The Westport Country Playhouse‘s current production — “And a Nightingale Sang” — is a love story about a working-class British family in World War II.
Though the effects of war were felt much more strongly in Europe, the US — and Westport — was hardly unaffected.
Theatergoers are reminded starkly of that, thanks to a video the Playhouse produced. It drives home the play’s central theme: that in times of personal and historic unrest, the human spirit still grows.
The video includes Westport Town Crier newspaper clippings (with many familiar names, like the 8 Cuseo brothers who served); ration books; a Connecticut War Garden card, and air raid instructions for our town.
The play’s title is based on a popular 1940s song, “And a Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square.” It’s a haunting tune — and an equally powerful video and show.
(“And a Nightingale Sang” runs through June 27. For ticket information, click here.)
Westport and WWII. I have many memories of Westport and how the citizens were very involved in the war effort. One tangible memory is in the form of a cookbook published by The Woman’s Club of Westport. The name is: The Connecticut Cookbook.The fly leaf is inscribed as follows: “The Connecticut Cookbook being a collection of recipes from Connecticut kitchens equally adapted for wartime and peace time. Complied by the Women’s Club of Westport and illustrated by Connecticut Artists. Published at Westport Connecticut 1943.” It is delightfully illustrated by 26 Artists of note and has 261 pages including the index. There are some humorous entries along with history and practical suggestions for war time rationing and making do with what was available. The illustrations are the stars of the book however.