first child. When I left the show, I said it was not a “goodbye,” but “see you soon.”
When they were ready to relaunch the tour again after waiting out the pandemic, the producers contacted me to ask if I was interested in playing Jean Valjean again. I immediately said ‘yes’ because it is the role of a lifetime, and I was so excited they called and wanted me back. But I told them that I wanted to bring my family along and now we just started our third year on tour together and it is as exciting, if not more so, than when I first began the role. We are pretty much out on the road all year and it is rare that you get a chance to go home. But we are going to have a layoff for the first two weeks of November, before going back on the road straight through the holidays into next year without a break until August. We have a car and travel between cities, but there is also a lot of flying, a lot of rental cars, Airbnbs and
“Les Miserables” is being staged at The Bushnell in Hartford Oct. 29 through Nov. 3. (MAT-
“Les Miserables” is being staged at The Bushnell in Hartford Oct. 29 through Nov. 3.
A glut of glum local beer news
IT’S A CLICHÉ FOR people to ask which you want first, the good news or the bad news.
Unfortunately, all I have today is bad news — although some of it is more bittersweet than heartbreaking. So since I can’t ask you anyway, I’ll go with the idea that most people would rather get the bad news first, so I’ll start with the worst of my reports today.
Although it doesn’t seem to have been widely announced, Brick & Feather Brewing in Turners Falls will be closing up shop before the end of the
year. This is really lamentable news, as the brewery has consistently made some of the best beers in Western Massachusetts since opening in 2015. While all its beers were top-notch, Brick & Feather particularly shone when it came to making delicious old-school beers (with equally great names). Its Czech pils, named “In An Analog World,” was a stellar example of this, as was “A Small Group of Reasonable People” — its English dark mild ale. But I shouldn’t be using the past tense “was” for the beers yet. Word on the street is that
Brick & Feather should be open through the end of November. However, smart beer fans shouldn’t wait too long. If you love the beer, grab some while you can. If you haven’t had the beers yet, do yourself a favor and head up
I’ve known them both for years, so I personally can only be happy for them, but as a self-proclaimed Beer Nut, my joy for them is tinged with the knowledge that the area will be losing a unique and important venue for beermakers.
service restaurants; fast food and fast casual operations don’t have access to a tip credit provision. Faced with higher labor costs if the measure passes, operators of table service restaurants will likely have to increase prices. Alternatively, some restaurants may tack on mandatory 20% service charges as an alternative to menu price hikes.
Both responses are likely to put table service restaurants at a competitive disadvantage with respect to other dining out options.
A big unknown is how patrons will react to the new tipping environment Question 5 creates. Data from other locales is scarce, but it seems logical to assume that voluntary tipping will decline, perhaps substantially, in the face of service charges and higher prices.
The new tip pooling procedure the initiative authorizes also means waitstaff and bartenders may find themselves having to share the possibly smaller tips they do earn with all their coworkers.
The tasting, which will run from 5-7 p.m., will feature some of the best of Table & Vine’s wines and spirits portfolio.
Catered by HighBrow Wood-fired Kitchen and Bar, the event will feature a harvest pasta station as well as seasonal passed appetizers. Cost to attend is $50 per person; tickets are available at tableandvine.com/events
For more details contact Table & Vine, which is located on Riverdale Street at I-91. Their telephone number is 413-736-4694
Reservations are encouraged and can be made by calling 413-586-3347.
• The Ranch Golf Club in Southwick is holding a Champions Dinner on Friday, Nov. 1, starting at 6 p.m.
The evening will begin with a cocktail hour; two entree choices will be availablegrilled salmon or braised beef short ribs. Salad and dessert will also be served.
There is a dress code for the event — jacket or tie for men, and evening gown or cocktail dress for women.
The ultimate impact of Question 5 on the dining out experience is hard to predict, but one thing seems obvious — promoting “fairness” and “social justice” will have a financial impact on restaurant customers and waitstaff alike.
Side Dishes
• Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is turning up the heat this month by offering a limited-time Ghost Pepper Chicken Sandwich. Featuring a fried chicken
breast garnished with a ghost pepper sauce and pickle chips on a butter-toasted brioche bun, the sandwich can also be enjoyed as a bacon and cheese version.
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen locations can be found at 489 State St. and 665 Boston Road in Springfield, on Memorial Drive in Chicopee and on Route 9 in Hadley.
• On Sunday, Nov. 3, Table & Vine in West Springfield will host “A Sip Above Grand Tasting” event.
• Iona’s Kitchen in Springfield will host an October Brunch Bash on Sunday, Oct. 26, from 2-5 p.m. in the Food Court at Tower Square.
For more details, call 413322-8045.
• The Eastside Grill in Northampton is celebrating Halloween night in a special way.
Guests who show up in costume for dinner on Oct. 31 will be given two Halloween treats, the first of which is a $25 gift card good for two people. The gift card has an effective date of Nov. 1.
Each dinner will also receive a traditional sweet surprise.
Tickets for the dinner, which are $100, can be reserved online. Deadline for ticket purchases is Oct. 26.
For more details call 413569-9333, ext. 5.
• On Friday, Nov. 1, the Great Awakening Brewing Company in Westfield will host a Joshua Houghton Kitchen Takeover.
Joshua Houghton Catering will be offering a special menu tailored to Great Awakening’s beer list. The “takeover” begins at 4 p.m. and lasts until 9 p.m.
Reservations for the event can be made by contacting Great Awakening Brewing
Jordana Starr and Mike Schilling, owners of Beerology on Pleasant Street in Northampton, are pictured in this file photo. Beerology is closing before the end of the year. (JANICE BEETLE PHOTO)
George Lenker Beer Nut
Kelly Dobbins is the chef/owner of Iona's Kitchen in the food court at Tower Square. The restaurant will host an October Brunch Bash on Sunday. (DON TREEGER / THE REPUBLICAN)
7 Pinot Noirs from around the world
ANCHOVIES. Opera.
The New York Yankees.
People either love them or hate them.
The same goes for Pinot Noir.
Some people adore red wines made with these grapes.
Other people just aren’t that into them.
Personally, I think many of them are amazing.
But I also understand why some people might not like them.
They can sometimes be over the top — too ripe or too jammy. They can be expensive — the best ones cost hundreds or thousands of dollars per bottle.
And like certain sports teams, some of their fans can be insufferable. The fictional character Miles Raymond in the wine-obsessed movie “Sideways” is the best example. He’s a royal pain, an absolute curmudgeon. But his adoration for Pinot Noir remains absolute.
He also delivers the best monologues ever about Pinot Noir, talking about how the grapes can be “thin-skinned, temperamental” and “only grow in these really specific, little, tucked away corners of the world.” But it’s all worth it since the best Pinot Noirs can be “haunting and brilliant and thrilling and subtle.”
That speech sent sales of Pinot Noir wines in the real world through the roof after the movie came out in 2004.
This week, you can learn more about this amazing grape.
I also picked out seven Pinot Noirs to taste from some of these tucked-away corners of the world.
The Pinot Noirs featured this week come from some of the best-known Pinot Noir regions, including France’s Burgundy region, California’s Sonoma County, Oregon and New Zealand.
And while you can easily spend a fortune on Pinot Noirs, this week’s wines range in price from $12 to $47 a bottle. Hope you enjoy.
How old are Pinot Noir grapes?
People have been growing Pinot Noir and making wine with these grapes for thousands of years. Exactly when winemakers started growing Pinot Noir grapes remains unknown. However, the first known plantings date back to the first century AD.
Where was Pinot Noir first planted?
The first known planting of Pinot Noir occurred in the first century AD in what remains its greatest wine region in my opinion — France’s Burgundy region. What’s even more amazing is the area where Pinot Noir grows best in Burgundy is roughly only 40 miles long (from Marsannay in the north to Mercurey in the south) and only a few miles wide.
How popular is Pinot Noir?
Currently, it’s the 10th most popular wine grape in the world and the sixth most popular red wine grape. Worldwide, Pinot Noir vines take up roughly 244,000 acres. That figure includes 61,000 acres in the United States, where it’s the second most popular red wine grape after Cabernet Sauvignon.
What are the most popular Pinot Noir regions?
Along with France’s Burgundy region, other popular Pinot Noir regions include France’s Champagne region (Pinot Noir is often used to make Champagne), California (especially Sonoma County), Oregon (especially the Willamette Valley) and New Zealand. There, the weather’s cool, damp and perfect for growing Pinot Noir. You can also find great Pinot Noir wines from Argentina, Chile and many other places.
Wine Tasting Notes
2022 Montes Limited Selection Pinot Noir ($20 Suggested Retail Price) Region: Aconcagua Costa, Chile
Tasting notes: Pinot Noir is known for being a delicate, elegant, floral red wine. This
terrific Pinot Noir proves that these wines can cover a wide range. Here, the flavors are fuller, rounder and earthier. There are also fleshy, fruit-forward wines with hints of plum and cherry. The second day, those flavors are softer and smoother as well.
2020 Otronia Pinot Noir Patagonia Extrema ’45 Rugientes ($40 SRP)
Region: Chubut, Argentina
Tasting notes: This Pinot Noir from the southern part of Argentina (where the weather’s often cooler than Mendoza) has a smooth, round, subtle finish you would expect from a Pinot Noir. Just be sure to give these light, delicate flavors time to open up in the glass. After opening this wine, it takes roughly half an hour for these flavors to emerge. The next day, this wine has a nice, tight, reserved finish with more precise fruit flavors.
2023 Craggy Range Martinborough Te Muna Pinot Noir ($47 SRP)
Region: Martinborough, New Zealand
Tasting notes: New Zealand’s Marlborough region on the northernmost tip of the south island gets the most attention when it comes to wine. This outstanding Pinot Noir from the southernmost part of New Zealand’s north island shows that there are many other outstanding wine regions on both islands. Like the Argentinean Malbec, the flavors here are soft, light and delicate with subtle hints of cherry and black licorice. The next day, those same flavors
linger just as beautifully and gently, like a passing summer breeze.
2018 Siduri Pinot Noir Willamette Valley (SRP $38)
Region: Willamette Valley, Oregon
Tasting notes: Oregon’s Willamette Valley produces some of the best, affordable Pinot Noirs in the world. This wine illustrates that point beautifully. The flavors here are big and voluptuous without being overpowering. The fruit notes are soft yet linger, especially hints of cherry and black licorice. The next day, all these flavors taste slightly more muted but still manage to be big, round, ripe and delicious.
2021 Hahn Pinot Noir California ($13.99 at Table & Vine in West Springfield)
Region: Monterey County, California
Tasting notes: Who says you have to spend a fortune to find great Pinot Noir wines? This fantastic, affordable Pinot Noir from California’s Monterey County has bright, lively fruit flavors, including hints of cherry and licorice. The next day, these flavors remain just as bright, refreshing and easy drinking. A great wine for an absolutely stunning low price.
2019 Landmark Vineyards Pinot Noir Hop Kiln Estate Russian River Valley Sonoma County (SRP $43) Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California
Tasting Notes: I purposely picked this wine since I wanted to compare a Sonoma
County Pinot Noir with a Burgundy one that’s the same age and roughly the same price. Sonoma County, especially its Russian River Valley, has long been producing outstanding Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays. Part of that has to do with its cool, damp weather thanks to the nearby Pacific Ocean. As for this particular wine, its flavors range from slightly plum-like, jam and cherry to hints of black licorice. It’s also elegant and velvety smooth. The next day, those flavors are just as smooth and subtle, rich and elegant.
2019 Domaine Chevrot Clos Rousseau Santenay Premier Cru (SRP $46) Region: Santenay, Burgundy, France
Tasting notes: Regular readers of this column might recognize the name of the village in France’s Burgundy region where this outstanding Pinot Noir comes from — Santenay. The Clos Rousseau on the label refers to the name of the specific vineyard in Santenay where the grapes are grown for this particular wine. I have written before about wines from Santenay based on a wine-tasting trip I made there for this wine column. Entire books have been written about Pinot Noirs from France’s Burgundy region. So I’ll simply stick to this particular, wonderful wine rather than try to tackle wines from Burgundy in general in a few paragraphs.
So how does this particular Pinot Noir compare to the 2019 from Sonoma County? Here, the flavors are earthy yet elegant, subtle yet soft. There are also delicate fruit notes that gradually emerge after each taste. The same is true the next day — its flavors are gentle, delicate and divine. Cheers!
Ken Ross Wine Press
The Pinot Noir wines recommended this week. (KEN ROSS PHOTO)
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hotels. We figured out how to make it work and our daughter is amazingly adaptive. She has really blossomed out on the road with us after being so shy at first compared to now at the age of 2-and-a-half.
Q. How did someone like you, someone creative, survive without working during the pandemic?
A. It really was this great pause and theaters were the first to close and the last to come back. Luckily, I also teach, so when I got off the road, I picked up my job again teaching musical theater classes and lessons by zoom. I was also very lucky to be contacted by a theater in Arizona, where I grew up and worked, to do a fundraiser for them as well as for another theater there who contacted me. So, I found ways to do things and use my creativity in creative ways. It was also a chance, even though it was a terrible time, for the three of us to be in our own little bubble and to know we were keeping her safe. We were able to see her take her first steps, to laugh, and to say her first words. I am so thankful for those moments because in any other time I would be busy at auditions or my wife would be working. As terrible as the pandemic was, again, it was a moment for us to take a pause in our busy lives and focus on this amazing little human who we now had.
Q. What was it like being on the Broadway stage for the first time?
A. It was a dream come true for me when I made my Broadway debut, and anytime I was fortunate to be in a Broadway show that was the dream for me. I always dreamed one day about being on the Broadway stage. It is the same work on Broadway as it is on a national tour. I’m doing the job I love to do and am fortunate to do every night. I think one of the things that makes it different
being on Broadway is that the houses where the audience sits are much smaller than a lot of the theaters we play across the county. We have an amazing opportunity to bring this show to audiences who have never gone to New York City, who have never had the opportunity to see theater like this. The fact that we get to continue to bring a show like “Les MIserables,” which has been running for 40 years and has such a legacy and fan base, is something that we never take for granted. Yes, we might not be in New York City and able to go home to our own beds instead of a hotel or Airbnb, but we are so thankful that we are living our dream in bringing a show like this across the country.
Q. What was it like to step into the role of such an enigmatic character of Jean Valjean?
A. It was overwhelming at the beginning because there is such a legacy to “Les Miserables” and there have been such heavy hitters who have played the role of Jean Valjean like Colm Wilkinson on Broadway who originated the role — or Hugh Jackman in the movies. I have joined such a fraternity of men who have taken on this mantle,
and I am so thankful to get to do it because I have learned so much about myself, but also so much about this character. And I continue to learn things about this character, which is why I have been playing him for over 1,200 shows. I continue to learn different aspects of this role ... the fight he has at the beginning, the animalistic qualities he as at the beginning of this show because he has been so beaten down by society and being in prison. So, then feeling this feeling of redemption and self-sacrifice that he goes through ... we talk within our show about the survival of the human spirit and I think that is not only true of Valjean but for the show in general. Audiences connect to this character and to the story because they see the fight in him and it is a fight that I have found in myself. And I am so thankful for a role like this, that I get to inhabit this character eight times a week, three hours a night, twice on the weekend. It is something that I don’t take for granted.
Q. What has the audience response to the tour been?
A. The audience response sometimes feels like a rock concert. Audiences love this
“Audiences connect to this character and to the story because they see the fight in him and it is a fight that I have found in myself. And I am so thankful for a role like this, that I get to inhabit this character eight times a week, three hours a night, twice on the weekend. It is something that I don’t take for granted.”
show, they love this story. For some in the audience, they have not ventured back into the theater because of the pandemic, and this is a show that is bringing them back, because it is a show that they love so much and they feel that they are ready to take that journey again. And we are so happy to be welcoming them back. Our audiences connect to the story, connect to the characters, and I hope they are leaving inspired and feeling challenged to make changes in their own lives. There is a reason at the end of the show that we sing, “Will you join in our crusade, who will be strong and stand with me?”
We are challenging our audiences to go out and make the changes that they see within these characters in their own lives.
Q. Why do you think “Les Miserables” has withstood the test of time, being seen by over 130 million people worldwide in 53 countries, 438 cities and 22 languages, and is still one of the world’s most popular musicals?
A. It is the story. It starts with Victor Hugo and the way he crafted these characters who people see within themselves. On top of that, it is the
music written by Boublil and Schönberg which is so thrilling. I am somebody who gets goosebumps every night at the end of Act 1 when we sing “One Day More.” It is the best Act 1 closer ever written for any musical. There is this rush of energy that we all feel on stage from what we are giving to the audience and what they are giving back to us. These are songs that have been recorded by pop stars... they are in such the pantheon of musical theater, but also just in society that people don’t even realize that the song is there, that it is from “Les Miserables.” (For example) “Do You Hear the People Sing” is from “Les Miserables” and it was sung during the opening ceremonies at the Paris Olympics. That is how epic and part of our culture this music is. It is one of the true reasons it has stood the test of time, and it is the music and the story that has just exploded off stages across the world.
The encore presentation of “Les Miserables” runs for eight performances only. Tickets are available online at bushnell. org, by calling 860-987-5900 or by visiting The Bushnell Box Office at 166 Capitol Ave. in Hartford, Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Nick Cartell plays Jean Valjean in "Les Miserables," to be staged at The Bushnell in Hartford Oct. 29 through Nov. 3. (MATTHEW MURPHY & EVAN ZIMMERMAN FOR MURPHYMADE)
Nick Cartell, who plays Jean Valjean in ‘Les Miserables’
the silent, hulking Johnny.
‘A Quiet Place: Day One’
This prequel seals the deal on “A Quiet Place” being the best horror movie franchise of recent years, becoming the third film in the series to rank in the top five fright flicks of its respective year.
Director Michael Sarnoski does a great job taking over the helm from John Krasinski (who still co-wrote the story and co-produced the film) in this prequel, as he goes back and sets the table for all the terror of 2018’s “A Quiet Place” and 2020’s “A Quiet Place Part II.”
The space creatures (known by fans as “Death Angels”) are still terrifying predators, but this film is really about survival, friendship and, ultimately, what makes us human.
And the film’s last sequence, set to the best song of all time (aka, Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good”), is my favorite closing scene of any film released in 2024.
‘The Substance’
Hollywood star Elisabeth Sparkle (played by Demi Moore) is having a really bad 50th birthday, as she ends up getting dumped from her popular TV exercise show so someone younger can step in and host.
Getting older stinks, she reasons, so she decides to do something about it and signs up for this highly experimental procedure that can breathe new life into her 50-year-old body. It turns out to be an appallingly bad idea, but one that also sets the scene for one of the finest body horror films of all time.
Moore is splendid in the role — and one can only hope the Oscar buzz around her performance will actually result in a nomination.
And while we’re talking Oscar nominations, pencil one down in the best supporting role category for Dennis Quaid as Sparkle’s creepy, ageist boss.
The whole film is sensational, but the last 20 minutes or so have to be seen to be believed.
‘Sting’
It’s a good ol’ fashioned
mainstream monster movie — the type that were once churned out seemingly every week in the ’80s — where the blood and gore are kept light and jump scares are king.
All 12-year-old Charlotte (Alyla Browne) wants is a companion, someone — or something — to keep her company while mom and stepdad are busy with other things. Unfortunately, she picks a crazy mutant/alien spider thingy, which immediately begins multiplying in size and causing all sorts of mayhem in the apartment building Charlotte lives in.
The retro feel of the whole thing, combined with solid acting and a script that keeps things moving along quite nicely, makes this a little horror film that pays off big time.
‘Late Night with the Devil’
At the time of this writing, this was the top rated horror
film of 2024 on Rotten Tomatoes — boosting nothing short of a 97% approval rating.
I’m actually more surprised about the 3% who voted thumbs down, as opposed the overwhelming 97% who loved this entirely creepy tale of late-night talk show host Jack Delroy (David Dastmalchian) who goes way to far to try and improve his ratings.
In his pursuit of taking down Johnny Carson, Delroy ends up unleashing true evil upon TV viewers across the country.
‘Oddity’
The Irish horror feature, which won the audience award during the incredibly popular midnight movies series at the South by Southwest film festival earlier this year, has been a true word of mouth sensation.
People see this film, which hit theaters in the U.S. without much fanfare back in July, and then they go on to tell all their friends about this chilling tale of one fateful night when a dreadful wooden mannequin arrives at the home of a psychiatrist and his new girlfriend.
The fact that the psychiatrist immediately lets this monstrosity into the house, of course, is a definite sign that he should hire his own psychiatrist. (Hasn’t this guy ever seen a horror movie before?)
“Oddity” deals in pure tension and apprehension, crafting the kind of spookiness that
stays with a viewer long after the actual film is over.
‘Longlegs’
This was the most hyped-up horror film of the year, with advance reviews hoisting the bar so high that it was seemingly inevitable that some viewers would leave theaters feeling a bit underwhelmed.
No, “Longlegs” isn’t for every horror fan. But those who like creepy, mood-driven mediations on the genre, filled with plenty of twists and turns and boosting a kind of David Lynchian vibe, then “Longlegs” should definitely do the trick.
Plus, you get to see Cage deliver what may well be his most bizarre performance to date — and, yes, I know that’s really saying something.
‘Night Swim’
OK, so I liked this one — probably more than I should have. It’s not great art, but rather pretty run-of-the-mill supernatural fare — once again from the never-resting horror mill known as Blumhouse Productions. And the premise — a demonic swimming pool that devours people — is ridiculous even by horror standards. Yet, it was well put together, kept my interest — even through multiple viewings — and provided some good scares. And sometimes that’s all you need in a horror movie — especially at Halloween time.
Company at 413-875-7868.
• Figaro Ristorante in Enfield is putting on a Taste of Italy dinner on Wednesday, Oct. 30, starting at 5:30 p.m.
This month’s menu starts with escarole and beans, fried calamari and baked stuffed mushrooms. Homemade minestrone will be the follow-up. The main course is to be veal rollatini and baked stuffed shrimp plated along with fusilli Bolognese. Salad and dessert are also part of the dining experience.
Dinner is $40 per person,
not including tax or gratuity. A cash bar will be available during the dinner. Call 860-745-2414 for reservations.
• Villa Napoletana in East Longmeadow has announced the start of ticket sales for their annual Harvest Grande Dinner and Wine Tasting, which is being held Nov. 12.
The evening begins at 6 p.m. with an open bar cocktail hour. Dinner starts at 7 p.m. and incorporates seven courses paired with seven glasses of wine. Live music will also be part of this event. Tickets are $150, a price that includes tax and gratuity. They can be purchased
online or by calling 413-7329300.
• KFC, the fried chicken brand, has introduced two new items.
The first menu addition, Original Chicken Tenders, are double hand-breaded chicken tenders that feature KFC’s signature 11 herbs and spices in their coating. The tenders are available as part of an Original Recipe Tenders Box, where they come with an order of Secret Recipe fries and two dipping sauces.
KFC has also debuted a new dessert item, Cherry Pie Poppers, bite-sized pastry puffs filled with cherry filling. The Cherry Pie Poppers
join the brand’s Apple Pie Poppers, which were introduced earlier this year.
There are KFC locations on State Street in Springfield, on Center Street in Ludlow, on Memorial Drive in Chicopee, and on King Street across from the Stop & Shop Plaza in Northampton.
• On Sunday, Oct. 27 at 3 p.m. the Heritage Diner on Main Street in Charlemont will host a Halloween Cookie Decorating event. It’s a session at which youngsters will decorate their own cookies in ghoulishly delightful ways.
For more details, contact the Heritage Diner at 413339-8530.
• The Hardwick Vineyard and Winery is sponsoring a Halloween Spooktacular Craft Fair on Saturday, Oct. 26. The fair, which will feature more than 50 artisans as well as wine tasting, food trucks and live music, runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is styled as a “cash encouraged” event. For more information, call the Hardwick Vineyard and Winery at 413-967-7763. 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.
Amélie Hoeferle stars in "Night Swim." (UNIVERSAL PICTURES / TNS)
Live Wire
the Easthampton show will see three bands — The Donut Kings, FrankenPhil and Torie Jock — take the stage.
Oct. 30 will see a Halloween karaoke party at Christopher’s in Springfield. The night will feature raffles, giveaways, food, and drink specials. Costumes are encouraged.
On Halloween night itself (Oct. 31), several more venues will hold parties in honor of the holiday. Theodores’ in Springfield will provide a different twist with a HCC Halloween Jazz Night, featuring students, faculty, and
alumni presenting a night of jazzy Halloween-themed tunes. Costumes are encouraged. The fun begins at 6 p.m.
In Easthampton, The Se7ens Sports Bar and Grill will bring Outer Stylie to the stage to pay tribute to one of the most macabre bands in history: Black Sabbath. There will also be a prize for best costume.
Also in Easthampton, New City Brewery will host a Latin dance twist to Halloween as it combines its regular Bachata dance night with a costume party. A dance class for newcomers starts at 8 p.m. with social dancing beginning at 9 p.m. The cover charge is $10.
Jeff Goulet, of Loophole Brewing. Loophole Brewing will have to find a new home now that its current building has been sold. (THE REPUBLICAN, FILE)
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to Turners Falls as soon as possible.
Next up is the bittersweet news that Beerology, the brewing supply and education shop in Northampton, will also be shuttering its doors soon. Owners Mike Schilling and Jordana Starr have decided to pursue their dream of living in Japan. I’ve known them both for years, so I personally can only be happy for them, but as a self-proclaimed Beer Nut, my joy for them is tinged with the knowledge that the area will be losing a unique and important venue for beermakers.
The shop not only supplied the nuts and bolts for homebrewers, it also ran classes to educate people on various facets of beer and brewing. So cheers — albeit mixed with a few tears — to Jordana and Mike.
Our third bit of news today isn’t too sad, just frustrat-
ing. Loophole Brewing will have to find a new home as the building in which it’s housed has been sold. The good news is that Loophole will continue making beer and will simply have to find a new location. This is frustrating in many ways because Jeff Goulet & Co. did such a marvelous job creating a welcoming and lively space in downtown Springfield. I have no doubt that wherever “El Jefe” and his crew land will become a new brew destination. Stay tuned for updates.
Last, and definitely least, is the news that for the first time in recent memory, Massachusetts was shut out at the Great American Beer Festival. (The website provides a nifty search engine to see how particular states did, and the Bay State yielded no results.) This is not a big deal, but just a bit surprising as we have quite a few amazing breweries in the state.
I guess I’ll end with another cliché: “Wait ’til next year.”
