Two stools sitting on the stage. It's as if I have come to see Noel Paul Stookey AND Peter Yarrow. Noel Paul stands for the first part of the show and sits on one stool for the second part. The other stool has become a table for a bottle of water. But Peter's memory is here. He and Paul played here many times. Noel Paul is comfortable here.
It is September 12, 2026, and I am at The Kate on another beautiful afternoon in Old Saybrook. The area between the theatre and the Town Hall is covered in American flags displayed in memory of 9/11. I laugh thinking that this must be my week for tall men in concert. Tuesday night was Justin Hayward. Saturday afternoon is Noel Paul Stookey.
Let me give you some information for your success with Noel Paul Stookey. He is very aware of his connection with Peter, Paul and Mary but he is his own person personally and professionally. If you see him and you say, "Hi Paul!" he knows that you see him only as one of a folk trio. If you say, "Hi Noel!" he will greet you back, knowing that you are aware of him as a single member of the music community.
In These Times
Noel is 88 years old (young) and has this magnificent strong voice. He calls this show A Concert of Remembrance and has chosen songs of personal and societal importance.
Weave Me The Sunshine
State Of The Heart (about Pete Seeger)
Golf Song - a comical poem talk/sung without instruments because there are no songs about golf
Right Field - AHA, there IS a song about baseball
Puff The Magic Dragon
When tuning a guitar, look at the face. Eyebrows arched means it sounds good. Mouth askew means I don't have it right.
One And Many
There's an Elephant in the Living Room
I digress - which is part of the charm of this concert.
Garden Song
Cue the Moon
The Wedding Song - Was there ever such a lovely vision in a song?
Jean Claude
Revolution 1x1
Blowin' In The Wind
If I Had A Hammer
As I sit here, pretend that I have gotten up, left the stage and returned to this stool to sing the encore.
AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL - two new verses added
This reminds us that no matter what is going on politically across our country, the ideal of the American spirit of freedom and equality lives on somewhere in people's hearts. We can be more together than apart.
Noel Paul Stookey was warm and so talented. It was a wonderful afternoon that I will cherish.
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
NE Correspondent
Forgotten Hits
60 YEARS AGO TODAY:
10/28/66 – Comedian Andy Richter is born
