Another unforgettable Cape Ann Cinema & UU Gloucester Meetinghouse collaboration was held on Sunday, December 3, 2017–a special screening of the silent film adaptation of J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan as a benefit for Pathways for Children. Ellen Sibley was there for Pathways, welcoming guests and opening the evening.

Renowned organist Peter Krasinski explained that star Lindsay Crouse would use her artistry to accompany this silent screening like a Benshi, a Japanese word for performers who provided live narration for silent films in order to translate the intertitles. Though Krasinski has collaborated with benshi in Japan for some of his live performances, yesterday’s event was the first time he’s done so in the United States. I went to film school and was fortunate to take master classes in cinema studies with Bill Everson, a film historian and major collector. He’d invite Lillian Gish and other silent screen stars and producers to lecture, and always there were amazing accompanists. Not once though have I experienced a narration, too. I’ve heard Krasinski play before and seen Crouse act in film, tv and Gloucester Stage. I didn’t know what to expect, but I knew it would be like nothing else I’d ever experienced.  Krasinski has seen Peter Pan numerous times and his confident music was subtle and charming, cueing the music to the action on the screen and improvising along with Crouse. Crouse’s narration was pitch perfect. Crouse spoke of her affection for the story and related seeing it 17 times as a child (yes, with Mary Martin) and how it’s among the defining and formative theatrical pulls of her youth.Who knew Nana’s whimpering and such subtle variations of so many characters crying throughout Peter Pan was possible? I googled Lindsay Crouse audiobooks right when I got home. Lindsay Crouse audiobooks

What amazing effort and art for a good cause.

Upcoming Gloucester Meetinghouse / Cape Ann Cinema collaboration

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2017 4:00PM World-renowned organist, PETER KRASINSKI returns to accompany Walt Disney’s animation classic ‘FANTASIA’ on the magnificent 1893 Hutchings-Fisk pipe-organ; benefits Pathways for Children.

Well this is exciting news – UU fundraising Phase 1 completed and reached!

Save the date: Gloucester Meetinghouse special Chamber Music Concert and recognition evening  12/16/17

“On Saturday evening, December 16th the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation will host a return performance by The Musicians of the Old Post Road​.  This beloved chamber ensemble gave an amazing performance last year.  They fell in love with the acoustics in the ambience of the historic building, and hope to make a future recording in the Meetinghouse.  ‘Follow the Star’ will showcase music written for Epiphany as we approach the holidays with festive selections by Georg Philipp Telemann, Christian Geist and a cantata by Christoph Graupner.  The ensemble performs on period instruments including violin, viola, cello, flute and harpsichord.

Aside from the music, this will be a special evening as we recognize the many grants and significant individual gifts to our fire-sprinkler & deterrence project. 

The treasured 1806 Meetinghouse, which seats 600 with fine concert-hall acoustics, is now protected from fire with a state-of-the-art sprinkler system and walls filled with fire-proof, high-efficiency thermal insulation. 

The completed project is Phase I of a strategic plan to completely restore the building by the City’s 400th anniversary in 2023.  We hope to make the Meetinghouse sustainable for centuries to come for the pleasure of the whole Cape Ann community and would like to say thanks to those who helped us reach this goal.”

http://www.gloucestermeetinghouse.org

http://www.oldpostroad.org