Saturday, December 1, 2012

Bloody Good Fun with CTC’s Bat Boy

Cast of Bat Boy taking their bows
One of the tightest productions you could see in Wilmington is playing at the Black Box of OperaDelaware Studios. Bat boy: the musical by Keythe Farley and Brian Flemming with music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe is a hilarious romp of a rock musical which director Michael Gray and music director Joe Trainor managed to fit onto the tiny stagelet on the Riverfront. The stage was bare, but with a jungle gym background reminiscent of trees and forest in the rural hills of West Virginia. The play’s opening lets the bars of the jungle gym be the walls of a cave where our intrepid siblings find a boy/bat in a cave and capture him.

Of course, the rest of the musical revolves around the identification, education and sanitization of the Bat Boy, played brilliantly by Brendan Sheehan. Whether he is cramped in a cage or mauled by fans and foes, Sheehan comes through with shining colors. Every detail – from his crooning mimic of his fellow humans to his totally convincing adaptation of BBC received speech – is spot on.

The orchestra is also beautiful, although it, too, must remain caged behind a black backdrop to avoid their overpowering the singers. Yet, the cues are perfect and the singers and orchestra seemed melded together for harmony and dynamics thanks to an inventive webcam setup. Christopher Tolomeo and Robert Dilton had some brilliant keyboard licks (although we didn’t know who was on when).

The cast was superb and surreal, with several gender changes and an explosive conversion – from a Lily Tomlin-like, pursed-lipped crone turning into a jiving rocking sexed-up Pan in the name of love – a superb release of Adam Wahlberg’s real vocal power as Pan. Steve Weatherman was a powerhouse as a rural whining mother and Reverend Hightower plus several other roles into which he was able to slip in about five seconds, costume change included.

Dana Michael and Jenna Kuerzi are two tiny sprites who play spirited mother and teenaged daughter, respectively. They rock, shuck and jive with the oversized vigor of the energizer Bunny coming out of lithe and slender bodies. Those two and the rest of the cast, all of whom have incredible light and spark, managed to do all of their singing and dancing while swinging up and down their jungle gym bars as if born to it.

If you feel like you need a jolt of energy in these winter doldrum days – stop by the Black Box at OperaDelaware Studios before December 15!

See www.city-theater.org.

Monday, November 5, 2012

OperaDelaware Opens Cavalleria Rusticana and I Pagliacci

Ruggiero Leoncavallo
Pietro Mascagni
Brendan Cooke has every right to be proud of his first production with OperaDelaware. Making your debut after a hurricane pummels through the neighborhood, disrupting practice and work is a challenge, but Cooke and his team did a great job. The set seemed just like a small Sicilian village and worked quite well visually, but how people walked on that slant and set up chairs on it is a mystery.

The set worked beautifully for the opening of Cavalleria Rusticana (Pietro Mascgani), with Lola and Turiddu ending their tryst upstage not seeing Santuzza downstage taking in the whole affair. Kara Shay Thomson as Santuzza has a very strong and expressive soprano voice. Her duets with both Turridu (John Pickle) and Alfio (José Sacin) showed the strength of all three singers who were easily able to be heard above the full orchestra. The flute, harp and horn accompaniments were delicate and beautifully executed.

As I Pagliacci begins, the four actors are on the apron while behind them, the inhabitants of the town freeze in position and are absolutely stock still while Tonio tells them about the show they will see in the evening. Not a hair moved and several players froze with legs in mid-swing and hands raised.

John Pickle was able to be a gentle and fickle lover in Cavalleria and changed to a violently jealous husband in I Pagliacci. His extremely dramatic and strong Pagliaccio non sono was where he gave his most compelling and gripping performance. And perhaps because of the complex texture of the Leoncavallo score to I Pagliacci the orchestra seemed to be more dramatic as well. Mark Ward played several soaring cello solos – especially for Pagliaccio’s forget all else. And the bassoon solos were smooth and haunting.

Susan Nelson as Nedda had the kind of voice and acting that had you glued to her. Her ability to sing the high notes and phrase beautifully were matched by her ability to sing no matter whether she was fighting, jumping or sprawled in her lover’s lap.

The orchestra played such a moving entreacte in I Pagliacci that the audience sighed when the curtain re-opened. But as the play within the play began, the trumpet (Frank Ferraro) solo was just terrific. Rong Tan played harp throughout each opera with intensely melodic phrasing and subtle shading.

This is a great production and well worth seeing. The next performances are Friday, November 9 and Saturday, November 10.

See www.operade.org


Thursday, November 1, 2012

Visit "The Boys Next Door" at the Wilmington Drama League


Pictured: Alan Harbaugh, Shawn Kline, and Tom Hartzell
The second production of the Wilmington Drama League’s (WDL) 2012 – 13 season is Tom Griffin’s The Boys Next Door. The play, set in the late 1980s, perfectly captures the treatment of people living with a mental challenge and/or living with a mental illness. Deb Johnson successfully directs this piece that could easily offend, or be considered un-PC. She does a great job handling a delicate topic, making sure her cast gives full respect to their characters, never letting them become caricatures.

The play, primarily set in a group home where four men (Arnold, Lucien and Norman, who are mentally challenged and Barry, who is living in recovery with mental illness) reside. Each man is contending with a crisis: Arnold (Eric Merlino), the nervous do-gooder is being taken advantage of by his co-workers at the local movie theater; Norman (Shawn Kline), the happy-go-lucky donut shop worker who has been gaining weight since he developed an insatiable craving for the circular cakes and is also sorting through his developing feelings for Sheila (Tina M. Sheing), who is also mentally challenged; Lucien (Alan Harbaugh), the sweetheart of the group is preparing to go before a government panel to defend his need for social security benefits; and Barry (Edward Stein), the most competent one of the group is anticipating his abusive father’s (Robert Touhey) visit. Assisting these men is a social worker, Jack (Tom Hartzell), who is contemplating a job change.

The play is like watching a week in the life of these characters. A chance to see how individuals who are living with mental challenges and mental illnesses have a longing to connect with others and be part of the community, just like everyone else.

Each actor gives a compelling performance. Mr. Kline and Ms. Sheing’s scenes together are touching. It’s sweet to watch these two actors interact and convey the feelings of falling in love. The scene between Mr. Stein and Mr. Touhey is gritty and raw. Effortlessly, the actors create an intense scene between an ill son and a father who resorts to abuse because he is unable to relate to his own son.

Mr. Harbaugh’s performance as Lucien is a standout. His tone and movement are flawless. He was so convincing that at times I forgot he was an actor playing a part; I wanted to help him along his journey.

Although the play tackles serious topics, for the most part it does it with humor and warmth. It moves like a TV sitcom - a series of vignettes shifting from one character’s situation to another.

See The Boys Next Door now through November 4, at WDL. For tickets, visit wilmingtondramaleague.org or call 302.764.1172.

Friday, October 26, 2012

100 Artists for 100 Years


Mediation 38-Healing Energy (detail)
Kentmere Parkway was abuzz last Friday night, lined with cars and people heading toward the glow of the Delaware Art Museum.  Once hubby & I were inside, we were impressed not only by the large-scale installation greeting us on the entryway wall (part of the exhibition), but also the timeline running along the hallway to the Copeland Gallery.  The dual timeline denoted highlights in the century-long history of the Museum as well as pop culture points of interest, such as the moon landing, the first test-tube baby, the death of Andy Warhol, divided by decade “lumps”.  Patrons were encouraged to post their own memories on the wall with sticky notes.  There were plenty of interesting observations, “love notes,” even intricate doodles, provided from art lovers from every age.

The Centennial Juried Exhibition features a variety of media—drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, video, and installation—and includes artists living either in Delaware or within 100 miles of the Museum.  The exhibition was guest-juried by John B. Ravenal, the Sydney and Frances Lewis Family Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and it is available for viewing now through January 2013.

Cauda Equina (detail)
In January 2012, the Museum launched a call for artist entries and received nearly 450 applications of nearly 1,300 artworks by the March 2012 deadline. Twenty Delaware artists, including Michael Kaklmbach, Kevin Bielicki and Ken Mabrey, were in the mix along with artists from Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.  All totaled, 96 works were selected for mounting from close to 100 artists.  Many of the artists were on hand during the evening, and patrons were eagerly chatting each of them up and taking photos with them and their work.

Some of my favorite pieces, in no particular order:
• Meditation 38-Healing Energy, 2009 — Donna Usher
• Political Climates: Delaware, 2011 — Michael Kalmbach
• Venation (Rubber), 2011 — Wendy Ellen Wilkinson Gordon
• Cauda Equina, 2007 — Keith W. Bentley
• Into the Fold, 2011 — Delainey Barclay

It’s an amazing exhibit that shows us precisely what kinds of talent surrounds us in our 100-mile radius and throughout the 100-year history of one of Delaware’s greatest treasures.

See www.delart.org.

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Serafin String Quartet Opens The Arts at Trinity's 2012 - 13 Season

WARNING! I’m not a musician and I have never studied music, so this review of Serafin String Quartet will not feature any technical aspects of the concert, just my observations and feelings.

The Serafin String Quartet’s Concert began the 2012 – 13 season of The Arts at Trinity (Trinity Church). Unfortunately, it was a one-night only concert, but don’t you fret, the Quartet will end the The Arts at Trinity’s season with another performance on Saturday, April 20. 

The Quartet includes Esme Allen-Creighton on the viola, Lawrence Stomberg on the ‘cello, and Kate Ransom and Timothy Schwarz on the violins; pianist, Victor Santiago Asuncion joined the Quartet for the second act.  The evening included classical pieces by the renowned composers – Ludwig van Beethoven, Ernst Von Dohnanyi, and W.A. Mozart.

The first act included Mozart’s Divertimento in D Major, K. 136 and Beethoven’s String Quartet in Eb Major, Op. 74 (“Harp”), while the second act featured one piece, Dohnanyi’s Quintet for Piano and Strings in C Minor, Op. 1.

I thoroughly enjoyed the concert at Trinity. The splendid performance was fitting for the 1890 Church with its gorgeous Tiffany stained glass windows. The music ranged from soft and delicate to joyous and loud. At times I would close my eyes and let the music transport me to another place and time, while other times I watched the musicians expertly play their instruments or let my eyes wander the church as it was being filled with the glorious sounds resonating from the group.

I particularly enjoyed Dohnanyi’s quintet. I loved the movements of the music; it went from being pure and jovial to dark and intense. I also enjoyed watching the musicians take on Dohnanyi’s musical journey. They remained in control as the piece ebbed and flowed, each musician masterly playing their respected instrument.

Although you won’t be able to see this performance, you will have the opportunity to enjoy other great performances at the Church, including: Rivales De La Sierra on November 24, Tiffany at the Organ on January 19, City Theater Company’s A Night at the Improv on February 23, Photography Contest & Exhibit on March 10, and Serafin String Quartet on April 20. Visit www.theartsattrinity.org for more information about these upcoming performances.  

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Market Street Music features Organ Recital at First & Central


Gabriel Kney organ at First & Central Presbyterian
When you walk into the First and Central Presbyterian Church at Rodney Square, you walk out of the night and into a brightly lit space.  The organ console is at the very center of the chancel.  The organ case is behind the console with its beautiful white wood housing encasing the massive ranks of the 1989 instrument built by David Kney.

David Schelat started with Dieterich Buxtehude’s  Praeludium in D major and the church filled with sound.  The acoustics  created a swirl of sound as each new line chased the prior one into oblivion.  

Mr. Schelat then played selections from Bach's Orgelbüchlein, choosing several short pieces which demonstrated the range of sounds the Kney can produce such as the Zimbelstern bells for the New Year: In you is joy (BWV 615).

David Schelat, organist &
Music Director, Market Street Music
The Toccata and Fugue in A minor by Johann Ludwig Krebs was the centerpiece of the program.  Mr. Schelat has such technical mastery that the complex pedal lines, the fast scales, contrasting themes played simultaneously and the registration seemed to magically unfold.   The virtuosity of this piece rivals anything by Bach, with whom Krebs studied.

After the intermission, Mr. Schelat played one of his own compositions — an organ sonata in three movements.  The piece is quite melodic, but has innovative ideas such as the melody line played in the pedals for the folk song movement, with the keyboard playing an arpeggiated harmony.  The relatively short piece, with its clear conception, was written for a colleague, Michael Britt, who premiered it in France.

Mr. Schelat used a lot of dynamic variation with the swell pedal for the Cesar Franck Fantaisie in A and the Piece Héroique,  His encore, one of the Noel variations by Charpentier gave us an opportunity to hear the organ’s reed and piccolo stops.  

This was a great tour of an amazing organ led by a local virtuoso, right in the center of Wilmington.

See www.marketstreetmusicde.org.

Monday, October 22, 2012

The Newark Symphony Orchestra: A Crowd-Pleasing Season Opener!


What a relief — classical music is not dead! The Independence School's 900-seat auditorium was nearly full for the Newark Symphony Orchestra's season opening concert.  The program, which included Aaron Copland's Fanfare for a Common Man, Antonin Dvořák's Cello Concerto in B minor, op. 104 and Brahms' Symphony No. 4 in E minor, was a crowd pleaser.
Newark Symphony Orchestra, led by Simeone Tartaglione
The Newark Symphony's Music director, Simeone Tartaglione conveyed his musical ideas passionately and precisely as the community orchestra's leader.   With Copland's Fanfare for a Common Man, he showcased the group's excellent and strong brass section. 

Cellist Ovidiu Marinescu wowed the audience with his virtuosic playing in Dvořák''s challenging and soulful Cello Concerto in B minor.   The concerto, which is not unlike Brahms' concerti and symphonies, is full of longing and tragedy.  Masterfully constructed, the concerto showcases the soloist and allows him to lead the orchestra.
Tartaglione's love for Brahms — and Brahms' Fourth Symphony in particular — was evident in his conducting and in his pre-performance discussion.  An optimist, his discussion highlighted the salvation in Brahms' triumphant themes, which juxtapose the deeply tragic ones.   Once again, the brass, joined by an equally stellar woodwind section, excelled in the performance of this rich symphonic work.   But there is no happy ending with Brahms: A composer who felt more deeply or understood the human condition more thoroughly has never existed.  
See www.newarksymphony.org.

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Bootless Gets Rowdy with Jerry Springer


Robert Bove as Jerr
If you’re familiar with Wilmington’s Bootless Stageworks, you know it never shies away from controversial work — and JERRY SPRINGER, THE OPERA (featuring Delaware Arts Info Blog's own Jessica Graae!) is one of the most no-holds-barred shows they’ve done yet. The British opera (based, of course, on the American “trash-TV” show) has met with protests in the UK since it opened in 2003, offending the religious and sensitive while simultaneously racking up awards. The Bootless production takes the relatively large-scale show and capsulizes it into an intimate, almost interactive event in OperaDelaware’s tiny Black Box theater.

A couple of things to know about JERRY SPRINGER: First, it’s a true 
opera -- almost. All of the characters sing all of their lines in operatic style with two exceptions: Jerry himself, and his Security guy Steve. And second, there is more profanity, sexual innuendo, culturally insensitive language and stereotyping than any other show I can think of off hand. And that doesn’t even include the portrayals of God, Jesus and Satan in the third act. Expect it to be extremely funny, expect it to be dark, expect plenty of social commentary, but don’t expect political correctness.


As Jerry, 2012 WMGK Comedy Contest winner Robert Bove effectively 
takes a central role in the middle of the madness that is his show, with its frenzied audience and parade of lying, cheating guests, all of whom are on the show to reveal a dark secret (or two) to their partners. Catfights, pole-dancing, and emotional solos ensue. When one guest is revealed to be a member of the KKK, things turn violent, moving the action to Purgatory and, eventually, Hell.




The stellar casts features some of the region’s brightest rising opera  singers, including Jessica Graae, Elizabeth Zell, Michael Popovsky, Kimberly Christie, Michael Gamache and Cynthia Ballentine, as well as local musical theater denizens Colleen McGinnis, Nichalas Parker, Geoff Bruen, and Robb Russ. Every character (and each actor plays at least two) has their “Jerry Springer Moment” where he or she gets to steal the scene — or at least co-steal it.


The live orchestra, led by James W. Fuerst, blended with the voices 
without overpowering them nearly perfectly — no small feat in such a small room, with actors who are not mic’d.


Hearing beautiful singing voices use extremely profane language is a 
big part of the show’s appeal — it’s a juxtaposition that never fails to entertain (though a lot of classic operas are full of similar scandals, so it’s both modern-day parallel and juxtaposition). For this, alone, I would recommend the show. But the JERRY SPRINGER is also more than a freak show — it’s an honest commentary on the cult of “junk” culture that goes deeper than you might expect.


Jerry Springer, The Opera runs through Saturday, October 20. Reserve tickets at bootless.org
.


(This review also appears in Stage Magazine)

TV Stars Grace the Delaware Theatre Company's Stage

The Delaware Theatre Company (DTC) opens its 2012 - 2013 season with the Delaware premiere play, The Outgoing Tide, by Bruce Graham and directed by Bud Martin, who is celebrating his first season as the Executive Director of DTC.  The three-person play stars three celebrated television actors: Michael Learned (The Waltons), Ian Lithgow (3rd Rock from the Sun), and Peter Strauss (The Jericho Mile).
The three actors make up the Concannon family; Mr. Lithgow plays Jack, the grown son of Gunner (Mr. Strauss) and Peg (Ms. Learned). Gunner, the now retired South Philly, blue-collar worker who later owned his own trucking business and married his teenage sweetheart, has summoned Jack to Gunner's and Peg's retirement home on the Chesapeake Bay. Gunner has a proposal to make to both Peg and Jack that will forever change their lives.
The three actors are stellar in this thought provoking dramedy. Mr. Lithgow gives a subtle, but effective performance as Jack. Through flashbacks during the play, the audience gains a better understanding of Jack's inner turmoil and Mr. Lithgow handles the role beautifully. Ms. Learned gives a commanding performance as Peg. Peg, a devout Catholic, is dedicated to her family and their wellbeing. She's trying to keep everyone happy and healthy, while maintaining her sanity. However, with a husband like Gunner, that's not always easy. Gunner, like Peg, is also dedicated to his family, but he's confronted with a life-altering dilemma that can't be ignored.
Mr. Strauss gives a dynamic performance as the family's patriarch; a one time city boy who is now an aging fisherman. Mr. Strauss fully captures Gunner's South Philly background, perfectly adopting the accent and movement of the character. He may be known for his television and film work, but in this play Mr. Strauss proves that he belongs on the stage! Besides the three exemplary performances, Scenic Designer, Dirk Durossette, creates a gorgeous set that serves as the interior and exterior of the Concannon's residence. The set truly evokes a cottage-like home on the Chesapeake (my Dad owns a home in that area)! 

See The Outgoing Tide now through October 28, at DTC before it moves to 59E59 Theaters in New York. For tickets, visit DelawareTheatre.org or call 302.594.1100. 
Pictured: Ian Lithgow (Jack), Michael Learned (Peg) and Peter Strauss (Gunner)
Photography by Matt Urban

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Revival of the DSO


No, it was not the usual Hotel Dupont Gold Ballroom Chamber Series. The champagne was not free, nor were the soft drinks - but the music was first rate.

General Manager Diana Milburn was vigilant – making sure every aspect of the concert went smoothly. She was well-versed about which performers and pieces were in the future chamber concerts. She also made sure there was a beautifully printed program listing the performers and the pieces. On the program was a long list of all of the faithful donors who have been supporting a Delaware Symphony which has not performed since July 4, 2012. If Ms. Milburn has managed to do all of this so quickly, perhaps there will be a chance for the symphony to survive.

And survive it should. The Mozart Divertimento for Strings No. 3, K138 in F Major was as smooth as silk. Violinists Luigi Mazzocchi and Lisa Vaupel, violist Elizabeth Jaffe and cellist Naomi Grey played together as if they had been working together for years. Every phrase and nuance of the Mozart was magically melded with dynamics and articulation falling into place enabling the subtle musical colors to fill the room.

The Beethoven String quartet No. 9, Opus 59, No. 3 is a very complex piece which became a showcase for each of the four players. The rich support of Lisa Vaupel’s violin was so together with Luigi Mazzocchi’s that it was difficult to tell who was playing which line at times. Elizabeth Jaffe’s rich, dark, melodic lines on the viola created an inner voice that made the music rounded and full of harmony. I had heard the former players in chamber concerts, but this was the first time I had an opportunity to hear the amazing virtuosity of cellist Naomi Grey. She had some very difficult passages in the Beethoven which she played as if they were easy. Her tone, intonation, pizzicato and her ability to project were remarkable. This made me realize that there is so much talent in the Delaware Symphony that we just don’t hear individually. What a perfect occasion to do so.

The second half of the concert was much lighter fare for the listener, but certainly not light for the players. The Giacomo Puccini Three Minuets for Strings are really vocal writing and the quartet took this challenge quite lyrically. The Lullaby for string quartet by George Gershwin is a lush arrangement by the composer of a long piano solo piece which had extensive exposed parts for each instrument.

The concert ended with some fun Latin tangos and dances. Luigi Mazzocchi introduced them as dear to his heart and proved it by his energetic playing. The concert was a great taste of what we could have if we continue to support our endangered symphony. Bravi to all the players and to Diana Milburn who has boldly taken on the challenge of righting the ship.

See www.delawaresymphony.org

Friday, October 5, 2012

Time travel with Brandywine Baroque

Karen Flint, the artistic director of Brandywine Baroque goes to great lengths to create an authentic program with period instruments in a room small enough to hear baroque instruments, yet large enough to hold about one hundred people. That alone is reason to attend a concert at the Barn at Flintwoods.

Martin Davids and Edwin Huizinga, violins in rehearsal


The minute you sit down, you have the feeling you have travelled in time back to the late sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It is impossible to resist looking at the brilliant colors and detail on the lid, soundboard and edge of the virginal which was the star of the concert. The virginal is actually a one-year-old reproduction by John Phillips, but that does not in any way dilute the intense feeling that you have travelled back in time.


When Ms. Flint started the concert with a solo piece from Elizabeth Rogers’ Virginal Book published in 1657, I was transported to another era. The rich tones and astounding depth of sound from the tiny decorative keyboard instrument were a great surprise. Ms. Flint has an ease of mastery and feel for the keyboard.


The two gamba players, John Mark Rozendaal and Donna Fournier, two violinists playing viol parts, Martin Davids and Edwin Huizinga played both chamber pieces - some of which were wildly complex. A fantasia in c minor by William Lawes was an extremely complex contrapuntal piece which had eccentrically interpolated rhythms.

Donna Fournier and John Mark Rozendaal gambas

Laura Heimes, soprano and Tony Boutté, tenor sing baroque styles with such purity and clarity and have such technical mastery of the style that they are able to really portray a song with gesture, humor and grace. Ms. Heimes’ singing is always delightful, but when she sings baroque music, her vocal line is pure and simple with minimal vibrato and magical ease on the high notes.


Each of the performers seemed to exude a playfulness and joy in the music that made the entire concert a pleasure. The physical expressions of all the players and singers and their ability to truly touch another style and time made this a moving experience. And the program itself was so beautifully written and researched by Ms. Flint that it became a great ready reference tool for those of us who did not know about the instruments.

 
After the concert, Ms. Flint was more than ready to show us the instrument and talk about the exquisite illustrations and decorations and where and how it was made.

 
When concerts are that thoroughly prepared, they change your entire perspective on music.


See www.brandywinebaroque.org



Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Mėlomanie plays at Immanuel Highlands


The Immanuel Episcopal Church, Highlands has begun a Music at Immanuel program featuring a great fall calendar of performances starting with an evening of Mėlomanie. The program featured a world premiere by guitarist/composer Chris Braddock called Grease in the Groove which was a delightful mix of country music and jazzy sounds for mandolin, twelve-string guitar, harpsichord and cello. Doug McNames, cello, took Braddock’s brash bass line and ran with it, creating a fun and almost washtub effect while Tracy Richardson played a series of delicate scales and arpeggios on the harpsichord. Braddock played his mandolin part which he had made the lead voice dominating the trio. Then he switched to the twelve-string guitar against which he created a very high cello part which took over the dominant voice for the end of the piece — evocative of Scheherazade rather than the country style in which the piece began.

Two baroque pieces introduced each half of the program. The Paris Quartet No. 4 in B Minor, TWV 43: h2 featured Chris Braddock playing an additional continuo to Richardson’s harpsichord and the Concerto No. 3 in D Major by Joseph Bodin de Boismortier which featured Eve Friedman (baroque flute) and Priscilla Smith (baroque oboe). Both pieces were lively and light; not at all out of place with the contemporary pieces on the program.

Mėlomanie also presented excerpts of four pieces they had commissioned in the past decade and invited each composer to speak about his or her piece. Not only was it a treat to have the composers be present for the concert, but it was interesting to compare the acoustics in Immanuel to those of Grace Church.

Violinist Christof Richter
Chuck Holdeman said his Quarter note = 48 was written in 5/4 time to make sure there was no recognizable downbeat, but the impeccable coordination between flutist Kim Reighley and cellist Doug McNames made it seem more strictly laid out than he led us to believe. Ingrid Arauco’s Pavane opened with the harpsichord’s sparkling high register and melted into a fugal resolution picked up by the modern flute, gamba, cello and violin. Mark Hagerty’s Trois Rivières excerpt was very jazzy with a 5/8 meter creating a dance feel which he felt was influenced by his time spent in Brazil.

Flutist Kimberly Reighley

The two excerpts from Kile Smith’s The Nobility of Women were brilliantly played by his daughter Priscilla, for whom he wrote the piece. Her baroque oboe sound is so incredibly smooth that the listener might forget it is a double reed instrument – the baroque oboe being more temperamental even than its prima donna modern cousin. The Sarabande is slow and sad and the oboe voice pierces plumbs the darkness with its soulful sound and the Canarios, which featured all of the Mėlomanie players, was written in a traditional baroque style, yet it still evokes a very swinging and modern dance, especially when the oboe is playing long dotted rhythms over the other voices.

Mėlomanie will continue their residence at Grace Church on Washington Street in January.

See www.melomanie.org.
See www.immanuel-highlands.org.

Friday, September 28, 2012

Art IS everywhere in New Castle County, too!!!


Love's Messenger in Brandywine Park
I confess it took us two tries to see all of the pop-up art in New Castle County (a continuation of our Delaware pop-up journey is chronicled in the blog Art is everywhere in Kent and Sussex County), but we had two absolutely gorgeous days in which to view the sights.


The first trip was in the late afternoon – starting from Newark and seeking endlessly on the green (or mall, if you call it that) and discovering John Sloan’s Spring Rain was really on Main Street – mounted on a brick dormitory wall. Not only was it confusing to locate, but I realized that as a Newark resident, I had driven by the outdoor art many times since it was posted.

Then a quick trip to New Castle to see Edward Moran’s Standing Out – a mighty war ship poised in front of the Court House Museum, where you can see the Delaware River flowing just down the street and imagine the ship sailing on it. Right beside the picture, one of our favorite Sunday Coop Market veggie vendors was letting his great display of eggplant, apples and okra lure people in. One of us yielded to the apples.

A trip to Crabby Dick’s let us see Dante Gabriel Rosetti’s Lady Lilith taught me about the first wife of Adam, Lilith. That was not anything I had remembered from Sunday school. Of course, after posing with beautiful Lilith, we just had to have supper at Crabby Dick’s – indoors looking out the window towards Pea Patch Island. Thus endeth our first New Castle County pop-up run.

The second trip was also a beautiful day. We met at the Delaware Center for Contemporary Arts where we had just been to a concert. Walking from the DCCA to the Riverfront took us directly to Howard Pyle’s Attack on a galleon which had itself been attacked – robbed of its sign! We penciled in the proper title for the record and sped off to the Grand Opera House to see Romeo and Juliet by Ford Maddox Brown where we found a young family looking at Tom Maloney’s great statue. We began to stare at the painting and had a great discussion with the family.

Two more stops: the Jasper Crane Rose Garden in Brandywine Park had Love’s Messenger by Marie Spartali Spillman. The painting has a beautiful Pre-Raphaelite model feeding a pigeon and looking towards a river through a window and the Brandywine flowed right behind the picture’s window. Beautiful weather, roses, art, sigh.

When we sought out Howard Pyle’s Marooned, we were surprised that we had to go into the pub and onto their terrace to actually see the work, which is large and quite striking. But somehow, placing a large work between tables and umbrellas on a pub terrace seemed strange.


Milking Time at the Woodside Farm Creamery
Afterwards, we set off for Hockessin to see the very last work on our list: Milking Time by Winslow Homer which was placed on the wall of a barn at the Woodside Creamery. The milkmaid and the farm boy fit in so seamlessly with the cows and barn and fields that one could imagine Mr. Homer painting it after being inspired by Woodside Farm ice cream. We, too, celebrated the completion of our pop-art art tour with a generous serving.


Please do this again, Delaware Art Museum!

 
See www.delart.org.


Tuesday, September 25, 2012

The Real Thing at the Chapel Street Players

Tom Stoppard’s 1982 play, The Real Thing, is a beautifully constructed kaleidoscope which shows us how relationships ebb and flow and gives us the fly-on-the-wall view that would never be possible to have in real life.

The play has so many British cultural references that the cast took the challenge and all mastered some very good British accents and Thomas Russell, who played Billy, mastered a natural and convincing Scots accent. They pulled off the Stoppard word-play quite blithely even though the full and mostly American audience on opening night did not always understand the joke.


The characters are mostly actors and playwrights and it is perhaps for that reason that they find it so hard to communicate in a straightforward manner. Two philanderers in the crowd even find it impossible to tell their spouses they want to leave them until they finally get caught (Phew!). Before long, though, one of the flighty lovebirds decides they need to stray from the new relationship.

 
Stoppard could have been and supposedly was writing about his own life. He left his first wife to take up with an actress in one of his plays. But whether or not he meant to write a biographical essay, he went quite deeply into the psychological aspects of relationships, illustrated their shortcomings, and ended his play with an optimistic view of love.





Jeremiah Dillard as Henry and Georgiana Staley as Annie (above)did a wonderful job of showing how the first blush of love wears thin quickly in a passionate affair. Their development after they move in together is what makes the play an absorbing study of life and love. When Brodie the soldier appears in their flat after years of influencing Henry and Annie from afar, they both realize where their priorities lie. Their final scene provides an end to their constant search for something better.
The Real Thing runs September 21st, 22nd, 27th, 28th, 29th at 8 p.m. and September 23rd at 2 p.m.



See www.chapelstreetplayers.org

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

A "Spelling Bee" to Remember at NCT

Photo: Marilyn Scanlon
Judging by the number of open seats at the New Candlelight's Saturday opening of William Finn's The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, the relatively obscure comic musical doesn't have the up-front draw of big names like Miss Saigon, Annie or Cats. That's too bad, because Spelling Bee is every bit as entertaining as the bigger shows, and more fun than your average musical.

Under the direction of Robert M. Kelly, Spelling Bee tells the story of -- well, a spelling bee. If that sounds dull to you, you're probably not familiar with the quirks, pressure and sheer drama of spelling bees, and you've definitely not seen the subject handled in such a funny and charming way. And when I say funny, I mean Spelling Bee is hilarious.

In the first Act, Rona Lisa Perretti (Lindsay Mauck), the moderator and winner of the 3rd Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, introduces the competitors: Reigning champion Chip Tolentino (Anthony Connell), mini political activist Logainne "Swartzy" Schwartzandgruennier (Michelle Cabot), caped homeschooled outcast Leaf Coneybear (Billy Hart), sniffling nerd William "Barfy" Barfée (David T. Snyder), parochial school genius Marcy Park (Dana Kreitz), and anxious and addled Olive Ostrovsky (Victoria Healy). Then, in addition to the six scripted characters, she calls the names of four real audience members who join the actors on stage to participate in the bee. So basically, no one knows what's going to happen. When you see it -- and you should -- Act I will play out differently, and that, of course, is part of the fun. We had a great, sharp group of audience volunteers on Saturday, and really, there aren't many things funnier than the dance number that included the volunteers (who, of course, didn't know the choreography). It adds a level of interactive-ness, even among the seated audience, that few shows have.
Billy Hart, Michelle Cabot, Dana Kreitz and Anthony Connell. Photo: Marilyn Scanlon


As great as the audience participation is, the show is about the six young spellers, Rona, and her co-moderator Vice Principal Panch (Ryan Ruggles). Over to the side is Daniel Bontempo as Mitch Mahoney, a parolee earning community service credits by escorting losing contestants off the stage and comforting them with a juice box. Keep an eye on Bontempo -- Mitch is a small part, but he magically transforms into other characters in the minds of the contestants. He plays the more nurturing of of Swarzy's two fathers, with Hart dropping the goofy facade of Leaf to play her uber-competitive, win-at-any-cost dad. He also plays Olive's absent father, a distant man in a business suit who sings to her, along with Mauck as her really absent mother, in the most moving scene of the show.

Yes, as hilarious as it is, the show is moving, even emotional, with heart that exists in any really good work of comedy. These are children under tremendous pressure to excel, hormones just starting to rage, and they all have a sadness about them. One by one, they are eliminated, each responding in a different way. The last two standing are the ones who most want to be there, and you feel it, because all of the actors play their parts perfectly. I've said it before -- if you haven't been to the NCT, you're missing out. I hope word spreads about this show, and it starts selling out night after night until it closes on October 28. It deserves it.

For tickets and show times, go to http://www.nctstage.org/.