A WET EVENING--

at the Mifflin outdoor drama

Persistent rains forced the performance of the Celtic music group Maiden's IV under shelter at the Johnny Appleseed Heritage Center near Mifflin recently.

A Center official said, "We always lived by the rule there would be at least one rain-out during the season for these outdoor performances."

"This year we've had four already."

In the case of the Maiden's performance the young ladies were moved under the cover of the rain shelter which spans the upper-level of the amphitheater and a hundred or so show patrons were squeezed into the makeshift stage area.

We salute theater officials for making the best of a difficult situation but the performance was sharply hindered by the substitute accommodations.

The ladies do a highly energetic show and their style was cramped by the minuscule "stage" area.

And, the patrons were squeezed in wherever chairs could be fit making impossible sight lines for many folks.

The music also suffered from difficult speaker placement...and

...there was zero theatrical lighting.

Regardless, many fans were moved to a standing ovation at shows end...

...and a curtain call; even though no such stage embellishment as a curtain existed.

The eight of us in our party were less than amused when we arrived at the 7:30 p.m.. showtime only to find the performance already was rolling along.

Upon inquiry we learned the show was started at 7 even though, ticketing officials admitted, it had been advertised on the theater's website for a 7:30 start. 

The 1,700 seat Johnny Appleseed Heritage Center Amphitheater (top right) on a rainy summer evening.  The Maiden's IV (below) perform on the make-shift stage area.  The gray tarp behind the ladies was used to keep the misty rain off their instruments and electronic apparatus.
__________________________
 http://www.maidensmusic.com/