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The Queen of Quirk Column
March 2007
By VERONIQUE CHEVALIER
 heatrical To Do's
Squeeze Box at the Zephyr Theatre in Hollywood
The accordion is a much-maligned instrument, but if critically acclaimed writer/performer Ann Randolph has her way, there will be a "Squeeze Box" in every home. This is the title of her powerful self-penned one-woman show that enjoyed a 6-month run Off-Broadway, thanks to the generous support of the late legendary Anne Bancroft and her husband Mel Brooks. Plans are afoot to bring the show to the big screen thanks to the overwhelmingly positive reaction that the show is garnering from audiences coast to coast.
"Squeeze Box" was back in L.A. for the month of February, and because I am working on a polka recording project this year, I felt drawn to attend. In the show, Ms. Randolph's central character is a counselor at a shelter for mentally ill women in Santa Monica. (She draws the impetus for her deeply insightful characterizations from her real-life experience as a counselor at the State Hospital in Athens, Georgia).
In the course of the show, we are presented with the good, the bad, the downright skanky, and the sublime. Characters range from the protagonist's Jewish American Princess hipster yogini best friend, to the shelter's most outspoken denizen Brandy, a politically-savvy crack whore, to the object of Ann's affections, Harold, an accordion virtuoso. (His character was inspired by real-life accordion maestro, Nick Ariondo. And yes Virginia, unlike Santa Claus, this Nick may not be a saint, but he can indeed extract magic from a squeezebox!)
In addition to showcasing her diverse repertoire of characters, Ms. Randolph, who is also a Groundlings alumna, proves her mettle as a wordsmith. She takes us on a multi-layered journey in her tale of one woman's life's progression from disenchantment to acceptance to epiphany to triumph. The job at the shelter begins with a sense of idealism, but eventually wears down and dulls the spirit. By going on pilgrimage (an overnight drive up the California coast), she returns with the realization that her work with the homeless women, though providing her with little material compensation, gives her life meaning and purpose.
Through laughter, and a few tears as well, Ann Randolph and her characters transport the audience, with an ending that leaves few untouched by a resolution that rings true. "Squeeze Box" is a stunning example of what mythologist Joseph Campbell calls "(wo)man's search for meaning".
This And That
"Sex, Relationships, And Sometimes…Love"
Joelle Arqueros is a blonde dynamo with an uncanny ability to see human relations from all sides at once. Or at least her show "Sex, Relationships, And Sometimes…Love" touches upon many viewpoints within the course of an evening.
A series of monologues, all written and directed by Arqueros, "Sex, etc." has been running for over 3 years in Los Angeles and over 2 at the The Michael Chekhov Theatre in Manhattan. A cast of men and women, portraying characters straight and gay, ranging from WASPs to Bulgarian Princesses, underscores the universality of the struggle for love and acceptance.
Also, included between vignettes are beautifully delivered a cappella vocals featuring lovely chanteuse Sylvie Yarza, (who appeared last year in the award-winning "Night Of The Black Cat", chosen by the Los Angeles Music Awards as "Best Musical"), as well as a couple of soulful R & B singers, Lavonne and Shoobie, whose solo selections helped to further the narrative along.
The cast of "Sex, Relationships, And Sometimes… Love."
Writer-director-star Joelle Arqueros is in the big coat in the center
Records Worth a Listen:
God's Anger The Devil's Influence
The Peculiar Pretzelmen
Just for the packaging alone, this recording is a collector's item. Never has a plain brown wrapper been so artfully arranged. The inner sleeve of the CD cover is hand sewn with red thread and the track titles are haphazardly hand stamped in black across one side. The outer brown paper envelope also features black hand stamped lettering, as well as a red rustic hand printed graphic reminiscent of Van Gogh's work. The back flap is sealed with wax and imprinted with the letter "P." Most apropos packaging for a perverse collection of twisted folk tunes. This is a perfect soundtrack to soothe any malcontents and misfits who have wearied of their Tom Waits collections.
Waking the Mystics
Sophe Lux
Reminiscent of Queen and Sgt. Pepper era Beatles, this eccentric and theatrical offering is the brainchild of Gwynneth Haynes, younger sister of avant-garde film director Todd Haynes. With tongue firmly in cheek, the track entitled "Target Market" extols the virtue of finding oneself the object of adoration simply by being a member of the most-favored demographic of the latest consumer survey. "Marie Antoinette Robot 2073 (A Rock Opera)" is a 21st re-visitation of Bowie's "Space Oddity" with a baroque twist. This is multilayered music that requires repeated listening to reveal the deep gleam of precious significance that is veiled beneath the pop hooks.
Escape From Dragon House
Dengue Fever
This eclectic World Music ensemble, fronted by Cambodian pop songstress Chhom Nimol, and featuring some well-respected L.A. players, including the bass brilliance of Senon Williams, is blazing some hot new trails through the sonic jungle. The moment one imagines that one has caught a strain of Enigma, Pink Floyd, or even the soundtrack to some low-budget Asian espionage flick, the band is on to the next hook -- launching yet another auditory curve at the listener. The band will be showcased as SXSW this year, so rather than waiting for them to be discovered there, do yourself a favor and get the record now, so you can say you knew about them before they were signed.
Carousing at the Cabaret
Dresden Cabaret at the Met Theatre in Hollywood
What German city has been the birthplace of such diverse, and life-enhancing inventions as the sewing machine, coffee and cigarette filters, latex condoms, and most uplifting of all- the brassiere? Why Dresden of course! The German Government created the official designation, "Days of Dresden- A Beacon of European Culture and History," which runs from May 2006 through June 2007.
Feeling that the former capital of the Kingdom of Saxony, once under the rule of Polish King August the Strong, had gone too long unrecognized as the incubator of innovation that it is, chanteuse-soubrette Christina Linhardt became historical.
Taking her concept to Dr. Cornelius Schnauber, Director of the Max Kade Institute for Austrian-German-Swiss Studies at USC, the two Saxo-philes decided to launch a Dresden-friendly vehicle. As with any other product of German engineering, this project required precision assembly, so a top team of co-conspirators was enlisted.
Ms. Linhardt was aided by aforementioned accordion virtuoso Nick Ariondo, who served as Musical Director. Composer and lyricist Smokey Miles created new works for the commemoration of glories of Dresden, and completing the cast was venerable jester, and veteran of the Ringling Brothers Circus, Clown Michael "Tuba" Heatherton.
Interspersed between the, ahem, arousing Smokey Miles numbers with such titles as "The Great Dresden Brassiere" and "Latex Condom Dance" (which, ahem again, climaxed with the inflation of an 8 foot tall condom) were songs from an all-but forgotten George Gershwin musical "Pardon My English," which was set in the city of Dresden. (This zany Gershwin creation, featuring a chorus line of dancing psychiatrists all named Freud, Adler or Jung, is rumored to have been one of the inspirations for the so-bad-it's-good "Springtime for Hitler" musical-within-a-musical in The Producers.)
Any doubts about the lowly squeezebox will be soundly dispelled upon witnessing Mr. Ariondo's bravura performance of Carl Maria von Weber's "Aufforderung Zum Tanz" ("Invitation To The Dance.")
"Dresden Cabaret" is not only a charming and entertaining romp extolling the virtues and vices of a city best known for its delicate porcelain figurines, but it was also a wonderfully wrought showcase for the under-appreciated talents of some of the most accomplished professional so-called "novelty" artists in the world.
Hollywood Happenings
The Hollywood Arts Council's 21st Annual Charlie Awards
I savored the delicious contrasts on February 2nd at a Hollywood insider event with one of the city's most notable outsiders, Alexander Lehr, bon vivant and patron of the L.A. arts underground. He is also the creator of Gemini Manor, an unsung Hollywood landmark (which started out as two neighboring bungalows, now fused together, thus inspiring the name), which serves as his residence.
His abode has also been a haven and showplace for literally thousands of creative souls since the '70s. Concerts, comedy nights, art shows, salons, seasonal celebrations, Burning Man related events, alternative lifestyle parties, have all been on the Manor calendar at one time or another. Most remarkable of all is that he has literally remodeled and hand-decorated every surface of this edifice largely by himself, in true Outsider Artist fashion, and the result is a masterpiece every bit as compelling and worthy of historical recognition as the Watts Towers.
The Manor, which is located in a quiet residential area in East Hollywood, has its detractors in the form of irate neighbors, who have been known to call the police when some of its social events have lingered, a bit too loudly, into the wee hours. On the positive side, however, one of Mr. Lehr's neighbors purchased a nearby home specifically because he appreciates the special charm that the Manor brings to the area.
I had the good fortune to be seated between Alexander and his supportive neighbor, Kaptain at the "Charlies." (The awards are named after Charlie Chaplin.) Also sharing our table was Jim Moselely, CEO of "Kaptain's Bubble Leather" for which Kaptain serves a chief designer. The man with the uniquely spelled militaristic mono-moniker, cuts a dashing figure with his shaved head and dark shades, and serves as the perfect model for his own designs, one of which he was wearing that day -- a sleek black three-quarter length jacket accented with chrome zippers and hardware, with sleeves made of his patented "Bubble Leather."
Some of Kaptain's more high profile clients are Keith Richards, Dave Navarro, and Katharine Kramer, daughter of film producer/director Stanley Kramer, and goddaughter of Katharine Hepburn. He learned the couture trade about ten years ago, under the tutelage of Pasqual Bettio, who was the sponsor of the table where we were seated.
There was no shortage of big names on this occasion. Carol Connors, who is the co-writer of the theme from Rocky ("Gonna Fly Now"), sang a rousing a capella rendition of "God Bless America" to kick off the awards presentation.
Celebrity presenters and guests included Stella Stevens, Fred Willard, Charlene Tilton, Anne Archer, the founding female vocalist of The Fifth Dimension, Florence LaRue, Leyla Milani (aka Briefcase #13 in "Deal Or No Deal"), and one of my idols, Elliot Gould. There were eight awards presented to various organizations, individuals and businesses that were deemed to have made significant contributions to the betterment of the cultural climes of Hollywood.
Most notable among the recipients, were the Roxy, that longstanding Sunset Strip shrine to Rock-n-Roll, which took the Music Arts Award. Another popular venue, Boardners, was bestowed with the Entertainment Award. The Los Angeles Film and Recording Schools received the Hollywood Arts Award, and Griffith Observatory took the Preservation Arts Award.
Dance Directives
Lineage Dance Company Presents "Dancing Through the Ages" at the Pasadena Civic
In this day and age of ever-increasing corporate greed and spreading public apathy, it is refreshing to encounter a truly community-oriented organization such as Pasadena-based Lineage Dance. Comprised of a corps of consummately trained professional dancers, the troupe was founded by award-winning Joffrey Ballet trained dancer Hilary Thomas to raise money for charity, as well as to make the arts accessible to audiences of all demographics and socioeconomic backgrounds.
Founded in 1999, the company has raised approximately $100,000 for charities across the country. The company is actively soliciting charities and non-profit organizations interested in working with them to present exciting and original fundraising opportunities.
Under the auspices of the Pasadena Arts Council, which serves as its umbrella organization, the company tours the country to raise money for charities nationwide. Some of the non-profit organizations that Lineage Dance has raised money for in recent years include:
- The Box Project: A mentoring program for at-risk youth
- The Paralysis Project of America
- The Psychoanalytic Institute of Southern California
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- The Giving Tree
- Yuba River Charter School
- Heart of the Mountains Hospice
"Dancing Through the Ages" was the culmination of an ambitious outreach program that took the company dancers out into communities in various parts of the country to give a series of workshops to elders, adults and school children, all of which were filmed. The entire performance was comprised of a series of short dances, interspersed with film excerpts from the workshops, which also included interviews with a number of the participants, from ages 2 to 92.
The first act of the program focused on the universal experience of growing older, and the eight different pieces portray the symbolic progression from youth to old age, were danced by the members of the all-female Lineage Company.
The choreography though lyrical, does not dwell on delicacy. The women are not only agile, but also quite athletic. They lifted partners with the same surety, precision and fluidity of any male dancer. There was also a delightful duet between a dancer and an office chair that was quite rigorous, yet playful.
The second act of the program brought in guest performers, young and old, male and female, professional and novice, to dance along with the Company. Again, each number was sandwiched between a film excerpt. The clips and the live action would each have stood on their own, but put together in this way, so much more variety and depth was brought to the program.
By the year 2020, one fifth of the population of the industrialized nations of the world will be aged 60 and older. The youth of today will be greatly affected by this. A six-year old child in one of film clips spoke of his experience in the workshop as having opened his eyes to how different dancing was for the elders he worked with. It was really moving to hear him say that he was glad he was able to learn first hand what getting old was like so that he'd know what to do when he got there, but for now he was going to take more time to help the older people in his life.
If a mark of choreographic prowess is to create dances that play up the strengths of the lesser-trained, and amateur participants without resorting to "dumbing down" the steps of the professional dancers, then Ms. Thomas is a true master. Lineage Dance is setting a noble precedent of bringing together excellent artistry, outreach, philanthropy, and most of all, mutual understanding, with a model that I hope will be duplicated by other arts organizations the world over.
(continued ...)
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