Greetings,
I thought I’d send out a year end newsletter. Haven’t done that in a while. Despite, or maybe because of world events, 2025 was a richly creative year for Poolyle Productions.
In January, I was asked by Michael Tobin of Footlights Theatre if I might be willing to create a show dealing with death and grief. He knows the basic outlines of what I’d been through with my family and saw the potential of me developing that into a performance piece. Besides, audience members of his had asked him if he had a show like 
that in his repertoire. He didn’t have to twist my arm. I welcomed the opportunity to dig into this topic. We scheduled a performance date of February 23rd, and I set to work.
Once We Were Four was born. It was healing, instructive and liberating for me to reflect back on the death of my Mom from cancer and twenty years later, my Dad’s death from dementia. The audience response was heartening, touching and uplifting. After a successful debut, I brought the show back to in April and November. Thanks for the push, Michael!
After my Once We Were Four performance in April, I transitioned into creating a new Ida show. I hadn’t done that since 2017’s Makin’ Whoopie. Ida is such a gift. As such, I’m very careful when I’m creating for her. There has to be a subject and/or structure that I find intriguing.
I’d been wanting to do a book or show that went through the seasons in Mahoosuc Mills. Then I realized I’d never 
done a play exclusively about Ida and her job as a cashier down to the A&P. I thought, What better way to experience the change of seasons than by standing at register 3 with Ida? Plus, I’d get to populate the store with lots of different characters; 24 of them, as it turned out. I was also aware that a lot of people my age are talking about retirement. Maybe they’ve already made the leap or perhaps are still thinking about it. After having worked at the A&P for so long, is Ida ready to retire? I wanted to explore that.
I premiered Down to the A&P on July 25, doing two shows at The Footlights. Then I did two more in August and in November. What a hoot! I can’t tell you how much fun it is to make people laugh. Ida’s generosity of spirit is infectious. Heck, I know she makes me feel better!
It was wonderful collaborating with Gordon on both of these new scripts. It felt like old times to be back in the creative groove together, jamming on ideas, honing them, draft for draft. Thanks, Gordon!
I was also interviewed by poet Steven Riel for Resonance, a Francophone literary journal, and presented as part of a writers panel for the Franco-American collection at the University of Maine. When I have the opportunity to reflect on my body of work and how my identity shows up in what I create, I always learn something more about myself and my journey.
I’ve also continued to work with PowerPlay Interactive Development, which I’ve been part of for over ten years now. We continue to help people have difficult conversations on a variety of topics. We didn’t travel as much in 2025, but we have fun trips to DC in March and California in April. I enjoy both acting and facilitating with PowerPlay, and value the opportunity to work with others for a change. I’ve spent so much of my career as a solo performer.
One PowerPlay highlight for me this year was working on a project called The Half Written Play with David Kaye, Catherine Stewart and students at UNH. This was a test run for a community version of the project which will debut in spring 2026. The working model combined applied theater and design thinking to create a dynamic, interactive presentation which explored how to be a better collaborator. The process challenged and expanded my way of working, and I really enjoyed watching these talented, students expand their skill sets and really deliver. Wewere all energized and inspired by the process of working together.
A special thanks to all of you who came out to see me in person this year, and to those who’ve read Ida’s blog and reached out to me. I’m very grateful for all your support.
I look forward to all the shows already on in my calendar for this year, and have ideas for new project brewing in my head. I’ll announce my 2026 schedule next week. And to those of you who’ve miss me performing in the Portsmouth area, I’ll be returning this spring for a couple engagements. Stay tuned!