Worcester Magazine December 3 - 9, 2021 by Worcester Magazine

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Worcester Magazine 100 Front St., Fifth Floor Worcester, MA 01608 worcestermag.com Editorial (508) 767.9535 WMeditor@gatehousemedia.com Sales (508) 767.9530 WMSales@gatehousemedia.com VP, Sales & Strategy Andrew Chernoff Executive Editor David Nordman Editor Nancy Campbell Content Editor Victor D. Infante Reporters Richard Duckett, Veer Mudambi Contributing Writers Stephanie Campbell, Sarah Connell Sanders, Gari De Ramos, Robert Duguay, Liz Fay, Jason Greenough, Janice Harvey, Barbara Houle, Jim Keogh, Jim Perry, Craig S. Semon, Matthew Tota Multi Media Sales Executives Deirdre Baldwin, Debbie Bilodeau, Kate Carr, Diane Galipeau, Sammi Iacovone, Kathy Puffer, Jody Ryan, Regina Stillings Sales Support Jackie Buck, Yanet Ramirez Senior Operations Manager Gary Barth Operations Manager John Cofske Worcester Magazine is a news weekly covering Central Massachusetts. We accept no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts. The Publisher has the right to refuse any advertisement. Legals/Public Notices please call 888-254-3466, email classifieds@gatehousemedia.com, or mail to Central Mass Classifieds, 100 Front St., 5th Floor, Worcester, MA 01608 Distribution Worcester Magazine is inserted into the Telegram & Gazette on Fridays and is also available for free at more than 400 locations in the Worcester area. Unauthorized bulk removal of Worcester Magazine from any public location, or any other tampering with Worcester Magazine’s distribution including unauthorized inserts, is a criminal offense and may be prosecuted under the law. Subscriptions First class mail, $156 for one year. Send orders and subscription correspondence to GateHouse Media, 100 Front St., Worcester, MA 01608. Advertising To place an order for display advertising or to inquire, please call (508) 767.9530. Worcester Magazine (ISSN 0191-4960) is a weekly publication of Gannett. All contents copyright 2021 by Gannett. All rights reserved. Worcester Magazine is not liable for typographical errors in advertisements.

Featured ..............................................................................4 City Voices.........................................................................11 Cover Story.......................................................................14 Artist Spotlight................................................................21 Table Hoppin’...................................................................22 New on DVD .....................................................................25 Adoption Option.............................................................28 Classiﬁ eds ........................................................................29 Games................................................................................30

On the cover From left, Zola Simone, K’nen, Jafet Muzic, Penelope Alizarian-Conley, Annie Brobst, Gene Dante, and Danny Fantom are among the artists gathered at the Palladium in celebration of Worcester Magazine’s Favorite New England Albums 2021. CHRISTINE PETERSON/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

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FEATURED

Westborough Community Chorus celebrates its 50th anniversary Richard Duckett Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

The Westborough Community Chorus is celebrating its 50th anniversary of being founded in 1971. With the pandemic, however, the chorus has not been doing any live, in-person performances since its 2019 holiday show two years ago. A lot can happen in 50 years, and two years as well. Andrew Milne became the director of the Westborough Community Chorus in July, succeeding Kelly Hodge, who had resigned due to a recent increase in responsibilities as a member of the music department at the Sherborn Schools. But there deﬁ nitely will be music in the air when the chorus takes to the stage again this weekend with a show appropriately titled "Sounds of Joy." Performances will be at 8 p.m. Dec. 4 and 2 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Mill Pond School in Westborough. Masks are required. "The theme is our joy in general," Milne said of his debut show as director of the chorus. "The joy of getting back to live performance singing again. The joy of the season. We focus on the happiness that we get to do this after missing this." The program will include holiday tunes and winter songs with varied selections such as "Sleigh Ride," "Carol of the Bells," and "Seasons of Love" from the musical "Rent." About 50 singers will be on stage with a piano, bass and drums accompaniment. The chorus started in-person rehearsals again in September, with singers wearing masks. They will wear specially purchased masks designed for singers for the Dec. 4 and 5 performances. In 1971, the late Faith Newark, a music teacher and minister of music at Evan-

Members of the Westborough Community Chorus rehearse at the Westborough Senior Center. Rehearsals began in September for the 50-year celebration “Sounds of Joy.” ALLAN JUNG/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

gelical Congregational Church in Westborough, was approached by Westborough residents who had recently sung in a chorus during the town's 250th anniversary celebration and didn't want to stop there. They expressed interest in forming a chorus of their own, and the Westboro Community Chorus was created with Newark as its director. The chorus usually performs two concerts a year complete with costumes and sets — a holiday concert in December and a concert in the spring, the latter often with a humorous theme. It has

also performed at special events, including a "Community Chorus Festival" at The Hanover Theatre in Worcester in 2009. Its "signature song" is "Music You Are A Friend To Me." The chorus also and has a longstanding mission of awarding music scholarships to area students. Milne, who grew up and still lives in Westborough, was a recipient. Milne attended Westborough public schools, graduated with a BA in music See CHORUS, Page 5

If You Go What: 'Sounds of Joy' — Westborough Community ChorusWhen: 8 p.m. Dec. 4; 2 p.m. Dec. 5 Where: Mill Pond School, 6 Olde Hickory Path, Westborough. How much: $12; $10 children and seniors. Masks required. Tickets at the door or call Ellen Kluge at (508) 485-4469. For more information, visit www.westborocommunitychorus.com

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Chorus Continued from Page 4

education from SUNY Fredonia, and earned a master's degree in music education and choral conducting from the Hartt School of Music in Hartford, Connecticut. He teaches music at the Bromﬁ eld School in Harvard. He didn't sing with the chorus when he was growing up since the age range is 18+. Still, he liked what he heard when he took over as director. "They've been well trained over the last 50 years," he said. "I was pleasantly surprised to walk into a group so dedicated and performing at a high level." After he met with the board of the chorus in July, it was agreed that if singers were vaccinated and wore masks, then rehearsals could begin in September with the idea of putting on a holiday show, he said. The chorus now rehearses Monday evenings at the Westborough Senior Center, with extra get-togethers as the "Sounds of Joy" show approaches. "Rehearsals have been very successful," Milne said. "We do a really good job of having a good time with one another, social time, but I've been impressed by how seriously they take it. We've plowed through 18 songs. They put in a lot of time at home. They are excited, we all are, to be making music again and to put on a show of this quality will be really nice." It's an adult chorus, and "I believe our oldest singer is 85," Milne said. "We've got a little bit of everybody in the group." There are more women than men, but the men represent good bass and tenor sections, he said. Word of mouth has often played a part in people deciding to join the Westborough Community Chorus over the 50 years. Or rather, hearing the words and the tunes coming See CHORUS, Page 6

The Westborough Community Chorus rehearses at the Westborough Senior Center for its 50-year celebration “Sounds of Joy,” which will be performed Dec. 4 and 5. PHOTOS BY ALLAN JUNG/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

Sue Ryan sings during rehearsals for “Sounds of Joy.”

Westborough Community Chorus members do a quick stretch to begin rehearsals.

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Chorus Continued from Page 5

out of the mouths of chorus members at a concert can be so enjoyable that people want to be a part of the experience themselves. "People come and see the show, the sets, the costumes. They see how we perform, they like it, and they end up joining," said chorus member Wilfred Tremblay. Tremblay and his wife, Janice Tremblay, went to see a chorus show because his niece was singing in it. A little bit of time passed, and Janice Tremblay announced to her husband that they had joined. Wilfred Tremblay wasn't so sure he wanted to, but was persuaded to attend a rehearsal. "I enjoyed it at the ﬁ rst visit. The rest is history," he said. He and his wife have been members for over 25 years. "I've made some good friends there," he said. "Some people just like to get out and sing." The Tremblays are from Sutton, and chorus members are from all around the area, and not just Westborough. There are members from Bellingham, Hudson, Marlborough, Northborough, Uxbridge, Whitinsville and Worcester. No auditions are required, only the ability and desire to sing in a very committed and friendly community chorus. The chorus did post a couple of Zoom song renditions during the pandemic, including one of "Music You Are a Friend To Me," which participants all performed from their respective homes remotely. That was one new form of adaptation. Another is the masks. With the specially purchased singers masks, "you don't have to worry about the masks coming down and swallowing them while performing," Milne said. But there are challenges to singing while wearing a mask, he noted. "I think it's hard to get

Bob Tripi, center, joins other members for rehearsals. ALLAN JUNG/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

used to at ﬁ rst. It certainly requires a diﬀ erent thought process." The fabric tends to send the sound of the voice back to the wearer rather than projecting out. "You have to be a bit more crisp with your consonants. But after a while you get pretty used to it and it's not too bad." The "Sounds of Joy" concert will be the reward. "Music, I think, was one of the hardest hit areas (during the pandemic)," Milne said. "Nothing can replace that inperson experience of making music with your colleagues. It's a great sign that we can move in the right direction and have music back in our lives again." The program will include “Sleigh Ride,” “Carol of the Bells,” and “Seasons of Love” from the musical “Rent.” ALLAN JUNG/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

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Advisory Committee on the Status of Women eyes uptick in reports of abuse and assault Liz Fay Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

In an eff ort to better understand the impact of COVID-19 on domestic violence and sexual assault in the city and to improve ways to track information across organizations, Worcester’s Advisory Committee on the Status of Women invited a panel of six guest speakers to a virtual discussion in November. Attended by about 60 participants, it was the fi rst of two sessions on the topic, the next being set for Dec. 7. Guest speaker Deborah Hall, YWCA executive director, said gender-based violence reports had dropped since the beginning of the pandemic, because many abuse survivors were forced to shelter with abusers during the lockdown, and had no access to resources. But in March and April of this year, she says her colleagues in the domestic violence services department found a 98% increase in gender-based domestic violence referrals from the year before. “The other thing we saw was an increase in the intensity of violence,” said Hall. “We saw a lot of murder-suicides. That’s not unusual in domestic violence work, and the numbers really didn’t change, but it happened so close together. We are still dealing with the residual eff ects of COVID, and by that I mean the increase of intensity of violence and the increase in numbers.” On a national level, every 68 seconds a woman or femaleidentifying individual in the U.S. is sexually assaulted, according to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network. One out of every six American women has been the victim of rape or attempted rape in her lifetime.

Deborah Hall, the executive director of the YWCA, addresses Worcester’s Advisory Committee on the Status of Women in an online meeting. VIDEO CAPTURE

In comments before the meeting, Women’s Advisory Committee Chairperson Kayanna James, who is a workforce development specialist at the U.S. Department of Labor, said it’s one of the committee’s top priorities to collect more accurate data on victims while casting light on underlying issues. “Women in Worcester are important and we are trying to shine a light on them, people who are looked down upon, people who are deemed irrelevant in society,” said James. Following up with fellow committee member, Vice Chair Samantha Sendrowski, a technology innovation manager at Bowditch & Dewey, said “our focus is all women in Worcester, but one of the larger projects we did this past year was a report of the impact of COVID on women and it has disproportionately impacted women of color and mothers. One of the main things that came out is that there’s a lack of segregated data available for the city of Worcester, so that’s one of the things we are looking at this year through having information sessions.” Captain Michael McKiernan of the Worcester Police Department’s Bureau of Investigations said he found recent human traﬃ cking numbers concerning. “We don’t track demographSee REPORTS, Page 9

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‘Black Nativity’ at Mechanics Hall a revival meeting for the season Jonathan Blumhofer Special to Worcester Telegram & Gazette USA TODAY NETWORK

Long a staple of the holidays in Boston, Langston Hughes’

“Black Nativity” came to Mechanics Hall on Saturday afternoon, courtesy of the National Center of Afro-American Artists. Essentially a retelling of the story of Jesus’ birth, Hughes la-

beled this 1961 eﬀ ort a “gospel song-play.” It’s that and then some. As a piece, “Black Nativity” draws heavily on music, particularly spirituals, as well as narration (most of which is taken

from the Bible; there are also moments of dramatization peppered throughout). But there’s also acting, choreography, and lighting eﬀ ects. In essence, it’s a kind of “Gesamtkunstwerk” of African Ameri-

can sacred traditions. In the ﬁ rst of two performances on Saturday, these many strands proved vivifying. Then again, how couldn’t See ‘NATIVITY’, Page 13

The National Center of Afro-American Artists has been presenting “Black Nativity” in the Boston area since 1970. The production was performed in Worcester for the ﬁ rst time Nov. 27. SUBMITTED PHOTO

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Reports Continued from Page 7

ics very well, as a department,” he said, adding that some of the department’s data is incomplete, particularly regarding race. “When 30% of your statistics are unknown, it makes almost all of your data unreliable. Some of the numbers I thought were especially concerning were human traffi cking. We know there’s more of it going on but it’s very rarely reported. We’ve tried to work some different things. We’re doing an investigation with the state police and Westborough and Northborough police right now trying to get a little more information. We know there are men prostituting these women and they are who we’re targeting right now, but they move quickly, they move frequently through diff erent hotels. But we’ve got a little bit of a diff erent strategy we’ve been working on since a few months ago, and we’re moving forward with that.” McKiernan said. Nicole Bell, CEO of Living In Freedom Together, a local nonprofi t organization committed to ending the sex trade, saw a rise in cases. LIFT served more than 130 new individuals in the last fi scal year. Of those, 120 of the victims identifi ed as survivors of sexual exploitation and more than 50 of them identifi ed as survivors of some form of traffi cking. Out of the 120 survivors identifi ed, 7% were minors. “One thing that we did see was there was an increase in the level of violence at the hands of sex buyers reported by our participants. So the pandemic drove out less violent buyers so survivors were forced and left to engage with those remaining in the market,” said Bell. Kim Dawkins, CEO of Pathways for Change, a rape crisis center serving Worcester and its surrounding communities since 1973, said that out of 2,000 survivors who Pathways served in 2021, 618 were from

“Gender-based violence does not discriminate based on age, economic level, race, religion or ability ... We also saw what you heard from our sister organizations, a drop in the number of individuals coming forward and reporting. That’s no indication there was less violence happening, it was happening.” Kim Dawkins,

CEO of Pathways for Change

Worcester. “That is still an under-reported number,” Dawkins said. “Gender-based violence does not discriminate based on age, economic level, race, religion or ability. What I can share anecdotally with all of you is that demographic information is shared with us voluntarily, we want to provide survivors with a private space. We also saw what you heard from our sister organizations, a drop in the number of individuals coming forward and reporting. That’s no indication there was less violence happening, it was happening. We had a situation where survivors due to childcare, food instability, home instability, substance abuse issues, often being with the perpetrator of that home, there were so many layers where that became the bottom of the list to take care of themselves and reach out for support.” said Dawkins. Attorney Courtney Sans of the Worcester District Attorney’s offi ce says during COVID her data does refl ect that the numbers of sexual assault and child sexual assault reporting were down, likely because mandated reporters were not working in the fi elds, and unable to see minors with the same regularity. In addition, Sans said, “I know stats speak volumes to people, the diffi culty is I don’t think we track our data in the way you’re all looking for it. Our data is designed to track criminal prosecutions. We don’t collect a lot of the data and information being sought by this fo-

rum. We don’t track how people self-identify. I was able to pull some data out of this for everyone to have an idea, our statutes are indecent assault and battery on a person under 14 and over 14, so the way indecent assault and battery cases are tracked or the way that the statutes are written, will encompass a 16-year-old child and a 47-year-old adult woman.” Regardless of the diﬃ culties in pinning down demographics

of cases, Sans did make an effort to bring specifi c statistics to the conversation. “From looking at the data for sexual assault, domestic violence, and restraining order violations that information does refl ect what I think most people have already spoken to this evening, during COVID that data does refl ect the fact that our numbers were lower, but what’s interesting is certain types of crimes like aggravated assault and battery were level. Assaultive behaviors on family members, those numbers seemed to be down, restraining order violations also seemed to be down as well as strangulation and suff ocation numbers,” said Sans. Attorney Beth Keely, chief of Human Traffi cking Division with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Offi ce, backed the others fi ndings. “Where we see folks that are socio-economically disadvantaged, or living in poverty where there

are struggles with substanceabuse disorders, the areas where we see vulnerabilities is where we are going to see exploitation and we know traffi cking is taking place there,” she said. “Historically, women are victimized and we continue to see that in all gender-based violence, but in sex traffi cking particular. I think these conversations that we are having and need to continue to have will continue to shed light on that. I think this is a powerful forum to have these conversations.” Founded in 1977, the Advisory Committee’s mission is to foster diversity and improve the economic status of women in the city. It meets the fi rst Tuesday of the month. Part 2 of the committee’s discussion on gender-based violence will take place virtually on Dec. 7 at 5:45 p.m. For more information, visit www.worcesterma.gov/human-rights/advisory-committee-on-the-status-of-women.

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Trans-Siberian Orchestra returns to DCU with renewed energy Jason Greenough Special to Worcester Telegram & Gazette USA TODAY NETWORK

Much of the scene set by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra upon its return to DCU Center on Saturday felt cozily familiar. From the dazzling light show and the equally dazzling vocals and musicianship, to the timely post-Thanksgiving jolt of Christmas spirit, it all felt like we were just picking up where we left off two years ago. Although their customary routine of a day/night doubleheader might lead folks outside of the confi nes of the arena to believe that they save the best for last, it couldn’t be farther from the truth inside the building as the skilled soldiers of Christmas chaos hit the gas from the fi rst note of their matinee performance, and didn’t let up for a single moment as they serenaded, shredded and brought the crowd to their feet on more than one occasion. Spinning a raucous yarn in celebration of 25 years of their landmark album “Christmas Eve and Other Stories,” the band’s latest romp through Worcester followed the show’s storyline with precision and an extra pep in their step, as they unleashed a whaling setlist of both reinvented and tried-andtrue fan favorites, as a gleefully gratuitous amount of fl ames were thrown from the stage and generated snow fell from the rafters, cultivating a marriage of fi re and ice that puts the Miser Brothers to shame. While it may be engrained in the fi bers of the creative tapestry curated by the late Paul O’Neill, the overall light of positivity, love, peace and holiday cheer seemed to shine even brighter this time around. Pre-

Trans-Siberian Orchestra returned to the DCU Center this weekend for shows. JASON MCEACHERN/FILE

sumably as a result of the return to wowing a live audience in Wormtown for the ﬁ rst time since 2019, the energy exuded by everyone who hit the stage wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, per se, but it felt renewed and raw. And while the production of the show is one of its most awe-inspiring characteristics, this year’s edition felt just as precise as years past, albeit a bit less rehearsed, and instead more reliant on the mastery of each individual artist. From end to end, the stage show oﬀ ered so much to the eye that it was nearly over-

whelming, in the best way possible to try and catch every little detail that unfolded amidst spastic lasers, video screens, candy cane-striped lights, and the numerous face-melting solos from guitarists Chris Caffery and Joel Hoekstra. Although the role of maestro was volleyed among Caﬀ ery, Hoekstra and narrator Bryan Hicks for a majority of the show as it has been for years, there seemed to be a lot less of a spotlight on lock this year as the talents of violin virtuoso Roddy Chong, bassist Tony Dickinson and each of the solo

vocalists consistently garnered their own robust rounds of applause as emotion and energy emanated from their voices and instruments at top volume. Even with the main focus being the band’s 25-year milestone, it still found ways to pull out all the stops and visualize new and exciting additions to the show, as the roaming rockers took turns over the course of the afternoon strapping themselves onto moving platforms that extended over the crowd as they continued to shred and entice the crowd to join in on the fun.

Just as they have done year after year and city after city, Trans-Siberian Orchestra has once again proven that a sleigh ride into the Christmas season doesn’t have to be all tinsel and bows on presents under the tree. Sometimes it’s a metal show with ﬂ ames, smoke machines, and a booming call to keep this Christmas thing going all year, all the while catapulting us into a winter wonderland of holiday joy that keeps us in the here and now, back together again under one roof.

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CITY VOICES LANDGREN FEELING LABOR PAINS AT SAINT VINCENT HOSPITAL

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Approach to combating racism is counterproductive Paul Gallo Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

I believe the vast majority of Americans sincerely want racial harmony and equality. However, our nation appears stymied in making meaningful progress in reducing racism. Why? One reason is our approach has been counter-

productive. Reducing racism will never happen utilizing discriminatory methods or labels. Some folks try to justify discriminatory methods to compensate for past wrongs. Two “wrongs” have never made a “right.” It is impossible to achieve “color blindness” if we persist in noting a person’s or organization’s color, or promoting a color-based agen-

da. Do organizations that focus on advancing a speciﬁ c race really seek treating everyone the same? Racism exists because we don’t have the objectivity and courage to speak and act with real indiﬀ erence to a person’s color. If and when we do, then real positive change will happen. Paul Gallo lives in Barre.

FIRST PERSON

What will happen in classrooms when the masks come oﬀ ? Mark Wagner Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Educators and students at all levels, in Massachusetts and other states, have been in masks for two academic years and will be so for the foreseeable future. A question arises about what role the human expression plays in learning and communication. We share with our closest relatives — the bonobos — the same structure in our faces:122 muscles capable of a many overt, or blended and subtle meanings. Birdwhistle, Montague and others observed that the face is capable of +/- 1000 expressions and messages. These emotional cues and mes-

sages — sometimes called nonverbal communication (NVC) and separate from spoken and written language — are at the heart of establishing identities, of social care and belonging, from the birthing room to classrooms to marriage beds and family rooms. The study of NVC is a relatively young science, but a dichotomy between language and communication is not new. In the view of Nobel laureate Francois Jacob, “the role of language as a communication system between individuals would have come about only secondarily” because “language is not for communicating directives for actions” nor other common

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WORCESTERIA

A Worcester Common Thanksgiving Victor D. Infante Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

I’ve been hit up for cash and cigarettes on the Worcester Common before, but last week I heard a new one: “Do you have a mask you can spare?” I apologized and he shuffl ed off , and I found myself hoping he could fi nd one … it was getting late, not a lot would be open, and a lot of cheap eateries won’t let you in without one. Why else would he be seeking a mask? It’s not like drug dealers are diligent about mandates. That’s where we fi nd ourselves these days: It’s the holidays, and we’re inventing new ways to beg. Don’t get me wrong: I’m actually grateful for rather a lot of the changes to the Common over the past decade. I remember what it was like to work down here and not be able to get a sandwich after 5 p.m., yet somehow, the jarring request of someone looking for a mask in the shadow of the

The Worcester Common at Twilight, a few days before Thanksgiving. VICTOR D. INFANTE/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

city’s unlit Christmas tree is a startling reminder that not everyone has beneﬁ tted from those changes. I’m reminded of

Jesus in Mark 14:7: “For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you

will not always have me.” It’s one of my favorite Bible verses, as it makes two very salient reminders: First, that the

battle against poverty is unending. You can’t expect to WIN it, so much as not be defeated by it. There will always be more need. The second is to appreciate the people you love while they’re here. In this instance, Jesus was talking about himself, but it’s important to note that he’s talking in a physical sense, not a spiritual one. It’s a message that resonates even today, in this world of Facebook and Zoom: It’s very easy to take people for granted, something more than a year of pandemic and quarantine should have driven home, but we’re forgetful creatures. Returning to the oﬃ ce, I took a brief Facebook poll, asking what people were grateful for. The results were exactly what you would suspect: Family, friends, health, work, health care, the ABBA reunion. Losing any of those is a tragedy for anybody, and we’ve all lost people and jobs, even our health, at See COMMON, Page 21

POETRY TOWN

‘Vernon Hill Blues’ Me & Kenny, ‘burb geeks in hot summer his ‘78 Fiat Spider wooden dashboard more dials than a Bond car, top down cruise into the city pool parking lot oh so cool.

It’s ’83, hip hopping kids breakdancing pop and sizzle on the concrete, grab my 35mm Cannon ask for a few shots – sure thing, homes but it’s called Breakin’, get it right now.

Strutting skinny bodies, taking the dive off the high board twisting turning bending over backwards yet somehow the ladies are unimpressed.

I was schooled twice that day. Robert Eugene Perry is a poet and author of several books, his most recent collection of poetry, “Surrendering to the Path,” was released by Human Error Publishing in 2020.

The state pool on Vernon Hill, in 1972. RICHARD R. THIBODEAU/T&G FILE PHOTO

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‘Nativity’ Continued from Page 8

they? Between the impassioned singing of Voices of Black Persuasion and Children of Black Persuasion; the charismatic narration of Voncille Ross; and the dynamic musicianship of an ensemble that included piano, organ, bass, and a variety of African percussion instruments, this was a presentation that combined the emotional fervor of a revival meeting with the sheer joy of the Christmas season. Hughes’ organization of “Black Nativity’s” plot is straightforward enough, referencing the main events of the

biblical narrative as recounted in the Gospel of Luke: the Annunciation, journey to Bethlehem, birth of Jesus, and visits of shepherds and Magi. Actors portray the various characters, occasionally through dance. The musical selections periodically oﬀ er insights into their disparate states of mind, all the while serving to move the story along. Many of “Black Nativity’s” set pieces are familiar. “Go Tell it on the Mountain” is the work’s anchor: In addition to an extended processional on the anthem, it’s reprised in the second half and at least a pair of numbers — “A Mighty Day” and “Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow” — allude to “Mountain” textually and/or musical-

ly.

On Saturday, the arrangements of other well-known carols, from the percussive setting of “Joy to the World” to the gospel rendition of “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” were exemplary. A couple of them, too — like “What Child Is This?” and “Away in the Manger” — oﬀ ered welcome twists on the conventional melodic settings. In the less traditional fare, “Black Nativity” was likewise bracing. The piercing blue notes of “My Way Is Cloudy” and bent tones in “Poor Little Jesus” were powerfully articulated. Through dance and song, “No Room” illustrated with remarkable potency the sheer injustice of a pregnant woman and her

Wagner Continued from Page 11

features such as belonging to a social group, or territory and mating. Jacob writes, language’s unique property is of allowing “inﬁ nite combinations of symbols" and therefore “mental creation of possible worlds.” Comparatively, written and spoken language has had a brief evolutionary history, perhaps 70,000 years. (Chomsky and Tattersall put this number between 40,000 and 50,000 years.) This technology of speech and writing has resulted in a dazzling creative, productive and technological entity. From farming and architecture to science, to print medias to nationalism and multi-nationalism, to today, when electronic medias are recreating our current social and political and economic structures: for better or worse, coded language is the core of the civilization of productivity. The idea of the global (cloud) brain is an extension of these codes: We are creating a glowing, pulsating intelligence that

Educators and students have been in masks for two academic years and will be so for the foreseeable future, which begs the question: “What role does human expression play in learning and communication?” COURTESY ALEXANDRA KOCH

is far greater than that of one individual human being. Some people see this as an evolutionary step, a kind of world community intelligence lab. Others believe this "machine" (AI) seems to have pulled oﬀ without its driver. My point here is not to challenge the splendor of these languages, but to note that in the classroom, the range of emotional and visual communication, which predates

symbolic language, establishes social bonds of a deeper history. Pre-pandemic, I once came across a class taught by sculptor Garth Evans at the New York Studio School in which students did not use language for the entire term. The class is called, tellingly, The Master Class. Over the years, the results were so impressive that a ﬁ lm was made celebrating this

husband being left out in the cold. Meanwhile, the call-and-response refrains of “Mary’s On the Road” and “Joseph’s On the Road” snapped. “Oh, What a Pretty Little Baby” served as a lullaby of sorts, while the kids choir shined in “Mary, Mary, What You Gonna’ Name Your Baby?” and “When was Jesus Born?” As for the birth of Jesus, that’s depicted in a thundering, percussion-accompanied dance for Mary. Sometimes “Black Nativity” includes a live baby as the newborn Savior; on Saturday there was a doll instead — though, given the magniﬁ cent decibel levels generated by the drums, perhaps that was for the best.

Taken together, Saturday’s performance confi rmed “Black Nativity” as a stirring, timely off ering. At its core is a theme of participating and uniting in celebration. Suffi ce it to say, the message came across compellingly, even if its immediate prospects were rendered somewhat moot by the conventions of the concert hall. Either way, the call remained. It doesn’t matter, the piece seemed to say, whether the summons is spiritual, emotional, musical, or something else; the point is community and shared humanity. Join with it, engage in it, contribute to it. In these dark, cynical, divisive days, “Black Nativity” fuels the hope that such eff orts remain worthwhile.

approach. Productive learning can happen without the use of language, and, I would argue, these socio-emotional aspects of learning and teaching are elevated by the pandemic and other, larger issues. In the philosophy of Levinas, as well as in Contact Theory, the human face is at the center of our ethical lives. There’s a reason for this. To many, coded language allowed for ruse and manipulation, and this can be seen as possible reason for the development of larger, human brains and cerebral subjectivity. (We are living through the attempts by certain political parties to triumph through lies using electronic media. Stay tuned.) Our attempts to deceive on the one hand and not be deceived on the other might have resulted in a cleverness arms race that could have taken highly social animals to a new consciousness. I tend to agree with this, though whatever makes human begins capable of lying and deception, the argument here is that a central goal of human society — in education, science, and politics — is authentic (truthful) communication, mutual understandings, a

community, and this is communicated non-verbally, as gestures and tones. The face doesn’t lie. The move from literate culture to electronic culture will not soon alter longstanding building blocks of human consciousness as they have existed in nonverbal cues for millennia. Likewise, the brief, failed experiments with standardized testing as the core of education has not changed this either: From the birthing room to the classroom, these visual, haptic messages deﬁ ne who we are. Genuine emotional expression, trust and cooperation founded in truths, these secure innate needs of human society. This is the public of public education. Looking beyond the pandemic, once the masks come oﬀ and beyond, let’s remember that our myriad smiles and attendant expressions are how we learn what is true. Dr. Mark Wagner explored nonverbal classroom communication in "The Immediate Field, A brief History of the Communicative Body" (Verlag Spring, 2010.) A recent essay on education can be found in Diversity Matters (Lexington Books, 2021)

14 | DECEMBER 3 - 9, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

COVER STORY

Let the music play Our favorite New England albums of 2021 Victor D. Infante Worcester Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK

It’s been a weird year for music. The lockdown was good for a lot of artist’s productivity, but in a lot of ways, it manifested mostly in singles more than albums. Perhaps it was in anticipation of not touring much this year, maybe it’s just that everything is taking longer these days. Who knows? h What’s true though is that the albums that DID come out were spectacular: Some were daring and outré, others cut themselves back to the basics, but on the whole, there was deﬁ nitely something in the air that reﬂ ected the moment, the sense of hovering somewhere between salvation and apocalypse. h These, then, are our favorite New England albums of 2021. There were easily another dozen albums that could have made this list, but ultimately, these were the ones that stuck with us after the reviews had ended. We say “favorite” instead of “best” because, even limited to the just the region, there’s still a lot of music we haven’t head. And while our list is, for obvious reasons, Worcester-centric, we try to look out across New England, because it’s a very interconnected music scene, even in these times when everything still feels fragmented. See MUSIC, Page 15

Artists gather at the Palladium for Favorite New England Albums 2021. CHRISTINE PETERSON/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | DECEMBER 3 - 9, 2021 | 15

Jafet Musiz, Danny Fantom and K’nen. CHRISTINE PETERSON/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

Music Continued from Page 14

Indeed, that sense of connectedness is key: In a year which constantly felt like we were pulling apart from one another, music is something that has always built connections, and that’s something that even the end of the world won’t change. “Unbothered,” by Oompa: This album starts with a prayer, and ends with a stark self-portrait of the artist in the face of a world where reality itself is suspect. Oompa has long been one of the region’s most gifted hip-hop artists, and here she shows she’s leveled up even more. This album is soulful and unfl inchingly honest, and it still has songs such as “Outta Patience” and “Lebron” to prove she still doesn’t pull any punches. “Deadstock,” by Jeff rey Foucalt: Jeff rey Foucalt is one of the most talented singersongwriters working today, but still, this is one of those albums we would normally pass up: a mix of mostly alternate ver-

sions of previously released songs with a few new ones sprinkled in. But man, this album is gorgeous, starting oﬀ with a haunting cover of the Reverend Gary Davis’ “There Is a Destruction on This Land” and unfolding into one exquisitely wrought song after another, each song burning a little deeper than the next, making even the old songs new again. “92,” by Jafet Muzic; “Art of Embracing Damage,” by Jafet Muzic” and “Stanton Capitol Presents,” by Jafet Muzic, Danny Fantom and K’nen: There’s something magic that happens when talent, hunger and work ethic collide, and Worcester rapper Jafet Muzic deﬁ nitely has that sort of magic. From his collaboration with local rappers Danny Fantom and K’nen, to his two solo albums, Muzic proves that over and over again. With “Stanton Capitol,” Muzic, Fantom and K’nen deliver a bracing, irresistible love letter to hip-hop. On “Damage,” Muzic shows an extremely vulnerable side, which is always a gamble in hip-hop, and in “92,” he turns his gaze outward. All three of the rappers are among the re-

Annie Brobst. CHRISTINE PETERSON/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

Walter Sickert and the Army of Broken Toys members, from left, jojo Lazar, Edrie, Mike Leggio, Mary Widow, Matt Zappa and Brother Bones. CHRISTINE PETERSON/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

gion’s best, hands down, but Muzic is deﬁ nitely at the start of an artistic journey that’s going to be exciting to watch. “Where We Holler,” by Annie Brobst: There are few artists working in New England who approach contemporary country with such a combination of mastery of the genre and accessibility outside the

genre’s normal audience. This album is fantastic showcase of Brobst’s skill as an artist, from the searingly personal “Red Wine on My Mind” to the deliciously honky-tonk “Holler & Swaller.” All of it’s driven by Brobst’s extraordinary vocal skills, and the vibrancy and honesty she brings to every song.

“Almost Together Again,” by Walter Sickert & the Army of Broken Toys: The key word in this album’s title is “almost.” Here, Sickert and their madcap musical carnival manage to capture that odd feeling of the pandemic being ALMOST over, but not quite. The world outSee MUSIC, Page 16

16 | DECEMBER 3 - 9, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

Paul Hansen and Susan Cattaneo of Honest Mechanik. CHRISTINE PETERSON/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

Weapon ESP. CHRISTINE PETERSON/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

Music Continued from Page 15

side our window seems foreign, but the urge to connect permeates everything. Sickert and company go places few artists do, but the descent into cultural madness is always guided by a deep-seated sense of empathy and humanity, and it’s what makes the band’s more experimental work, such as this, eminently relatable. “Kiss Off Kiss,” by Erin McKeown: McKeown’s album is an ode to empty aff airs, meaningless sex, and the coldness that can overtake a heart as a relationship dies. It’s an extremely relatable album for anyone who has that sort of period in their past. Which is pretty much everybody. The album has a contemporary country sheen – especially on “On/Off Heart,” co-penned by songwriting great Lori McKenna – which gives it a pop-friendly veneer, but make no mistake: The relationships McKeown sings about here might be shallow, but the songs aren’t — if anything, the songwriter re-

Tyra Penn. CHRISTINE PETERSON/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

mains vibrantly human from beginning to end. “Honest Mechanik,” by Honest Mechanik: This eponymous album by the duo of singer-songwriter Susan Cattaneo and Paul Hansen of the band The Grownup Noise is a quirky and light-handed aﬀ air. Listening to the song “Love Alone,” for example, the listener’s heart breaks for the song’s

Devil Love members, from left, Chuck Ferreira, Jason Raffi, Ken Rothman and Peter Buzzelle. CHRISTINE PETERSON/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

protagonists, it’s so obvious that they’re fooling themselves that they can “fall back into love.” By the same token, the song “Movie” is equal parts delightful and sad, a great exemplar of what makes this album so irresistible. “Mr. Automatic,” by Weapon ESP: The Southbridge Rapper Weapon ESP plays an interesting game on this album:

On the one hand, he takes scissors to popular culture, mixing up comic book and even political references with ease. On the other, he shines a light on the idea of masculinity, hitting his rhymes with an undeniable swagger. What makes the balance work is a deft handling of his raps and wicked sense of humor, with lines such as “If I see red your head will leak like

Giuliani’s face” bringing a laugh-out-loud element to a blistering and uncomfortable moment. This album ﬁ nds its strength in balance, and Weapon ESP never loses his equilibrium. “Last Day of August,” Tyra Penn & Her Army of Snakes: In a lot of ways, jazz singer Tyra See MUSIC, Page 17

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | DECEMBER 3 - 9, 2021 | 17

Penelope Alizarian-Conley releases solo material under the names STEMS. CHRISTINE PETERSON/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

Music Continued from Page 16

Penn is more of a live act than a recording artist. Indeed, you can catch her 8 p.m. Dec. 4 at the Stomping Grounds in Putnam. Still, with this album, based in part on John Crowley’s novel “Little, Big,” she demonstrates an eye for transforming familiar pieces of music into something strikingly new, blending work by disparate artists such as George Gershwin, David Bowie, Bob Marley Tom Waits and Cole Porter into a new narrative and context. One thing remains consistent, though: She’s one of the best vocal stylists in the region, and can coax an immense amount of nuance out of every note she sings. “Broken Things,” by Devil Love: For what is, at its core, an alt-rock album, this oﬀ ering from Devil Love is a surprisingly tender endeavor. Everything feels like it’s fraying at the edges, and demons seem to be

hiding in every shadow. Songs such as “Gold Currency” and “I Won’t Go Down” are impeccably crafted, each note serving both the individual song as well as the album’s overall emotional narrative. Frontman Peter Buzzelle is telling a single narrative here, a tale of love and loss that is deeply aﬀ ecting. “One Daughter Swan,” by STEMS: Worcester musician Penelope Alizarin Conley – who records under the moniker STEMS – oﬀ ers here an extremely compelling portrait of dashed dreams and a struggle to be seen. It’s a spare album, really just Conley and her guitar, but it’s one that cuts like a jagged knife with each song, particularly on “Welcome to the USA” and “Seventeen Forever.” Conley’s jangle of guitar and smooth whisky vocals bring every moment of heartbreak and triumph in this album to life. “Now You See Me,” by Zola Simone: With this album, the 18-year-old singer-songwriter Simone proves both her talent See MUSIC, Page 18

Zola Simone. CHRISTINE PETERSON/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

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22 | DECEMBER 3 - 9, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

CITY LIVING TABLE HOPPIN’

Mykonos Café & Bakery in Millbury a family aﬀ air Barbara M. Houle Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Mykonos Café & Bakery is a Millburybased business specializing in serving freshly prepared food and Greek bakery products and delicacies, in addition to popular American and Italian pastries. At Mykonos, owner Sonja Andrianopoulos not only is committed to quality, but also traditional and authentic-style Greek baked goods based on family recipes. The bakery located at 49 Elm St. is a great place to meet up with friends or even get some work done, whether seated at a table, high back chair by the large front windows or comfy upholstered chair. Enjoy delicious food and drinks. The service here is spot on, friendly and attentive. The dish: Chris Andrianopoulos, Sonja’s husband, owns A&D Pizzeria and Pub, 60 Elm St., Millbury, across the street from Mykonos. In fact, it was Chris who learned that the building which once housed a bar was for sale. He recalled the day he phoned his wife and told her about the vacancy next to the Elm Draught House Cinema. He said it was time to make her dream come true. It was the perfect opportunity since his wife always wanted to own a bakery, he said, explaining that before Sonja came to the states she had worked in her parent’s bakery in Greece. The couple completely renovated the building before opening the bakery last January. “We put in front windows, skylights, new ﬁ xtures and did tile work and painting,” said Chris Andrianopoulos. Sonja Andrianopoulos was born in Albania and grew up in Greece. Her parents, George and Natasha Andrea, reside with their daughter and son-in-law in Millbury and help out at the bakery. Natasha not only is the baker, but also has read coﬀ ee cups at special bakery events, according to her daughter. “Many of our customers know my moth-

Sonja Andrianopoulos, owner of Mykonos Cafe & Bakery at 49 Elm St., Millbury, with her husband, Chris, who owns A&D Pizzeria and Pub, just across the street. CHRISTINE PETERSON/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE

er only as yia yia (Greek grandmother) and not by her fi rst name,” said Andrianopoulos. “They absolutely love her. And, of course, her pastries. She makes the best.” Andrianopoulos holds down a fulltime job as vice president of Private Wealth Management for Citizens Financial Services. She has a bachelor of science degree in math and computer science and earned her MBA from Clark University. She is currently working on her PhD in fi nance at Bryant University in Rhode Island. She still fi nds time to work at the bakery and host special

events when the business is closed to the public. Chris Andrianopoulos grew up in the Tatnuck Square area of Worcester and worked in his father’s Rhode Island pizza shop. “I always loved to cook and meet people,” said Andrianopoulos. “Owning a restaurant seemed right for me.” The Millbury pizza shop has been in his family for more than 30 years. Andrianopoulos recently renovated and updated both dining and bar areas of the business, including a large function room that accommodates more than 75. Check out A&D’s new U-shaped bar.

Mykonos’ customers know Chris as the guy who makes bulkies on Sundays. Andrianopoulos said his bulkies are like the rolls that were sold at the former Widoff ’s on Water Street in Worcester. “Growing up in Worcester, I was a big fan of the Water Street bakeries like Widoff ’s and Lederman’s,” said Andrianopoulos. “Sundays, Water Street was the place to go.” He said Widoff ’s owner shared his bulkie recipe and through trial and error, Andrianopoulos is pretty sure he’s See MYKONOS, Page 23

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | DECEMBER 3 - 9, 2021 | 23

Mykonos Continued from Page 22

mastered it. He makes the rolls topped with and without poppy seeds. They sell out quickly on weekends, he said, but the bakery takes special orders. More than 50 dozen were ordered for the Thanksgiving holiday. The Andrianopoulos have two children, George and Sophia. They both help at the bakery, where they learn strong work ethics and life lessons, according to their parents. The bakery is an option for their children’s future, they said. Sophia Andrianopoulos picked the bakery name as it’s one of the Greek islands the family would like to visit. Next year, Sonja Andrianopoulos plans to continue with after-hours events at the bakery. Customers have asked for things like jewelry shows, wine night, girls’ night out and most recently, a Date Night. “I think a date night would be fun, not only for people who know each other, but also for people who would like to make new friends,” said Andrianopoulos. She might even include a few nights with yia yia reading coff ee cups. Chris Andrianopoulos said his mother-in-law is “spot on” when it comes to predicting the future. FYI: The art of kafemanteia in Greek is reading the leftover coff ee grounds or residue in the cup. Andrianopoulos said her mother shakes the cup, fl ips it over onto a saucer and tries to see the future. I say, count me in! Mykonos Café & Bakery, 49 Elm St., Millbury is BYOB. Current hours are 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday and Monday; 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Visit www.mykonosbakery.com or call (508) 917-8127. Ask about catering and private parties. Connect on Facebook. The menu includes breakfast sandwiches, baked croissants, rolls, muffi ns, bagels, soups, (Greek lemon soup included), spinach pie, stuff ed grape leaves, baklava, cal-

zones, cheese pies, koulourakia (cookies), kataiﬁ (pastry), cannoli, eclairs, Danish, etc. Special occasion cakes and so much more. For information about A&D Pizzeria and Pub, visit www.adpizzapub.com. There’s more than just pizza on the menu. Enjoy burgers, specialty subs, wraps, pasta, seafood, kids’ favorites, comfort food and desserts. Married since 2004, Chris and Sonja Andrianopoulos ﬁ rst met at a dance held at St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Worcester, where they are parishioners and volunteer for the church festival and other activities. The couple also is generous in their support of community activities and events in the town of Millbury. One marriage, two successful entrepreneurs.

Shrewsbury Street Santa Pub Crawl The Shrewsbury Street Santa Pub Crawl is scheduled for Dec. 11 after a year’s absence due to COVID-19. The event kicks oﬀ at 3 p.m. Cost is $25 per person, with guests receiving a free T-shirt, beer ticket and entry to businesses serving food samples. Visit Shrewsbury Street Santa Pub Crawl on Facebook, or www.eventbrite.com to purchase tickets and for more information. Participating businesses: Woo Bar & Grill; Vintage Grille; Redemption Rock Brewing Co.; Funky Murphys; Flying Rhino Café; Meraki Dessert Bar; Wormtown Brewery; Pepe’s Italian Restaurant; Meze Estiatorio; Beirut Bite; Ralphs Tavern; Victory Bar & Cigar; Leo’s Ristorante. Event host is Pulse Magazine; Sponsors, Wormtown Brewery and Mayﬂ ower Cannabis. Get in the holiday spirit! If you have a tidbit for the column, call (508) 868-5282. Send email tohoulefood@gmail.com.

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WORTHY CAUSES

Helping out on Giving Tuesday Sarah Connell Sanders Special to Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

November 30 was Giving Tuesday — an opportunity to come together as a community and show our generosity to the organizations that make our hometown proud. Below are a few of the worthy causes I have chosen to support this holiday season.

Worcester Public Library Foundation WPLF enhances the visibility of our city’s beloved public library. Most recently, the Foundation spearheaded a $4.2 million capital campaign to make The Arthur M. and Martha R. Pappas Children’s Center a reality. Patrons of all ages will be awed by this state-of-theart space complete with interactive walls and ﬂ ooring, along with a plethora of Worcester-themed design features. New additions also include the Fletcher Family Innovation Center where visitors can make use of a 3D printer and screen printing equipment, as well as the Hanover Teen Space, which is outﬁ tted with a laptop vending machine. Make a direct donation at: https://wplfoundation.org/donate-to-wplf/.

Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center I became particularly fond of Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center when I realized how much they do for my students by upholding the belief that everyone has a right to accessible, high quality, comprehensive, integrated and compassionate health care. As a result of their work, Worcester Public Schools students can receive on-site care regardless of their ability to pay. Your gift of $100 covers the cost of one well-child visit. Make a direct donation at: https://www.kennedychc.org/donate.

Worcester Art Museum’s Joseph and Shirley Krosoczka Memorial Youth Scholarship Fund New York Times best-selling chil-

The Worcester Public Library Foundation spearheaded a $4.2 million capital campaign to make The Arthur M. and Martha R. Pappas Children’s Center a reality. UBMITTED PHOTO

dren’s author and Worcester native Jarrett Krosoczka credits his grandparents, Joseph and Shirley, with much of his success. Help him honor their memory by providing art education for a local child in need. Who knows? Maybe the recipient will end up a National Book Award Finalist someday, just like Krosoczka. Make a direct donation at: https://portal.worcesterart.org/give/.

Veterans Inc. Veterans Inc. aims to eradicate homelessness among veterans of the U.S. military. Beyond providing shelter,

this organization works to address the triggers of homelessness many veterans face, including lack of job skills, PTSD and substance abuse. You can purchase a holiday gift for the child of a veteran, volunteer your time, or contribute to the food pantry. Make a direct donation at: https://www.veteransinc.org.

United Way of Central Massachusetts Our local chapter of United Way invests in education, supports local families, and promotes healthy living across Worcester. Sometimes I shy away from

donating to enormous nonprofi ts in favor of smaller entities because of high overheads, but UWCM distributes 85% of every dollar raised directly back into the community. Spend fi ve minutes with President & CEO Tim Garvin and you’ll begin to understand just how much heart one organization can possess. His door is always open, his enthusiasm is contagious, and his motives are selfl ess. Make a direct donation at: https://unitedwaycm.org/get-involved/donate/. What organizations are you supporting this #GivingTuesday? Tag them in the comments.

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | DECEMBER 3 - 9, 2021 | 25

NEW ON DVD

‘Shang-Chi’ helps to expand Marvel Cinematic Universe The fi rst Marvel fi lm to feature an Asian lead tops the DVD releases for the week of Nov. 30. “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings”: Simu Liu stars as the titular kung fu master, who must leave his new life in San Francisco behind to confront his past, and his father, when he becomes involved with the Ten Rings organization. Though his father is the movie’s antagonist, “it’s not all serious family tragedy in ‘Shang-Chi,’ which is extremely funny and playful, especially thanks to the casting of comedian Awkwafi na as ShangChi’s ride-or-die best friend,” writes Tribune News Service critic Katie Walsh in her review. “The charming Liu, a Chinese Canadian actor and stuntman, holds his own with the comedy, and he’s more than equipped for the combat, which unfolds in clean, crisp action sequences.” Walsh also credits director Destin Daniel Cretton for helping make this entry stand out in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. “‘Shang-Chi and the Legend of Ten Rings’ doesn’t feel like just another MCU installment, which is a compliment,” Walsh writes. “The characters are fresh and Cretton constantly emphasizes the emotional connections between them, crafting a modern, wuxia-informed martial arts movie with heart, which just so happens to feature a Marvel superhero. Shang-Chi is a welcome, and very necessary addition to this universe.”

Also New On Dvd Nov. 30 “Malignant”: Horror ﬁ lm directed and co-written by James Wan, about a young woman who begins experiencing visions of gruesome murders, the origins of which involve a terrifying secret from her past. “My Life Is Murder: Series 2”: Acorn TV show with Lucy Lawless as a former police detective turned private eye in Melbourne, Australia. “Saint Maud”: British horror movie about a Catholic nurse who becomes obsessed with saving a patient with late stage cancer. “Reds”: 40th anniversary two-disc Blu-ray set of the sweeping historical epic starring Warren Beatty, who also directed, as American journalist John Reed, who witnessed the start of the Russian Revolution amid World War I. Also featuring Diane Keaton, Jack Nicholson, Edward Herrmann, Gene Hackman, Paul Sorvino and Maureen Stapleton. “Heaven Can Wait”: 1978 romantic comedy starring Julie Christie and Warren Beatty, who also co-wrote and co-directed, has been restored and remastered and is available on Blu-ray for the ﬁ rst time. Beatty plays a backup quarterback in the NFL whose soul is taken by his guardian angel too soon, only to be returned to the body of a recently killed millionaire.

Simu Liu stars in the Marvel Studios ﬁ lm “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.” JASIN BOLAND/MARVEL STUDIOS

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5 THINGS TO DO

WCLOC, MERRIMACK VALLEY RINGERS MERRIMAC HANDEL’S ‘MESSIAH’ AND MORE ... Richard Duckett Worcester Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK

‘Family-Friendly’ film

A scene from the short ﬁ lm “Spills.”

“Spills,” a short film shot in Sturbridge, will premiere Dec. 5 at The Publick House, 277 Main St., Sturbridge. The “family-friendly” film is described as being about love, hope and miracles. “It takes place in a very special diner, on a very special Christmas Eve” as different people from different backgrounds make unexpected connections. “Spills” is a Cyclops-Snowman Productions film. The event will include Mrs. Claus and Santa Bill making an appearance in Paige Hall at The Publick House from 5 to 6 p.m. Imperfect Joy Films & Photos will be taking family photos for a donation toward a local charity. The premiere of “Spills” will begin at 6 p.m., and will play every half hour until 8 p.m. Admission is free. (RD)

SUBMITTED PHOTO

What: “Spills” When: Dec. 5. Event begins 5 p.m.; screenings start at 6 p.m. Where: The Publick House, 277 Main St., Sturbridge How much: Free admission

A Community Celebration The Worcester Art Museum will light up for a free Hanukkah Community Day Celebration from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 5 in partnership with the Worcester JCC and the Jewish Federation of Central MA. Hanukkah is the eight-day “festival of lights” celebrating the rededication of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem in the second century BCE. Nightly menorah lightings mark the miracle of the one-day supply of oil lasting for eight days. WAM’s Hanukkah Community Day Celebration will have activities for all ages, including Klezmer music, live latke-making demonstration, story times in the library, art activities, and discussions about the traditions and history of Hanukkah. (RD)

What: Hanukkah Community Day Celebration When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 5 Where: Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St., Worcester How much: Free. www.worcesterart.org

Children create art at Worcester Art Museum's 2019 Hanukah celebration. PHOTO COURTESY TROY B. THOMPSON

WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM | DECEMBER 3 - 9, 2021 | 27

‘A Comedy of Tenors’

‘Messiah’ Returns The Worcester Chorus performing Handel’s “Messiah” has been a beloved annual tradition presented by Music Worcester for over 120 years. Last year, the performance did go on but there had to be an adjustment because of the pandemic. A “Virtual Messiah Sing” was filmed and recorded at Mechanics Hall and shown online. On Dec. 4 the Worcester Chorus returns to Mechanics Hall once more for a live, in-person performance. However, the concert will also be livestreamed for virtual audiences so everyone can be part of this Worcester tradition again. Christopher Shepard conducts, with Mark Mummert, assistant conductor. Guest soloists are Sarah Callinan (soprano), Agnes Vojtko, (alto), Steve Mitchell (tenor), and Cailin Marcel Manson (bass). (RD)

What: Worcester Chorus — Handel’s “Messiah.” Presented by Music Worcester. When: 8 p.m. Dec. 4 Where: Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St., Worcester How much: In-person performance — $55; $17.50 student; $7.50 youth. Proof of vaccination and masks required. Virtual live stream — $20 per household. www.musicworcester.org

WCLOC will present “A Comedy of Tenors.” HERALD-TRIBUNE ARCHIVE

What: “A Comedy of Tenors” by Ken Ludwig — Worcester County Light Opera Company When: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11; 2 p.m. Dec. 5 and 12 Where: Grandview Playhouse, 21 Grandview Ave., Worcester How much: $25; $22 students and seniors. www.wcloc.org

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Ringing in the Holidays The holidays get a ringing endorsement as the Merrimack Valley Ringers present its 13th annual free Holiday Handbell Concert at First Church Congregational, 37 High St., Marlborough, at 7 p.m. Dec. 4. The 14-member handbell ensemble performs on 6 octaves of handbells, 6 octaves of handchimes, and various percussion instruments. The program includes full group playing as well as a bell tree solo. Selections will include “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “Joy to the World,” “Rise Up Shepherds,” and “Silent Night.” Merrimack Valley Ringers is an auditioned community handbell ensemble dedicated to sharing the art of handbell ringing with everyone. MVR will also be giving a concert at the Worcester Art Museum at 2 p.m. Dec. 12. (RD) What: Holiday Handbell Concert — Merrimack Valley Ringers When/Where: 7 p.m. Dec. 4, First Congregational Church, 37 High St., Marlborough. When/Where: 2 p.m. Dec. 12, Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St., Worcester How much: Free. Masks required. www.mvringers.org; www.worcesterart.org

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Chris Shepard will conduct The Worcester Chorus performance of Handel’s “Messiah.” MICHELLE SHEPPARD/T&G FILE PHOTO

Virginia Byrne returns to direct for the Worcester County Light Opera Company for the first time in 22 years for its production of Ken Ludwig’s comedy “A Comedy of Tenors” Dec. 3-12. The setting is 1930s Paris, and Italian tenor Tito Merelli has a big concert coming up. But producer Henry Saunders has the rather tricky task of keeping Tito, and his hot-blooded wife, Maria, from causing mayhem at the hotel they’re staying at. Ludwig (”Lend Me a Tenor”) is a master of mistaken identities, bedroom hijinks and madcap delight. And the WCLO production is in the best of hands with Byrne at the helm. Byrne’s lifetime in theater includes being director of theater at Notre Dame Academy for many years and co-founding and serving as artistic director of the much missed New England Theater Company. “I jumped back into the pool with this show because I truly believe that the role of laughter is so important for the health of society as we all crawl out from under the rock of pandemic,” Byrne said. (RD)

28 | DECEMBER 3 - 9, 2021 | WORCESTERMAGAZINE.COM

ADOPTION OPTION

Meet Spesh Welcome to Adoption Option, a partnership with the Worcester Animal Rescue League highlighting their adoptable pets. Check this space often to meet all of the great pets at WARL in need of homes. WARL is open seven days a week, noon-4 p.m., 139 Holden St. Check them out online at Worcesterarl.org, or call at (508) 853-0030. Meet SPESH. That is her name and she really is Spesh. This 7-year-old beauty found herself at WARL after her owner passed away. It has not exactly been her cup of tea. Spesh has been put on a diet, she arrived at 23 lbs. We love her, we just want less of her to love for the sake of her health. Spesh can be a diva, she wants to be petted on her own terms and she will tell you exactly what those terms are. She gets anxious in her room if staﬀ move around her too quickly and again will tell you of her disapproval. Once in a new home, with a new and patient person to bond with, we think Spesh will settle down quickly once she knows she is safe. We recommend a quiet home with no other pets or children. It would be best if her new family keep her on her current diet, unimpressed by it as she is, so she can continue safe and gradual weight loss. If you feel the need to be bossed around by a feline diva, call us at (508) 853-0030 or email us at cats@worcesterarl.org so you can introduce yourself to your new pet, sorry, feline owner,

Common Continued from Page 21

Writes Kane: “In the year after the pandemic started, Des-

Spesh. WARL COVID-19 Procedures As of Nov. 9, 2020 As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, we want to share with you some changes we have implemented so that we can continue to serve the pets and people of our community while keeping our team protected. • ADOPTIONS: At this time, adoptions are being held BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. If you are interested in adoption, please visit our website worcesterarl.org/ adopt/ to learn more about our available animals then call us at (508) 853-0030 ext.0 or email us at info@worcesterarl. org to schedule an appointment. • CASUAL VISITS TO THE SHELTER are prohibited. We will strictly enforce this in order to keep our animal care team protected while still maintaining the most essential function of our operation ... ﬁ nding homes for animals in need. • ANIMAL SURRENDERS: Our business practice for surrendering a pet remains the same. All pet owners must contact WARL in advance of surrendering a pet. Please call (508) 853-0030. • SPAY/NEUTER CLINICS: All scheduled appointments will be honored. If you have a scheduled appointment, we will be contacting you to discuss changes to our drop oﬀ / pick up procedures. • DONATIONS ACCEPTED

except for open bags of food. • Pet food, cat litter, and other shelter supplies will be essential in continuing to provide for our animals and to assist community members in need. To avoid unnecessary travel and exposure, items can be purchased online from our Amazon Wishlist — https:// www.amazon.com/gp/registry/wishlist/3AX342JIL73M0.

• Weekly training classes are going on for adopters. • The WARL Volunteer Program is temporarily suspended. All regular volunteer shifts are on hold. We look forward to welcoming you back as soon as we can. We have many animals in our care who depend on us to stay healthy and well. The above measures help to protect our staﬀ and community from

the spread of COVID - 19 by minimizing face-to-face interactions while continuing to operate only core essential services. Please continue to follow our Facebook page for additional updates. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact the shelter at (508) 853-0030 or info@ worcesterarl.org.

mond had weeks-long stints at two inpatient pediatric behavioral hospitals in New England, both of questionable quality. On July 26, it became clear to my wife and me that we could no longer keep Desmond safely

at home, so we decided for the ﬁ rst time to have him wait in crisis at a hospital until an inpatient bed opened up, with us choosing Boston Children’s Hospital because his neurologist and psychiatrist are there.

Aside from a failed attempt for a week in October to have him come home, Desmond has been at BCH ever since.” It’s absolutely heart-rending, and does the most important thing a journalist can do:

Remind the readers that behind all of the numbing statistics that can come with subjects such as the pandemic, there are real people aﬀ ected, many of them closer to you than you might think.

Spesh is available for adoption through the Worcester Animal Rescue League. PHOTO COURTESY STEVE GEORGON

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Worcester Magazine December 3 - 9, 2021

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