John VanDeWoestyne, Victor Angelo, Grace Burmahl, and Bruce Carmen in The Fantasticks
Theatre
The Fantasticks
Richmond Hill Barn Theatre
Thursday, August 11, through Sunday, August 21
On August 11, Geneseo’s Richmond Hill Barn Theatre opens its new production of The Fantasticks, the first musical produced at the venue since 2011. It’s scheduled for eight performances through August 21. But if ticket sales prove especially excellent, maybe the show will run for an additional 17,154, thereby tying the world record for “longest-running musical” currently held by ... The Fantasticks.
For those who’ve somehow not yet seen this cherished American classic by composers Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones, The Fantasticks’ story is a simple boy-meets-girl tale ... if the boy in question ran off on the girl, the girl took up with a bandit, and the entire relationship was monitored by a mime and an actor who literally lives in his suitcase. A funny, charming, and touching allegorical romance, the show opened in May of 1960, and although it was a slow-building hit, it managed to run, uninterrupted, at its same off-Broadway house through January of 2002.
A great part of the musical’s appeal lies in the beauty of its score, famed for such iconic numbers as “Try to Remember,” “They Were You,” and “Soon It’s Going to Rain.” But The Fantasticks is just as well-regarded for its signature blend of commedia dell’arte, the breaking of the fourth wall, and deliberately low-rent effects, with the enormous wall that separates the show’s young lovebirds played, in fact, by a person. As of 2010 – following those first 11,162 performances, productions in nearly six dozen countries, a film version, a 2006 New York revival that’s still running, and countless regional and educational-theatre presentations – it’s estimated that 1960’s Fantasticks investors would have earned 240 times their original investments. A note to the collegiate theatre majors out there: Tell that to your parents when they say no one in your field ever got rich.
John Donald O’Shea directs this rare Richmond Hill musical, and there’s little question that he knows the material, having co-starred in a 2007 Countryside Community Theatre production of the show alongside his daughter Erin. But this presentation of The Fantasticks – with its cast including Grace Burmahl, Joe LoGiudice, Ray Rogers, and Mike Skiles – will no doubt also be worth catching for the answers to other questions. Will John VanDeWoestyne and Bruce Carmen, who play the young lovers’ feuding fathers, have the same grouchy/endearing chemistry they did in 2012’s Greater Tuna? Will Diane Greenwood, who plays the mute, prove as hilarious without dialogue as she always is with it? Will designer Jennifer Kingry provide Barn Theatre sound as sweet and rich as it was in her 2011 musical The Spitfire Grill? And will Victor Angelo, as he did in June’s Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike, again spend a goodly portion of the show in boxer briefs?
My guesses: probably, probably, probably, and probably not ... though fans can always hope.
The Fantasticks runs Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m., and more information and tickets are available by calling (309)944-2244 or visiting RHPlayers.com.
Music
Lucius
Codfish Hollow Barn
Thursday, August 11, 6 p.m.
Hailing from Brooklyn, New York, the five-piece indie-pop musicians of Lucius – Holly Laessig, Jess Wolfe, Andrew Burrie, Peter Lalish, and Dan Molad – will be performing at Maquoketa’s Codfish Hollow Barn on August 11. Though the band had its beginnings in 2005 when Laessig and Wolfe first met as students of the Berklee School of Music, Lucius’ album debut was 2013’s Wildewoman, which hit the top 40 on Billboard’s U.S. Indie chart. The quintet’s follow-up was this past March’s Good Grief, and its peaking at number six on that same chart suggests that word-of-mouth has definitely been on the rise. Could critical praise, I wonder, have anything to do with that? Let’s find out together, shall we?
Okay, I’m now at the group’s Web site ILoveLucius.com, and there’s a tab for “PRESS,” which is usually a good place to find laudatory notices. I’m clicking “PRESS,” a-a-and ... . Whaddaya know? Ten raves for Good Grief! The Boston Globe describes it as “deliberate and soothing, but with blood pumping furiously through it.” DIY calls it “surreal, barmy pop music of the best kind.” The Guardian labels it “a wonderful record.” And on and on and ... . Hmm. A tab for “Older Posts” at the bottom of the page. What say we click that one, too?
Whoa! Ten more! NPR.org says of Good Grief, “You won’t be able to turn it off.” Noisey.Vice.com calls it “magical.” The New Yorker says Lucius “brings delicate beauty to even the most bombastic moments” and extolls the artists’ “seemingly impossible harmonies.” And the ... . Wait, what’s that? Another “Older Posts” tab?
Damn! Ten more, but these for Lucius’ debut album! The Irish Times: “Wildewoman reverberates with infectious tunes, hooksome melodies, and songs that sound fantastic the first, fifth, and 10th time.” The Essex Enquirer: “The result is a crisp modern classic that would make a perfect listen when the sun is shining.” The Austin Chronicle: “The group’s theatrical flourishes wail like the harmonious howls punctuating the title track, and the surge of Wolfe and Laessig dazzles without eclipsing all else.” The ... . Oh, you’ve got to be kidding me ... . A fourth page of plaudits?!
Yup. Billboard magazine: “joyous, melodic anthems.” Glamour magazine: “buoyant and layered pop songs.” The Globe & Mail: “sublime.” Moving on to page five ... .
Consequence of Sound: “uniquely unified, highly listenable.” Interview: “filled with indie-pop gems, fuzzy guitar riffs, and luscious lyrics.” The New York Times: “an art-school take on girl-group soul.” As for page six ... .
You know what? Just check out Lucius’ Codfish Hollow gig on the 11th and return to this article afterward. I may have finished writing it by then.
Lucius performs with opening sets by River Whyless and Lowlight, and more information and tickets are available by visiting CodfishHollowBarnstormers.com.
Music
Kiss / Rick Springfield, The Fixx, and The Romantics
iWireless Center
Friday, August 5, 8 p.m. / Friday, August 12, 7:30 p.m.
There’s an oft-repeated quote by author Peter York: “Rock and roll is the hamburger that ate the world.” I don’t quite know what that means, but if it’s true, I’ve got a warning for those living in the vicinity of Moline’s iWireless Center: Prepare to be swallowed whole.
On August 5, the venue presents an evening with the heavily made-up hard rockers of Kiss, the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers now in their fifth decade of performance. Legendary for their explosively entertaining stage shows, the group’s discography encompasses everything from the iconic anthem “Rock & Roll All Nite” to the tender love ballad “Beth” ... though fans of my generation might perhaps still love them best for their superhero awesomeness in the TV movie Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park. (It can’t just be me, right?)
Meanwhile, exactly one week later, the iWireless hosts a trio of iconic rock musicians: the chart-topping, Grammy-winning Rick Springfield, famed for “Jessie’s Girl,” “Love Somebody,” and his years of wooing soap-opera fans on TV’s General Hospital; the British New Wave sensation The Fixx, best loved for “Are We Ourselves?”, “Secret Separation,” and that inescapable ’80s dance hit “One Thing Leads to Another”; and The Romantics, the Detroit-based power-pop ensemble that had a number-one hit with “Talking in Your Sleep” and an unforgettable early-MTV mainstay in “What I Like About You.”
You no doubt know all these headliners. But band lineups, of course, change over time – how well do you know them now? Prepare for the iWireless Center’s crazy rock two-fer by matching the first and last names of the artists’ current lineups.
Kiss
1) Eric
2) Gene
3) Paul
4) Tommy
A) Simmons
B) Singer
C) Stanley
D) Thayer
The Fixx
1) Adam
2) Cy
3) Dan
4) Jamie
5) Rupert
A) Brown
B) Curnin
C) Greenall
D) West-Oram
E) Woods
The Romantics
1) Brad
2) Mike
3) Rich
4) Wally
A) Cole
B) Elvis
C) Palmar
D) Skill
Rick Springfield
1) Rick
A) Springfield
For tickets to August 5’s Kiss concert and August 12’s night with Rick Springfield, The Fixx, and The Romantics, call (800)745-3000 or visit iWirelessCenter.com.
Answers – Kiss: 1-B, 2-A, 3-C, 4-D; The Fixx: 1-E, 2-B, 3-A, 4-D, 5-C; The Romantics: 1-B, 2-D, 3-A, 4-C; Rick Springfield: 1-A. That last one’s for my parents, who complain that they never get any answers right in these music quizzes. You’re welcome, folks.
What Else Is Happenin’ …?
MUSIC
Thursday, August 4, through Saturday, August 6 – Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival. Forty-fifth-annual celebration of the area-born jazz legend with dozens of concert sets at numerous area venues. For information and a schedule of events, call (563)324-7170 or visit BixSociety.org.
Friday, August 5 – Mountain Sprout. Concert with the Arkansas-based bluegrass musicians, with an opening set by Milltown. Rock Island Brewing Company (1815 Second Avenue, Rock Island). 9 p.m. $6 advance tickets. For information, call (309)793-1999 or visit RIBCO.com.
Friday, August 5 – River Roots Live/WQAD Showcase. Quad Cities bands The Zealots, Iron Orchard, 9th St. Memory, and The Last Glimpse compete for a spot at this year's River Roots Live festival. Redstone Room (129 Main Street, Davenport). 7 p.m. Free. For information, call (563)326-1333 or visit RiverMusicExperience.org.
Tuesday, August 9 – The Claypool Lennon Delirium. Indie and psych rockers Les Claypool and Sean Lennon in concert. Englert Theatre (221 East Washington Street, Iowa City). 8 p.m. $36.50. For tickets and information, call (319)688-2653 or visit Englert.org.
Thursday, August 11 – The Way Down Wanderers. CD-release concert with the modern-folk and Americana musicians, featuring an opening set by Cedar County Cobras. Redstone Room (129 Main Street, Davenport). 7:30 p.m. $9.50-12. For tickets and information, call (563)326-1333 or visit RiverMusicExperience.org.
Friday, August 12 – In the Flesh. Outdoor concert with the Pink Floyd tribute musicians. Rock Island Brewing Company (1815 Second Avenue, Rock Island). 8 p.m. $7 advance tickets, For information, call (309)793-1999 or visit RIBCO.com.
Friday, August 12 – All Sweat Productions: Purple Rain. Quad Cities musicians perform the Prince album in its entirety, with special guests The Maytags releasing their new album Love Lines. Redstone Room (129 Main Street, Davenport). 9 p.m. $11.50-12. For tickets and information, call (563)326-1333 or visit RiverMusicExperience.org.
Friday, August 12 – Hot Tuna: Acoustic. Blues and classic-rock concert with ensemble founders Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady. Englert Theatre (221 East Washington Street, Iowa City). 8 p.m. $36.50-55. For tickets and information, call (319)688-2653 or visit Englert.org.
Friday, August 12 – Toto. Grammy-winning, multi-platinum-selling rockers in concert. Riverside Casino Event Center (3184 Highway 22, Riverside). 8 p.m. $35-65. For tickets and information, call (877)677-3456 or visit RiversideCasinoAndResort.com.
Sunday, August 14 – Melvins. Concert with the alternative rockers in their fourth decade of touring. Rock Island Brewing Company (1815 Second Avenue, Rock Island). 7 p.m. $20. For information, call (309)793-1999 or visit RIBCO.com.
Sunday, August 14 – Jenny Lewis. A Codfish Hollow Barnstormers concert with the singer/songwriter and Rilo Kiley vocalist, featuring opening sets by EZTV and Frankie Lee. Codfish Hollow Barn (5013 288th Avenue, Maquoketa). 7 p.m. $30-35. For tickets and information, visit CodfishHollowBarnstormers.com.
Sunday, August 14 – Beach House. Concert with the indie-pop duo of Victoria Legrand and Alex Scally. Englert Theatre (221 East Washington Street, Iowa City). 7 p.m. $27.50. For tickets and information, call (319)688-2653 or visit Englert.org.
THEATRE
Thursday, August 4, through Saturday, August 13 – The Glass Menagerie. Season-ending production of Tennessee Williams’ Tony-winning family drama. Clinton Area Showboat Theatre (311 Riverview Drive, Clinton). Thursday through Saturday 7:30 p.m., Sunday and Wednesday 3 p.m. For tickets and information, call (563)242-6760 or visit ClintonShowboat.org.
Thursday, August 4, through Sunday, August 28 – Shear Madness. Interactive mystery/comedy by Paul Portner. Old Creamery Theatre (39 38th Avenue, Amana). Friday and Saturday 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Wednesday, and Thursday 2 p.m. $12-30. For tickets and information, call (319)622-6262 or visit OldCreamery.com.
Friday, August 5, through Sunday, August 7 – The Birds. Genesius Guild’s presentation of Aristophanes’ ancient-Greek satire, updated by Don Wooten. Lincoln Park (11th Avenue and 38th Street, Rock Island). 8 p.m. Donations encouraged. For information, visit Genesius.org.
Friday, August 5, and Sunday, August 14 – Children of Eden. Quad City Music Guild presents composer Stephen Schwartz’s Old Testament musical, directed by Bill Marsoun. Prospect Park Auditorium (1584 34th Avenue, Moline). Thursday through Saturday 7:30 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m. $11-16. For tickets and information, call (309)762-6610 or visit QCMusicGuild.com.
Saturday, August 6, and Sunday, August 7 – I Hate Shakespeare! Original Bard dialogue and modern comedy in a presentation by the Princeton Players. Princeton Community Center (428 South River Drive, Princeton, Iowa). Saturday 7 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m. $5-10. For information, call (563)332-5951.
Thursday, August 11, through Sunday, August 21 – Gaslight. Season-ending production of Patrick Hamilton’s Victorian thriller. Timber Lake Playhouse (8215 Black Oak Road, Mt. Carroll). Tuesday through Saturday 7:30 p.m., Sunday and Wednesday 2 p.m. $17-25. For tickets and information, call (815)244-2035 or visit TimberLakePlayhouse.org.
Saturday, August 13, and Sunday, August 14 – Honk Jr. Student-performed version of the musical-comedy fairytale, directed by Richard Hall and Angie Ruley. Ohnward Fine Arts Center (1215 East Platt Street, Maquoketa). Saturday 7 p.m., Sunday 2 p.m. $5-7. For tickets and information, call (563)652-9815 or visit OhnwardFineArtsCenter.com.
MOVIES
Thursday, August 11 – Film Talk with John Fricke. The Wizard of Oz historian shares the backstory of the film’s creation, costume concepts, deleted scenes, songs, and more, held in conjunction with the exhibition The Wonderful World of Oz: Selections from the Willard Carroll/Tom Wilhite Collection. Figge Art Museum (225 West Second Street, Davenport). 7 p.m. Free with $4-7 museum admission. For information, call (563)326-7804 or visit FiggeArtMuseum.org.
Saturday, August 13 – The Wizard of Oz. Historian John Fricke hosts a rare 35-millimeter presentation of the classic film. Adler Theatre (136 East Third Street, Davenport). 2 and 7 p.m. $3, $10 family pack (limit five people). For information, call (563)326-8555 or visit AdlerTheatre.com.
EVENTS
Thursday, August 4, through Sunday, August 7 – 2016 Mississippi Valley Fair. Annual outdoor event with contests, games, pageants, food and crafts vendors, and nightly grandstand concerts with 3 Doors Down, Rascal Flatts, Alabama, and Montgomery Gentry. Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds (2815 West Locust Street, Davenport). $5-10 daily gate admission, $50-55 Fun Cards required for grandstand concerts. For information and tickets, call (563)326-5338 or visit MVFair.com.
Monday, August 8, through Sunday, August 14 – 2016 John Deere Classic. Annual professional golf tournament on the PGA Tour. TPC at Deere Run (3100 Heather Knoll, Silvis). $25-475 ticket packages. For information, visit JohnDeereClassic.com.
Thursday, August 11, through Saturday, August 13 – 2016 Tug Fest. Thirtieth-annual carnival event featuring Saturday’s annual tug-of-way over the Mississippi River at 12:30 p.m., with celebrations held at the LeClaire and Port Byron levees. For information, visit TugFest.com (LeClaire) and TugFest.org (Port Byron).
Thursday, August 11, through Sunday, August 21 – 2016 Iowa State Fair. Annual outdoor fair with contests, games, rides, pageants, food and crafts vendors, nightly grandstand concerts, and more. Iowa State Fairgrounds (East 30th Street and East University Avenue, Des Moines). $4-8 gate admission daily, extra fees for grandstand acts. For information, call (515)262-3111 visit IowaStateFair.org.
Saturday, August 13 – Patrick Rifley’s Digital Circus. Outdoor event on three stages, featuring a 50,000-watt lighting system, free snacks, and performances by the Bottoms Up Burlesque Girls and QC Sol Fire. Rock Island Brewing Company (1815 Second Avenue, Rock Island). 9 p.m. $6 advance tickets, For information, call (309)793-1999 or visit RIBCO.com.
