Bob Goepfert

This is big week in local theater. You might even think of it as a test or turning point.

Playwright Donja R. Love has a lot he wants to say, and in” Fireflies” he tries to tell the audience everything he cares about- all in less than 90-minutes. The result is a work in which a lot of issues are raised, yet you leave Curtain Call Theatre in Latham, caring about few of them.

Not that long ago, February was declared Black History Month. Many African-Americans in the theater community felt it was not a coincidence that the shortest month of the year concentrated on Black history. The same people felt the works offered were, essentially, plays about minority problems as seen through the lens of white writers.

If you want to be cynical, the best thing you can say about 2021 is that it was better than 2020.

Christmas, has barely passed, yet it’s time to start planning how to celebrate New Year’s Eve.

As a charter member of Procrastinators Anonymous, I feel qualified to offer advice to others who too have just noticed that Christmas is less than a week away.

One of the perks of living in this area is the closeness to New York City. It’s a benefit used by many at the holiday season. Whether it be shopping, seeing the Rockettes at Radio City – followed by a visit to the gorgeously decorated Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center - a day in New York City is something to look forward to.

If you’re looking for an entertaining, high-energy juke box musical filled with memorable songs, “Summer: the Donna Summer Musical” is for you. It plays at Proctors in Schenectady through Sunday and the music in this show is terrific.

There’s a party going on at Capital Repertory Theatre downtown Albany.On stage, it’s a party titled “The Irish and How They Got That Way.” Its intention is to celebrate all things Irish. And they do a bang-up job as the cast bonds in true ensemble fashion to sing, tell stories, and dance a bit. They even lift one now and then.

For entertainment, Thanksgiving Weekend is the official start of the Christmas holiday season. However, with COVID still being an influence, things are different this year. For one thing, most venues have policies that demand you show either proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID test for entry. Also, at many places you need to wear a mask inside.