Saturday, May 25, 2013
Laughter and song filled the Harraseeket Inn in Freeport this evening when the Maine State Music Theatre's biggest supporters gathered to give outgoing artistic director Charles Abbott a proper send-off. The perfectly choreographed party was called the Chuck Roast. After a cocktail hour on the terrace and in the garden rooms, the sold-out crowd of more than 200 guests headed across the lawn and up the granite steps to ballroom, where we enjoyed the inn's acclaimed food before the show tunes began.
Here Charles - who everyone fondly calls Chuck - reacts as first the night's performers and then all the party guests adopt his likeness during an ensemble portion of the opening number. The piece, led by Raymond Marc Dumont, turned "Cabaret" into the fabulous "Chuck-Ur-Ray."
Another crowd favorite came when actors Karen K. Edissi (or KK) and Mark Jacoby sang, waltzed and even smooched. At the piano Edward Reichert, who's the music director of "My Fair Lady" (which runs through July 17) and the upcoming "Spamalot," accompanied all the night's antics without missing a beat.
At the end of the show, Maine State Music Theatre board chair Marge Healing presented Chuck with a portrait commissioned from artist Brad McFadden of Orr's Island, who's pictured to the right of Marge. It was the perfect way to cap off an affair that was both humorous and heartfelt and a wonderful tribute to a great icon of Maine theater.
I'll have more photos and details about who was at the party and what they had to say in the July 18 Maine Sunday Telegram. Until then I hope to see you out and about.
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Avery Yale Kamila dishes about southern Maine's hottest parties.
Avery can be contacted at 791-6297 or
akamila@pressherald.com
On Twitter: @AveryYaleKamila
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