Le Receptionist Archives
Last Night: The Barber of Seville at OCPAC
Last Night: The Barber of Seville at Orange County Performing Art Center, October 22, 2008
Better Than: Vickie Chang telling me, "I think you're the only one who likes opera."
Download: "Una Voce Poco Fa"
It's hard to believe that you even got dressed up at all - especially when you turn to see what the elderly woman seated directly next to you is wearing - pajamas and slippers - smacking on a piece of gum so loud it's akin to the scratching of a chalk board.
Gotta love it.
Then you smile with pride as you immediately recognize "Largo Al Factotum" and begin snickering in your seat - picturing how Bugs Bunny played every instrument under the sun. He just happened to be interrupting a nearby opera singer, Giovanni Jones, as he painstakingly rehearsed for the night's big performance.
"Hey! This is from Looney Tunes!" my friend Jeremy whispered a bit too loudly into my ear. Yes, I know Jeremy, now settle down. He's such a child sometimes.
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Last Night: My Fair Lady at OCPAC
Last Night: My Fair Lady at the Orange County Performing Arts Center June 4th, 2008
Better Than: Saving gas by not showing up.
In my mind, My Fair Lady equals Audrey Hepburn. It doesn't get much cuter than Audrey Hepburn, right? But last night the beautiful, adorable, simply amazing (more adjectives!) Lisa O'Hare gave Hepburn a run for her money. That voice! That presence! She truly stole the show.
And she wasn't the only one. The performances were sparkling and flawless, each actor moving in perfect harmony. My favorite was the most joyous and fabulously witty, "With a Little Bit of Luck" that showcased a bug-eyed, gapping mouthed, drunken, rosy-cheeked Alfred P. Doolittle (Tim Jerome) leading his pack of drunken friends out of the bar and into the quiet night, full of middle class decency, to bang on kitchen utensils, sing at the top of their voices and make every soul in the audience vow never to wed.
OCPAC's production of the musical masterpiece was blooming and exploding with extraordinary sights and sounds, and a non-stop energy that could make even the most avid McCain supporters in the audience chuckle and shimmy with delight.
The set design was visually amazing, meticulous and intricate—wheeling in, out and around without a hitch. No detail was too much. Only a few slight pops and cracks of the performers microphones could pull the crowd back to reality. Overall I say it was a flawless, entertaining and colorful performance—as lovely as the rain in Spain on a plain.
Critic's Notebook:
Personal Bias: Musicals? Yes Please. The more the better.
Random Detail: So many sequins on that gorgeous white dress - I think I was blinded!
By The Way: A little bit 'o Henry Higgins' (Christopher Cazenove) generosity must have rubbed off on the audience. After stopping at the concession area during intermission, and discovering that they didn't accept credit cards, I was reaching to graab my final three dollars from my wallet when a disembodied hand clutching five dollars waved in front of my face. A blond woman with a very sweet expression smiled widely and said "Here you go!" I told her I had enough change and that I was ok - thanking her profusely. She smiled again and shoved the 5 dollar bill toward me. I'm kidding about the Professor Higgins part. I'm going to chalk that one up to good karma and a random act of kindness. Thank you, blonde lady.
Last Night: American Opera Susannah @ OCPAC
Last night I went to OCPAC's showing of Susannah not quite knowing what I was to expect from an American opera by Carlisle Floyd. I was, however, certain of one thing: my deep, unwavering passion for opera in another language. There's something about stories set to foreign songs that is mysterious and indecipherable. It sends me reeling into a magical world where I forget what time it is. I actually despise having to get up to use the ladies’ room at intermission, lest I lose that magical feeling that washes over me when I finally, regretfully, detach from my seat.
Unfortunately, I just couldn't seem to wrap myself around Susannah. I did shift around though – in my chair, uncomfortably I’m afraid, all through the first act.
Maybe it’s just me (though clearly it wasn’t) but twangy opera done entirely in a Southern drawl isn’t my cup of tea. I'm sure it is for somebody, somewhere – just nowhere within a 30-foot radius of myself and my date for the evening, editorial assistant, Amanda Parsons. We gave way to whispering important commentary into one another’s ear:
“Is the conductor one beat or two beats ahead of the orchestra when directing them?”
“I don’t know. I’ll have to Wikipedia that shit.”
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Last Night: The Black Lips at Detroit Bar
Black Lips, Pierced Arrows and The Growlers
At Detroit Bar
February 10, 2008
Better than: Staying at home and perfecting the 10-key.
Download: "O Katrina" by Black Lips.
You know a show is awesome when you leave drenched in sweat and covered in silly string. Also, I think I'm now slightly deaf. That, my friends, is how the Black Lips do it!
Last night's mosh pit was everything a cozy-sized venue pit should be! Or, well, shouldn't be - did anyone actually read the warnings taped to every corner of the wall at Detroit Bar? You wanna mosh? You wanna brave the mere thought of moshing? Unless, you wanna find your bitch ass in deep shit. . .and man, I wouldn't fuck with Detroit's co-owner, Chris! Although that one security guard tried to keep things calm, within the first couple of songs I watched as he was swallowed and dragged under the frenzied wave of pushing/shoving drunks.
I was cautioned by my fellow OC Weekly comrade, Kevin Poush: be alert, these guys are known for their stage antics, ie. pissing on the crowd, chucking bottles, spitting and even (gulp!) ETC.!
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Last Night: The Magic Flute at the OCPAC-Segerstrom Hall
The Magic Flute
OCPAC-Segerstrom Hall, Costa Mesa
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Better Than: Sitting at home in a pink bathrobe listening to two inches of rain.
Download: "Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen" by Mozart (often referred to as the Queen of The Night aria).
Even if you don't know jack shit about opera (or classical music in general) you know the name Mozart- everybody does, and if not - are you kidding me? This guy is worth more than a pinch of your time, hell - make your way to the local video store (or use your Netflix account, whatever) and the rent the movie Amadeus to get a quick round up on this incredible, musical genius. Dark and brooding? Well what talented mind isn't on some level? What may surprise you is that Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart has more than an impressive knack for comedy.
What? Hey, just a moment. Are you trying to tell me that an opera can be hilarious and (gasp) even fun?!
Yes I am. Fun and delightful opera? The Magic Flute is the perfect fairy tale, complete with an evil queen, the king of everything honest and true, a boy and girl in love and cute singing bird catchers.
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Puccini's La Bohéme at OC Performing Artscenter
La Boheme is everything an opera should be. It makes you laugh, it makes you cry - it makes you squirm around in your seat because your neck hurts trying to read the subtitles blazoned above the stage.
It is also a great way to discover a new scent of "old lady" perfume and provides an excuse to inquire politely, "Wow, I couldn't help but notice how lovely your perfume smells! What is it?" And just for a few hours you know what it's like to mingle with the elderly elite of Orange County. My mind couldn't help but wander before the lights grew dim, "How many of these folks might have actually seen Maria Callas in concert?" One woman named Connie - whom I had the pleasure of sitting next to, said she hadn't but, "Oh my dear, if you're ever in New York - go see the Metropolitan! It's magnificent!" Add to this, the fact that your seats are so perfectly located that you can almost see pores in the performers' faces - thank you Ms. Loesch.
La Boheme is the perfect mix of hilarious comedy (sprinkled with slap-stick) but deeply marinated in the kind of love that is nothing short of rapturous and all consuming.
A struggling poet falls in love with a seamstress who is looking for a light. Her candle has gone out - it's cold and dark - they fall in love but there's a problem: the poor girl is sick and hasn't long to live. Puccini makes you fall for these characters because they are just like us. They fall in love; they feel heartache, jealousy and fear. Yet they can laugh it all off with a dance and an overflowing cup of wine.
I don't think Kelly Kaduce (Mimi) could've delivered a more impeccable performance - her voice was crystal clear, unwavering and her interpretation of "Si. Mi chiamano Mimi" had me choking back some serious emotions. Perhaps it was Puccini's vision of love as something so profound, so "meant to be", so naive and trusting (bathed in moonlight) that had me frantically reaching for my Grandma's packet of Kleenex.
Whatever it was, each performer owned every ounce of their character's soul and emotion; and unlike the other operas I have had the pleasure of attending - the romance between Mimi ( gorgeous Kelly Kaduce) and Rodolfo ( Arturo Chacón-Cruz - you're soo adorable! ) was very convincing and electric.
Overall, I feel the opera's success rests in Puccini's keen ability to reveal the depth of each characters personality. In the beginning we might have seen Musetta ( Megan Monaghan ) as nothing more than a shameless seductress, throwing plates around at the high scale establishment of Cafe Momus - yet, in the end, her heart is humbled as she sells off her prized jewelry in the hopes that a doctor will be able to save Mimi, who is on her death bead. Puccini draws the viewer inside the character's private sphere - we danced, we laughed, we poured the wine, we laughed some more. Now, as Mimi struggles with her last breath- a part of us dies with her.
Too deep?
Fine. Maybe I am just a romantic sap.
Regardless, you still have one more night left to experience this masterpiece of an opera.
La Bohéme by Giacomo Puccini at the Orange County Performing Artscenter (Segerstrom Hall) 3 November @ 7:30 p.m.
Ticket Services: 714.556.2787
Rilo Kiley Shakes Their "Moneymaker"!
Update: Click the image for photos from the Rilo Kiley show.
It was a wonderful evening at The Grove of Anaheim: lady lead singers with incredible voices and endless musical talents – backed by the boys who love them. Grand Ole Party jolted the evening forward with cutie pie, Kristen Gundred owning the shit out of her drum set and with a killer Karen O-esque voice to boot! Later she would play percussion flawlessly alongside Rilo Kiley for a couple of songs.
The Bird and the Bee created a musical fairytale, complete with a bubble making machine, dissolving to the haunting melody of Inara George’s sensual voice and Greg Kurstin’s magical keyboardin’ fingers. One minute lamenting over the agony of a very, very, very broken heart – then shifting to a straight forward question of, “would you ever be my fucking boyfriend?” With such a charming and loungey sweetness it might take you by surprise (perhaps) to hear the word “fucking” embedded so breathlessly within. Inara was charming between songs, apologizing for being so “slow” but blamed it on the fact that she was in Vegas the night before. The throngs of underage indie kids tilted their heads indifferently to one side in bewilderment and maybe Inara realized this when all of her “big kid jokes” fell flat. “I can hear the dust in the wind…” she giggled.
Sigh.
And Rilo Kiley? I’m still in the recovery process! The onstage chemistry of Jenny Lewis and Blake Sennett was more than apparent. Cowbells, giant balloons filled with confetti – and um – Dolly Parton?Amazing performers who dazzled everyone with songs from their fourth album, Under the Blacklight, along with a handful of their classics. Yes sir, Rilo Kiley is enough to make even the indiest of indie kids shift slightly with a feeling of powerful emotion!
“They were like, you know, amazing or whatever.”
“Totally.”
“But like, who is Dolly Parton?”
“I don’t know, man.”
Double sigh…
Citrus Lounge Squeezes Hip Hop Into Garden Grove
UPDATE: Photos of F.I.L.T.H.E.E. and co are up!
"Blaze it up!" yells flashy front man F.I.L.T.H.E.E. ( say that five times fast! ) a.k.a Brickmanraw, and no, he's not referring to the music, but apparently, "They said it's ok!"
What was ok? I wondered.
Suddenly a disembodied hand appeared from the small crowd gathered in front of the stage, holding much too intricate a pipe - ablaze with that sticky icky Cali green as a blunt began its' rounds along the very empty, very spacious dance floor. He grinned widely and devilishly, still rappin', as sweat poured down his face - microphone on the verge of slipping down his throat.
Security finally showed, but not before everyone was high as a kite.
Actually I'm going to guess that they didn't say it was ok, Mr. F.I.L.T.H.E.E., but you gave it one hell of a shot! Absolutely amusing as hell, this guy.
Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined such an entertaining hip hop event as this in my hometown of Garden Grove. Why fate would gather a slew of talented rappers together at Belluno's/Citrus Lounge ( of all places ) on the corner of Harbor and frickin' Chapman, is beyond me.
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