Thursday, 28 March 2024

Arts & Life

 

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LAKEPORT – Well, the ugly stepsisters are assembled, the wicked stepmother is putting the final touches on her wickedness and our sweet heroine is all aglow. Cinderella' is ready to hit the Soper-Reese this Friday night with gusto!


Mendocino College and the Soper-Reese Community Theater have joined forces (with a little help from their friends and Lake County Theatre Co.) to make a big splash for this holiday season!


This is a play that the kids will love but the adults will think it was written just for them. It has action, prat falls, handsome princes, beautiful girls ... and some characters you absolutely would not bring home to mother.


This production is what the Brits call a "British panto." I call it a musical comedy that will leave you laughing until New Year's.


It runs at the Soper-Reese at 7 p.m. Dec. 5, 6, 12 and 13, and at 2 p.m. Dec. 7 and 14.


Tickets are $20 for reserved and $15 for general seating. They can be purchased in advance by calling the Soper-Reese at 263-0577 or visiting the box office at the Soper-Reese, 275 S. Main St. in Lakeport, on Thursdays.


General seating tickets are available at Catfish Books and Main Street Gallery in Lakeport, Wild About Books in Clearlake and Shannon Ridge Tasting Room in Clearlake Oaks.


Don't miss this show – it's a community gift of laughs and happy memories. Your pumpkin coach awaits!


For more information call 279-2595.


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From left, Ruth Morgan of the Lakeside Gallery, Marilyn Crayton of The Gourd Gallery, Richard Seisel of Konocti Art Gallery and Luwana Quitiquit of the Pomo Fine Arts Gallery. Courtesy photo.





LUCERNE – The Harbor Village Artists are hosting their first “Christmas at the Cottages” event.


Join the artists at their recently opened studios on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.


Featured “artists at work” Lakeside Gallery and Konocti Art Gallery will demonstrate the amazing painting techniques of local artists from canvas to cloth.


Learn how custom tiles are made and the creation of beautiful one-of-a-kind jewelry.


There also will be demonstrations by Native American artist and teacher Luwana Quitiquit from the Pomo Fine Arts Gallery and gourd art techniques from woodburning to painting by The Gourd Gallery. Enjoy the music, munchies and fun with the artists.


The Harbor Village Artists colony is located at 6197 E. Highway 20, Lucerne.


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FOUR CHRISTMASES


(Rated PG-13)


Vince Vaughn is a funny guy, particularly when he’s sarcastic and aggravated, as was the case in “Dodgeball” and “Wedding Crashers,” to name some of his recent films.


More recently, during last season’s holiday time to be precise, Vaughn starred in the Christmas-themed flop “Fred Claus.” His track record for holiday cheer takes another hit with “Four Christmases,” not the worst of holiday comedies. Nevertheless, it’s not likely to be fondly remembered one year hence, and we can only hope that he’s not in search of a yuletide trifecta.


More than anything, “Four Christmases” appears to be derailed by a lack of chemistry between Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon, playing respectively the unmarried yuppie couple of Brad and Kate.


Supposedly, Brad and Kate are this happy San Francisco couple who so abjure any relations with their dysfunctional immediate families that they go out of their way to avoid them during the holidays. The reason for such negative feelings becomes apparent only too well on one fateful Christmas day.


According to custom, they ditch their families on Christmas by slipping out of town to some exotic beach locale, on the pretext that they are devoted to an altruistic mission in a far-flung Third World country.


Things go horribly wrong when they are trapped at the San Francisco airport by a fog bank so thick that every outbound flight is canceled indefinitely. Through another unfortunate circumstance, their ploy for a getaway falls apart, and they have no choice but to redeem themselves by visiting all families in one day.


As they are both the children of divorced parents, Brad and Kate are now expected to show up at four households in a single day. Bracing themselves for a marathon of homecomings, they expect the worst, and that’s the way it turns out.


The first encounter, and certainly the most physically taxing one, is with Brad’s crotchety redneck father Howard (Robert Duvall) and his older brothers, Denver (Jon Favreau) and Dallas (Tim McGraw). Brad’s siblings have not matured emotionally, and since they are aspiring cage fighters, Brad becomes the brunt of their impromptu demonstration of an Ultimate Fighting Championship smackdown.


A visit to Kate’s mother Marilyn (Mary Steenburgen) entails its own set of embarrassments. First, Kate’s sexpot sister Courtney (Kristin Chenoweth), whose cleavage suggests a Playboy model, divulges secrets about Kate’s childhood. A couple of Kate’s aunts cast lascivious stares in Brad’s direction, while Kate’s mom reveals she’s dating the pastor (Dwight Yoakum) of her church. Then, they all head off to the church for an awkward Christmas pageant where Brad and Kate are pressed into service as Joseph and Mary.


The next stop to visit Brad’s mother Paula (Sissy Spacek) hardly fares any better. An aging hippie flower-child type, Paula causes a great deal of consternation when it is revealed she is now living with one of Brad’s childhood buddies. Not only is this discomforting, it threatens to erupt in some sort of unwelcome confrontation. Topping off the visit is the playing of a board game that turns ugly when Brad and Kate blurt out responses that expose hidden feelings.


By the time Brad and Kate reach the final destination of the Lake Tahoe retreat of Kate’s father Creighton (Jon Voight), their relationship has not survived the uncomfortable road trip.


For his part, Creighton tries to explain some of the mistakes he made in his life and as a father. He’s so thoughtful and sincere that he seems out of place with all the other dysfunctional characters.


The unavoidable conclusion is that “Four Christmases” seeks to end on an emotionally satisfying note, hoping to find redemption.


In terms of style and substance, “Four Christmases” is as impaired and out of sync as the odd sort of characters it lampoons. Veering from slapstick comedy to heartfelt emotion, this is a film in search of a cohesive theme, which in itself is a challenge because the screenplay is the product of four writers.


On the plus side, Vince Vaughn has more than a few funny moments, and the cast consists of an all-star lineup who performs well enough despite the obvious handicaps.


“Four Christmases” is not a complete fiasco, but it certainly doesn’t need to be on anyone’s must-see holiday list.


DVD RELEASE UPDATE


Last week, I shared with you my desire to obtain the “Pink Panther Ultimate Collection” box set. Now, I must add to my Christmas list a vintage TV series.


“The Man From U.N.C.L.E.: The Complete Series,” which aired on NBC from 1964 through 1968, was recently issued in a nifty attaché case. The funny thing is, though, this whole set was first released a year ago, but could only have been purchased through Time Life’s mail order. Now the spy spoof adventures of Robert Vaughn’s Napoleon Solo and David McCallum’s Illya Kuryakin may be bought, I presume, at Wal-Mart or Circuit City.


I don’t know about you, dear reader, but I have this quaint old-fashioned notion of purchasing something I can hold in my hands, perusing its packaging and reading the promotional advertisements on the outside. Besides, when this set was advertised by Time Life, it had a list price of around $250, a steep price for a mail order item.


Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.


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LAKE COUNTY – Lake County's piano man, David Neft, will keep busy during the holidays with a round of performances scheduled throughout Lake County and behind.


Below is a schedule of his planned gigs.


– Dec. 3: Bill Noteman and the Rockets are the “host band” at Sonoma County Blues Society’s Monthly Jam Session, 7:30 p.m. (call Neft for details, 987-3630).


– Dec. 6: Hidden Valley Lake Annual Christmas Tree Lighting with special musical surprises; Greenview Room area, 5 p.m. Call Connie at 987-3138 for information.


– Dec. 13: Tulip Hill Winery Holiday Open House, Highway 20 in Nice, noon to 6 p.m. Call 274-9373.

 

– Dec. 13: District 1 Supervisor Ed Robey's retirement party, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 pm, Weaver Auditorium, Lower Lake Schoolhouse Museum, Main Street, Lower Lake.


– Dec. 14: Tulip Hill Winery Holiday Open House, Highway 20 in Nice, noon to 6 p.m. Call 274-9373.


– Dec. 31: Bill Noteman and the Rockets perform at Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa's annual New Year’s Eve Gala. For information call (800) 660-LAKE.


Call Neft at 987-3630 for info and late changes or additions to his busy gig schedule.

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Caroll Muske-Dukes, California's new poet laureate. Courtesy photo.
 

 

 


Earlier this month, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Carol Muske-Dukes California’s poet laureate.


The poet laureate is charged with educating Californians about the many literary icons who have come from California and added to its cultural heritage.


She is also charged with encouraging a new generation of poets to take up the mantle of creative expression and bringing poetry to students who otherwise would have little opportunity to be exposed to it.


“Carol Muske-Dukes is an accomplished and decorated poet and author. Her commitment to the literary arts and passionate belief that poetry can transform lives will serve as an inspiration for all Californians,” Schwarzenegger said.


Muske-Dukes has been a professor of English at the University of Southern California (USC) since 1993, where she founded the graduate program in literature and creative writing in 1999 and served as director of the program until 2002.


She previously served as associate professor from 1991 to 1993, assistant professor from 1989 to 1991 and lecturer from 1984 to 1988 at USC.


From 1972 to 1974, Muske-Dukes founded and taught in a creative writing program called “Free Space” at the Women’s House of Detention on Riker’s Island in New York which later became “Art Without Walls-Free Space.”


She is a regular critic for the New York Times Book Review and the LA Times Book Review. Muske-Dukes previously served as a poetry columnist for the LA Times Book Review from 2001 to 2004.


Muske-Dukes is the author of seven books of poetry, including her most recent work, “Sparrow,” which was a National Book Award finalist and “An Octave Above Thunder,” which was nominated for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize.


She has also written four novels, including Los Angeles Times bestseller “Channeling Mark Twain” and two collections of essays. Her collection “Married to the Icepick Killer: A Poet in Hollywood” was listed in the San Francisco Chronicle’s Top 100 Books of 2002.


In addition to her teaching positions and numerous books, Muske-Dukes has also been anthologized widely, including credits in Best American Poems, 100 Great Poems by Women, MotherSongs and others. Her list of awards and accomplishments includes a Guggenheim Fellowship, a National Endowment for the Arts Grant, the Ingram-Merrill Fellowship, the Witter Bynner Award from the Library of Congress, the Castagnola Award from the Poetry Society of America, five pushcart prizes and the WriteGirl Bold Ink Award.


“I am truly honored to be named California’s poet laureate and I look forward to serving the people of California and poetry which reaches the hearts and imagination of young and old in both urban and remote areas of this diverse and dynamic state,” said Muske-Dukes.


Muske-Dukes, 62, was born in St. Paul, Minnesota and earned a Master of Arts degree in English and Creative Writing from San Francisco State University and a bachelor of arts degree in English from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska.


“Carol Muske-Dukes is a distinguished writer who has greatly influenced the world of literary arts in California and throughout the world. Gov. Schwarzenegger has chosen Carol from a list of accomplished and well-known writers and The California Arts Council looks forward to working with her in the future,” said California Arts Council Director Muriel Johnson.


The California poet laureate works in conjunction with the California Arts Council to bring the poetic arts to Californians and to California students who might otherwise have little opportunity to be exposed to poetry.


Before 2001, the position was unofficial and honorary, conferred by the legislature and held for a lifetime.


The poet laureate position was officially created by AB 113 by Assemblymember Fran Pavley and signed into law in 2001. Under this legislation, the California Arts Council solicits nominations for the position and then recommends four candidates to the governor.


From these nominees the governor chooses the poet laureate and he or she is confirmed by the Senate. Compensation is $10,000 to be paid over the course of the two-year term. Muske-Dukes is a Democrat.


California has given the world some of its greatest writers and most influential works; John Steinbeck brought to life many regions of California — from the Central Valley in “The Grapes of Wrath” to Monterey in “Cannery Row” — in his immense body of work; Allen Ginsberg became synonymous with San Francisco while leading the charge of the Beat Generation with his most famous poem, “Howl”; and Raymond Carver revitalized the short story genre in the late 20th century.


The role of the California poet laureate is to spread the art of poetry from classrooms to boardrooms across the state, to inspire an emerging generation of literary artists and to educate all Californians about the many poets and authors who have influenced our great state through creative literary expression.


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LAKEPORT – Last Saturday night's Clear Lake High School performance of David Ives' "All In The Timing” played to a large crowd of amazed theater-goers.


Why were they amazed? Because, with only a month and a half of preparation, and a set consisting of a few black curtains and flats, a card table and some folding chairs, the all-student ensemble managed to pull off a thoroughly charming evening of entertainment.


The "play" was actually four short plays, each completely separate from the other. The unifying theme between all of them was comedy and language.


Ives' off-beat humor explored the challenges of what we say, how we say it, when we say it and ... what is the result of all that.


His tools for this exploration were such weird characters as a woman with a speech problem (Alley Hauptman), a fake professor (Oliver Leighton), young people in bad diners (Eathan Keiffer, Lolly Brown, Michael Kruszewski and Joni Hansen) and three monkeys (Zenze Manley, Jennea Combs and Oliver again). Talk about eclectic!


The energy of each performance was catching! Although the dialogue was fast and sometimes a bit quiet, there was never any doubt about what was happening on the stage. Even when Leighton spoke knowingly in a made-up language, we knew what he was saying to his unsuspecting victim, played with tender naivete and sincerity by Hauptman.


When two people sit at a table for an entire skit, this should be boring, right? Keiffer managed to do this twice in two skits without a boring minute in either one of them. His partner in the first skit, Lolly Brown, joined him in a string of bell-divided "do you come here often" conversations that can best be described as "mind-boggling, laugh-filled, perfectly timed snappy patter.”


And, when Kieffer showed up again in "Philadelphia" (Keiffer's name for the place where you can never get what you want), Kruszewski and Hansen were there to challenge the his premise and then hysterically send him to Philadelphia, himself.


And in the middle of these intellectual challenges were, what else? Monkeys! Yes, three monkeys, trying to write “Hamlet” together.


From the moment Manley stuffed a whole banana in her mouth and ran up and then down a teeter-totter, I was hooked. Coombs pranced across the stage with attitude in a fetching tutu while Leighton slipped effortlessly into his "to be or not to be" phase, and I knew for sure that Shakespeare would never be the same. What a hoot!


This production was the creation of directors John Tomlinson and Jenna Radke, two grownups who have no problem thinking with the creativity of children while "cracking the whip" on the talent. The results were very insightful and adult performances delivered with zip, zest, laughs and pure enjoyment to a very appreciative audience. Congratulations, guys! You were all stars!


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Upcoming Calendar

28Mar
03.28.2024 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Vision resource group
30Mar
03.30.2024 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Second annual Bunny Brunch
30Mar
03.30.2024 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Lakeport Community Cleanup Day
30Mar
03.30.2024 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Lake County poet laureate inauguration
31Mar
03.31.2024
Easter Sunday
31Mar
03.31.2024 1:15 pm - 1:45 pm
Lakeport Rotary Club Easter Egg Hunt
1Apr
04.01.2024
Easter Monday
1Apr
10Apr
15Apr
04.15.2024
Tax Day

Mini Calendar

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