Day: February 4, 2025

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I cried listening to it then, and I still get chills listening to it now.

What a great idea from Tonno Gloucester on Main St! From their Facebook page:

Downtime…

“Genius girl” will shock and delight audiences

Women’s History Month stage play celebrates a pioneering woman of science

You’ll flunk this quiz: Who wrote the first computer program?

Believe it or not, it was a brilliant young woman in the U.K.

Now guess when.

Answer: the 1850’s. That’s right: long before computers were even invented.

And if you remember the classic poet Lord Byron, here’s a bit you’ll really love: That young girl, Ada Byron Lovelace, was the poet’s only daughter — and he abandoned her.

All of which somehow makes for a heartwarming, heartbreaking, inspiring stage play, Ada and the Engine, presented by Castle Hill Productions, at the Crane Estate in Ipswich February 27 through March 9.

Featuring some of the North Shore’s most beloved actors, Ada reveals a tangle of family tensions and an intriguing glimpse into the mind of a child genius who produced revolutionary scientific work in spite of rigid Victorian-Era attitudes about women.

“It’s the perfect production for Women’s History Month,” says director Kristina Grundmann, who founded the theatre company for The Trustees, the non-prof that owns and operates the Castle Hill property. “A girl haunted by her absent celebrity father, partnering with a male inventor but mentored by a female scientist, navigating her mother’s anger — it’s a whirlwind. But a beautiful whirlwind, because it’s such a brilliant, delightful script.”

Ada and the Engine was written by Laura Gunderson, one of the theatre world’s most popular new playwrights.

The play will be presented in the intimate ballroom of the Crane Estate’s grand mansion. As a result, seating is extremely limited. Theatre lovers are urged to buy tickets online immediately. Trustees members will pay $28, non-members $35. For more information: www.TheTrustees.org/Ada, or phone 978.356.4351.

Ada and the Engine stars Stanis Ames (of Salem) as Ada, along with Karen Dervin (Billerica), Chris DeStefano (Ipswich), Conor Burke (Somerville), Julie Butters (Salem), and Gary Ames (Salem).

WHERE: Castle Hill on the Crane Estate, 290 Argilla Rd., Ipswich

WHEN: February 27-March 9, Thursday-Saturday at 7 pm, Sundays at 6 pm

HOW: Tickets may be purchased online in advance. Trustees Member: $28. Nonmember: $35. Please visit TheTrustees.org/Ada or call 978.356.4351 for more information.

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About the Trustees

Founded by landscape architect Charles Eliot in 1891, The Trustees has, for more than 125 years, been a catalyst for important ideas, endeavors, and progress in Massachusetts. As a steward of distinctive and dynamic places of both historic and cultural value, The Trustees is the nation’s first preservation and conservation organization, and its landscapes and landmarks continue to inspire discussion, innovation, and action today as they did in the past. We are a nonprofit supported by members, friends and donors and our more than 120 sites are destinations for residents, members, and visitors alike, welcoming millions of guests annually. www.thetrustees.org.

Fred Shrigley announced the winners of the 2025 Chili Cookoff. I don’t know who gets photo credit on this as I just borrowed it from Fred’s Facebook page, but it’s not my photo. Fred says: “Sunday was so much fun with so many great variations of chili. Pictured here are the top three.1st Place Chris Silva 2nd place Susan Gould Coviello and 3rd place Eve Favalora and the customers voted for Chris #1, Paul McDermont 2nd and Brenda Leahy 3rd” We got there late but were able to congratulate some of the winners. Well done once again Rhumb Line, participants and customers.

I don’t know anything more than what is presented here from the Farm Bar and Grille on Western Ave in Essex but perhaps if you are available, stop this Thurs Feb 6 by to support.