Things Musical and Fringical

Charlene Baldridge
Photo by Ken Howard

Things Musical

Free Concert at Embarcadero

San Diego Symphony and guests present “Sounds of the City,” a FREE event from 4-9pm. Sunday, July 31, at Embarcadero Marina Park South, 206 Marina Park South Way (home of the orchestra’s Bayside Summer Nights). The guests are the region’s top bands, Todo Mundo and King Taylor Project, and 21-year old pop/soul singer Raelee Nikole. The event includes family oriented games and activities topped off at 7:30pm with the music of Academy Award-winning composer John Williams, including “Harry Potter,” “The Empire Strikes Back,” and more played by San Diego Symphony. More info at 619-235-0804. 

Don't forget, Bayside Summer Nights start this weekend!

Summer 2016 Organ Concerts on the Docket

The Spreckels Organ Society announces commencement of its 29^th annual International Summer Organ Festival. FREE concerts in the Spreckels Organ Pavilion Balboa Park Monday nights at 6pm June 27 - August 29.

Beloved Maestro Dies

Italian Maestro Edoardo Müller, who conducted more than 40 operas for San Diego Opera over the course of 31 years, died June 24 in Milan. A man who truly understood the voice (he was a singer himself) and loved working with the voice, he was beloved of San Diego Opera staff, artists and young singers, whom he coached and mentored even beyond his official duties. He debuted at the Metropolitan Opera in 1984 and at San Diego Opera during the 1980 Verdi Festival with Giovanna d’Arco. He held the post of principal guest conductor at San Diego Opera from 2005 to 2011, the year in which he conducted his final opera here, Carmen. He is survived by his beloved wife, Giovanna, his children Michele and Laura, and four grandchildren.

Fringe continues

Fringing right along, Monday night at Diversionary I attended Compulsion Dance & Theatre’s Bedrooms and Boyfriends, a trio of short plays involving bedroom encounters (two involving a pay per service fee). They are written by Michael Mizerany (artistic director of Compulsion), Jonathan Hammond and Samantha Ginn. It’s a frisky, funny and profound evening.

Bedrooms and Boyfriends
Photo Courtesy San Diego Fringe Festival

 Mizerany’s play involves a poignant encounter between the aging and insecure Peter (Joey Landwehr) and his hired trick, Bart (adorable Scott Nickley). Hammond’s play, which appears to be an exceptionally mundane discussion between Jonah (Joshua Jones) and his lover Joel (J.D. Burke), who’s been away more than present in their shared home of late, suddenly takes a turn towards a much deeper meaning. Ginn’s play, the lightest and funniest of the trio, also has an undercurrent of dis-ease. It concerns the touch-averse Giovanni (Patrick Mayuyu) and his hug therapist for hire, Charlie (Katherine Harroff).

The playwriting is very good and so are the actors. I came away entertained and satisfied. Bedrooms & Boyfriends continues at Diversionary at 10:30pm Weds; 9pm Fri; and 6pm Sunday. Diversionary is located at 4545 Park. Blvd. in Hillcrest. SDFringe.org

Hateful Hands

Hateful Hands
Photo Courtesy San Diego Fringe Festival

Tuesday night (June 28) I saw Hateful Hands, a one-hour adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth with puppets, apparently the inspiration of a group called Ellipsoid Players. The puppets provide more distraction than insight; however, there were swords.

My friend told me that most of those involved, if not all, are still in high school.*

Remind me, next year, when I’m planning my attendance, to avoid Shakespeare adaptations, especially when they promise to be funny.

Hateful Hands continues at the Geoffrey Off-Broadway at 7:30 Saturday.

*I’ve learned these young actors are from Canyon Crest Academy. Jacob Surovsky, their founder, graduated this year, and last summer he received the Jonathan Dunn Rankin Scholarship from San Diego Actor’s Alliance for his SD Fringe production, Mother’s in the Audience.

Suffering Fringe Fatigue, I'm taking a night off. Hopefully back on deck Thursday.