Mountain Views News          Saturday, March 12, 2016

13

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

 Mountain Views News Saturday, March 12, 2016 


On the Marquee: Notes from the Sierra Madre Playhouse

SEAN’S SHAMELESS 

REVIEWS:

DMA’S – “HILLS END” 

By Sean Kayden

SPINNING PLATES AT SMP


Australian trio, DMA’S, 
are preparing for US 
domination. These 90s 
revivalists wear their deep influences on their sleeves 
as the Brit-pop sounding group undeniably show 
hints of Oasis, which is difficult to ignore. Consisting 
of vocalist Tommy O’Dell and guitarists Johnny 
Took and Matt Mason, DMA’s are part of a current 
wave of rock acts emerging from Down Under. 
While formed in 2012, “Hills End” marks the debut 
album for the triad and it’s a collection of 12 catchy 
songs that more or less linger with you afterward. 
The record clocks in at 47 minutes, but it’s definitely 
time well spent as the record explores great depth. 
There really isn’t much filler here either, which is 
surprising for a young band just making their debut. 
“Hills End” is tight yet not restrained. While the 
band definitely know how to slow things down, most 
of their material displays much exuberance. It’s 
not in an obnoxious or brash way either like most 
bands that fall into this category of music. DMA’S 
demonstrate a lot of heart and sensitivity as they 
showcase captivating sounds and lyrics through a 
series of songs that rarely take a misstep along the 
way.

 The rollercoaster opener “Timeless” kicks off 
the record with high energy. It’s reminiscent 
of The Arctic Monkeys. So once again, as far as 
comparisons go, DMA’S are in good company. “Lay 
Down” starts off with an infectious drum beat as it 
intertwines with jangly guitars. As it continues on, 
it blends into transcendent melodies. “Delete,” one 
of the group’s latest single is a blissful ballad that 
blossoms into a lush dreamscape. It’s the highlight 
off the record and proof that DMA’S is not a carbon 
copy of their influential idols. “Too Soon” is another 
vintage sounding 90s alternative track. O’Dell sings 
with a cavernous poise as if he is already a seasoned 
pro with much swagger to boot. “In The Moment” 
reminds me immediately of The Smiths. The melody 
and lyrics trigger that time period, but time again 
DMA’S express an all-encompassing style and range. 
As you reach the half way mark of the record, it’s 
easy find yourself falling in love with this band. No 
matter if you’re listening in your bedroom or car, the 
mood always feels right when DMA’S are playing.

Artist: DMA’S

Album: Hills End

Label: Mom + Pop

Release Date: February 26th, 2016

Grade: 8.6 out of 10

“Step Up The Morphine” is dreamy and comes off 
as a little shoegaze-y. Lyrically speaking, it’s the 
band’s finest effort. It’s a hazy and heavily textured 
track. While it may never be a single, it’s my dark 
horse pick for the band’s best song in their small, 
but effective assortment. “So We Know” is another 
gorgeous ballad and sinks into your soul. The 
band’s reflective tune separates itself from its peers 
once again showcasing their strong abilities both 
musically and on a lyrically forefront. “The Switch” 
reaches new heights for DMA’S. It is a swirling, 
dream-like endeavor that blends ethereal guitars 
and subtle reverb. DMA’S journey from beginning 
to end is nearly flawless. The closing track, “Play It 
Out” comes off as perhaps the weakest of the bunch. 
Nothing blatantly flawed about it, but seemingly a 
filler track. Nonetheless, DMA’S display bountiful 
potential with their wickedly solid debut album. 
The band may show off their inspirations more 
than necessary from 80s-90s alternative/brit-pop. 
However, their craftsmanship and tight sounding 
material is idyllic. With confidence, I believe “Hills 
End,” is one of the best records this year will have 
to offer despite only being in March. If you’re a fan 
of Oasis, The Arctic Monkeys or indie rock British 
act, The Crookes, then DMA’S should suit you well. 
Frankly, even if you’re not a fan of those groups, 
DMA’S has enough style and zest that may be up 
your alley after all.

By Artistic Director, Christian Lebano

So much going on at the Playhouse – I feel like one 
of those plate-spinners you used to see on the old 
Ed Sullivan show breathlessly running from plate 
to plate just getting to a plate as it starts to wobble! 

We had our first school-day matinee of Charlotte’s 
Web on Thursday for a full-house of K-3 and their 
teachers. They were a wonderful first audience 
and so now we are underway. Diane Siegel, our 
Education Coordinator and Emily Hopfauf, her 
assistant, have done a wonderful job marketing 
this show to schools – we have close to 3300 
students and their chaperones coming to our 
daytime shows. And Saturday we have our first 
general audience matinee at 2:30 with a party to 
follow. NO performance this Sunday during the 
Wistaria Festival, but we’ll be having shows on both 
Saturdays and Sundays (including Easter) at 2:30 
through April 17. Get your tickets soon because 
some of the shows have sold-out already.

 I’ve cast The Glass Menagerie with 4 remarkable 
actors – all new to the Playhouse but sure to become 
your new favorites. I have long wanted to direct 
this show and I’m so eager to start rehearsals this 
Thursday. I have assembled a wonderful group of 
designers and the show is going to look terrific. I’m 
working with the composer Jonathan Beard on the 
music. Some of you may remember his beautiful 
music for Driving Miss Daisy and 4000 Miles. 
Music plays a big part in creating the right mood 
for this show and he has created beautiful themes 
for each of the characters.

 I’ve been teasing you with the name of the 
Summer Musical for a while now. This has been 
another learning experience for me. We have been 
working hard to try to make the numbers work for 
the show we really want to do, but they are just not 
coming together. I have the rights to a second show 
that we will announce this week. There are still a 
few things to settle before it is solid. I hate that this 
has worked out this way, but again I chalk this up 
to my learning how to manage a theater – keeping 
an eye on pleasing our audience AND being able to 
balance our budgets.

 On top of all of this we have had to juggle the 
new reading series: Off the Page, the Colburn Series, 
and next season to finish setting, and some of the 
physical upgrades to the theater. This really could 
be my more than full-time job, but as it is I have 
to work it around my day job and the needs of my 
family. Not complaining – I love every minute of 
it. I just worry that I’m not able to make the right 
decisions fast enough.

 Tickets are now on sale for Charlotte’s Web – it 
is going to be terrific fun – hope to see you there 
with (or without!) your kids and grandkids. Please 
visit our website at or call Mary at 626.355.4318 to 
purchase tickets. 

Jeff’s Book Pics By Jeff Brown

Half-Earth: Our Planet’s Fight for LIfe by 
Edward O. Wilson

 Pulitzer Prize winner Edward Wilson proposes 
an achievable plan to save our imperiled biosphere: 
devote half the surface of the Earth to nature.In order 
to stave off the mass extinction of species, including 
our own, we must move swiftly to preserve the 
biodiversity of our planet. Half-Earth argues that 
the situation facing us is too large to 
be solved piecemeal and proposes 
a solution commensurate with the 
magnitude of the problem: dedicate 
fully half the surface of the Earth 
to nature.If we are to undertake 
such an endeavor, we first must 
understand just what the biosphere 
is, why it’s essential to our survival, 
and the manifold threats now facing 
it.Half-Earth provides an moving 
and naturalistic portrait of just what 
is being lost when we clip “twigs and 
eventually whole braches of life’s 
family tree.” Wilson documents 
the many ongoing extinctions that 
are imminent, paying tribute to 
creatures great and small.Uniquely, 
Half-Earth considers not only the 
large animals and star species of plants but also the 
millions of invertebrate animals 
and microorganisms that form the 
foundations of Earth’s ecosystems.
He states that the biosphere does 
not belong to us and addresses 
many fallacious notions such as the 
idea that ongoing extinctions can be 
balanced out by the introduction of 
alien species into new ecosystems or 
that extinct species might be brought 
back through cloning. This includes 
a critique of the “anthropocenists,” 
a fashionable collection of revisionist 
environmentalists who believe that 
the human species alone can be saved 
through engineering and technology.
Despite the Earth’s parlous condition, 
Wilson is no doomsayer.He suggests 
that we still have time to put aside half 
the Earth and identifies actual spots where Earth’s 
biodiversity can still be reclaimed. The book offers an 
attainable goal that we can strive for on behalf of all life.


The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly 
Brubaker Bradley

 A Newbery Honor Book,Winner of the Schneider 
Family Book Award (Middle School),Wall Street 
Journal Best Children’s Books of 2015, New York 
Public Library’s top 100 Books for Reading and 
Sharing .An exceptionally moving story of triumph 
against all odds set during World War 2, from 
the acclaimed author of Jefferson’s Sons and for 
fans of Number the Stars.Nine-year-old Ada has 
never left her one-room apartment. Her mother 
is too humiliated by Ada’s twisted foot to let her 
outside. So when her little brother Jamie is shipped 
out of London to escape the war, 
Ada doesn’t waste a minute—she 
sneaks out to join him.So begins 
a new adventure of Ada, and for 
Susan Smith, the woman who is 
forced to take the two kids in. As 
Ada teaches herself to ride a pony, 
learns to read, and watches for 
German spies, she begins to trust 
Susan—and Susan begins to love 
Ada and Jamie. But in the end, will 
their bond be enough to hold them 
together through wartime? Or will 
Ada and her brother fall back into 
the cruel hands of their mother?This 
masterful work of historical 
fiction is equal parts adventure 
and a moving tale of family and 
identity—a classic in the making.


Eat Fat, Get Thin: Why the Fat 
We Eat Is the Key to Sustained 
Weight Loss and Vibrant 
Health by Mark Hyman M.D. 

 A revolutionary new diet 
program based on the latest science 
showing the importance of fat in 
weight loss and overall health, from 
# 1 bestselling author Dr. Mark 
Hyman. Many of us have long been 
told that fat makes us fat, contributes 
to heart disease, and generally 
erodes our health. Now a growing 
body of research is debunking our 
fat-phobia, revealing the immense 
health and weight-loss benefits of 
a high-fat diet rich in eggs, nuts, 
oils, avocados, and other delicious 
super-foods. In his new book, 
bestselling author Dr. Mark Hyman introduces a 
new weight-loss and healthy living program based 
on the latest science and explains how to EAT FAT, 
GET THIN, and achieve optimum wellness along 
the way. Offering practical tools, meal plans, recipes, 
and shopping lists, as well as step-by-step, easy-to-
follow advice, EAT FAT, GET THIN is the cutting 
edge way to lose weight, prevent disease, and feel 
your best.


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