LOCALadk Magazine

LOCALadk 18 tution Means to Me; Chesapeake, a one-man tour-de- force named for a dog; and that all-time longest-run- ning off-Broadway musical, The Fantasticks, reprising a classic from the theatre's inaugural summer of 1979. Settling into our comfortable new seats for last Au- gust's opening matinee of The Fantasticks, we take in a few features that give the Depot Theatre its distinct personality. Ceiling fans hang from exposed rafters that suspend a cobweb or two and whisper of old- time barn construction, but the theater is cooled by AC units installed around 2008. Props from previous shows adorn the walls; we chuckle at a hand-painted sign announcing "Zuckerman's Famous Pig" from Char- lotte's Web. Cables, conduits, lighting instruments hang in plain view. A sign over the main entrance de- clares, "Dramatic Exit." Outside, at intermission, we observe that the out- door box office is a well-preserved antique Railway Express baggage wagon. There's chatter about a point Nancy Fink has made: "I'm always amazed at what they can do with such a small stage. They're very creative with their energetic choreography." Rielly says attendees have come, in addition to every nearby state, from Florida, Arizona, California, Indiana, New Mexico, "all provinces of Canada, and other coun- tries including Mexico and the Netherlands, to name a few. "As the theatre staff and volunteers also represent Amtrak caretakers at this unique station," Rielly adds, "we enjoy the opportunity to promote the many natu- ral, recreational and cultural experiences available in Westport - which has been a lakeside resort commu- nity since the early 1800s. We also revel in meeting people from all over the world. We are entertained not only by storytellers on stage but also by the many stories that visitors tell us almost every day." Retired St. Lawrence University president Bill Fox and his wife, Lynn, live a ferry ride and short drive away in Charlotte, Vermont. He says, "The memory of (each production) stands like an Adirondack high peak that we can see from our kitchen window. The lines of Victorian architecture at the station immediately stir the imagination. It's a place that transports people in more than one way, some by rail, some by the magic of the stage. There, where trunks, suitcases, and boxes were once stored, disbelief is set aside for a couple of hours. The magic continues as we voyage home, talking about the play." High Peaks Publishing co-owner Beth Rowland of Jay, N.Y., expresses similar sentiments: "The selec- tion of plays is always entertaining. Sometimes fun and sometimes provocative, they often provide lively discussion on the drive home, except for a few times when there is silence as we try to process what we've just seen. "We are pretty lucky to have performances of this quality available to us," Rowland continues. "The icing on the cake is 'the Depot's' support for young people through its Academy." She's referring to what the company defines as its year-round "education and outreach program for artists ages 8-18, led by theatre professionals" – that is, by members of the company and visiting teaching artists. The Academy presents its own repertoire of productions, sometimes at the Whallonsburg Grange Hall, including works such as Matilda Jr. The Depot Theatre hosts various shows throughout the summer season.

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