Harry’s Blog: It’s Christmas Time in the City and there’s Much to See and Enjoy………!

Can December 25th be only a few days away? (Memo to all you unfinished shoppers).

It’s been an almost winter wonderland of holiday entertainment minus the snow and ice, which makes seeing all these great shows that much easier.

For those of you so inclined to take a break from the general frenzy of trying to catch up with the holiday must-dos, check out the following:

Milwaukee Ballet’s Enchanting Nutcracker

Michael Pink and company once again created the most delightful productions aimed at children–young and old. Even the family sitting next to me commented at how this year’s Nutcracker was different in a very special way.  Absolutely!!

The entire ballet corps is proficient on their toes or delighting by bringing out the inherent humor and childlike wonder, making this show so accessible for young and old.   Zack Brown’s literal eye candy of a set in “the land of toys and sweets”  is brimming over with gorgeous fondant like colors that tempt the eye (and the taste buds). MB makes this production so geared toward kids with the use of the carousel at the start of Act II. The magic of Nutcracker holds throughout with the mysterious toymaker Drosselmeyer’s presence, guiding the children and working his literal magic.

On the night I saw it, Luz San Miguel danced Clara and she is light as a falling snowflake, gliding effortlessly across the stage. There is much to see and behold in this wonderful classic. Through December 27 at the Marcus Center for the Arts.

 

Umbrella Group’s Oh so Naughty and Way Too Funny Who Killed Santa?

If I could turn back time (and only my fellow Armenian, Cher, could possibly attempt that feat!) I would make it a point to see this hilarious and irreverent show every year. (Thanks to JC–not THAT one!–for pointing this out to me).

Milwaukee playwright and director Neil Haven and his very talented Umbrella Group have created one of the funniest productions I’ve seen in a while–and I see puhlenty!  Santa is a lecherous drunk who throws a holiday party every year, inviting Rudolph, Frosty the Snow Man, Tiny Tim, and a few new faces like Steve the now adult drummer (formerly boy) and Chastity the little Drummer Girl. Everyone at the soiree has a reason to hate Santa, and when he turns up with a candy cane stuck in his back, the really wild and crazy fun begins.

What makes this show so wildly inventive is that they’re all puppets expertly imagined and created by Dan Katula. These are not just hand puppets. Katula has created Muppets like large size creations that are deftly and handled by the talented ensemble of actors/puppeteers. It’s impressive how well this group moves and handles their assigned characters:  Liz Shipe (Chastity), T. Stacy Hicks (Steve, the Little Drummer Boy), Kelly Doherty (Tiny Tim with a very British accent), Sara Zientek (Rudolph, even got the stuffy nose just right) and Nate Press (Frosty the Snowman). They all excel in their mastery and the actors are just as much fun to watch as their puppets.

Who then killed Santa?  That’s up to the audience to vote and decide. No spoilers here. Can’t. it changes every night. Running through December 31 at the Keith Tamsett Theater in the Soultice Theater space.

 

And if you missed this. Well, there’s always next year………………………

Early Music Now once again celebrated the Christmas season with its tribute to Medieval Renaissance works.  “Laude: Joy and Mystery” evoked the simple yet resonant songs and chants of music from the 12th to the 16th centuries performed by the six men acapella group, Lionheart.  Making its fifth appearance with EMN,  the mix of bass, baritones, tenors and counter tenor, transported the rapt audience back to a time when the holidays were simple and focused on what the spirit of the season means: the birth and celebration of the Christ.  From gorgeous falsettos to perfectly pitched harmonies, Lionheart captivated through the simplest of means: sheer talent and an innate understanding of what they were singing (in Latin). There was an English translation for those who chose to follow through the 60 minutes without intermission and applause. The resonating acoustics of St. Joseph Center Chapel remains the perfect setting for these EMN performances.

Their only encore, “In the Bleak Midwinter,” was a rare and recognizable treat for the capacity crowd. We’ll just have to wait for Number Six…………….!

There’s alot more holiday happenings. So, more to come. In the meantime, Merry Christmas. And finish that shopping! (self included).

 

 

 

Much to be Thankful for at Present Music’s Thanksgiving Concert

Present Music’s annual Thanksgiving Concert is a highlight to the start of our holiday season in Milwaukee. And this year’s event was one of the most adventurous musically in years, an innovative treat for the capacity crowd at St. John The Evangelist the Sunday before Thanksgiving.

Present Music’s combination of classical intersecting contemporary music centered on the works of Kamran Ince, whose “Gloria (Everywhere)” is a tribute to his Turkish American roots with the influence of 13th Century Sufi poet Rumi creating breathless vocals, incomplete chord structures, all in an homage to endless search for God. Ince’s powerful 22-minute version of Hammers and Whistlers” was commissioned in 2006 for Present Music”s 25th Anniversary and its jubilant resounding clash of sounds beautifully mirrored Ince’s homage to the act of Creation, at times violent and dissonant, at others a gentle soothing of voice and instrument in awe of what had just passed.

Under the direction of Artistic Director Kevin Stalheim, PM once again pushed the boundaries of traditional song, performing Gavin Byars stunning piece, “Jesus Never Failed me Yet.” Amid a repeating tape loop of the title, a,drunken sounding elderly male voice cheerfully repeats title over and over as Stalheim and his 15-piece PM ensemble created an ebb and flow of lush orchestral waves. Stalheim and the ensemble masterfully supported the taped vocals, at times crashing down upon them, at others gently pulling back. All the while, the brute force and gentle restraint of the music giving new meaning to the repetitive language. A stunning achievement among PM’s many notable works.

But there’s nothing like tradition at the holidays. And the tribal drumming by the Bucks Native \American Singing and Drumming Group once again opened and closed a remarkable time spent with Present Music. Made up of tribes representing Ojibwa, Oneida, Winnebago, Menominee and Ho-Chunk, The Bucks’ unity of song and dance is a potent reminder that we can all come together to celebrate and give thanks–as one.