Thursday, August 11, 2005 | FILM
Fresh air cinema. Trade in a night at the air-conditioned multiplex for a cool evening under the stars. Roll out a blanket and feast on a picnic with Balboa Park as your theater backdrop at the annual “Screen on the Green” outdoor film festival.
The San Diego Museum of Art kicks off this summertime favorite tonight with a screening of the 1938 men-in-tights classic, “The Adventures of Robin Hood,” starring legendary swashbuckler Errol Flynn. Sword-fighting and heroic romance will unfold on an inflatable, 15-foot by 26-foot screen situated behind the Casa del Prado courtyard, while moviegoers stretch out on the lawn in front of the Botanical Building.
This year’s four-part festival features films inspired by the fantastical, fairytale imagery of illustrator Maxfield Parrish (whose work is currently on display at SDMA). Subsequent film screenings include the 1968 adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet” (Aug. 18), the animated adventure “Shrek” (Aug. 25) and Tim Burton’s collection of tall tales “Big Fish” (Sept. 1).
The film begins at 8 p.m., though arriving earlier is recommended. Picnic baskets are welcome, however alcohol after 8 p.m. and glass beverage and food containers are not permitted in the park. For more information, contact (619) 696-1966. (CC)
Also playing:
“Murderball,” a documentary about a group of tenacious quadriplegic rugby players. Ongoing at the Hillcrest Landmark, 3965 5th Ave., (619) 819-0236, http://www.landmarktheatres.com.
“March of the Penguins” documents the beauty and drama of migrating penguins in Antarctica. Ongoing at the Hillcrest Landmark and La Jolla Village Landmark, 8879 Villa La Jolla Drive, (619) 819-0236, http://www.landmarktheatres.com.
“El Dia Que Me Amen (When Somebody Loves Me),” an Argentinean drama that tells the story of two long-lost childhood friends who reunite as adults. Monday, Aug. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Central Library, 820 E St., (619) 236-5800. Free.
THEATER
Mama, I’m back from Broadway. Every town longs to lay claim to the birth throes of genius. Though Doug Wright was a mature writer when he took residence at the La Jolla Playhouse in 2001 and had already completed the first act of the play that would win his first Tony and Pulitzer, La Jolla beams upon his return this season like the proud mother of a long lost son.
But the true birth of “I Am My Own Wife” can be traced back to 1989, half a world away from the sun-soaked sands of the cove. In icy Berlin, amidst the rubble of the fallen Wall, the young journalist met an enigma with whom he became fatefully intrigued. Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, christened Lothar Berfelde upon birth, took his love of cross-dressing underground, running a secret cabaret in Nazi-controlled Germany during World War II. Through numerous counts of survival, including his father’s violent confrontations, the brutal Nazi regime and post-war occupation, and finally, accusations of conspiracy, von Mahlsdorf’s true life stories were the natural stuff of the stage.
The one-person play assumed characters and dimension as Wright continued his work at the La Jolla Playhouse under the artistic direction of Des McAnuff. And then it caught fire, burning all the way to Broadway, picking up countless awards and nominations in its path. Award-winning actor Jefferson May further defined the work’s success, following it to New York and now, back to La Jolla.
The play runs now through Sept. 11, with performances at 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday, and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, visit www.lajollaplayhouse.com or call (858) 500-1070. (JH)
Also playing:
“Will Rogers Follies, A Life in Revue,” a clever comedy about the cowboy philosopher written Ziegfeld Follies revue-style. Runs through Aug. 21 at 8 p.m. at 651 East Vista Way in Vista. For more information, visit www.moonlightstage.com.
“The Lady with All the Answers,” pays famous advice columnist Ann Landers a visit. Runs 7 p.m. Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday and 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with matinees 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. At the Old Globe Theatre in Balboa Park. For more information, visit www.oldglobetheatre.com or call (619) 231-5879.
MUSIC
Someting of an institution. A decade ago, before he became Mr. Gwen Stefani, greasy-haired Gavin Rossdale fronted a British alternative rock band called Bush that won skeptical reviews – and huge sales – as a cleaner, easier, less profound alternative to the recently self-destructed Nirvana. Since fizzling into irrelevance in the dark “After Grunge” period of the mid-to-late 1990s, and marrying Orange County ska-punkstress Gwen Stefani (who’s since blown up to plastic-pop proportions), Rossdale is thrusting his pretty face out yet again at the helm of a new rock outfit called Institute.
Never one for a whiz-bang nomer – only the song “Everything Zen” on Bush’s 1994 debut smash “Sixteen Stone” has a title longer than a single word – Rossdale’s new outfit favors the stop-start rock dynamics tweaked only slightly since the days of, well, the Pixies. The group’s first single, “Bulletproof Skin,” reproduces the blanket-noise guitars and it-sounds-like-I’m-hurting-myself-but-I’m-really-not vocal straining that shot their early hits to the top of the U.S. charts. But Rossdale’s collaboration with Helmet’s Paige Hamilton, who produced Institute’s debut, “Distort Yourself,” shows in the hard-rock production and gut-rattling bass breaks of “Skin,” differentiating it a bit from the corduroy alt-rock of Bush. Institute performs Thursday, Aug. 11 at The Casbah, 2501 Kettner Blvd. (619) 232-HELL. $25. (IP)
Other performances:
Arrested Development’s classic hip-hop will take you to another land Friday, Aug. 12 at 9 p.m. The Belly Up Tavern, 143 S. Cedros Ave. in Solana Beach. (858) 481-8140. $18 in advance, $20 at the door.
Dinosaur Jr. blurted their quintessentially-dirty college rock all the way to MTV, then fell apart. Catch the reformed monster Monday, Aug. 15 at Soma, 3350 Sports Arena Blvd. (619) 266-7662. $25
Bobbie McFarrin sings easygoing jazz and pop hits with his distinctive voice and acrobatic range. Tuesday, Aug. 16 at Humphrey’s By the Bay, 2241 Shelter Island Drive. (619) 220-8497. $50.
Richie Havens opened Woodstock – the original one – with his woody voice and passionate strumming. Catch the troubadour Wednesday, Aug. 17 at Humphrey’s By the Bay, 2241 Shelter Island Drive. (619) 220-8497. $42.
– Voice staff
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