The CLPA Youth Orchestra will show off its talents in a June 8 concert. Photo courtesy of Andi Skelton.

LAKE COUNTY – The community is invited to a concert presented by the Clear Lake Performing Arts Youth Orchestra this Sunday, June 8.

This group of young string players has been working for months on a varied program. Wes Follett, director, and Tamsen Serena, coordinator, are enthusiastic about the progress that this group has made. The audience at the Mother’s Day Symphony concert heard an excellent presentation of just a few of the tunes that will be presented at their own concert.

Please show your support to these young players and attend their concert on June 8 at 6:30 p.m. You will experience an event that clearly shows the results of our CLPA youth programs.

Since the County Schools Strings program was discontinued, it is vitally important to support this youth orchestra in our community. There is no charge for the concert, but donations will be gratefully accepted for the CLPA Youth Music Fund, so the group can continue this project.

The concert will be held in the Friendship Hall at the Kelseyville Presbyterian Church, Third and Church St.

For information call 279-1126 or 928-9621.

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The Lake County Symphony performed its annual Mother's Day concert on May 11. Photo by Jay Johnson.

KELSEYVILLE – It has been said that the most perfect musical instrument ever conceived is the full symphony orchestra. However, occasionally an inspired leader will join with equally inspired musicians to create a program of stunning individual performances, and this is what happened at Sunday's annual Mothers Day concert at Kelseyville High School.

During the course of the two-hour program no fewer than a dozen of the orchestra's 50-plus members were saluted by conductor John Parkinson and the audience for their outstanding work.

Among them were trumpeters Gary Miller, Jay Johnson and Tom Woodville, who brought the audience to its feet with their dazzling performance of Leroy Anderson's o brass classic "Bugler's Holiday" and Nick Biondo and Peter Stanley who teamed up on Anderson's other instrumental hit "Clarinet Candy."

Others winning individual recognition were flautist Catherine Hall, Oboist Beth Aiken and trombonist Larry Price and two percussionists, Sean Chiles on timpani and Scott Wise on drums. Special recognition was accorded keyboardist Tom Aiken who swapped his usual instrument to play an ancient Royal manual typewriter in a rendition of Anderson's campy "The Typewriter." At its conclusion Aiken ceremoniously ripped the paper from his typewriter and presented it as a memento to a bemused Parkinson.

The three numbers, along with the ever-popular "Blue Tango" was the symphony's salute to Anderson, a leader in America's light classical musical genre on what would have been the composer's 100th birthday. In his tribute to Anderson Parkinson noted that he had been a fixture for many years as an arranger for the Boston Pops, then conducted by Arthur Fiedler. He also took time to preface most of the orchestra's other numbers with brief explanations about the songs and their writers and performers.

The concert opened on an upbeat note with "The Trolley Song" and continued with a series of numbers drawn from MGM's 1974 movie "That's Entertainment'" which also was the theme of the concert, which – with the exception of the Leroy Anderson pieces – focused almost totally on music from Broadway and Hollywood.

Included among the latter were "Singin' in the Rain," "The Boy Next Door," "You Made me Love You," "Broadway Melody," "Over the Rainbow" and others. From the former came "An American in Paris," a medley from "Chicago," "April in Paris," "Mack the Knife," "I Got Rhythm," Peg O' My Heart" and "It's Only a Paper Moon."

On this special day with many mothers praying for sons and daughters on distant battlefields, the symphony's moving rendition of John Williams' "Hymn to the Fallen" from "Saving Private Ryan" was especially poignant, particularly with the concluding muted drumbeats by percussionist Wise.

Following intermission the 14 youngsters representing the CLPA Youth Orchestra took the stage, with three numbers: "Dance" by Bela Bartok, Irving Berlin's "God Bless America" and Richard Meyer's "Tangerine Rag." Orchestra director Wes Follett, who was acknowledged by Parkinson for his role in training and inspiring young Lake County musicians, noted that his was truly an all-American program, since Bartok had spent the final years of his life in the United States.

The Youth Orchestra will present a special concert at Kelseyville's Presbyterian Church on Sunday, June 8 at 8:30 pm. The public is invited and admission is free.

Paula Samonte, the Ukiah jazz singer who has often teamed up with Parkinson in past performances, then took the microphone to render three numbers that were especially arranged for her by Parkinson. They were "I've Got the World on a String," "Don't Get Around Much Any More" and "Orange Colored Sky."

Her sultry delivery and precise timing brought sustained applause from the 300-plus people in attendance. She also announced that she was booked for two performances at the newly-opened Soper-Reese Community Theater in Lakeport, to take place in September.

With the exception of one year, when illness forced her to withdraw, Samonte has been a fixture at the annual CLPA Christmas concerts, but announced today that she would have to skip this year's holiday concert due to the fact that she has been invited to appear in a featured role at an international music festival taking place in Rome. Conductor Parkinson, the orchestra and the audience all joined in wishing her well.

After the concert the entire orchestra posed for a photo, staged and shot by trumpeter Jay Johnson, who doubles as a professional photographer. Clear Lake Performing Arts plans to use his picture extensively for printed materials and also on the group's Web site at www.clearlakeperformingarts.org.

CLPA concert arrangements chairman, Hope Brewer, is busily planning for the fall and winter concert season which will include two Lake County Symphony performances. Dates, times and locales will be announced when performances are booked.

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(Rated PG-13)

For a guy who could be collecting Social Security, Harrison Ford remains surprisingly virile and tough, resolutely up to the challenge of cracking the whip and punching out the bad guys in yet another turn as Indiana Jones.

Jokes are being made about his age-challenged durability, as he returns in his latest adventure, “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.” One central character cracks wise that Indiana Jones must be about “80” years old, before learning quickly that this action hero is no ordinary senior citizen. Almost two decades after last playing the role of the archaeologist, Harrison Ford is in fine fettle as the academic who vastly prefers dangerous adventures.

Fortunately for us, Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones has weathered the years very well since “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.” For the sake of chronological credibility and storyline continuity, this fourth installment of the adventures of the whip-toting, snake-hating, globe-trotting professor zooms past the dealings with the Nazis leading up to the full-blown Second World War and leaps to the nastiness of the Soviets during the Cold War era of 1957.

These dictatorial regimes are truly interchangeable, and when Indiana’s new nemesis appears in the slinky villainess form of Cate Blanchett’s Irina Spalko, you can only marvel at how she’s cut from the same mold of a psychotic Nazi. The Reds are just as eager to get their mitts on objects that possess highly curious powers, this time the legendary Crystal Skull of Akator.

Indiana’s exploits start with a real jolt. At a remote Nevada military base, Indiana and his sidekick Mac (Ray Winstone) barely escape a close scrape with nefarious Soviet agents under the command of the ice queen Soviet commander, the devastatingly beautiful Irina Spalko. After another close call with death, Professor Jones heads back to his duties at Marshall College, only to find out that his adventures have become a liability to the university.

On his way out of town, Indiana meets rebellious young Mutt Williams (Shia LeBeouf), who rides his motorcycle like Marlon Brando in “The Wild One” and combs his pompadour hairstyle with the vigor of Edd Byrnes in “77 Sunset Strip.”

Carrying a grudge and a proposition for the professor, Mutt seeks Indy’s help to make one of the most spectacular archaeological finds in history, namely the celebrated object of fascination, superstition and fear which can only be found in the remotest corners of Peru.

Heading to South America in search of the Crystal Skull is adventure enough when Indy and Mutt end up in the ancient tombs where danger lurks around every corner, and not just from the natives. They soon realize they are not alone in their search, as the Soviets are also hot on the trail of the crystal object that may confer extraordinary powers to potentially alter the balance of power.

This being an Indiana Jones adventure, of course, it goes without saying that the action is of the highest caliber, given the steady hand of director Steven Spielberg setting the stage. While there are some interesting revelations about Indiana, it’s also very rewarding to have Karen Allen’s Marion Ravenwood reappear at a very critical moment when Indy and Mutt are greatly outnumbered by the bad guys in the South American jungle. Ever spunky and resourceful, Marion is a very tough character, one who seems quite fitting to match wits with the Professor.

The action is so breathless in its pace and execution that it seems you need a scorecard to keep track of all the fights, chases and rounds of machine gunfire. There’s even a moment where Indy has to grapple with a big snake as a means to avoid quicksand. The Crystal Skull comes in handy to ward off hostile natives and armies of huge red ants. Best of all, Indiana Jones looks great wearing his fedora, though cracking the whip is what he does with panache. Forget the doubters and cynics.

You really can’t go wrong with Harrison Ford leading the charge in “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.” It’s a terrific launch for the summer movie season.

DVD RELEASE UPDATE

Though its release date is not until June 3, I couldn’t wait to write about “Mannix: Season One,” the long-running detective drama starring Mike Connors as the tough and cynical Joe Mannix.

Having watched a few episodes, I am hooked on this show, which hearkens back to the golden age of the detective shows.

Mike Connors is one cool cat as the old-school detective with rugged good looks and the ability to trade punches with the bad guys. It’s easy to see why this show was so popular. The dialogue is great, and the action is even better.

I noticed that Mannix seems to get knocked unconscious in most episodes. He’s probably had more concussions than Troy Aikman.

In this first season, Mannix is employed by a big agency that relies on computers, while he sticks to his gut instincts. Naturally, his rough-and-tumble approach carries the day.

Another fun thing about “Mannix” is the appearance of many guest stars that remain recognizable nearly 40 years later.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.

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Finally, now that we’re edging closer to summer, a film suitable for entire family entertainment arrives on the scene. Not surprisingly, it emerges from the work of C.S. Lewis, delivered by a studio that knows how to supply wholesome fun.

Disney’s “The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” is a sequel, artfully realized and stunning in scope, which follows up on the spectacular story that began with “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.”

Once again, the four Pevensie siblings are in the thick of the action as time travelers to reclaim their royal positions as protectors of the magical kingdom of Narnia.

When the story of “Prince Caspian” begins, the Pevensie kids are just ordinary school kids living in World War II-era London. Peter (William Moseley) and Susan (Anna Popplewell), the oldest siblings, are adapting to typical teenage concerns. Edmund (Skandar Keynes), the younger boy who betrayed his sibling for his own selfish gain in the first adventure, has matured, while the youngest, Lucy (Georgie Henley), retains an innocent faith that will serve the group well at a critical time.

While waiting in a tube station in Trafalgar Square, the quartet is suddenly transported back to Narnia, discovering that the faraway kingdom where they once served as kings and queens has faded into legend.

More than 1,300 years have passed in Narnian time, and the magical kingdom has been relegated to the backwater of the forested countryside. The land of talking animals and mythical creatures exists as little more than folktales to the Telmarines, a tribe of humans that finds its homeland in a state of political turmoil and intrigue, due to some trickery that seeks to deny the throne to the rightful heir, Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes). Even the mighty lion Aslan (voiced by Liam Neeson) has been missing for 1,000 years.

Marked for death by his cruel uncle Lord Miraz (Sergio Castellitto), Prince Caspian has to flee the Telmarine castle. Fortunately, the prince has an ally in Doctor Cornelius (Vincent Grass), who provides a horn that should be used only in the direst circumstances.

The vicious Miraz is anxious to eliminate the prince, since his wife has given birth to a boy who can assume the throne. With adequate warning, Prince Caspian escapes to the woods, where he encounters a Narnian dwarf and talking beaver, both of whom seem eager to enlist the prince’s help.

Meanwhile, summoned by the magical horn, the Pevensie children arrive not a moment too soon in Narnia, saving the life of Trumpkin the Red Dwarf (Peter Dinklage) and endearing themselves to the natives who would like nothing more than to see Narnia returned to glory.

The kingdom of Narnia is populated with all sorts of interesting creatures, including fauns, minotaurs, centaurs, satyrs, dwarfs and furry animals, large and small. Aside from Trumpkin’s ability to speak volumes just by his darting eyes, the most talkative animal is a feisty mouse with a penchant for sarcasm. The source of great comic relief is Reepicheep (voiced by Eddie Izzard), the diminutive rodent sporting a prominent feather in his hair and wielding a nasty sword.

That Prince Caspian ardently seeks to reclaim the Telmarine kingdom is hardly a surprise. Enlisting the aid of the Pevensie children in this cause is facilitated by the impetuous Peter’s desire to wage an all-out battle against the nasty minions of Lord Miraz so that the Narnians can thrive in a tranquil environment. The parallels to the fight against the Nazis in World War II is noticeably apparent, though perhaps subtly reinforced by the use of the London Underground train stations as a refuge during German bombing raids.

“The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian” is truly an epic film with a majestic sweep that is fitting for the imaginative world of C.S. Lewis. Suspense is rampant with the forceful battles between Miraz’s overwhelming army and the hardy band of outnumbered Narnians. A lot of the battle scenes are very intense, with some images that seem too violent for a PG-rated film.

Nevertheless, “Prince Caspian” is an exciting adventure that does not give short shrift to the emotional pull of the very interesting characters, human and otherwise.

DVD RELEASE UPDATE

Westerns don’t appear that often on the current Hollywood scene, probably because John Wayne is no longer with us and Clint Eastwood is way past his prime. So the best we can do is to enjoy the old Westerns as they gradually find their audience in DVD release.

Watch the West be won all over again with beloved icon John Wayne in the original 70mm version of “The Big Trail,” now neatly packaged in something called the “Fox Grandeur Special Edition.”

This historical classic follows Wayne as brave leader Breck Coleman who guides hundreds of settlers in covered wagons from the Mississippi River to their destiny out West.

This is not the only Western DVD riding into town. “The Garden of Evil” is the 1954 film set in Mexico where three American adventurers attempt to rescue one of their own trapped in a gold mine.

Released in 1951, “Rawhide,” not the TV series starring Clint Eastwood, tells the tale of Susan Hayward and her stagecoach crew getting caught up with outlaws on their journey from California to St. Louis.

These are all part of the “Fox Western Classics Collection” intended to be perfect Father’s Day gifts.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.

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Lori Petres (center), with Bill Edmunds directly behind her, at the April 25 reading. Courtesy photo.

CLEARLAKE – It was a sincere pleasure hosting local author Bill Edmunds’ newly published historical fiction book “All Roads Lead to Zion” event at Wild About Books, store owner Lori Peters reported.

Edmunds, whose reading was April 25, has done extensive research on the historical and biblical accounts of the few days before Christ’s crucifixion.

Spring and the passing of Easter had peaked many readers interest on the subject, said Peters.

“Bill and his family were generous to our readers by providing much background information and printed maps for further enjoyment of the book,” she said.

Wild About Books is located at 14290 Olympic Drive in Clearlake. Call 994-9453 or visit www.wildaboutbooks.net.

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