An Evening with VAN MORRISON at Lutther Burbank in Santa Rosa-Still Got It!

Van Morrison is a true legend with a music career having spanned seven decades. Now pushing 80, you wouldn't know it from his, rich vibrato singing voice that still richly reverberates one's senses. Needing no formal introduction. Morrison come on stage at 8PM sharp to his 8 person band and a warm welcome from a packed house. Not only has he retained his strong, unique fog horn sounding voice, he blends genres of blues, jazz, country and soul into a hybrid art form. His talents on the sax, harmonica and guitar remain omnipotent. Dressed in a boxy-grey suit, grey fedora and shades, he walked out on stage and began playing. His sunglasses intermittently flashed a green neon light giving him an alien aesthetic. Of course his playing and arranging makes you wonder if he isn't some tripe of extra terrestrial with supernatural abilities causing incessant swaying and shaking from spectators. There was only one brief moment of banter after his first number on stage performing "Days Likes This." He said he had performed this song for the president...of the United Sheet Metal Workers. The unexpected final number was a long rendition of "Gloria." He left the stage after two singing two choruses leaving his band and vocalist to shine in their solos. The musicians in the band were all exceptional and proficient on multiple instruments. The horn players brought in trombone, clarinet and flute. The gifted pianist also played the electric organ and the bass guitar doubled on bass. It was unforeseen and deeply disappointing that he did not return to the stage for an encore or an acknowledgement to Santa Rosa fans for turning out despite a standing ovation that only ended when house lights were turned on. Regardless, the nearly two hours of his non-stop singing and playing went without a pause. The audience was provided with an exceptional concert that was above and beyond a mystic experience. It was a performance where the music and the talent were pure, powerful and rewarding. He's never been an artist who repeats himself or relies on set arrangements or mostly fan favorites (albeit "Moon Dance"). Morrison dazzled with his brilliant rendition of other artist's  compositions including "You are My Sunshine." and "Cold, Cold Heart." His mastery for arranging has cultivated unique renditions that reveal a surprising and soothing sound solely his own. The program was a musical, mixed bag that also included spiritual songs which referred to "higher grounds," "going down to the river" and "being lifted up." Morrison's own religious journey explored various theologies and religious practices. His exploration lead him to align himself as being more spiritual than affiliated with any formal religion. He shared his philosophy in his poetic lyrics, "There are only two things from the start. What you believe. What's from the heart." The evening with Van Morrison was a celestial event with his impenetrable vocals and preternatural musical gifts. Ting-a-ling-a-ling  

Raven Theater's DEATH TRAP a Play that Has Seen Better Days

As you walked into the Raven Theater, music from the 70s was being played. The Bee Gee's "Stayin Alive" preceded the start of the play "Death Trap". The show originally ran on Broadway in the 70s and received four Tony nominations, including for "Best Play." Written by Ira Levin, it's a comic thriller with chills and laughs that should remain in the past. The show no longer feels fresh, clever or relevant. And its entertainment value has greatly diminished. The two act play revolves around a long in the tooth playwright, Sidney (a charismatic Craig Peoples). Sidney's talents have waned and his glory days have passed. He tells his wife Myra (a prim Elizabeth Henry) he's received an excellent play written by a student whom he can't remember from his writing seminar. His envy turns to plodding how he could rub out the author, put his own name on the play and become the toast of Broadway, again. The 70s era period piece play is anchored by telephones and technologies that were non-existent at the time. Rotary. landline phones, electric typewriters and carbon copy machines vital at the time, are embedded into the plot are now obsolete. Sidney and Myra conspire to lure the budding playwright, Clifford (an earnest Christopher Johnston) to their country estate under false pretenses of Sidney's help for improving the play. A fawning Clifford is dazzled by Sidney's interest and by the arsenal of weaponry mounted on the walls used in Sidney's previous murder mysteries. Act one's murder twist doesn't pack the intended shock it once wielded which proves enough to send Sidney's complicit wife to her grave. Nor is it scandalous to discover Clifford and Sidney are lovers who consorted to rid Sidney of his wealthy wife and take over her estate. The celebrity psychic neighbor Helga (Diane Bailey) who warns the married couple of pain and doom she feels within their room is played for comedic relief but it comes off as cheesy. Sidney and Clifford come to crossroads over writing about their murderous scheme. Clifford believes that nothing  can implicate them. Sidney doesn't want to risk anything, including being outed from the closet. The grade school students accompanied by parents to the matinee were not engaged in the play. They continuously, albeit quietly, kept leaving their seats.  "Death Trap" has lost its jolt and neither did it fly with the older folks. Alas, "Death Trap" is not the only thing that has fallen out of style from the 70s. Along with disco, this play should stay in the past. 

Ronny Chieng "The Love to Hate It Tour" Takes Santa Rosa to Heart

Ronny Chieng gained a large following for his exasperated reactions to his public interviews as a correspondent for the "Daily Show" hosted by Trevor Noah. Chieng's stand-up at the LBT Theater in Santa Rosa left him on stage to engage an enthusiastic, packed house with his own frustrations and astute observations. Beginning  by thanking the Asian community for turning out and then calling out and thanking "The white people, Latinos, Native Americans and Blacks." He then asked, "How did you find me?" I found him to be more engaging and introspective than his clever but caustic style which comes across in his Netflix comedy specials and "Daily" interviews. Turning the tables on himself. Chieng shared his IVF trials and tribulations having to stab his wife in the "Chicago Bulls Area" and his failure to fulfill his part of the bill in the sterilized hospital room set aside for ejaculation with a "queue of men waiting outside." Although Chieng was wary of the wear and tear from parenthood that has aged his peers and fearful parenthood would interfere with his "...career and what I love to do more than anything. Stand-up comedy!" Asian competitive parenting was parodied depicting anything less than elite professions as unacceptable. Chieng had a dialogue with his future son aspiring to be a comedian like him. To which he told his son, "You're never going to be funnier than me." Chieng's irritation with trying to teach his mother how to use the internet was hysterical and directed further zings at "Baby Boomers who weren't raised with the internet and never developed the scrolling muscle." His ire with Baby Boomers was tinged by his love for his mom who he nevertheless lambasted along with Chinese people for being cheap and fearful of being scammed. He turned the table on the audience by saying he helped his mom by giving her mom money which didn't receive "applause as it's not common in American culture." Then he poked fun at male MEGA supporters who fell through the cracks inadvertently on the internet by theories which took over their thinking. He softened this jest by suggesting communicating with each other starting with common ground which spotlighted the ridiculousness of extreme views. The entire 90+ minutes flew by seamlessly with body racking guffaws and heartfelt sentiment. He ended with the unexpected passing of his dad whose estate he had to settle. He was right in knowing his dad's password would be the birthdate of his favorite child; his sister the Dr. But, his screensaver was a photo of "Me with my wife. Take that sis. I won!" Anyone at the Ronny Chieng's show last night won big time with big laughs and lots of heart. Don't let anything deter you from continuing your comedy/showbiz career or becoming a parent. You've got what it takes. 

Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOTPerfromed by Deaf West Theater

AMERICAN IDIOT, the Broadway musical first opened in 2010. It's a contemporary rock-opera compiled of the music by Green Day which evoke the listless lives of 20 somethings. The characters spend their days getting stoned while shifting from friends' sofas to 7-ll's parking lots with not a lot to show for their lives. Their malcontent and lack of motivation is artistically portrayed through song and dance while painting a drab existence. These dreary, unkempt young Americans are hellbent on revolting against a future from which they feel alienated.  The simple staging with live musicians atop the stage provides an overwhelming sense of futility or false pretense for engaging in society. I enjoyed the original version on Broadway and had the great pleasure of seeing it again, presented at the Mark Taper Forum by the Deaf West Theater. The Deaf West Theater is a non-profit arts organization established in LA, 1991. The company has earned Tony nominations for their productions of "Spring Awakening" and "Big River." The recent and enhanced production of "American Idiot" engages deaf artists and audiences with singing, choreography and signing for a seamless, energetic balletic performance.  ASL (American Sign Language) was interwoven to create a hybrid art form where hearing impairment becomes a non-issue for needing translation. This imbues the choreography and the vocals an added layer of communication that is able to  encompass larger audiences and enhanced the visualizations with hand movements. Furthermore, the incredible undertaking to present an audio medium by a theater comprised of deaf individuals is an astounding achievement. An achievement that is rewarding for audiences and communities alike.  The Center Theater Group's mission is to provide diverse audiences elite theatrical experiences by attracting new artists and developing outreach arts education programs.  The theatrical works are aimed at bold, entertaining dramas and musicals to inspire and delight a broad spectrum of guests.  In so doing, The Center Theater Group collaborates with diverse and innovative artists and performers. "American Idiot" was presented in a non-interrupted 1 1/2 hour performance with  powerhouse storytelling and sublime staging. The show will be running through Nov. 16th . Tickets are available. Don't be a moron. Make a point of catching this magical musical before it closes and learn a few signs while enjoying the performance. 

The Doc. WILL and HARPER-Buddy Road Trip to Navigate Friendship's Alterations

The seriously funny and revelatory raw feelings expressed between two friends on a cross country buddy trip revealed altered curves and adaptations wrought with new bends in their relationship. Will refers to SNL legend and movie star, Will Ferrell. Harper is Harper Steele, an SNL Emmy winning head-writer. The two met at SNL and became decades long friends and writing partners. Since their SNL days they maintained a friendship now undergoing growing pains after Harper informs Will in a letter of a major life-change. Harper, formerly Andrew Harper, recently transitioned to living as a woman and changed her name to Harper. Will reads the letter verbatim from Harper, registering a stunned and perplexed reaction despite having read it previously. The jest of the letter, and the purported goal for the film is to monitor how the two can or WILL maintain the friendship they heretofore entrusted. As in all documentaries the slant is skewed and should be viewed as seen through a certain lens. All in all, WILL and HARPER is a heartwarming film about friendship and a unique first hand account by Harper of her inner turmoil, what led her to transition and her fulfillment with her decision. The affection and awkwardness between the two as they head from NY to CA with numerous stops at roadside flops along the way, a visit with her sis in IA and some staged stops for entertaining scenarios, shows an abating timidity along with a flourishing bond that is stretched and strengthened, Both Will and Harper are professional comics so their lively banter is clever, credible and enlightening, Harper encourages Will to ask anything of her and she will happily answer him truthfully. She hopes the film will serve helpful to people who are trans, considering becoming trans and for everyone else who know or will meet trans individuals. The doc. aims to spotlight how trans people are perceived in different walks of life, in different locals across the country. However, Will Farrell is a recognizable celebrity (although he's not known at one hilarious pitstop) so he is a buffer to hostile reactions to Harper. There are burning questions that were left unasked that many would want answered. What surgeries have you undergone or plan to have? How did you feel married to a woman and having a family together? What occurred when confronting your wife with your decision? We did see Harper and Will enjoying a meal together with Harper's kids early in their road trip. Overall, I was enchanted while riding along on their journey. In a recent interview Will was asked what his main take away was from their time together. Will said, "I didn't appreciate how much pain and turmoil a person endures who feels they've been misaligned with their sexual identity at birth." This is a thoughtful and uplifting film attesting to empathy and kinship. 

The WILD ROBOT-an Animated Film that will Win your Heart

THE WILD ROBOT is an animated sci-fi, survival film rich in story-telling and beautiful to watch. The hybrid plot mixes A/I with an island inhabited only by animals. A crate transporting a robot washes ashore after its cargo ship was destroyed. Thanks to an inadvertent push to the on-switch by a curious rodent, the high-tech robot becomes activated. Designed to service its owner in whatever capacity required, the robot goes in search of its directives. The robot's valiant attempts to seek its officious duties is met by the only sentient beings; numerous wild animals. An underlying message here is the need for being of service or having a purpose in life. This message is not likely to compute into the minds of young children. Needless,  it offers an added pearl of wisdom to the panoramic splendor of unspoiled wilderness. THE WILD ROBOT is based on the children's series by Peter Brown who appropriated a few gimmicks from the beloved movie ET. The Robot uses its omnipotent intelligence to comprehend the languages of the animals and is soon fluent in their gibberish which translates into comprehensible English. The other nod to ET is the startled screams he receives by the gosling who hatches in Roz's palm and then imprints her as his mother. The robot's presence is deemed passive by the animals and is befriended by a wily fox, Fink, Pedro Pascal) and a mother possum who provide support. Much of the film's charm stems from the endearing bond that develops between the gosling, Brightbill and Roz.  Roz is voiced by a robotic sounding Lupita Nyong'o. The mother possum assures Roz there is no manual for being a mother. "You'll never be the perfect mother, so just do the best you can All Brightbill really needs is to know you're doing your best," The fox assigns tasks that Roz needs to fulfill in order for Brightbill to migrate with the other geese. The unusual relationship the two share keeps Brightbill ostracized from the pack of geese. But, Longneck (Bill Nighy) the leader takes him under his wing. The pangs of separation are felt as Brightbill is successfully launched and migrates with the others. The winter proves extremely harsh and threatens the animals on the island, Roz rescues them by bringing them into her sturdy safe haven. Fink lays the ground rules - no animal is to prey on any other during their hibernation. The utopian truce melted away with springtime. Roz is located by the nefarious futuristic robots who come to reclaim their property.  This time all the animals come to Roz's rescue but not before the evil robots cause massive destruction to their island.This delightful and touching film teaches without being treacly or preachy the meanings of sacrifice, friendship, family and power of love. THE WILD ROBOT should become an instant classic. Will children recognize the intimated angst between an aging Brightbill and his immortal mother? No, but then how many adults took note near the ending.  

SWAN LAKE-World Ballet Co. at Luther Burbank Theater (LBT)

Peter Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake" is a classic, full length ballet. Tchaikovsky's brilliant music, the beauty of dance and pageantry all blending into a breathtaking ballet that has become a beloved staple in the repertory of major ballet companies for well over a century. It's surprising that its Moscow premier in Moscow back in 1877 was poorly received by critic and fans. It ran for only 41 performances at the historic Bolshoi Theater. Last evening at the Luther Burbank Theater in Santa Rosa, "Swan Lake" was performed by the World Ballet Company to a poorly turned out crowd appearing less than half-full for the full two acts. The current choreography was by three Russian choreographers: Petipa, Ivanov and Kalinina.  The original choreographer  was Julius Reisigner (b. Czechia 1828-1893) who was a former dancer. World Ballet Company was founded in 2015 and based in Los Angeles under the direction of co-founders Sasha Gorskaya (b. Belarus) and Gulya Hartwick (b. Latvia). Their mission is to present ballets in cities with little access to ballet and expose a broader audience to the art form. The World Ballet Company performs modern ballets in addition to classic ballets. Although last night's audience wasn't large there were a number of young fans dressed to impress in sparkle and glitter. In the lobby photo ops were available with one of the ballerinas in her swan costume in front of a magical backdrop with a professional photographer to capture the moment. A popup shop was in the lobby with ballet paraphernalia for sale. The ballet promptly got underway using a recording of Tchaikovsky's music. - Act I began with a lot of smoke to represent the mist off the lake where the bewitched swans transform back into their true female forms at midnight until dawn. The smoke was overbearing and the scenery sorely lackluster.  The backdrop for Act II had more interest set within the royal palace. The costumes were exquisite, the dancing by three leads enchanting in the roles of the jester, Odile and the prince. The corps had a few missteps somewhat forgivable with a less than ample stage space not intended to host a full-scale ballet. The fans on hand were enthusiastic if not passe' (like the man whistling as if at a baseball game). It's a shame this production was not well attended as it was a wonderful opportunity for appreciating the artistry inherent in ballet. Having the world class San Francisco Ballet Co. an hour away is not the ease of having it in our own backyard. The tickets were modestly priced for the World Ballet Co. I encourage locals to attend any ballet programs at LBT or in Sonoma. I'm hoping this won't be our swan song for future ballets in our area. 

NOBODY WANTS THIS-But I Do Like this Smart Rom/Com-Christin Bell/Adam Brody Star

The title for Netflix's new rom/com series, "Nobody Wants This" is apropos. It goes without saying, I thought this when I first saw the trailers and learned the archaic conflict concerns a Rabbi and a blonde bombshell "shicksa" falling into a forbidden love.  For those old enough to remember the comedy series, "Bridget Loves Bernie", (1972) you'll recall the culture clash between a Jewish family and wealthy Wasp family resonated with wry humor. Bridget and Bernie made the leap into marriage while "Nobody Wants This" is a modern day flirtation and dating parody that is smart, silly, sensual with two consensual adults of different faiths and convictions. Whether this matters today is another matter. Varying values and character traits are a different matter which the two are trying to discover about each other. At least they banter back and forth on serious subjects whenever not engaged in foreplay and whatever else ensues. Noah (Adam Brody) plays the cool Rabbi who just ended a three year relationship after realizing his ex maintained a controlling ownership of him. Joanne (Kristen Bell) is the perky, motormouth who can't help falling for this cute guy who goes eye to eye with her witty repartee. (And, by the way, may be the world's best kisser.) One of Joanne's girlfriends advises her to hang on to him. "A straight, nice guy with a steady job in LA is a unicorn").  If I haven't won you over to this inane non-issue premise of goy meets boy but their love runs astray, perhaps the added interference from a meddling mother, Vina (Tovah Feldshuh) and bubble-head siblings will convince you with their comic flair. Sasha (Timothy Simons) is Noah's brother, he's married with a kid but still a puerile putz. Morgan (Justine Lupe) is Joanne's squabbling sister. Sasha tells her, "You're the loser sibling like me." The sisters are partners in a budding pod-cast about dating they're trying to monetize. Still, both sets of siblings are each other's best friends and biggest nudge. Each slick episode is swiftly paced with banter that makes the "Gilmore Girls" look like geriatrics. Adding quips to the incessant chatter is Ashley (Sherry Cola) friend and business partner to the sisters.  So what's to kvell about? Well, it's LOL and endearing. I'm more sure of what I don't like than what I find appealing. For example, Jewish women are not portrayed in a favorable light. They're portrayed as manipulative and hostile. Joanne's ignorance of basic Judaism feels false. The girl's new-age mother is still in love with their father despite having divorced him because he's gay goes astray. And, Noah acts pitifully about keeping his job as the rabbi very apologetic and wishy-washy with Joanne who seems to have the upper hand. What I can testify to is once you've delved into NOBODY WANTS THIS, this tempting guilty pleasure does deliver the goods for what makes a good rom/com fun. I've done a mitzvah by letting you know this is a show you'll want, even if you didn't think you did. Nu...go figure. 

SHORT FILM FESTIVAL in HEALDSBURG-Doc. Shorts Sept. 27-29th

The Healdsburg Int'l Short Film Festival kicked off last Friday, Sept. 27th at the Raven Performance Theater with a champagne party and a screening of mixed genre films including comedies, music videos, animation and dramas. The countries represented were the USA, Italy, Ghana, Germany and Sweden. One of the programs was a "Youth Perspectives" which were student films. Only two of the ten films from outside the USA; from Korea and Nepal. I attended one of the last three programs on the final day of the festival which consisted of documentaries. Of the eight short films, two were from students; one student was from the USA and one from Finland. These two films were sophomoric, "When the Devil Smoked in Paradise" (USA) and the other, "Shape of Ritual" (Finland) was an investigative reporting on the release of benzene from a plant aimed at crying foul but fell far short of laying blame or finding resolution and was dull.  Four of the other films failed to elicit much interest. Although, "Pinatas of Earthly Delights" presented the artistic" piñatas" created by Roberto Benavides were magnificent to behold, his biracial ethnicity (Mexican and Caucasian) and homosexual orientation did create the conflict the filmmaker wanted to achieve. There were two films that were noteworthy for their subject matter, prison reform "From Pen to Paper" (USA) and "Four Chambers to the Heart" (Belgium), a stunning film that melded animation with a magical flair that left me breathless and craving a longer film. "From Pen to Paper" documents inmates in a writing program taught by a Univ. Prof. and several of his students. Both the prof. and students volunteer their time. There's no cost to taxpayers. This powerful film illuminates positive changes and outcomes to both the inmates and instructors from their participation and putting thoughts to paper. The humanization of these prisoners has shown a 0% recidivism. The film "Four Chambers to the Heart"features paintings by the revered Flemish painter, Sir Anthony Van Dyke (1599 -1641). The filmmaker used artistic license with the documentary genre and created a hybrid documentary artistic work that enlightened the viewer many of Van Dyke's paintings and transcending us into the paintings. "Four Chambers to the Heart" received my vote for best film in the documentary series. It achieved what successful documentaries do. It was educational and entertaining. It left me wanting to know more about the subject and wanting to see more films by this ingenious movie maker. Patrons were asked to vote for their favorite films. Cash prizes were awarded last night which marked the finish of the festival. 

Ellen DeGeneres' Netflix Farewell Comedy is Well...a Final F.U. Adieu

"For Your Approval" airing on Netflix is Ellen DeGeneres' stand up comedy special where she shares what's been happening in your life, since she's been out of the limelight. "...Oh yeah, I was fired from entertainment," she says with an impish grin after reading from her pocket . For three decades since the 1990s, Ellen's presence in the media was ubiquitous. She starred in TV sitcoms and her own talk show, "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" for which she earned 33 Daytime Emmys. Ellen landed on the cover of TIME mag., received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, hosted the Emmys and Grammy Awards and made TV history by coming out as a lesbian on TV. The opening reel of "Ellen Degeneres: For Your Approval," is a montage of memorable moments and honors she's received in what attests to a remarkable career. Ellen swaggered through the back halls of the Orpheum Theater in SF as her past flashes alongside. She's wearing dark blue slacks and sweater accentuating her cerulean blue-eyes looking much the same with her pixie haircut and ubiquitous sneakers. "If I look older, it's because I am," she quipped. Much of her jocular banter was met with canned laughter which was off-putting. Heartfelt, belly grabbing guffaws came later. Perhaps the blue garb was a deliberate choice to symbolize sincerity, loyalty and trust. Ellen tackled the topic of her ignoble exit from show business amidst allegations of a toxic work environment. Comics build a rhythm, circle back and drive their point home with humor. Ellen's humor is observational and family friendly. Ellen claimed this to be her coup de grace to any future interest in show business. "Let's see what have I been up to? I bought a lot of chickens. I love chickens, I'm not going to run on like people tend to do about their chickens, but let me tell you more about mine." Ellen's persona was likable and dead-pan. This served well for her self-reflections on her managerial style. Ellen's candid assessment revealed her to be a reluctant boss with a lot of responsibilities and people reporting to her. "We had fun around the office. I would drop fake snakes from the ceiling and chase staff through the halls and around the desks. Hmm...I can hear now where that sounds like I tortured the people who worked for me." Ellen's forlorn impressions revealed her vulnerability. "All I ever wanted to do was make people laugh and feel good. And if I made them laugh then maybe they would like me. All I can say is, thank god for the money." Ellen's "last" foray into entertainment may or may not prove factual. However, Ellen may have had the last laugh by taunting us with her talents we'll be missing.  She ended by saying "I've stopped caring what others think of me." Ellen brought her actress wife, Portia, on stage to an uproarious   ovation showing us she's happy and fulfilled outside the limelight. "Goodnight to all of you and goodnight Mrs. Calabash...wherever you are." (J Durante)