Editor’s Note: Olive Tomlinson spoke with Linsey Lee, oral history curator for the Martha’s Vineyard Museum, about her recollections of Liz White’s Shearer Summer Theatre, one of the first summer theatre groups on the Island after World War II. An actress who felt stymied by the stereotyped African American roles available to her on Broadway, in the summers Liz returned to Oak Bluffs where her family owned and operated Shearer Cottage, a popular inn for vacationing African Americans.

"My Mom is trying to ruin my life!” The phrase has been uttered, screamed and moaned countless times through the ages. And now it’s being sung from the stage of a New York city theatre — by way of Martha’s Vineyard. On Feb. 16, the WorkShop Theatre Company in Manhattan began performances of My Mom Is Trying to Ruin My Life, a musical theatre adaptation by MJ Bruder Munafo and Kate Feiffer of Ms. Feiffer’s popular picture book for children.

Kate Feiffer is headed off-Broadway. Ms. Feiffer’s book My Mom Is Trying to Ruin My Life was adapted for stage and first appeared at the Vineyard Playhouse. Last weekend the play had its New York city premiere at the Workshop Theatre at 312 West 36th street. The play continues through Sunday March 10.

Kate Feiffer lights up New York. Ms. Feiffer’s book My Mom Is Trying to Ruin My Life was adapted for stage and first appeared at the Vineyard Playhouse. Last weekend the play had its New York city premiere at the Workshop Theatre at 312 West 36th street. The play continues through Sunday March 10.

In February Islanders’ thoughts often turn to spring when the snowy, gray haze of winter comes to an end. Green grass will sprout, tiny buds will peek out of tree branches and yellow daffodils will bloom. But it can seem very far away.

As Dickon, The Secret Garden’s Yorkshire boy characterized by his way with both nature and words, sagely notes, “A lot of things what looks dead is bidin’ their time.”