Courtesy Kristen Coury

If you are an actor looking for work, remember this woman, Kristen Coury, who will hold local auditions for the Gulfshore Playhouse next week.

Courtesy www.italee.com

If you’re searching for eyeglasses just like Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s, here they are — Kazuo Kawasaki Style 704-34 in grey. Just try to find some these days.

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Nearsighted vice presidential candidate?

Marco Island’s two optical eyewear outlets are well aware that would-be President John McCain got more than just a popular vice presidential candidate when he tapped Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate.

Sen. McCain’s partner also started a one-woman fashion trend, from the nose up. Her eyeglasses are the hottest things to hit the world of eyewear since those old Groucho nose and eye masks.

The coveted specs are Kazuo Kawasaki brand, style 704/34, rimless gray glasses, but you won’t find any of them for sale on the island just now.

“I’ve ordered them,” says Diana Tarpley, optical manager at Madison Eye Associates on Park Avenue.

“When I phoned to place orders, the guy who answered told me he’s swamped with calls but is sold out right now.”

Greta Markowski owns the Optical Boutique of Marco, in Marco Walk on South Collier Boulevard, next to Chico’s. She confirms that the specific type Gov. Palin wears is out of stock at the distributor.

Rimless glasses have been a trend for about ten years and Ms. Markowski has a lot of brands, styles and colors on hand. She believes some of her clients may want that design but perhaps not the same color.

“Grey is not a great color for some older women and many of my clients would prefer other colors. We carry about ten different types and brands of rimless glasses, in stock now, but not those specific ones. Not yet.”

Gov. Palin’s specs sell for from about $375 to $700, depending on the materials used. Well, not her personal ones, not the ones on her face. Lord knows how much those would go for these days.

We all know celebrities can start fashion-mania with what they wear or how they look. Remember Jackie Kennedy’s pillbox hats? Remember how JFK’s penchant for going hatless almost destroyed the men’s hat industry?

The Beatles spawned a world of mopheads. How many spies did it take to give trench coats their eternal mystique?

Now it is Sarah Palin’s turn. “She appears to be nearsighted but I can’t be sure,” says Ms Markowski, who has been at the Optical Boutique for almost 15 years. “I’ve been in the business a long time and can tell by looking at her that she’s probably nearsighted.”

Who knows? Maybe the next big “in” thing will be myopia.

Acting up

If stage acting is in your blood and on your resume, now’s the time to go audition for an upcoming production of the Gulfshore Playhouse.

The playhouse’s artistic producer/director, Kristen Coury, will be holding auditions next Tuesday from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Norris Center in Naples.

If you’re interested, e-mail Ms. Coury right away with your resume and a photo. Here is a link with details about the appointment-only auditions for the plays to be headlined this season and the acting roles available: www.gulfshoreplayhouse.org/auditions.htm. Call 566-8394.

The next three Gulfshore Playhouse productions 2008-2009 are:

Another Night Before Christmas, Dec. 11-20, “A touching, holiday musical treat for the whole family.”

Doubt, Feb 19-28, “A gripping story of suspicion,” winner of the 2005 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award.

Tartuffe, opens April 3. “A classic that never grows old, one of the funniest comedies ever written.”

We asked Kristen Coury for some helpful hints for would be thespians at Gulfshore Playhouse.

“You (auditioners) have no idea what goes into casting. You could be absolutely terrific, extremely talented, beautiful and smart, but you might just be too old, too young, too tall or too short for the part.

“It depends on who’s already cast, who’s going to be cast who will play your mother, father, spouse, boyfriend, etc. It’s a puzzle that we hope fits together well when the casting is done.

“So do not take it personally if to you don’t get cast. You just never know.”

Oh, one more helpful hint from Ms. Coury, who decides who gets roles and who doesn’t:

“Don’t send me flowers, balloons or candy-grams. Many actors try to ‘shine’ by doing something special. And don’t just show up.”

She says all that with a smile, but there’s no doubt she means every word.

Break a leg, if you know what I mean.

Mel’s always open

“Almost Famous” Mel Slawik phoned the other day to note that we had left his restaurants out of last week’s mention of some island eateries’ slow-season schedules.

We weren’t trying to include every place on Marco — not enough room in the column for that — but apologize for not noting that Mel’s stores never close for vacation.

“From the Fat Pelican through Cathy O’Clarke’s and now at Almost Famous Mel’s South Beach Smokehouse BBQ, we’ve never stopped serving during our summer or fall periods,” Mel says.

Almost Famous Mel’s is at 657 South Collier, in the space formerly occupied by Bimini’s.

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E-mail at chris@chriscurle.com, Don@donfarmer.com.