By Susan Granger

In “Spy,” Paul Feig’s globe-trotting parody of espionage action-thrillers, Melissa McCarthy has finally found a film that showcases her versatility and comedic prowess.

After the sexy, satirical James Bond-style opening sequence, there’s seemingly timid Susan Cooper (McCarthy), a CIA agent, working as an analyst in Langley, Va., using high-tech surveillance to serve as the eyes and ears of an urbane operative, Bradley Fine (Jude Law). She’s obviously in love with him, and he uses her devotion for his personal advantage.

When a terrorist poses a nuclear bomb threat and the other field agents’ identities are compromised, Susan’s boss (Alison Janney) dispatches her overseas, because her face is unknown to the enemy. Besides, Susan’s had years of successful field training and this is the opportunity she’s been waiting for.

While her flustered colleague (Miranda Hart) serves as Susan’s liaison in the dingy, vermin-infested basement of CIA headquarters, her presence in Paris/Rome/Budapest enrages a chauvinistic veteran operative (Jason Statham), intrigues an overly-amorous Italian associate (Peter Serafinowicz) and bewilders a ruthless Bulgarian arms dealer (Rose Byrne).

The cast of the Westport Country Playhouse play, “And A Nightingale Sang” rehearses for its performance debut tonight. The play, a love story surrounding a working class British family during World War II, written by C.P. Taylor and directed by David Kennedy, runs through June 27.  The title is based on the 1940s popular song, “And a Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square,” which, among other music of the war years, is included in the play. Pictured (l-r) are Deirdre Madigan, Sean Cullen, John Skelley, Brenda Meaney, Matthew Greer and Richard Kline. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

There was a capacity crowd at the Fairfield Theatre Company tonight for a screening of an almost complete documentary by Westport filmmakers Robert Steven Williams (l) and Richard “Deej” Webb about F. Scott Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda’s 1920 stay in Westport. The film, “Boats Against the Current,” bolsters the belief that the Westport house the couple rented at 244 Compo Road South inspired the author’s iconic novel, “The Great Gatsby.” The filmmakers want the house to gain landmark status so it cannot be torn down. (See WestportNow June 4, 2015)  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) WestportNow.com photo

The Westport Arts Center (WAC) and the Westport Farmers’ Market (WFM) today announced a student digital photography competition, Young Shoots, for youngsters and teens 8 to 18. 

The competition is designed to provide an opportunity for students to demonstrate their creativity through digital photography and to showcase the local color and vibrancy of the WFM, an announcement said.

Jurors for the competition include Helen Klisser During, artistic director, WAC; Eileen Sawyer; local photographer and member of the WFM board of directors, and Stephanie Webster, editor-in-chief of CTbites.com, a food focused website.

Lori Cochran-Dougall, executive director, WFM said partnering with WAC on the project “is the perfect way to mix food, youth and art while having a good time. We are thrilled to celebrate our local youth photographers this season.”

Actress Kelli O’Hara of Westport, who won a Tony Award tonight for best actress in a musical for her performance in “The King and I” at Lincoln Center, posed with husband Greg and father-in-law actor Jim Naughton of Weston following a 2012 Script in Hand performance directed by Anne Keefe (2nd l) at the Westport Country Playhouse. The Playhouse will honor O’Hara at its Sept. 21 gala. Tonight’s win for O’Hara for her role as the English school teacher in a revival of the classic 1951 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical came after five previous Tony nominations. She received her first Tony nomination for her performance as Clara in Adam Guettel’s Tony-winning “The Light in the Piazza” in 2005. Other nominations came in the following years for “The Pajama Game,” ‘‘South Pacific” and “Nice Work If You Can Get It.” Last season she got No. 5 for “The Bridges of Madison County.” (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

The Westport Community Theatre production of “Nine” opens tonight. Directed by Mark S. Graham, former general manager of Lucille Lortel’s White Barn Theater, co-produced by Donna McLaughlin Wyant, and choreographed by Westporter Carole Schweid, the play features another Westporter, Lucia Palmieri (above). The musical opened on Broadway in 1982 with a story based on Federico Fellini’s semi-autobiographical film “8½.” Performances are through June 28 on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. and Thursday June 11 at 8 p.m.  with an extra matinee on June 27. The theater is located at Westport Town Hall, 110 Myrtle Ave.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

By James Lomuscio

Two Westport filmmakers say their new documentary on F. Scott Fitzgerald should put to rest doubts that the Westport house he rented with his wife Zelda inspired the author’s iconic novel, “The Great Gatsby.”

Westport filmmakers Robert Stevens Williams (l) and Richard “Deej” Webb in front of the Fitzgerald House at 244 Compo Road South. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

And novelist Robert Steven Williams and Richard “Deej” Webb hope the film, “Boats Against the Current” to be shown Monday night in Fairfield, will help gain landmark status for the house at 244 Compo Road South. It will be screened at 7:30 p.m.  at the Fairfield Theatre Company, 70 Sanford St.

The house, where the newlyweds lived for several months in 1920, is now under contract.

The role the house and Westport played in Fitzgerald’s writings has been long debated by Gatsby scholars. Many say Long Island’s Gold Coast in the Roaring 20s was the springboard for the time honored literary work. But the filmmakers reject the theory.