Archive: Arts & Entertainment

Aurora, New York— The Wells College Visual Arts Department presents the exhibit “Through Line,” by artist Sayward Schoonmaker, on display in the College’s String Room Gallery (SRG) from October 24 through December 6. The exhibit is free and the public is cordially invited to view the show. The artist will present a talk on October 24 at 6 p.m. followed by a reception from 6:30 to 8 p.m.; refreshments will be served.

Schoonmaker’s work centers on the use of clichéd and intimate language, often taking its form as poetry installed on walls, spoken in recordings or presented in collaboration with moving images. Whether spoken or printed, her texts benefit from her careful attention to the shape, sound and space between words, resulting in emotionally potent, delicately crafted work.

Aurora, New York—The Wells College department of theatre and dance presents the annual Fall Theatre Production, Carlo Goldoni’s “The Servant of Two Masters,” directed by Associate Professor of Theatre Siouxsie Easter and translated and adapted by Jeffrey Hatcher and Paolo Emilio Landi. Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, October 25 and 26, in Phipps Auditorium of Macmillan Hall on the Wells College campus. Admission is free and all are welcome to attend.

Originally written in 1743, Goldoni’s “The Servant of Two Masters” is a comedy centering on the actions of a quirky, insatiably hungry servant named Truffaldino as he attempts to serve the needs of and earn his dinner from two different masters, Beatrice and Florindo. Truffaldino is faced with hiding his involvement with each as they search for each other, stay in the same hotel and even eat at the same banquet. There have been several versions of “The Servant of Two Masters” written; Wells’ production is a 2004 adaptation and translation by Jeffrey Hatcher and Paolo Emilio Landi.

The Lansing town Hall was open Friday evening for the opening of 'Another Day in Paradise', an exhibit of local and not so local wildlife, landscapes and cityscapes by Lansing photographer Sarah Thomson.  Thomson, who owns the Grey Barn rental house in Lansing, has been taking pictures for years.  She began offering them to the public nearly five years ago.  Her current exhibit features 55 photographs, most taken in and around Lansing.

"I tried to keep this exhibit local, but I couldn't resist throwing in some of my other special places like Arizona and Chicago," Thomson says.  I may have one of Australia.  But most of it is to pay tribute to where we are.  That's here and its beautiful."

Hangar Theatre's annual benefit returns as an epic battle of charades. Acting Out on the Hangar Stage is a light-hearted FUNdraiser in which local personalities go toe to toe with Broadway stars in an a charades competition to support the theatre's education programs. Four teams will compete by acting out entertainment clues for their teammates and also by fundraising for the event, which will take place at the Hangar Theatre on Saturday, October 5 at 6:30pm.

SMART TALK SMART TALK
By Amelia Raitt Payne

ANTIBACTERIAL:  As staff physician at the Center for English as a First Language, I don't get to say much about the fine points of writing and speaking well, such as the difference between that and which, but I know my science. Which means I need to inveigh against antibacterial soap, antibacterial wipes, and the term antibacterial itself.

Some of the linguistic therapists here might say antibacterial soap is a redundancy, and ask, "Isn't all soap antibacterial?" Well, yes and no. Soaps and detergents float away dirt, grime, and bacteria, but not 100%. Not even antibacterial cleaners. In fact, so-called antibacterial products actually kill the weaker bacteria, leaving behind the strongest to reproduce and develop cultures of superbacteria. I'm sure you've heard the horror stories about flesh eating bacteria and drug resistant diseases. This is one way they start.

Of course, overuse of antibiotics, especially for colds, helps create stronger bacteria, and germophobia in general has degraded the nation's health. Nowadays, many well-meaning parents raise children who miss early exposure to many of the germs that enable them to build resistance and immunity.

By the way, colds are caused by viruses, so in this case, all antibiotics will do for you is wreck your gut's microbiome. As we say, an antibiotic will cure your cold in seven days. Without it, you'll be better in a week.

To make people with rugged immune systems and fewer allergies, Caesarian sections and bottle feeding should be avoided if possible, and anything with antibacterial on the label should stay in the store.

However, if you really must take an antibiotic, take the whole course! Don't stop as soon as you feel better. That has the same effect as using antibacterial soap, and the next time you need such medication, a strong enough antibiotic might be very hard to find. And expensive, in more ways than one.
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Blood and murder set the stage this Halloween as Auburn Public Theater presents One October Midnight: A New Musical Thriller.  Based on the grotesque, horrific and heart-wrenching tales of Edgar Allan Poe this whodunit murder mystery musical promises a night of suspense, terror and lost love.

Follow 1940’s gumshoe Inspector Wilson on his manic chase through the haunted streets of Baltimore to capture the infamous October 9th Serial Killer.  With songs inspired by Poe’s poems and short stories such as The Bells, The Tell-Tale Heart and The Fall of the House of Usher, this new musical explores the supernatural hallucinations brought on by the killer’s steady decent into madness.

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, Tompkins County Public Library and National Alliance on Mental Illness-Finger Lakes have announced the September 30 opening of “The Lives They Left Behind:  Suitcases from a State Hospital Attic.”

A humbling and heart-wrenching glimpse into the forgotten lives of residents of Willard Psychiatric Center, “The Lives They Left Behind” is a traveling exhibit featuring photographic and written profiles of patients whose stories were uncovered when their belongings were found in suitcases after the Center’s 1995 closing.  In addition to patient profiles, actual suitcases preserved by the New York State Museum will be on display.

SMART TALK SMART TALK
By Assoc. Therapist Les Terse

FREE GIFT: Normally functioning folks like you and me know that a gift is something given. By definition, it’s free. Many in advertising don’t function normally, of course.

At the Institute for the Linguistically Impaired, such patients are treated with repeated mild electric shocks. After enough negative association eliminates free gift, patients progress to free of charge and absolute guarantee.

Back at work, however, their good taste jeopardizes their careers. They even see the nonsense in Up to 50% off and more!

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Avast, ye hearties, Tompkins County Public Library is celebrating International Talk Like a Pirate Day September 19 with activities and events for landlubbers of all ages.

Originally conceived in 1995, Talk Like a Pirate Day gained notoriety in 2002 when comedian Dave Barry mentioned it in his syndicated column.  Pirate lovers around the world have celebrated with “arrghs” and “ahoys” ever since, but the Library has a more educational way of recognizing this spirited, annual event.

An opening reception for Lansing photographer Sarah Thomson is on Friday September 20th from 5:50 -7:30 pm at the Lansing Town Hall.  'Another Day in Paradise' features photographs of local wildlife, landscapes and other places.

"I have learned that one need not travel far to observe some incredible wildlife, landscape and events," Thomson says.  "The best part is I never know what I will see!"

After a flash flood swept through the City of Ithaca on the evening of  August 8th, damaging numerous sites around the city and flowing into the recently remodeled Hangar Theatre, rigorous efforts were make to keep the theatre open and functioning for audiences. The Hangar staff, board, and other supporters worked tirelessly to curtail the waters that entered the building, causing the cancellation of opening night of Clybourne Park on August 9th.

Ultimately, the 2010 building redesign and the extraordinary teamwork that took place allowed the theatre to close for only one night, reopening the following day for the matinee and evening performances.  Opening night ticket holders were reseated and finished the remainder of the season. The upcoming CabarETC performances of Back to the Garden on September 20 - 21 at 8pm will also go on as planned.

Aurora, New York—The Wells College Arts and Lecture Series presents a performance by pianist and host of NPR's From the Top Christopher O’Riley. The concert will take place at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, September 24, in Phipps Auditorium of Macmillan Hall on the Wells College campus. Admission for the concert is free.

Christopher O’Riley has built a reputation as an extraordinary pianist by reimagining works by classical composers as well as songs by rock and alternative musicians including Nirvana, Radiohead, Pink Floyd and Elliott Smith. O’Riley has filled numerous full-length albums with these spirited, clever arrangements, earning the only four-star review ever given by Rolling Stone to a classical pianist. His 2009 album “Out of My Hands” includes works by Tori Amos, Portishead, the Smiths, and R.E.M. O’Riley will perform selections from his recent work during the concert at Wells College, announcing the songs from the stage and discussing each with the audience.