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Charlotte and Ed Russell love indie movies. That’s why they helped start Plimoth Cinema at Plimoth Patuxet Museums’ Visitors Center. They’ve been volunteering at the arthouse theater for 18 years.
This week, the cinema will be screening “Flow” at 2 p.m., “Conclave” at 2 and 4:30 p.m., “A Complete Unknown” at 4:30 and 7 p.m., and the classic “Paris, Texas” at 7 p.m. “Flow” is an Oscar-nominated animation film from Latvia. “A Complete Unknown” and “Conclave” were also nominated – you may have seen them at Plimoth Cinema – and they returned for the week of the Academy Awards, which take place tonight (March 2). “Paris, Texas,” a Wim Wenders film from the 1980s, won many awards, but was not nominated for an Oscar.
The cinema got started when Ed and Charlotte, along with then-museum employees Anne Phelan and Kathleen Curtin, pitched the idea of using the space in the evenings when the orientation theaters were empty. They began with two shows on weekends in September 2007 but soon expanded to seven days a week. In the winter, the theaters were empty during the day (Plimoth Patuxet is closed to regular visitors then), so they added 2 p.m. matinees.
The films they select are the kind that “make you think,” Ed said. He and Charlotte also know when they’ve made a good choice when “the audience sits quietly through the credit roll at the end of the film, thinking about what they have just seen,” he said.
“The place is empty in winter, there’s nothing to attract people,” Ed said, so the cinema helps support the museum during the off season. Charlotte added that it also offers something for Plymouth residents who don’t normally visit the museum.
The Russells work closely with their booker, Eric Hart, who runs Cape Cinema in Dennis. They look at release dates, reviews, and trailers. They also check how films are doing on an industry database. Sometimes, a distributor will require that they hold a film (like “Wicked”) for two weeks or more, which can be risky. A percentage of the revenue goes to the distributor and to pay the museum staff who run the cinema.
Charlotte and Ed say the effort has been worth their time investment all these years. “It’s your baby,” Ed said.
Not only does the theater offer unique independent films, but its prices are also reasonable. Tickets are $12.50, $11 with a club card, $10 for seniors or members, and $8.50 for seniors with a club card. Popcorn, candy, and soft drinks are available every day. Beer and wine are served on Saturdays.
Wednesday, March 5
The Plymouth Area Veterans Center, 20 North Park Ave., will hold its monthly coffee social from 10 to 11 a.m. State representatives Michelle Badger and Kathleen LaNatra will be its special guests. The event is free to all veterans.
Bethany Simons will lead the first of a six-week series of “Practicing Presence” meditations at First Parish Church, 12 Church St., from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. The meditations will start with a simple exercise to bring people into the present moment, followed by a guided meditation. There is no cost, but donations to the church are appreciated.
Thursday, March 6
If you’re interested in becoming a herring count volunteer at Tidmarsh Wildlife Sanctuary, a training session will be held at the Plymouth Public Library’s Manomet Branch, 12 Strand Ave., from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. There will be a PowerPoint presentation and demonstrations led by a Mass Audubon employee. Volunteers will be asked to commit to one hour. once a week, on a scheduled day and time from April to May. If you cannot attend, but are interested in volunteering, contact Kim Snyder at sevols@massaudubon.org. Registration for the training session is required, and you do so here.
Jenny L. Howe will discuss her latest novel, “How to Get a Life in 10 Dates” at Book Love, 7 Village Green South, in the Pinehills, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The novel is about love, second chances, and self-discovery. Howe will also discuss the art of storytelling and her writing journey. Tickets are $6. You can register and get tickets here.
Friday, March 7
Reckoners, formerly known as “A Band of Killers,” will bring soul and rock music to the Spire at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m. The band features Tim Gearan on vocals and guitar, guitarist Johnny Trama, Tom Arey on drums, Marc Hickox on bass, and Darby Wolf on keyboards. Tickets are $26.10 and $29. You can get them here.
Saturday, March 8
Judah Leblang will perform his “poignant and humorous” one-man show, “The Expiration Date,” in the Fehlow Meeting Room at the Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St., from 2 to 3 p.m. Leblang will explore “dealing with life’s big questions and living without easy answers.” The show is free, but registration is required. You can sign up here.
Anthony Geraci and the Boston Blues All-Stars will perform at the Spire at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m. Geraci is a two-time winner of the Blues Music Award from the Blues Foundation in Memphis for Instrumentalist-Piano/Pinetop Perkins Piano. He’s worked with traditional and contemporary blues greats, including Odetta, Big Walter Horton, Charlie Musselwhite, Otis Rush, and Big Joe Turner, to name just a few. Tickets are $25.20 and $28, and you can get them here.
Sunday, March 9
The Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra will present “Cartoon Classics” at Memorial Hall, 83 Court St., at 3 p.m., with a pre-concert instrument demonstration at 2 p.m. As usual, Steven Karidoyanes will conduct the orchestra. It will perform merry melodies and loony tunes from Warner Brothers and other cartoons. The featured soloist will be 14-year-old pianist Rachel Casavant, South Shore Conservatory’s Youth Concerto Competition winner. Laura Carlo, morning program host at 99.5 WCRB, will also appear. The set list includes Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville,” Liszt’s “Hungarian Rhapsody,”and Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries.” Tickets are $20 for adults, and $10 for children 12 and under. You can buy them here.
Tuesday, March 11
Create your own Celtic Knot Art at an Inebri-arts-sponsored workshop at Speedwell Tavern, 47 Main St., from 7 to 9 p.m. In time for St. Paddy’s Day, the workshop will channel the Irish spirit with instructions and ink wash techniques for making your Celtic Knot “masterpiece.” All materials will be provided. Tickets are $25 and you can get them here.
Wednesday, March 12
The Plymouth Garden Club will host gardener, lecturer, and author Neal Sanders at 1 p.m. at the Chiltonville Congregational Church, 6River St. Sanders will give a lecture called “Gardening is Murder from a Husband’s Point of View.” Sanders and his wife Betty are involved in creating gardens and manage a 75-plot community garden that produces enough vegetables to feed all its members and provides two carloads of food to local food banks weekly. It costs $5 to attend, and a traditional English tea will be served.
Thursday, March 13
The Spire Lobby Series presents Say Darling at 7:30 p.m., with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Grammy-nominated singer Celia Woodsmith and guitarist Chris Hersch will be backed by a rhythm section and Scott Coulter on the Hammond B3. The band will play originals and classics inspired by Little Feat and the Tedeschi-Trucks Band. Tickets are $20 and you can get them here.
Friday, March 14
The Center for Active Living and Braver Angels will hold a debate at the Plymouth Public Library, 132 South St., in the Fehlow Meeting Room from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The topic of the debate is “Free Speech and Hate Speech in the U.S.” It’s planned as a grassroots forum where members of the community can speak their minds and listen to others who do the same. The focus is on the challenges and benefits of immigration in the United States. Registration is appreciated but not required. To register, contact Braver Angels representative Rick Frazier (rfrazier@braverangels.org).
Comedian Lenny Clarke performs at the Spire at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m. Clarke is a Boston comedy scene OG. He also played Uncle Teddy on the Denis Leary series “Rescue Me.” Tickets are $27 and $30, and you can get them here.
Saturday, March 15
The Plymouth affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness sponsors a book talk by Dr. Christine M. Crawford, from1 to 3 p.m., at the VFW, 22 Seven Hills Road. Crawford’s book, “You Are Not Alone for Parents and Caregivers,” aims to provide tools and strategies for families and caregivers of children and young people with mental illness. There will be a Q&A after the presentation, which is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Laura Geigle at 508-333-6727.