Theater review: ‘A Doll’s House’ at The Classic Theatre

adollshouse17 — ‘A Doll’s House’ is now playing at The Classic Theatre until Sunday November 26. Photo: Siggi Ragnar, used with permission.

Now playing at The Classic Theatre is ‘A Doll’s House’ by Henrik Ibsen. It is a three-act play written in 1879 and is noted for the way it deals with the fate of a married woman and reflects the lack of opportunities women had for self-fulfillment in a male-dominated world. Directed by Kelly Roush, it stars Kacey Roye, Nick Lawson, Christina Casella, Zach Lewis and John Boyd. The Classic Theatre’s production is set in 1950s America and has a Mad Men flair. Show times are Friday and Saturday at 8p.m. and Sunday at 3p.m. and it runs until Sunday November 26, 2017. Tickets range from $17 to $32 and are available online or by calling the box office at (210) 589-8450.

The story in ‘A Doll’s House’ takes place in the span of three acts at the Helmer’s home on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the day after Christmas. It opens as Nora Helmer, the wife, comes home after a day of Christmas shopping. Her husband Torvald teases her about how much money she spent but she feels that since he is due for a big promotion at work, they can afford to splurge. When Kristine, an old friend of Nora’s shows up to ask for a favor, Nora confides in her that things have not been easy on them because Torvald had recently been sick and they had to travel to Italy for treatment. That treatment did not come cheap, so she secretly took out a loan and has had to scrounge money to repay it. This decision comes back to haunt her when Nils, the man who lent her the money, shows up to blackmail her since she forged her father’s name to secure the loan.

Even though Henrik Ibsen wrote this play in the late 1800s, the themes of gender roles and stereotypes make it a timeless classic. The 1950s is the perfect setting for a story about a woman’s journey from a compliant wife to a confident woman. Nick Lawson’s spot-on portrayal of the hardened Torvald occasionally hits a nerve while Kacey Roye, as Nora, expertly handles her character’s tumultuous relationship with Torvald. The combination of setting and costumes transport the audience to a long-ago era where gender roles were beginning to change. It is sure to have audiences talking long after the show ends.

The Classic Theatre of San Antonio
1924 Fredericksburg Rd
San Antonio, TX 78201
(210) 589-8450

Movie adaptation: ‘Wonder’ by R.J. Palacio

wonderbokpic — The movie adaptation of ‘Wonder’ by R.J. Palacio is now in theaters.

R.J. Palacio is an American author, art director and book jacket designer. Her previous works include “Auggie & Me: Three Wonder Stories” and “365 Days of Wonder: Mr. Browne’s Book of Precepts.” She is best known for “Wonder,” her first novel and The New York Times best-seller about Auggie Pullman, an ordinary boy with an extraordinary face. The feature film adaptation is now in theaters everywhere and stars Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson and Jacob Tremblay.

According to Amazon, “Wonder” tells the story of August Pullman who was born with a facial difference that has always prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Now he is starting the fifth grade at Beecher Prep and he wants nothing more than to be treated like an ordinary kid, but his classmates can not get past his looks. The narration begins from Auggie’s point of view and then switches to his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend and others. This serves to highlight one community’s struggle with empathy, compassion and acceptance. Friendship is the central theme with Auggie as the hero many will root for as he proves that people can not blend in when they were born to stand out. This book inspired the Choose Kind movement.

Holiday tree lighting and jazz concert at La Cantera Resort & Spa

canterachristmastree — La Cantera Resort & Spa will be having its annual Holiday Tree Lighting event on Thursday November 30. Photo: La Cantera Resort & Spa, used with permission.

La Cantera Resort & Spa, a Destination Hotel, is having its annual Holiday Tree Lighting event on Thursday November 30 from 7p.m to 9p.m. The evening will set a smooth tone for the Holiday season with a free Jazz concert by Paul Taylor, internationally acclaimed jazz saxophonist. The concert will coincide with the annual tree lighting ceremony on Plaza San Saba. Guests will be able to enjoy free holiday treats, festive cocktails, kids’ activities and photos with Santa. Donations will be accepted with proceeds to benefit a local children’s charity. Santa will be lighting the tree at 8p.m. This event is free and open to the public. (La Cantera Resort & Spa, 2017)

La Cantera Resort & Spa
Plaza San Saba, just off the main lobby
16641 La Cantera Parkway
San Antonio, TX 78256
(210) 558-6500

Thanksgiving specials at area restaurants

Bakery Lorraine is having Thanksgiving specials on specialty pies and seasonal macaroons. Photo: Bakery Lorraine, used with permission.

Thanksgiving is right around the corner and for anyone looking for meal ideas, area restaurants are offering Thanksgiving themed specials. Some of these include Hotel Emma, Bakery Lorraine, Hotel Contessa, Esquire Tavern, Boiler House and Krause’s Café.

At Hotel Emma, Supper will be offering Special Roasted Turkey Breast dish special which includes stuffing, potatoes, beans sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, gravy and pie for $35. It will be available for lunch from 11a.m. to 3p.m. and dinner from 5p.m. to 8p.m. and at Sternewith from 12p.m. to 12a.m. At Larder, from 6a.m. to 6p.m., guests can enjoy a special Turkey Sandwich, soup and salad for $9. Supper will be taking orders for Whole Roasted Turkey for $75 to be picked up and paid on site.

Bakery Lorraine will offer customers a chance to place pick up orders of specialty pies and seasonal macaroons from Wednesday, November 1st to Sunday, November 19th during normal operating hours. Pick-ups will be available the day before Thanksgiving on Wednesday, November 22nd. After deadline, Bakery Lorraine pies will be available only on first come first serve basis. Pie flavors consist of house roasted pumpkin pie, pecan pie, Dutch apple pie, and apple cranberry pie. Macaroon flavor packs are $12 for a pack of six or $20 for a dozen and includes pumpkin spice, cranberry and caramel apple.

Hotel Contessa will be hosting a Thanksgiving brunch for all on Thursday, November 23rd from 11a.m. to 2:30p.m. Reservations are required and price is $55 per person, $20 for children ages 6-13 and free for children 5 and under.

Esquire Tavern will be closed on Thanksgiving Day but will be offering a special new item on their winter menu beginning November 14th. Guests can enjoy a Thanksgiving Sandwich, smoked turkey breast, cornbread stuffing, cranberry sauce, aioli, provolone and marbled rye for only $17.

Boiler House will be closed on Thanksgiving day but will have Thanksgiving themed specials the week of Thanksgiving including a Turkey Scallopini with butternut squash gnocchi and sage brown butter for $25 and chocolate pecan pie with Brindles pumpkin ice cream for $8.

Krause’s Cafe will offer customers a chance to place and pick up orders of two style feasts: Krause’s Turkey Tom Dinner for $95 and Krause’s Turkey Hen Dinner for $65. Both include cornbread dressing, house made green beans, turkey gravy, fresh dinner rolls, mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce. All preordered meals can be picked up the day before Thanksgiving by 3pm. Placing orders will be available from Wednesday, November 1st to Monday, November 20th during Krause’s Cafe normal operating hours and by phone at (830) 625-2807.

Theater review: ‘Constellations’ at The Cellar Theater

constellationspic — Kate Glasheen as Marianne and Jeff Jeffers as Roland in The Cellar Theater’s ‘Constellations.’ Photo: Daniel Baumer, used with permission.

Now playing at The Playhouse San Antonio’s The Cellar Theater is ‘Constellations’ by the British playwright Nick Payne. It is a one-hour two-hander play that explores love, friendship and the notion of free will and destiny against the backdrop of quantum physics. The story is a romantic journey that begins with a simple encounter between a man and a woman and becomes an exploration of parallel universes. Kate Glasheen stars as Marianne, a quantum physicist and Jeff Jeffers portrays Roland, a beekeeper. There are still several chances to catch this cerebral production on Sunday November 12 at 2p.m., Thursday November 16, Friday November 17 and Saturday November 18 at 7:30p.m. and Sunday November 19 at 2p.m. Friday’s performance is SOLD OUT. Tickets range from $20 to $35 and are available online and at the box office.

The central theme in ‘Constellations’ is the theory of parallel universes in which the current universe is not the only one, but that many universes exist parallel to each other. These distinct universes within the multiverse theory are called parallel universes. This might seem like a heavy subject to delve into in a stage production but since this is a one-hour show, the best way to explain the material is by exploring the relationship between the main characters. The story begins with Marianne and Roland meeting at a function where a pick-up line goes flat but after an audible signal, in another universe, there is a different outcome and they become an item. Throughout the performance, they portray the same couple with different scenarios: in one he is married, in the other he is not, in one they are engaged, in the other they are not, and so forth. Their relationship goes through so many different ups and downs and each scene change is signaled by the same audible sound effect.

Sometimes emotional, at other times funny, the audience is privy to all these different universes. At times it is hard to keep up with the shifting action, but the central idea is to explain the theory that each decision creates another universe. Both actors do an exemplary job in handling the changing emotions and personalities in each scene as well as the challenging dialogue. The set design is simple but conveys the space theme adequately. It is not necessary to be an expert in physics to appreciate the heavy-handedness of the production and it is therefore a must-see because it is sure to create a dialogue on the possibilities of what at first seems to be just an ordinary life.

The Playhouse San Antonio
The Cellar Theater
800 W Ashby Place
San Antonio, TX 78212
(210) 733-7258

Movie adaptation: ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ by Agatha Christie

murderorientexpresspic — The new movie adaptation of Agatha Christie’s ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ is now in theatres.

Agatha Christie was an English crime novelist, short story writer and playwright. She wrote 66 detective novels and 14 short stories but is best known for her novels featuring the fictional detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple. Her works have sold billions of copies worldwide and is she is listed as the best-selling novelist of all time. Most of her works have been adapted for television, radio, video games, comics and more than thirty feature films. The most recent is Murder on the Orient Express, based on her best-selling 1934 novel of the same name featuring the Belgian detective Hercule Poirot. It stars Kenneth Branagh as Poirot, with Penélope Cruz, Willem Defoe, Judi Dench, Johnny Depp and Michelle Pfeiffer and is the fourth adaptation of the book.

According to Amazon, in ‘Murder on the Orient Express,’ Poirot is on holiday and on his way to Istanbul aboard the famous Orient Express. On his first day, he is approached by Samuel Ratchett who believes his life is threatened and asks Poirot to be his bodyguard, but he refuses due to his instant dislike for the man. The next morning, he is found dead and Poirot is drawn into the investigation into his death. Isolated by an avalanche that disabled the train, he must find the killer among a dozen of the dead man’s enemies on board before the murderer strikes again.

‘On Your Feet’ at the Majestic Theatre

onyourfeetpic — Tickets for ‘On Your Feet’ go on sale Friday November 10 and will play at the Majestic Theatre in March.

North Park Lexus Broadway in San Antonio announces that tickets for the hit musical ‘On Your Feet’ will go on sale this Friday November 10 at 10a.m. ‘On Your Feet’ will play eight performances at the Majestic Theatre from Tuesday March 13 through Sunday March 18, 2018. It is based on the life story of seven-time Grammy winning international superstar Gloria Estefan and her husband, 19 Grammy winning producer-musician-entrepreneur Emilio Estefan. Tickets start at $35 and are available at Ticketmaster, by phone at 1-800-745-3000 or by visiting the Majestic Theatre box office. Orders for groups of 10 or more should be done by calling (210) 226-5967. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 8 p.m. on Friday, 2p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday and 2p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. (North Park Lexus Broadway in San Antonio, 2017)

‘On Your Feet’ is a jukebox musical that follows the Estefan’s journey to superstardom. Gloria Estefan has sold over 100 million records and sold out stadiums around the world. Emilio and Gloria Estefan together have won 26 Grammy Awards® but their music is only half the story. From the heart of Havana to the streets of Miami came a cultural phenomenon unlike anything the music industry had ever seen. The score is built around the Cuban-fusion pop music made famous by Gloria and Emilio Estefan including the chart-topping smash hits “Rhythm is Gonna Get You,” “Conga,” “1-2-3,” “Get On Your Feet,” “Mi Tierra,” “Don’t Want To Lose You Now” and “Reach.” Also featured is the song “If I Never Got to Tell You,” with lyrics by Gloria Estefan and music by her daughter Emily Estefan. It is directed by two-time Tony Award^® winner Jerry Mitchell and choreographed by Tony Award nominee & Olivier Award winner Sergio Trujillo with an original book by Academy Award winner Alexander Dinelaris.

Majestic Theatre
224 E Houston St
San Antonio, TX 78205
(210) 226-5700

Television adaptation: ‘The Long Road Home’ by Martha Raddatz

Martha Raddatz is an American reporter for ABC’s World News Tonight with David Muir, Nightline and other network broadcasts and ABC News’ Chief Global Affairs Correspondent. In her book “The Long Road Home: A Story of War and Family,” she shares remarkable tales of heroism, hope and heartbreak that occurred during “Black Sunday,” a battle which took place during one of the deadliest periods of the Iraq War. It has been adapted to the small screen in a mini-series created by Mikko Alanne and will premiere on Tuesday November 7 on National Geographic. The cast includes Michael Kelly, Jason Ritter, Kate Bosworth, Sarah Wayne Callies, Jeremy Sisto and E.J. Bonilla.

According to Amazon, in “The Long Road Home,” Martha Raddatz chronicles the events of April 4, 2004 when the First Cavalry Division from Fort Hood was ambushed in Sadr City, Baghdad. The day came to be known as “Black Sunday” as more than seven thousand miles away, the soldiers’ families waited for news for forty-eight hours and expected the worst. The author takes readers from the streets of Baghdad to the home front and tells the day’s events through the courageous American men and women who lived it.

Republic Whiskey Dinner at Krause’s Café

krausecafeexterior — Krause’s Café & Biergarten is hosting the Republic Whiskey Hog Roast Dinner on Tuesday November 14. Photo: Krause’s Café, used with permission.

Krause’s Café & Biergarten, in partnership with Austin-based Republic Whiskey, is hosting a special Hog Roast Dinner on Tuesday November 14 with seating beginning at 6:30 p.m. This event will highlight dishes by Chef “Boomer” Acuna along with paired specialty cocktails using Republic Whiskey and Republic Blanco Tequila. Tickets are $60 per seat to be reserved online or by calling Krause’s Café at (830) 625-2807. Price does not include tax and gratuity. (Krause’s Café & Biergarten, 2017)

Dinner will consist of a prix fixe four-course menu featuring German and South Texas inspired dishes. The menu includes Pork Belly Crostinis, BBQ Gulf shrimp, Venison Sausage, Roasted Pig and more. Each dish is paired with an inspired cocktail from Republic Whiskey and Republic Blanco Tequila such as Amarillo Sour, Munich Haus and Bourbon-Butter Pecan Porter Float.

Krause’s Café & Biergarten is a New Braunfels historic restaurant that opened in 1938 and ran successfully until 1995. Recently it reopened and while keeping true to the original traditions it now has a ‘biergarten,’ live music and more. The menu reflects its German heritage and South Texas flavors while offering over 70 beers that include local, regional and international options as well as cocktails and wines on tap.

Krause’s Café & Biergarten
148 S Castell Ave
New Braunfels, TX 78130
(830) 652-2807

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Month: November 2017