Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan in The Trip. Film: Fans of director Michael Winterbottom’s Tristam Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story are likely to get a kick out of the ad lib road comedy The Trip, for he has again enlisted the duo of Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon in a sly verbal romp. As in the earlier film, the two British actors play themselves, or at least a comic … [Read more...]
Music review: Chamber fest’s Schoenberg falls short of transfiguration
Arnold Schoenberg (1874-1951).By Greg StepanichAs one of the Palm Beach Chamber Music Festival’s performers rightly said in her remarks from the stage, the name of Arnold Schoenberg is “box office poison” for a lot of people, but that really shouldn’t apply to his early string sextet, Verklärte Nacht.This important, beautiful work was one of the major events … [Read more...]
Chamber fest’s Schoenberg falls short of transfiguration
As one of the Palm Beach Chamber Music Festival’s performers rightly said in her remarks from the stage, the name of Arnold Schoenberg is “box office poison” for a lot of people, but that really shouldn’t apply to his early string sextet, Verklärte Nacht. This important, beautiful work was one of the major events of the programs in the first weekend of concerts presented in … [Read more...]
Theater feature/review: McKeever’s ‘Stuff’ brings empathy to hoarders’ tale
From left: Michael McKeever, Nicholas Richberg and Angie Radosh, in Stuff.By Hap ErsteinProlific and eclectic. You’re never quite sure what you’re going to get with a Michael McKeever play. But if you don’t like one, don’t worry, there will be another along in six months.As it happens, the Davie-based playwright-performer is serving up a winner currently with his … [Read more...]
Music review: Pianist Perez persuasive in music of Albeniz, Villa-Lobos
Vanessa Perez.By Greg StepanichIn an ambitious and wide-ranging recital Saturday night at the Steinway Gallery in Boca Raton, pianist Vanessa Perez brought poetry and power to music from Mozart to Villa-Lobos.It was in the music of South America and Spain that Perez, a native of Venezuela, made the strongest impact, though in the six years since I last saw her at the … [Read more...]
Pianist Perez persuasive in music of Albeniz, Villa-Lobos
In an ambitious and wide-ranging recital Saturday night at the Steinway Gallery in Boca Raton, pianist Vanessa Perez brought poetry and power to music from Mozart to Villa-Lobos. It was in the music of South America and Spain that Perez, a native of Venezuela, made the strongest impact, though in the six years since I last saw her at the Steinway Gallery, she has become a more … [Read more...]
Art review: Film villains, heroes share high sense of style at Norton show
Jim Carrey’s Riddler getup from Batman Forever (1995),designed by Bob Ringwood.By Gretel SarmientoIn an ideal world, bad guys are easily identifiable and, thus, avoidable. Their crimes are not carried out with a pen but with heavy swords or devastating superpowers. And right before they get their way, a hero sporting flashy colors saves the day.In that ideal … [Read more...]
Theater feature: PB Shakespeare Festival returns to magic of ‘The Tempest’
Katherine Seldin as Miranda and Kevin Crawford as Prospero in The Tempest.By Hap Erstein Twenty years ago, in Palm Beach Shakespeare Festival’s second season, the company took its first crack at The Tempest, the tale of an exiled Milanese duke who seeks revenge on his enemies through sorcery.Playing young Prince Ferdinand back then was 20-year-old Kevin Crawford, … [Read more...]
Weekend arts picks: July 8-10
Jade Master, left, winner of last year’s Palm Beach Idolscompetition, with events producer Eileen Weissmann at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre.Theater: Many of Palm Beach County’s professional theaters are idle this summer, but the Maltz Jupiter Theatre has a few special events, like this Saturday night’s talent competition, called -- what else? -- Palm … [Read more...]
Music feature: Camaraderie keeps PB Chamber Music Festival going, 20 summers on
Members of the Palm Beach Chamber Music Festival, picturedthis week at the Crest Theatre in Delray Beach. From left: Ellen Tomasiewicz, Rebecca Diderrich, Beth Larsen,Michael Ellert, Roberta Rust, Julia McAlister, Rene Reder and Sherie Aguirre.(Photo by Michael Price Photography)By Greg StepanichIt all began at Chuck and Harold’s.On a long-ago day at … [Read more...]