Arts Beat 2/8/2010

“Souvenir,” presented by Vermont Stage Company at Town Hall Theater at 8 p.m. on Thursday, tells the story of Florence Foster Jenkins, a singer of such overwhelming confidence, and yet so utterly lacking in musical ability, that she became an absolute sensation in New York City in the 1930s — for all the wrong reasons. The performance repeats on Friday at 8 p.m. and on Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m.

“Souvenir, A Fantasia on the Life of Florence Foster Jenkins,” is Stephen Temperley’s fanciful portrait of a real-life society matron who made headlines and won a devoted following for her heartfelt but astonishingly off-key performances of popular opera arias. An intimate, warm-hearted comedy told through the eyes of her loyal accompanist, Cosme McMoon (yes, his real name), “Souvenir” is a joyous celebration of the passion and transcendence that inspire the life of an artist — actual talent notwithstanding.

“Souvenir” traces Jenkins’ unlikely rise to fame, from her wildly popular charity concerts in the 1930s and ’40s to her sold-out recital at Carnegie Hall. The catch? She couldn’t sing a note. Utterly, unbelievably tone-deaf, Jenkins was blissfully unaware that her devoted fans were stifling laughs, not cheers. McMoon, an aspiring musician himself, describes their journey with wit and tenderness, illuminating the deep passion that inspired Jenkins’ unusual career.

“Souvenir” stars Carl Danielsen as McMoon, and Broadway veteran Nancy Johnston as Florence Foster Jenkins. Sara Lampert Hoover directs. Called “a beguiling comic jewel with a heart,” by Variety and “an unexpectedly gentle and affecting comedy,” by The New York Times.

Tickets, $25, are available by calling 382-9222, online at www.townhalltheater.org, at the THT box office (Monday to Saturday, noon to 5 p.m.), or at the door.

SOPHIE SHAO AND FRIENDS

There will be a performance at 8 p.m. on Saturday by Sophie Shao and Friends in the concert hall of the college’s Mahaney Center for the Arts on South Main Street (Route 30). Joining her will be violinist Carmit Zori, violist Eric Nowlin and pianist Pei-Yao Wang.

Middlebury audiences can attest to cellist Sophie Shao’s ability to assemble impromptu chamber ensembles of tremendous young talent — equal to her own — if last year’s rave reviews and standing ovations are an indication. This season’s concert features the much-loved piano quartet by Robert Schumann, as well as piano quartets by Mendelssohn and Fauré.

An Avery Fisher career grant recipient, Shao has won prizes in the Rostropovich and Tchaikovsky Competitions. She has performed in recital and as a soloist throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. Zori came to the United States from her native Israel at age 15 to study at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. She has performed as a soloist and in chamber music on five continents. Nowlin has performed extensively throughout the U.S. and abroad, and currently serves as associate principal violist with the Toronto Symphony. Taipei-born Pei-Yao Wang has established herself as a prominent soloist and chamber musician. Her career has taken her to venues around the world.

Reserved seating tickets $24 and $18 seniors. For more information or tickets, contact the college box office at 443-6433 or middlebury.edu/arts/tickets.

THREE EVENINGS OF SONG

Three evenings of art songs, titled “Night and Dreams,” will be performed on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Friday performance will take place at 7:30 p.m. while the Sunday performance will take place at 4 p.m., both in the WalkOver Gallery at 15 Main St. in Bristol. The Saturday performance will be at 7:30 p.m. in the Unitarian Universalist Church at 2 Duane Court in Middlebury (park at the MUHS lot — handicapped parking only at the church).

“Night and Dreams,” three evenings of song, is the collaboration of Susan Gallagher Borg, voice, and Karen Lueders, piano, with David Gusakov, violin and Molly Bidwell, viola. They will perform art songs, arias and ensemble pieces from the Romantic repertoire.

Art songs are sung poetry, just as opera is sung theater. In the first section of “Night and Dreams,” Borg and Lueders move from fiery songs of Spain, through more contemplative Lieder of Germany, to surprising, emotional dreamscapes from France. The second section touches on the darker side of night and dreams in arias from Il Trovatore and Dido and Aeneas. At the end of the performance come transcendent pieces by Brahms and Richard Strauss. And, in honor of Valentine’s Day, there are plenty of love songs throughout the evening.

Tickets are $10 and may be purchased by calling 453-3188 or 453-7395, or at the door.

INT’L FILM SERIES

The Hirschfield International Film Series continues its exciting 2009-2010 series on Saturday at Middlebury College with the 2008 U.S. film “Wendy and Lucy.”

Wendy (Michelle Williams), a young woman bound for Alaska with hopes for a lucrative fishing industry job, finds herself stranded in a dreary Oregon town when her car breaks down. Her bad luck continues as her dog, Lucy, her only companion, goes missing, and she faces an increasingly dire financial situation. Directed by Kelley Reichardt.

“Another illustration of how absorbing a film can be when the plot doesn’t stand between us and a character,” says Roger Ebert in the Chicago Sun-Times. “Wendy and Lucy” received a Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Feature and Best Female Performance.

“Wendy and Lucy” will be shown at 3 and again at 8 p.m. in Dana Auditorium on College Street. It’s free.

BLUES AT ART HOUSE

On Friday, at 8:30 p.m., Bill Sims Jr. and Mark Lavoie will bring the history of the blues into the present tense at the Art House, located in the North Marble Works building at 99 Maple St. in Middlebury.

Sims is a legendary blues man. He’s played everywhere and with everyone. Mark Lavoie is Vermont’s own genius blues harp player. Together they have a sound that is authentic, thrilling and rejuvenating. And, you’re sure to hear some great stories. This will be an unforgettable night.

Tickets are $20 at the door. All ages are welcome, wheelchair accessible. The door will open half an hour before the show starts. For more information call Mary Swanson at 458-0464, and see the story on Page 1.

TWO BROTHERS TAVERN

There will be two live musical performances this week at the Two Brothers Tavern located at 86 Main St. in Middlebury.

On Friday, the tavern continues its Happy Hour Show with Peter & Clint of the Grift, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Peter Day and Clint Bierman are two of the most talented musicians in the area — masters of rock, pop, groove and jazz. Open to all, and there is no cover charge.

Then, at 10 p.m. on Friday, the tavern presents an encore performance by the Jesters. Soaring covers of ZZ Top, the Georgia Satellites and Led Zeppelin make the Jesters one of Two Brothers’ most popular draws. There is a $3 cover charge. For more information, call 388-0002.

AMERICAN PAINTINGS AT COLLEGE

A new exhibit, titled “American Paintings and Prints from Shelburne Museum,” opens on Friday in the Christian A. Johnson Memorial Gallery at the Middlebury College Museum of Art on South Main Street.

These 30 works represent the wide-ranging interests of American artists working in urban and rural areas before 1900. The exhibit, which celebrates the American landscape and its inhabitants, as well as artist travels, includes works by Thomas Cole, Edward Hicks, Fitz Hugh Lane, Martin Johnson Heade, and George Durrie, among many others. The exhibit, which runs through June 6, is free.

LIVE MUSIC AT 51 MAIN

Beginning at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, there will be an opening reception for “Madagascar’s Antandroy: People of the Thorns” by photographer Nicholas Sohl with music by Scrambled Legs Jazz Band at 51 Main. Then, on Friday, at 9 p.m. Bearquarium will offer an evening of Afro rock. Finally, on Saturday, Morgan Heringer will present an evening of folk and jazz, beginning at 9 p.m.

All ages, no cover. For additional information visit www.go51main.com or phone 388-8209.

VALENTINE DANCE AT VOH

A Vergennes Rotary Valentine Dance will be held on Saturday at 8 p.m. in the Vergennes Opera House at 120 Main St. The evening’s festivities will feature music from the Hitmen, a cash bar, snacks, raffle and much more. Tickets $20 adults, $30 per couple. For tickets call 877-6737, visit Classic Stitching at 185 Main St. in Vergennes, or call a Rotarian.

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