Mountain Views News          Saturday, September 10, 2016

B2

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Mountain Views-News Saturday, September 10, 2016 

On the Marquee: 

Notes from the Sierra MadrePlayhouse

Jeff’s Book Pics By Jeff Brown

A Tablespoon of Love, A Tablespoon of 
Laughter: Cookies & Casseroles, Prayers 
& Praises, Soups & Stories, & Joy ... All the 
Way by Deanne Davis 

 Deanne is a local resident and 
writes in the Mountain Views News.A 
Tablespoon of Love, A Tablespoon of 
Laughter is a collection of short stories, 
favorite recipes, psalms, prayers and a 
dash of humor. Oh dear friends, what 
is a book without humor! Tablespoon 
will make you smile, with every turn 
of the page, and frequently cause you 
to laugh right out loud. Enjoy our 
family pictures which will remind 
you, in the gentlest way, of your own 
family; or maybe the family you plan 
to have. This is one woman’s journey 
through many wonderful years with 
the same sweet man, and the children 
who grew up and had children of their 
own; proving that the parents’ curse 
does work and nothing is funnier 
than watching your children produce 
children that are just like them! Each 
of the recipes in Tablespoon is a 
favorite and, hopefully, will become 
one of your favorites too. But, like 
the book says: ”This is not really a 
cookbook, or maybe it’s not merely 
a cookbook. It’s a lot about life too. 
Life really is like a potluck supper. 
The best part is what others bring to 
the table. And I always like to bring a 
Tablespoon of Love and a Tablespoon 
of Laughter. Bon Appétit!”

The Swerve: How the World 
Became Modern by Stephen 
Greenblatt Ph.D. 

 Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and 
National Book Award for Non-Fiction.
One of the world’s most celebrated 
scholars, Stephen Greenblatt has crafted 
both an innovative work of history and a 
thrilling story of discovery, in which one 
manuscript, plucked from a thousand 
years of neglect, changed the course of 
human thought and made possible the 
world as we know it.Nearly six hundred 
years ago, a short, genial, cannily alert 
man in his late thirties took a very old manuscript 
off a library shelf, saw with excitement what he had 
discovered, and ordered that it be copied. That book 
was the last surviving manuscript of an ancient 
Roman philosophical epic, On the Nature of Things, 
by Lucretiusa beautiful poem of the most dangerous 
ideas: that the universe functioned without the aid of 
gods, that religious fear was damaging to human life, 
and that matter was made up of very small particles 
in eternal motion, colliding and swerving in new 
directions.The copying and translation of this ancient 
book-the greatest discovery of the greatest book-
hunter of his age-fueled the Renaissance, inspiring 
artists such as Botticelli and thinkers such as Giordano 
Bruno; shaped the thought of Galileo 
and Freud, Darwin and Einstein; and 
had a revolutionary influence on writers 
such as Montaigne and Shakespeare 
and even Thomas Jefferson. 16 pages 
full-color illustrations

Operation Mincemeat: How a 
Dead Man and a Bizarre Plan 
Fooled the Nazis and Assured 
an Allied Victory by Ben 
Macintyre

 In Operation Mincemeat he 
tells an extraordinary story that will 
delight his legions of fans.In 1943, 
from a windowless basement office 
in London, two brilliant intelligence 
officers conceived a plan that was both 
simple and complicated— Operation 
Mincemeat. The purpose? To deceive 
the Nazis into thinking that Allied 
forces were planning to attack southern 
Europe by way of Greece or Sardinia, 
rather than Sicily, as the Nazis had 
assumed, and the Allies ultimately 
chose.Charles Cholmondeley of MI5 
and the British naval intelligence 
officer Ewen Montagu could not have 
been more different. Cholmondeley 
was a dreamer seeking adventure. 
Montagu was an aristocratic, detail-
oriented barrister. But together they 
were the perfect team and created an 
ingenious plan: Get a corpse, equip it 
with secret (but false and misleading) 
papers concerning the invasion, then 
drop it off the coast of Spain where 
German spies would, they hoped, take 
the bait. The idea was approved by 
British intelligence officials, including 
Ian Fleming (creator of James Bond). 
Winston Churchill believed it might 
ring true to the Axis and help bring 
victory to the Allies.Filled with spies, 
double agents, rogues, fearless heroes, 
and one very important corpse, 
the story of Operation Mincemeat 
reads like an international thriller.
Unveiling never-before-released material, Ben 
Macintyre brings the reader right into the minds 
of intelligence officers, their moles and spies, and 
the German Abwehr agents who suffered the 
“twin frailties of wishfulness and yesmanship.” 
He weaves together the eccentric personalities 
of Cholmondeley and Montagu and their near-
impossible feats into a riveting adventure that not 
only saved thousands of lives but paved the way 
for a pivotal battle in Sicily and, ultimately, Allied 
success in the war.

MISSING YOU


By Artistic Director, Christian Lebano 

 I find myself at loose ends without a play on 
stage at the Playhouse. I’ve lost my momentum 
a bit. There are still so many things to do as 
we prepare for the rehearsals of A Little House 
Christmas, but having stepped off the production 
merry-go-round since the rehearsals of Putnam 
County I find I’m having a hard time jumping 
back on.

 This time “off” has given me a chance to reflect 
on how hard the SMP team has worked the last 
few years to build up our theater – and, how 
much we’ve accomplished. This is a powerful 
moment in the history of our theater – so much 
hinges on the AEA court case which I’ve written 
about in a couple of essays. Our future hangs in 
the balance. Because though our reputation has 
grown (I just got word from an aactor friend that 
the casting people in a recent audition were full 
of praise for the “new” SMP) we haven’t grown 
enough financially to be able to pay even the 
minimum wage requirements that Actors Equity 
is proposing. I still feel so strongly about the 
potential for the growth of SMP into a dynamic 
thriving theater but we are still finding our 
footing as we negotiate that growth.

 I miss being in the lobby and speaking with our 
patrons - I so enjoy the relationships I’ve built 
with our regulars. I miss the anticipation before 
a show. I even miss doing the curtain speech. I 
hope this break has made you miss us as well. 

 We had to change the director for Little House 
– Artistic Associate Alison Kalmus will now be 
directing the show. We have a wonderful design 
team and will be casting the show in the next 
weeks (Christmas already!) It was such a pleasure 
to share this show with you in 2014 that I look 
forward to having it back at SMP. This year we 
are starting the run earlier by a week. This will 
take it out of the Thanksgiving madness (giving 
all involved a saner Turkey Day) and will allow 
us to have more performances of a show that sold 
out last time. I do hope you will make your plans 
to see it. We open Friday, November 18. Tickets 
will be on sale soon.

 After a hiccough last month, our reading series 
will be back on Monday, September 25 with 
The Quality of Life by Jane Anderson. This is a 
mesmerizing and completely fascinating look at 
what keeps couples together. It will be directed 
by Gary Reed.

 Fritz Coleman (popular local weatherman and 
friend to the Playhouse) will be doing a special 
matinee on October 23 of his show Defying 
Gravity. Tickets are on sale now. Please don’t miss 
it. AND Fritz is donating all proceeds to SMP! 
We have a few other special announcements to 
make soon! 

 I look forward to reuniting with all our friends 
at these events. I’ll say it again – I’ve missed you!

As always we do it for you – our SMP family – 
whose support and loyalty mean so much to us 
and for whom we hope we bring pleasure and joy 
and moving experiences in the theater. Please let 
me know how you think we are doing. Reach me 
at ArtisticDirector@SierraMadrePlayhouse.org 
For tickets please call Mary in the box office at 
626.355.4318


All Things Considered By Jeff Brown

HEART ATTACKS

Understanding your risk could lead to prevention 
and action to lower the risk. According to research 
from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
every year 720,000 Americans have heart attacks. It’s 
costly: Coronary heart disease alone costs the United 
States $108.9 billion each year. Prevention and early 
action are key. The four key indicators to check are 
your total cholesterol (mg/dL),HDL cholesterol (mg/
dL),blood pressure (mmHg), smoking (cigarettes per 
week) When most people think of heart attacks, they 
picture sudden and traumatic chest pain. But heart 
attack symptoms can be mild and have different 
symptoms. The signs may also be different between 
men and women. The Society for Cardiovascular 
Angiography and Interventions notes that not all 
heart attacks are preceded by chest pain. Men or 
women could have chest discomfort, shortness of 
breath, nausea or vomiting, breaking out in cold 
sweat, and dizziness. Positive MD highlights the 
seven warning signs of heart attacks in women, 
which includes sudden weakness; discomfort in the 
back, chest, arm, neck, or jaw—without chest pain; 
and trouble sleeping. Unfortunately, these symptoms 
are also common for a host of other medical 
conditions. If you have symptoms like these, have 
your doctor check you out. Don’t delay, because that 
could cause additional heart damage or even be fatal. 
If you suspect a heart attack and you know the person 
(over the age of 16) isn’t allergic to aspirin, a tablet of 
aspirin chewed could be a life saver, which the Mayo 
Clinic says could reduce damage to the heart.Check 
with your doctor about this.


SEAN’S SHAMELESS REVIEWS: 

By Sean Kayden

LOCAL NATIVES – “SUNLIT YOUTH”

toymaker15 inchglitterball$75
jinglebells8 inchglitterball$15
shiningstar16 inchsilverglitterstar$20
candycane8 inchcandydiamondswirl$15
jollyholly5 inchmirrorball$10
rudolph’s 
nose12 inchredshinyball$50
SIERRA MADRE
HELP TRIM THE COMMUNITY TREE 2016 
It only took 9 months, but here 
it is, the best album of 2016 by 
far. “Sunlit Youth” is the third record from once indie rock 
aficionados, Local Natives. The long awaited release (well 
over 3 years since their previous effort, “Hummingbird”) 
finds the five-piece Silver Lake act showcasing their raw 
skills and evolving musical talents over the course of 
twelve gorgeous tracks. Over the span of third albums, 
all of which display a poignant impression in their own 
distinguish way, the band keeps things fresh yet again. 
The transition from debut record “Gorilla Manor” to 
“Hummingbird” was a monumental change in direction, 
but Local Natives still crafted music they seemingly 
wanted to make. The epically beautiful “Hummingbird” 
was released in 2013 with delicate arrangements, spiritual 
undertones, and a melancholy sound. It never felt forced 
or strained, only completely organic and entirely sincere. 
Local Natives positioned themselves into the category of 
elite rock bands within their generation with a defining 
sound they can easily call their very own. With “Sunlit 
Youth” you still have that overwhelming expressive one-
two emotional punch from them yet the band expands 
their sound palette even further. While the previous 
record felt as if track was deeply connected and rooted 
with one another by the overall sound, “Sunlit Youth” 
has the band taking huge risks track by track and reaping 
significant rewards by doing just that. 

 “Villainy” kicks off the album with tight snyths, 
slick productions, and terrific vocals. From the first 
few seconds, you notice the discernible shift from their 
previous composition. However, starting off with a 
renewed approach was the right course of action. The 
bouncy, sprawling tune is undoubtedly a strong opener 
to get things headed in a seemingly right direction. The 
subsequent track materialized several months ago and 
it was the awakening of Local Natives since it had been 
so long since we last heard from them. At first listen, 
this could be deemed as an immense return since “Past 
Lives” has this driving force behind it that would play 
exceptionally well on a live stage in front of a large crowd. 
Lyrically, the song is what we’ve come to expect and love 
from Local Natives. It’s reflective, emotionally driven, 
thought provoking, and features the vocal harmonies 
from Taylor Rice and Kelcey Ayer. “Dark Days” is another 
highlight as we get into the third track. This subtle, more 
subdued offering is smooth and gentle. With beautiful 
arrangements and irresistible guitar hooks, Local Natives 
hit their stride convincingly here. 

 The band makes good use of electronics without going 
overboard on the record. I really enjoy the mixture and 
balance of guitars and electronics, but the real draw are 
the warm vocals and the vulnerable lyrics. “Ellie Alice” 
originates with the strumming of an acoustic guitar and 
tender vocals. As one of two tracks here less than three 
minutes, it’s a brief outing but wildly gorgeous from 
beginning to end. It comes in like waves, subtle at first 
and before you know, there’s a big tide. It may very well 
be their finest effort here, but that’s a tough argument 
as the record is bountiful with mesmerizing tracks. The 
one track here that is the anthemic driven showcase of 
“Sunlit Youth” is “Everything All At Once.” It features a 
choral arrangement, bold guitars, and purging vocals. It’s 
stirring with wondrous sounds that can’t be ignored, as the 
listener will be instantly drawn to the magnificent piece 
that reaches the highest of heights. Saying it is absolutely 
stunning would not be nearly enough to describe the 
places this track can take you. And guess what? There’s 
more as the closing track “Sea of Years” keeps that same 
feeling going. While most albums this year I’ve noticed 
tail off as you approach the end, Local Natives do the 
opposite. They lift you back up and draw you in closer 
than ever presumable. “Sea of Years” is outstanding as it 
fully expands into areas untouched before. This sort of 
questioning, dig-deeper-than-ever-before song is grand 
and unequivocally incredible as it sonically changes at 
every chance it gets during the five minutes and thirteen 
seconds running time. In the end, “Sunlit Youth” offers 
everything you could ever want in a full-length rock 
record. It’s bold, daring, distinctive, cohesive, and wildly 
original as well as being collectively amazing every step of 
the way. Local Natives deeply touch upon youth culture 
here and effortlessly capture the zeitgeist of this year. 
Without question, you won’t find another record this year 
quite as enthralling, immersive, or emotionally rewarding 
as what you’ll receive with “Sunlit Youth.”

 Grade: 9.8 out of 10

 Key Tracks: “Past Lives,” “Ellie Alice,” “Everything 
All At Once,” “Sea Of Years”

Local Natives – “Sunlit Youth”

Artist: Local Natives

Album: Sunlit Youth

Label:

Release Date: September 9th, 2016

Help trim the community tree! Preparations are underway 
to decorate Kersting Court for the winter holidays! Join in 
the holiday spirit by purchasing an ornament for the tree 
and help raise funds for civic improvements. Ornaments 
are available for sale at Leonora Moss and The Bottle 
Shop. Volunteers will be placing the ornaments in mid-
November. Thank you for helping Sierra Madre! 

www.sierramadrefoundation.org

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