Highly Recommended
Theatricum Botanicum – This is a good Friday to catch Wendy’s Peter Pan because there is a discussion with the cast an hour before the performance and "Pay What You Will" ticket pricing. (So pay double – they deserve it.) The Winter’s Tale, one of Willie the Shake’s last, is a tragi-comedy in five acts. Their ever-evolving staple A Midsummer Night’s Dream has been performed by TB every season, for more than half a century now. Molière’s classic Tartuffe is brought forward a few centuries, and right into today’s headlines. How do you stop an invasive cultish worm who uses lies of biblical proportion to wind his way into your family life, your city, your country? Through the brilliant storytelling of Molière and Freyda Thomas’ clever adaptation in rhyming couplets, we watch a southern family in the 1980s begin to recognize a "taker" in their midst in the form of a televangelist. Wendy Fri (prologue discussion with cast at 6:30pm, before this performance on 7/26 – "Pay What You Will" ticket pricing), Tartuffe Sat, Winter Sun, Midsummer next Thurs, all 7:30pm, $15-60.
Vertigo 70mm (1958) – Hitchcock directs James Stewart and Kim Novak (always blondes, Alfred?) in what many consider his masterpiece, on many Top 10 of All Time lists. Since I was blown away last week by the Aero’s 70mm print of Hitch’s North By Northwest, I have no problem highly recommending this. The Aero’s 70mm festival is almost over, so don’t miss these last few. Or would you prefer to drive to Hollywood? Fri 7:30pm, Sat 2pm, Aero Theatre, Santa Monica, $15-20.
Lawrence of Arabia 70mm (1962) — This is in my Top Four. After Vertigo Saturday afternoon, go catch dinner and do some shopping and walk back for this masterpiece. Seven Oscars (handed out at SM Civic) including Best Picture, Best Director David Lean, but, the actors. Omar Sharif, Anthony Quinn, Jack Hawkins, Claude Rains, Alec Guinness, and in his first feature film, Peter O’Toole. Best Cinematography (you bet), editing, sound mixing, and score — the soundtrack by Maurice Jaure, also a new name, was the first LP I ever owned. (Thank you, Aunt Eleanor) It made me so curious about this T.E. Lawrence character that I immediately read his autobiography, and about a dozen other books written about him. One of the most memorable experiences of my life was to be driven by my friend Nigel along that country road near Surrey, where Lawrence was no doubt speeding dangerously on his motorcycle and lost his life. You have two chances at this. Sat 6pm, Sun 1pm, Aero Theatre, Santa Monica, $15-20.
Hot Club of Los Angeles — You can go to the Cinema Bar any Monday night, 9-11:30pm, for more than a decade now, and hear these hot players run through Django Reinhart-style ‘30s jazz. This amazing ensemble is a treasure. Mon 9pm, Cinema Bar, Culver City, no cover.
Recommended
Tonight — All-Beethoven, LA Phil — Still no Dude, it’s his pick up basketball night, but — we have Ludwig. Lotsa Ludwig. An overture, a triple concerto, then back after intermission to take the Fifth. Turn off your TV and elevate. Thurs 8pm, Hollywood Bowl, $15-186.
Tonight — Dwight Yoakam, Mavericks — It may not sound like a country name (or maybe it does), and he has always spray painted his jeans on, but they hit really fine cowboy boots (no tennies or casual shoes for this cowboy), his big hat is so pulled down it’s hard to see his face, and he has always, since I first saw him at The Palomino in the early ‘80s, carried the torch for real country music, especially Bakersfield-style. And the Mavericks are compatible, and a kick ass band, if not so rabidly authentic as Dwight. Thurs 7:30pm.
"Wild Things are Happening: The Art of Maurice Sendak" – Now you can see them much bigger than a page in a book. This is the first complete retrospective of his art since his death in 2012, and includes his work in many areas of the arts. 7/18-9/1, Skirball Museum — call for info and hours.
Michael Frantii & Spearhead — It’s been years since I’ve seen them, a couple of times, but a reliable source tells me they always put on a great show, with a positive slant, though the mix of music styles is unpredictable. Sounds good to me., Fri 6pm, Greek, LA, $15-325.
Outlaw Fest: Willie, Bob, Mellancamp – Nothing more to say. Wed 5pm, Hollywood Bowl, tickets from $59.
UB40, English Beat, Inner Circle – I can guarantee this will be very entertaining whether you light up or not, and you will be up skanking your cares away. Good enough? Wed 7:30pm, Greek, LA, $20-222.
The Substance of Fire — Is gaining steam. Drawing actors like Bryan Cranston, Kevin Pollack, Dann Florek, Laurence Fishburne. ("They all loved it," said Ruskin’s Mike Myers, "and now we are adding Thursdays, starting 8/8.") Starring Rob Morrow and Marcia Cross, both with extensive credits and awards for stage, film and TV. Go soon, you may well want to return and take friends. Fri, Sat, next Thurs 8pm, Sun 2pm, Ruskin Group Theatre, SM Airport, $25-40.
Coming Attractions (also Recommended): Wild Things Are Happening: The Art of Maurice Sendak, Skirball, 7/25-9/1; Theatricum Botanicum – Wendy’s Peter Pan 7/26, 8/9, 18, 25 - Tartuffe-Born Again 7/27, 8/4, 11, 18, 25, 30 – The Winter’s Tale 7/28, 8/2, 10, 16, 24 – A Midsummer Night’s Dream 8/1, 8, 15, 29; The Substance of Fire, Ruskin Group Theatre, 7/26, 27, 28, 8/2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 29, 30, 31, 9/1; Dwight Yoakam, Mavericks, Greek, 7/25; Michael Franti & Spearhead, Greek, 7/26; Lake Street Dive, Greek, 7/27; Lawrence of Arabia, 70mm, Aero Theatre, 7/27, 28; Outlaw Fest: Willie, Bob, Mellancamp. Hollywood Bowl, 7/31; UB40, English Beat, Inner Circle, Greek, 7/31; Schumann & Bruch, LA Phil, Hollywood Bowl, 8/1; Theatricum Botanicum's Annual Gala, Echoes In The Forest, 8/3; Mavis Staples, Norah Jones, Greek, 8/4; Reggae Night XXII: Damian and Stephen Marley, Hollywood Bowl, 8/4; Hives, Foo Fighters, BMO Stadium, 8/9; Jon Batiste, Greek, 8/10; Wailing Souls, Levitt Pavilion, 8/10; Alanis Morisette, Joan Jett & Blackhearts, Kia Forum, 8/10; Pretenders, Foo Fighters, BMO Stadium, 8/11.
Charles Andrews has lived in Santa Monica for 38 years and wouldn’t live anywhere else.
