Showcase is packed every week with things to do

I get a little cranky when people complain about the lack of culture in our area and/or the lack of things to do.

What are they talking about?

Take last week, for example. You had your choice of two wonderful local stage productions, with the Northwest Florida Fair and lots of other events thrown in for good measure.

You still have several chances left to see Stage Crafters’ impressive production of “1776,” which continues tonight through Sunday afternoon at the Fort Walton Beach Municipal Auditorium.

It was featured on last week’s cover, and I do need to correct one name. Bruce Culpepper portrays Richard Henry Lee, not William Henry Lee as the character list said. Check the Stage listings for more details on times and tickets.

I posted something on my Facebook page over the weekend about Fort Walton Beach High School’s production of “Is He Dead?” I hope at least some of you saw it in time to catch the last show, which was Sunday afternoon.

Teacher/Director Christa Whittaker and her crew of amazing students kept the audience laughing Saturday night with the Mark Twain comedy about an artist who fakes his own death to increase the value of his paintings and help some indebted friends as well as himself.

Christian Williams, who played the artist, led a cast of 11 fearless actors who took on everything from a variety of accents and physical strength demands to hoop skirts.

Andrew Knight, Zach Kuhl and Chase Yakaboski were great as the artist’s best friends. Jared Wilson reveled in his role as villain while Haylee Britt and Rachel Lewis stood out as the girlfriends.

Joseph Imsand, Megan Mulgrew and Haley Chouinard all gave believable turns as the senior citizen characters.

Storm Hooten took on four smaller roles with a distinctive flair. The flamboyant servant, Charlie, seemed to be an audience favorite.

But it was Williams who was in nearly every scene either as the artist Millet or as his “sister,” the widow Tillou and who shone in both roles.

This week began with a touring Broadway show going on at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center despite an approaching tropical storm and will end with the Blue Angels streaking across the sky.

I didn’t get to see “Tap Dogs,” but heard it was brilliant, and we know the Blue Angels will be.

So, please don’t tell me there’s no culture or nothing to do or that it’s all too expensive. The Blue Angels shows are free and the play at FWBHS was only $7, less than the cost of a movie ticket.

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I plan to see “2012” this weekend despite the negativity some national entertainment writers have tried to generate about the destruction-of-the-world movie and despite the lukewarm review in today’s Showcase from the Associated Press.

Hello? John Cusack stars, and Roland Emmerich directs. I’m there.

The movie I’m really looking forward to, however, is “The Blind Side,” starring Sandra Bullock. The previews pretty much show the whole plot of this based-on-a-true-story film, but it doesn’t matter.

I’m still looking forward to dabbing my eyes throughout what looks like a heart-warming tale. It’s scheduled for release Nov. 20.