By a curious coincidence, 20 years ago — in 1997 — movie theaters saw the arrival of the epic film Titanic and Broadway’s big hit musical was also about the flagship of the White Star Line, the “largest moving object in the world.” Spoiler alert: In both works, the mammoth ocean liner hits an iceberg on its maiden voyage and sinks. (What, you knew that already?) But that … [Read more...]
Archives for January 2017
‘Paterson’: A bus-driving Virgil guides us through the quotidian
Most of Jim Jarmusch’s best movies are journey films, charting a character’s movements between two points — geographic but also spiritual and temporal. The more protracted the route, the stranger and better the movie. So it is with Paterson, which follows, with Bressonian simplicity and Akermanesque repetition, a week in the life of a Paterson, N.J., bus driver also named … [Read more...]
Stamina, style of Philadanco wows Duncan audience
With unabashed energy and brazen athleticism, The Philadelphia Dance Company, better known as Philadanco, launched the popular and highly respected Duncan Theatre’s Dance Series at Palm Beach State College in Lake Worth on Friday night. Presenting four works by four choreographers that drew upon African-American culture, classical ballet, and modern/contemporary dance, the … [Read more...]
A winning ‘Most Happy Fella’ at Broward Stage Door
By Dale King The Most Happy Fella is a most unusual stage show, and most entertaining. To present Frank Loesser’s award-winning production (he wrote the book, music and lyrics), the Broward Stage Door Theatre in Margate has pulled out all the stops. Solidly ensconced in the director’s chair, Carbonell Award-winner Andy Rogow has assembled an outstanding cast of … [Read more...]
Wick’s ‘West Side Story’ remarkably strong
West Side Story is not an Olympic sport, but if were, its degree of difficulty rating would be off the charts. The symphonic score by Leonard Bernstein requires singers of exceptional skill, the original choreography by Jerome Robbins calls for classically trained, inexhaustible dancers and the acting needs to be of, well, Shakespearean level. But Wick Theatre executive … [Read more...]
Dover Quartet opens Flagler season in brilliant fashion
The Dover String Quartet opened the Flager Museum Music Series on Jan. 10 with a bright, intense sound that was refreshing, lean and passionate. Founded in 2008 by four young graduates of Philadelphia’s Curtis Institute of Music, they were catapulted to international fame with their stunning sweep of Canada’s Banff International String Quartet Competition in 2013. … [Read more...]
At the Jewish Film Festival: Capsule reviews of some notable movies
Here are a few capsule reviews of entries in this year’s Donald Ephraim Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival, including the opening and closing night selections and a couple in between: On the Map (7 p.m. tonight, Kravis Center Cohen Pavilion) — In the same way that you don’t have to be Jewish to love Levy’s Rye Bread, you truly do not need to have any interest in the sport of … [Read more...]
Maltz’s ‘Producers’ lacks some wattage, but still a romp worth seeing
It’s all subjective, of course, but for my money, Mel Brooks’ 1968 show biz comedy The Producers is one of the top five funny films ever made. And the manic stage version which arrived in 2001 is one of a handful of truly funny musical comedies. Released for production by regional theaters in the last few years, the show is difficult to get right. Calibrating the brazenly … [Read more...]
‘The Founder’: Burgers and fries, ruthlessly delivered
Hollywood, land of stick figures and kale salads, has not been kind to poor McDonald’s and its 300 billion burgers sold. From direct hits like Super Size Me, Morgan Spurlock’s grandstanding overture into the pop-doc genre, to indirect slams like Fast Food Nation, with its grimace-worthy evidence of cow feces making its way into the meat grinders of megachains like so much … [Read more...]
Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival aims for diverse lineup
Diversity is the goal of the Donald M. Ephraim Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival, now in its 27th year, beginning Thursday and running for three-and-a-half weeks. “I think my overriding goal is always to bring in as many different people as I can,” says festival director Ellen Wedner. “But also to make people aware that it’s not a Jewish festival for Jewish people. It’s … [Read more...]