Interludes

THE STATE OF THE ARTS – November 5, 2014

• By drediman
• November 5, 2014
• No Comments

LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

• BLACKOUT – After all the buzz, I finally did it. I’m still kind of shell-shocked by this “haunted house” experience. I can’t speak for the previous editions, but version 2014 felt like being in an S&M club. Let’s just say, I got my shirt taken off, got lipstick all over my body, was paddled, and finished on my hands and knees with a plastic bag over my head – all in approximately 30 minutes.
• NY PHILHARMONIC – The insightful Leonard Slatkin (who celebrates his 70^th birthday this year) conducted the NY Philharmonic last week in a program that included Rouse, Copeland, and Ravel. The Ravel portion was particularly fascinating, which included an orchestral transcription of “Gaspard de la Nuit” and the popular “Bolero”. Interestingly, it was the familiar “Bolero” that shocked with its hypnotic, forceful development and crashing, visceral finale.
• ZERO FEET AWAY – On the heels of Ars Nova’s Uncharted reading of the entertaining but wildly uneven musical “Teeth” comes the Play Group’s (Ars Nova’s new play development program) reading of Brian Otano’s observant play on contemporary gay relationships, “Zero Feet Away”. Although it still needs tightening, the play and its completely adorable cast (which featured current “It’s Only a Play” standout Micah Stock) engaged me throughout.
• AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE – ABT dazzled and showed its unparalleled diversity in a program that included Jiri Kylian’s “Sinfonietta”, Liam Scarlett’s “With a Chance of Rain” (in its world premiere), and Christopher Wheeldon’s “Thirteen Diversions”. Hee Seo and Marcelo Gomes, in particular, sizzled in the Scarlett world premiere.
• JESSICA MOLASKEY & JOHN PIZZARELLI – Jessica Molaskey and her hubby, jazz guitarist John Pizzarelli, conquered the Café Carlyle with their quiet confidence, beautifully calibrated patter, and exquisite musicality.

UPCOMING AND HOTLY ANTICIPATED

• LITTLE DANCER – In Washington D.C. this week, I’ll have the chance to catch the new musical “Little Dancer” (inspired by Degas’ sculpture) at the Kennedy Center. The show’s pedigree is certainly alluring: the score is by Ahrens & Flaherty, the direction and choreography is by Susan Stroman, and the cast includes the likes of Boyd Gaines, Rebecca Luker, and City Ballet’s own Tiler Peck.
• LA BOHEME – Also in Washington, I’ll be seeing the Washington National Opera’s new production of “La Boheme”. It’ll be refreshing to take in a new interpretation after somewhat overdosing on the Met’s fabulous, iconic Zeffirelli version. I’m sure I’ll be a mess by the end of Puccini’s emotionally manipulative masterpiece.
• YOU GOT OLDER – This is an intriguing new play by recent Paula Vogel Playwright Award-winner Clare Barron at the adventurous HERE. It’s directed by Anne Kauffmann and stars the talented and ever-transformative Reed Birney.
• THE SEAGULL / SENSE & SENSIBILITY – After last year’s triumphantly scrappy and immersive repertory productions of “Hamlet” and “Saint Joan”, the folks at Bedlam are back with new stagings of Chekhov’s “The Seagull” and an adapation of Jane Austen’s “Sense & Sensibility”. I can’t wait to see what they have up their sleeves.
• GISELLE – The renowned Mikhailovsky Ballet are making their New York premiere next week with the evergreen “Giselle”. I’ll be at opening night, which will be led by the extraordinary pairing of Natalia Osipova and Leonid Sarafanov.