Florence on cusp of new season of local, cultural events

It dawned on me after attending a couple of events that a new season had started for the local entertainment and cultural scene.
Dr. Joe Stukes, retired Francis Marion University History Department chairman, put on one of his history series at the county library the other day.
Usually, he impersonates a historical subject to cover a period of history. This time it was different. He told about Irving Berlin while taking the audience through much of the composer’s output, such as “White Christmas” and “Easter Parade.” Sharon and Steve Mapes performed several Berlin songs while Stukes outlined the life of the kid from Russia who wound up his 101 years as the guy who wrote “God Bless America.”
Beverly Hazelwood furnished accompaniment and to me the big surprise was when Stukes actually sang one of Irving Berlin’s songs. As he did it, he looked like he wondered what the devil he had gotten himself into, but he did it very well.
The session drew a big, appreciative crowd, and the audience obviously enjoyed it. He has other events on his series coming up.
At the same time next door, Florence Little Theatre was in the run of its season-opening production of “The Producers.” After the Stukes thing, I walked over to see who was at the show that night. Then it dawned on me that a new season was under way for the Florence people who realize how much good stuff we have to enjoy around here.
FLT started its second season on South Dargan Street, and audiences loved it. “The Producers” is very complicated and it must have been a great physical workout for the cast which was here and there all over the stage. Julia Severance organized all of this — and very well, too.
Shaw Thompson and Frankie Sullivan led the way as the conniving producers, and that connoisseur of falsehood, Congressman Joe Wilson, perhaps would have shouted out from the audience. They raised scheming, prevarication and avarice to the level of art.
In a few weeks, there will be a great change of pace by FLT when they put on “The Glass Menagerie.”
The Saturday that “The Producers” closed, there were big doings next door at the library. There was a big day for children when they were invited to come and make the place a playground.
A fire truck was pulled up outside for the kids’ inspection, and a mobile laboratory from Science South offered eye openers. There were snacks and music and children danced in the library. The main thing was they were encouraged to read.
Director Ray McBride estimated that about 5,000 young’uns turned out, and they could be taught a worse habit than to like the library and books.
By the way, I have never understood why a library is expected to be as quiet as a mausoleum. A little friendly noise never bothered the books, and I had no trouble doing my reading while the children played.
Speaking of opening nights, the Florence Symphony has its season opener coming up, and this one should be historic. If things go according to plan, this should be their last season at the civic center.
The Francis Marion University Performing Arts Center a couple of blocks from FLT should be ready some time next year, and so the Symphony could be there for its 2010-11 season.
Masterworks Choir is in rehearsal for its first concert of the season, and we can expect stuff by the Men’s Chorus. There’s lots coming, and you have nobody to blame but yourself if you miss it.
What a guy!
How about that Joe Wilson? He’s some ol’ boy, isn’t he?
Speak softly and carry a big stick? No, sir. He’s from South Carolina. Why speak softly when he can make a scene in the proud tradition of S.C. politics?
No need to be embarrassed about Wilson, I guess, while we have Mark Sanford for governor and Fireball Bauer serving as lieutenant governor when not burning up highways and streets. After all, this was the state of a congressman who once nearly caned a senator to death. Our two senators once had a fist fight on the Senate floor, so S.C. became the only state to have both of its senators censured at once.
What a state!

— Thom Anderson is a retired journalist who has 40 years experience with South Carolina newspapers, including the Morning News. He can be reached at .