Lake County News,California

Arts & Life

: Debra Fredrickson; Posted On Thursday, 16 November 2023 02:18; 16 November 2023

Symphony performs classical favorites in Fall Concert Nov. 19

**John Parkinson conducts the Lake County Symphony. Photos by Mike Stempe.**

LAKEPORT, Calif. — The Lake County Symphony will present its annual Fall Concert at 2 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 19, at Lakeport’s Soper Reese Theatre.

Musical Director/Conductor John Parkinson leads the orchestra in colorful selections by some of the greatest composers in Western history.

The orchestra begins its performance with Johannes Brahms’ Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80, followed by the “Rosamunde Overture” by Franz Peter Schubert, and “Danse Bacchanale” by French composer Camille Saint-Saens.

After a brief intermission, the audience will hear The Magic Flute Overture, K 620 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

The concert ends with Josef Haydn’s Symphony No. 99 in E flat major.

The concert starts, as is customary, with a performance by the Lake County Community and Youth Orchestra conducted by career musician Camm Linden.

Linden plays with the Lake County Symphony and is the president of the Lake County Symphony Association.

The Lake County Community and Youth Orchestra will play several familiar pieces, including Brahms’ Hungarian Dance No. 5, and Ravel’s “Bolero.”

They will also debut “Honor and Tribute,” a spirited march by Kevin Kaisershot. Formerly the LCSA Youth Orchestra, this group now welcomes all players from school age to adults with current or previous intermediate to advanced musical experience.

Tickets for Sunday’s regular concert are $25 for general seating or $30 for premium seating and may be purchased on the Soper Reese website.

There is a $5 discount for LCSA members. The 11 a.m. dress rehearsal concert is free for those under the age of 18 and just $5 for everyone else.

Tickets are also available at the Soper Reese box office at 275 S. Main Street on the day of the concert.

Please arrive 30 minutes prior to the show when buying tickets at the door.

For more information about this concert, upcoming events or to learn more about the Lake County Community and Youth Orchestra, go to www.lakecountysymphonyassociation.org.

Debra Fredrickson writes for the Lake County Symphony Association.

: Tim Riley; Posted On Saturday, 11 November 2023 23:12; 11 November 2023

‘Old Dads’ spoofs cultural grievances; ‘Good Cop, Bad Cop’ on TV

‘OLD DADS’ RATED R ON NETFLIX

If you have ever watched stand-up comedian Bill Burr on any of his comedy specials found on streaming services, you have a good idea of how his angry-man persona delivering the zingers that upset the easily offended remains his schtick in “Old Dads” now running on Netflix.

Middle-aged and married to a much younger wife Leah (Katie Aselton), Burr’s Jack Kelly is a father to a preschool son at an elite school run by the unbearable Dr. Lois Schmieckel-Turner (Rachael Harris). Confrontation with the principal’s political correctness is inevitable.

Jack ends up in hot water when he takes crass umbrage to the principal berating him for being two minutes late to pick up his son. A torment of verbal abuse puts him in the uncomfortable spot of having to make amends, lest his child fails to get a coveted recommendation to a private grade school.

Meanwhile, Jack and his two partners, Connor (Bobby Cannavale) and Mike (Bokeem Woodbine), sell their sportswear company and stay on as employees answering to insufferable millennial CEO Aspen Bell (Miles Robbins) who views the trio as unhip dinosaurs.

Divorced with sons in college, Mike thinks his life is unraveling when his much-younger girlfriend Britney (Reign Edwards) gets pregnant. Desperately trying to be young and hip, Connor deals with a nightmarishly bratty preschool son and overbearing wife Cara (Jackie Thon).

As family and business woes pile up, the trio decides to go on a road trip to Vegas but only make it so far as Palm Desert, where hijinks ensue while partying with strippers and engaging in general misbehavior.

Much of what happens involves the three buddies acting out their amusing man-child aggressions, ranting about parking spaces, scooters hogging the road, and PC culture. It’s mostly Jack, though, with comical anger management issues.

Granted, the three old guys yell and loudly curse to such an extent that some may find the comedy to be exceedingly vulgar and ill-mannered. The gauge of willingness to enjoy “Old Dads” will be familiarity as well as delight in Bill Burr’s outrageous, overblown biting humor.

‘GOOD COP, BAD COP’ ON ID TV

A staple of police shows is often the “good cop, bad cop” routine to interrogate suspects. For the six-episode series on ID TV, “Good Cop, Bad Cop” takes on a completely different connotation.

Retired detective Garry McFadden, a highly decorated veteran of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department in North Carolina, worked over 800 homicide cases and never lost a homicide case during a trial.

With his stellar career in police work, McFadden is a perfect choice to host a series that recounts the pursuits of detectives to solve a complicated murder investigation with a startling twist: the perpetrator is a fellow member of law enforcement.

The synopses for episodes that start on Sunday, Nov. 12, are intriguing. In “Hunting Ground,” San Diego is in a state of panic after discovering the body of Cara Knott tossed over a highway bridge.

With dead-end leads and the city demanding answers, police must work quickly while leaving no stone unturned to bring this monster to justice.

A city’s worst fear comes to fruition when the body of University of Toledo sorority sister turns up riddled with bullets on campus in the “Handcuffs” episode. The investigation’s findings shock the community and test the public’s faith in law enforcement.

“Did You Kill Your Wife” episode finds state troopers arriving at the scene of a woman shot to death in her bed. They rule it suicide, but a tenacious detective reopens the case decades later. Modern forensics, a double life and new witnesses turn the facts of the case on its head.

When police in Jacksonville, Florida discover Sami Safar’s corpse, they have no idea of the scale of criminality they stumbled upon in the “Blind Spot” episode. The murder of a hardworking Syrian immigrant unravels a web of theft and violence spanning years.

In “Ticking time Bomb,” a woman’s corpse is found in flames outside of Atlanta. Police use surveillance footage to witness the victim’s last moment, including getting into the car that would take her to her death and ultimately lead police to her killer.

The last episode lands on Sunday, December 17th, with “Hunting the Hunter.” Calls flood into the Silverton PD dispatch about a man shooting Rashawn Berry in broad daylight and fleeing the scene.

A key piece of surveillance footage on the killer’s escape route shows that a broken heart could be at the center of this violent act.

Featuring interviews with those closely connected to the case and expert insight from the host, who solved hundreds of cases in his career, “Good Cop, Bad Cop” stories reveal just how difficult and dangerous it is when the killer is on the inside.

Staged and covered-up crime scenes make the investigations all the more complex. But these dedicated detectives are committed to capturing the criminals and bringing them to justice, no matter the cost or badge they wear.

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

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Wednesday, 08 November 2023 00:02; 08 November 2023

Political satirist Roy Zimmerman returns to Lake County for Nov. 11 concert

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — While volunteers are busy installing a new studio transmitter link for improved broadcasting capability, long-time programmer and local musician Herb Gura has been busy behind the scenes producing another standout show with singer, songwriter and political satirist, Roy Zimmerman.

“SING. LAUGH. HOPE” is the title of the concert.

“It’s an annual event and fundraiser for the station,” said Gura. “Roy is a longtime friend of community radio. We appreciate his support and the messaging inherent in his brand of humor. We sing, laugh and hope right along with him. It’s always a fun time and the venue is a favorite. We’re glad to be returning to the School House Museum.”

Roy Zimmerman is an American satirical singer-songwriter and guitarist who tours the country delighting audiences with his witty, humorous and intelligent style of songs that shine a light on subjects some may consider tableside taboo — like politics and religion.

But the moment he takes the stage his audiences welcome him with applause, followed by rousing laughter throughout the show.

“I love doing these concerts for my friends at KPFZ because I love community radio,” Zimmerman said.

Folk and Beyond radio programmer Dwain Goforth added, “Roy Zimmerman is this generation’s Tom Lehrer. Whatever your political persuasion — if you appreciate the comedic aspects of politics — you’ll love Roy’s unique ability to jab at the ironic nature of it all. He never disappoints.”

“We’ve seen Roy perform many times,” added Linda Lake, a former radio programmer and wife of the late Ron Green. “For a good laugh and a really good time, I highly recommend his concert.”

Tickets for the concert are on sale at Catfish Coffee in Clearlake and Watershed Books in Lakeport or by calling 707-263-3640. Some tickets will be available at the door.

The concert starts at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 11, at the School House Museum 16435 Main St. in Lower Lake.

The concert is a benefit for Lake County Community Radio, Inc., the only commercial free nonprofit community radio station serving Lake County — in good times and in crisis — throughout the year.

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Monday, 13 November 2023 21:54; 13 November 2023

Mendo-Lake Singers Chorus seeks holiday singers

**The Mendo-Lake Singers Chorus. Courtesy photo.**

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Mendo-Lake Singers Chorus invites women who like to sing to join them for their holiday show.

No experience is necessary.

Rehearsals are held from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. every Tuesday at 1125 Martin St., Lakeport.

The holiday show will be on Tuesday, Dec. 12, at 7 p.m. at the Martin Street location.

Mendo-Lake Singers is a chapter of Sweet Adelines International, the world’s largest women’s barbershop and a cappella singing organization.

For more information or to hire the Mendo-Lake Singers to sing at a holiday event, contact Director Pam Klier, 707-400-8380, or President Donna Bowen, 707-350-0644.

: Elizabeth Larson; Posted On Friday, 10 November 2023 21:28; 10 November 2023

Middletown Art Center hosts Nov. 11 Pomo design workshop

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. — The Middletown Art Center will host a design workshop with Pomo Culture bearer and artist, Eric Wilder, on Saturday, Nov. 11, from 1 to 5 p.m.

This free workshop is part of the Water Basket project’s education series and is designed to support native people in bringing expressions of their innate cultural heritage into public space and non-native people in learning more about Pomo cultural heritage.

Water Basket honors the first people, their culture, and the rich legacy of Pomo basketry that is unique to this region and renowned worldwide.

“We use basket designs to weave a foundation to teach our history to our children so that they know who they are and where they come from,” said Wilder. “At the basket design class I will help participants clarify what kind of story they are wanting to share to teach people about this area. Perhaps it will be a story of protection or one of nurturing?”

Wilder will lead participants in creating designs for 360-degree murals for the two water tanks on Rabbit Hill. The tanks can be seen from a distance of over a mile and from above.

Like the designs woven into Pomo baskets, design proposals should reflect the area’s history, people, and ecology utilizing geometric and organic shapes that are symbolic of the land, plants, and animals native to this region.

By sharing a process he uses in his own work, Wilder will guide participants in articulating the concepts or stories they wish to communicate and selecting the pattern design elements they want to incorporate.

He will address aesthetic considerations including legibility and scale particular to this project. Individual, collaborative, and intercultural or multi-generational proposals for the water baskets are encouraged.

Wilder is from the Kashia Band of Pomo Indians. He is a freelance artist with a rich background in graphic design, and animation and illustration from the gaming industry.

He has served in his tribe’s government and carries traditions and wisdom of his tribe and family that have been passed down for generations.

Wilder is passionate about storytelling and designing cultural resources that are accessible to his people, especially younger generations, to preserve cultural knowledge and traditions.

Sign up for this enriching, informative and supportive workshop this Saturday, and learn more about the call for work and Water Basket project at www.middletownartcenter.org/waterbasket.

Water Basket is a collaboration between Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians, Pomo artists, Callayomi County Water District and the Middletown Art Center. It’s funded in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, with additional funding from the Middletown Rancheria, the water district and public support.

Middletown Art Center is a Lake County nonprofit dedicated to engaging the public in art making, art education and art appreciation. Through exhibitions, performances, workshops and community events, the center provides a platform for diverse voices and perspectives, striving to create an inclusive and accessible space for all.

To learn more and donate to support Water Basket and other MAC programs visit www.middletownartcenter.org or call 707-809-8118. The MAC is located at 21456 State Highway 175 in Middletown.

: Tim Riley; Posted On Saturday, 04 November 2023 22:50; 04 November 2023

‘The Burial’ revives courtroom drama as theatrical spectacle

‘THE BURIAL’ RATED R ON AMAZON PRIME VIDEO

Based on a true story, Amazon Prime’s legal drama “The Burial” is likely as any fact-based movie to take liberties with real events, but the outcome is thoroughly enjoyable even if one is familiar or not with the 1999 New Yorker article of the same name about a flamboyant Florida trial attorney.

The colorful person at the center of the story is Willie E. Gray, a personal injury lawyer who rose to legal prominence from his upbringing as a sharecropper’s son. From a rags-to-riches lifestyle, Willie acquired the nickname “The Giant Killer” for slaying rapacious corporations.

Despite being sharply-dressed and sporting a diamond-covered Rolex watch and gold-framed spectacles, Willie has the persuasive courtroom demeanor of a mix of Southern Baptist preacher and circus showman that appeals to ordinary folk.

That Willie (Jamie Foxx) has become so famous and wealthy in victorious courtroom battles has even led to an interview on Robin Leach’s “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” highlighting his excessive high life, including the pair of shiny Rolls-Royces owned by him and his wife Gloria (Amanda Warren).

Who better to portray this legal giant, who lives in a 50-room Florida mansion and owns a private airliner named “Wings of Justice,” than the talented Jamie Foxx whose charisma and dramatic chops could not have been better utilized to shine in the lap of luxury and the theatrics of courtroom drama?

Meanwhile, in Biloxi, Mississippi, Tommy Lee Jones’ Jeremiah “Jerry” O’Keefe is celebrating his 75th birthday with his wife Annette (Pamela Reed) and thinking about how to leave behind a legacy for his 13 children.

His funeral home business at a few locations around the state has come under pressure from state insurance regulators, and the stress causes Jerry to engage his lifelong friend and attorney Mike Allred (Alan Ruck) to look into selling some of his parlors to a Canadian conglomerate.

The Loewen Group, headed by unscrupulous Canadian billionaire Ray Loewen (Bill Camp), is gobbling up so many burial homes all across Canada and the United States that you wonder if antitrust statutes are being violated.

On board Loewen’s expensive yacht, Jerry reaches a deal that should extricate him from his financial troubles, but the dodgy death industry mogul slow walks, signing the contract and making the payment the Mississippi businessman so desperately needs.

While his attorney Allred is an old school Southern patrician, Jerry is encouraged by young Black associate lawyer Hal Dockins (Mamoudou Athie), to consider a different legal tack by hiring the flashy Florida litigator who has never handled contract law.

The factor of race comes into play because Jerry’s team files a civil lawsuit in Hinds County where the jury pool will undoubtedly consist predominantly of African-Americans and the judge assigned the case is likely to also be Black.

The strategy of the lead plaintiff attorney being a person of color becomes even more crucial when allegations are leveled at the Canadian-owned funeral homes for taking advantage of low-income, mostly Black customers into purchasing overpriced burial services.

The Loewen Group counters by hiring as lead counsel Mame Downes (Jurnee Smollett), a driven, beautiful Black woman with a razor-sharp mind and a pleasing yet perceptive courtroom demeanor that proves at the outset to be more than equal to Willie’s power of persuasion.

In what can only be a strategic blunder, Jerry ends up on the witness stand only to be eviscerated on cross-examination. At this point, Willie and his cadre of Black colleagues are pushed aside for Allred to act as chief counsel.

A few twists and turns in the trial eventually unveil a disturbing reminder that ancient ties in the Deep South prove duly problematic in a climate where racial sensitivities can be truly nettlesome.

In a surprise to no one, Willie gets back in the legal saddle just as things are heating up. He pushes the envelope when manipulating the jury’s antipathy to an unsympathetic defendant by exposing his unsavory practices in the funeral industry and ostentatious wealth gained on the backs of the unfortunate.

Notwithstanding courtroom scenes that occasionally feel not wholly authentic, “The Burial” is a rousing crowd-pleaser that is endlessly entertaining for a dramatized real-life landmark case that resulted in a half-billion dollars judgment for the plaintiff.

Even Johnnie Cochran, for all his theatrics in the O.J. Simpson murder trial, seems inferior to the talents of Willie Gary. The only reason to mention this is when Willie and Mame meet at a hotel bar the TV screen is noticeable for a shot of Cochran in the middle of defending the ex-football player.

The major surprise behind “The Burial” is how it took almost a quarter-century for this compelling story to come to the screen. Apparently, the project bounced around various studios over the intervening years. Fortunately, we now have a film that is most definitely worth watching.

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

Arts & Life

Symphony performs classical favorites in Fall Concert Nov. 19

‘Old Dads’ spoofs cultural grievances; ‘Good Cop, Bad Cop’ on TV

Political satirist Roy Zimmerman returns to Lake County for Nov. 11 concert

Mendo-Lake Singers Chorus seeks holiday singers

Middletown Art Center hosts Nov. 11 Pomo design workshop

‘The Burial’ revives courtroom drama as theatrical spectacle

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