Mobile
Friday, May 31, 2013
Culture Question the Queen City: The oldest buildings in Uptown
Posted By David Aaron Moore on Fri, May 31, 2013 at 4:42 PM
Editor's note: In this series, local author David Aaron Moore answers reader-submitted questions about unusual, noteworthy or historic people, places and things in Charlotte. Submit inquires to davidaaronmoore@post.com.
I love Charlotte, but it hasn't done such a good job preserving much of its architectural history. In fact, most of Uptown looks like a set from some futuristic sci-fi flic. Are there any skyscrapers left that were built during or before the early 20th century? Kelly McMillan, Charlotte
Arts Theater reviews: Le Villi, Matsukaze and more
Posted By Perry Tannenbaum on Fri, May 31, 2013 at 3:46 PM
If you get a ticket to see the Le Villi/Mese Mariano opera twinbill at Sottile Theatre, you won't need to sit close to hear the singing star. Jennifer Rowley is the most powerful soprano voice to hit Spoleto Festival USA since Sondra Radvanovsky sang the title role of Verdi's Luisa Miller in 2000. Radvanovsky had the vocal artillery to overpower cavernous Gaillard Auditorium, and Rowley makes equally quick work of the Sottile with her potent larynx.
It jumps out at you somewhat inconveniently in Umberto Giordano's Mese Mariano (Mary's Month) because the singing until then, entrusted by conductor Maurizio Barbacini largely to children and members of the Westminster Choir, is mercilessly exposed for its lack of force as soon as Rowley arrives. Carmela's arrival is also a relief dramatically, because the opening minutes of the drama are taken up by an irrelevant visit from a condescending Contessa at the orphanage where Carmela had left her child years earlier due to the demands of a cruel husband.
Surely there are more graceful ways to introduce the nuns and the children of the orphanage, but librettist Salvatore di Giacomo, adapting his own short play, is hard-pressed to stretch out the action, which clocked in at just over 36 minutes on Memorial Day. Of course, we want to hear Rowley singing the poignant story of how she gave up her dear son, pouring out her heart and her guilt to childhood friend Suor Pazienza. But then we must submit to an exit by Carmela to pray in the chapel while the nuns bring out her son.
News / Opinion Discussion highlights your losing battle against government surveillance
Posted By Erin Tracy-Blackwood on Fri, May 31, 2013 at 2:57 PM
On Thursday the American Civil Liberties Union hosted a panel on the state of surveillance in North Carolina and focused on how technology like drones, automatic license-plate readers, and mass-surveillance cameras are being regulated to protect Fourth Amendment rights and citizen privacy. The overarching message was alarming: regulations aren't in place.
Arts / Today's Top Five Today's Top 5: Friday
Posted By Anita Overcash on Fri, May 31, 2013 at 10:28 AM
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, May 31, 2013 as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
* Drew Carey at The Comedy Zone
* Altered exhibit at Cornelius Arts Center
* Randall Bramblett at Double Door Inn
* Secret Hospital at Snug Harbor
* The Divine Sister at Actor's Theatre of Charlotte
Thursday, May 30, 2013
Arts Theater review: War Horse
Posted By Perry Tannenbaum on Thu, May 30, 2013 at 5:09 PM
Even as I watched the fabulous Tony Award-winning production of War Horse in New York more than a year ago, the question arose in my mind, partly because the thrust stage at Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theatre seemed so perfect: How well would a show like this fare on the road - at conventional proscenium theaters like the Belk with twice the seating capacity? Well, less than five months after that valiant steed concluded its Broadway run, I had my answer.
With Belk Theater packed to the rafters on opening night, the crowd adored this traveling War Horse. I was a little surprised, I must admit. At the Beaumont, there was a wonderful parity between the space occupied by the action and the crowd surrounding it. Here the grand action appeared relatively diminished.
After all, there are rarely more than two of the magnificent horses onstage at any one time. The Handspring Puppet Company creations continue to deserve all their accolades, but they are hardly a visual stampede. Without that thrust configuration, those two magnificent stallions, Joey and Topthorn, aren't challenged to leap a terrifying mound of barbed wire at the blackout that signals intermission. So that moment is noticeably less heart-stopping.
Film / Film News Opening Friday
Posted By Matt Brunson on Thu, May 30, 2013 at 3:51 PM
After Earth - Jaden Smith, Will Smith
Frances Ha - Greta Gerwig, Mickey Sumner
Now You See Me - Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo
Stories We Tell - Documentary
- Millennium
What Maisie Knew - Julianne Moore, Alexander Skarsgard
News / Opinion N.C. GOP keen to execute more black men
Posted By John Grooms on Thu, May 30, 2013 at 3:28 PM
Our legislative overlords in Raleigh have only one more step to go before they get their wish of making it easier to execute black men. On Wednesday, the House judiciary subcommittee approved, along party lines, the complete repeal of the Racial Justice Act, originally passed in 2009. The Senate has already passed the repeal, thus the bill's last hurdle is a vote by the full House, which could happen any day now.
Arts / Today's Top Five Today's Top 5: Thursday
Posted By Anita Overcash on Thu, May 30, 2013 at 9:00 AM
Here are the five best events going down in Charlotte and the surrounding area today, May 30, 2013 as selected by the folks at Creative Loafing.
* Hors Satan at Crownpoint Stadium 12
* Jonathan Scales Fourchestra at The Evening Muse
* Chesney Goodson's That's a Dope Show at Petra's Piano Bar & Cabaret
* Whitewater River Jam w/ The Honeycutters at U.S. National Whitewater Center
* Crown Town Handmade's Craft Session at Beadlush
-
Question the Queen City: Who set fire to the nightlife? 3
From 1971 to 1976, 17 nightclubs in Charlotte burned to the ground. Who did it?
-
Rango / Gnomeo & Juliet: Tale of two toons
Toon Western triggers a good time for all, but silly Shakespeare spin is solely for the kids.
-
Question the Queen City: Hugh McManaway, the man behind the statue
It pays homage to a traffic director, friendly neighbor and one of Charlotte's most beloved local characters
