Star City Blog / Theatre & Film

Review of Moliere's 'Tartuffe' at the University Theatre

By Ladd Wendelin

It has often been said that life imitates art. But in some ways, life merely sets the stage. Art does the rest.

So it was for Moliere’s Tartuffe, first performed at Versailles in 1664. It should come as no surprise that King Louis XIV eventually censored the play, most likely under the influence of the archbishop of Paris, whom, much like Tartuffe himself, had previously been Louis XIV’s tutor and spiritual guide. Perhaps the archbishop felt a little hot under the collar by the end of Act III.

Regardless, this is the central conceit of Tartuffe. Stuffy aristocrats and powdered wigs aside, Moliere warns of the dangerous guises piety can all too often assume. In a modern context, we only need to switch on the evening news to hear of the latest scandals that often rock mega-churches and large congregations. But, as Moliere also suggests, the duped are no more or less the sinner than the duper. You can almost hear Tartuffe snicker at the thought.

'The White Ribbon' @ The Ross

Tense, provocative and unnerving, immaculately crafted in beautiful black-and-white, opening at The Ross on Friday, February 26, Michael Haneke’s THE WHITE RIBBON could be considered a culmination of this difficult director's brilliant career.

“Shot in stunning black-and-white by the gifted Christian Berger, THE WHITE RIBBON is a toxic blossom of images that burn into your memory,” opines Peter Travers, film critic for the Rolling Stone.
 
“[THE WHITE RIBBON] is among the most luminous and painterly of black-and-white films, but what's portrayed will shock or numb you,” writes Richard Corliss, film critic for Time.  He continues, “Spare and unsparing, this Cannes prizewinner is also, in the serene pursuit of its corrosive vision, a thrilling corrective to standard holiday fare.”

Lincoln Theatre Series: The Haymarket Theatre

By Hanna Day-Woodruff

Dating back to 2002, the Haymarket Theatre has offered youth ages 6 and up one of the most extensive theatre education programs in Lincoln. Knowing this, it might be easy to mistake the Haymarket for a youth-only theatre, but Bob Hall, Artistic Director, would be the first person to point out the error. 

For several years now, the Haymarket Theatre has produced a professional Mainstage Repertory Series with adult actors, including its current professional production of the much-loved Man of La Mancha that opened February 11th.   

Hall describes the Haymarket Theatre as having a “dual mission to create a regional theatre presence in Lincoln and to provide classes to kids.” In the process, they put on both professional and Nebraska Youth Theatre productions that include classic plays and musicals, such as the youth's upcoming March production of Godspell Junior and the professional repertory production of The Importance of Being Earnest last year.

'Always...Patsy Cline' Opening March 11

The musical, Always...Patsy Cline, one of the most popular shows produced at the TADA Theatre, will return for a limited three week run starting March 11 at 7:30 p.m. at The TADA Theatre.
 
"After playing to sold-out audiences in 2008, many patrons were left on a waiting list. So it only made sense to bring the show back when we could get it," says Robert D. Rook, TADA's Artistic Managing Director. Kyttra Burge and Cris Rook, both receiving raves from patrons for their performances, will return for the limited run.

Famous Musical 'South Pacific' at Lied Feb. 25-27

The breathtaking Broadway revival production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific lights up the Lied Center for Performing Arts in a Nebraska exclusive showing on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 25, 26 and 27 at 7:30 p.m. with a matinee performance on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 2 p.m.
     
A stunning reinvention produced by Lincoln Center Theater, South Pacific swept the 2008 Tony Awards, winning seven honors, including Best Musical Revival and Best Director. The talented cast of 40, led by Laura Osnes and 2008 Tony-winner for Outstanding Actor in a Musical Paulo Szot, is directed by Tony winner Bartlett Sher ("The Light in the Piazza" and "Awake and Sing!")

'Women Make Movies: Women Changing the World' 12 Film Retrospective Opens at the Ross

Opening at The Ross on Friday, February 26, Women Make Movies: Women Changing the World! is a thirty-five-year anniversary celebration, replete with a visit by Women Make Movies Executive Director Debra Zimmerman, featuring twelve new acquisitions from the world's leading distributor of independent films by and about women, with a focus on cutting-edge documentaries that give depth to today's headlines, as well as artistically and intellectually challenging works in all genres. 
 
Women Make Movies: Women Changing the World! is presented in conjunction with UNL Women’s Week 2010 and Global Issues, Local Voices No Limits 2010 conference.  For more information about these events, please visit these websites: http://involved.unl.edu/gender/includes/womens_week.php and www.unl.edu/womenssp/events/nolimits.shtml. 

UNL’s University Theatre Opens Spring Season with Moliere's Comedy 'Tartuffe'

The Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film's University Theatre opens its Spring season with the Moliere comedy Tartuffe translated by Richard Wilbur and directed by professional guest director Robert Bonaventura February 25 – 27 and March 3 – 6 at 7:30 p.m. in Howell Theatre.

Tickets are $16; $14 faculty, staff and seniors; and $10 students. Tickets are available at the Lied Center Ticket Office, 301 North 12th Street, by calling 472-4747 or on-line at www.unltheatretickets.com.

'Gigante' @ The Ross

In his feature debut, GIGANTE, opening at The Ross on Friday, February 19, Adrián Biniez tells an unpredictable tale about the workings of the human heart.
 
New York Times film critic Stephen Holden opines, “[GIGANTE] is an appealing, gently comedic prologue to a love story.”
 
“A spin on all the recent films utilizing video and found footage, this comedy from Uruguay has more than a few sweet, well-observed moments,” writes Joe Neumaier, film critic for the New York Daily News.  He continues, “Though it takes time to find its courage and heart, GIGANTE, like its oversized hero, merely has a slow, shy way of doing things.”
 
GIGANTE is showing at the Mary Riepma Ross Media Arts Center on Friday, February 19 through Thursday, February 25.  Show times are available at www.TheRoss.org, by consulting your newspaper, or by calling the MRRMAC film information line at 402.472.5353. 

Review of the Lincoln Community Playhouse's 'Working'

By Ladd Wendelin

They’re here. And there. In fact, they’re most everywhere. By all appearances, they look like you or me. They walk amongst us daily, unseen, unheard and unacknowledged. You’ll see them, if you look closely enough. You yourself may be one of them!

They’re the men and women of the workforce. The faces in the crowd who wake up every morning or stay up all hours of the night to make sure that the great engine of America keeps on truckin’ ever forward. After years of toil, they finally got their due in 1978 in the most unlikely of places – the Great White Way – Broadway!

Currently workin’ it on the boards at the Lincoln Community Playhouse is the musical Working, written by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Wicked) along with contributions from the likes of James Taylor and Mary Rodgers (Once Upon a Mattress). Working opened Friday night to a generously packed house and continues its run over the next three weekends, February 13-14th, 18-21st, and 25th-28th.

Review of Haymarket Theatre's 'Man of La Mancha'

By Ladd Wendelin

You know the type. Someone of seemingly endless guile, unlimited imagination, in reckless pursuit of even the most unattainable of goals, and, as tends to happen in these stories, is destined to get their pantaloons snagged on a windmill.

Now on stage at the Haymarket Theatre is Man of La Mancha, one of the most revered pieces in musical theatre history, which will run for the next three weekends, Feb. 12th-14th, 18th-21st, and concludes the weekend of the 25th-28th.