If you tried to gauge which musical performers were the busiest in South Florida, thoughts might toward to a pop singer, a country guitarist, or maybe a freelancing rock drummer. But a blues artist? Well, maybe if they played guitar and sang. How about a bass player? Not very likely. And a blues bass player? You’re dreaming. Yet Mark Telesca (www.marktelesca.com) is living … [Read more...]
Stories of justices’ lives enrich look at U.S. death penalty
When the U.S. Supreme Court struck down death penalty laws in 1972, it effectively reversed the death sentences of more than 700 inmates, including 96 in Florida. The high court’s ruling in Furman v. Georgia was decided 5-4. The nine justices wrote nine separate opinions totaling more than 600 pages. It was the longest and most confusing decision in Supreme Court history, in … [Read more...]
Eminent critic Farber lives again in new collection of film essays
For many, the biggest surprise from this year’s Oscar telecast was not Hugh Jackman’s better-than-average hosting job or the upset victory of Departures for Best Foreign Language Film. It was the inclusion of critic Manny Farber in the montage of recently deceased cinematic luminaries. For me, watching Farber’s outsider name fade in, and seconds later fade out, on the onstage … [Read more...]
‘Private Lives’ a witty, refreshing summer tonic
Caroline Strong and Wynn Harmon in Private Lives. Perhaps as important as romance to a successful relationship is a well-matched pair of witty bickerers. And maybe that is as good a definition of love as you could hope to find. At least that is the philosophy of Noel Coward in his 1930 classic comedy, Private Lives, now receiving a robust, satisfying production at Palm Beach … [Read more...]