Alexandria stages a 'murder' or two

From left: Erin Gallalee is Martha, James Lorenzin is David, and Kathy Ohlhaber is Celia in Design for Murder at Little Theatre of Alexandria/Brian Knapp Photography 

Go ahead!  Pick out the killer. If you get it right, set up your own detective agency.

As for me:  I was a bit off-key.

At the Little Theatre of Alexandria, there are so many murders and so little time, it's an unusual production, Design for Murder, from the happy-go-lucky shows LTA usually throws, but well worth your time and money.

We need some edge every so often, right?  This one will keep you guessing. 

Who dunnit?  (Or, them?) Let’s play "Clue" in this play by George Batson (c. 1916-1971).

Wait a minute!  Isn't David (James Lorenzin) engaged to someone else besides Kathy (Elizabeth Loyal)?  They're in Design for Murder at Little Theatre of Alexandria/Brian Knapp Photography

The show has fantastic costumes as always (by Judy Whelihan), and an elegant, sophisticated set (by Julie Fischer), the home of a wealthy Hudson River Valley family who have paintings on the walls to match their residence. (Shelby Baker, property designer.)

The rich are different from you and me and they were different back in the 1930s of this Design when manners mattered.  Besides, it's always fun to peer in and grasp a bit of the haute affluent.

The stars are Celia Granger (Kathy Ohlhaber) and her son, David (James Lorenzin), their mansion suddenly swamped with murders in the first degree, following David's engagement party.

He does love his fiancée, doesn't he? Then, what's he doing making moves on the housemaid? 

And another housemaid?  This is love?  Ahem.

Lorenzin's performance strengthens from scene to scene as he gains more self confidence in dialogue with his overbearing mother whose superb acting commands the spotlight.

Two older ladies, Martha (Erin Gallalee) and family friend Louisa (Janice Zucker) both always dressed to the nines, provide infrequent and much desired comic relief to match those of Mrs. Hamilton (Patricia Spencer Smith), the family cook, of nearly the same age who teeters, totters, and bends with the best of them in short step shuffles.  

The arrogant chauffeur, Moreno (Denny Martinez-Barrera) seems to have a hold on most of them and you wonder what his story is. Where did he get that attitude? For a chauffeur?

Blackmail, anyone?  Too obvious, right?

I couldn't help but wonder if it were his character or Director Jessie Roberts just letting him go and show off his sauntering self.  Whatever, Moreno is a saucy servant, a mystery, and a likely perpetrator, but what are the goods?

Jon Roberts is the sound man and projectionist, busy during the show with vehicles hitting the gravel driveway. (A gravel driveway for a mansion?  It happens.) 

All the characters are suspect, and all the world's a stage! 

Go for it.

Also in the cast: Elizabeth Loyal,  Brendan Chaney, Pete Leggett, and Frank Cooper

Other crew members:  Hilary Adams, assistant producer; Kirstin Apker and Deborah Remmers, set decoration;  Brittany Huffman, stage manager; Jim Hutzler and Jeff Nesmeyer, master carpenters;  Stefan Sittig, fight choreography.

And, Cleo Potter and Jay Stein, lighting and (Stein) master electrician; Lanae Sterrett, hair and makeup; Carol Strachan, producer; Robin Worthington, wardrobe; Russell M. Wyland, rigging; Dierdre (De) Nicholson-Lamb, set painting.  

When: Now through Nov. 5, 2022, Wednesday - Saturday nights, 8 p.m.; Sunday, 3 p.m.

Where:  Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe St., Alexandria, VA 22314

Tickets:  $21, weekdays; $24, weekends

Covid policy:  LTA has returned to full seating and no proof of vaccinations are necessary, however, masks are required in the theatre.  No exceptions. 

Language:  All "G" rated.

Duration:  Two hours with one 15 minute intermission

Public transportation: Check the Metro and Dash bus websites. Dash is free to ride and has routes which are close to LTA.

Parking: On the streets and in many garages nearby with free parking during performances at Capital One Bank at Wilkes and Washington streets.

For more information:  Call the Box office, ph. 703-683-0496, the main office, 703-683-5778, or email:boxoffice@thelittletheatre.com

patricialesli@gmail.com

Extended! Immersive Van Gogh is impressive Van Gogh!

It is a starry night at the Van Gogh Immersive Experience/Photo by Patricia Leslie

One of the artist's self-portraits at the Van Gogh Immersive Experience/Photo by Patricia Leslie

A huge bust of the artist at the Van Gogh Immersive Experience/Photo by Patricia Leslie

A huge bust of the artist at the Van Gogh Immersive Experience. Note changes from above as colors deepen/Photo by Patricia Leslie

A huge bust of the artist at the Van Gogh Immersive Experience covered in a likeness from one of his paintings/Photo by Patricia Leslie

I went, expecting far less and came away exceptionally surprised at the all-encompassing show where visitors seemingly float through without worries or stress. 

It's a family affair, 360 degrees of digital art and quite the introduction to classical art for the youngsters and for adults, too, who may not know as much about the artist as they thought.

Like me, for instance.  Several Van Gogh paintings on display were new to me!

Guests admire one of his vases at the Van Gogh Immersive Experience. He reportedly painted 11 vases in all/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Another vase at the Van Gogh Immersive Experience/Photo by Patricia Leslie

In the galleries at the Van Gogh Immersive Experience/Photo by Patricia Leslie

The darkened atmosphere is relaxing. Gallery going is at your own pace. No worries about elbow bumping! 

Let's just celebrate art and have a good time, shall we?

From the first revelation at the entrance of a gigantic bust of the artist (1837-1890) (correction: which is half the size of the JFK bust at the Kennedy Center) until you exit at the shop, you are ensconced in all things Van Gogh.

His bust is covered in images of his paintings which evolve into other images while you stand in awe.

Guests may sit in the artist's Bedroom at Arles at the Van Gogh Immersive Experience/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Immersion at the Van Gogh Immersive Experience/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Immersion at the Van Gogh Immersive Experience/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Immersion at the Van Gogh Immersive Experience/Photo by Patricia Leslie

At the Van Gogh Immersive Experience/Photo by Patricia Leslie

At the Van Gogh Immersive Experience/Photo by Patricia Leslie

At the Van Gogh Immersive Experience/Photo by Patricia Leslie

At the Van Gogh Immersive Experience/Photo by Patricia Leslie

A nearby timeline on the wall tells major events of the artist's life and then it's off to the first room where copies of his works (most in the same size) hang on both sides of the hall with a three-dimensional "room" off to the side.

On an adjacent wall, copies of his sunflowers hang and allow close inspection of differences.

A large vase spins with constant color changes and renditions of the blossoms which fuse one into another. 

Flowers spring up while visitors proceed to the next gallery and more images, and there is Van Gogh's bedroom at Arles which beckons guests to come in and sit for a while.

Make a picture or two.

Sight sensations and music fill senses in a pleasurable way while surround sound echoes with Van Gogh's spoken quotations:

What would life be like if we had no courage to attempt anything? 

and

If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.

The last gallery is the "immersion" room with his works illustrated on all sides in double, triple life sizes, constantly melding into another image. 

It's like being in a Van Gogh aquarium (!), beginning with the carpeting on the floor and extending to the high ceiling spanning 20,000 square feet with comfortable beach chairs, benches, bean bags, and pillows for guests to use and move about for a better spot to think, dream, meditate, and give thanks for an artist like Van Gogh.  

At the end, for $5 more, visitors may put on virtual reality headsets and attend a computer art show of Van Gogh places.

The VR hall opens to a large shop of Van Gogh merchandise at mostly reasonable prices.  Try umbrellas, earrings ($10), brooches, t-shirts (the skeleton head will be great for Halloween), posters ($14), and lots more.

What's missing here is the present location of each original work, but we are lucky in Washington, D.C. to be able to see some of them at the Phillips Collection  and still more for free at the National Gallery of Art!

Van Gogh is not dead; he lives! At the Van Gogh Immersive Experience. Come and see!

When:  Now through Thanksgiving weekend  Feb. 26, 2023. Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m; Saturday, 9 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Closed on Tuesdays.

Where:  The Rhode Island Center - 524 Rhode Island Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002

Tickets:  A family pass for two adults and two children is $31.90. Separately, children under age 4 are admitted free and older children are $29.90; adults, $49.90; seniors, students and military, $37.90; groups of 15 or more, $44.90 each. ccc 

Masks are encouraged, however, not required.

Metro station:  Rhode Island-Brookland Station.  Take the ramp/pedestrian bridge directly from the Metro exit over Rhode Island Avenue  to land just steps from the show. (Ignore Google's directions which take you waaay off yonder and around several blocks.) 

Park for two hours free at the Bryant Street West lot, 514 Rhode Island Ave., NE, Washington, D.C. ccc.  Ph. 844-236-2011. 

Timing: Allow 60-75 minutes.

Let us go then, you and I

To see his works spread against the sky

Like the paintings on the walls

We'll enjoy van Gogh and all.

Oh, do not ask, "What is it?"

Let us go and make our visit.

Where the people come and go

To see the art of Vincent van Gogh*

 

*With apologies to T.S. Eliot

Patricialesli@gmail.com 

Music for an exhibition!

  

The U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own" Chamber Players performed at the National Gallery of Art, Oct. 2, 2022/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Washington's joys include free concerts at the National Gallery of Art every Sunday afternoon in the West Building. 

In celebration of the exhibition featuring Joanna Hiffernan and James McNeill Whistler which ends Sunday at the National Gallery, the U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own" Chamber Players played a concert last week by composers associated with the artist.

The U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own" Chamber Players performed at the National Gallery of Art, Oct. 2, 2022. Listening are cherubs (center) who play with a swan in a fountain sculpted 1672-1673 by Jean-Baptiste Tuby (1635-1700)/Photo by Patricia Leslie

James Miller on alto flute and Nadia Pessoa on the harp were two members of The U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own" Chamber Players who performed at the National Gallery of Art, Oct. 2, 2022/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Whistler often gave his works musical titles such as symphony, harmonies, arrangement and  nocturnes, and one of the featured pieces at the concert was Trois Nocturnes by Claude Debussy (1862-1918), inspired by Whistler, according to one source.

The Chamber Players also played another Nocturne, this one in B major by Frederic Chopin (1810-1849). 

Not to be ignored given Whistler's affinity for the Japanese and their influences on him, was music from that nation. The chosen composer was Toru Takemitsu (1930-1996) and his romantic Toward the Sea III  which was commissioned by Greenpeace for its "Save the Whales" campaign. 

For Sea, Chamber Players James Miller played alto flute and Nadia Pessoa was harpist.

The best was saved for last and the thrilling and dynamic Piano Quintet in F-sharp minor by Amy Beach (1867-1944) whose second movement brought me to tears.

Ms. Beach gave her first concert at age 16 and was the first female composer to have a symphony performed by a major orchestra, the Boston Symphony Orchestra. She was 29 years old.  

Back in those dark days when wives followed more the dictates of their spouses, she obeyed her husband's requests (they may have been demands) that she cut her annual performances to only one per year which she did, giving the proceeds to charity and focusing on composition. 

With death can come freedom, and in her case, after her husband's demise in 1910, she took off anew, performing in Europe and elsewhere to great critical acclaim.  

Her reputation grows!

Upcoming concerts at the National Gallery include performances by the New York Opera Society (Dec. 4), Connor Chee on piano (Nov. 20), and Ignacio Prego on harpsichord (Oct. 30). 

Go here for a listing of the concerts and register at the tab (required). 

Other members of the Chamber Players include Nicholas Starr and Christopher Schmitt, pianists; Catherine Gerhiser and Annette Barger, violinists; Erica Schwartz, violist; and Benjamin Wensel, cellist. 

What:  Concerts  

When:  Sundays through Dec. 18, 2022

Where:  West Building, West Garden Court, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

How much:  No charge at the National Gallery of Art!

Metro stations:  Smithsonian, Federal Triangle, Navy Memorial-Archives, or L'Enfant Plaza

Parking:  Street parking is free on Sundays.

For more information: (202) 737-4215

Accessibility information: (202) 842-6905

patricialesli@gmail.com