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Artscope Magazine | November/December 2024

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Music

Mamma Mia at the Ogunquit Playhouse

Mamma Mia at the Ogunquit Playhouse

// May/June 2017, Music, Theatre

by Gregory Morell For those of us that have loved and lost and reflect back nostalgically on the possibilities of what could have been, Mamma Mia has a special relevance. The rest of us can just sit back and revel in the color and exuberance of musical pop puffery. Mamma Mia is the ideal beach musical, a fact well played by the Ogunquit Playhouse in the kick-off of their 85th season, which opened on May 19th and continues through the first of July. Though the setting is a remote Greek Isle on the Aegean coast, the steamy swim suited cast could easily be imagined on the scenic sands of Ogunquit beach. The music of ABBA propels the romance and disappoints of young love and the matrimonial hope and despair of sustained fidelity. The costume department and the lighting designer were on overdrive for this production and no excess was spared. This included a blinding array of gold … [Read more...] about Mamma Mia at the Ogunquit Playhouse

In the Count’s garage where he keeps the cars in tip-top shape, Figaro (Evan Hughes, r.) helps Susanna (Emily Birsan) imagine their upcoming nuptials in Boston Lyric Opera’s production of “The Marriage of Figaro.” Photoraph by T. Charles Erickson.

Boston Lyric Opera presents The Marriage of Figaro at John Hancock Hall

// Music, Theatre

By James Foritano In Boston’s venerable John Hancock Hall, a few steps down Berkeley Street and just off Copley Square, our own Boston Lyric Opera roars into town with an enduring classic, a smoking hot bedroom comedy that offended one emperor, Joseph 2nd of the Hapsburg Empire, and King Louis XVI. Threats of censorship loomed, then dissipated. It was 1780, the height of the Age of Enlightenment, when the light of reason shone everywhere, especially bedrooms. So perhaps these two royal heavyweights second guessed themselves, deciding: Better bedrooms than halls of state! Besides, their own aristocracies were revolting, in both senses. Firstly, this was the way the aristocracy behaved offstage, all the time. And they wanted to see themselves as much as their underlings wanted to see what they were mostly missing. And who better to portray deliciously ‘bad’ behavior than … [Read more...] about Boston Lyric Opera presents The Marriage of Figaro at John Hancock Hall

Tom Rakewell (Ben Bliss) falls captive to Mother Goose’s ladies (Photography by T Charles Erickson © T Charles Erickson Photography).

Boston Lyric Opera presents The Rake’s Progress

// Music, Theatre

By James Foritano Boston, MA - A new production by director Allegra Libonati illuminates the Cutler Majestic’s historic stage and house with a tale at once simple and profound. Simple because, to the delight of this opera lover, the characters to keep in view form a neat triad of hero (Tom Rakewell, sung by Ben Bliss), heroine (Anne Trulove, sung by Anya Matanovic) and villain (Nick Shadow, sung by Kevin Burdette). Tom Rakewell is our wavering hero who charges off to London with a new inheritance, eying the goal of tasting all London’s sophisticated — and mostly low pleasures — while keeping intact the purity of his love to Anne Trulove. Nick is a dope, but a dope with the complication of deeper qualities which shine progressively albeit tragically stronger as his fate closes around him. Villain Nick Shadow is no dope; he’s a hunter of human folly so astute you might think … [Read more...] about Boston Lyric Opera presents The Rake’s Progress

Fixed/Fluxed

Far from Foolish: Family Fun at the Festival of Fools

// Audio/Visual, Current Exhibits, Exhibits, Music, Theatre, Uncategorized, Visual Arts

By Meghan Richter Image: "Festival Host BCA's Current Exhibition: Thu Kim Vu's Fixed/Fluxed" Driving through the green mountains of Vermont is always a treat, especially in the summer when the city of Burlington is vibrant with engaging activity. This past weekend’s temperatures were about 75 degrees on average, sunny and breezy — the perfect escape from the sweltering heat of Boston. I arrived in Burlington in time for the Festival of Fools, a yearly event that is produced by Burlington City Arts. The streets were decorated with multi- colored balls that were strung together in a circus- tent formation over the intersecting streets on Church. Up and down the street, and on the green at the corner of Church and Main streets, there were varied performances ranging from dance to live music and comedy acts. Street performers traveled from all over the northeast to share their … [Read more...] about Far from Foolish: Family Fun at the Festival of Fools

Connecticut DIY

Connecticut DIY Scene

// Music, Visual Arts

Making Waves in New London & Hartford By Meghan Richter When I pulled into the parking lot at Sailfest 2016 last weekend, the town fair energy gave me a sense of the atmosphere of New London. The downtown area only spanned a few blocks, and the ocean breeze drifted loftily through the sweltering heat. Just about every building — and even some of the streets — had been painted with large murals. From giant whales to Sasquatch, to massive people playing saxophone and mandalas over intersections, New London is clearly an emerging art scene. Sailfest is hosted by the town’s local businesses, a lot of which are run by young artists. Hygienic Gallery and Hive Skate Shop specifically were able to incorporate different variations of art to their town’s annual festival. Hygienic is currently showing an exhibition on “Color & Light” through July 30, but for Sailfest, they opened … [Read more...] about Connecticut DIY Scene

South Shore Indie Music Festival at Fuller Craft Museum

// Music

By Meghan Richter BROCKTON (June 11, 2016) —Rain or shine, the show must go on! That was definitely the case at this year’s South Shore Indie Music Festival. This event was nuanced, and included live music, crafting and a beautiful natural setting. When the rain washed performers, viewers, and vendors alike into the museum, the day was far from ruined. Within the galleries of Fuller Craft, there were six gorgeous exhibitions — including the ongoing “Traditions and Innovations: Fuller Craft Museum Collects” — for festival-goers to meander through loftily, while listening to talented local artists play edgy and original music. “The Faces of Politics: In/Tolerance” (running until August 21) reflected some of the social and political themes also raised by some of the musical guests. “Paper and Blade: Modern Paper Cutting” (on view through July 31) was a particularly striking gallery … [Read more...] about South Shore Indie Music Festival at Fuller Craft Museum