March 27, 2009 - The Austin Chronicle

CALENDAR ( COMMUNITY SPORTS ARTS FILM MUSIC) L I STI N G Sthe characters in them. Beginning with 12Steps to a More Dysfunctional Christmas,Nash and the Vortex have premiered 12of his original shows, including all fourof the high school plays, Freshman YearSucks!, Sophomore Slump, Junior Blues, andSenioritis, that form the basis for Holy CrossSucks!, which premiered at the Vortex in 2000and enjoyed a run off-Broadway in 2005.The thing about Nash, the thing thatshould make anyone who hasn’t seen himsee him, and the thing that should makeanyone who has seen him see him again:He makes it all look so easy. Often doinglittle more than sitting in a chair or standingin place, Nash plays two, three, four, ormore people, switching characters at lightningspeed while never failing to embodyall distinctly, physically and vocally, sceneafter scene. At one moment, he’s a Hispanicseductress; the next a fat kid. At anothermoment, he’s a teen rebel, then a Jewishrabbi. Kids, their parents, their friends, theirgirlfriends, their teachers, the Taco! Taco!Taco! lady, Nash nails them all. He’s creditedwith 29 characters in the program, butI remember some that weren’t listed, and Idistinctly remember 23 of them.Which amazes me. If 23 actors were ina play, I don’t think I’d be able to recognizethem all in a lobby, but I distinctly remember23 of Nash’s characters, so greatly did theystrike me as people. And that’s the magic ofRob Nash.Holy Cross Sucks!The Vortex, through April 5Running time: 1 hr, 40 minOne-person, multicharacter shows have become ubiquitousin contemporary theatre, but few perform them like Rob Nash.The Austin-based theatre artist has been creating one-handersfor 17 years – writing them, performing them, and playing allBut seriously, I don’t mean to gush. Youmight want to know something about theplay. Well, it’s exactly what you would expectfrom a story about Catholic teens coming ofage: rebellion, sex, and self-discovery. In onestoryline, a young man accepts his homosexuality.In another, a teenager impregnateshis father’s girlfriend, who then becomeshis stepmother. While such themes may notnecessarily sound like the stuff of comedy,Nash mines them for all the comedic goldthey’re worth. He packs four years of highschool into less than two hours, makingfriends, losing friends, reconciling, going out,smoking bongs, and having sex with himself.In one scene, Nash plays eight characterswho say hello to one another as each joinsa group, and the names, the looks, theposes go flashing by like frames flippingpast a lens, like a living, speeding cartoon. Iwanted Nash to slow down so I could enjoyit even more.Four years of high school in 100 minutes.Twenty-nine characters. Sound andlight cues like so many candies in a comedyjar. (Kudos to stage manager TamaraL. Farley for keeping up with them all.) AndNash makes it look easy! But you knowthe truth, don’t you? There’s nothing easyabout it. Write and perform 30 characters?Easy? Are you kidding me? If you haven’tseen Rob Nash, you should. And if youhave seen him, you might want to take alook again.– Barry Pineo76 T H E A U S T I N C H R O N I C L E MARCH 27, 2009 a u s t i n c h r o n i c l e . c o mclassicalmusicOPENINGLONG CENTER FIRST ANIVERSARY PARTY Awardwinningcomposer Marvin Hamlisch and Broadway starLinda Eder, backed by a 32-piece orchestra, are headliningthis celebratory concert. Thu., March 26, 8pm.Long Center for the Performing Arts, 701 W. Riverside,474-5664. $39. www.thelongcenter.org.IMANI WINDS The Grammy-nominated Imani Winds traversethe boundaries of the traditional wind quintet repertoirefor an adventurous evening of classical music.Thu., March 26, 8pm. McCullough Theatre, UT campus,23rd & East Campus Drive, 477-6060. www.utpac.org.HOLLYWOOD’S GREATEST FILM THEMES TheAustin Wind Symphony blows some of cinema’s mostmemorable tunes. Bring nonperishable food items forFood Lifeline if you’re feeling charitable. Thu., March26, 8pm. Monarch Event Center, 6406 N. I-35 #3100,532-7944. $10. www.austinwindsymphony.org.UT SCHOOL OF MUSIC UT Wind Ensemble inConcert Jerry F. Junkin leads the ensemble inworks by Strauss, Steven Bryant, John Adams, andCorigliano. The concert will feature Hila Plitmann,soprano, and is part of the College Band Directors’National Convention. Fri., March 27, 8pm. BatesRecital Hall. $10 ($5, students). Miro Quartet at theBlanton This intimate chamber music concert will featureworks by Haydn, Barber, and Dvorak. Sun., March,29, 2pm. Blanton Museum of Art. UT SymphonyOrchestra Maestro Gerhardt Zimmermann conductsworks by Rossini, Mendelssohn, and Dvorak, featuringElizabeth Lee, cello. Mon., March 30, 8pm. BatesRecital Hall. $10 ($5, students) Bach Cantata ProjectGuest conductor Jeb Mueller leads this month’s work,“Himmelskšnig, sei willkommen, BWV 182.” Tue.,March 31, noon. Blanton Museum of Art. St. John’sCollege Choir One of the finest men and boys collegiatechoirs in the world. Tue., March 31, 7pm. St.Austin’s Catholic Church, 2026 Guadalupe. $20 ($15,seniors, UT faculty and staff; $10, students). NewMusic Ensemble Music with a Latin flavor and a definitepolitical bent, including works by Gabriela LenaFrank, Juan Trigos, and UT student composer IanDicke. Tue., March 31, 8pm. Bates Recital Hall. Free.471-5401. www.music.utexas.edu.CONSPIRARE: HANDEL’S MESSIAH Best known asa Christmas season performance, the “Easter” sectionof this excellent work gets an airing of a more intimatenature with a 26-voice choir accompanied by a smallorchestra playing period instruments. March 28-29.Sat., 7:30pm; Sun., 2:30pm. St. Martin’s LutheranChurch, 606 W. 15th. 476-5775. www.conspirare.org.THOSE VANISHED HANDS (CONCERT FOR FLUTE)Australian flutist Janet McKay performs a concert ofcompelling new works by emerging Australian andAmerican composers. The program also featuresAustin flutist Seetha Shivaswamy. Sun., March 29,7pm. Dougherty Arts Center, 1110 Barton Springs Rd.,397-1468. Free. www.cityofaustin.org.ST. DAVID’S: LENTEN CONCERTS AT NOONInspiring music, reflective hymnody, and food for souland stomach, featuring a different artist each week.This week: Gitanjali Mathur, soprano. Through April2. Thursdays, noon. St. David’s Episcopal Church, 304E. Seventh, 415-5688. Free ($8, with lunch; e-mail forvegetarian entree). www.stdave.org.ST. MATTHEW’S: LENTEN SACRED CONCERTSSolo vocal music for the Lenten season, featuringspirituals, contemporary works, and traditionalpieces. This week: The LBJ High School CamerataOrchestra. Through April 2. Thursdays, 12:05pm. St.Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 8134 Mesa, 345-8314.Free. www.stmattsaustin.org.| THE COLORFUL LITHOG-RAPHY OF THE SERIEPROJECT AWAITS YOURDISCERNING GAZE ATCORONADO STUDIOS.visual artsEVENTSART IN PUBLIC PLACES: GROTTO WALL ATSPARKY PARK Public art dedication for a masonryart wall by artist Berthold Haas. Sat., March 28,10-11am. 3701 Grooms.TEXAS BIENIAL PERFORMANCE: LOOKING GLASSFree public performance by artist Jill Pangallo. Fri.,March 27, 8pm. Fiesta Gardens Pavilion, 2101 Bergman,480-8318.EAST END GALLERY ANNIVERSARY PARTY celebratesthe venue’s first year, with burlesque dancers,beer, and barbecue. Sat., March 28, 7-11pm.1101 Navasota #4. www.myspace.com/eastendgalleryOPENINGFAB GALLERY: URBAN/STREET New works for theseconcrete and crumbling times by Bethany Johnson(!),Russell Burns, Tim Creswick, Krutie Thakkar, BonnieGammill, Mala Kumar, Kallista Stephenson, and others.Reception: Fri., March 27, 6-8pm. DFA Building,23rd & Trinity. www.thefabgallery.com.GENERACIONES: CELEBRATING WOMEN AND THEIRART features the artwork of Ines Batllo, Maria Bravo,Christina Cardenas, Pilar Castrejon, Celina Hinojosa,Cecilia Colome, Courtney Enriquez, Sandra Fernandez,Marsha Gomez, and many others. Reception: Fri.,March 27, 6-8pm. Exhibition: Through April 30.227 Congress #300, 477-6007. www.lapena-austin.org.1305 POSITION GALLERY Linear B is a paintinginstallation by Shawn Camp. Boustrophone: Calling theBull is a video installation by Diana Carulli. Exhibition:March 28-April 18. 1305 E. Sixth #3, 495-9578.WALLY WORKMAN GALLERY: AUSTINCALLIGRAPHER’S GUILD The classical and experimentaltreatment of text doesn’t get much moreinspiring and lovely than this. Reception: Thu., April2, 6-8pm. Exhibition: Through April 18. 1202 W. Sixth,472-7428. www.wallyworkmangallery.com.DAVIS GALLERY: THREE TO GET READY Vivid andelegant new works by Ave Bonar, Nancy Scanlan,and Peggy Weiss. Reception: Thu., April 2, 7-9pm.Exhibition: Through May 9. 837 W. 12th, 477-4929.www.davisgalleryaustin.com.ART ON 5TH: MEET THE MUSTARDS Whimiscal artworkby British artist Sam Toft. April 2-May 2. 1501W. Fifth, 481-1111. www.arton5th.com.CLOSINGEAST END GALLERY: KERRY AWN AND CINDYRASHKE The works of popular comedian and painterAwn are featured with Rashke’s hot-rod-pimping, Tikiinflectedcreations in this ferociously local pairing.Through March 29. 1101 Navasota #4.www.myspace.com/austineastendgallery.GAY FAY KELLY: BEYOND RECOGNITION Curatedby Jerry de Frese and featuring works by CynthiaAlderete, Debra Broz, Brian Johnson and Tim Kerr.Through March 29. 1811 W. Eighth, 478-7676.www.gayfaykellyart.com.ART ON 5TH: ROBENA Large-scale paintings providinga sense of peace, harmony, balance, and beauty.Through March 29. 1501 W. Fifth, 481-1111.www.arton5th.com.STUDIO2GALLERY: MODELS AND ARTISTS Juried byRick Fink and featuring works by George Anderson, MarkCallie, Laura Grimes, and more. Through March 28.1700 S. Lamar #318, 386-9233. www.studio2gallery.com.WALLY WORKMAN GALLERY: CHERYL FINFROCKThe artist’s deceptively childlike paintings brightenthese fine walls. Artist Talk: Sat., March 28, 3pm.Exhibition:Through March 31. 1202 W. Sixth,472-7428. www.wallyworkmangallery.com.ONGOINGDIBONA STUDIO Oil paintings and “sculptural tattoos”by Joyce DiBona. 404 W. Milton, 851-2646.TEXAS BIENNIAL It’s big; it’s diverse; it’s here againbut completely different. So many artists, so manyvenues, so much visual and spatial work to delight theeyes and divert the attention from one’s own mortality.Through April 11. Mexican American Cultural Center,600 River St.; Women & Their Work, 1710 Lavaca; MassGallery, 916 Springdale; Big Medium, Bay 12 Gallery,5305 Bolm; Okay Mountain, 1312 E. Cesar Chavez;Pump Project, 702 Shady Ln. www.texasbiennial.com.