Mountain Views News          Saturday, March 1, 2014

Mountain Views News Saturday, March 1, 2014 
B3THE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Mountain Views News Saturday, March 1, 2014 
B3THE ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 
SEAN’S SHAMELESS 
REVIEWS: 


By Sean Kayden 

REAL ESTATE 

gave me high hopes for the record. However, it 

For New Jersey musicians, bares an interesting resemblance to the single off 
Real Estate, their third LP is an example of their last record, “It’s Real.” While the band wants 
simplicity. They’ve always crafted songs that 
seem so effortless but also boost much meaning 
behind it all. Their music caters to the nostalgic Artist: Real Estate 
kind. “Atlas” is no exception as the band weaves Album: Atlas 
and bobs through the terrain of contemplative Label: Domino 
material. Their arrangements are a bit tighter and Release Date: March 4th, 2014 
more cohesive than their previous endeavors. 

Album number three is so laidback that when 
the album finishes, you don’t even realize 38 to move forward with their artistic abilities, it 
minutes just went by. While the music is quite appears they’re really just standing still. 
wistful and the purely guitar-driven songcraftis incredibly refreshing in today’s music, I was I was very much hoping to be in awe of this record. 
not at all captivated by this anticipated release. Perhaps, expectations unfortunately got the best 
In fact, with the exclusion of the single, “Talking of me because I was savagely disappointed. In the 
Backwards,” the liveliest track here, I found the thirty-eight minutes of this record, I never felt 
rest of the songs to be kind of monotonous. The enamored by the experience. In actuality, I was 
record from start to finish is unvarying. rather bored by most of what I heard. The sleepy 

nature of the record will probably put the listener 
“Atlas” is not necessary a bad album. That’s just it. to a pleasant sleep if that’s what they want. 
I don’t feel like Real Estate crafted any egregious 
tracks. The record is fueled by a yearning, reflective As for me, Real Estate’s third album is their 
resonance. Real Estate’s songs invariably have worst. Its meditative approach doesn’t offer 
that appeal. Martin Courtney’s mellifluous vocals much for me that I can’t find elsewhere. By the 
are always pleasant, but there’s not a whole lot of end of two listens from beginning to end, I 
range. It is fairly one note from track to track. Ten felt weary and more distanced toward a band I 
tracks are to be found, but “April’s Song” is purely generally liked. The questions going through 
instrumental. It has a very cool dreamy sound to my mind were left unanswered by the end. 
it, but what comes to mind is how there aren’t any Perhaps the solution all along was just to 
vocals on it. Makes you wonder if this was simply switch albums, which I did immediately so. 
a leftover track in order to achieve that magic 
number of ten tracks. There’s some delight with Grade: 5 out of 10 
closing piece, “Navigator.” It’s a relatively slow, 
easy-going song that sports clear and shining Key Tracks: “Talking Backwards,” “Navigator” 
guitars. “Talking Backwards” is a solid track and 

“THE PLAYER KING” AT SIERRA MADRE 
PLAYHOUSE ON MARCH 28 

WHAT: “The Player King.” The acclaimed show moves to Sierra Madre Playhouse for one 
performance. 

WHO: 
Written and performed by Darin Dahms. Presented by Spurred Productions in 
association with Sierra Madre Playhouse. 

WHERE: 
Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, CA 91024. 
Ample free parking behind theatre. 

WHEN: Friday, March 28, 2014 at 8:00 p.m. 
ADMISSION: $25. Seniors (65+) $22. Youth (13-21) $15. Children 12 and under, $12. 


RESERVATIONS: (626) 355-4318. 
ONLINE TICKETING: www.sierramadreplayhouse.org 
* * * * * *

 Darin Dahms, in his solo performance, portrays the three famous men of 19th Century 
America’s most important acting family: patriarch Junius Brutus Booth; Edwin Booth, perhaps 
the greatest Shakespearean actor in American history; and his brother, John Wilkes Booth, best 
known as “the most handsome man in America” until one fateful evening when he pulled out a 
derringer and changed the history of the country forever.

 After John Wilkes Booth assassinates President Lincoln, Edwin is forced off the stage for a 
year. Will he ever be able to return to the stage? During this enforced hiatus, Edwin has time to 
explore the question “What does it mean to be an actor/”

 “The Player King” depicts Edwin Booth not as a wax historical figure, but as a fully 
dimensional human being: Not just an actor, but an attentive son, loving husband and devoted 
father. He will be called upon to rise from the depths of tragedy to pursue a great destiny.

 Darin Dahms is highly regarded for his many stage roles in shows including “A House With 
No Walls,” “A Tale Told by an Idiot,” and “Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me.” He is also a director, 
producer and writer, winning awards for “Butterflies of Uganda,” which he co-wrote with friend 
Sonke Weiss. Dahms received an MFA from the University of South Carolina and is a lifetime 
member of the Actors Studio. 

“The Player King” will be enjoyed by anyone fascinated by the history of the theatre, the 
history of America, or the art of performance. See what the early audiences of “The Player King” 
already know: It’s an extraordinary entertainment. 

FOR TICKETS AND INFORMATION 

The Sierra Madre Playhouse, 87 West Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre, Reservations can be made 
online http://sierramadreplayhouse.org or by calling (626) 355-4318. 


Jeff’s Book Picks By Jeff Brown 


OPHELIA AND THE MARVELOUS BOY by Karen Foxlee 

Age Range: 8 - 12 years. 

This is the story of unlikely heroine Ophelia Jane 
Worthington-Whittard who doesn't believe in 
anything that can't be proven by science. She and her 
sister Alice are still grieving for their dead mother 
when their father takes a job in a strange museum 
in a city where it always snows. On her very first 
day in the museum Ophelia discovers a boy locked 
away in a long forgotten room. He is a prisoner of 
Her Majesty the Snow Queen. And he has been 
waiting for Ophelia's help.As Ophelia embarks on an 
incredible journey to rescue the boy everything that 
she believes will be tested. Along the way she learns 
more and more about the boy's own remarkable 
journey to reach her and save the world. A story 
within a story, this a modern day fairytale about the 
power of friendship, courage and love, and never ever giving up. 

THE GHOSTS OF TUPELO LANDING by Sheila Turnage 

Age Range: 10 and up. 

When Miss Lana makes an Accidental Bid at the Tupelo auction and winds up the mortified owner 
of an old inn, she doesn't realize there's a ghost in the fine print. Naturally, Desperado Detective 
Agency (aka Mo and Dale) opens a paranormal division to solve the mystery of the ghost's identity. 
They've got to figure out who the ghost is so they can interview it for their history assignment (extra 
credit). But Mo and Dale start to realize that the Inn isn't the only haunted place in Tupelo Landing. 
People can also be haunted by their own past. As Mo and Dale handily track down the truth about 
the ghost (with some help from the new kid in town), they discover the truth about a great many 
other people, too.A laugh out loud, ghostly, Southern mystery that can be enjoyed by readers visiting 
Tupelo Landing for the first time, as well as those who are old friends of Mo and Dale.Sheila Turnage 
is a Newbery honor winner and New York Times bestseller. 

Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: