Bravo Broadway

I am a huge fan of musical theatre (I'm going on a theatre trip to New York in a few months and I couldn't be more excited) so an evening celebrating the music of Broadway with four amazing soloists and the Utah Symphony was definitely one of the first concerts I chose when creating my season package!  Under the baton of Maestro Jerry Steichen (who I just love) the orchestra played the Overtures to Gypsy, Guys and Dolls, and An American in Paris which was just lovely.  Throughout the evening the orchestra was joined by some incredibly amazing soloists who regularly perform on Broadway, including Melissa Errico, Hugh Panaro (very easy on the eyes), Stephen Buntrock, and Morgan James, to sing some of my favorite songs from some of my favorite musicals.  The highlights included "Oh What A Beautiful Morning" from Oklahoma, "There's Nothing Like a Dame" from South Pacific, "Something's Coming" and "Tonight" from West Side Story, "Cabaret" from Cabaret, "The Rain in Spain" from My Fair Lady, "To Life" from Fiddler on the Roof, "The Impossible Dream" from Man of La Mancha (which just about brought the roof down on Abravanel Hall), "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" from Evita, and "Defying Gravity" from Wicked.  My favorite moment was when all four soloists sang "Seasons of Love" from RENT.  I absolutely love that song (and that musical) and I may or may not have sung along with them!  They ended the program with a fun medley of songs from Mamma Mia (without the spandex jumpsuits, alas) which got Abravanel Hall rocking.  For the encore, Hugh Panaro sang an incredible rendition of "The Music of the Night" from The Phantom of the Opera.  I still get chills when I hear those distinctive opening notes!  Finally, all four soloists came out for a fun version, complete with costumes, of "Aquarius" and "Let the Sun Shine In" from Hair.  I loved every minute of this concert and I wanted it to go on all night!  If you are a fan of musical theatre like me, I strongly suggest that you go here to get a ticket for tonight's performance if you can (there was nary a seat to be had last night).

45 Years

I've had a lot going on this week and I really needed to unwind a little bit last night so I decided to see 45 Years at my favorite art house theater.  It is the anatomy of a long and happy marriage in crisis and it is brilliant!  Geoff (Tom Courtenay) and Kate Mercer (Charlotte Rampling) are about to celebrate their 45th wedding anniversary with a lavish party when Geoff receives the news that a former girlfriend's body has been found in a melting glacier in Switzerland.  Katya, the girlfriend, had been killed while she and Geoff had been hiking together over fifty years ago and he was listed as her next of kin.  Kate reacts to the news with equanimity but soon becomes consumed with jealousy as Geoff begins reminiscing about his romance with Katya, including sneaking up to the attic in the middle of the night to look at photos of her.  In an incredibly powerful scene, Kate goes up to the attic when Geoff isn't home to look at the photos for herself.  Kate eventually confronts Geoff, in another highly charged scene, and they appear to reconcile.  He buys her a beautiful necklace for their anniversary and gives a loving tribute to her at their party but the ending of the film left me absolutely shattered!  I haven't been able to stop thinking about it!  It is an incredible, but devastating, exploration of two people who have spent their lives together but don't really know each other at all.  Their relationship is depicted by their daily routine during the six days leading up to their party (with intertitles designating the days).  It is so well done!  Although very little happens in the film, the tension increases little by little every day until the aforementioned confrontation and I was quite unsettled while watching it.  Courtenay is superb as a man driven to distraction by his memories and Rampling just might be a dark horse contender in the race for the Best Actress Oscar (you can read my commentaries on the other nominees Saoirse Ronan, Cate Blanchett, and Brie Larson) for her subtle, yet nuanced, performance.  Her close-up at the end of the movie alone is worthy of an Oscar!  This movie might not appeal to everyone but I found it to be very compelling.

Dinner at Bambara

I spend a lot of time in Downtown SLC, especially at Capitol Theatre.  Every once in a while I like to have a really nice dinner before I see a performance and Bambara, one of my favorite restaurants, is right across the street!  Dining at Bambara is a lovely experience because it is housed in the elegant lobby of a former bank with high arching windows, brass fixtures, and travertine tiles which really set the mood for a memorable evening.  I also really love the houndstooth upholstery!  The kitchen is in the center of the space allowing Executive Chef Nathan Powers to put his culinary skills on full display.  The cuisine is New American with a seasonal menu emphasizing an exotic twist on familiar dishes.  I tend to stick with vegetarian dishes, which can often be a bit boring, but at Bambara I am always surprised by unexpected flavor combinations.  I recently had dinner there and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

I started with Mixed Baby Greens with Beehive Smoked Cheddar, Cinnamon-Ancho Almonds, and Rosemary Cider Vinaigrette ($10.00).  

For the entree I had Black Kale and Asiago Ravioli with Butternut Squash, Cipollini Onion, Walnuts, Artichoke Heart Puree, and Fancy Balsamic ($25.00).

The dessert menu is also quite wonderful.  I had the Turtle Ice Cream Sandwich with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Pecan Crusted Dark Chocolate Cookie, Salted Caramel Drizzle, and Cocoa Nib Crackle ($8.00).  I must confess that I have this every time I come to Bambara!

The wait staff is extremely knowledgeable and friendly and I've never been led astray by any of their recommendations.  The hostesses frequently greet me by name which is always a nice touch.  The menu is a bit pricey but I think it is a lot of fun to get all dressed up and have a beautiful evening every once in a while.  Bambara is perfect for a pre-theatre dinner or for a special occasion (there is a special menu for Valentine's Day).  Bambara is located at 202 S. Main Street in Downtown SLC.  It is open for Breakfast: Monday - Friday 7:00 am - 10:00 am, Brunch: Saturday - Sunday 8:00 am - 2:00 pm, Lunch: Monday - Friday 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, and Dinner: Every Night 5:30 pm - 10:00 pm.  Entrees vary from $25.00 - $43.00.

Hail, Caesar!

Hail, Caesar! is another movie that I have been anticipating for weeks which left me somewhat disappointed.  Normally I am a fan of the Coen Brothers (I love O Brother, Where Art Thou?) but this movie just didn't do it for me.  In the 1950s, the Golden Age of the Hollywood studio system, Eddie Mannix (Josh Brolin) is a "fixer" for Capitol Pictures.  Throughout the course of one day, Mannix must deal with a brassy Esther Williams-like actress (Scarlett Johansson) who is pregnant out of wedlock, a hysterical director of drawing room comedies, Laurence Laurentz (an ascot-wearing Ralph Fiennes), who has been forced to cast an actor more known for his singing cowboy roles (Alden Ehrenreich) as the lead in his picture, and the abduction of his biggest star, Baird Whitlock (George Clooney), by a communist cell, all while trying to avoid not one, but two, rival Hedda Hopper-like gossip columnists, Thora and Thessaly Thacker (Tilda Swinton), who happen to be twin sisters.  We see the dim-witted Whitlock filming an incredibly complicated scene for Hail, Caesar! (a biblical picture modeled on Ben Hur) with chariots, horses, and an endless array of extras, only to flub a line, DeeAnna Moran (Johansson) filming a synchronized sequence underwater in a mermaid costume, Burt Gurney (a blond Channing Tatum) filming a song-and-dance number (reminiscent of Singing in the Rain), Hobie Doyle (Ehrenreich) filming an exciting chase scene on horseback, and, in what might be the funniest moment of the movie, Laurence Laurentz trying to coach Doyle through a single line of dialogue ("Would that it were so easy.")  Most of the time I felt like I was watching TCM and falling asleep during one movie and waking up during another because these vignettes had only the thinnest of narratives tying them together:  Mannix is being headhunted by Lockheed and is, therefore, trying to decide if the pictures he produces are worth the hassles of his job.  The pacing is oftentimes very disjointed and the comedy is frequently interrupted by philosophizing on religion, ideology, art, and entertainment (the scene with the Communists is excruciatingly boring).  It's funny, at times, but it wasn't funny enough to sustain my interest for very long.

Note:  Who knew that Channing Tatum could sing and dance so well?

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

I am a huge fan of Jane Austen in general and of the novel Pride and Prejudice in particular so you might think that a contemporary novel which combines the classic tale about Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy with the undead would be unappealing to me.  You would be wrong!  I think the novel by Seth Grahame Smith is brilliant because it is a clever parody (I actually think the zombies are just a metaphor for the social conventions Austen pokes fun of in her novels) but the integrity of the original story is maintained.  I have eagerly been anticipating the movie adaptation of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies for months and I had the chance to see it yesterday with my sisters, my brother-in-law, my niece and my nephew.  They loved it.  I, however, could not have been more disappointed.  The movie begins so well.  Lily James and Sam Riley are perfect as the fiercely independent Elizabeth and the brooding, yet handsome, Darcy.  Matt Smith practically steals the show as the ridiculous Mr. Collins (I laughed and laughed at the scene with him dancing at the Netherfield ball) and I loved Lena Headey (and her eye patch) as the warrior version of Lady Catherine de Bourgh.  The first half of the movie is a hilarious spoof, following the book faithfully.  I especially enjoyed seeing the Bennett sisters tucking their weapons into their garters as they get ready for the Netherfield ball, seeing Mr. Darcy shoot the head off a zombie who is talking to Elizabeth, and seeing Jane (Bella Heathcote) fighting zombies while traveling to Netherfield for tea with Miss Bingley.  In my opinion, it is perfect.  Then, mid-way through the movie, a completely new storyline involving Mr. Wickham (Jack Huston) is introduced, turning the movie into an epic battle for England against the zombies.  It becomes just like every zombie movie you have ever seen before and it is not even particularly well done.  From this point forward, the plot of the book is completely ignored.  Charlotte (Aisling Loftus) does not become one of the undead, Elizabeth does not visit Pemberley (the turning point of the novel), Lydia (Ellie Bamber) does not elope with Wickham, Elizabeth does not fight a duel with Lady Catherine (what I was most looking forward to), and Elizabeth and Darcy do not fight against a horde of zombies after their engagement.  In fact, the two main couples get together at the end of the movie almost as an afterthought.  The only reason Elizabeth falls in love with Darcy is because he is a great zombie killer but he was a great zombie killer at the beginning of the movie.  There is no character arc whatsoever!  Ugh!  With a perfect cast, gorgeous costumes, atmospheric locations, and great fighting sequences, this movie could have been so great with a decent screenplay.  Instead, it turns into third-rate zombie apocalypse movie.  Don't waste your money.