Coaster Theatre opens 2015
season with ‘’Night Mother’
CANNON BEACH — Written by
Marsha Norman and directed
by Sheila Shaffer, “’Night,
Mother” opens Friday, Jan. 30
at the Coaster Theatre.
Jessie’s father is dead, her
marriage ended in divorce, her
absent son is a petty thief, her
last job didn’t work out and,
in general, her life is stale. As
the evening unfolds, she sets
about tidying the house and
making a list for her mother
of things to be looked after as
we discover what has brought
her to this desperate place in
her life.
Winner of the Pulitzer
Prize, this eloquent and ul-
timately shattering play ex-
decided that she could decide
what to do with her life ... The
point was not to kill herself;
the point was to take charge.”
When approached about
the irony that it looks like
SORUHVWKH¿QDOPRPHQWVLQWKH self-annihilation but it actually
life a woman who has decided is self-activation, Norman re-
that it’s no longer worth living. sponded, “For people who un-
This is a brutal, hard, derstand that, great; the ones
thought-provoking play with who don’t will have another
PXOWLSOHIDFHWV:KHQ¿UVWSUR- experience with it ... paintings
duced over 30 years ago, the don’t come with instructions.
issue of suicide was not a sub- You can’t say here’s how to
ject frequently discussed and perceive this.”
is not a topic easily broached
The show runs Jan. 30, 31,
to this day. It can always be Feb. 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 15, 19, 20
asked, “What would I do in and 21. Evening performanc-
a similar situation?” There is es begin at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday
no one answer; no one really shows start at 3 p.m. Tickets
knows until they are there.
cost $15 to $20; call 503-436-
In interviews with the play- 1242 or visit coastertheatre.com
wright she says, “I felt with
‘’Night, Mother’ that Jesse’s
Cast and Crew
decision to commit suicide
Margaret Page plays Thel-
ZDV TXLWH EUDYH 6KH ¿QDOO\ ma Cates. Page is a real estate
Submitted photo by George Vetter/Cannon-Beach.net
Margaret Page, left, plays Thelma Cates in
the Coaster Theatre’s first play of the 2015
season, “‘Night Mother,” opposite Ann
Bronson, who plays Jessie Cates.
broker/owner of Coast Real
Estate Professionals in Man-
zanita. She studies voice at the
Music Lasts A Lifetime Studio
in Cannon Beach, dances tap
and ballet at the Oregon Coast
Dance Center in Tillamook,
studied theater at Tillamook
Bay Community College and
with George Dzundza.
Ann Bronson plays Jessie
Cates. 2000 marked Bronson’s
debut on the Coaster stage, and
since then she has appeared in
everything from “Hello, Dol-
ly!” and “Nunsense” to Irving
Berlin’s “White Christmas”
and “Into the Woods.” She is
a classically trained soprano,
and has sung in operas.
Sheila Shaffer has been a
Coaster Theatre veteran for
the last 13 years and holds a
degree in theater arts from the
University of Wisconsin. She
has worked with community
DQGQRQSUR¿WWKHDWHUVIRURYHU
30 years. “’Night, Mother” is
the 10th production she has
directed at the Coaster. This
summer she appeared as the
Baker’s Wife in the Coaster’s
“Into the Woods.”
This is Josh Loring’s third
time as stage manager at the
Coaster Theatre. He began in
“Boys Next Door,” moving
directly into “The 39 Steps.”
This small cast experience has
been rewarding in its intimate
exploration of character and
story.
T hank you
for your
continued support
We have lots to offer
Book
Recommendations
Book Clubs
Special Orders
Frequent Buyer Club
Used Books
Sign up for 10-week art class
Shirley Dahlsten to teach at Trail’s End
GEARHART — A new 10-
week sculpture and painting
class, entitled Classical and
Futuristic III, will be offered
by Shirley Dahlsten at the
Trail’s End Art Center, locat-
ed at 656 A St.
The class will start begin-
ning from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 12.
The focus of the class will
be directed toward originality
and purpose with most as-
signments completed outside
the classroom.
Fee for the class is $65
with one-third of this fee be-
ing donated to the Trail’s End
Art Center reconstruction
fund.
Call 503-325-1514 for
more information.
Bre a kfa st
L u nc h
Di
nne r
Di
ne i
n o r Ta ke o u t
280 S . R o o sevel
t Dr
L o cated o n H w y 101
acro ss fro m M cD o nalds
503.717.5068
G ra yW ha l
eB B Q .c o m
Submitted photo
Shirley Dahlsten will teach a 10-week art class, Classical and Futuristic III, at the Trail’s End
Art Center starting Thursday, Feb. 12.
a
a
T H ANK Y O U F O R V O TING F O R U S !
W E A P P R EC IATE Y O U R B U SINESS
P urcha s e Tick ets a t w w w .Tolova na Arts Colony.org
M O
RE
T H AN J U ST A NTIQ
55+V e ndo rs
Antiques • Nautical Items
Glassware • Vintage Decor
892 Marine Drive, Astoria
(503) 338-0101
4 | January 29, 2015 | coastweekend.com
U ES !
Gift Wrapping,
Shipping
& Home Delivery
Plus
EVENTS IN THE LOFT
Stop by soon!
616 Broadway, Seaside
503.738.3500
www.beachbooks37.com