Photo credit: Alex Cypher special to CTNow
On prior occasions I have written about the inventive prowess of Anne Cubberly so I awaited my first experience of “Nightfall” with great anticipation. I was not disappointed! As darkness descended a packed audience in Colt Park was treated to giant monkeys seeking to capture an elusive banana, frogs, long stemmed flowers, dancers, singers, a Latin rapper who lead us in a chant about Hartford, a parade of well-known buildings and rhythmic music to keep us in constant motion. Sam and Elizabeth Colt dropped by to give us the history and description of their backyard of 170 acres. What was once and still remains a public park for all to enjoy created to benefit citizens who worked hard in creating Colt Firearms one of the biggest manufacturing complex in the world. All work and no play was not a maxim for Sam. So play we did on Saturday night with dance, song and a panoply of visual effects. It amazes me to watch the signature Cubberly puppets enchant with articulated movement wearing expressions only to realize that the magic happens through people who bring them to life. All came to a grand finale when an enormous illuminated goddess appeared bidding us all to be well and come again next year. She was then joined by a totally clever parade of lanterns created from cast off plastic bottles and jugs. Simply a magical evening of fun, entertainment and enchantment to which we are all invited, Hartford Has It!
I want to make a challenge to all who attended and populated the hill overlooking the park. Please make a commitment to bring at least one person who does not live in Hartford to witness an evening of fun and creativity. We, the Cubberly acolytes and steadfast Hartford cheerleaders, need to bring along folks who have little access to such wonder because they do not live with the diversity and excitement we find in urban living.