BELL, MIDORI, BOWL - courtesy photos
THE BOWL WILL RING YOUR BELL
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Tonight - THEATRICUM BOTANICUM: "The Winter’s Tale" is one of Willie the Shake’s last, a tragi-comedy in five acts. TB’s ever-evolving staple "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" has been performed by them every season, for more than half a century now.Molière’s classic "Wendy’s Peter Pan" is typical of how TB takes a fresh look at things, and by title alone sounds like a lot of fun. "Tartuffe" is brought forward a few centuries, and right into today’s headlines. "Midsummer" Thurs, 7:30 p.m., "Winter" Fri 7:30 p.m.,"Tartuffe" Sun 3:30 p.m.,"Wendy"Sun 7:30 p.m., $15-60.
HOT CLUB OF LOS ANGELES — You can go to the Cinema Bar any Monday night, 9-11:30, 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 9 p.m., Cinema Bar, Culver City, no cover.
RECOMMENDED:
"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. 8/15 - 9/1, Skirball Museum, admission price? Parking fee - call for info and hours.
Tonight - "THE SUBSTANCE OF FIRE" – is still getting glowing reviews, and packing them in at our local theater treasure, The Ruskin, at the airport, in this long run. Written in 1991 by Jon Robin Baitz while still in his 20s, he drew his characters lovingly and skillfully, even those decades past his age. Directed here by Mike Reilly, the first NY production starred Rob Rifkin and Sarah Jessica Parker. Lead Rob Morrow first performed it years ago, as the youngest son. Now he plays the aging Holocaust-survivor patriarch of a family business, a book publishing company not doing well and about to be taken over by a large foreign firm. His children want him to bend his principles and publish a best-seller, but he is intent on a six-book examination of Nazi medical experiments. It’s almost like two plays, first the family dynamics with his three very different shareholding children, and in the second part comes Marcia Cross as a psychiatric social worker, and a different territory opens up. Thurs, Fri, Sat 8p.m., Sun 2 p.m., Ruskin Group Theatre, SM Airport, $25-40.
Tonight - JOSHUA BELL, LA PHIL – Master violinist Bell is usually leading the magnificent Academy of St. Martin in the Fields these days, so this is a treat to see him out front playing. He brings his new composition "The Elements," plus Aaron Copland’s "El Salón México," and Leonard Bernstein’s magical "Symphonic Dances from ‘West Side Story’." Thurs 8 p.m., Hollywood Bowl, $1-142.
10cc - OK, this is a little iffy, they’ve been around 50 years, there is only one (remarkable) original member, but these literate rockers were truly unique in their songwriting ("I’m Not in Love," "Dreadlock Holiday." "Rubber Bullets," "Wall Street Shuffle"), and since this is called "Ultimate Greatest Hits Tour," I have high hopes. With guest Robin Taylor Zander (of Cheap Trick, also celebrating 50). Thurs 8 p.m., Theatre at Ace Hotel,LA, $42-87.
All-Dvořák, MIDORI, LA PHIL – What?! Two phiddle phenoms with the phantastic LA Phil, in the same week? How fortunate we are. And if you are as a big a Dvořák fan as I am, this is a great week. Tures 8 p.m., Hollywood Bowl, $1-150.
"Electric Lady Studios: A Jimi Hendrix Vision" film – maybe mostly for Hendrix fans, but they are legion. For any real music fans, really, this is a glimpse inside the studio Jimi built for himself in NY. It drew everyone from the Stones to Stevie Winwood to John Lennon. Tues 7:30 p.m., Monica Film Center, Santa Monica, $13.
GARY CLARK JR. – I first saw him so long ago that he was known then as a phenomenal blues player; now he has blown apart so many styles he is known simply as an electric guitar wizard. Sure, he’ll be even better in a year or two, but you definitely should go see him now. Wed 8 p.m., Hollywood Bowl, $10-144.
COMING ATTRACTIONS (also recommended): "Wild Things Are Happening: The Art of Maurice Sendak," Skirball, 8/15-9/1; Joshua Bell, LA Phil, Hollywood Bowl, 8/15; Theatricum Botanicum - "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" 8/15, 29 - "Wendy’s Peter Pan" 8/18, 25 - "The Winter’s Tale" 8/16, 24 - "Tartuffe-Born Again" 8/18, 25, 30, "The Hispanic/Latino/Latina/Latinx/Latine Vote" 8/24, 31; "The Substance of Fire," Ruskin Group Theatre, 8/15, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 29, 30, 31, 9/1; 10ccc, Theatre at Ace Hotel, 8/15; Lila Downs, Marina del Rey summer concert series, 8/17; All-Dvořák with Midori, LA Phil, Hollywood Bowl, 8/20; "Electric Lady Studios:A Jimi hendrix Vision," Monica Film Center, 8/20; Gary Clark Jr., Hollywood Bowl, 8/21; Ghostland Observatory, Teragram Ballroom, 8/24; Ash Grove Alumni, McCabe’s, 8/25; Santana, Kia Forum, 8/28; Dudamel & Yunchan Lim, Hollywood Bowl, 8/29; "Fool in Love" Festival, Hollywood Park, 8/31.
Charles Andrews has listened to a lot of music of all kinds, including more than 3,000 live shows. He has lived in Santa Monica for 38 years and wouldn’t live anywhere else in the world. Really. Send love and/or hate mail to: mailto:therealmrmusic@gmail.com
