Cream of the Season: In June, panna cotta may be the perfect dessert

May 31, 2023 | by Rosemary Ruggieri Baer

Julia Childs, the beloved French chef, author and television star, might not have been particularly happy in Italy.

Compared with the elaborate and often rich and creamy desserts for which Julia was famous, Italians prefer simple desserts and very “quiet” endings to a meal. A full-course Italian meal usually includes pasta as a first course, so a lighter dessert is usually welcome.

What do Italians like to eat at the end of a meal? There are some rich Italian desserts for sure, like tiramisu, zuppa Inglese (a rum-soaked cream cake), and a Sicilian Easter pie made with ricotta cheese and dried fruits. And most of us have feasted on cannoli—fried pastry tubes filled with sweetened cheese.

But so many Italian desserts shine in their simplicity and, like other Italian dishes, focus on the season. A simple rice custard cake doused with sweet, dark cherries is lovely in the summer months. In the fall, the lush pear groves, especially in Tuscany, produce fruit that is poached in sweet white wine. In the winter, chestnuts are steeped in grappa, a strong, brandy-like spirit that, as my father would say, “puts hair on your chest!”

You may also just find some beautiful cheeses on the dessert table, like creamy gorgonzola or good Parmesan drizzled with a balsamic glaze and served with table grapes. At our house, we often end our dinners with cups of espresso and small glasses of Sambuca (anise-flavored liquor) or sweet limoncello.

One of my favorite “simple” Italian desserts is panna cotta, which is said to originate from the Piedmont (northwest) region of Italy. The name means “cooked cream,” even though the mixture is barely heated and not really cooked. It is a wonderfully light dessert, and June is the perfect time to make it.

June is strawberry month to me, so the recipe that follows is served with the sliced, sweet, homegrown berries of early summer.

PANNA COTTA

Ingredients

2½ teaspoons (1 packet) unflavored gelatin (They still sell Knox gelatin at the grocery store in the pudding section. Look for the little orange box.)
¼ cup whole milk
2 cups heavy cream
¼ cup sugar
½ vanilla bean
A small lemon zest strip
4 cups sliced strawberries (You can sweeten them slightly, if you wish.)

Directions

In a large bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over the milk. Let stand for 2 minutes to soften.
In a saucepan over medium heat, stir together the cream, sugar, vanilla bean and lemon zest. Cook, stirring occasionally, until small bubbles appear around the edges of the saucepan. Remove from the heat.
Remove the vanilla bean and let it cool briefly. Then split the bean open with a sharp knife and scrape the seeds into the cream with the tip of the knife.
Slowly add the cream to the gelatin mixture, stirring until completely dissolved. Pour into 4 custard cups or ramekins, dividing equally. Cover and chill for at least 4 hours up to overnight.
When ready to serve, run a small knife blade around the inside of each ramekin to loosen the cream. Invert each ramekin onto a dessert plate.
Arrange the strawberries around the creams and serve. (Looks so pretty with a little sprig of mint for garnish.)

You can serve a mixture of berries with the panna cotta if you prefer. Blueberries and red raspberries mixed with the strawberries are delicious. If you can’t find whole vanilla beans, you can add a very small “shot” of vanilla extract. Or be daring—try the creams with caramel or warm chocolate sauce. But, somehow, strawberries seem best to me.

Enjoy the beautiful month of June!

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Artistic Policy: In Camp Hill, a new art gallery claims an unlikely space

May 31, 2023 | by Molly Pavlovich

Jonathan Frazier

In downtown Camp Hill, an Allstate Insurance agency owned by Heather Ebersole houses an uncharacteristic yet charming surprise on its ground level: an art gallery.

“I like to make the joke that we’re the prettiest Allstate,” said Ebersole, who opened Gallo’ry on Market at the end of March—a mere three weeks after she and her employees moved into the new space, occupying the second floor with offices.

Ebersole and her employees had been working out of a building three blocks down the road for the last 2½ years, but knowing that they were quickly outgrowing it, she was on the lookout for a larger place when the Market Street office became available for rent.

At first glance, Ebersole loved the charm and location, but she was having trouble envisioning what purpose its ground level could serve—who would sit in the formal foyer or the spacious rooms it opened to on either side.

Heather Ebersole

“I woke up the next day, and it just came to me,” Ebersole said. “The space called for art.”

Several phone calls to local artists, some fresh wall paint, and a dozen or so early mornings and late nights later, and the stretch of rooms on the first floor—a blank canvas—became a purposeful patchwork of personality and artistry. Serendipitously, this dual-business idea that Ebersole quickly brought into existence has also seamlessly aligned itself with the Downtown Camp Hill Association’s art-forward aspirations.

“When the Downtown Camp Hill Association was created, it was done with a commitment to build a prosperous and diverse business district that supports a walkable, shoppable neighborhood concept—creating a link between businesses and our local communities,” said Ben Augustino, an association member. “One thing that we focus on is called ‘Plein Air Events’ to incorporate art into downtown Camp Hill. And, with Heather bringing the gallery to downtown Camp Hill, it’s a perfect fit, building upon that concept.”

Ebersole also has received a steady stream of support from clients and community members.

“I love hearing everyone’s little oohs and ahhs, whether they’re coming to drop a payment off for Allstate or they were just eating breakfast at Chef de Crêpe, and they walk across the street and stumbled upon the art gallery, not knowing it was a thing,” Ebersole said. “I can’t help but smile when I see people admiring, appreciating and enjoying art—especially art created by local artists.”

Harrisburg-area visual artist Tami Bitner and Ebersole’s father, Paul Gallo, who is a plein air oil painter, were the Gallo’ry’s opening exhibitors, followed by an assemblage of artists whose works served as a stop on the Plein Air Art Walk in May. With the help of Gallo’s connections to artists across neighboring communities, the Gallo’ry has managed to book a full calendar of art exhibits through the end of 2024.

“I’m so grateful for any artist who is willing to put their artwork in here, because I’m not an established gallery or studio. I’m just a lover of art,” Ebersole said. “But my love for art is deep and full, as I grew up with original artworks of my dad around me, and I never took that for granted—the passion, time and talent that goes into creating a piece of art. As I look around at the art on the walls in the Gallo’ry, I get that same sense of appreciation.”

Gallo’ry is a passion project for Ebersole, but at the core, she says it’s really all about the artists.

“I want to promote the value of the arts in our community and give local artists a space they deserve to display their works—hopefully selling several of their pieces in the process so that they have the funds to continue creating,” she said. “If the Gallo’ry helps spread the love of art, that’s all I can hope for.”

Gallo’ry on Market is located at 2010 Market St., Camp Hill. For more information, visit www.galloryonmarket.com.

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Cinema Celebration: Returning to live format, Jewish Film Fest highlights Israel’s 75th anniversary

May 31, 2023 | by Barbara Trainin Blank

“The Galilee Eskimos”

Among the accomplishments of Israel, which turns 75 this spring (on the fifth of Iyar, according to the Hebrew calendar), is an active and vibrant film industry.

With an impact beyond its borders, Israel has been nominated for more Academy Awards for “Best Foreign Language Film” than any other country in the Middle East. Movies are produced in Hebrew but also in Arabic and English and sometimes are co-produced with filmmakers in other countries.

The influence of Israeli cinema is reflected in the high percentage of movies in Harrisburg’s Jewish Film Festivals that were made in Israel. This year’s festival—actually, mini-fest, since it lasts only four days and features just six movies—goes further.

“All but one of our films this year were produced in Israel,” said Julie Sherman, chair of the Edward S. Finkelstein Harrisburg Jewish Film Festival. “We chose each one to illuminate a touchstone in the country’s history and character.”

In both narrative and documentary forms, subjects include the kibbutz (collective settlement) movement, the British Mandate, 1948’s independence and the struggles that followed, and the lives and sacrifices of military families.

“We even have a comedy about modern-day matchmaking,” Sherman said.

In the opening night’s “Reckonings,” presented at the Alexander Grass Campus for Jewish Life, German and Jewish leaders from Israel and 23 international Jewish organizations secretly negotiate for reparations post-Holocaust, which leads to victims of persecution receiving material compensation from the perpetrators. This must-see film is followed by a pre-recorded interview with its award-winning director, Roberta Grossman, and a dessert reception.

When Israel’s Declaration of Independence was drafted in May 1948, every word, comma and concept led to hours of debate—somewhat akin to our own. In “Our Natural Right,” which begins a weekend of five festival films at Midtown Cinema, the grandchildren of the signers return to the hall in Tel Aviv where Israel’s document was signed. There, they reminisce about their grandparents and their stories and share their own feelings—often mixed—of pride and concern over the current state of their nation.

In the comedy, “Matchmaking,” it’s time for Moti Bernstein—a handsome, smart, ultra-Orthodox Ashkenazi from a “good family”—to get married. It would seem to be an easy task, if Moti hadn’t fallen for the one woman he can’t have—his sister’s friend Nechama, whose Moroccan Mizrahi roots make her as unthinkable to Moti’s parents as Juliet was to Romeo’s. Caught between his desire and the taboos of an “intermarriage,” Moti is forced to take drastic action.

“The Little Traitor,” a drama based on Amos Oz’s novel, “Panther in the Basement,” concerns 11-year-old Proffy Liebowitz, who has lived his entire life under the British Mandate. The youngster hates the British and even plots with his friends to terrorize or blow up British troops. Then, one evening, out after curfew, Proffy is seized by one (Alfred Molina), who returns him home rather than arresting him. A cherished friendship ensues, which Proffy must keep secret from his family and friends.

In the comedy-drama, “The Galilee Eskimos,” 12 senior citizen “kibbutzniks” awaken one morning to find themselves abandoned—left to fend for themselves and ward off the creditors who have come to take possession of their deeply indebted collective. But they’re not any old senior citizens; they founded the kibbutz decades before. Despite their age, it takes little to dust off their pioneer spirit to start to rebuild.

“Air Born” tells a fascinating, unexpected story of the children who grew up on Israeli Air Force bases in the 1960s and ‘70s. Director Yoram Ivry recalls a childhood where runways were for bicycling and fighter jets for climbing. He and his peers felt protected, secure and free. Other children from that time, now middle-aged or older, recount a darker reality—what it was like to grow up in the shadow of war, where heroic, larger-than-life, dashing pilot fathers took to the skies and sometimes didn’t come home.

After two years of virtual movie-going during the pandemic and a virtual/live “hybrid” season last May, this year’s mini-fest marks a return to a fully live event with no streaming component.

“We’ll see how it goes,” Sherman said. “My colleagues at other Jewish film festivals are reporting much-better numbers for their live screenings this year. People are beginning to remember how great it is to leave their homes, go to the theater, and share the movie experience.”

The Edward S. Finkelstein Harrisburg Jewish Film Festival takes place June 8 to 11.

Tickets for “Reckonings” are free, but registration is required at www.hbgjff.com. Tickets for the other films are available at www.midtowncinema.com or through the festival website, where trailers and more details can be found.

What’s Playing

At the Alexander Grass Campus for Jewish Life
2986 N. 2nd St., Harrisburg

“Reckonings”
Thursday, June 8, 7 p.m.

At Midtown Cinema
250 Reily St., Harrisburg

“Our Natural Right”
Friday, June 9, 5 p.m.

“Matchmaking”
Saturday, June 10, 9 p.m.

Book Club Event
Sunday, June 11
Bagel Nosh, 9 a.m.
“The Little Traitor,” 10 a.m.
Book discussion led by Dr. Helen Khanzhina, 11:30 a.m.

“The Galilee Eskimos”
Sunday, June 11, 3 p.m.

“Air Born”
Sunday, June 11, 7 p.m.

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Past, as Present: “Blue Jean” depicts the warmth of community, but also shows how little has changed

May 31, 2023 | by Sammi Leigh Melville

Image courtesy of Magnolia Pictures

Georgia Oakley’s “Blue Jean” gives us a beautiful portrayal of a woman (and an era) struggling with sexual identity—and it’s not too far off from the struggle that persists today.

Jean (Rosie McEwan), a high school gym teacher who recently ended her heterosexual marriage, has admitted to herself and her friends and family that she is a lesbian—but is not quite ready to admit it to her coworkers. A situation that may seem pretty ordinary at first—keeping your work life and personal life separate—is magnified by the fact that Jean lives in 1980s England, when Margaret Thatcher’s Section 28 has been newly enacted, forbidding the “promotion of homosexuality” and putting anyone throughout the country who has come out as gay under fire. Even Jean’s sister, while giving a lukewarm attempt to be supportive, makes it clear that her sexual identity makes her somehow less trustworthy.

Jean keeps her secret in order to keep her job—something her girlfriend, Viv (Kerrie Hayes), is understanding of, but not entirely patient with. Her circle of friends, all lesbians who meet every night at the local gay bar, are a loving, caring group, but Jean refuses to let them come to the basketball scrimmage games she coaches at the school because she’s worried that people will make assumptions and villainize her as the lesbian gym teacher preying on her students.

The real tension begins when Jean begins to suspect that a new girl, Lois (Lucy Halliday), might also be gay. Jean may not see herself in the new student, but Viv certainly does—it’s that deer in the headlights look, she says. Though, from this viewer’s perspective, Lois’ eyes are full of hope when she shows up at the bar, 15 years old and unabashedly trying to fit into a world of societal misfits, as her classmates have already dismissed her. Jean is not ready to let her two worlds collide (and her private world be risked), but Lois desperately needs a community to engage with, and so the conflict begins to unfold.

McEwan brings such a perfect nervous and melancholy energy to Jean. We are so easily able to follow her in her emotional journey, with every little nuance McEwan gives—and her chemistry with Hayes is fantastic.

The world that Oakley builds is tense, and every aspect of the film seems to highlight why its titular character is blue. And though the story is set in the ‘80s, it feels extremely relevant to current events. If it weren’t for the radio programs talking about Margaret Thatcher, and the British accents, this story easily could have taken place in the modern-day U.S. South. The fact that such history is repeating itself only adds an even tenser layer to the story—something we should fully expect to see popping up more and more in film as LGBTQIA+ rights continue to be called into question.

What makes “Blue Jean” sing is how it focuses on accountability and support. While there is plenty of despair to dole out in every scene, there is also a beautiful depiction of the care and response from the family that the queer community has created.

That’s enough of a reason to see “Blue Jean,” even if you disregard the quietly piercing performances and the complexity of the conflict in the story. Don’t miss a chance to see the film this June at Midtown Cinema.

Midtown Cinema is located at 250 Reily St., Harrisburg. For more information, visit www.midtowncinema.com.

May Events At Midtown Cinema

National Theatre Live presents

“Othello”
Sunday, June 4, at 5 p.m.
Sunday, June 18, at 5 p.m.

Down in Front! comedy riffing presents

“Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster” (1965)
Sunday, June 4, at 7:30 p.m.

The Edward S. Finkelstein Harrisburg Jewish Film Festival
June 9 to 11

“The Galilee Eskimos” (2007)
Friday, June 9, at 5 p.m.

“Matchmaking” (2022)
Saturday, June 10 at 9 p.m.

JFF Book Club Brunch presents

“The Little Traitor” (2007)
Sunday, June 11, at 9 a.m.

“Air Born” (2022)
Sunday, June 11, at 7 p.m.

3rd in the Burg Movie Night

“Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn”
Friday, June 16, at 9:30 p.m.

National Theatre Live presents

“Fleabag”
Sunday, June 25, at 7 p.m.

2023 Outdoor Film Series
Presented by Friends of Midtown
All films start at dusk.

“Labyrinth” (1986)
Saturday, June 10

“Black Panther” (2018)
Saturday, June 24

“Jaws” (1975)
Saturday, July 15

“Cabaret” (1972)
Thursday, July 27

“Inside Out” (2015)
Saturday, Aug. 5

“The Sandlot” (1993)
Saturday, Aug. 19

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Power, Resilience, Villainy: “Richard III” is this year’s Free Shakespeare in the Park

May 31, 2023 | by Francesca Amendolia

Latreshia Lilly and Tom Weaver. Photo by John Bivins Photography.

One proof of Shakespeare’s enduring influence on our perception of history is the character of Richard III. We all know Richard is a shuffling, hand-wringing hunchback with lanky black hair, a sallow complexion and an ugly sneer.

We are all wrong.

While the historical Richard did have scoliosis, he was not, as an analysis of the remains discovered in 2012 confirmed, a grotesque figure. What made Richard monstrous was not his body but his conscience—more precisely, his lack of one.

Director Jeff Luttermoser has been working on “Richard III” for many years now, first as a high school English teacher and now as theatrical practitioner. As he pointed out, “Richard’s disability is more accurately described as an inability. He seems not just unwilling but unable to sympathize with the feelings of those around him.”

This is, as Luttermoser said, an advantage for a man who is determined to be king despite the four people yet living who stand between him and the throne—his brothers and his nephews.

“It makes me wonder about power and morality,” Luttermoser said. “If you want power—as many characters in the play do—does that mean you have to become amoral (even if not necessarily immoral)? Do you have to set aside your ideas of right and wrong to get what you want?”

That question could be what made this play his students’ favorite year after year—or more likely “it’s all of the murder.” Luttermoser watched his students gleefully construct a “Hunger Games”–style death board to keep track of who was killed and then listened when they demanded to know why “Richard III” isn’t produced more often.

He had already been cutting the play to make it shorter, more comprehensible, less convoluted. He judiciously changed archaic words that obscured meaning, working to highlight the plot, the people and their relationships to one another. His students naturally appreciated this shorter, plot-focused version of “Richard III,” and then Luttermoser, who had come to teaching after many years working in theater, realized that his cut made it an ideal play for Shakespeare in the Park.

What if, he wondered, he could direct an under-two-hour show that was also easily digestible and accessible and enjoyable for the audience? Wouldn’t that make it a perfect park show? Shakespeare’s plays were originally produced in the open air for a hugely diverse audience.

“These plays were meant to be enjoyed by the whole community, not just the chosen few,” Luttermoser said. “The park show should aim to do the same.”

And while there will still be plenty of murder and politics in this production (naturally, inevitably), there is also much beauty and love and joy. “Richard III” is about power and how it impacts those who have it or desire it or live beneath it—and all the things humans do or think or say or feel in regards to power. But it’s also about resilience. England is just coming out of a long and complicated civil war. Some people are looking to take advantage of the lingering unrest, but there are even more people trying to rebuild—not just their country but themselves.

The villainy of Richard is so dramatic and compelling, it’s easy to forget that this is also a play about family and sacrifice and love, a play filled with light and depth and complexity and humanity. The brilliance of Shakespeare is his knack for capturing the universal elements of human nature and ingraining them into his characters and stories. That’s why his plays are still being produced in parks all around the world.

These parks include Harrisburg’s own Reservoir Park. This June, pack a picnic, bring a chair, and as the summer sun sets behind the bandshell, watch as Richard grasps for power as he staggers toward a bloody end.

“Richard III” runs June 2 to June 17 at the bandshell in Reservoir Park, Harrisburg, with shows Wednesday to Saturday at 7:30 p.m.

Shakespeare in the Park is always free, and Gamut recommends that patrons bring a chair or blanket for seating, and come early to claim a great spot. They will also be accepting canned goods for the Bethesda Mission. For more information, visit www.gamuttheatre.org/fsip.

UPCOMING EVENTS

At Gamut Theatre
www.gamuttheatre.org
717-238-4111

Free Shakespeare in the Park
“Richard III”
June 2 to 17

TMI Improv
June 23

At Open Stage
www.openstagehbg.com
717-232-6736

“Poirot Investigates!”
A comedy starring Agatha Christie’s famous detective
Now to June 17

Court Street Cabaret
Comedy Edition
June 9, 10, 16, 17 at 9 p.m.

Black NewsBeat with Dr. Kimeka Campbell
June 14 & 27 at 7:30 p.m.
Join the studio audience for an episode taping.

OSHKids Summer Theatre Camp
“The Wizard of Oz”
June 8 to 30

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Harrisburg City Council to reconsider previously rejected Front Street apartment proposal

May 30, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg City Council session on Tuesday

Harrisburg City Council recently voted down a proposed apartment building, but that project now may get a second chance for approval.

On Tuesday, council voted to reconsider a land development plan for the 2700-block of N. Front St., a proposal that they voted against, 5-2, at last week’s meeting, after expressing concern that it would not include affordable units, as federally defined.

“We decided to reconsider because the legal ramifications would likely be great,” council President Danielle Bowers told TheBurg. “We hope to come to a level of compromise.”

Representatives for EI Realty, the developer of the proposed 21-unit apartment building, explained at previous council meetings that they were not interested in offering affordable housing as part of the project, saying that it wouldn’t be “financially viable.”

At last week’s meeting, council member Shamaine Daniels, who voted with council member Westburn Majors in favor of the proposal, shared her concern with members who rejected the project, saying that as long as developers “follow the rules, you have to approve the plans.”

The city’s affordable housing program is voluntary, meaning that developers are encouraged, but not required, to include lower-cost units in their projects.

While council voted against the project last week, they have now decided to meet with the developer to discuss possible solutions to their concerns and eventually re-vote.

According to City Solicitor Neil Grover, the vote to reconsider means that council’s previous vote is eliminated, and they must re-vote on the land development plan within 30 days, by June 30.

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New art space, event venue to hold grand opening in downtown Mechanicsburg

May 30, 2023 | by Lawrance Binda

The interior of Creative Grounds

A new creative and event space soon will debut in Mechanicsburg, with a grand opening planned for this weekend.

On Friday, Creative Grounds is slated to open on the second floor of the circa-1888 First National Bank building on W. Main Street.

“I am thrilled to open the doors of Creative Grounds and provide a space where artists and creators can come together, collaborate and showcase their talents,” said founder and CEO Melissa Lopez. “Our vision is to create a welcoming and inclusive environment that not only inspires individual artists, but also fosters a sense of community and connection among them.”

Over the years, the downtown landmark also has served as borough offices, as a county court building and has housed many private businesses.

Members of 36 West LLC, the building’s new owners, stand outside.

Until recently, Capital Joe Coffee occupied the first floor. In March, the building was purchased by a new owner, 36 West LLC, and another local coffee chain, Denim Coffee, is slated to occupy the ground-floor space for its fifth midstate location.

“Every community needs an anchor third space location outside of home and work to gather, hang out and build relationships, and we are thrilled to bring our specialty coffee experience and be that location for the Mechanicsburg community,” said Denim’s owner and founder Matt Ramsay.

Up on the second floor, Lopez hopes that artists, makers and other creators will find a home at Creative Grounds, a 1,600-square-foot space featuring high ceilings and historic architectural details. For her, supporting emerging artists is a top priority, she said.

“I believe that by working together, we can elevate the arts in central PA and showcase the incredible talent without our region,” Lopez said.

In addition to offering a space for artistic endeavors, Creative Grounds will host a variety of events, workshops and classes, providing opportunities for artists and the local community to engage and learn from one another, Lopez said.

The opening will feature an abstract art exhibit, “Elements,” showcasing the works of Lopez and artist Janelle Kopchick.

Creative Grounds will hold its grand opening on Friday, June 2, 5 to 8 p.m., at 36 W. Main St., Mechanicsburg. For more information, visit their Facebook and event page. Photos courtesy of Melissa Lopez.

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Harrisburg Police Bureau pledges to address violence at site of recent shooting in Midtown

May 30, 2023 | by Maddie Gittens

The 1000-block of N. 3rd St. in Harrisburg

The Harrisburg Police Bureau is vowing to take action following a series of shootings in a city neighborhood.

After early morning gunfire on Sunday at the 1000-block of N. 3rd Street, police said that they are working with area “agencies” to put an end to the violence at the location, which has been the site of previous shootings.

“Everything seems to be stemmed around a certain establishment there,” said Lt. Kyle Gautsch of the Harrisburg Police Bureau. “There are some things in the works to hopefully quiet down the situation.”

The early Sunday morning shooting left four adult males with non-life-threatening injuries and the investigation is ongoing, Gautsch said.

Another shooting took place on the block in April, leaving one person injured, and there have been several others, including one in December 2022 and one in August 2022 that shattered a nearby business’s window.

“We are actively utilizing all the resources that we have to combat the issue that is ongoing right now in Midtown,” he added.

While police would not name a specific business that the incidents are tied to, Gautsch said that he hopes that business owners would take steps to ensure the safety of their patrons.

Gautsch said that nearby businesses and residents are cooperating with the bureau’s investigation of Sunday’s shooting.

Police declined to provide details on the steps they are taking to address the pattern of violence at this time, but assured the public that they are taking action.

“Everybody understands there’s a problem,” Gautsch said. “We need to resolve this problem.”

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The Week that Was: News and features around Harrisburg

May 26, 2023 | by Lawrance Binda and Maddie Gittens

Harrisburg’s riverfront

Happy Memorial Day weekend to our readers! We hope you enjoy the long weekend and take the chance to check out all of the recreation, food and shopping that Harrisburg has to offer. First, make sure you’re all caught up on this week’s local news, below.

Artsfest returns to the riverfront in Harrisburg this weekend, our online story reported. The three-day festival will feature art vendors, food trucks and live music.

Bob’s Art Blog features local creators working in a variety of forms, including sculpture, woodworking and mixed media. Read his online column to see the unique range of art and hear from artists.

Civic Club of Harrisburg will host its second annual “Spring into Art” show on May 27, our online story reported. The show will take place in conjunction with Harrisburg’s Artsfest and will feature 20 local artists.

Harrisburg City Council voted down a proposed apartment development project, with several council members explaining their concern with the developer’s disinterest in creating affordable units, our reporting found. The project sought to demolish existing office buildings on the 2700-block of N Front St. and build a 21-unit apartment building.

Harrisburg ranked as the number-one place to live in Pennsylvania, according to U.S. News & World Report’s list of “Best Places to Live,” our online story reported. The report applauded Harrisburg for its affordability, strong arts scene, easy access to the “great outdoors” and proximity to larger cities.

Honey Bee’s Café and Bake Shoppe opened earlier this year in downtown Harrisburg, our magazine story reported. The breakfast and lunch spot offers classic café items with a unique twist.

Members 1st Federal Credit Union named its next president and CEO, Mike Wilson, our online story reported. Wilson, who previously served as the credit union’s chief experience officer, will take the reins from George Nahodil, who is retiring after 23 years with the company.

Midtown Cinema this month is showing “Monica,” a film about a transgender woman who reconnects with her mother, whose health is declining. In our magazine story, read more about the movie, which our writer says, “holds a particular power in the unspoken.”

Open Stage’s “Poirot Investigates” gives viewers a chance to escape the worries of life and settle in for some campy fun. In our magazine story, find out more about the show, inspired by author Agatha Christie.

Police officers in Harrisburg were honored for their service this week, our online story reported. The Harrisburg Police Bureau held its annual awards ceremony, presenting recognitions to officers who solved homicides, brought justice to lawbreakers and assisted residents in crisis, among other accomplishments.

Sara Bozich has lots of fun ways to spend your Memorial Day weekend in Harrisburg. Find them, here.

Summer outdoor yoga classes have returned to Harrisburg’s riverfront, hosted by Midtown’s commUNITY Yoga Space, our online story reported. The sessions will be held weekly and are open to all, with a pay-what-you-can model.

Tucker&Co. Bakery Café opened recently in downtown Dillsburg, serving up gluten- and refined sugar-free treats. In our magazine story, read about owners Heidi and Isaac Tucker’s mission to serve the community food that’s both “nutritious and delicious.”

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Burg Review: Sip from a snifter of fastidious fun with Open Stage’s “Poirot Investigates!”

May 26, 2023 | by Gina Napoli

The last two times Open Stage performed plays centered on Agatha Christie’s least favorite character, the fastidious Frenchman Hercule Poirot, I watched his trademark cocked eyebrow and Mr. Potato Head mustache through the lens of a YouTube video.

While this reviewer tries to be careful not to compare plays, even reprisals, being in the theater in person to meet Inspector Poirot was a privilege and a joy—so much better than watching him on video in my slippers while eating pandemically trendy homemade sourdough bread.

Directed by and starring Stuart Landon as the straitlaced Poirot, Open Stage’s live version of the mystery/comedy farce “Poirot Investigates!” brings forth elements that cameras miss, aside from the obvious facial expressions and stage movements. Even an HD camera would have only skimmed the velvety texture of Poirot’s plum-colored blazer, or the detailed patterns of the ugliest neckties in all of England. And without a filter, I got to see just how absurdly shiny that mustache really is.

Open Stage brings us smart theater with “Poirot Investigates!” Much like reading a book, you’ll need to rely on your imagination for the literary elements of props, setting and even some costume elements. The bibliophiles among us, and my mother who grounded me from TV for one long summer, would argue that whatever is going on in your brain is way better than how it would have looked onscreen.

Stuart Landon pulls the pretentious Poirot off the page and shuffles him onstage with his aristocratic air, his quirky idiosyncrasies, and his ability to simultaneously look down both sides of his snoot. He’s perpetually inconvenienced and flustered when interacting with anyone, with a sneer that indicates something more displeasing going on under his nose, other than his mustache. If Poirot smiles, it’s because he’s pleased with himself; it’s not to connect with his audience. He’s far too busy for you.

Poirot’s sidekick Captain Arthur Hastings (Chris Gibson) has an important role, delivering the plot points in Christie’s long-form narrative style, keeping that fourth wall perpetually broken. Gibson’s evident stage presence fuels the onstage momentum as a reliable narrator, a classic straight man archetype who mostly sets up gags for everyone else and still manages to get a few yuks for himself.

The other 12 characters, with mostly goofy and alliterative names, are played by the versatile and talented actors David Richwine and Rachel Landon. Seriously, you need a spreadsheet app and a certain amount of focus to track who’s who and when. There’s some head-hopping and gender-bending, so throw out your rulebook on typecasting characters and just go with it.

To help the audience distinguish the play’s many characters (without using props!), Richwine and Rachel quite skillfully use mannerisms, gestures, body posturing and accents. Some accents are recognizable, and others are muddled accents of dubious origins, adding to the farce.

Rachel’s dexterous use of her body and space enable her to bring more than one character onstage at a time. (It’s a visual, so a long-winded explanation from me won’t do. You’ll have to see the play yourself to truly appreciate her skill.) I laughed hardest when she portrayed an ancient hotel clerk wearing the show’s only prop: a pair of Iris Apfel glasses.

Richwine brings silliness to breakout character mobster Johnny “Two Fingers” Grasso, with running gags just north of goofy. Additionally, he shows real skill in prop-lessly pulling off the farcical element of making two identical characters different enough in a case of mistaken identity.

An unseen and underlying main character is the background music (original score by Nicholas Werner). The music interacts with the actors, animates the many long-running gags, keeps the action moving along, and lays down clues for the audience about onstage antics. The music is clever, conveying the play’s many moods while heightening the slapstick.

I confess, I do like that the play’s action and dialogue moved along swiftly. I’m very American like that. But along with that quicker pacing, some of the awkwardness and stilted elegance that characterize both British and French humor lose themselves along the plot line.

Poirot’s narcissistic nature would have him requiring a few more stage-commanding pauses to drive home the more control-freaky aspects of his character. While Landon does integrate all of Poirot’s priggishness, I think stopping or slowing the action to watch Poirot partake in his mundane rituals, complete with his obnoxiously tedious mannerisms, would have added to fleshing out his character more fully. (I’m well aware that adding this very set of actions would have infuriated other people in the audience. But that’s Poirot for you. One reason Christie grew to hate the very character she created.)

The slapstick humor, absurd wordplay, running gags, light potty humor, and the other silly balderdash all make “Poirot Investigates!” a fun performance worth seeing in person. Even a dead body in the middle of the room can’t bring it down.

“Poirot Investigates!” runs May 27 through June 17 at Open Stage, 25 N. Court St., Harrisburg. For more information and tickets, visit www.openstagehbg.com/show/poirot.

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