12
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Mountain Views-News Saturday, January 16, 2016
On the Marquee: Notes from the Sierra Madre Playhouse
SEAN’S SHAMELESS
REVIEWS:
LISTEN UP: SONGS OF THE WEEK
By Sean Kayden
THE MISSING INGREDIENT
By Artistic Director, Christian Lebano
You all know by now about my love of theater
and for this theater in particular, but what may
not be so common knowledge is that my other
great passion is cooking. Among my friends I’m
known as quite a good one. I’m an intuitive cook
– I learned that from my mother – and can make
a meal out of almost anything in the pantry and
fridge. I have a knack for finding just the right
spice or ingredient for making a dish sing.
Well last night at our invited dress rehearsal
I was reminded of the final ingredient in any
performance – YOU! We had a group of 18
theater students from the American Academy
in the audience and the show took flight. I will
say that Deathtrap was as ready to be seen as
any show I have ever worked on. These last few
rehearsals have been just about fine-tuning the
technical elements and how the actors interact
with them. I think we were all itching to put it
in front of people. I often say to actors that I’m
working with when asked about how to play a
moment that “the audience will tell us what it
needs.” And I really believe this – that’s why a
play is always better a few weeks into the run than
it is at opening. It needs to simmer in front of an
audience.
Last night the students laughed and gasped and
a few shrieked at all the right moments. I could
see the relish in the cast’s eyes – no one knows
them better than I do at this point. It gave them
confidence to trust the work we had done in
preparation for tonight’s opening.
I hope you’ll see this one. I’m very proud of it.
You are just the spice I’m looking for!
Deathtrap is selling briskly – we have our highest
presale in our history! – it opened January 15 and
runs through February 20. This one is going to be
great fun – don’t miss it. Please visit our website
at SierraMadrePlayhouse.org or call Mary at
626.355.4318 to arrange your purchase.
* * *
I’m excited to announce a new Initiative at the
Playhouse – a once-a-month reading series of
plays I am interested in producing in the future.
These plays will generally be the last Monday of
the month and will be directed and star many
actors you’ve enjoyed over the last few years. D.J.
Harner ( who played Mother and General Cutter
in Battledrum) will work with me to produce this
Series (we haven’t settled on a name yet). The
Reading Series will be free to attend. We launch
our first one Monday, January 25 at 7pm. Arthur
Hankett (who was in The Twentieth Century)
will direct and perform in Eric Overmyer’s On
the Verge a wonderful play I can’t wait to hear
out loud. Do come, we’ll have refreshments
and it should be great fun. I have a wonderful
list of plays coming up: Bus Stop, The Skin of
Our Teeth, The Octoroon and many more. The
complete schedule and list of plays is on our
website: SierraMadrePlayhouse.or
School of Seven Bells –
“Open Your Eyes” – The
new self-titled record from School of Seven Bells
will be the final album for Alejandra Deheza under
this moniker. The sad reason is because of her
friend/lover/bandmate Benjamin Curtis passed
away in 2013 of T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma.
The first single “Open Your Eyes” is comforting
and luminous. It’s heartbreaking to hear since
this song as well the entire nine-track album was
written prior to Curtis’ untimely death. The deeply
layered snyths and heartfelt lyrics revolving around
the band members’ relationship are emotional to
say the least. Overall, it’s just a really terrific tune.
The record could be the finest effort that School of
Seven Bells has ever delivered, but sadly it will be
their last.
Grizfolk – “Troublemaker” – Grizfolk has finally
released their debut record this past week and one
of the better tracks off the album is, “Troublemaker”.
It shows the band pushing their boundaries with
a darker vibe going on here. Grizfolk attempts to
balance the line of anthemic rock and indie-pop.
The quintet shows much promise on their debut
offer despite the notable comparisons to bands
before them. Grizfolk were a buzz band in late
2013 into 2014 so this first LP is long overdue, but
it delivers the vibes that were not only wanted,
but also needed. Let loose this winter with a fun,
sprightly sound from a group that’s aesthetic falls
between the indie-folk expanses and indie-pop
regions.
Ra Ra Riot – “Water” – For fans of Vampire
Weekend, the new single “Water” from Ra Ra
Riot is a must hear. It fact, the song was produced
by Rostam Batmanglij of Vampire Weekend so
no wonder the vibes are present. This isn’t the
first time collaboration between Ra Ra Roit and
Batamnglii had been crafted. Vocalist Wes Miles
previously teamed up with him when they released
their album in 2009 under the name Discovery.
As for the brand new track “Water,” which will be
off the new record, “Need Your Light” next month
is a bubbly cut that just feels right no matter how
you examine it. Miles vocals resemble those of the
band Passion Pit, however he clearly displays his
own distinctive approach. While this may be the
band’s fourth album within a decade, there’s a huge
sense of rejuvenation. The expansive soundscape
of the first single should get fans super amped up
for what’s in store on the full length. And with a
Vampire Weekend album still to be determined,
fingers crossed Ra Ra Riot’s “Need Your Light”
holds you over until then.
DMA’S – “Delete” – The debut LP, “Hills End”
from the Sydney trio may be the breakthrough
record of 2016. Their single, “Delete” crosses the
same territory as Oasis (when they were something
special) and a little bit of The Arctic Monkeys.
“Delete” starts off as ballad before it explodes late
into the song into something magnificent. The
harmonies sink in, the guitars get louder and touch
greatness. I can’t speak for how the rest of the album
will shape up to be, but if you have a penchant for
Britpop, let me introduce you to your new favorite
band, DMA’S.
David Tolemy is Clifford Anderson in Deathtrap.
Photo by John Dluglolecki
Jeff’s Book Pics By Jeff Brown
Clementine: The Life of
Mrs. Winston Churchill by
Sonia Purnell
“Sonia Purnell has at long
last given Clementine
Churchill the biography she
deserves. Sensitive yet clear-
eyed, Clementine tells the
fascinating story of a complex
woman struggling to maintain
her own identity while serving
as the conscience and principal
adviser to one of the most
important figures in history.”
–Lynn Olson, bestselling
author of Citizens of London
A long-overdue tribute to
the extraordinary woman
behind Winston Churchill.
By Winston Churchill’s own
admission, victory in the
Second World War would
have been “impossible without
her.” Until now, however, the
only existing biography of
Churchill’s wife, Clementine,
was written by her daughter.
Sonia Purnell finally gives
Clementine her due with a
deeply researched account that
tells her life story, revealing
how she was instrumental in
softening FDR’s initial dislike
of her husband and paving
the way for Britain’s close
relationship with America.
It also provides a surprising
account of her relationship
with Eleanor Roosevelt and
their differing approaches
to the war effort.Born into
impecunious aristocracy,
the young Clementine was the target of cruel
snobbery. Many wondered why Winston married
her, but their marriage proved to be an exceptional
partnership. Beautiful and intelligent, but driven
by her own insecurities, she made his career
her mission. Any real consideration of Winston
Churchill is incomplete without an understanding
of their relationship, and Clementine is both the
first real biography of this remarkable woman and
a fascinating look inside their private world.
David Attenborough New Life Stories
Audio CD – Audiobook, CD, Unabridged
by David Attenborough
One of the nation’s most popular presenters
examines twenty marvels of the natural world from
his extraordinary and pioneering experiences.
How did Sir David track down
a giant Earthworm? Why does
he respect Rats? What was the
first bribe in nature? Why do
well known foods often have
two names? And where can
you see evidence of the earliest
life on Earth? His enthusiasm
is as infectious as ever, and
conveys a unique fascination
on topics as diverse as the Kiwi,
Hummingbirds, Monsters,
Butterflies, Chimps, Cuckoos,
Fireflies and Elsa, the famous
lioness. So listen to these stories
to find out why Rats should be
respected and which insects
emerge from the ground only
once every 17 years. Includes
detailed programme notes
inside the booklet.
The Life-Changing
Magic of Tidying Up:
The Japanese Art
of Decluttering and
Organizing by Marie
Kondo
This #1 New York Times best-
selling guide to decluttering
your home from Japanese
cleaning consultant Marie
Kondo takes readers step-by-
step through her revolutionary
KonMari Method for
simplifying, organizing, and
storing.Despite constant
efforts to declutter your home,
do papers still accumulate
like snowdrifts and clothes
pile up like a tangled mess of
noodles?Japanese cleaning
consultant Marie Kondo takes tidying to a whole
new level, promising that if you properly simplify
and organize your home once, you’ll never have
to do it again. Most methods advocate a room-
by-room or little-by-little approach, which doom
you to pick away at your piles of stuff forever.
The KonMari Method, with its revolutionary
category-by-category system, leads to lasting
results. In fact, none of Kondo’s clients have lapsed
(and she still has a three-month waiting list).
With detailed guidance for determining which
items in your house “spark joy” (and which don’t),
this international bestseller featuring Tokyo’s
newest lifestyle phenomenon will help you clear
your clutter and enjoy the unique magic of a tidy
home—and the calm, motivated mindset it can
inspire.
SPECIAL MUSIC EVENT CELEBRATING
GRANADOS AT SIERRA MADRE PLAYHOUSE
ON JANUARY 31
Sierra Madre Playhouse and Colburn Conservatory
of Music continue their collaboration of presenting
superior evenings of traditional and contemporary
classical music for a third season. Our first such
event this year is Celebrating Granados: His Life,
His Influences, His Music.
Enrique Granados (1867-1916), revered in his
native Spain, is less well-known by American
audiences. Our January concert commemorates
the centennial of his death. In 1916, following the
New York premiere of his opera Goyescas (based
on his earlier piano pieces inspired by the paintings
of Francisco Goya) and a special piano recital for
President Woodrow Wilson, Granados and his
wife set sail for the return voyage to Europe. They
perished when their vessel was sunk by a German
U-Boat. They were survived by six children, one of
them a musician.
Prize-winning pianist, recording artist, and
former Fulbright scholar Régulo Martinez-Antón,
the recipient of the Professional Studies Certificate
from the Colburn Conservatory of Music and
currently a piano faculty member at the Colburn
School of Performing Arts and the Montecito
International Music Festival, has assembled the
program for the January 31 concert. A native of
Madrid, Martinez-Antón has a special affinity for
the works of Granados. The concert will feature
not only works by Granados, but also by his
influences.
The program:
Robert Schumann (1810-1856) Arabeske in C
major, Op. 18
Fredreric Chopin (1810-1849) Nocturne op. 62
in B major
Franz Liszt (1811-1886) Sonetto 47 del Petrarca
Sonetto 104 del Petrarca
Sonetto 123 del Perrarca
Intermission
Enrique Granados (1867-1916) from Danzas
españolas, op. 37 Andaluza
Oriental from Goyescas Los requibros (The
Compliments)
Quejas o la maja y el ruiseñor (Complaints
or the Maiden and the Nightingale)
El pelele
“Martinez-Antón’s performance was astounding.”-
---Stage & Cinema
“The music of Régulo Martinez-Antón is always
an adventure:----Rhein Zeitung (Germany)
Celebrating Granados promises to be an
extraordinary evening of musicianship and
listening pleasure. It’s not to be missed.
ADULT CLASS IN THE FINE ART OF MOSAIC
Join Ellen Dinerman in a class learning the art of
mosaics. Students may bring a desired project to
complete or design and create a tray filled with your
own original mosaic.
Class will be held at Weizmann Day School
Thursdays, 9:30-11:00 am, January 21, 28 &
February 4, 11, 18, 25, $125.00 - Includes materials
Register in WDS Office, 626-797-0204
Jeff’s History Corner By Jeff Brown
1.The Founding Fathers penned the first couple of
drafts of the Declaration of Independence on hemp
paper, since at the time at least 75 percent of all the
world’s paper was made from cannabis hemp fiber.
The democratic delegates eked out the document’s
first and second drafts—completed on June 28th and
July 2nd 1776, respectively—on Dutch hemp paper.
The final document had a more official air, though, as
it was printed on parchment.
2.The American flag was the brainchild of a high
schooler.Robert Heft was 17 years old when he
submitted his design for a new American flag for a
school project in 1958. After receiving a B- for his
work, Heft contested his grade with his teacher and
an agreement was made that he would receive an A if
it was accepted by the US Congress. In the following
year, which saw Alaska and Hawaii join the union,
Heft’s flag was adopted by the nation and his grade
was changed accordingly.
3.FDR escaped an assassination attempt before he
was famous.Franklin D Roosevelt was diagnosed
with polio in 1921, yet led a somewhat charmed
life. In February 1932, just three weeks prior to his
inauguration, a revolver bullet meant for him was
directed off target as it was fired, fatally wounding the
Mayor of Chicago instead. An American submarine
mistakenly fired a torpedo at the battleship Iowa,
missing it by a fraction, as he held a secret meeting on
it in November 1943. These brushes with death were
preceded, however, by a close escape in 1919 when
he gave Mitchell Palmer, the notorious Attorney
General, a lift home from a boozy party. FDR politely
refused the offer of a nightcap, driving off and leaving
Palmer to retire upstairs before the front portion of
his house then exploded as part of an attempt on his
life. Had FDR accepted Palmer’s hospitality, both
men would have been killed.
4.Cross-dressing women served in the Civil War.
Hundreds of women are thought to have disguised
themselves as men in order to participate in the Civil
War. Most famous is Sarah Emma Edmonds, who felt
compelled to play her part for the Union Army and
enlisted in the 2nd Michigan Infantry with the alias
“Franklin Flint Thompson”. She served between 1861
and 1863, with Malaria curtailing her involvement.
She wrote a memoir of her time in the army, selling
almost 200,000 copies.
5.Months before World War Two ended, the Japanese
found themselves in a bit of a pinch. Making the
most of the strong air current across the Pacific
Ocean, the Japanese crafted what was likely the first
intercontinental weapon system and attached bombs
to hydrogen balloons, in what was known as the Fu-
Go campaign. Depending on weather conditions,
it would take each balloon anywhere from 30 to 60
hours to reach the United States. Researchers estimate
that the Japanese said
sayonara to around 9,000 bombs—which were
approximately 33 feet in diameter— to the United
States, with 342 known to have reached the United
States. Many of them landed and exploded, with one
even killing a whole family in Oregon in 1944. Rumor
has it that there may still be dozens – potentially still
active – lying around.
Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com
|