Despite the current streak of frigid temperatures, folks are still coming out for evening entertainment in the Northern Adirondacks. In tonight's case, I think curiosity has won out over the cold climate.

We are gathered at the Whallonsburg Grange Hall in Whallonsburg for a premiere play reading titled, "Everything Is Established." The preliminary publicity describes the play as the story of two servants who have spent their entire lives serving one master. When that master dies, the situation becomes complicated by the arrival of a mail-order bride.

The playwright, Hannah Kenah, is a member of the Rude Mechs, the innovative theatre group based in Austin, Texas. The troupe recently performed at the Mahaney Center for the Arts at Middlebury College in Vermont. The underlying philosophy behind Rude Mechs, according to the web site is: the use of play to make performance, the use of theaters as meeting places for audiences and artists, and the use of humor as a tool for intellectual investigation. Hannah has been developing work and performing with Rude Mechs since 2008.

Hannah introduces the event by explaining that "Everything Is Established" is a work in progress. What we will be hearing this evening is a new draft of a piece she started when she was in college in 2000. The play further evolved in 2005 when it was performed under the title "The Idiot Servants" at the Mad River Festival in Blue Lake, California at the Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre. Hannah explains that there are a lot of physical sequences in the play which is why it is so important to have the stage directions read.

And so the play begins. There are three characters: Montgomery (who is read by Essex resident George Davis); Plaster (read by Thomas Graves also of Rude Mechs); Sally (read by author Hannah Kenah). Tonight the stage directions are being read by the Grange's own Ted Cornell.

The audience is captivated and happily stays to take part in a discussion after the reading. Some folks have different ideas about how one of the characters should develop, some have questions about relationships, and others have suggestions about gender roles and choice of props.

George Davis adds that, "It is so fun to read!" and that element of playfulness comes through during the course of the evening.

The Whallonsburg Grange is presenting lots more programs throughout the coming year. Some of the upcoming highlights are The Bread and Puppet Theatre on Feb. 15 and PossumHaw on Feb. 23.

To see all the programming that the Grange will be offering click through to thegrangehall.org.

This winter is packed with arts events in the North Country. There are exhibit openings, more play readings, concerts, not to mention winter carnival events. Click through to Lake Placid events to find out about other winter arts events in the Adirondacks.

Kathleen Recchia has been enjoying the arts in the Adirondacks for about 20 years—both as observer and participant (acting, directing, and producing). She also enjoys cross-country skiing, swimming, juggling, and hosting visitors to the area at her bed & breakfast in Jay.