The Culture Bucket for April: Happy opening to ‘Matilda,’ happy closing to ‘Buffalo,’ and revisiting my trip to the 2017 total solar eclipse
Here is the latest edition of The Culture Bucket, a monthly mishmash of observations, news nuggets, feedback from readers and perhaps some snark – all about the local arts scene. Basically, it’s a place for the little stuff that keeps falling through the cracks because the items don’t necessarily feel big enough to be posts on their own. I envision adding to each edition as the month progresses. I’m hoping in particular that readers can share their experiences at arts events. If you liked something – or if you didn’t – let me know (and tell me why). I and my arts elves can’t get to everything in the area, so if you’re feeling inspired about something you attend, please pass it along.
‘The Glass Menagerie’ gets a staged reading at Fresno Pacific
Time and date: 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, in Fresno Pacific University’s Warkentine Culture and Arts Center, 4838 E. Butler Ave., Fresno. Directed by tony sanders (who doesn’t capitalize his name), Tennessee Williams’ classic play about a dysfunctional family may make you feel better about your own.
Happy opening to ‘Matilda the Musical’ at Selma Arts Center
(Posted April 12)
It’s a big night for Eliana Martinez.
She’s playing the title role in Selma Arts Center’s “Matilda the Musical,” which opens Friday, April 12, for a four-week run.
There’s actually another Matilda involved in the production. Charlotte Nelson plays the role in the “Naughty” cast, which will make its debut Friday, April 19. The “Revolting” cast, which Martinez leads, is alternating weekends.
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Not all the roles are double cast. There’s just one Miss Trunchbull, for example: David McAllister, who is part of both casts.
I’m a huge “Matilda” fan, as regular readers of this space are well aware. I’m hoping to make it to the second weekend of performances. TMR theater critic Heather Parish plans to be there opening night.
At URHere Theatre, ‘Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus’
(Posted April 13)
The cutting-edge URHere Theatre brings a provocative title by Taylor Mac that follows up Shakespeare’s famed bloody drama. “Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus” centers on a clown (a peasant) who has survived Shakespeare’s carnage. The New York Times describes the 2019 play as “part slapstick, part verse drama; lyricism, elegy, and satire jostle with fart jokes and pies in the face.” The show is part of the company’s spring series focusing on the theme of war.
Randy Kohlruss directs.
This is a one-time offering: The production plays 2 p.m. Saturday, April 13, at the 2nd Space Theatre.
A last weekend at 2nd Space for a delectable ‘Moon Over Buffalo’
(Posted April 12)
I squeezed in to a sold-out Sunday matinee for “Moon Over Buffalo” — and was glad I did. This late in the run, the cast has perfected its comic timing. Ken Ludwig’s breezy farce comes alive thanks to Denise Graziani’s direction and the caper-chemistry of Tracy Hostmyer and Patrick Allan Tromborg in the leading roles of a fading Broadway acting couple forced to pay the hinterlands. Among my favorite moments:
• Mary Piona — and who could not love Mary Piona? — shoving her granddaughter (an amusing Jessica Rose Knotts) aside to make a speech about thee-a-ter.
• Hostmyer performing a hilarious hiawatha dance of victory when she realizes a coveted movie role may be coming to her.
• Tromborg calling out “Give me a C!,” cheerleader style, as he begins to spell the name of the mostest A-list director out there.
Speaking of Tromborg, his character’s extended period of drunkenness in the second act has to go down in the annals of Good Company inebriation-portrayal history. At one point, he tries to cross his legs but can’t. He plays it halfway between sloshy-happy drunk and crybaby. It’s hilarious.
The laughs continue through Sunday, April 14.
My trip to the zone of totality
(Posted April 8)
I’m not traveling to Monday’s big eclipse, but the hoopla over it is bringing back memories. I wrote one of my favorite stories ever for The Munro Review when I traveled to Corvallis, Oregon, for the 2017 eclipse. I even lugged a 25-pound crystal ball up to the top of 4,098-foot Mary’s Peak, Oregon’s tallest mountain in the Coast Range. Why?
You’ll have to read the story. Here’s a fancy link:
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Karan Johndon
Patrick Tromborg is hilarious in Moon Over Buffalo. But wait until you see him in On Golden Pond (opens next at The 2nd Space, on April 26.) He will make you cry.
Jennifer Olsen
I know that Golden Chain isn’t in
Fresno but much of our patron base is. Can I ask why you don’t include them in these lists? And come visit us! 💕