A few weeks ago, I spoke of “Nancy O’s Special Show,” two one-act plays performed by five women and two men. Five and two equals seven, which is the dollar amount of a ticket for the 7 p.m. performance June 26. It’s being held at the Rumford Falls Municipal Auditorium.

Demings is producer and director of the show and wrote both plays. They’re titled “Fences Around Our Food For Thought” and “Bright Skies.”

She has assembled a terrific ensemble. All are River Valley folk, though some, like yours truly, moved here from away.

The most recent arrival on the River Valley performance scene is Jennifer French Foster. She came here from Round Pond where she was active in community theatre. She is happy to tread the boards in Western Maine.

Dirigo Middle School student Lea Nolette has earned acting credits in the Rumford Public Library’s children’s theatre and FRESH Productions. She calls her experience with “Nancy O’s Special Show” simply “amazing!”

Others performers are Bob Bohren, Susie DeRoehn, Thea Dunn, Duane Glover and Nancy herself. They’ve played to RAAPA, Wingnut Imrov and community theatre audiences here and around Maine and the United States.

The scene

Four or five years ago, volunteers got going on a River Valley arts council to boost the arts and to center activities in the freshly painted municipal auditorium. The effort got off to a good start, but as we all know all too well stuff happens. The fire marshal inspected the space and set tight limits on audience size. Performances went off the calendar while a new stair and lobby and reinforcement of the balcony went on.

Afterward, the Rumford Falls Municipal Auditorium was available again.

Last year, Jim and Carrie Rinaldo founded the Rumford Performing Arts Committee to sponsor local entertainment and make a little money to further improve the performance space.

“Nancy O’s Special Show” is the last event of the Rumford Performing Arts season and it’s ending on a high note. You won’t want to miss it!

Linda Farr Macgregor is a freelance writer; contact her: [email protected]