20 Years Ago

The 12th Annual Mardi Gras Ball was held at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, featuring Geno DeLafose, Roy Carrier, and Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys. Cajun/Zydeco lovers filled the Cranston dance hall for two nights.

Gamm Theatre was still in Pawtucket. They presented Wallace Shawn’s “Aunt Dan and Lemon” starring Wendy Overly, Casey Seymour Kim, Jeanine Kane, and Jim O’Brien.

Trinity Rep did Shakespeare’s “The Merry Wives of Windsor” starring Barbara Meek, Fred Sullivan Jr., Janice Duclos, Phyllis Kay, Brian McEleney and Steve Berenson.

“Miracle” was the big movie about the USA’s Olympic hockey team’s victory over the Soviet Union, starring Kurt Russell as coach Herb Brooks.

The intensely violent and controversial “The Passion of Christ” starred James Caviezel as Christ.

Academy Players did Neil Simon’s “Laughter on the 23rd Floor” directed by Tony Annicone at the Greenwich Odeum.

Arlene Violet added to the fun by plying a nun in the latest version of “Nunsense” at PPAC.

40 Years Ago

At the movies, Kevin Bacon starred in “Footloose”, which years later became a hit Broadway musical. Tom Selleck starred as a jewel thief in “Lassiter”.  Woody Allen’s “Broadway Danny Rose” starred Mia Farrow.

The R.I. Feminist Theatre presented their 2082 Review at the Cranston Public Library.

Tom Jones performed at RIC’s Roberts Hall.

Rose Weaver and Rev. Daryl Small presented “Birth of the Blues”, produced by John Worsley at CCRI.

Harborside Lobstermania in East Greenwich (Now Finn’s Harborside) had scallops for $6.95 and Delmonico steak for $8.95. They still have the best fish and chips in R.I.

“The Fantasticks” was at Newport Playhouse, directed by Cranston’s Ed Rondeau.

The CCRI Players presented “You Can’t Take It With You” at the Warwick campus.