Here's the set-up for A Beautiful View, now running in repertory at N.C. Stage, according to the show's press: L and M meet in a camping-goods store. Their tentative friendship seems doomed to fail before it begins, each with preconceived notions about the other. Rather than hurt each other's feelings, they have a drink. Their relationship develops into something complicated, heartfelt and (naturally) involves a two-woman ukulele band.
The behind-the-scenes twist? Anne Thibault and Bitch, who play L and M, are actually lifelong friends. They met in college at DePaul University and have stayed close even while building their own successes in their various fields of performing arts. Bitch is half of the queercore duo Bitch and Animal, and she's one righteous babe, having toured with Ani DeFranco, the Indigo Girls and Michelle Shocked, among others. Thibault penned I Wrote This Play to Make You Love Me, a laugh-you-cried look at sex, lies and repression.
Both the plays feature N.C. Stage's choose-your-own-ticket price, from $15 to $30. With varying schedules, check www.ncstage.org for details.
Changing the subject, did you know you can have the theme song from Mr. Belvedere as your cell-phone ringtone? I bet you didn't. I'm not sure if you can have one of EAR PWR's crazy, beat-heavy songs as a ringtone, but if you could, your coworkers would be jumping up to dance when your phone rang. And when they jumped up, you could tell them to run over to Mo Daddy's on Thursday, June 25, to hear the real thing.
That's right, bust out your sparkly sweater and your diamonds, liquor and leather, cause EAR PWR is back. I mean, for one night. Spork told you in March that the dance-crazy duo had moved to Baltimore and signed to Carpark Records. At the time, Sarah Reynolds wasn't optimistic about an upcoming tour bringing the wild electro-annihilators back to town. But guess what? The Jams O Jamz return.
Speaking of retuning, Brooklyn's Cordero comes back to the Arts Center in Marshall Friday, June 26. “They bring the party to the dance floor,” writes Erich Hubner of the Madison County Arts Council. Having seen Hubner get down, he probably knows what's he's talking about. “Guitar, trumpet, bass, drums, percussion, keyboards and sultry vocals in a heady Latin stew. Dusty desert moods and edgy grooves make for a unique musical mix. La musica de Cordero es una mezcla seductora de rock, letras meditabundas y ritmos tropicales que deja patente las raíces puertorriqueñas de su líder, Ani Cordero,” he writes.
Apparently the band enjoyed their October show in Marshall so much, they decided to stop back in en route from Chicago to Memphis (if this becomes a touring circuit, whoa Nelly).
Hubner goes on: “In the middle of this musical hoagie will be the Spring Creek collective known as Jesse James and the Junkman's Daughter, bringing their X-influenced rockabilly sound to the stage. Warming up the dance floor will be the mojo-dripping garage stylings of the Rubber Cushions, featuring the Prince of Primo Primpery, Kip Veno, backed by Marshall's Wall of Stone — Alex Tocaben, the Cisco Kid; Willy 'too crazy' Tocaben; and the lowest of them all, Ernie Truckber.” If you understand all that you must live in Marshall. Tix are $10, show's at 8 p.m. Info at 649-1301 or www.madisoncountyarts.com
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