8.06.2011

Today in Arts & Culture

Book Sale

Host Organization: Friends of Landa Library
Date: Saturday, August 6
Time: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Venue: Landa Library
233 Bushnell, San Antonio, TX

Proceeds will benefit the Landa Library.

For more information: (210) 732-8369


Family Fun Day at the National Museum of the Pacific War

Host Organization:
National Museum of the Pacific War
Date: Saturday, August 6
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Venue: National Museum of the Pacific War
340 East Main Street, Fredericksburg, TX

The event will feature activities planned for children to work on with their parents and all activities will incorporate a brief lesson. There will also be a scavenger hunt, bingo, and gardening. Pre-registration is suggested to ensure enough materials are on-hand for everyone to have their own items to take home.

For more information and to register: pacificwarmuseum.org or (830) 997-8600 extension 207


Author Appearance

Host Organization:
Schreiner University
Date: Saturday, August 6
Time: 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Venue: Hastings Books, Music & Video
Kerrville, TX

Local author Robert Norris will be signing copies of his acclaimed new novel “The Barrett Solution”

For more information: schreiner.edu


High Hair & Jalapeños!—A Rip Snortin’ Texas Musical Comedy Review

Host Organization:
High Hair & Jalapeños
Date: Saturday, August 6
Time: 8 p.m.
Venue: Cameo Theatre
1123 E. Commerce Street, San Antonio, TX 78205

The show is a zany musical revue that captures the tall tales and the high hair of infamous and famous Texans. Nothing is sacred in this satirically funny, fast-paced romp through Texas trivia and folklore with a special focus on San Antonio. The show runs through September 11.

For more information: (210) 212-5454 or highhairandjalapenos.com

For a complete listing of community events, visit the TPR Community Events Calendar at
tpr.org

8.05.2011

Today in Arts& Culture

Fiesta Noche del Rio

Host Organization: The Alamo Kiwanis Club Charities, Inc.
Date: Friday, August 5
Time: 8:30 p.m.
Venue: Arneson River Theatre

This marks the 55th season of Fiesta Noche del Rio – the longest-running outdoor musical revue of its kind in the U.S. The program will feature music from Spain, Argentina and some country favorites. Dances from Mexico will also be performed. Shows will be performed every Friday and Saturday night through August 13

For more information and tickets: (210) 226-4651 or fiestanochedelrio.com


The King and I

Host Organization:
San Pedro Playhouse
Date: Friday, August 5
Time: 8 p.m.
Venue: San Pedro Playhouse, Russell Hill Rogers Theater
800 West Ashby, San Antonio, TX

The King and I, a Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic, is the story of an English widow who comes to teach western ways to the royal family of Siam and in turn learns to love and respect the exuberant king. The play runs through August 21.

For more information and tickets: sanpedroplayhouse.com or (210) 733-7258


Hay Fever

Host Organization: The Wimberley Players
Date: Friday, August 5
Time: 8 p.m.
Venue: The Wimberley Playhouse
450 Old Kyle Road, Wimberley, TX

Hay Fever is a comedy by Noel Coward set in the English country home of the Bliss family in the mid-1920s. The Bliss family is blatantly unconventional and proud of it. One summer weekend, each family member has invited a guest to their country home without the knowledge of the other family members. Things develop immediately into wild situations. The play runs through August 21.

For more information and tickets: wimberleyplayers.org or (512) 847-1592


New Class: Encaustic Open Studio

Host Organization: Southwest School of Art
Date: Friday, August 5
Time: 10 a.m. – 4:30 pm.
Venue: Southwest School of Art
300 Augusta, San Antonio TX 78205

The studio will be set up for encaustics and participants will be encouraged to work on their own projects. The instructor will be available for technique review, for demonstrations and to answer questions. This weekend workshop will review basic materials, formulas, safety procedures, and historical use. Prerequisite: some experience with encaustics.

For more information including material lists: (210) 224-1848 or swschool.org


High Hair & Jalapeños!—A Rip Snortin’ Texas Musical Comedy Review

Host Organization:
High Hair & Jalapeños
Date:Friday, August 5
Time:8 p.m.
Venue:Cameo Theatre
1123 E. Commerce Street, San Antonio, TX 78205

The show is a zany musical revue that captures the tall tales and the high hair of infamous and famous Texans. Nothing is sacred in this satirically funny, fast-paced romp through Texas trivia and folklore with a special focus on San Antonio. The show runs through September 11.

For more information: (210) 212-5454 or highhairandjalepenos.com

For a complete listing of community events, visit the TPR Community Events Calendar at tpr.org

Movie Review: Snow Flower and the Secret Fan



Two – no, make that two pairs – of women share an intense, special bond in “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan,” the latest film from director Wayne Wang. Alas Wang, good at emotional dramas, struggles to connect two similar plots taking place in 19th and late 20th century China.

In 1827, Snow Flower and Lily are bound, both physically and figuratively. The film makes a point of illustrating the terrible practice of foot binding. Each crack and pop of bones is heard on the soundtrack. The two girls, each from a different social class, are introduced to one another as laotong, sisters for life. Even when they are grown, and separated by marriage, they communicate by nüshu, a secret written language among women used in Hunan, China. The titular fan serves as the vessel for their messages.

Meanwhile, the film gives us the story in 1997 of Sophia and Nina. Like Snow Flower and Lily, they too are of different classes. Nina looks out for her more impulsive friend, Sophia. And instead of secret nüshu, they have text messages.

The modern story is superfluous, uninteresting, and wasn’t even part of the book the film is based on. The actresses struggle with their parts when speaking in English, and Hugh Jackman appears from nowhere to whisk Sophia off to Australia in an episode that feels half-formed. Snow Flower and Lily are given better parts, even as the history of China gets thrown piecemeal into the script. Emotionally, they’re closer to each other than their husbands. But “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan” creaks under the weight of its comparison between the two laotong sisters.

The camerawork is solid, and Rachel Portman’s score is very, very pretty, using both western strings and Chinese instruments like the erhu and pipa. I’d recommend the soundtrack, but not the film.