Creativity and Commerce Event Was Eyeopening

I have to say that tonight's Creativity and Commerce event at Kiggins Theater was eyeopening in many ways.

First of all, the CVI (Creative Vitality Index) information was encouraging and interesting. The presenters and panelists, too, enthralling and encouraging.

Second, more people should have been there. And the fact that there weren't many also says something. Probably less than 100 people in attendance and none of them, to my knowledge, were our local politicians (again).

Thirdly, it was stated that we have been talking about a Performing Arts Center here in Vancouver for twenty-five years now and it doesn't look any closer to me now than it did then. It is going to take more than talk and lobbying--someone's going to have to come forth with the money.

Fourthly, there were some awesome performances--a clarinet duet and some soloist singing bits form MPAA's Le Miz.

All in all a good evening of mixed thoughts.

FREE and Open to the Public

REVIEW: Metropolitan presents Disney's "Beauty and the Beast, Jr." Tonight and Tomorrow ONLY

"It was a face that only a mother could love." You've heard the saying. Well, this was a production that only a mother could love. Don't get me wrong, there were some things to like about this show, but I didn't LOVE it.

The cast performs "Be Our Guest." Photo by Gregory E. Zschomler.

First of all I didn't know what to expect. I'd never been to a Metropolitan Performing Arts Academy production, but I knew it would be children performing all the roles. MTI rents a variety of junior show packages including an array of Disney classics.

These are truncated versions of the Broadway musicals that come with just about everything you need to put on a show but the set, costume and props, but you can even rent some of those.

I admit, I'm not a big fan of amateur kid shows, especially when I have to shell out more than five bucks to see one (this was nearly $12 with the ticket fee). They don't tend to be all that good and to really get jazzed you need to know someone in the to-do. I didn't.

And yet, this production had some charm. The chorus numbers were very nice. They were full of energy, sounded great and the dance numbers were pretty tight. The costumes were great, too! (I do believe that Disney imposes particular standards on certain things, so that you get a classic Disney experience.)

The female leads, while sometimes slipping from the written melody or key, sang well enough. The young men? Not so much. Out of a cast of around 40, only eight were boys and the show calls for "mostly men." It seems beggars can't be choosy--you take what you get and work with it.

The entire cast at curtain call. Photo by Gregory E. Zschomler

And that's the nature of Metropolitan: Parents sign their kids up for classes and pay for them to go. All the kids get to be in the show which is both good and bad. It builds confidence, skill, self-esteem and more, but it can't create talent. It can bring it out and hone it, but if it isn't there to begin with...

The Good

You have to admire the director (Noah Scott, directed) that would take on a show like that. He's gotta love kids and believe in them and...well...have LOTS of patience. I am reminded of the words of W.C. Fields: "Never work with children or animals." I imagine it's a lot like herding cats. And that does not take into account of having to deal with "stage moms" (which should include hazard pay).

But I digress. 

The best lead performance of the show was given by Bridgette McCarthy in the role of Lumiere. Her accent was fun, her singing nearly dead on and her acting delightful. Kiara (what a pretty name) Kennington, as Mrs. Potts, also gave a winning performance all around, though she began her solo a little shaky. I'm sure it was performance anxiety; there's a lot of pressure in singing the well-known title song.

The very lovely Aubrey Porter starred as Belle and did nicely in the role. She has a nice voice and with some more training she will learn to keep it on pitch. I THINK that Mardee Willman (Cogsworth) sang well, but most of the time her mic wasn't working. Sigh.

"Silly Girl" Kelly Jung

The stand out performance of the entire production was delivered by Kelly Jung who was one of the Silly Girls that fawn over Gaston.

She was a pure delight.

The energy, the facial expression, the acting, the dance moves--everything was star quality right down to her dimple. I can envision this kid in a real Disney production. 

The Not So Good 

The show was NOT well lit--the castle scenes, especially, were difficult to see. But the real irritation came from a generally bad audio mix and a lot of malfunctioning wireless mics. Pretty much what could go wrong, did go wrong. They hummed, the crackled, they boomed, they fell off, they weren't turned on... 

I really felt bad for the kids; that sort of thing doesn't help your confidence level. [You'd think after more than a dozen different shows over a three year period they would have worked out these kinds of bugs.]

And the set needed textured and detailed to bring it completely to life.

All in all, the production has such a great story and the music is so well written (by Alan Meken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice) that you can't help but be moved. Even with the simplified effects (quite a bit less magical than the professional tour) and technical distractions, the show was uplifting and fun.

The show plays again 7 p.m., Saturday, March 31 and Sunday April 1, 2012 at the Washburn Performing Arts Center in Washougal, Wash. Tickets can be purchased by calling 360-975-1585 or at www.metropaa.org. "Anything Goes" opens in April. See the website for more information about classes, shows and auditions.

Here's a short video of "Be Our Guest" from the show.

Story, photos and video by Gregory E. Zschomler

OPINION: Southwest Washington Center for the Arts, can it happen?

Are you aware of the ongoing effort to build a civic performing arts center in SW Washington? Did you know that a proposed potential site has been selected?

Are you like me and wonder if it will ever happen?

They are the Southwest Washington Center for the Arts, a group of dedicated and persistent citizens led by Val Ogden pursuing this lofty and seemingly evasive goal.

Their mission is "to facilitate the building of a world class center for the arts to enhance the educational, economic, and cultural vitality for SW Washington, to be centrally located in the city of Vancouver."

And, quite frankly, I'm all for it, but my enthusiasm wanes.

It ain't happenin' baby

How many years (decades) have we been talking about this now? How much money has been raised? Who among our city's council has done little more than wind-bag the idea? As far as I'm concerned, it ain't happenin'. It's just an idea and nothing more.

Oh, I'd like to believe--really I would--but it's hard to remain excited over the long haul when the city officials are a bunch of sticks-in-the-mud and the bulk of our citizens seem to care less.

I mean, we can just go to Portland, right?

I must admit, it is nice to be so close to such a large, cultured city. But then again, it ain't exactly "ours" is it. Wouldn't it be nice to have a home for OUR art?

Sure it would! We nod our heads, drool out of one side of our mouths and...

...do nothing.

Maybe it's time we got behind this idea, this effort, and made it a reality! Ya think?

Art enlivens, inspires and enables

But, is it "a need?" I mean, these are "hard times" and we should invest our resources where they are essential, no?

That depends on how you look at it. Humans can exist without the arts, but that's not a way to live. We are enlivened by the arts and artistic expression. Art is what inspires us and defines us as human beings. And art enables us to more fully express who we are.

Can you get by without music, theater, dance, sculpture, painting, etc.? Yes, you can. Is it pretty? No. Without art in the heart, life...well...sucks. It's like a grey world with a grey cloud over it. You slog through it and achieve so little due to lack of ambition and vitality.

Have you seen the movie Joe Verses the Volcano? (I don't know why I brought that up, I'm sure it's relevant.)

Anyway, people who engage in culture are happier. Vancouver would be a happier place with a civic arts center. Sure, we've got pockets of culture here, but as a city? I've eaten yogurt with a more active culture.

Maybe, just maybe, the dream is attainable

I've been guilty. I create art, but I've been happy in my own little pocket. I've nodded my head and enthusiastically drooled along with most of the masses about a Vancouver performing arts center. But I have done little more.

Maybe it's time I spoke up (I just did). Maybe it's time I wrote my city council. Maybe it's time I followed this movement on Facebook (I do) and read their e-newsletter. [It is sad that as of this writing they have only 164 Facebook fans.] Maybe, I should put some money where my mouth is and/or volunteer...

So, what about YOU? Can we, finally, make this happen? In our lifetime? I think maybe, we can.

For more info email communications@center4thearts.com or visit the center4thearts webpage.

By Gregory E. Zschomler