Mountain Views News          Saturday, September 17, 2016

B2

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Mountain Views-News Saturday, September 17, 2016 

On the Marquee: 

Notes from the Sierra MadrePlayhouse

Jeff’s Book Pics By Jeff Brown

Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya

Exquisite prose and wondrous storytelling have 
helped make Rudolfo Anaya the father of Chicano 
literature in English. Indeed, Anaya’s tales fairly 
shimmer with the haunting beauty and richness 
of his culture. The winner of the Pen Center West 
Award for Fiction for his unforgettable novel 
Alburquerque, Anaya is perhaps best 
loved for his classic bestseller, Bless 
Me, Ultima... Antonio Marez is six 
years old when Ultima comes to stay 
with his family in New Mexico. She is 
a curandera, one who cures with herbs 
and magic. Under her wise wing, Tony 
will probe the family ties that bind and 
rend him, and he will discover himself 
in the magical secrets of the pagan 
past-a mythic legacy as palpable as the 
Catholicism of Latin America. And 
at each life turn there is Ultima, who 
delivered Tony into the world...and 
will nurture the birth of his soul.

Love Warrior : A Memoir by 
Glennon Doyle Melton 

The Newest Oprah Book club 2016 
Selection.The highly anticipated 
new memoir by bestselling author 
Melton tells the story of her journey 
of self-discovery after the implosion 
of her marriage.Just when Melton 
was beginning to feel she had it all 
figured out, three happy children, a 
doting spouse, and a writing career 
so successful that her first book 
catapulted to the top of the New York 
Times bestseller list,her husband 
revealed his infidelity and she was 
forced to realize that nothing was as 
it seemed. A recovering alcoholic and 
bulimic, Glennon found that rock 
bottom was a familiar place. In the 
midst of crisis, she knew to hold on 
to what she discovered in recovery: 
that her deepest pain has always held 
within it an invitation to a richer life.
The book is the story of one marriage, 
but it is also the story of the healing 
that is possible for any of us when we 
refuse to settle for good enough and 
begin to face pain and love head-
on. This astonishing memoir reveals 
how our ideals of masculinity and 
femininity can make it impossible for 
a man and a woman to truly know 
one another - and it captures the 
beauty that unfolds when one couple commits to 
unlearning everything they’ve been taught so that 
they can finally, after thirteen years of marriage, 
commit to living true, true to themselves and to 
each other.Love Warrior is a gorgeous and inspiring 
account of how we are born to be warriors: strong, 
powerful, and brave; able to confront the pain and 
claim the love that exists for us all. This chronicle 
of a beautiful, brutal journey speaks to anyone who 
yearns for deeper, truer relationships and a more 
abundant, authentic life.

The Subtle Art of Not Giving 
a F*ck: A Counterintuitive 
Approach to Living a Good Life 
by Mark Manson 

In this generation-defining self-
help guide, a superstar blogger cuts 
through the crap to show us how to 
stop trying to be ”positive” all the time 
so that we can truly become better, 
happier people.For decades, we’ve 
been told that positive thinking is the 
key to a happy, rich life.In his wildly 
popular Internet blog, Manson doesn’t 
sugarcoat or equivocate. He tells it 
like it is—a dose of raw, refreshing, 
honest truth that is sorely lacking 
today. The book is his antidote to the 
coddling, let’s-all-feel-good mindset 
that has infected modern society and 
spoiled a generation, rewarding them 
with gold medals just for showing 
up.Manson makes the argument, 
backed both by academic research 
and well-timed poop jokes, that 
improving our lives hinges not on our 
ability to turn lemons into lemonade, 
but on learning to stomach lemons 
better. Human beings are flawed 
and limited—”not everybody can be 
extraordinary, there are winners and 
losers in society, and some of it is not 
fair or your fault.” Manson advises 
us to get to know our limitations 
and accept them. Once we embrace 
our fears, faults, and uncertainties, 
once we stop running and avoiding 
and start confronting painful truths, 
we can begin to find the courage, 
perseverance, honesty, responsibility, 
curiosity, and forgiveness we seek.
There are only so many things we 
can give a f**k about so we need to 
figure out which ones really matter, 
Manson makes clear. While money is 
nice, caring about what you do with 
your life is better, because true wealth 
is about experience. A much-needed 
grab-you-by-the-shoulders-and-look-
you-in-the-eye moment of real-talk, filled with 
entertaining stories and profane, ruthless humor, 
The book is a refreshing slap for a generation to 
help them lead contented, grounded lives

NATURE ABHORS A VACUUM

By Artistic Director, Christian Lebano

 I have always been fascinated by physics – I 
remember the phrase “nature abhors a vacuum” from 
Mr. Blake’s science class in High School. I’ve been 
thinking about that phrase because since postponing 
the opening of Bee-luther-hatchee to January 13 our 
calendar has filled itself very quickly. I have some 
wonderful things to share with you.

 For those of you who didn’t act fast enough, you’ll 
have to wait until the next time that Fritz Coleman 
offers to do a show at SMP. Both of his performances 
on October 23 have SOLD OUT! I’ve never met 
Mr. Coleman though I know he has supported the 
Playhouse in the past. He has very generously donated 
the proceeds of his shows to SMP. This boon will help 
us underwrite some of our exciting future projects. 

 I am announcing that we’ll bring in the hilarious 
Late Night Catechism for just 6 performances starting 
October 14 through October 22. This show stars a 
Sister who will lead the audience in a catechism lesson 
that will appeal to everyone – Catholics and non-
Catholics alike. I have seen the show in its various 
versions and I loved it – it is outrageously funny – and 
not at all disrespectful. Tickets are on sale now. You 
won’t want to miss it.

We also have the incredible good fortune of having 
another benefit performance scheduled with “An 
Evening with Groucho” starring Frank Ferrante. Frank 
has done this show in theaters around the world and 
sold-out at the Pasadena Playhouse when he performed 
it there. His daughter Lucy was in our production of “A 
Christmas Memory” last year and Frank, who is a local, 
has become a great supporter of our work. This will be 
a gala benefit for SMP on Sunday evening, December 4. 
Tickets will be on sale soon.

 We had hoped that Cori Cable Kidder who was 
Ovation-nominated for her performance as Patsy 
Cline would come back to do a benefit – but she just 
learned yesterday that she was cast in the new National 
Tour of Mama Mia! We are so thrilled for her – AND 
she has promised to come back and do an evening for 
us after the tour is over.

 I am also so pleased to announce an addition to our 
schedule. Last year’s Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle 
winner for Best Supporting Actress, Ferrell Marshall, 
will star in The Belle of Amherst a lovely one-woman 
show about Emily Dickinson for us this spring. I have 
long wanted to have Ferrell work with us and this show 
will be a beautiful showcase of her talents. Tickets will 
be available in the new year.

 And we have begun casting for our Holiday show A 
Little House Christmas. This show was very popular 
when we did it in 2014. I’m so looking forward to 
spending time with the Ingalls this Christmas. I hope 
you will too!

 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


SEAN’S SHAMELESS REVIEWS: 

By Sean Kayden

CYMBALS EAT GUITARS - 

“PRETTY YEARS”

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 
There is a discernible shift 
in sound within the fourth 
studio album from the Staten 
Island-based band, Cymbals Eat Guitars. The group 
composed of singer/guitarist Joseph D’Agostino, 
bassist Whipple, keyboardist Brian Hamilton, and 
drummer Andy Dole find themselves on a somewhat 
new path of sorts with Pretty Years (Sinderlyn). 
Cymbals Eat Guitars have also had such a ferocious 
sound translating into raw, guitar-driven, augmented 
tunes. With their latest endeavor the band is still 
audacious, showcasing once again strong writing and 
a sound palate that deeply pierces through one’s own 
senses. While their trademark of harsh guitar rock 
and distinctive impetus are still plentiful over the 
course of ten tracks, the band now includes synths, 
keyboards, and a saxophone. “We wanted to make a 
more energetic record. I personally looked to artists 
like Springsteen, 70’s Bowie, The Smiths, The Cure, Neil 
Young as inspiration for—not really for sound as much 
as for that dichotomy of bands who were entertainers 
still making, at times, weird dark music and writing 
songs that seem totally over-the-top by today’s rock 
band standards,” says Cymbals Eat Guitars bassist 
Matthew Whipple. The 42-minute venture is chaotic 
at times, but often tight and poised. With this newly 
featured robust sound, it seems Cymbals Eat Guitars 
have carried their relentless live performance energy 
into the studio. As the listener navigates through the 
rousing yet polished rock sound of Pretty Years, an 
amalgamation of emotions will ascend within. Isn’t 
that what you were hoping for when listening to a new 
rock record?

 “Finally” is the band’s stirring opener. It gleams 
with intricate beauty by the churning guitars, evasive 
storytelling, and striking drums. There’s this edginess 
to it that makes you feel slightly taken back by the 
band’s altered tone. In fact, it’s just D’Agostino stepping 
out of his comfort zone and placing himself in new 
territory. The succeeding number is “Have A Heart,” 
one of the band’s singles off Pretty Years. It’s a lovely, 
saccharine sounding tune that’s quite the opposite of 
the introduction track. D’Agostino passionately sings 
the line, “I have a heart I wanna put to use,” in what 
feels like one of the first honest love songs from the 
band. All this is accompanied by a refined pop rock 
quality. “Wish” comes afterward and D’Agostino 
showcases raspy vocals over a propelling sound. It’s 
the song that features a boisterous saxophone over the 
course of the four-minute arrangement. This is where 
that Springsteen influence comes into play. “Close” 
starts off with this darker nature in mind. Not too long 
afterward, springy guitars come into play. Sonically 
jarring, “Close” provides another example of CEG 
blending new textures as well as moving away from 
their collective taste and sculpting out fresh artistic 
pieces. 

 “4th of July, Philadelphia (Sandy)” touches upon 
Springsteen right down to the title. It even explores the 
madness of life on the road. The song is performed with 
much grit, a deep conviction from D’Agostino as he 
sings as if he’s trying to collect his thoughts and place 
it into some kind of profundity. The discordant guitars 
and static basslines push this one into the stranger 
lands, where Cymbals Eat Guitars have now positioned 
themselves. It’s as if the band is making a strong case 
to display the face they aren’t playing by any rules 
or confined ways in how to craft an effective song. 
“Mallwalking” walks a haunting line with ghostly 
snyths and even a more harrowing storyline. It’s an 
ominous and downtrodden turn, but still finds a way to 
let light pass through. One of the most promising new 
tracks is the anthemic driven, “Well.” This powerhouse 
number is an explosive excursion with a grand second 
half that has the band showcasing their impressive 
proficiency and dexterous musical abilities. It’s a true 
highpoint from Pretty Years. “Shrine” closes out the 
record on a melancholy, glacial endeavor. It’s a fever 
dream of a track as well as surreal through its nearly 
seven minutes running time. Gorgeous, perplexing 
guitars and restrained drumbeats all accumulate over 
a swelling mix of emotions from D’Agostino. It surely 
will leave a mark as the listener wraps up the song as 
well as the entire record as a whole. A worthy closer to 
even more so laudable record from a band not showing 
any signs of fatigue, stagnancy, or derivativeness 
for their fourth full-length go-around. Pretty Years 
is an album that bursts from both a lyrical and 
musical standpoint. It’s a thriving artistic piece that’s 
immersive and genre bending. Without straying away 
too far off the beaten path, Pretty Years feels sincere, 
recognizable, and consequential through the thick and 
thin of being alive, and most of all feeling alive within 
the moment and hopefully, beyond the moment too.

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