Posts Tagged ‘20004’

We Love Arts: Henry V

Now this is more like it.
From the first moments of Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Henry V, there’s a feeling of power and potency that I found lacking in Richard II, playing in repertory at Sidney Harman Hall. This is a company in command, helmed by David Muse’s tight, almost economical direction which sets the play firmly [...]

We Love Arts: Richard II

I don’t normally write the kind of review that I’m writing today. But to be blunt, I’ve had enough. What is going on at Shakespeare Theatre Company? Inconsistent vocality, acting styles ranging all over from natural to downright hammy, condescending directorial choices, flubbed lines. With so much talent at its disposal, I can only attribute [...]

Spring Offerings From ISM

‘Boundaries’
courtesy of ‘Ghost_Bear’
Every Friday for the next six weeks, the International Spy Museum (ISM) will be debuting a new exhibit within the museum, including the addition of several new rare artifacts from the shadowy world of espionage. These new additions (some for a limited time only) join the already-extensive collection regarding the world’s “second-oldest profession” [...]

We Love Arts: Antony & Cleopatra

If you want to know why Synetic Theater has been nominated for 13 Helen Hayes awards for its productions last year, go see Antony & Cleopatra. Now. Everything this robust and vibrant company is beloved for is here on stage at the Lansburgh’s beautiful proscenium, as part of an alliance with Shakespeare Theatre that I [...]

Celebrate Lincoln’s Birthday at Ford’s Theatre

Ford’s Theatre Society and the National Park Service celebrates Abraham Lincoln’s birthday with special February programming. On February 5th, 12th, and 19th, Washington-area youth will present a selection of Lincoln’s greatest speeches as part of the Target Oratory Festival. On February 12th at 8:45 a.m., National Park Service Park Rangers will commemorate President Lincoln’s birthday [...]

We Love Arts: Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind

Thirty plays in sixty minutes. That’s the goal, anyway – a race against the onstage clock for five performers to present pieces based on their own life experiences. The catch? They have no idea what order the mini-plays will be performed. A long clothesline of hanging numbers lines the stage, and it’s up to the [...]

We Love Arts: As You Like It

For the first thirty minutes of Shakespeare Theatre Company’s production of “As You Like It,” I was entranced. The characters were on a journey through the history of American cinema, and the first scene’s send-up of a silent film had the audience delighted. Director Maria Aitken’s evocation of that era was perfect, from the stylized acting [...]

Scribblings: Christopher Andrew

‘MI5 Headquarters and Towers’
courtesy of ‘the grasshopper lies heavy’
This fall marks the 100 year anniversary of the founding of MI5, Britain’s counter-intelligence and security agency. As a celebration of the agency’s storied success since its inception at the turn of the 20th century, the service has authorized the publication of an official history by Professor [...]

We Love Arts: Full Circle

Twenty years ago this week, the Berlin Wall fell. It seemed proof positive that an overwhelming force of people could make a change for good, a stand against government oppression, by sheer numbers and tenacity, forever dispelling the myth of public apathy. Still true?
Woolly Mammoth’s production of Charles L. Mee’s rather chaotic “Full Circle” pushes [...]

We Love Drinks: W Wine Bar

It took me a while to return to the W Hotel after my first look back in July. Katie’s second look confirmed it was going to be a sleek and chic scene. But what about the drinks?
When I ask people what they think about drinks at the W, I tend to get the same response [...]

We Love Arts: The Alchemist

David Manis as Subtle, Jeff Biehl as Abel Drugger and Michael Milligan as Face
in the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s production of Ben Jonson’s The Alchemist, directed by Michael Kahn.
Photo by Scott Suchman.
I can’t speak for any other reviewer, but for me the most enjoyable reviews to write are the ones where I really enjoyed a production [...]

Scribblings: Jennet Conant

‘willie wonka chocolate bar’
courtesy of ‘rafeejewell’
At noon this Thursday at the International Spy Museum, Jennet Conant will discuss the exploits of one of Britain’s key agents of the “Baker Street Irregulars,” a group of agents formed under the British Security Coordination. The BSC was created by Winston Churchill as the British mounted a massive, secret [...]

DC Shorts closes tonight

‘E Street Cinemas’
courtesy of ‘InspirationDC’
The 6th Annual DC Shorts festival draws to a close tonight, but you can get some of the best bits. “Best of DC Shorts Show A” starts at 7p and unless you already have tickets, you ain’t going. Show B is at 9:30 and still has seats available, though I have [...]

Free-for-all ends tomorrow

‘The Taming of the Shrew’
courtesy of ‘hans s’
We’ve reached the last three performances of the Washington Shakespeare Company’s Free-for-all production of The Taming of the Shrew. Tonight and tomorrow night at 8pm and a 2pm matinee tomorrow. In all three cases the box office will start issuing tickets two hours before showtime (ie, 6pm for [...]

Where We Live: Penn Quarter

‘Penn Quarter’
courtesy of ‘M.V. Jantzen’
Another two weeks, another neighborhood!  This week we’ll be looking at the neighborhood at the center of it all: Penn Quarter. This neighborhood encompasses much of the downtown/Chinatown area north of Pennsylvania between 5th Street NW and 9th Street NW.  It’s a neighborhood that changed a lot in the past [...]

Cold War, Revisited

‘KGB / FSB Headquarters’ courtesy of ‘rodc’
Need a lunchtime diversion? How about a history lesson…from the other side’s point of view?
Spymaster: My 32 Years in Intelligence and Espionage Against the West
Thursday, 30 July; 12 noon – 1 pm at the International Spy Museum
Cost: FREE!
He was the youngest general in the history of the KGB, and [...]

We Love Arts: but Lear is unlovable

We Love Arts: Fever/Dream

Battle of the sexes, generational conflict, and class warfare all tied up in a screwball comedy that re-imagines Calderon’s classic “Life is a Dream” – this is Woolly Mammoth’s world premiere of Sheila Callaghan’s “Fever/Dream.” It’s a frolic, but with bite.
There’s something for everyone to relate to here. The generations are neatly drawn – Boomers [...]

We Love Arts: Design for Living

Robert Sella as Leo, Gretchen Egolf as Gilda and Tom Story as Otto in Noel Coward’s Design for Living, directed by Michael Kahn. Photo by Scott Suchman.
I postponed this review (sometimes being “new media” is convenient) because I wanted to make a 100% confident statement about the Shakespeare Theatre’s production of Design for Living: you [...]

Earth Day For Foodies

‘DSC01904.JPG’
courtesy of ‘lizkdc’
Looking for something to do this evening to celebrate Earth Day? There are a bunch of options, but the foodie one that tempts me is the official re-opening of Poste Modern Brassiere’s patio “The Garden” with an Earth Day celebration benefiting FRESHFARM Market, the organization behind most of DC’s farmer’s markets.
With a $5 [...]