Now and then my friends on the mainland ask me about island life. They wonder how somebody who has lived in big cities from Manhattan to Portland (both of them — Maine and Oregon), and has participated in theatre every place she’s lived can find enough to inspire and celebrate on an island.

From now on, when they ask, I’ll answer with one word: “Chicago.”

On a recent Sunday afternoon I sat in a sold-out house to watch the Oak Harbor Whidbey Playhouse production of this musical directed by K. Sandy O’Brien. Sure it was community theatre, but that didn’t diminish the quality of the performances, the dancing, the small but effective orchestra one little bit.

No, it wasn’t Broadway and Bob Fosse didn’t choreograph this one. But I was constantly impressed with the talent on that little Playhouse stage. My days as a drama critic are over, but “Chicago” would have earned very high marks.

And if you think this was strictly a north island production, think again.

I know a lot of folks from the north end who travel south to perform or attend performances at WICA and other venues. In this case, several of the performers were from the south end as were a number of audience members the afternoon I attended.

Life on an island is a different life, to be sure, and not perfect. We do without a lot of things the mainlanders take for granted. But for most of us, the trade-offs are not even up for discussion … and when we can put together the beauty of the island, the quiet pace and the simplicity with outstanding performances by our own talented neighbors, we can count ourselves among the lucky.

Kudos to Sandy, the cast, crew, and musicians for some outstanding local theatre. You razzled and dazzled us!

Molly Larson Cook

Coupeville