Mountain Views News          Saturday, March 19, 2016

Mountain Views-News Saturday, March 19, 2016 11ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT 
Jeff’s Book Pics By Jeff Brown 


Leena Krohn: The Collected Fiction by 
Leena Krohn 

A celebration of a legendary Finnish author, withseveral novels, stories, and appreciations. . Over800 pages covering Leena Krohn’s entire career.
One of Finland’s most iconic writers, translated 
into many languages, and winner of the prestigiousFinlandia Prize, Krohn has had 


did NSA begin the controversial

an incredibly distinguished 

terrorist surveillance program

career. Collected Fiction 

that included the acquisition

provides readers with a rich,

of domestic phone records?

thick omnibus of the best of her 

What else was set in motion

work. This collection includes 

during this period that formed

several previously unpublished

the backdrop for the infamous

English translations, foremost

Snowden revelations in 2013?

among them the novels Pereat

As Director of CIA in the

Mundus and The Pelican’s New 

last three years of the Bush

Clothes. Other novels included 

administration, Hayden had

are: Tainaron, Dona Quixote, 

to deal with the rendition,

Ophir City of Gold, and Datura.

detention and interrogation

Within these covers you will

program as bequeathed to him

discover a pelican that can talk

by his predecessors. He also

and a city of gold. You will fi nd

had to ramp up the agency to

yourself exploring a future of

support its role in the targeted

intelligence both artifi cial and

killing program that began to

biotech, along with a mysterious

dramatically increase in July

plant that induces strange

2008. This was a time of great

visions. Krohn writes eloquently,

passionately, about the nature ofreality, the nature of Nature, and what it means to behuman. From cities of giant insects to a mysteriouswoman claiming to be the female Don Quixote,
Leena Krohn’s fiction has fascinated and intriguedreaders for over forty years. 

Playing to the Edge: American Intelligence 
in the Age of Terror by Michael V. Hayden 

An unprecedented high-level master narrativeof America’s intelligence wars, from the onlyperson ever to helm both CIA and NSA, at a timeof heinous new threats and wrenching change.
For General Michael Hayden, playing to the edgemeans playing so close to the line that you getchalk dust on your cleats. Otherwise, by playingback, you may protect yourself, but you will beless successful in protecting America. “Play to theedge” was Hayden’s guiding principle when he ranthe National Security Agency, and it remained sowhen he ran CIA. In his view, many shortsightedand uninformed people are quick to criticize, andthis book will give them much to chew on but 

little easy comfort; it is an unapologetic insider’slook told from the perspective of the peoplewho faced awesome responsibilities head on, inthe moment. How did American intelligencerespond to terrorism, a major war and the mostsweeping technological revolution in the last 500years? What was NSA before 9/11 and how didit change in its aftermath? Why

crisis at CIA, and some agencyveterans have credited Hayden with actuallysaving the agency. He himself won’t go that far,
but he freely acknowledges that CIA helped turnthe American security establishment into themost effective killing machine in the history ofarmed conflict.For 10 years, then, General MichaelHayden was a participant in some of the mosttelling events in the annals of American nationalsecurity. General Hayden’s goals are in writing thisbook are simple and unwavering: No apologies.
No excuses. Just what happened. And why. As hewrites, “There is a story here that deserves to betold, without varnish and without spin. My viewis my view, and others will certainly have diff erentperspectives, but this view deserves to be told tocreate as complete a history as possible of theseturbulent times. I bear no grudges, or at least notmany, but I do want this to be a straightforwardand readable history for that slice of the Americanpopulation who depend on and appreciateintelligence, but who do not have the time tomaster its many obscure characteristics.” 

ANNOUNCING THE JUNE 2016 
OPEN STUDIOS ART TOUR 

“Meet Neighborhood Artists, Come Curious, Leave Inspired” 

Open Studios is a vibrant group of artists fromAltadena and Pasadena, CA, dedicated to the 
promotion of ART and to sharing it with ourneighbors. We provide twice yearly, free art showsto the community. The Open Studios Art Tour isa self guided, multi-location event featuring manygenres of art from local artists at their studios, andhost retail locations. There will be art for everytaste including paintings, sculpture, ceramics,
neon art, mixed media, assemblage, photography,
jewelry and textiles.

Please join us on the weekend of JUNE 4th and5th, from 11 am until 5 pm each day. We look 
forward to sharing this fun and exciting weekendfeaturing: 

• Over 65 Artists showing at 25 Studios &
Locations 
• Live Music & Demos 
• Food & Refreshments 
WHEN: Saturday June 4th and Sunday June 5thfrom 11am – 5 pm

WHERE: In Altadena and Pasadena. Maps willbe available at each location 

MAP ON LINE AT: www.openstudios.com formore artist photos, information, updates andinteractive tour map.

More details available at: 
Open Studios Facebook Page: https://www.
facebook.com/AltaOpSt 

Jeff’s History Corner By Jeff Brown 

POPULAR MECHANICS TOP 50 GADGETS GPS locator, transistor radio, modem, typewriter,
THAT CHANGED THE WORLD plus a few others! safety match, bicycle, dry cell battery, (top 10) light(#50)audio cassette,circular saw,Nintendo bulb, alarm clock, phonograph, rotary phone, air

game boy,Leatherman handy tool,fi re 
extinguisher,Walkman,fl oppy disc,Polaroid 
camera,mp3 player Ipod,pocket calculator, 
Wi-fi router,electric drill,hi-def TV,wrist 
watch,8mm movie camera,microphone,digitalcamera,microwave oven,computer mouse. 
LED light,cd player,camcorder,electric guitar,
blackberry,crescent wrench,HI-FI,sewingmachine, lab top,VCR, answering machine, 
remote control, Kodak Brownie, vacuum cleaner, 

conditioner, personal computer, hypodermicsyringe, TV, radio, (#1) Smartphone. Otherimportant gadgets: printing press, steam and gasengines, electric guitar, hearing aid, fl ash drive,
flashlight, DVD player, scissors, safety razor,
chain saw, photocopier, printer, binoculars, tapemeasure, zipper, smoke detector, cd-rom, taperecorder, electric toothbrush, charcoal grill, hairdryer, ball point pen, Kindle E-Reader, Colemanlantern, stopwatch, etc, etc. 

On the Marquee: Notes from the Sierra Madre Playhouse 
IT’S ALL IN THE CASTING 


By Artistic Director, Christian Lebano 

Auditions are a big part of your life as an actor. Tryingto get them, preparing for them, doing them, second-
guessing them, regretting them, and every so oft en beingsatisfied with them – and even less often getting therole you may have desperately wanted. As an Artistic 
Director, auditions are a big part of my world, as well,
and I’ve now probably spent more time on the “other”
side of the table than I have actually auditioning myself.
The director of a show always has final say regarding hisor her cast – I am very involved and participate in them,
but ultimately, it is the director’s choice.

I mentioned a couple of essays back that TennesseeWilliams’ The Glass Menagerie had the greatest actorresponse to any show we’ve announced since I becameArtistic Director. I think this is a combination of the 
greatness of the play, the fact that Menagerie has iconicroles that every actor would love a chance to try on, andour increased reputation as a good place to work. I’m 
especially proud of this – I hear it all the time in thetheater community when I introduce myself as SMP’sArtistic Director.

 The great director Elia Kazan (who himself 
directed the first productions of some of Williams 
greatest plays) said “Directing is 80% casting, 10%
skill, and 10% luck.” I’m not sure of the proportions,
but I agree that of all the decisions a director makes, 

casting is surely the most important. It is easy tocast talented actors, but to create a “cast” of talented 
actors is something else. Not every cast becomesan ensemble, not every cast bonds. When it does, 
rehearsals become something wonderful.

When I enter the rehearsal room for the fi rst rehearsal 

– as I will with Menagerie this Thursday – I come inhaving thought about the play for a long time. I’ve 
spoken with the designers and the composers already.
We begin with a vision, a concept that I’ve formulated.
But the thing is, that idea in my head doesn’t includethe actors that I’ve ended up casting. They will comein with their own personalities and ideas and that maysometimes challenge the concept I’ve arrived at. Th at’s 
what makes this a collaboration. 
I’ve cast some terrific actors – all new to the 
Playhouse. I’m so eager to get started, I can’t stand it.
This play has been in my head for such a while; I can’twait to see how it turns out. I hope you will join us forthe journey. The Glass Menagerie opens May 6 andruns through June 12. Tickets will go on sale soon.
* * * 

Charlotte’s Web opened to terrifi c reviews fromcritics and kids alike. Tickets are on sale now – hopeto see you there with (or without!) your kids andgrandkids. Please visit our website at or call Mary at626.355.4318 to purchase tickets. 


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