Mayor’s Row…………by Ned Mitchell
Every now and then we do something right over here in Sesser and this past week
was no exception. As all of the readers know the historic Sesser Opera House is
an old building that we have spent the last 30 years restoring to its’ original
grandeur and now we are busy promoting shows for people who travel far and wide
to enjoy.
Last week our local theater group The Opera House Company performed the Neil
Simon play “Barefoot in the Park” and let me tell you the audiences were
thrilled with this live performance. Opening night found me sitting in the back
of the theater enjoying the play and resting from all the hard work that had
went into the production. It all came together and now it was time to enjoy the
fruits of our labor. I reminisced about how businessman and owner Charlie
Gauldoni must have felt in 1914 when the theater first opened. Was local
contractor Mr. Hill in the audience back then enjoying the fruits of his labor,
I thought? I thought about how many Sesser residents came out on a cold winter
night to see a show.
I am sure we were warmer last week as the central gas heat furnaces kept the
building comfortable with the flick of a thermostat. I know from our labor in
the building that we uncovered the original chimney in the front east wall where
a coal or wood fired stove sat in the auditorium. I know that one time I asked
Sesser businessman Emil Perpich how folks stayed warm back then in the theater
and various store buildings to which he replied “we didn’t”. I had never given
that much thought until then but I suppose he was right. If you were right next
to the stove one side of you stayed warm but the farther away you got the colder
you got was the reality.
The cast of the show was superb. We had Benton attorney Jim Ford, West Frankfort
attorney Aaron Hopkins, former Benton resident and now one of us in Sesser
Jennifer Norman, Benton resident Sharon McKinney, Charlotte Stiens of Du Quoin
and Tom Herman of Benton. David Wicks, Jr of Dahlgren did the set design and
directed the show and the wife, Aisha worked tirelessly on the costumes and
produced the show. Even though I had been following the rehearsals and helping
build the set it did not all come together in my mind until the actual opening
night.
I sat in amazement as each performer fit into their role and flawlessly did
their part. They were so in tune with their respective character that it was
amazing to me as my mind drifted back and forth from what it was like in Sesser
in 1914 to what it is like today in 2008. Each person was a perfect selection
for the role they played.
I have said all of that to say this and this goes back to the opening line of
today’s column and that is every now and then we do something right over here in
Sesser. As a part of the promotion of this show we rely on the various forms of
media to help us promote shows since we do not have any money yet to put
together a budget for such. We appreciate all they do for us and hopefully some
day we will have a budget that will allow us to actually buy advertisement in
addition to our press releases. Sesser resident Deborah Hutson VOLUNTEERS her
time to promote everything going on in Sesser and this was one of her finer
projects.
We send complimentary tickets to media folks who help promote our shows to
either use or give away and talk show host Scott Doody “The Workin’ Man” over at
WXAN-FM in Ava, Illinois gave away his tickets on the air last week. One of the
winners of two tickets on his show called me to make arrangements to come to the
show and we had a brief discussion about the show. The young man who won the
tickets was from Carterville, a newly wed. What he told me next really struck a
cord with me. The caller told me that money was tight for this newly married
couple and he was wondering just what he was going to do for his new bride for
Valentine’s Day. He was excited that now he had some place to take her and I was
excited that they were coming the historic Sesser Opera House for the first
time.
He then explained to me that he was shipping out to Afghanistan in a few weeks
and he would not be here to celebrate Valentine’s Day next year since his tour
of duty would not be over yet. I told him that if he would bring his wife over
early I would see to it that their Valentine’s Day meal was bought for them at
the Opera House Café before the show. I am here to tell you it was like
Christmas for the new soldier husband who excitedly thanked me for helping him
treat his wife to an evening out on Valentine’s Day when money was short at
their house. Even thought I did not know this couple I spotted them when they
came through the door sporting a grin three miles wide. I knew the minute I
glanced at them that they were the couple who will never forget this evening. I
also knew that I would never forget that evening either. As a young soldier who
wears the uniform of this country is about to ship out to a foreign land and
fight a war he had no involvement in creating, he and his bride will always
remember the PEOPLE of Sesser gave them a night out and made their Valentine’s
Day a very special one. I was so proud to be a part of that evening and I
thanked the soldier for his service to our country. God bless America I silently
prayed and asked for special protection for all who serve us in uniform!
Another Valentine’s Day surprise came about at the Mitchell house. Valentine’s
Day morning I called the wife into the kitchen to give her a special gift of
something that I knew she would enjoy. Aisha has a great sense of humor as she
puts up with me and she had to laugh as I opened the oven door and pulled out
the wrapped present and handed it to her as I explained that I had hid the gift
in the oven since I knew she would not find it there. She wisely looked me over
and commented that I did not look like I had been missing any meals!
But Aisha’s real surprise came Wednesday evening before Valentine’s Day. We were
working frantically in the Opera House on the set and final dress rehearsal when
I went to get Aisha to get some tickets for some folks in the lobby. When she
opened the door she ran right into her dad Richie, his wife Becky, and her two
brothers Michael and Jesse. This, as it turned out was the best Valentine’s Day
for her and it thrilled not only me and Carrigan who is getting to know the
grandparents from the Seattle, Washington area but also great grandparents Dean
and Margaret Goessman of Sesser. Dad Richie stayed and helped build the set
until the wee hours of the morning and was back the next day working side by
side with everyone else. We truly had a great time in Sesser and hope that you
were able to enjoy it with us!
Special congratulations to the Sesser-Valier High School cheerleader who last
week placed second in state competition in Springfield. We are proud of them as
they go forth and represent all of us here in Sesser!
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