Kilroy was here, in Brandon

   On a Saturday night in July, after two days of fishing with my brothers, we attend the Brandon Town Players production of Kilroy Was Here, at the Brandon Town Hall in Vermont.  The program notes inform us that the Town Hall was built in 1861, in time to be the gathering place where Brandon -- a small farming village then and not much more than that now -- sent an astounding 116 of its men off to fight for the Union.  Vermont, I think, sent more men per capita to war than any other state, and has been doing so ever since.  Just before the show starts, one of the actresses asks all the present and former service men and women to stand and be recognized, and a notable percentage of the audience stands to accept our applause.  She then asks the we all consider donations to the Town Hall restoration fund, which is trying to raise $120,000 to update the bathrooms in the basement of the Hall, which she politely describes as "tired."

   The night is warm, the stage is small, the players are a mix of the very well cast (the slim, angular guy playing Kilroy looks just right in his khaki army clothes) and the we'll-make-do-as-best-we-can-with-those-we-have, including the 60-year old women playing the young USO hostesses and the similarly older men playing Kilroy's army buddies.  The singing is quite good and the staging makes the most of the small room in which to work.  The dialogue is slow.  But there are humorous moments and a good time is had by all, especially during the patriotic numbers.  When a giant American flag is unfurled at the end of the first act, and again at the end of the show, many in the crowd respond with a real excitement and passion, some even waiving tiny American flags they have brought with them.  People clap along enthusiastically with the marches.

   The show, like the great old building, like the entire evening, is corny, old-fashioned, and sincere.  Entirely free of sarcasm, irony, cynicism.  I was hot, and uncomfortable in my metal folding chair.  But I loved it.  And was happy to slip a few dollars in the barrel for the building fund before I left.