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Arts & Life
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- Written by: Connel Murray
LAKEPORT, Calif. – This year’s Lake County Symphony Christmas Concert will feature not only the 60 piece orchestra playing traditional holiday favorites, but also vocal presentations by a number of nationally and internationally recognized artists.
The concert will take place on Sunday, Dec. 16, at 3 p.m. at Lakeport’s Soper-Reese Community Theatre, 275 S. Main St. It is sponsored by Clear Lake Performing Arts.
Joining the orchestra will be Shelly Trumbo-Mascari singing a medley of Christmas standards. Her recording and performing credentials include a nationally released solo album and movie trailers for Universal Pictures and NFL sporting events.
She has toured the U.S. and internationally on behalf of the U.S. Government, winning accolades along the way. In prior appearances Trumbo-Mascari has won the hearts of Lake County audiences.
Another local favorite, Carl Stewart, was chosen by Warner Brothers as a staff song writer, but also served as a judge for two years at the American Song Writers’ Festival and also sang leading roles in Carmen, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Man of La Mancha and many others.
Stewart is a true crossover artist, moving effortlessly from classical music to the country-oriented pop music favored by “Blue Collar” the local band he originated.
A graduate of Kelseyville High School, Sarah Cunningham studied with a number of nationally recognized vocal teachers before attending California State University Sacramento where she not only directed the school’s jazz ensemble, but also sang with its big bands.
She received her master’s of music degree in 2007, and returns to Lake County from Roseville for this performance, where she has thrilled music-lovers with her vocal presentations.
Another well-regarded local vocalist Walt Trumbo also will join in singing Christmas favorites with the Symphony.
The CLPA Youth Orchestra, directed by Susan Condit, will present two numbers – “Believe” from the Disney film “Polar Express” and “December Fanfare” a musical salute to the holiday season written by contemporary composer Dr. Andrew Dabczynski.
Surprise addition to this year’s program will be an opening number of “Have a Holly, Jolly Christmas” sung by an a Capella group calling themselves “The Men of Soper-Reese.” The group’s credentials have not yet been released except a note that they ‘approach their art with enthusiasm.”
John Parkinson, Symphony Conductor, has put together a diverse program that includes the famed “Christmas Concerto” written in 1690 by Arcangelo Corelli, with the notation added to the original score that it was “Made for the Night of Christmas.”
It opens with a small group called a concertina made up of violinists Andi Skelton and Eleanor Cook and cellist John Weeks, backed by the orchestra. As the program progresses the wind and percussion sections join in as they play many Christmas favorites such as Leroy Anderson’s “Sleigh Ride,” “Frosty the Snowman,” “White Christmas,” Mel Torme’s “The Christmas Song” and many others.
A symphony tradition, the audience sing-along, will be led once again by the vocal quartet Ear-Reverence who, in spite of their name, show proper reverence in leading the audience in singing Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus.” They are made up of Bill Bordisso, Valerie Reid, Nick Reid and Carol Cole Lewis.
Since the Christmas Concert is usually the most popular of the symphony’s season, Clear Lake Performing Arts suggest those wishing to attend get their reservations in early.
They can be made online at www.soperreesetheatre.com or by phone at 707-263-0577 or in person on Fridays from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Soper-Reese box office or at the Travel Center in the Shoreline Shopping Center on South Main Street, Lakeport.
As always youths under 18 are admitted free to the full-dress rehearsal at 11 a.m., while adults wishing to take advantage of this more casual presentation can do so for only $5.
General admission to the concert is $25 or $20 for CLPA members. A limited number of premium seats also are available for $30.
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- Written by: Lake County News Reports
PLAYING FOR KEEPS (Rated PG-13)
With his Scottish accent, tousled-hair and ruggedly handsome looks, Gerard Butler strikes all the right notes of charm and good humor for the starring role of a down-on-his-luck former soccer star in “Playing for Keeps.”
An opening montage of grainy video clips establishes Butler’s George Dryer as a superstar on the international circuit. He’s in the league of David Beckham and Pele (those are only names of famous soccer players that readily come to mind).
While “Playing for Keeps” may showcase the endearing magnetism of a carefree athlete, this comedy is not quite sure if it should focus on George’s romantic entanglements or his primary mission of rebuilding a relationship with his estranged son.
Retired from the game, George is a man adrift, now relocated to Virginia so that he can put his life back together and also reconnect, hopefully, with his ex-wife Stacie (Jessica Biel).
After a series of bad investments, George has to rent a guest house where he is always dodging the landlord. His latest plan to get back on his feet is to land a job as a sportscaster.
Though his initial attempts at parenting are not very encouraging, George tries to establish a relationship with his young son Lewis (Noah Lomax), who has never really known his absentee father.
Circumstances lead George to become the coach of Lewis’ soccer team. Naturally, George’s talent inspires the kids to perform much better than ever, leading to some winning games with rival teams.
Meanwhile, the roguish George draws attention from an adoring class of new fans – soccer moms, consisting of attractive single women as well as unhappily married ones.
Obviously, during his playing career, George was a womanizer who never lacked for female companionship. Now he’s got women like Judy Greer, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Uma Thurman pursuing him with zestful lustiness.
The dilemma is that George is trying fitfully to at last become an “adult,” while the flirtatious soccer moms become a distraction in his quest to bond with Lewis.
For another matter, George wants to prove to his ex-wife Stacie that despite his penchant for having a wandering eye, she is the only woman he ever loved.
Of course, an additional complication is that Stacie is soon to be married to live-in boyfriend Matt (James Tupper), a bland sort of fellow who is probably decent and caring, but not terribly exciting.
George also has to contend with a really pushy soccer dad (Dennis Quaid) determined to make him his new best bud, convincing George to give his son more playing time and involving him in some dubious adventures.
The soccer moms also get pushy. Greer’s Barb is all weepy and clingy. Zeta-Jones’ Denise is calculating, dangling the prospect of a job opportunity at ESPN in front of George. Thurman’s Patti, a married woman, offers nothing but trouble.
George does his best to fend off these advances, though it is obvious that this is no easy task for him. Still, despite his faults, he’s got his mind fixed on repairing his past bond with Stacie.
At a certain point, “Playing for Keeps” tilts from the father-son bonding amidst the distractions from the fawning women to a greater focus on George trying to rekindle the romance with Stacie.
George’s transformation from all-over-the-field playboy to reasonably reliable family man is not going to be a bombshell revelation to anyone.
And if anyone finds it surprising how the events unfold for George and Stacie, the educated guess is that you haven’t seen enough romantic comedies.
The biggest surprise might be that “Playing for Keeps” is being released during the run-up to the holiday season, where films in wide release are generally grander in scale. Consider the upcoming “The Hobbit” as an example.
“Playing for Keeps” may be formulaic and predictable, but it’s not without its appeal. While Gerard Butler is charismatic, it’s Jessica Biel who delivers the best, most credible performance.
Though it has its fun, “Playing for Keeps” is, regrettably, ultimately forgettable. You may wonder how people like Uma Thurman and Catherine Zeta-Jones decided this was a film worthy of their talents.
DVD RELEASE UPDATE
DVD releases of recent films often offer new life for decent movies that never gained appropriate notice or had a limited theatrical release.
Both may be true of “Why Stop Now,” an oddball comedy about the adventures of a young piano genius and his drug-addicted mom on a very bad day.
Piano prodigy Eli Bloom (Jesse Eisenberg) is on his way to the most important audition of his life, but first he has to drop off his mother Penny (Melissa Leo) at a drug rehab center.
But there’s one little complication. Since Penny’s not quite high enough and has to test positive to be admitted, mother and son end up at the door of her dealer Sprinkles (Tracy Morgan) in search of one last score.
Because Penny is in debt and Sprinkles is low on product, Eli unwittingly must play negotiator as the unlikely team hit the streets in search of drugs.
A screwball comedy, “Why Stop Now” is wacky and absurdly funny. Where else would you find obstacles in the drug search that include a Revolutionary War reenactment and a foul-mouthed sock puppet?
Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.
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- Written by: Editor
UPPER LAKE, Calif. – In the first of its annual “Concerts with Conversation” series, the Tallman Hotel in Upper Lake will host two informal concerts by bluegrass guitarists Rob Ickes and Jim Hurst in the Meeting House next to the hotel at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 10, and Tuesday, Dec. 11.
Originally scheduled for one evening only, the Tuesday show sold out early and a second event was subsequently arranged.
“We are fortunate to be able to schedule this world class duo for a stop in Lake County,” said Tallman owner Bernie Butcher. “We had more than a little help from our friends Pat and Debbie Ickes. Pat is Rob Ickes’ older brother and a mean banjo player himself with his band Bound to Ride.”
A Northern California native, Ickes moved to Nashville in 1992 and joined Blue Highway, the highly esteemed bluegrass band, as a founding member in 1994.
He is recognized as one of the most innovative Dobro players on the scene today, contributing signature technique and greatly expanding the boundaries of the instrument's sonic and stylistic territory.
Ickes won the International Bluegrass Music Association's Dobro Player of the Year award for a record-setting eleventh time in 2009. He is the most recognized instrumentalist in the history of the IBMA awards.
Hurst also is a multi IBMA award-winner. His vocal talents, multi-instrumentalist abilities and well-rounded stylings make him one of the most sought after musicians in Nashville. In addition to his own recordings, Hurst has supported the recording sessions of some of the best artists in country and bluegrass music.
One critic who saw Ickes and Hurst perform together in Nashville commented that “their ability to follow each other through an unannounced maze of spaghetti-like improvisation is beyond normal human capability.” Good videos of the two playing together are available on YouTube.
Subject to limited availability, tickets for these shows at $25 plus tax may be purchased by calling the Tallman Hotel at 707-275-2244, Extension 0.
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- Written by: Editor
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – Lake County Theatre Co. will present its final performances of its production of “Miracle on 34th Street” on Saturday, Dec. 8, and Sunday, Dec. 9.
The performances take place at 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday in the Gard Street School Multipurpose Room, 3890 Gard St., Kelseyville.
The play was written by Mountain Community Theater in Ben Lomond and is based on the Twentieth Century Fox motion picture of the same name.
Tickets are available at Watershed Books, 305 N. Main St., Lakeport; Wildhurst Vineyards, 3855 Main St., Kelseyville; and 30 minutes before performances as the door.
Reserved seats cost $15, general $12, seniors and LCTC members save $2 and children under age 5 attend for $5 and tickets for a family of four cost $25.
For information, call 707-279-2595 or 707-998-0224.