Don’t Cry for Evita, Providence

Evita has kicked off its national tour at the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC). The show runs until Saturday, September 14.

Evita tells the story of Eva Perón, a ruthlessly ambitious social climber who rose from rags to riches and served as the first lady of Argentina from 1946 till 1952. She died of cancer at the age of 33.

Under the direction of Michael Grandage, Evita is an energetic, but soulless, spectacle that keeps its main character at arm’s length from the audience.

The show’s technical aspects are competent. The score by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber features a splendid mix of ballads and upbeat dance numbers. The choreography by Tony Award-winner Rob Ashford gives the show’s ensemble plenty of opportunity to shine. The costumes and set design are superb.

More problematic is the lead performance of Caroline Bowman, who has appeared on Broadway in Kinky Boots.

Bowman has stellar vocal ability, but her Eva Perón lacks the necessary charisma the role requires. Evita is a larger-than-life figure who needs a larger-than-life personality in the role. Madonna played Evita in the 1996 motion picture with the right mix of flash and attitude. She was a diva playing a diva. Here, Bowman seems to be a stand-in.

Josh Young, a truly wonderful singer, fares better as Che, the omnipresent narrator, who has a mix of disdain and admiration for Eva.

“She had her moments, she had some style,” Che sings at one point.

Sean MacLaughlin plays Juan Peron, the love of Eva’s life.

MacLaughlin and Bowman have terrific chemistry and shine on the romantic duet, “I’d Be Surprisingly Good For You.”

Act One focuses on Eva’s romance with Juan and her seduction of the Argentine people, ending with the rousing, “A New Argentina.” Other highlights include the sassy “Buenos Aires” and the poignant “Another Suitcase in Another Hall,” sung by one of Perón’s discarded mistresses (Krystina Alabado).

Act Two showcases Eva’s reign as first lady of Argentina. The show’s most famous moment features Eva addressing her adoring fans from the balcony of the Presidential palace, where she sings “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina.”

As the show winds down, Eva’s health deteriorates and she says her goodbyes to the country that loved her.

One of Bowman’s finest moments is an impassioned performance of “You Must Love Me,” which was first featured in the 1996 motion picture of Evita.

Overall, Evita is entertaining, but doesn’t quite grab your heart the way a truly great musical should.

Tickets for EVITA are $80 – $43; all ticket prices include a $3 per ticket restoration charge and are subject to change without notice. Tickets are available online at www.ppacri.org, by phone at (401) 421- ARTS (2787), and at the PPAC Box Office, located at 220 Weybosset Street in downtown Providence.

Fall for Great Shows this Season

The best alternative shows in RI all season plus an interview with Hope Anchor

I’d figured with Hope Anchor-a-mania about to run rampant through the city, a fun person to do an interview with would be the band’s guitarist, Terry Linehan. Known as Terry Dread back in the day, he has literally seen it all from being on a major label with Waterdog, touring as a guitarist for Green Day, and even being in a Green Day side project called The Frustrators with Mike Dirnt. He got a shout out from Billie Joe Armstrong at Green Day’s recent appearance at The Dunk. Terry co-owns a punk bar in Providence called The Scurvy Dog where the music is always loud and there’s a great selection of beers. To kick off the Fall Guide, I figured I’d ask him a few questions to get the dish on Never Gonna Let You Go and his thoughts on the music scene. MC: How would you compare Never Gonna Let You Go to your debut release, Pile on the Dirt?

TL: Firstly, Pile on The Dirt was recorded in three spurts over four years and I think it sounds like that. Even if you’ve been doing this for as long as we have as musicians, it takes a while to feel the direction out as a band. After we did Pile on The Dirt, the songs on Never Gonna Let You Go are the next nine songs plus bits we wrote that we threw against the wall and stuck. So it has more of an immediate feel and is less calculated. I think it’s more visceral as well. Music should be physical and I think this record has that.

MC: How do you feel Hope Anchor as a band has evolved in the last couple of years?

TL: Well, you got enough copy for that? We started with a bunch of music I had written, assembled the group and tested what worked that I had written and what didn’t, then hit the studio. Since Pile on The Dirt there have been three major changes. 1) Eric Fontana left the band as he had his first child and we respect his decision and admire his contributions during his tenure, 2) we added Pip’s brother Matthew as a violin player, which makes us sound like a haunted house! 3) I switched from playing Gibsons to Fender Jazzmasters, which allows me to use the whammy like My Bloody Valentine, but use it in hard blues, which I’m not sure has been done before.

MC: As a longtime fixture on the music scene, how would you compare the music scene of today to say 10 or 20 years ago?

TL: The scene today has a lot more information, a lot more bands, and a lot less music fans. Local bands used to draw 800 people on a Friday at the Promenade St. Living Room. It seems like bands are mostly playing to other bands these days. I think the internet has made it so people don’t have to go out and see bands live to know what they’re getting anymore. Also there are obviously way less record stores anymore. I admire the ones we have, but I feel bad that kids don’t go to a record store to learn about music anymore.

MC: What are the three things you are most proud of in your music career?

TL: This’ll sound corny, but I’m most proud of our new record. Like everything else, it’s the culmination of a lifetime in music. Besides that, I’m super proud of playing guitar for Green Day on the American Idiot tour. It was a special record at a special time. We were in the middle of the Bush years and very publically rallying against them. Thirdly I’m very proud of the last Frustrators record and tour. Mike and I wrote the record in hours, recorded it the next day and hit the road the next year having not played together as a band in 10 years!

MC: What were some the influences or types of things you guys were shooting for making this record?

TL: The new record was more influenced by time and place than other artists. I can’t speak for the other guys, but R.L. Burnside is the only palpable thing I tried to channel on anything. We were lucky enough to get flown to Oakland last summer to play some shows, and while we were there, we laid down the drum tracks for the album. We came home and did overdubs with Kraig Jordan and then flew back to Oakland to mix with Denny Muller. Also Pip playing the harmonica was a big part of shaping these new songs. Having other instruments that can make a racket without just adding more and more guitars allows things to breathe and still be loud and raucous. Pip and I had a conversation and decided to make our version of a blues record. We also wanted the record to be listened to beginning to end as one thing, so we added the blues bits between the songs to connect the dots. We recorded the blues bits on a handheld recorder in Pip’s living room. We wanted to sound like two old blues guys playing.

Hope Anchor will be playing during intermission at the Providence Roller Derby bout at the Rhode Island Convention Center on September 14th. Doors are at 5 pm with the bout between the Old Money Honeys and the Mob Squad scheduled to start at 6 pm.

Mean Creek

Mean Creek are considered by some to be the best local band going in Boston right now. They mix in a little American, but are basically just full tilt rock & roll music wise. This is a strong bill for straight ahead rock & roll between Northern Lands, WBRU Rock Hunt champs Torn Shorts, and Dylan Sevey and The Gentlemen. I know there is a lot of competition on this night, but if you’re going for the rock & roll, I guess this show would win out!

Mean Creek, Northern Lands, Torn Shorts, Dylan Sevey & The Gentlemen, and The Ya Beautifuls rock The Spot on September 6.

The Gaslight Anthem

New Jersey bred rockers; The Gaslight Anthem return to Lupo’s to play their blue collar anthems. As far as an audio description, they’re pretty much modern day cookie cutter alternative rock. They do wear it well though, as I caught them last time they were in town and it was pretty much a love fest with the crowd singing along with the band on every song.

The Gaslight Anthem, The Sidekicks, and Gates rock Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel on September 6.

Biz Markie

Biz Markie isn’t sitting at home counting all the money he made from those Heineken commercials using “Just A Friend.” He’ll be coming to Fete and no doubt bringing the party with him. I love all that late 80s/early 90s hip-hop. It was just a fun era in music before everyone started fronting. Come down to Fete and take a trip back in the time machine to that era with Biz Markie.

Biz Markie plays Fete on September 6.

Pere Ubu

The other day I realized that Pere Ubu have been around for 38 years and found it mind boggling. They get classified as an experimental rock band on Wikipedia, largely because the categories for “alternative” or indie rock” had yet to be invented. Pere Ubu started from the ruins of the Cleveland punk band, Rocket From The Tombs (the other members formed The Dead Boys). Since then Pere Ubu have hit marks all over the spectrum and been a major influence on bands like The Pixies. I haven’t heard about them touring and have been eagerly anticipating this show for months.

Pere Ubu, Gagarin, and Atlantic Thrills will rock Fete on September 23rd.

D.O.A.

Hardcore punk legends D.O.A. come to town on what is being billed as a farewell tour. If that is true, D.O.A. have had one hell of a run. To celebrate their arrival, Firehouse 13 is re-opening for a night. In addition to D.O.A, local legends Neutral Nation and Drunk Robb and The Shots open the show along with The F.U.’s from Boston. If punk rock is your thing, this will be the show to be at!

D.O.A., Neutral Nation, The F.U.’s, and Drunk Robb and The Shots are at Firehouse 13 on September 13th.

Rocktucket

Rocktucket returns for its 5th annual takeover outside 250 Main Street in Providence. This year’s festival features something for everybody with acts geared more towards kids early in the day and then shifting to singer , then going full tilt rock ‘n’n roll, and then on to hip hop to close the party right. Of the rock portion, I’m stoked to see the Atlantic Thrills, Gavage, Malyssa & The Liberators and Ants in The Cellar. All great bands and what’s better than getting to drink out in the street while listening to some great music.

Rocktucket will take over Main St in Pawtucket on Saturday September 14th. The event happens outside 250 Main Street and runs from 1130AM to 11PM as part of the Pawtucket Arts Festival. Performers include KRIS HANSON, NATURAL ELEMENTS, FUNKY AUTOKRATS FEATURING MARK LOVE, ATLANTIC THRILLS, ANTS IN THE CELLAR, MALYSSA AND THE LIBERATORS, GAVAGE, BLESSED ENERGY, SIDY MAIGA AND THEAFRIMANDING, CASED CLOSED, DIRTYDURDIE, MILEZ GRIMEZ, THR33 PIECE SUIT, BLOCK MCCLOUD, BLACASTAN, TERMONOLOGY, and APATHY. Check out their page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/events/301255376681071/ for more info and set times.

Dudesmash 2

Deer Tick return to town to present “Dudesmash 2” which promises to be an epic rock ‘n’ roll party. Deer Tick are releasing a new album brightly titled Negativity later in the month and will doubtless be featuring a bunch of new material along with old favorites. This show is like a who’s who of local bands with Americana favs The Low Anthem, Joe Fletcher and The Wrong Reasons, rockers Ravi Shavi, and country rockers Smith & Weeden all on the bill. I’m also looking forward to seeing T Hardy Morris of Dead Confederate perform solo, after catching an epic performance by him with the band this past Memorial Day Weekend.

Saturday September 14th ; Deer Tick and 95.5 WBRU presents “DudeSmash 2” – an outdoor concert featuring Deer Tick, The Low Anthem, Jonny Fritz, Joe Fletcher and the Wrong Reasons, T Hardy Morris (of Dead Confederate / Diamond Rugs), Last Good Tooth, Ravi Shavi, Smith & Weeden, The Kolour Kult, and Vio/Mere at the Met Café’s Courtyard, 1005 Main St., Pawtucket RI. The show is all ages with 4PM doors / 5PM show.

Walk The Moon

Fresh off a recent appearance at the Jay Z- curated Made in America festival, Walk The Moon return to town to bring their dancey alternative rock to the big stage in town. It seems like a big jump for a band that played to a well-less-than-capacity show at The Met this past winter but there’s little doubt that Walk The Moon has some momentum going for them now. I wouldn’t call them really rock, closer to a of alternative rock. A little 80’s, but the songs are catchy enough to have a good time with on the dance floor.

Walk The Moon and Magic Man play Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel on September 18th.

R.I. Pizza Wars

Okay, so this isn’t a show but the chance to have free pizza from some of the state’s best pizzerias sounds good enough to me! There are much worse ways to spend a Friday night than eating free pizza and having a couple of beverages on top of that. One can also vote if they care enough on the contenders and a Pizza Champion will be crowned at the end of the night. Personally, I’ll probably stick to eating pizza.

R.I. Pizza Wars will go down at the Met Café on September 20th.

Pawtucket Fireworks Committee 2014 Fundraiser

I’m all for supporting causes that fund blowing stuff up! Throw in two sets by Rhode Island Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famers, Steve Smith & The Nakeds and you have one whale of a Sunday night! Steve Smith and The Nakeds fit into the category of straight up rock ‘n’ roll and one hell of a party band to boot!

Pawtucket Fireworks Committee 2014 Fundraiser featuring music by Steve Smith and The Nakeds happens at the Met Café on September 22nd. There will be an auction from 5PM to 6PM, followed by two sets from Steve Smith and The Naked. Proceeds will go towards funding the third annual fireworks display at McCoy Stadium on July 3rd, 2014.

Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears

Black Joe Lewis and The Honeybears bring it with a mix of and soul that is sure to electrify the night. Taking major influence from the likes of Howlin’ Wolf and James Brown, Lewis and his band are not the type of band that you’re going to be able to stay seated for. The Silks will kick off the night with their patented mountain-man flavored rock ‘n’ roll. Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears and The Silks will rock Fete on September 24th.

990WBOB Presents Mondays on Blast

We all hate Mondays but that doesn’t mean they have to suck. What if there was a place you could go to see and hear a couple of comedians and catch a couple of bands for free? There is and that place is The Spot (formerly Underground – now above ground). 990WBOB broadcasts from there every Monday and showcases a diverse blend of the many styles of the local music scene. Whatever your cup of tea is, if you don’t like the bands one week, come back because you’ll probably love them the next week! In addition The Spot has an open kitchen in case you get the munchies and need something to snack on.

990WBOB Presents Mondays on Blast every Monday at The Spot located above ground on Richmond St. in Providence. The show kicks off at 9PM and rages all night.

Forever Young

Forever Young is a super group of local musicians who do a great job breathing new life into Neil Young’s large catalogue. They do everything from Young’s folk numbers to the full on Crazy Horse barnburners. They don’t win the Motif Award for Best Tribute Act every year for sucking. Trinity will open the night with a Crosby Stills and Nash set. No word at press time whether they have to stay away from Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young material to avoid a conflict.

Forever Young and Trinity will play the Met Café on September 28.

They Might Be Giants

I keep waiting for They Might Be Giants to go on a tour and call it the Revenge of The Nerds 25th Anniversary tour as a testament to their staying power. Often mocked when they first surfaced in the 80s, They Might Be Giants laughed along with the joke by writing songs about it like “Rhythm Section Want Ad.” They Might Be Giants still put out albums, and although they may not be getting the crossover hits like “Birdhouse in Your Soul” anymore, they’re still money live for a good time.

They Might Be Giants and Mooch Hooch are at Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel on October 8.

The Parkington Sisters

The Parkington Sisters are four real life sisters from the Cape who have great harmonies. As for the band sound, it’s mostly indie folk with a couple of upbeat tunes that could be lumped in as alternative. I caught them recently at the Burnside Park Concert Series and they pretty much killed it!

The Parkington Sisters will fill Fete with harmonies on October 18.

Cold War Kids

Cold War Kids return to town after playing the WBRU Summer concert series in July. Cold War Kids remind me a little of a more keyboard-infused version of The Strokes. As far as modern day radio alternative rock, Cold War Kids are one of the better acts out there. Check out their latest record, Dear Miss Lonelyhearts, but more importantly, don’t miss them at Lupo’s!

Cold War Kids will rock Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel on October 21. Built To Spill

Built To Spill return for another night of indie guitar rock mayhem. Built To Spill have always delivered whenever I’ve caught them. Singer/Guitarist Doug Martsch shreds on guitar land; while the lineup around him has changed over the year, the intensity of Built To Spill live hasn’t wavered. It has been a few years since Built To Spill has released any new material, so it will be interesting to see if they’re road testing anything for a potential release. The band tours non-stop, so they’re guaranteed to be in fine form.

Built To Spill, Slam Dunk, and The Warm Hair rock the Met Café on November 6.

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Alt-Nation: Say Goodbye to Summer with Labor Day Weekend Shows

Hope Anchor – Never Gonna Let You Go

Hope Anchor are a gang of veteran rockers that came out of the gates a few years ago as an indie guitar rock band. Their debut record, Pile on the Dirt (75orLess Records), reflected this and was okay with a couple of decent songs, but nothing special. They were never a bad live band, but no band in these parts has progressed into a must-see live act more than Hope Anchor. Their new songs just have this extra thump, and yeah, they play guitar rock, but they put their own stamp on it. So needless to say, I was especially excited for their sophomore release, Never Gonna Let You Go. I was not disappointed.

On Never Gonna Let You Go, Hope Anchor take their juiced up indie rock and mix in a delta blues feel augmented by singer Paul “Pip” Everett’s harmonica playing. The blues is an ongoing theme in Never Gonna Let You Go as there is a brief blues segue between each song. More impressive is when Hope Anchor bust a barroom blues stomper like they do the first track, “Get Away Blues.” The second track, “Here We Go” returns to more jangling indie guitar rock that even has a horn section in the beginning of the chorus to go along with the tight hook. “Got to Be Alright” returns to the rock meets blues at sunrise for a duel feel, which one doesn’t hear much of these days. I guess one could throw John Spencer out there, but he does a completely different thing. Hope Anchor channels a little Blues Explosion though on “Getting Out,” which is the heavyweight in terms of rockers on the album. The stomping beat of “Reason” makes me think of Motley Crue’s “Shout at the Devil” if it was redone as a blues song. I wasn’t expecting a tune titled “Deluxe Pocket Knife” to be my favorite song of the bunch, but its fist pumping chorus refuses to be denied. “Deluxe Pocket Knife” is so good that it reminds me one of those songs I’d sit around waiting for to come on the radio so I could record it on a cassette tape when I was growing up. With Never Gonna Let You Go, Hope Anchor has succeeded in capturing the energy and excitement of their live show and getting it down on disc.

Hope Anchor celebrates the release of Never Gonna Let You Go at The Met Café on August 30. Neutral Nation, Benny Sizzler, and Tim Flynn’s Area 51 open the show. Doors are at 8 pm with the rock ‘n’ roll kicking off at 9 pm. The show will be filmed for the PBS series “Meet Me at The Met.”

Pat Benatar

Pat Benatar was the tough mainstream rock chick of the ‘80s who always had a catchy tune that would prevent even the most fickle person, like me, from changing the channel. She may not have been as cool as Joan Jett, but then again, who was? One thing is for sure: there is no footage of her ever twerking some dude at the MTV Video Music Awards. Benatar’s catalogue is steeped in anthem-styled mega hits like “Love is a Battlefield, “Hit Me With Your Best Shot,” “Invincible,” and many more. Benatar’s cover of The Rascal’s “You Better Run” was the second video ever played on MTV. At the time, it was chosen as a message to radio. Who knew that in 30 years, MTV would be all reality shows and radio would be dominated by talk radio with the bulk of the few stations left controlled by a monopoly that dictates stagnant playlists? This show is billed as Pat Benatar with Neil Giraldo, who is Benatar’s husband and has played on all her albums. I’m not sure who really buys a ticket for him, but I may have to check this show up! I’ve looked up the set lists online and this looks like one hell of a party! Get there early for local girl Malyssa BellaRosa who will be opening the show!

Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo will rock the tent at the Newport Yachting Center on August 31. Malyssa BellaRosa and Brian Scott will open the show. The doors are at 5:30 pm with Malyssa BellaRosa taking the stage at 6 pm.

The Mallett Brothers

The Mallett Brothers Band are a country rock outfit that hail from Portland, Maine. The Mallett Brothers Band recently released their third full-length CD, Land, which is chock-full of Yankee hillbilly thrills. Land kicks off with a wistful American groove, “Blue Ridge Parkway.” I hate modern country as much as the next urban rock ‘n’ roll brat, but something about The Mallett Brothers Band really grabs me. The boys rev stuff up on rockers like “Farmer’s Tan,” “A Little Bit of Mud,” and “Piece of Land.” The Mallett Brothers Band bring in enough elements of country, but when listening to a tune like “Goodnight,” they really just sound more like a straight ahead bar rock band, and a damn good one at that. The Mallett Brothers Band has always delivered in the half dozen or so times I’ve caught them live. Don’t miss them this Saturday at The Met!

The Mallett Brothers, The Silks, and The Denver Boot kick out the jams at The Met Café on August 31.

Supersuckers

Supersuckers are the greatest rock ‘n’ roll band. Just ask them. Sorry Mick and Keith, by the way. Okay I don’t agree with that, but I will agree that they’re one hell of a good time! Supersuckers mix in barn burning puck rock and country that is fierce. I’ve probably seen them a dozen times and have never left disappointed. Also of note for this show is the CD release for The McGunks as they unleash their new biscuit, Highlights for Lowlifes on the world. You can see the review in my previous column.

Supersuckers, Hellbound Glory, The McGunks, The Mighty Good Boys, and Dog Day Afternoon rock Fete on September 1.

Fuzz Fest

What would Labor Day Weekend be without a show full of feedback-ridden psychedelic rock ‘n’ roll? Machines With Magnets has a killer bill of this with some great local bands like Ex Reverie, Black Oil Incinerator, and Woozy, among others, bringing the fuzz! I caught Ex Reverie a few months ago and they’re one of my favorite new finds among the local music scene. If you like loud stoner guitar rock or psychedelic guitar squalors, this is where you want to spend your Sunday!

Ex Reverie, Linear North, Black Oil Incinerator, Lady Osiris, The Invisible Hours, Woozy, CardboardCannons and High on Dracula will bring the noise to Machines With Magnets on September 1. The show starts at 5 pm with the music going all night!

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Dividing the Estate Finds Humor in Human Drama The Courthouse Center for the Arts in Kingston has been experiencing a bit of a resurgence in its 25th year. With the departure of the resident theater company a few years ago, the space was in flux. Now, under the direction of JC Wallace and Loraine Lesniak, Courthouse is openly and aggressively courting all manner of arts presentations, and performers are taking note. Epic Theatre Company, having recently explored the use of The Artists’ Exchange, continues its progress south of the Cranston-Dixon line to stage Horton Foote’s gently hilarious Dividing the Estate.

Estate’s action is set in 1980’s Texas, but the ghosts of an earlier, gentrified past haunt the Gordons, a matriarchal clan struggling to hang onto what little wealth remains in the family before taxes and debt swallow it whole. Brothers and sisters feud while in-laws, grandchildren and the few remaining servants all claw for their piece of the pie. Carol Drowne’s Stella, the aging guardian of the Gordon fortune, trusts all financial matters to the nebbish, but politely firm Son (Michael Shallcross), while her other boy, Lewis (delivered with a shambling grace by Geoff White) drinks and gambles his share into the ground. The opposing forces presented by the practical Son, who favors divvying up the shares to avoid estate taxes and other entanglements, and the philandering, but sentimental Lewis, are mirrored by the sisters Lucille and Mary Jo. The latter, played with scenery-chewing glee by Cherylee Sousa Dumas, is the personification of an unbridled greed at which the others only politely hint. As the present day looms large and the financial realities crowd in, the play is a struggle between past and present. The glory days of the estate where rich farmland made them self-sustaining (and a symbol of the money that once flooded playwright Foote’s East Texas homeland) are rapidly receding and the aged servants, crumbling infrastructure and mounting bills are all potent reminders of the recession-drenched present. The servants, played by Jason Quinn, Cilla Julia Bento and Tiffany Fenton all shine here and represent perhaps the most consistent performances of the large ensemble. While most actors here have their moments (including the vibrant Kerry Giorgi as Son’s fiancée, Pauline), inconsistent accents and some static staging keep this redneck Chekov piece from realizing the dynamic tension that has such potential. The aforementioned depth of space is rarely explored and most action remains downstage for far too long. A good thing for audience members seated in the front, but anyone who chooses to view the play from the sides will only be fully rewarded during a delightfully tense dinner scene, set upstage, that exemplifies the Gordons’ petty tensions and sets up Quinn’s finest moment.

Alicia Spears’ set uses the found grandeur of the Courthouse space to full effect with furniture that reeks of musty early-20th century class, and Director Gladys Cole’s choice of music pulls us back to the southern sounds of the family’s last AM radio honky-tonk hurrah (I waited in vain for the relatively obscure blues singer Son House to make an appearance during the intermission among the Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton and Ray Charles tunes, but I have to remember that musical puns are a low form of humor that perhaps only I enjoy). Spears, who also is listed as lighting designer, missed an opportunity to add texture to the wonderful spaces defined by her set and the static plot is a bit stale, leaving the extreme corners of the playing space drenched in shadow.

Dividing the Estate is a bittersweet family drama that often takes darkly comic turns. In a world where bad men get to pass away peacefully in bed while good men are struck down toiling on their hard-won land, the notions of justice and fair play are often upended. The end result, however, is a timeless observance of the power of the past multiplied by greed. We laugh, perhaps too loudly, at their foibles, because the Gordons could be our own family, and any one of them could be us.

Epic Theatre Company’s RI Premiere of Horton Foote’s Dividing the Estate runs through August 24th at the Courthouse Center for the Arts, 3481 Kingstown Rd (Rte 138), West Kingston. Tickets are $20 at www.brownpapertickets.com.

Trinity Opens its Doors and Performance Spaces to All

The happening on August 17, at 201 Washington Street in Providence, is a celebration, an anniversary, a Free-For-All, a … BLOCK PARTY! Starting at noon, Trinity Repertory Theater, often viewed as the professional, perhaps a tad stodgy, theater at the center of town, is getting down and partying with everyone and anyone.

It is Trinity Rep’s 50th Anniversary, and they want everyone to enjoy the occasion. The theater has not only survived change and challenges, but thrived amidst the broader family of theaters and artists growing in the Ocean State. On Saturday, from noon to 8 pm, Trinity will throw open its performance spaces both inside and outside to other theaters and artists throughout the state, as well as to the public. The entire event is free. Lenny Schwartz’s Daydream Theatre Company kicks it off at 12:30 pm with a short play written exclusively for the occasion, The Nights We Spent. Says Schwartz, “Daydream and I are excited and honored to be kicking off the events that day in the Chace Theater. And it’s really exciting to have so many artists together in one block. And my play is family-friendly!”

What to do while waiting for a performance to begin? Take a tour of the building, learn backstage secrets, take an acting workshop, see a demo, mingle with the resident actors, buy a prop or costume or hit the food trucks! There’s also live music scheduled through the afternoon and evening.

Other companies represented will be the Barker Players, Contemporary Theater, Elemental Theater, Epic Theater, the Gamm Theater, Manton Avenue Project, Mixed Magic Theater, Ocean State Theater, Community Players, Wilbury Theater Group, and Trinity’s Young Actors’ Studio Group. Trinity’s Young Actors’ Group, which enjoyed its largest enrollment ever this summer, will present Fifty Years in Five Minutes.

Myah Shein, PR manager for Trinity, says, “This is also about reaching out and making those connections with other theaters, as well as the community.” Of course this event also celebrates the kick-off of the 50th Anniversary Season of plays at Trinity. Their Box Office will offer special pre-sale discounts of 10% off Oliver!, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike and many of the other great plays in the 50th season.

“To say that I am thrilled to be inviting Rhode Island to join us in celebrating Trinity’s 50th Anniversary Season is an understatement,” says Curt Columbus, artistic director. “This season has a strong, theatrical heartbeat.” Excerpts from some of the productions will be presented on Saturday. The full season starts in September with John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, the quintessential American story of the strength of family and the enduring human spirit.

Together, general manager Katie Byrnes and associate artistic director Tyler Dobrowsky shouldered the huge task of bringing the celebration to fruition. Says Brynes, “Whether you are a long-time Trinity Rep enthusiast, have kids in the education program, take in a show every now and then, or are new to town, we want you to join us (on Saturday).”

This is truly a special occasion when one well-established theater company openly invites other theater companies, new and old, to create a real-time event. Don’t miss this one-time-only party for residents and visitors alike in Rhode Island. For more information and a schedule, visit Trinity’s website at www.trinityrep.com or visit Trinity Rep’s Facebook page.

Scene and Heard: It’s Almost Time … Way back when I joined the Hollywood East community, I happened upon a movie trailer that made a lasting impression on me. The level of filmmaking was rarely seen in RI, and the effect was downright bloody disgusting. Under the moonlight, amidst the thick fog creeping in, we see cold glittering eyes, a spray of fresh blood and the promise of something deep inside that’s almost, well … Almost Human.

I posted the trailer to as many groups and pages as I could, because I was proud that this film came out of our little state. I later learned that the producers lived right here in Rhode Island. Enter Anthony Ambrosino and Nick Delmenico of Project 989, and Josh Ethier and Joe Begos of Channel 83 Films. They all have produced other films, but this one continues to draw attention for them. It’s been hailed as a cross between The Thing and The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

Writer/Director Joe Begos said, “I’ve always wanted my first film to be a gritty, dirty, low budget splatter movie made with my friends, just like Sam Raimi and Peter Jackson did for their first features, and it feels amazing that it actually happened and that people are responding to it.” About shooting in his home state, Joe added, “I love the feeling New England adds, I grew up loving Stephen King and in his stories the setting of Maine is like its own character. I wanted to elicit that same feeling with Rhode Island.” That he did – the film feels like a throwback to the old school retro horror flicks, from the coloring to the creepy sets to the monster movie fog reflected in the eyes of the person – or thing – that is terrorizing the people of the small rural town.

Getting into one of the five most important film festivals – The Toronto Film Festival – is a pretty big thing for the boys from RI. Josh Ethier is lead actor and also editor on Almost Human. He added, “Joe and I have been making films together since we were teenagers, and to go from Western Coventry to the Midnight Madness program at TIFF is a dream come true.”

Rhode Island is represented very well both behind the camera and in front of it. The cast includes some great New England actors –Vanessa Leigh, Tony Amaral III, Susan T. Travers, Michael LoCicero, Jami Tennille, David Langill, Diana Porter, Andre Boudreau, Kevin Cahill, and many more. Graham Skipper, a California resident, is in a lead role as Seth Hampton. I’ve had the pleasure of working with some of these folks, like Tony, Susan, Kevin and Andre, and I hope I do so again.

The Toronto Film Festival runs from September 5th through the 15th. Soon Almost Human makes its debut to the world in the Midnight Madness lineup. Check out their trailer and get a sneak peek into what this madness is all about. http://tiff.net/filmsandschedules/festival/2013/almosthuman

I see a road trip coming up soon for the makers of this film, but more importantly, I see a bright future for the cast and crew of Almost Human.

Limbo Street

Ordinary Bill Locale Profile: The White Horse Tavern | Opened and Closed

PROFILE LOCALE

The White Horse Tavern, located at 26 Marlborough St in Newport, is without exaggeration, as far away from being a “new restaurant” as it gets. Founded in 1673, Newport’s White Horse is the oldest bar in America. It was briefly owned and operated by a pirate,served a stint as a town inn where a man died in his sleep in 1720, and quartered British troops around the time of the Battle of Quaker Hill. So obviously it’s rumored to be haunted.

Like any reputable upscale eatery, The White Horse tries to keep their haunts on the hush-hush. There’s no “Dead Man’s Stew,” or “Ghost Tar-tar,” on the menu. You will find, however, classics that reflect the establishment’s early-American history with a local, modern twist like a Cornish Hen served with a freshly-picked vegetable ratatouille; a Block Island Fluke; and a New England cheese sampler served with Aquidneck Island honeycomb. But alas, there have been (a lot of) reports of ghosts. An elderly man dressed in colonial attire is regularly reported to have been seen in the main dining room, tapping and pestering patrons and servers, along with a spirit that seemingly monitors the staff, causing disturbances when things go wrong. Ghost sightings or not, the White Horse draws visitors in with its colonial-era ambiance. Seating is intimate and limited – there’s no table or booth option here (though there is the option of terrace dining with the addition of garden seating). Like any pre-Edison era structure, the restaurant is lit with rows of windows, small lanterns and tall candlesticks on each table. So yes, it gets fairly dark in the evening, but in a diner’s quest for historic eats, this encompassing, ambient effect is a small price to pay. OPEN & CLOSED

Fuel up after a long afternoon of Taylor Swift stalking (or beach-going) at 10 Sandwiches’ new location in Watch Hill. Ten unique sandwiches are made with fresh, local ingredients– go for something bold like cocoa sauce made with Dave’s Coffee Syrup. Another Westerly spot talked up as a “destination for foodies” has opened under the name Corner Thai Cafe, serving up traditional soups, rice, curry, noodles and salads. If you get your beach kicks farther up the coastline, Naragansett’s Amalfi is under new management and now Oceanside at the Pier, featuring an outdoor bar with plenty of deck seating and an ocean view. For more low-key eats in Narragansett, Casa Pizza is now open on Point Judith Rd. The NY style pizza serves up options for carnivores and weight-watchers alike (“bikini pie”). City Girl Cupcake now has a new location on Federal Hill, bringing some confectionery competition to the block. Find out what special flavors they’re baking up daily on their Facebook Page. With a heavy heart RI says goodbye to Sprout: The Vegetarian Food Truck. It powered down for the last time on July 27th, leaving Providence without mobile quinoa tacos and breaded cauliflower with caramelized onion dip.

Melanie Lynx is Perfectly Flawed

By Tyler Curry

In March the dimSocialite headed to Firehouse 13 to get the low-down on American Idol contestant and local singer, Melanie Lynx. With a new coming out, DS caught up with her to get the skinny on the making of “Perfectly Flawed.”

American Idol finalist and independent pop recording artist, Melanie Lynx, reminds us why it is okay to make poor decisions in her second official video, “Perfectly Flawed.” Just a few days away from the premiere, “Perfectly Flawed” aims to inspire an inner confidence to the perfectionists of the world. Lynx took time off from her Naked Heart tour to chat with me about the meaning behind her newest single, and what it means to be perfectly flawed.

TC: Tell us what makes “Perfectly Flawed” different from the other songs on your EP, Naked Heart, and why we should stay tuned for the official video premiere.

ML: “Perfectly Flawed” is upbeat, as opposed to some of the other songs on Naked Heart. It embodies the sounds of the summertime – the electric guitar, for example. The video is really fun, too. It’s more mature and plays on a lot of the retro summertime trends you see in pictures and videos.

This song is meant for people who may be insecure… about anything. There are a lot of people who doubt themselves for not doing something perfectly. This song is supposed to tell you that, yes; it is okay to make mistakes, poor decisions and bad choices sometimes. We learn from those experiences. Experience is what makes us human. It’s what makes each of us so beautiful. You wouldn’t be who you are without it.

TC: Describe your experience from being on set at your first official video, “First Time” to your most recent, “Perfectly Flawed.”

ML: This time was a lot easier. I could pick up on the subtleties of how things worked. I felt much more comfortable under the light the second time. I feel like you can tell, too. In fact, some of my friends gave me similar feedback. Apparently I looked more natural in front of the camera this time around!

TC: Tell us about an instance when you embraced being perfectly flawed.

ML: I will always second-guess everything I write; but at some point you have to accept what your writing down and just own it. Continuously rewriting to perfection doesn’t accomplish much. The message behind “Perfectly Flawed” is about actually embracing your imperfections. When I write, it comes from personal experience. So, what you get is what you get.

TC: What is the hardest part about being Melanie Lynx. What is the most rewarding?

ML: Melanie Lynx is independent pop – which I know is ironic. From booking gigs to production, I do everything myself. Not going through a label is confusing and risky, but exciting and extremely worth it. I can stay true to my own voice.

The hardest part is when people tell me my music is too pop. It’s tough when the indie scene says you’re too main stream, and you are still trying to break into pop . It’s never in vain, because it’s really awesome when people come to the live shows are surprised at how much it rocked!

I’ve had people thank me for getting them through a hard time, and that’s amazing to hear. It’s a really special feeling I can’t describe. No matter how rocky the road gets, I can’t stop. I would not be able to do anything else, so I’m here… now and forever.

Lynx will debut the official music video for her newest single, “Perfectly Flawed,” this Tuesday, July 30th on Facebook. You can also listen to her EP Naked Heart at www.melanielynx.com or follow her on Twitter and Instagram for an inside look at life on the Naked Heart tour.