Archive: Arts & Entertainment

SMART TALK
by Dr. Manda Rhynne



PRERECORDED: Interesting concept, when you start thinking.  Of course, they recorded the event when it happened, not before, so why don't they say recorded?  How can anything be prerecorded?

Some television shows are produced by the linguistically impaired and announce for all to hear, "Prerecorded before a live studio audience."

But then, maybe that's not so redundant.  The late Johnny Carson was funniest when dealing with a dead studio audience.

To their credit, some shows get it right:  "This show was recorded before a studio audience."

Listen for it.

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This unusual and intriguing performance comes to Ithaca’s Kitchen Theatre from the International Culture Lab, an NYC-based company focused on international collaborations.

S/he developed from a cooperation between Turkish playwright Zeynep Kaçar and American playwright Tammy Ryan on the topic of what it means to be female. The resulting work also considers what it means to be male, and how culturally-based gender roles can mess up our lives. I’ve seen this topic dealt with on stage many times, but this is the first time I’ve seen it handled in all its confusing complexity, and without overt political statements.

The Kitchen Theatre’s 20th Anniversary Season continues in June with Mary’s Wedding by Canadian playwright Stephen Massicotte.   A passionate love story set against the background of World War I, Mary’s Wedding is an elegy and celebration of star-crossed lovers who burn with a thrilling brightness.

Kitchen Theatre Company’s Artistic Director, Rachel Lampert, will direct Eric Gilde and Ellen Adair.  Kitchen Theatre patrons will remember Gilde from the 2009-10 Season production of Last Train to Nibroc and this season’s collaboration with The History Center of Tompkins County, The Secret Room, a play based on the book Dear Friend Amelia: The Civil War Letters of Private John Tidd.  Ellen Adair will be making her Kitchen Theatre Company debut.

Running to Places Theatre Company will present the ultimate story of love and death, Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, in the amazing setting of the State Theatre on May 20 – 22.  See the star-crossed lovers torn apart by their families’ hate, with breath-taking swordplay, hilarious hijinks, and gut-wrenching tragedy.   Shakespeare’s most beautiful and heartbreaking words with a rockin’ soundtrack and stunning visuals make this production a must see!

SMART TALK
by Dr. Tilde Cedilla



PERSONALLY: The Institute for the Linguistically Impaired sometimes treats patients for this overworked word.  In our William Safire Center, we make it clear that most uses of personally are logically redundant, or tautological.

Saying personally, I feel... or personal friend is tautological.  The personal part is already logically present in the words "I feel" and "friend."  The phrase to tell you the truth is also a tautology.  Oh, you've been lying until now?

In our weekend workshops at Warriner House, we cover this as well, teaching that these tautologies sound insincere.  You protest too much, and you're stalling.



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Art.  Film.  Wine Tasting.  Food.  Music.  History.  Chocolate Tasting.  Scavenger Hunt.  Door prizes.  And a lot more art.  Wrap them all up and you have the second annual East Shore Festival Of The Arts (ESFOTA).  After a greater than expected success last year, the festival is back with a grand opening next week on May 13th that promises to be one of the top events of the year.  And it's not just about art.

"I'm really excited about this year, because we're not only doing our wine tasting, but we're doing a chocolate tasting," says organizer Robin Schuttenberg.  "Lucienne's of Trumansburg will be hosting a chocolate tasting in the library, and our wine tasting will be in the Town Hall."

SMART TALK
by Dr. Will S. Sert



PERFECT PARFAIT: An outpatient at the Institute for the Linguistically Impaired spotted this goof on the menu of a major restaurant chain.  Maybe you've seen it, too.

Since parfait is French for perfect, perfect parfait is about as redundant as tunafish. We might as well shop for chicken birds.

Another food-related redundancy you can easily find, especially in pretentious stores, is Imported Tea. Yes, a tiny amount of tea comes from the Pacific Northwest, but come on.  At this rate, the next haute cuisine label will say frozen ice cubes.

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The Wells College Choral Ensembles will present their annual Spring Concert on Sunday afternoon, May 8 at 3:00 p.m. in Barler Recital Hall on the Wells campus in Aurora.  This event will be the final performance of the college singers under the direction of their founder and conductor Crawford R. Thoburn, who will relinquish his duties as professor of music and director of choral activities at the end of this academic year.  The three singing groups – Women’s Ensemble, Men’s Ensemble, and the mixed voice Concert Choir – will present a wide variety of choral works from the sixteenth century to the present.

On Saturday, May 7th, 2011, The Cayuga Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Lanfranco Marcelletti, will wrap up their 34th season with a festive evening of music in Ford Hall, Ithaca College, featuring the Binelli-Ferman Tango Duo.  The concert starts at 8pm, with the annual benefit auction for the CCO beginning at 6:45pm in the lobby of Ford Hall.  This will also be the final night to purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win one of the CCO’s 2011 Painted Violins.

Rob Licht, Steel House, 2011Thirteen Ithaca area artists are featured in Made in NY 2011 currently on view at the Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center in Auburn, NY through May 29, 2011.  These artists include Robin Burlingham, Rob Licht, Chris Oliver, Minna Resnick of Ithaca; Joy Adams and Bob Potts of Trumansburg; Lin Price of Spencer; Chris Coronel of Etna; Lori Ellis of Cortland; and Sage Churchill-Foster of Walworth.