Culpeper Times • March 14-20, 2019

Local News

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Library hosts regional job fair April 9 The Culpeper County Library will be hosting a Regional Job Fair on Tuesday, April 9 from 1-3 p.m. All interested job-seekers are encouraged to attend this free event, open to all. Hiring managers from 15 companies from Culpeper, Orange, and Madison counties will be in attendance. Job openings include: healthcare professions, janitorial, food service, machine operation, quarry operations, skilled trades, childcare, screen-printing, and retail positions. Apprenticeship, internship, parttime, and full-time opportunities

➤ Curtain Calls, from Page 22 imagining that our sordid little lives and whims are morally superior to the ruckus we see before us. Nevertheless, Mr. Thackery’s masterpiece appears in characterizations remarkably faithful to his shrewd appraisals of the world. As the novel is narrated by an omniscient observer, so the festivities are overseen by the erudite stage manager (Dan Hiatt) who, with a flick of a feathered, grey curled wig and satin cape, becomes the fluty-voiced dowager Aunt Matilda whose money is her principle charm. In another twinkling, he reappears as Becky’s cynical patron, Lord Steyne, who reminds her (with a foul leer) that nothing in this world is free. Because the story swirls around Becky and Amelia, they are the only characters who remain themselves throughout. Rebekah Brockman fully embraces Becky’s ambition, avarice, and hard-nosed resolve to make it in a world that rewards only those women born into society’s graces. The lovely Maribel Martinez as Amelia, Becky’s opposite, a naïve and sentimental friend from the upper classes, is something of a “straight woman” in that comic situations bounce off her but rarely pull her into their trajectory. Her brother, Jos (Vincent Randazzo), for example, is one of the funniest creatures on the stage, being rich and dim-witted, and therefore a perfect magnet for the enterprising Becky. Amelia’s love interest, George Osborn, (played by Alyssa Keegan who is remarkably handsome in a uniform) is the unrepentant cad’s idea of a cad. It is poetic irony that only a moment of unselfishness from the immutably selfish Becky can open Amelia’s eyes to the reality of both George and Dobbin. Dear Dobbin! True heart, true man – why must women forever underrate your true worth? Anthony Lopez, in his main role as this valiant, though somewhat humorless soldier (well, there’s nothing funny about not being loved back) almost had me wanting to rush the stage in his defense. (I didn’t. ‘Restraint’ is my middle name). Even Becky scores big – once.

will be available. Interested job-seekers are encouraged to bring copies of their resumes and to dress in business attire. Free resume-writing assistance is available beforehand at the Virginia Career Works – Culpeper Center (540.212.4570). High School Seniors from Culpeper, Eastern View, Orange, and Madison County High Schools will have a private preview of the Job Fair from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in conjunction with their Career & Technical Education programs. Contact your school’s CTE office for more details.

Kristen J. Johnson

Alton W. English

Available for you - in your time of need. 11190 James Monroe Highway Culpeper, VA • 540-825-2361

Want to go?

What: “Vanity Fair” Where: Shakespeare Theatre Co., Landsburgh Theatre, 450 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. Call: (202) 547-1122 or visit ShakespeareTheatre. org Playing through March 31 Adam Magill, when he is not one of the madcap pranksters of the ensemble, plays Rawdon, the heartthrob in a uniform who has the added attraction of a rich father. Naturally, Becky can’t help but notice his fine qualities. All of this plays out on Alexander Dodge’s Victorian music hall scene design. Symmetrical balconies jut from both sides of the stage while detailed painted backdrops come and go as needed. The occasional gilt-framed painting on an easel – Napolean in conquest, some over-decorated officer in tight pants, a lady’s portrait in the Empire style – is placed helpfully upstage to remind us where we are. Jennifer Moeller’s costumes follow the comic/serious rhythms of the play; period accurate when necessary, hilariously over-the-top when possible. Jane Shaw’s musical compositions underscore the many moods and accompany the ensemble when they decide to pause the shenanigans and warble us a tune. It’s playful, it’s fun, and still it reveals with Thackeray’s frankness one of the ignominies of that 19th century world, i.e., the utter lack of resources for non-aristocratic women who, unlike Becky Sharp, had no resources of their own. But we pilgrims are a frivolous lot, and Vanity Fair can charm us away from stern messages. Even Becky challenges the audience to look at themselves and then judge her. Chances are, our answer to this sparkling show would be the same as our answer upon arrival in the Celestial City and St. Peter’s inquiry regarding our experience of life itself: We didn’t learn much, but we had a good time. Maggie Lawrence is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association. She is a retired English and drama teacher.

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