Arts & Events

Arts Calendar

Thursday July 17, 2008 - 09:58:00 AM

THURSDAY, JULY 17 -more-


Eclectix Gallery Hosts SNIFF’S ‘Out of the Landfill’

By Osha Neumann Special to the Planet
Thursday July 17, 2008 - 09:58:00 AM

Four artists, improvising together like a jazz combo in a groove, called themselves SNIFF after what dogs do, and for five years painted up a storm at the Albany landfill. Now three of the four original SNIFFs, Scott Hewitt, Scott Meadows, and David Ryan, are back together and I’m happy to say their work is as wacky-wild and utterly resistant to interpretation as ever. -more-


Wilde’s Humorous ‘An Ideal Husband’ Staged by Cal Shakes

By Ken Bullock Special to the Planet
Thursday July 17, 2008 - 09:59:00 AM

Before a mural of shepherds and shepherdesses in modern imitation of Restoration style (Annie Smart’s set), to bowed strings (on tape) guests troop into the home of a Member of Parliament, for a party that will see its host blackmailed to go against his principles by a femme fatale, amid all the frothy talk, in CalShakes’ production of Oscar Wilde’s An Ideal Husband. -more-


Woman’s Will Stages Brecht’s ‘Good Person of Szechuan’

By Ken Bullock Special to the Planet
Thursday July 17, 2008 - 10:00:00 AM

Three gods descend to earth but can’t find anyone to put them up. The future of the race might depend on them finding that one good person to prove hard times haven’t turned mankind sour. -more-


Berkeley Opera Presents Puccini’s ‘Tosca’

By Jaime Robles Special to the Planet
Thursday July 17, 2008 - 10:01:00 AM

Saturday the Berkeley Opera opened its production of Puccini’s Tosca as the final opera of its 2008 season. Unlike most of last year’s productions, this Tosca makes no attempt to update the story for a contemporary audience. Both the opera and the company are better served by this decision. -more-


Festival Opera’s ‘Trovatore’ Opens in Walnut Creek

By Jaime Robles Special to the Planet
Thursday July 17, 2008 - 10:02:00 AM

Lorenzo in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice asserts, “The man that hath no music in himself,/ Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds,/ Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils,” but he wasn’t Giuseppe Verdi. Il Trovatore, the second in Verdi’s trilogia popolare, clearly demonstrates that the reigning king of opera in late-19th century Italy believed that “sweet sounds” were the absolute best mate for treason, stratagems and spoiled lives. -more-


Berkeley, SF, San Jose Host Midsummer Mozart Festival

By Ira Steingroot Special to the Planet
Thursday July 17, 2008 - 10:00:00 AM

Beginning this evening and stretching over the next two and a half weeks, rabid Mozart fans can hear 17 of the master’s compositions played by two outstanding musical aggregations. The Midsummer Mozart Festival orchestra conducted by the illuminating George Cleve will perform five separate programs at six venues. -more-


Moving Pictures: New to DVD

By Justin DeFreitas
Thursday July 17, 2008 - 01:04:00 PM

The Furies -more-


About the House: Do You Speak Toaster?

By Matt Cantor
Thursday July 17, 2008 - 10:04:00 AM

I was chatting with my friend Charlie this morning about things variously fixable and unfixable. Charlie is that rarely spotted bird, the philosopher/handyman (et mariner/gadabout/movie and social critic). My little secret is that even though I have these last 20 years inspected buildings for a living, my roots run deep in the same garden that Charlie curates. -more-


Community Calendar

Thursday July 17, 2008 - 09:45:00 AM

THURSDAY, JULY 17 -more-