In the meanwhile, I went to see Ballet of the Doll’s “Barbarella” last night at the Ritz Theater. Capsule review: It was great fun, but not as outrageous as I was expecting. It’s choreographed to almost the entire spoken soundtrack of the film version of the original comic book, and the film is, unfortunately, quite often quite terrible; the Ballet of the Dolls version might have been improved with some trimming of the source material. But their version is also quite funny, with a standout sequence in which the title character is seduced by an apish alien Lothario, and the production projects slides and short films on the back wall throughout, commenting on the action of the story. In particular, whenever the film’s mad scientist is named, they play snippets from Duran Duran, who named themselves after the character. Also, as with the original film, the most fun in this production is watching the lead character change clothes. Her costumes are fantastic, but that’s rather beside the point. As with the original film, the intention is to watch her get in and out of her ensembles.
Performing arts this weekend
Jun 7 2007 — 2:00am
24 Reader Comments
10:52 am
Different people at my work have seen Low and they loved it, too–very intense, great story etc. That plus all the critical acclaim really makes me curious: Will this finally be theater worth the ticket price?
10:55 am
I don’t know about the Pillsbury House, but Low (the band) is playing on Saturday at a block party in my hood (Wayne’s World, if you will). It’s some kind of block party thrown by this new ’supper club’ opening up at 5th st&1st ave NE. 5pm-11pm! Be there and keep an eye out for my smug bearded biker ass.
11:34 am
Dang Wayne. If it’s really that hairy, you should keep it covered.
Rachel’s is opening this weekend? Hopefully it’s not the clusterfuck that was Bobino.
11:50 am
Actually rachel’s already opened earlier this week, with no annoucement and little fanfare. I have a feeling it’s too expensive for me to just drop by and check out, though.
This place is … hrum, Red Stag Supper Club? I think?
And it’s not my ass that is hairy, it’s my face. Some people confuse the two, though, when they hear the shit that comes out of my mouth.
11:59 am
this is what wayne speaks of
we should get a few free drinks for promoting this event
12:36 pm
we definitely deserve free drinks out of this
12:41 pm
“barkeep, how about a round of hard booze for me and my hairy-assed friend here!”
1:46 pm
Vita.mn just posted their review of Barbarella.
3:11 pm
I told you my ass is not that hairy!
):
3:27 pm
You guys know that I’m a sexist pig that struggles to take middlebrow art by minority women seriously, but I’m telling you, “Low” is incredible. Totally worth $18. Best play I’ve ever seen. And the girl can spit.
4:01 pm
The Vita review or Barbarella is identical to the Strib review published Sunday. Lame.
Low ends next Saturday? If it’s this good, maybe they’ll extend the run so us latecomers can catch it!
4:12 pm
I think the Strib runs vita.mn through some secret cabal. Fucking Illuminati. Par Ridder has Reptilian DNA. That’s what I heard. Totally.
I think Low is actually barnstroming the country. It’s almost more like a hip hop concert than a play. Get thee to the Pillsbury House.
Tee hee! My bellybutton.
5:04 pm
I was pretty excited to hear that Low (the band) would be playing at the block festival — until I learned that MC/VL is playing the same show.
IMO, MC/VL is just about the worst band playing in the Twin Cities these days. That group shits the bed. Not since 3 Minute Hero have I so loathed a local band.
5:19 pm
Line-up for Red Stag Block Party/Opening:
LOW
Black Blondie
Prudence Johnson w/Buffalo Jack & the Plowboys
MC/VL
Chooglin
Wain McFarlane of Ipso Facto
Writers of the Lit 6 Project and Electric Arc Radio
5:19 pm
As opposed to the line-up for Finnegan’s Summerfest:
Dave Pirner (Soul Asylum) & the Volunteers
The Alarmists
White Light Riot
The Delilahs – REUNION
Vicious Vicious
Melismatics
Tim Mahoney
Epic Hero
Pert Near Sandstone
Friends Like These
We Became Actors
The Debut
The Brothers Frantzich
Jeff Arundel
Kevin Bowe
Billy Johnson
Joanna James
Charlie Parr
Michael Morris
Ryan Van Slooten
5:21 pm
But do go see Low (the one-woman show, not the band).
6:15 pm
Wait, did MNspeak just link to Lavender? About a play?
Is MNspeak growing up?
6:50 pm
Black Blondie is the shit. Love them.
8:29 pm
Is MNspeak growing up?
not necessarily, but coming out of the closet is a step in the right direction.
8:39 pm
Wait, did MNspeak just link to Lavender? About a play?
Is MNspeak growing up?
Duh, it’s a play. Did you thing they were going to link to Field and Stream?
8:56 pm
Sixteen years ago, Tim Holschlag submitted a regulations proposal to Minnesotas Chief of Fisheries because he was convinced that in the upper Mississippi, where the river is shallow and rocky, smallmouth bass would thrive if we gave them a half a chance.
9:20 pm
I think he means that sodomy is only for grownups.
9:24 pm
Oh, Maz! You and you’re sodomy talk! It’s like we can’t get you to talk about anything else!
10:25 am
1st and 5th is most certainly IIII’s World, Wayne. SAE 4 LIFE.
Rachel’s is run by the same douche that brought you such mediocre food service crap as Monte Carlo, Runyans, and Cafe Havana. RIP Bobino.
Kim Bartmann (BLB, Barbette) is opening Red Stag with a head chef who is an alum from Cosmos. We’ve been walking by and looking in and the downstairs at least, looks like a warzone. New windows on the building and some framing on the external doorway, but it can’t actually be open for service this week unless it is upstairs.
Low, Black Blondie, and most of all CHOOGLIN’ are terrific. Seriously, do not miss Chooglin’.
http://drunkenmasters.org/foureyes/grumpys/grumpys-Images/9.jpg