The Global Film Village

Orson Welles’ Moby Dick – Rehearsed at Lyric Theatre

// August 10th, 2011 // Comments Off // Stage Play

Kate McManus, Andrew Patton, Dustin Seavey, Richard Cox, Steve Madar, Michael Welch; Center: James Whitmore Jr.; Bottom: Andre Verderame (l.), Rob Fabiani. Photo by Robert Fabiani

by Marla Lewin

The Whitmore Eclectic Theatre specializes in heartfelt often experimental theatre. Their current play is by Moby Dick Rehearsed by Orson Welles and imagines the story of Moby Dick presented in its own contemporary time. Herman Melville wrote the book in 1851 and Welles decided to imagine how people of that time reacted to it. Set in 1860 this was America just prior to the Civil War. A time of great debates and transition from an agrarian society to industrialization. Lamps still burned whale oil. Southerners still owned slaves and Northern merchant seaman hunted whales and transported goods around the world on sailing ships with voyages that lasted for years at a time.

Welles tale unfolds in a small mid-Atlantic theatre company where the cast is preparing to perform King Lear when the director known as the Governor informs them they will now rehearse Moby Dick. This provides us with the opportunity to not only observe the great whaling story, but witness how a play might have been preformed by a resourceful company without modern  special effects. This predates projection, modern lighting and elaborate high tech sets. The play is pared down to its essence and must depend on the brilliance of its words and the performances of its actors. Being a great epic Moby Dick has many characters that are required to tell the story, so actors must perform several parts as well as playing the actors in the play. Often this can be a problem, but this cast is up to the task and the audience doesn’t become lost. Continue Reading

LATC Soiree to celebrate the 60s

// August 10th, 2011 // Comments Off // Live Music

by Marla Lewin

The Los Angeles Theatre Center will be the host venue for a Los Angeles Wine Tasting Gourmet Rendezvous, on Friday, August 12. A vintage 60s fashion show produced by Dave Temple from Clever Vintage Clothing, providers for the Mad Men TV series will help set the mood. Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack provided a solid Hollywood feel to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Inaugural Gala, among the guests were Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Gene Kelly, Tony Curtis, Bette Davis, Peter Lawford, Jimmy Durante and more. Phil Stern captured the event with his iconic photographs which will be on display. A live jazz performance adds to the evening’s ambience.

With the summer in full swing come on down to Downtown meet some new friends or bring some vintage ones along to sample the food and wines, and help support LATC.  US wines are  handpicked from boutique wineries by Buzz Wine Beer Shop; Italian wines imported by D’Aquino; Light appetizers and artisan cheeses from Nicole’s Gourmet Food; and dessert includes Grand Cru chocolate truffles by Yvan Valentin.

60s attire is encouraged but not mandatory. Think early 60s elegance.

Friday, August 12, 2011, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Admission: $64.

LATC: 514 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90013

To buy advance tickets (recommended) click here!

Participants also receive a free souvenir glass and a ticket ($35 value) to a play from the new fall season from Los Angeles Theatre Center.

To learn more about LA Wine tasting events click here.

THEATRE 40 OPENS 46TH SEASON WITH AGATHA CHRISTIE MYSTERY “SPIDER’S WEB”

// August 9th, 2011 // Comments Off // Stage Play

Photo by Ed Krieger

by Marla Lewin

What better way to kick off a new season of theatre than with an original Agatha Christie mystery?

SPIDER’S WEB is a English drawing room mystery. All of the suspects are present from the beginning. The fun is solving the case along with the detective simply using observation and deduction. There is no need for complex forensics or gruesome autopsy here. The stage is set, we meet the entire cast composed of the second wife of a senior diplomat, her uncle Rolly, her step-daughter, several house guests, the household staff and the second husband of the young girl’s mother. After we get to know the characters and the unique qualities of the old house, a murder is revealed. Clarissa, the wife of a Foreign Office diplomat, discovers a body in the drawing room of her country home. Her husband is scheduled to arrive at any moment with an important VIP in tow for a secret meeting. Clarissa has to create an intricate web of alibis and invention to protect her husband and perhaps the very fate of the nation. When her lies lead to new surprises the audience is left to untangle the puzzle. The play treats its mystery with humor and grace. This makes it a very entertaining evening. Continue Reading

First Images from John Carter of Mars

// July 15th, 2011 // Comments Off // Movie Premiere

by Marc Halperin

The Walt Disney Company has released the first images of Andrew Stanton’s John Carter that will be released on March 9, 2012. I first wrote about this film last January, It has definatley been worth the wait. Click on the image above or text below to see it.

John Carter Teaser Trailer

There is a terrific teaser trailer available and several images that can be used as backgrounds on your desktop. There is even a cameo for Edgar Rice Burroughs in the trailer. I have been a big fan of these books having started reading them about the time the Beatles first came to America.

The big question is will there be more to come at San Diego Comic Con?

60′s Classic TV writer Sherwood Schwartz has died

// July 12th, 2011 // Comments Off // People

LOST may have been a ratings smash but the most famous group of castaways ever on television was created by Sherwood Schwartz on  Gilligan’s Island. He died peacefully today surrounded by his family at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Sherwood Schwartz was 94.

He made an indelible mark in pop culture. He won his only  Emmy Award in 1961 for his writing on The Red Skelton Show. His shows would never be considered high brow but few who watched television in the sixties can’t sing or hum the theme song’s to at least one of these shows. Sherwood wrote the songs as well as created the shows.

Gilligan’s Island premiered on September  26, 1964 on CBS and still can be seen today in syndication.

Continue Reading