Entertainment Blog

"The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?"--2002 Tony Award Winning Play Currently at the Bay Theatre in Annapolis

Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

��"The Goat, or, Who is Sylvia?" is currently playing at the Bay Theatre in Annapolis now through June 14th.
��A few weeks ago I was listening to a program on National Public Radio (NPR) about autism, and the reporter was talking about a study project that utilized subjects reactions to the 1966 film 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" to measure how sensitive they were to gauging social cues from facial expressions. "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? was selected, the reporter explained, because of its insightful and gripping portrayal of dysfunctional relationships. The characters are revealed as growing more and more uncomfortable with one another as they push one another's "hot buttons" and the tension grows.
��In "The Goat," Edward Albee the same playwright who wrote the play "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf " (first performed on Broadway in 1962) brings the portrayal of a dysfunctional family to a new level as he challenges the audience to rethink the concept of what is love?
��This is a play with adult content and strong language. While director Lucinda Merry-Browne told me this is not a play that is appropriate for teenagers, I didn't believe her until I saw for myself. The themes explored in this one and a half hour play with no intermission are beyond the comprehension of an adolescent. Yes, they've heard all the four letter curse words but do they really understand the meaning of lifelong commitment, infidelity and the difference between being "in love" and having "a crush"?
��Part of the experience of seeing this play is to not know in advance what is going to happen, so I'm not going to ruin it for you by revealing the storyline. The setting is a contemporary style home. The characters are a husband; Martin played by Tom Gregory; wife Stevie, played by Janet Luby; teenage son, Billy played by Bret Jaspers; and family friend Ross, played by Lee Ordeman. All the actors are excellent, but the shining star in this production is Janet Luby who inhabits the soul of her character with power, strength, and fortitude. Director Lucinda Merry-Browne has done a fine job of directing and she as the Bay Theatre Artistic Director along with Associate Artistic Director Janet Luby are to be commended for daring to bring this controversial play to Annapolis.
��Do you need to see this play? If you love good theater and wish to challenge your assumptions about what is and is not acceptable in our society, you won't want to miss it!�
��Evening performances Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays and a Sunday matinee. Visit their website at www.baytheatre.org or call (410) 268-1338 for tickets and perfornance times.
��--Nadja Maril

Annapolis' Famous (or infamous) Kickball League

Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

A few months ago, Ashley Raymond, production manager at What's Up? sent around an e-mail to gauge everyone's interest in joining the Annapolis Sports and Social Club Kickball League. Since the last team I had played on was tee-ball, I was a bit nervous at the idea of being on an organized sports team. I forwarded the e-mail to my boyfriend, Victor, secretly hoping he would say he wasn't interested but within minutes he had written me back, "I want to do this. Make it happen." After being reassured by Trish Sharpe, events and production assistant at What's Up? (and my kickball coach) that we would be playing in the "super extreme social" league for people with basic athletic skills I signed up.

I admit I was a little disappointed when I found out Trish and I were the only people from What's Up? on the team (What happened Ashley?) but my money was paid and there was no turning back. I should also mention that it was after I paid that I learned you are allowed to actually hit people with the ball to get them out-yikes! "Don't let anyone hit you in the head," my dad told me. (Just to clarify, the official rule is that you can only hit people from the neck down, phew.)

After our first (and only) practice, I felt more at ease. Everyone on the team was really nice and just out to have fun. The games have a 50 minute time limit and there are special rules to ensure the safety of the players. We were ready for our first game, at least we thought we were.

When we arrived at Collison Field at Truxtun Park for our first game, we discovered the "white team," as they are now referred to by members of our team. The white team had lots more players than us, were doing stretches, had nicknames (yes, nicknames) and numbers printed on the back of their uniforms, and were wearing cleats. Needless to say, as most of our team came from happy hour we were a little intimidated.

The white team beat us bad. Though I'm not entirely sure on the exact score, I know that they were in the 20's and we were in single digits. At future games, we took it upon ourselves to spread the word to other teams in the league about the white team. A couple weeks later when we found ourselves on the same field as the white team, we all looked around at each other in a slight panic, "Are we playing the white team again?!". Thankfully, we weren't.

Unfortunately for us, our game against the white team didn't end up being much of a fluke and rather set the precedent for a mostly losing-but fun-season. Our current record is 1-4 and we're quite proud of our one win. After our loss this week, my teammate Rob said, "Well, we certainly laughed more than they did." And he was right. With the super slick dew covered field, our players were sliding and falling all over the place. There was nothing we could do but laugh. If we had a video camera, I'm sure our team would be a hit on YouTube.

The Annapolis Sports and Social Club Kickball League finishes up next week. Our team, the "O's, Bohs, and Strohs, Hon!" will wrap up the season with a doubleheader on Tuesday, May 13th. Come cheer us on at Griscom Field at Truxtun Park. The first game is at 7:30 p.m. and the second at 8:30 p.m. I guarantee you'll be entertained and you may even earn an invite to our team cookout!

To learn more about the Annapolis Sports and Social League and what other sports they offer, visit their website at http://www.annssc.com.

-Katie Redmiles

Hauptmann at Colonial Players is an Excellent Production

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

In recent history it was the O.J. Simpson trial that had many Americans glued to their television sets, but if you were alive 60 years ago the real life courtroom drama that had everyone attentively listening to their radio was the trial of Richard Bruno Hauptman.

Hauptmann, the play by John Logan is currently playing at the Colonial Players in Annapolis through May 24th and it is an excellent production, both thought provoking and entertaining.
The 1930's when the story takes place was the time of the Great Depression. Charles Lindbergh, a national hero lauded for his solo flight in 1927 from New York to Paris had wealth, prestige, and power. In 1932 his 20-month-old son Charles junior was kidnapped. In 1934 Bruno Hauptman a poor German immigrant with a wife and son of his own was arrested and charged with the crime. Playwright Logan does not put the focus on whether Hauptman is guilty of kidnapping and murdering the Lindbergh baby, but on the manner in which the case was handled as seen through the eyes of Hauptman himself as he tells the story of his arrest and conviction.

Actor Pat Reynolds portrays Hauptman magnificently. This is a drama, which is very dependent on the charismatic power of the central character, and Reynolds is up to the task. The six supporting actors who play a multitude of roles-prison guards, reporters, expert witnesses, judge, lawyer, Hauptmann's wife Anna, and Charles and Anne Morrow Lindbergh are all talented and versatile actors. My only criticism is the casting choice for Charles Lindbergh. Having seen him in historic photographs and newsreels, it was a stretch to believe the actor assuming his part for most of the play's run, who is a mere 22 years old, is the 33 year old Lindbergh.

Colonial Players is a theater in the round, which director Beth Terranova utilizes to its best advantage to create intimacy with the audience. You are asked to take your seat as the trial begins and shown "the evidence" as the plot unfolds. During intermission copies of the original newsreels are played and in her director's notes Terranova explains how she utilized the colors in the old newsreels to create the palette for her set, costumes, and lighting. It is evident she put a great deal of thought into the creative process and it shows.

For more information on show times and ticket availability visit www.cplayers.com or call 410-268-7373.

-- Nadja Maril

Forgetting Sarah Marshall A Movie To Remember

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

During the dreadful downpour of early Sunday afternoon, my wife and I headed to the movies for an early showing (12:30 p.m.) of Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Judging from it's description online, it seemed like the right pick for light fare, which we sought. In other words, I didn't want to think too hard. The comedy centers around love-lost Peter, whose CSI-esque TV star girlfriend dumps him. He's love torn and apparently is in need of a break . . .from everything. What better way to get over a breakup than to fly westward to Hawaii? He does, but coincidentally his ex is there on vacation, same resort mind you, with her new boyfriend (no, she doesn't wait long does she?).

Despite the deceptively bland plotline, the characters and acting put on a fab show.� It's equal parts witty banter, low brow humor, and R-rated content within a tropical setting, creatively assembled by the same team that brought us Knocked Up and Superbad. If you've seen either or both of the two films, then you know what you're in for.

Though the plot was predictable (Peter meets someone special on vacay and his ex's new relationship isn't all its cracked up to be, leading to . . .), we both enjoyed this film tremendousely for what it's worth (the lower price of a matinee). It's a fun one for 20 and 30 somethings who've ever experienced breakups and new found love, with a hip, gen x edginess that's more "straight-up, tell it like it is", rather than passe jokes that usually squirm their way into every "boy meets girl (or loses girl)" movie. Go see it on an afternoon when it rains. It'll brighten your day.

- James Houck

Two Nights with RatDog

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

By Andrew Keatts, What's Up? Eastern Shore Events Editor

Show dates: 4/8 and 4/9, Rams Head Live, Baltimore.

In the years since Jerry Garcia's death, Deadheads have got their fix in a number of ways. Some settled for similar bands like Phish,Widespread Panic, the String Cheese Incident, and (though I don't personallysee the similarities) Dave Mathews. Others relied on the efforts of remaining members of the Grateful Dead, among them The Other Ones, The Dead, Phil Lesh and Friends, and RatDog. Though too young to have ever tasted the real thing,RatDog has always been my outlet to experience the iconic band.

Lucky for me, I'm beginning to sense that RatDog front man and founding Dead member Bob Weir has targeted Baltimore as a niche market for his band, now in their 13th year together. For one, I last saw RatDog in Baltimore on the 10th anniversary of Jerry Garcia's death. For another, the band seems to make itself comfortable in Charm City, with each stop lasting two nights. Throw in the fact that Bobby and the boys sang the National Anthem at Monday's Orioles game and drummer Jay Lane sported a tie-dye Natty Boh shirt onTuesday night, and I'm beginning to think I'm on to something.

Monday's show opened with quite a surprise. Common practice at "jamband" (lord do I hate that term) shows includes loyal fans guessing what the band will play to open the show. On this day, RatDog opened with "HereComes Sunshine" a Grateful Dead track that RatDog began playing in 2004. When I happened into co-worked and fellow RatDog fiend James Houk at the show, I asked if he had anticipated the opener. His response: "did anyone?!"

A personal favorite "The Music Never Stopped" came next, a welcome addition to any show for its joyful lyrics. The lyrics "The stars were spinnin' dizzy/Lord, the band kept us so busy/We forgot about the time," and "People joining hand in hand/While the music plays the band/Well they're setting us on fire" are the sort that yearn to be shouted by happy concertgoers in unabashed self-reference. The first set finished with Johnny Cash cover "Big River," an impressive version of "Dire Wolf," and a confusing, and eventually abandoned, closer of "Birdsong." The second set was heavily acoustic, the sort of set that fits better with a nice merlot than with a whisky on the rocks. The night ended with radio-favorite "Touch of Grey," and an encore of Grateful Dead classic by-way-of Chuck Berry "Johnny B. Goode."

Night two: same band, same faces in the crowd, different show. Over the course of the night I learned that this was the band's 800th show together, an impressive number if you stop and give it a thought. Beginning with a short jam intro to "Truckin," the band celebrated the occasion with a traditional rock n' roll show. A three-song run of "Walking Blues,""Ramble on Rose," and "Catfish John" had the crowd moving, particularly highlighting guitarist Mark Karan, who recently returned to the band following a brief absence at the hand of throat cancer. "Hell in a Bucket" leading into "The Other One" was a welcome addition to a night of rock n' roll, but couldn't outdo the night's strongpoint, a lengthy cover of Bob Dylan's "Desolation Row."

Ultimately, RatDog perked the middle of my week and satisfied my thirst for the Dead for at least a few weeks.

Widespread Panic Bears Jamband Torch, Ignites D.C.

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

If you had to pin down one band on which to carry the collective torch of jambands across the U.S. of A right now, Widespread Panic would be an easy target. The Athens-bred band, which for a good sum of the '80s and '90s was sort of in the exploratory, jamband shadow of their Northern counterparts, Phish, and to an extent the Grateful Dead (until Jerry Garcia's passing in '95 gave both bands a jolt of new, if not aging, fans), is perhaps the biggest of jamband brethren still touring the country relentlessly, season after season. Their recent stop at D.C.'s Warner Theatre on 13th and E Streets kicked off a spring tour in heavy support of the band's newest effort, Free Somehow. The two sold-out concerts saw the band shake little, if any, dust from the time off between New Year's and now, charging right out of the gates with passionate playing that seemed to peak at the right times throughout the night, give pause to a few new tunes in between, and gently sway the crowd when it needed a breather.

This reviewer enjoyed night one on April 1st. All along E Street leading to 13th and the venue, was a mix of barhopping happy concertgoers enjoying perhaps the first real spring weather the region has felt this season. By 7:30 p.m. the energy outside the theatre rose as helpless souls without tickets begged and pleaded for any- and everyone's extra. The band hit the stage promptly at 7:45 p.m., a bit of a surprise, and� launched into a seamless set wasting no time playing tunes from the new album. Newbies "Walk on the Flood," "Angels on High," and "Three Candles" started the night, which were fun rockers still in their infancy.� Highlight(s) of the first set saw the band weave in and out of the hard hitting fan fave "Driving Song" (from their first album Space Wrangler in 1988) three times with other chestnuts, "A of D" and "Barstools," thrown in the mix. It was excellent juxtaposition of old songs after the new. A fast paced "All Time Low" nailed the set closed with John Bell's raspy vocals and guitarist Jimmy Herring ripping leads like a wildcat from the south.

Considered the "meat and potatoes" of any concert among "jamband fans" (a label used all-to-often, but appropriately enough), the second set was the most enjoyable portion of the evening. Again kicking off the set with a new tune, and perhaps the catchiest of them all, was "Boom Boom Boom," with an echoing and encouraging chorus the served to unite fans in the house with an explosion of feel-good music. But it was really Curtis Mayfield's "Pusherman" that did just that--everyone in the house knew the tune instantly from it's recognizable afro-laden, pimp groove, which the band, indeed, pushed to the limits. This one clocked in at about 12 minutes, building into some peaking jams before dropping out into the percussive portion of the concert, a staple of Widespread Panic, in which drum mates Todd Nance and Domingo Ortiz dueled it out on the skins. This led to a softly sung, gentle ballad, "Her Dance Needs Nobody." John Bell was under a solo spotlight with the band providing subtle backdrop. It was sweet relief from the intense playing prior. Other notable songs of the night included "Pigeons" and the stirring rocker "Greta." The band closed with a two song encore, wrapping up with "Ain't Life Grand," the title track from the 1994 album.

All in all it was Widespread's coming out party for spring tour. The crowd was pumped and the band fed to them. They showed enough grit and personality on the new tunes so that hopefully they'll stick around long enough in the repertoire to earn second set status in the coming years. Harking back to some older tunes also gave longtime fans their fair share of stake in the band. It somehow all made us feel free in the nation's capitol.

--James Houck

Andy Davis Show in Annapolis

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

I recently saw singer-songwriter Andy Davis perform at Rams Head On Stage in Annapolis. He performed as special guest before Dave Mason. Unfamiliar with his music, I first checked out his Web site (www.andydavisonline.com). The site opens up with some of Andy's tunes and within a few seconds I thought, "Oooh I like Andy Davis." When I got to Rams Head, I quickly realized that I was easily the youngest person there-and likely the person closest in age to 25-year-old Davis. Seeing as Dave Mason, made famous in the 70s performing with the band Traffic, has a following of "old hippies," as my dad proudly told me (he himself, one of those "old hippies") this wasn't much of surprise.

Davis' music is a nice blend of pop and rock with some lyrics that could easily earn the title of "lovely" with an acoustic style that was refreshingly clean and some painfully romantic and bittersweet lyrics. My favorite song of the night was "Good Life," an ode to the carefree days of college that I could relate to entirely considering my own nostalgia for my not so distant college days. Davis' performance definitely hit a chord with me, enough that I bought his CD and have been listening faithfully to ever since.

Davis himself was engaging and funny. After asking the crowd if anyone had heard any of his music before and then learning (probably not too surprisingly) that most hadn't, Andy played a cover that the audience sang along to. "I'm so glad you finally knew one of my songs," he said. I was quite impressed by the way the crowd was taken with him, especially considering how different his sound was compared to the rockers he preceded. He had everyone clapping, even snapping, and cheering by the end.

Before his last song of the night, Davis asked the crowd, "You know when you're at a concert and the band plays that one song everyone know and the crowd goes crazy..can we do that?" And we did. The show was fun and my main surprise of the night was that I hadn't heard his music before.

Andy Davis' album Let the Woman is available exclusively at Barnes and Noble.

Update: Andy Davis will return to the Rams Head on April 25th�with Dave Barnes.

-Katie Redmiles