John Kapelos as Joey Colletti and Matthew Arkin as Kevin Colletti, perform during a photo call for the Prince of Atlantis at South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa on April 5th 2012. (Glenn Koenig/ Los Angeles Times)

There’s a by-the-numbers quality to Steven Drukman’s “The Prince of Atlantis,” a play that sets out to please audiences by giving them a theatrical variation of what they’ve experienced on TV.

A good percentage of Saturday’s matinee audience at South Coast Repertory, where the work is having its world premiere, seemed to eat it up. I found it contrived and tedious, but as dramedies (awful word) go, it hits all the requisite emotional marks while cracking just enough jokes to be labeled harmlessly diverting, at least by those who don’t have any problems with ethnic caricature.

The twist here is that the play’s stereotypical Italian American characters hail from the Greater Boston area neighborhood of Nonantum, a community in Newton that has a distinctive patois, in which “wonga” means “money” and “cuya moi” is how to tell someone to “shut up!” But beyond the way the men affectionately call each other “mush,” it’s the same bada-bing, bada-boom meatball hero subculture that never seems to go out of style in popular entertainment.

… Continue Reading Theater review: ‘The Prince of Atlantis’ at SCR ‘contrived and tedious’

Bradley Zint, who writes the “Classically Trained” column for Times Community News, practices his French horn for the Pacific Symphony’s OC Can You Play With Us? initiative. Zint played the horn for 12 years, from middle school through college, but had to give it up. He recently started practicing again to be ready for the event. (Photo by Don Leach)

Editor’s note: This column is the first in a series about Bradley Zint’s participation in OC Can You Play With Us?, an initiative where he and other Orange County amateur musicians will play alongside the Pacific Symphony professionals. The columns will run through May.

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When played at its very best, the French horn is the voice of God.

It’s the call from the heavens, the beam of light illuminating the dark path, the glory rising above the storm. That’s what we horn players would like to think, anyway.

Call us delusional.

… Continue reading Classically Trained: ‘Call us delusional’

A Scene from “The All New Original Tribute to The Blues Brothers,” starring Brad Henshaw as Jake, and Daniel Fletcher as Elwood.

Once again, sporting their iconic hats, sunglasses, and suits, Jake and Elwood live on in the hit show, “The All-New Original Tribute to The Blues Brothers,” which currently is making its West Coast premiere at the Irvine Barclay Theatre.

The critically acclaimed West End production has been upgraded for its U.S. tour, which features the original London cast with additional songs, revived choreography, and a brand new set.

The fully revamped production, which started touring the U.S. in the summer at the Chicago Auditorium Theatre, will wrap up its American tour in Irvine on April 7.

“This [America] is where it [The Blues Brothers] grew up,” the show’s director and writer Brad Henshaw said in a phone interview. “This is where it comes from. This is organically where it lives and reigns. So, it was a dream to come play in America; it was something that we thought would never happen, bringing this back home.”

… Continue Reading Jake and Elwood are back on a mission from God 

Artist Elizabeth Turk, one of the three winners of the 2012 Helena Modjeska Award, was a 2010 MacArthur Fellow. Her studio is in Santa Ana. (Courtesy of the MacArthur Foundation)

Gloria Zigner, Douglas Rankin and Elizabeth Turk move in different worlds but have, in their own ways, made a mark on the Orange County arts scene.

Come September, all three will be recognized at the 13th annual O.C. Arts Awards in Costa Mesa as recipients of the Helena Modjeska Award, a lifetime achievement handed out by Santa Ana-based nonprofit Arts Orange County, the ceremony’s host whose mission is to promote the arts countywide.

“It is our premier award,” said Richard Stein, Arts O.C. executive director.

The ceremony will be at the Samueli Theatre on Sept. 18. The Modjeska Award recognizes an extraordinary contribution to arts and culture demonstrated during one’s life by a leader, artist, educator or philanthropist, Stein said.

… Continue Reading Three to receive county arts honor

Brandon Saller, of Hell or Highwater, performs at the Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa on April 4. (Photo by Brittany Woolsey)

“God save rock and roll!” a female fan in the crowd shouted.

And, some would argue, that’s just what Hell or Highwater did Wednesday night at the Detroit Bar in Costa Mesa.

The intimate venue filled with the roars of rock fans as the Orange County band played its set, consisting of songs from its debut album, “Begin Again,” released in August 2011.

As the band members approached the stage, they activated fog machines. While this is usually a successful stage effect, the fog became distracting and was ultimately unnecessary because of the venue’s size.

However, as soon as the band began playing, all diversions vanished and the fans became immersed in the music.

… Continue Reading Concert review: Hell or Highwater at Detroit Bar

The seafood sausage is a one of the more popular dishes at the Watermarc restaurant in downtown Laguna Beach (Photo by Don Leach)

There aren’t a lot of new restaurant openings these days, so we thought we might check in from time to time at some places we’ve enjoyed in the past to see if they are still up to snuff.

Executive chef and partner Marc Cohen opened Watermarc in Laguna Beach almost three years ago, and chef de cuisine Kiel Andersen has been running the kitchen from the beginning. We are happy to report that Cohen has maintained the level of quality that we experienced on our first visit.

The menu has been tweaked a bit but some of our old favorites are still there, such as the seafood sausage, roasted cauliflower trio and the warm blue cheese pear tarts.

… Continue Reading Gossiping Gourmet: Laguna Beach’s Watermarc restaurant