Theaters and galleries: shows to see now
Recent reviews of current productions and exhibitions
FINAL CHANCE
Assassins
John DiDonna's young and energetic student cast
give us mixed results. While most of the
acting is exemplary (especially Michael Sapp as Samuel Byck,
the man who wanted to crash a 747 into Dick Nixon’s White House), the
director and his crew did miss some of the black humor at the heart of
Weidman’s book, as well as some of the pathos of the story’s disturbed
loners. And while there are some strong
vocal performances, not all of the singers have been able to master the
difficult
score. Still, Assassins is a
beguiling work, mostly because it presents an outlandish menagerie of
twisted crazies hell-bent on their own particular murderous pursuits. (Final shows 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday at
Seminole State College, 100 Weldon Blvd., Sanford; $10; 407-708-2040)
Full review by Al Krulick.
Holy Crap!
Jesus Christ, the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus walk into a bar. (Please don’t stop me if you’ve heard this one; trust me, you haven’t.) Ever since his dad abdicated heaven for a lengthy sabbatical, the son of God (Joe Swanberg) has turned into a sloppy stoner, spending his days hawking “Holy Crap!”–branded pop-culture detritus like “Jesus Jeans." His drinking buddy, the Easter Bunny (David Lee), chomps cheap cigars and terrorizes autograph-seeing admirers by distributing eggs extracted from his sweaty underwear. And so it goes in the debut script from Dustin Burton, Taylor Bulloch and Lucas Koester. (Final show 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at the Parliament House, 410 N. Orange Blossom Trail; $10; www.wanzie.com)
Full review by Seth Kubersky.
CONTINUING
Andy Warhol: Personalities
This
tiny exhibition of Polaroids used as figure studies for Andy Warhol’s
register-ringing assembly line of society portraits is valuable as a
window into the fastidious methods of a man who (disingenuously)
presented his work as a casual toss-off. (through Jan. 3 at Cornell Fine Arts Museum, Rollins College, 1000 Holt Ave., Winter Park; $5; 407-646-2526; www.rollins.edu/cfam)
Full review by Jessica Bryce Young.
André Kertész: On Reading
The
images taken by photojournalist André Kertész – one of the most
influential photographers of the century – capture a timeless depiction
of book lust, from a sunbathing reader on a New York rooftop to a
Venetian gondolier drowsing under the arch of a bridge. The collection
of more than 100 prints has been simply installed to allow total focus
on the black-and-white photos, made between 1915 and 1970. (through Jan. 3 at Cornell Fine Arts Museum, Rollins College, 1000 Holt Ave., Winter Park; $5; 407-646-2526; www.rollins.edu/cfam)
Fall Guide preview by Jessica Bryce Young.
Crimes of the Heart
It is a credit to director Aradhana
Tiwari that she allows the subtext to come through without camping up Beth Henley's Pulitzer Prize-winning script that's already built for laughs. And we do enjoy the absurdities in the dark comedy about the
bond of three sisters – and the men who shaped their lives and whose
lives have been shaped by the women. (through Nov. 29 at Garden Theatre, 160 W. Plant St., Winter Garden; $22;
407-877-4736; www.gardentheatre.org)
Full review by Lindy T. Shepherd.
Granted!
The
biographies of the 18 artists in the group exhibition – all recipients
of an United Arts of Central Florida grant – confirms that these
artists are indeed the "arts intelligentsia," with heavy representation
by local professors, MFAs and members of the professional gallery and
museum scene. The resulting show is fine, if somewhat safe in its
scope. The artists include: Elizabeth St. Hilaire Nelson, Jolie
Spelman, Cathy Hempel, Craig Richards, Doug Rhodehamel, Donne Bitner,
Fatima Lotfi Rice and Hye Shin. (through Jan. 9 at Crealdé School of Art, 600 St. Andrews Blvd., Winter Park; donations; 407-671-1886; www.crealde.org)
Full review by Rex Thomas.
The Japan Craze and Western Art 1880-1920
Dragonflies,
fish, and other animals were seen anew by American artists through
Japanese culture, and joining in the fun was Louis Comfort Tiffany.
Indeed, Tiffany lamps flank the tea table set with an exquisite
porcelain tea service in the detailed vignette. Also, Tiffany rival
John La Farge’s stained-glass Gothic cathedral window is added for
depth, as are historic photos of Japan. (continuing at the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art, 445 N. Park Ave., Winter Park; $3; 407-645-5311; www.morsemuseum.org)
Full review by Rex Thomas.
Jekyll & Hyde
To its credit, GOAT has managed to cram the expansive creation into its
less-than-cavernous Cherry Street space with a cast of 30 well-costumed
performers who sing acceptably and move comfortably in the small acting
area. But the seams show – awkward transitions on the stage, the
lighting set too dark for the audience to see properly and way-too-loud
vocals (thanks to mic'd actors performing only 10 feet away from the
audience). (through Nov. 28 at Greater Orlando Actors Theatre, 669
Cherry St., Winter Park; $18; 407-872-8451; www.goatgroup.com)
Full review by Al Krulick.
Linda Schäpper: Central Florida Folk Art Painter of Historic and Sacred Scenes
Linda Schäpper’s visual approach to the west Winter Park community has
yielded a rich story line; the individuals, their hardships and
involvement with their churches connect on human and spiritual levels
to the viewer, reminding us that the sacred is everywhere. (through Dec. 19 at Hannibal Square Heritage Center, 642 W. New England Ave., Winter Park; donations; 407-539-2680; www.hannibalsquareheritagecenter.org)
Full review by Rex Thomas.
Salt Water Taffy
At first the exhibition appears to be all fun and visual games.
Barbie-pink vintage cars seem poised over inviting surf in Tammy
Rejimbal's pastels, and stormy clouds are boldly decorative bands in
Lesley Giles' oils. Edges curl gently upward in boat-shaped vessels by
ceramist Robert LaWarre, the varied textures of their quiltlike
surfaces begging for the visitor's touch. But the show is serious while
still lively and accessible, and at the same time it's a satisfying
look at current Florida art. (through Dec. 18 at Atlantic Center for
the Arts at Harris House, 214 S. Riverside Drive, New Smyrna Beach;
free; 386-423-1753; www.atlanticcenterforthearts.org)
Full review by Laura Stewart.
Surrounded 2
Put to rest any doubt of the vibrancy
of Orlando’s art scene; it’s here and now with talent and creativity
still unfolding a year after the original Surrounded debuted
at Bold Hype. With mock-ominous implications, visitors again will be
“surrounded” by a dark, fatalistic undertone that addresses the Great
Recession. In the visions created by 29 artists are new stories and
ideas, and parallax views of uncivil horror, from a girl in a wagon
amongst rusted-out jalopies to a bloody-handed backpacker in a decayed
suburban ruin. (Through Dec. 7 at Bold Hype, 1844 E. Winter Park Road; free; 407-619-1965; www.boldhype.net)
Full review by Rex Thomas.
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