Entertainment :: Culture
New England Hit List :: February 29 by Sam Baltrusis
EDGE ContributorThursday Feb 28, 2008
Don’t have plans this weekend? Now you do. We’re out and about experiencing Terrence McNally’s powerful "Some Men," having our shot with "Tila Tequila" castaway Dani Campell and 8 other "musts" this week. Want to know what’s hot? Here’s the hit list:
SOME MEN
Full-frontal nudity? You bet. The SpeakEasy stage unveils the New England premiere of Terrence McNally’s recent Off-Broadway play, "Some Men." A four-time Tony Award winner ("Kiss of the Spider Woman," "Love! Valour! Compassion!," "Master Class" and "Ragtime"), McNally breaks new ground with this bold and daring new work that takes its audience on a kaleidoscopic journey through the lives of American gay men from the end of World War I, through the 1969 Stonewall riots, to present day. Nine men, all guests at a contemporary same-sex wedding, reflect back on their lives and the lives of their predecessors in this funny and heartfelt epic that looks at the forces that have shaped gay relationships over the last century. Veteran Boston actors Diego Arciniegas, Will McGarrahan and Robert Saoud head the cast, which also includes Paul Cereghino, Ben Lambert, Christopher Loftus, Maurice E. Parent and Andrew Wehling. 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 29 until Saturday, March 29. Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts, 527 Tremont St. $47-$50. 617-933-8600 or www.speakeasystage.com.
DANI CAMPBELL
When MTV debuted "A Shot at Love With Tila Tequila" in early October, 16 men and women were initially cast as suitors, including 29-year-old Dani Campbell from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. While she ultimately didn’t win Tequila’s heart, the self-described "futch" made it all the way to the finals. Meanwhile, the nation’s LGBT community is smitten with the laid-back firefighter. And this weekend, she’s heading to Boston. The first 100 people will receive an autographed photo and a chance to hang out in the VIP area with the MTV sweetie. 10 p.m. Friday, Feb. 29. PURE, 75 Warrenton St. $8-$10. 617-417-0186 or www.bostonpure.com.
THE CUTTING
Stoneham Theatre presents the United State premiere of British actress and mystery novelist Maureen O’Brien’s "The Cutting." O’Brien’s luminous first play explores the tragedy of a woman lost in silence. The story that is brought to light is of a descent into terrible darkness, and the extraordinary recovery of the human spirit. Judith (Eve Kagan) is in prison, on remand, accused of killing her mother. She has not spoken for six months. A child psychiatrist, Alex (Rachel Harker), is called in as a last resort to make a psychiatric assessment. Her job is to unlock Judith’s tongue. A relationship is forged and an extraordinary story is revealed. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28 and Sunday, March 16. Stoneham Theatre, 395 Main St. Stoneham, MA. $16-$40. 781-279-2200 or www.stonehamtheatre.org.
AURORA BOREALIS
Forget "Dancing with the Stars." The sixth annual collaboration between the School of Theatre and the Boston University Dance Program, "Aurora Borealis VI: A Festival of Light and Dance" features world premiere dance and movement pieces by choreographers Judith Chaffee, Sarah Foster, Margot Parsons, Ulrike Prager, Micki Taylor-Pinney, Nicole Tomeo and seniors from the School of Theatre. "Aurora Borealis VI: A Festival of Light and Dance" is co-directed by Judith Chaffee and Micki Taylor-Pinney. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28 until Sunday, March 2. Calderwood Pavilion, Boston Center for the Arts, 527 Tremont St. Boston. $10-$12. 617-933-8600 or www.bostontheatrescene.com.
GARY
Playwright Melinda Lopez, acclaimed author of Sonia Flew, weaves a tale of hard rock feelings and rock-bottom despair. The howling guitar, the slap of the bass and the slam of the drum hide the quiet anguish of three Indiana siblings. Inspired by the Kenmore Square ’70s rock scene, "Gary" proves that it’s hard to breathe when you’re face down in it all. Directed by M. Bevin O’Gara, music by Chicago-area artist Rick Sims, written by Huntington Playwriting Fellow and BPT alum Melinda Lopez. The original workshop production of "Gary" was at the Steppenwolf Theatre in 2007. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28 until Sunday, March 16. Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, 949 Commonwealth Ave. $10-$25. 617-353-5443 or www.bostonplaywrights.org.
MEDEA
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Since the dawn of literature, a lady called "Medea"--best known as the sorceress who married Jason of the Argonauts and the murderess of her own children--has been terribly misunderstood. Though she has inspired artists of every persuasion, ranging from Delacroix to Britney Spears, she still suffers after 2,500 years an ashamedly bad rap. After a 10-year hiatus, Ryan Landry and the Gold Dust Orphans bring back this much beloved production. Think Joan Crawford meets Martha from "Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" "Medea" is campy theatre at its best. 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28 until Saturday, March 15. $28. Machine, 1254 Boylston St. 617-265-6222 or www.theatermania.com.
JULIUS CAESAR
One of the greatest theatrical studies of tyranny, revolution and civil war, "Julius Caesar" is also a highly personal play--a breathless, gripping portrayal of friendships and alliances torn apart by political ambition and the intoxicating effects of power. Centered around three of Shakespeare’s most vivid characters--Caesar, Brutus and the young Mark Antony--the play contrasts a vast historical canvas with the private fears and dreams of men whose words can change the world. This is the first production of Julius Caesar in the A.R.T.’s history, staged by the talented young French director Arthur Nauzyciel. 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 28 until Sunday, March 16. $39-$79. 617-547-8300 or www.amrep.org.
HEY WILLPOWER
Hey Willpower consists of Will Schwartz from Imperial Teen and Tomo Yasuda of Tussle’s dance band. Their music is infectious and brilliant and not even the most seasoned Boston-show-going-crossed arms-head nodding slightly-scenester will
be able to resist full throttle dancing. Hey Willpower shows include a posse of back-up dancers on stage in great costumes doing wild-and-crazy things. Each song has a choreographed dance and sometimes the audience joins along. The group is celebrating their full-length debut, "P.D.A.," which has gone unreleased in North America until now. The US edition features a revamped sequence, all new artwork, and the addition of their sugar-high cover of Arhcitecture in Helsinki’s underground hit "Heart it Races." Hey Willpower will perform with MEN, the new act from LeTigre’s JD Samson and Johanna Fateman. 9 p.m. Monday, March 3. Great Scott, 1222 Commonwealth Ave. Allston. $12. 617-566-9014 or www.truthserum.org.
SON OF SCARFACE
At the age of 13, just days after his father died in his arms, Chris Knight learned that he was Al Capone’s grandson. His father’s funeral, filled with previously unknown family friends and associates, prompted Knight to ask one of his father’s associates for his father’s real identity. The answer, that his father was a son of Al Capone, started a life-long journey to find the truth about his family connection to America’s most notorious mob boss labeled "public enemy number one." In his recently released book, "Son of Scarface: A Memoir by the Grandson of Al Capone," Boston resident, New Jersey native Chris Knight chronicles his life, from his father’s tragic death to the traumatizing abuse he suffered at the hands of his mother to growing up gay, to searching for the truth behind his father’s secret past and finally concluding that he is the grandson of America’s most notorious mobster Al Capone. Check out www.sonofscarface.com for information about the New Era Publishing release.
DIRT
While it’s not exactly in the same league as "24" or even FX’s "Nip/Tuck," the naughty tabloid-magazine workplace series "Dirt" returns to the small screen after ceasing production in December after completing only seven of their 13 ordered episodes because of the WGA strike. For those not in the know, Courteney Cox Arquette plays tabloid queen Lucy Spiller, a ruthless Hollywood scandal-sheet editor who uses threats and manipulation to track down dirt on stars. Danny Comden, who once starred in the short-lived 2003 ABC sitcom "I’m with Her, "has been recruited for a three-episode arc on FX’s "Dirt," playing a new love interest for Cox’s bitchy alter-ego. However, we’re still in awe after last season’s blow job scene, when former "Melrose Place" hottie Grant Show played closeted action star Jack Dawson. You know, the one who had an ongoing "oral fixation" with Spiller’s gay brother, Leo (Will McCormack)? "Dirt" scorches the small screen 10 p.m. Sunday, March 2 on FX.
Sam Baltrusis has worked for WHDH-TV, CW56, MTV, VH1, Seventeen, Newsweek and as a regional stringer for The New York Times. He’s currently a full-time freelance editor/writer based in Boston. Check out his blog at loadedgunboston.blogspot.com.
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