Bits & Bytes
Friday,
March 25, 2005
Volume 33,
Issue 12
Fri, Nov 20, 2009
IN THE SGN
SECTION ONE
Front Page
MORE/ALL
SECTION ONE
STORIES
SECTION TW0
Arts & Entertainment
PNB scores with stunning Merry Widow, New Belltown Bistro opens Saturday |
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| Mamma Melina celebrates 15th anniversary | ||
| by Milton W. Hamlin
Its officially spring and Seattle entertainment fans have a wide variety of stage, screen and dining events to lure everyone out of the house and into the whats hot/whats not arenas of the Emerald City. Its another great week for Bits&Byteswhich includes a periodic Bits&Bites section this week. MERRY WIDOW DELIGHTS Pacific Northwest Ballet has a terrific production of The Merry Widow continuing at McCaw Hall with evening and matinee performances through Sunday. With Ronald Hynds sophisticated choreography, stunning costumes by Roberta Guidi di Bagno and solid performances from the entire company, this Merry Widow ranks as an all-time high for PNB. It is simply impossible to rave enough about this delightfully entertaining production and PNBs polished performances. The ballet, based on the beloved operetta by Franz Lehar, was created for the Australian Ballet in 1975 and proved to be a huge hit in Melbourne and on subsequent tours to the United States and Great Britain, where the legendary Margot Fonteyn had one of her late-career successes. Productions throughout the U.S. and the world cemented the popularity of Hynds ballet which arrived at PNB several seasons back. This years PNB revival is simply splendid. On opening night, Louise Nadeau was captivating as Hanna Glawari, a wealthy widow who encounters her former beloved as she returns to a social life at the Pontevedrian Embassy in Paris in 1905. Once spurned by the nobleman, Count Danilo Danilovitch, a sensational Olivier Wevers on opening night, she now enjoys her sudden wealth and the attention it creates. PNB rotates the leading dancers in three sets but audiences will find that all of PNBs skilled principals will make this Merry Widow truly memorable. Hunds choreography is creative and challengingand, most importantly, it is psychologically sound. When Hanna dances a traditional folk dance, she extends her foot in a flat, clogging positionone almost expects the orchestra to play, Put your little foot, put your little foot . At the last minute, she smiles a wicked smilethoroughly in characterand corrects the position of her leg extension. Its a little detailbut one of the many clever touches in Hynds creative approach to the familiar tale. In the last act, when Danilo and Hanna finally dance as new lovers, they approach each otherchoreographicallyin a tentative manner. As they dance, their love strengthensas does the challenge of the Hynds choreography. Roberta Guidi di Bagnos sets and costumes also deserve praise. Like Hynds choreography, the sets and costumes reflect the psychological state of the major characters. Hanna enters in Act One in blackthe last stage of her mourning. In Act Two, she wears the deep purple of her homeland. The other dancers are a colorful riot of pinks, purples and lavenders, all presumably Pontevedrian national colors. By Act Three, at the famous Chez Maxims in Paris, she is moving out of her past and enters in a radiant all-white ensemble with the most theatrical boa Bits&Bytes has ever seenand this writer has seen a lot of feather boas. With the guests and floorshow can-can girls in a riot of color, Hanna holds center stage in her sensational white ruffled, beaded gown. Another bravo must go to Stewart Kershaw and the PNB orchestrathe music was a beautiful base for the whole ballet. And it was beautifully played. Ticket information at (206) 441-2424. This Merry Widow is truly a must see PNB event. Check it outnow. CABARET/JAZZ NEWS Janis Mann, one of Bits&Bytes favorite jazz singers, returns to The Triple Door (one of my favorite rooms on the plant, Mann charmingly noted) next Thursday, March 31, for one night only. Manns last Triple Door outing was last summer when she presented a memorable Van Heusen Songbook tribute at the stylish jazz club. Details and reservations at (206) 838-4333. The Seattle Rep hosts Chic Street Man, a local musician/singer, for a rare solo concert next Thursday, March 31. He will appear in the intimate PONCHO Forum at 7:30 p.m. Details at (206) 443-2222. Bobbi Kotula, another Bits&Bytes favorite, brings her one-woman cabaret show to the Renton Ikea performance space for a Monday, March 28, concert and cabaret. Details next week. And, dont forget, Thumpers Cabaret On The Hill series continues three cabaret offeringsincluding one Easter Sunday brunch and another Easter Sunday night. Details at (206) 328-3800. MAMMA MELINAS 15TH Mamma Melinas, one of Seattle most popular Italian restaurants, celebrates its 15th anniversary with a special three-course $19.90 dinner, honoring the restaurants opening in 1990. The classic Italian menu offers a choice of four starters, four entrees and three desserts. Bits&Bytes, who ranks the spot as an all-time favorite, started a recent dinner with a classic Caesar salad (add anchovies for a small additional charge), moved to the Chicken Marsala (an incredibly generous portion) and ended with a refreshing Mango Sorbet. B&Bs dinner companion started with the Caesar, picked the delicious Homemade Raviolis with Spinach and Cheese and ended with the Warm Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream. The $19.90 special menu will continue at least through April. The restaurant has entertained many national celebrities. Paul Newman ate there for three nights out of a five night Seattle visit. When Bits&Bytes encountered Newman and his wife, actress Joanne Woodward, in New York last December, he was understandably reserved in casual theater conversation until this writer mentioned Seattle and Mamma Melinas (where a full color blow up of Newman and Mamma are conspicuously displayed on the restaurants Wall Of Fame). Thats one of my favorite restaurants in the world, Newman enthused. Tell everyone hello for me. Well, if its good enough for Paul Newman, its good enough for Bits&Bytes. (Editors Note: That must be the understatement of the year.) BELLTOWN BISTRO OPENS The folks at BluWater Bistro open their first location without a water view tomorrowthe new BellTown Bistro in the historic (and beautifully restored) Bell Building in Bell Town. With BluWater locations at Green Lake, Leschi and Lake Union, the new BellTown Bistro looks like it will be the fourth success for the local owners. Tuesday night, the BellTown hosted press, VIPs and general in crowd visitors for a preview party. (Hey, its a tough life here at SGN, but Bits&Bytes believes someone has to do it.) Unlike many restaurant opening parties, the chef wisely decided to offer appetizers that are actually on the menuits always great to sample delicious tidbits but frustrating to return and discover that the Mango Crab Cakes are not on the regular menu. The Jamaican Jerk Chicken Satay, the seared Beef Tips, an incredible Sautéed Prawns (with garlic and chili flakes, tossed with tomatoes, kalamata olives and pesto) were all terrific and will bring Bits&Bytes back for a second visit. Cant wait to try the Dungeness Crab Mac&Cheesea sophisticated update of an old-fashioned dinner staple. Check it out. The BellTown Bistro opens tomorrow, March 26. Drop a note a tell Bits&Bytes how you liked it. |
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 GENERAL GAYETY Leslie Robinson |
 LESBIAN NOTIONS Paula Martinac |
