Not my words but the quotable words of Dana Applegate as she gifts Boquete with her swan’s song in preparation for her migration to Ohio. Did she really say OHIO?!?

I just returned from a rehearsal of a very entertaining and enjoyable production called Boquete Burlesque. Although not Shakespeare and I don’t think Gypsy Rose Lee would have called it burlesque, it is fun. A synthesis of slapstick comedy and music makes for a fun evening especially when the most slapstick of the cast is my neighbor who is known to stop her car and practice telling jokes to my dog and my herd, not flock, of chickens.

The performance to be held at Amigos this Friday and Saturday is a great vocal interlude perfect for a dinner theater venue. Although not theater, it was a worthy experience. Dana, Phyllis, Kiwi Vicki and Suzy make a perfect foursome setting the stage for thirteen songs all performed with passion.The music was excellent, the vocals superb and the venue of Amigos perfect for the concept of dinner theater.

I enjoyed myself and I suspect that if you have tickets you will also. If you don’t have tickets, Friday is sold out and last I checked there are only a few seats left for Saturday at 6:00 PM. This might be Dana’s final performance in Boquete but hopefully Amigos will become a new entertainment venue for  the community.

More reasons explaining what makes Boquete a unique place to live in the mountains of Chiriqui Panama. We, the residents are blessed with a pool of talented, giving people who make this community a place I love.

In March of 2007 I attended my first Play in Boquete Panama. It was a crude amateur production of a light comedy called Boeing Boeing. In that same year a far better play called Rabbit Hole received a Pulitzer Prize. I doubt anyone would have considered bringing Rabbit Hole to Boquete Panama, but things have changed here. The quality of Community Theater in Boquete has reached a new level with  Boquete’s off Broadway production of Rabbit Hole.

Before going to the dress rehearsal of Rabbit Hole I read a review of the 2006 Broadway production in the New York Times. The review begins with  “The Biltmore Theater had better be paid up on its flood insurance. “Rabbit Hole,” the wrenching new play by David Lindsay-Abaire that opened there last night, inspires such copious weeping among its audience that you wonder early on if you should have taken a life jacket. Do your best, though, to keep your eyes clear. Otherwise, you might miss some of the most revealingly nuanced acting to be seen on a stage or screen this year”.

After reading the review I was not sure I even wanted to go to see the play.  I found more reviews and my curiosity moved me down the mountain and into the BCP Theater.

“David Lindsay-Abaire has crafted a drama that’s not just a departure but a revelation—an in-tensely emotional examination of grief, laced with wit, insightfulness, compassion and searing honesty.” —Variety.

“Grade: A! A transcendent and deeply affecting new play, which shifts perfectly from hilarity to grief.” —Entertainment Weekly.

“RABBIT HOLE presents a tragedy and its consequences with utter candor, and without sentimentality. The dialogue is most impressive for capturing the awkwardness and pain of thinking people faced with an unthinkable situation—and eventually, their capacity for survival, and even hope.” —USA Today.

I went hoping I would not find myself depressed by the gravity of the script. What I discovered was an incredible production that magically blended comedy and tragedy and unlike the ancient Greek theater there was no need for masks to identify the two. The play was simply incredible. Beyond the script, the music and the stagecraft there was the cast and direction. We may be far off Broadway but Broadway has come to Boquete with amazing talent on and off the stage.

Laurie Richards, Kelsey Kinzer, Rick Simmons, Jane Derry and Julian Bonfiglio could have done the production on Broadway, they were simply amazing in their roles. Four bright new faces performing in Boquete with only Julian having been on the stage here before. I am amazed that Boquete can attract such literally international talent and incredible support from those working behind the scenes.

You must see this play. When you do you will move through a gamut of emotions and you will leave feeling good. You will walk out knowing that you have experienced the highs and lows of life and survived for another day. You will appreciate the some of people who make Boquete special and appreciate even more why we live here.

You have five opportunities to see Rabbit Hole off Broadway in Boquete Panama. Wednesday and Sunday the performance starts are 2PM. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8PM. Tickets are at Mail Boxes Etc for $15. That is a least a 90% discount from the Broadway price for what might be an even better production.

We decided to go out and celebrate life again this weekend. I keep rediscovering the pleasures of our sky island Boquete Panama.

Friday we went to Mikes Global Grill, ate Fish and Chips and Southern Fried Chicken.

We ate to the rhythm of Jazzed up Klezmer Music. Klezmer.  If you want to know about Klemer click this link.  Klezmer Music is not something you would expect to find in Boquete Panama, but at least for a fleeting moment, it was live in Boquete.

The food was good, the music was good, the people eating, drinking and listening were from all over the world, something good too. Boquete is beaconing more and more tourists and a new influx of immigrants.

Saturday we decided on a double header weekend, another  evening on the town and headed to La Posada. La Posada has live music every Saturday night. The music is Latin, most of the audience is Panamanian and the dancing is great. I do not understand why more expats do not take advantage of free live music for dancing but we do, almost every week. The music usually starts early at 8:30PM, that is  before senior lights out!  People you need to get out there and live life!

La Posada had a new band this week, even better than the old group. Lots of percussion and latin beat.

At about 10:30 we decided to hit a triple and headed to Los Naranjos for a bit more Latin Disco at Coca Cola. At Coca Cola I was the only expat in attendance. I am not sure why few expats ever seem to make the night scene in Boquete and most tourists never find places like Coca Cola, it is a shame.

For Mayra and I it is one more reason to say Viva Panama, were you can spend the night on the town for less than $20 and make it home and sleep until the pesky rooster crows. I need a good fried Rooster recipe.