"Let It Be" presented by Broadway At The Bass

LET IT BE
play program

On a Spring Sunday afternoon, The Travelling Toe joined two Dear Friends at the matinee performance of "Let It Be".  This musical is a touring show and stopped at Bass Hall in downtown For Worth for a few days.

The concept of the musical is the evolution of The Beatles, from their early years to their break up. The tribute artists begin the show with The Beatles appearance on the Ed Sullivan show then next going to Shea Stadium.

The show's website provides this overview of the program:

The end of The Beatles era was never thought to be in sight when The Beatles played their last show on the roof of Apple Offices in 1969. Imagine what would have been if The Beatles continued their journey. Enter a time capsule and turn back to what would have been John Lennon’s 40th Birthday – October 9, 1980. For one night, the fab four come together again on stage after a decade apart performing hits like Back in the USSR, Live and Let Die, Got to Get you into My Life, My Sweet Lord, Hey Jude, Woman, Helter Skelter, Paperback Writer & many more you never got the chance to see performed live! Imagine a night that never happened, but which feels so surreal

Let It Be

We did enjoy the music of the early years but as the music transcended into the unusual we did lose interest. There have been differen Beatles tribute bands appearing at the Bass who were more entertaining and interactive with the audience.  We were rather disappointed with the concert.

Bass Hall

"Two Trains Running" presented by Jubilee Theatre

TWO TRAINS RUNNING
play program

On a warm and rainy Spring afternoon, The Travelling Toe and Dear Friend attended the Saturday matinee performance of "Two Trains Running". The production was showing at the Jubilee Theatre in downtown Fort Worth.

The play was written by August Wilson. If you saw the movie "Fences" with Denzel Washington and Viola Davis, then you would be familiar with the playwright as it is also one of August's plays, made into a movie. All of his plays are set in working class areas of Pittsburg.

August Wilson
playwright

This play takes place in 1969 in the Hill District of Pittsburgh.  When the lights go up, the playgoer is taken to the neighborhood diner of Memphis Lee. Things are changing in the neighborhood and the city is renovating the area. They are buying up properties around Lee's diner.  But he is insistent he has a bottom line number that the city must meet before he will sell his property. There are also other everyday events that are re-hashed and discussed along with coffee, beans and cornbread and pie at the diner.

This is a must see play.  We totally enjoyed it and all the actors were amazing. The set designer, Bryan Wofford did an exceptional job on creating a working diner. It seemed as if you could get out of your seat, walk right down to the stage, sit down and order pie and coffee and feel right at home.

CAST:


William "Bill Earl Ray                            Memphis

Sam Henderson                                   Sam

Alonzo Waller                                       Holloway

Shanidrea Evans                                  Risa

Marcus Mauldin                                    Wolf

Oris Phillips, Jr                                     West

Jarrett Goer                                          Hambone

Jubilee Theatre

FWSO Symphonic Series at Bass Hall

The Fort Worth Symphony presented a symphonic concert at Bass Hall.  The Travelling Toe and Dear Friends attended the Sunday afternoon performance.


Fort Worth Symphony

Andrew Grams
guest conductor

                                                             

The symphony was lead by guest conductor Andrew Grams

Karen Gomyo
guest soloist

The program began with solo artist, Karen Gomyo, performing Mozart's "Concerto For Violin and Orchestra No.3 in G Major".  The concerto was so beautiful and Ms. Gomyo was a joy to listen to as she performed the work.  According to the program she plays a 1703 Stradivarius violin.  Her performance was well received by the audience.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

After a brief intermission, the musicians and Mr. Grams took center stage again.

The second half of the program was one piece written by Russian composer, Dmitri Shostakovich. He wrote the symphony in memory of "Bloody Sunday", which was January 9, 1905.  The Russian citizens had gathered in front of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg to petition the Czar with their grievances.  The Czar skidded out of town and the Police and Cossacks opened fire on the crowd killing many.  Shostakovich's music very much reflects the somber tones of the tragic event.  The symphony is 55 minutes long and is played without pause.

Dmitri Shostakovich

What a magnificent, somber and majestic piece of music to honor that historic day in Russian history.

To learn more about "Bloody Sunday", try this link.


Bloody Sunday In Russia

Beauty And The Beast (movie critique)

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
movie poster

Who doesn't enjoy a love story?  Well,The Travelling Toe is certainly a romantic at heart, so with a Dear Friend along, "Beauty and the Beast" was recently viewed at the local Movie Tavern.

If you Dear Readers have seen the movie then you know the plot.  This recent flick is a remake of the 1991 animated film from Disney.  

The movie is set in France during the 1780's.  The heroine of the story is Belle who loves to read, lives with her father and is not afraid to face life on her own terms.  Her father Maurice, a wood worker, has a delivery to make and gets lost in the woods.  He and his horse, Philippe, take refuge at a mysterious castle.  But when Maurice picks a rose to take to Belle, the Beast makes his appearance and Maurice is placed in a prison cell for stealing.  Back in the village , Belle becomes concerned about her missing Pops and tracks him to the castle. The Beast makes a deal with Belle, if she takes her father's place and stays with him then her father will be set free. Belle agrees to take her dad's  place so he can return home. Of course over time she makes friends with the servants, who are being slowly being transferred into inanimate objects such as a clock, a teapot, a candelabra. They tell Belle about the enchanted curse cast upon the castle, the staff, and the Prince.  

Well of course there has to be a bad guy and in this movie it is Gaston.  He is infatuated with Belle.  He is determined to have her not matter what. In the showdown of the century, the Beast and Gaston battle to the dead on the battlements of the castle.  

Will Belle's love and friendship save the staff and the Beast, lifting the enchanted curse forever?  Ok, just remember this is a Disney film so a happy ending is the norm!



CAST:

The Beast and the Beauty

Dan Stevens

Emma Watson

Luke Evans
Gaston

Josh Gad
LeFou

Kevin Kline
Maurice

Ian McKellen
Cogsworth

Ewan McGregor
Lumiere

                

            Gugu Mbatha-Raw
Plumette 

Emma Thompson
Mrs Potts

Stanley Tucci
Maestro Cadenza

Audra McDonald
Madame de Garderobe

The movie was pretty much G-rated, of course

The Travelling Toe gives this movie a big toe up with a red, red rose!

"Who Am I This Time" presented by Circle Theater

WHO AM I THIS TIME?
play program

A Dear Friend and The Travelling Toe attended the Saturday matinee performance of a lovely play, "Who Am I This Time?" at the Circle Theatre located in downtown Fort Worth.

The play is really titled "Who Am I This Time (& Other Conundrums of Love)".  The play was written by Aaron Posner.  

Aaron Posner
playwright

Notes from the program about the play:

Aaron Posner brings together three tales of love by Kurt Vonnegut that may seem uncharacteristically sentimental for the author of "Slaughterhouse-Five".  

Kurt Vonnegut
author

The central story of the play is a romance that unfolds at the North Crawford Mask and Wig Club, a community theatre, which Posner invites us to locate in whatever familiar region the play is performed. This setting provides the premise for the ensemble: a group of small-town amature actors, performing stories about their lives.

For the performances at the Circle Theatre West Crawford was set in Texas, but of course!

There are 6 actors in the production and each are cast in various roles.  Some even play musical instruments as the part of their character.  And something not usually done is that the actors "break" the wall between them and the audience by interacting with us during the play. One last note is to the title, it is based on the premise that as the actors gather to start a new production, they ask: who am I this time!

Both Dear Friend and The Travelling Toe loved this play and thoroughly enjoyed it.  Great story and great acting!

Community theater rocks!!

Circle Theatre

FWSO Pop Series "Rodgers and Hammerstein At The Movies:

CONCERT PROGRAM

The Travelling Toe and a Dear Friend attended the Sunday matinee performance of the Pop Series presented by the Fort Worth Symphony.  The program was based on the marvelous music of Rodgers and Hammerstein.  The guest conductor for the concert was Maestro Stuart Malina.

Stuart Malina

What made this program so enjoyable was seeing the movie shown on a large screen and the movie actors singing with the FWSO accompanying them. Maestro Malina also shared interesting tidbits about the movie,the stars and the music.

Rodgers and Hammerstein

The program began with an overture of lovely music from "The Sound of Music".

The next segments were from the movie "Carousel".  The lovely voices of Shirley Jones and Gordon MacRae serenaded us.  

From New England we went to the "South Pacific", which starred Rossano Brazzi and Mitzi Gaynor.  The Travelling Toe must admit that this musical and movie are personal favorites. This portion of the program began with the funny song "There Is Nothing Like A Dame" sung by all the sailors on the South Pacific island. 

After a short intermission, the second half of the program started with a visit to Siam and "The King and I", starring of course Deborah Kerr and Yul Brynner.

After that,we attended the "State Fair" seeing both the one staring Dana Andrews and Jeannie Crain, the newer version starting Pat Boone and Ann-Margret.


The last movie shown was of course,"Oklahoma" starting Shirley and Gordon again.  The program ended with the icon song from the play and the musical and is also the state song of "Oklahoma"!

What a wonderful program.  We both truly enjoyed it.

Bass Hall

Bass Hall

Fort Worth Symphony

"Logan" (movie critique)

LOGAN
movie poster

The Movie Mavens and The Travelling Toe went to the local multiplex on a Monday afternoon to see the latest X-man movie. OK, it also gave us an opportunity to see the awesome Hugh Jackman. (sigh)

The movie takes place in the future year of 2029....but as time moves so fast, probably 2029 will be here before we know it.  Anywho, at this time all the mutants are on the brink of extinction.  Logan/James Howlett/Wolverine works as a chauffeur in Texas. The job provides the money he needs to buy prescriptions for Professor Charles as he is sequestered in a desolate abandoned smelting plant. Caliban is in charge of taking care of Charles and seeing to his needs. Just as a reminder Caliban is a mutant tracker and is extremely allergic to the sun.  Both Logan and Charles are suffering from the effects of their mutant powers. Their world is turned upside down when a young girl,Laura, enters their life. She is being chased by Pierce and his band of thugs called the Reavers. But the real meanie in charge is Dr. Zander Rice.

There is more to the storyline but will leave it here just in case Dear Reader you have not seen the movie.


Just be aware this movie is 137 minutes long so do plan your liquid consumption accordingly.

CAST:

Hugh Jackman
Logan/John Howlett/Wolverine

Patrick Stewart
Professor Charles Xavier

   

Dafne Keen
Laura

Boyd Holbrook
Pierce
bad guy

Richard E Grant
Dr Zander Rice
really bad guy

Stephen Merchant
Caliban

Side Note:  The voice of Caliban sounded so familiar but due to all the make-up one could not recognize him.  Then that aha moment came and The Travelling Toe placed him in context.  If you are a devoted follower of "The Big Bang Theory" then you will know who he is. Stephen played a scientist that Amy dated a couple of times.  But when he found out Sheldon was her former boyfriend he was so excited because he wanted to meet Sheldon. Do you see those episodes Dear Readers?


The Travelling Toe gives this movie 1 big toe up with bottle of an energy elixir,Geritol, as Hugh Jackman has played the Wolverine character 17 times and is retiring from the role....he probably needs it by now!