Last night’s official opening of the Westport Country Playhouse’s new production, “Kim’s Convenience,” was a sellout — and a smash.
Many theater-goers knew it from the Netflix TV show. I’d never seen it, so I had no preconceptions. I was drawn in immediately by its ricocheting storylines of family, love, longing, and — especially relevant today — the immigrant experience, not matter where anyone comes from.
It’s well cast — and much of the production crew is Korean too. Poignant, hilarious and insightful “Kim’s Convenience” should draw large, appreciative audiences through its run, which ends next Sunday.
Click here for more information, and tickets. And if you’re around this afternoon (Sunday, July 10), playwright Ins Choi leads a free Symposium on the show. It’s open to the public; no performance ticket is necessary. Just arrive 80 minutes after the 3 p.m. curtain.
Taking bows after last night’s performance of “Kim’s Convenience (from left): Eric R. Williams, Cindy Im, David Shih, Chuja Seo, Hyunmin Rhee. (Photo/Dave Matlow)
======================================================
Congratulations to Parker Kligerman!
The 2009 Staples High School graduate led for 56 out of 67 laps yesterday, at the NASCAR Truck Series.
He held off points leader Zane Smith to win his race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car course in Lexington.
It was his 3rd career win in the series, and first in 5 years.
“It’s hard to put into words,” Kligerman told ESPN. “I was pretty emotional on the cooldown lap because this whole team it’s like a team of second chances. Two years ago, I thought my driving days were done. This team gave me a call, wanting to get back racing and it’s just been a steady improvement.”
Also very cool: Dale Earnhardt Jr. tweeted him congratulations.
Click here for the full story. (Hat tip: Dave Briggs)
Parker Kligerman
=======================================================
More sports news, but less prideful:
Anyone who spends time on Westport’s fields knows that athletes — and their parents — don’t always pick up after themselves.
But a multi-state lacrosse tournament, run by a private club, brought new levels of garbage across Staples High School and Wakeman yesterday.
Water bottles, fast food wrappers, chairs and all kinds of other trash were strewn in the bleachers, on the Staples hill, and across every turf and grass field. A parent called the amount of garbage “astonishing.”
The event continues today.
One small part of the garbage left on the fields, bleachers and hill, at Staples and Wakeman.
==================================================
There’s a new — and important — stop sign at Compo Beach.
David Meth writes:
“Thank you to Carmen Roda, operations manager at Parks & Rec, Department, as well as the Westport Police Department, for installing the new sign just beyond the welcome booth. Drivers now stop for pedestrians and cyclists. It is reassuring that we can all enjoy the summer safely.”
(Photo/David Meth)
=======================================================
Speaking of Compo: A large crowd attended last night’s Congregation for Humanistic Judaism “Havdalah on the Beach,” at South Beach.
The short service included folk and klezmer music.
Havdalah at the Beach. (Photo/Fred Cantor)
=======================================================
A few hours later, Pivot Ministries of Norwalk joined Saugatuck Congregational Church in leading this week’s worship service near the cannons.
(Photo/Karen Como)
Meanwhile, a few yards away, Westport Weston Family YMCA officials began setting up for the 43rd annual Point-to-Point Swim.
(Photo/Karen Como)
The sun had just risen. Compo was already buzzing.
It was the start of another wonderful Westport Sunday.
=======================================================
This week’s Remarkable Theater schedule includes 2 popular films.
“Caddyshack” screens Monday (July 11); “There’s Something About Mary” follows on Wednesday (July 13).
Gates open at 7:30 p.m. for both shows. The movies start at 8:30. Click here for tickets, and more information.
======================================================
Longtime Westporter, school employee and church volunteer Sandy Atwood died recently, surrounded by her family.
Born Nancy Newton Scrivenor in New Haven, but always called “Sandy” (her father wanted to name her Cassandra), she grew up in Branford. She was a frequent junior tennis champion at the Pine Orchard Club, and played organ in church.
She graduated from Prospect Hill School (now Hopkins) in 1957, then Colby Junior College. Sandy made her debut at the New Haven Assembly.
She met Stan Atwood in Boston, while he was attending Harvard Summer School. They were married in 1960. When he studied at Washington & Lee Law School, she worked at the university as a secretary.
After moving to Westport, where Stan practiced law, Sandy worked for 25 years as an administrative coordinator in Staples High School’s special education department.
Sandy was active in local, state and federal political campaigns; the Greater Bridgeport Junior Hockey Association (including building the Wonderland of Ice), Greens Farms Elementary School PTA, the Green’s Farms Congregational Church, Staples Tuition Grants, the Westport Weston Foundation Trust, Earthplace, the Westport Woman’s Club and PEO.
She and Stan provided housing for high school students in crisis. She also was a regular visitor to elderly and infirm Westport residents.
Sandy was an avid tennis, bridge and bunko player. She enjoyed card and board games, puzzles, reading, gardening, and socializing with the Wine Sisters.
She was predeceased by her husband Stan, brother Arthur, and family dog Henry Aaron. She is survived by her daughter Laura (Tom) Atwood Kottler, and sons Jonathan and Scott (Lisa)l grandchildren Sam, Charlie and Liza Kottler; Finn Atwood, Kirah Kingsland and Alex Robertson, and great-grandchild Bennett.
A celebration of Sandy’s life will be held on Saturday, July 16 (10 a.m., Green’s Farms Congregational Church).
Memorial gifts in her name may be made to Staples Tuition Grants, PO Box 5159, Westport, CT 06881.
Stan and Sandy Atwood.
=======================================================
There’s a “flock of seagulls.” More strangely, there’s a “murder of crows” and a “parliament of owls.”
What do you call a bunch of turtles?
I have no idea. But Jerry Kuyper spotted today’s “Westport … Naturally” photo near the Levitt Pavilion.
(Photo/Jerry Kuyper)
=======================================================
And finally … it doesn’t take Albert Einstein to figure out — based on the photo above — what our song of the day is.
A group of turtles may be called a Bale, Turn, Dole, or Nest. Not as interesting as a Murder of Crows or a Parliament of Owls.
If Parks and Rec could add more garbage bins or a small dumpster for major athletic tournaments, people would find it more convenient to throw out their garbage. In general there should be more garbage bins around the whole Staples and Bedford area.
Partly true. But there are trash cans at the top of the hill at Loeffler Field, and there was garbage left 10 yards away. And that’s not the only place there are trash cans.
While I agree with Ms. Kniffin on the need for more garbage disposal outlets in and around Wakeman and Staples, it still is the responsibility of the athletes, coaches and organizers to leave the fields clean after a practice, game or tourney. Once again, a common theme emerges in and around Westport, if you do not enforce the rules, they will not be adhered to.
Great idea with the stop sign at Compo. I’ll bet a months salary that only some cars will stop and definitely No bicycles. Any takers? Let’s do a survey!
That they put a stop sign in the driveway into Compo Beach is good. WHAT ISN’T GOOD IS THAT FOR DECADES there has been no attention to 2 of the most dangerous 4 way cross streets in Westport, Friends of mine were, within the last month, in horrific accidents at both these places, injured and cars totaled.
The first is the 4 way cross at North Avenue and Cross highway, Kids from Staples and walkers and drivers have during the decades had accidents .
The second is the crossing at the corner of Gorham Avenue and Main Street (where you can’t see oncoming cars driving down Main Street because of the corner stone wall(s).It’s extremely dangerous There should at least be a yellow /red overhead caution light at both places or there are going be, for sure, more accidents.
Long Lots at North Avenue is as bad. Nobody stops at stop signs anymore. And apparently nobody around to enforce it? Police seem more concerned with people dumping their trash in commercial dumpsters than road safety. Sure don’t enforce speeding on North Avenue. Blah!
Another unnecessary and ugly sign at Compo Beach..
RIP Sandy. One of the really good ones.
Photo of Terrapins is pretty cool.
Not at all!. Enough to buy you another racing bike..but you’ll lose
The solution to the garbage left by the entitled young athletes and families is quite simple. Any tournament organizer should be made to pay a significant refundable security deposit specific to leaving the fields as as you found them. Carry out what you brought in or pay to have it cleaned up.
Great suggestion Ken. Skin in the game. It’s the only thing that matters. That always ups the anti.
Please, take your trash with you.