By Joyce Kryszak
Chautauqua, NY – Each week of its summer season the Chautauqua Institution features a different theme. This week the topic is Climate Change. Former Vice President Al Gore kicks off the discussion Monday. But all programming at the Institution, throughout the week, will center on this very serious topic. That's not always an easy task for the Chautauqua Theatre, where the goal is also to entertain.
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There are few subjects more deadly serious than global warming. It's exactly the kind of thought - provoking, relevant issue that the Chautauqua Institution prides itself on presenting in a thorough, rational forum.
And there are many experts, educators and theologians to further the discussion. There are even profound music selections which can provide a backdrop for the contemplation.
But, according to co-artistic theatre director Ethan McSweeny, finding theatre about, for example, the melt-down of the planet is another matter.
And McSweeny said there simply aren't many plays out there about Global Warming. But the theatre will present a one performance tonight of a world premiere piece he said touches on environmental consequences. McSweeny said New Burlington, explores the human toll of bad environmental choices.
The show stars the award-winning actress Sada Thompson, as one of the vivid voices in this fading agricultural town.
In other weeks, McSweeny said programming is a bit easier. The next theme is "Belief in America." McSweeny said that gave the theatre an opportunity to comment on the discussion with a new play workshop. He said "One Hundred Saints You Should Know" looks at belief from very different perspectives.
The new play was written by up-and-coming playwright Kate Fodor and will run throughout next week at the Institution. McSweeny says they selected it because it's a perfect fit for that week's theme. Sometimes, however, McSweeny said the theatre just gets lucky. p> Now, of course, not everything you see or hear at the Institution will mesh so perfectly. For example, Hoootie and the Blowfish will perform during next week's "Belief in America" theme.
And this week, the theatre will also be presenting something much less heated than Climate Change. A comedy, "The Art of Course Acting." McSweeny said people also need some relief from all the intensity. And he said this spoof fits the bill. McSweeny describes it as a Monty Python meets Waiting for Guffman sort of thing.
The play runs all this week at the Bratton Theatre. But for those intent upon keeping it serious, the subject of Global Warming will be up on the big screen. McSweeny said the Chautauqua Movie Theatre is running the documentary on global warming, "An Inconvenient Truth." It features the Institution's speaker Monday, former Vice President Al Gore.