Racimo con Brio: The Big Pineapple, and Apple

By Victoria Racimo Thursday, March 18, 2010

Before I rhapsodize over my past days in New York, I must tell you about a few upcoming events in town sure to please your viewing and listening needs. Due to overwhelming public response, Peninsula Fine Arts Center in Newport News is extending the exhibition “Carlton Abbott: 50 Years of Art and Architecture” for an additional week through March 28. With the extension of the exhibition comes the addition of over 30 artworks.

PFAC’s Ferguson Gallery now boasts “Red City”, a large sculptural work Abbott created especially for this retrospective of his career. The Art Market Gallery showcases a selection of small to medium size paintings, drawings and collages – including a brand new collage and several small abstract works – all for sale.

Now encompassing all five galleries, this expansive exhibition tells the story of how an artist can impact and shape a community. This retrospective features all manner of media documenting a prolific career spanning 50 years. Abbott’s expertise has been expressed in a wealth of applications encompassing architecture, urban planning, landscape architecture, painting, mixed media, sculpture, metal work and graphic arts. For more information call 757-596-8175 or visit PFAC online.

Tonight, at 7 p.m. in the Williamsburg Library Theatre, interpreter William Chrystal will discuss his new biography, “Hamilton by the Slice: Falling in Love with Our Most Influential Founding Father.” Chrystal’s book consists of short chapters presenting Hamilton's views on issues such as government, confidence and debt (ring a bell?), as well as the opinions of those who either respected or despised him. William Chrystal was previously host of radio’s “Thomas Jefferson Hour”. For more information, visit the Williamsburg Regional Library online or call (757) 259-4050.

On March 27 at 11 a.m., listen in on a hypothetical meeting between two brilliant individuals – William Shakespeare and Galileo Galilei – as they explore the relationship between art and science at the James City County Library. The theatrical presentation is the final program for the “Visions of the Universe” traveling exhibit.

This live theatrical performance is presented by The Carpenter Science Theatre Company - professional actors, directors, playwrights, designers and technicians combine their expertise to educate and entertain all ages with their wonderful performances.

Included as well is an exhibit which focuses on astronomy through the ages — from Galileo’s initial findings to the latest results of the Hubble Space Telescope. “Visions” vividly illustrates 400 years of growth in our knowledge of not just planets, stars, nebulae and galaxies, but also the size and scale of the universe in both space and time. The program is free of charge and reservations are not needed. Visit online or call the library at (757) 259-4070 for more information.

If your back and knees tell you you’ve had enough gardening for the weekend, on Monday the 29th, rest your weary bones in a comfortable seat in the theatah – the Williamsburg Library Theatre, that is. Catch a fascinating presentation on Australian Aboriginal Art. The director of the most important collection of Aboriginal art outside Australia, Margo Smith from the University of Virginia, will present "Something Old, Something New: Tradition and Innovation in Australian Aboriginal Art."  This art is often described as the oldest continuous artistic tradition in the world, one that still flourishes today.

“While there are contemporary artists whose work evokes rock art dating back thousands of years, the vast majority of ‘traditional’ Aboriginal art has developed in response to interaction with outside cultures,” says Dr. Smith. “The market for indigenous art has influenced art production significantly and artists continue to explore new avenues of expression. As a result, Australian Aboriginal art is one of the most dynamic contemporary art movements today.”

For more information about this illustrated lecture, contact the library at (757) 259-4070 or This Century Art Gallery at (757) 229-4949 or visit the library’s Web site. (Note: This program was originally scheduled for Feb. 1, but was canceled because of weather.)

Now, dateline, New York. I caught Twyla Tharp’s newest creation, “Come Fly Away” in previews last Friday at the Marquis Theatre. Wow! Only problem, a possibly misleading title (and I mean that in a good way.) The title does not bear a realistic command because no one in the world could possibly fly away the way the dancers on stage do. Absolutely phenomenal, mind blowing, breath taking dance wizardry.

Twyla has choreographed her newest work to an all-Sinatra song fest, sung by ol’ blue eyes himself. From the way his voice has been isolated, separated out on his recordings, you’d think Sinatra was off stage in the wings somewhere singing on a hand—held mic, with the full, live, Tommy Dorsey-size band on stage. The exquisite mixture of his voice and live music, filled every crevice of the theatre. Pure intoxication.

Ah, but the dancers. Tharp, as with her “Movin’ Out” based on Billy Joel’s music, has once again culled the most spirited and talented dancers imaginable. What they do is what Olympians do: They surpass what you think the human body can do. They redefine the body’s boundaries, defying gravity while giving beauty and grace to Tharp’s genius imagination.

I have seen so much in my life: from the Bolshoi to Balanchine to Baryshnikov to Jerome Robbins to Plisetskaya to Gene Kelly (and once I even watched Fred Astaire walk 8 feet by me on Rodeo Dr. in Beverly Hills – I just stood there, beaming ear to ear and he smiled knowingly back.) But this show’s dancers go one bigger. Just when you think dancing could not possibly express more, physically or emotionally, they stun and amaze you by breaking through with the “impossible.”

It takes place in a classy night club. Couples move and mingle, switch partners and love-lorn stories with the snap of a finger, a raised eyebrow, a lifted leg, a tilt of a hat, or a flying leap into a pair of waiting arms, fifty feet away. Tharp’s brilliant choreography captures the essence of each song - (you will never forget the solo male dancer in “I Did It My Way.”) The dancers are fierce, committed, divine. You should fly away to New York if you can. Don’t worry about missing it if you can’t get there by next month. It’s going to be around for a while. Just worry about NOT getting tickets.

On Sunday, I saw John Lithgow and Jenifer Ehle in “Mr and Mrs. Fitch,” a smart, two character, urbane, razor sharp comedy, by Douglas Carter Beane, (“As Bees in Honey Drown”). This is his latest play, and if ever there was a 21st century Noel Coward, this play might help Beane take on part of his mantle.

And on Monday night, the performance to end all performances; I was invited by my friend, Adrienne Arsht, to attend the Dinner Gala and 80th Birthday Celebration for Stephen Sondheim at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center. This spectacular evening was hosted by David Hyde Pierce, accompanied (don’t you love it, “accompanied”) by the New York Philharmonic, including the cream of Broadway: Bernadette Peters, Audra McDonald, Elaine Stritch, Patti Lupone, Mandy Patinkin, Nathan Gunn and other indelible shining stars. I was there, fifth row center. At the end of the show, Mr. Broadway himself, Mr. Sondheim, went up on stage after a rousing Happy Birthday sung by the 3000 of us in the hall. He spoke gently and slowly, a quote; “First you’re young, then you’re middle-aged, then you’re wonderful. This was wonderful. Thank you.”

There was no arrogance meant in his words – rather, that comment and the way he said it, with honest tears and simple smiles, revealed a genius who was truly amazed at experiencing what he himself had just witnessed of his own work – not because it was his work but rather because of the greatness of the artists who performed it. A true humility shone through. It came across as “How could all this be for me?” Yes, Mr. Sondheim, you were and are, wonderful.

And more than wonderful it was. To see these true, living legends on stage, some recreating their original “Sweeney Todd” or “Company” or “A Little Night Music” or “Sunday in the Park with George” or “Follies” roles would have been special in just the repeating alone. But these artists delivered incandescent, theatrical magic in real time from another time in astounding performances that will last for all-time. Sometimes, (and how could this be), the NY Phil was like a second banana. Such outrageous fortune.

If one had to pick just one Gala celebration, this is mine. And, oh, how I wish the world could have been there! But good news. The show will soon be on PBS as part of Great Performances. Should be more aptly named, Greatest Performances. Dinner wasn’t bad either.

See you next week.