Dan’s Papers July 1, 2011 danshamptons.com Page 70
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go 2 Amag Rt Fest.” Still life painter David Oleski decided to stage an exhibition of art by individuals he describes as “modern visionaries” on the grounds of the American Legion on Saturday and Sunday, July 2 and 3, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and on Monday, July 4, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. His intent is to eschew the outside influences of corporate sponsorships and have an event staged for artists, by artists. Oleski is looking forward to “animated dialogue” between the artists and the patrons: “The abstract expressionist landscape artist will be ready to tear up the contemporary still life painter,” he said, “and each artist will further define who and what they are.” For him, artists are “road warriors,” and this “is a chance to be a witness to history being made.” SOLD. I’m then going to drive this crew over to Sag Harbor to the Eastville Community Historical Society at 139 Hampton Street to view its “Vintage and Commemorative Black Doll Exhibit.” Featured will be such dolls as the Flip Wilson/Geraldine doll, Willie Talk, Winchell’s Mahoney Lester, Michael Jackson, Venus and Serena Williams as well as dozens of others that span the generations and represent styles that depict the African-American and Caribbean experience. I also want to wish the society a happy 30th anniversary! Two of my guests have already purchased their Sunday tickets for the Parrish Art Museum’s Opera in Cinema screening of Cosi Fan Tutte at 2 p.m. (parrishart.org). Here’s
why they’ve planned to ditch the rest of us: “Because it’s Mozart, it’s the Royal Opera House in London, and it’s a hilarious story about girlfriend swapping. We’ll catch up with you for dinner.” The rest of us are going to East Hampton Studios on 77 Industrial Road in Wainscott for “Cirque USA: The Electric Circuit” on Sunday, where we will electrify our imaginations with “aerial bartenders, aerial chiffon, electric dancers, a German wheel, spinning cube, acrobats, aerial performers, contortionist, hand balancers, power skips, hula hoop, electric jugglers, tramp wall, aerial lira, trapeze performers and more,” all accompanied by a DJ, and food and drink will be served. Here’s what I want to know: what are “aerial chiffon, German wheel, tramp wall, and aerial lira?” This and more will be revealed! There will be performances on Saturday, July 2 at 9 p.m. and Sunday, July 3 at 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. for the evening shows and 2:30 p.m. for the afternoon. Tickets start at $20 and can be purchased on www.cirquehamptons.com. On Independence Day, it’s beach, barbecue and fireworks. We’re going to start the day, though, in Southampton for its annual Fourth of July parade at Railroad Plaza. All veterans are invited to ride and I’ll leave you with the theme of this year’s parade: “What is America to Me?” P.S. If you still have guests on Wednesday, July 6 at 8 p.m., see story on page 88. If they’re still here on Thursday, July 7, or they’ve gone
and you want to treat yourself, head over to Guild Hall in East Hampton at 8 p.m. When I heard that Zoe Wanamaker was starring in Chekhov’s Russian classic The Cherry Orchard at the National Theatre in London, I was tempted to buy a ticket, purchase a red-eye flight out of Kennedy, see the show, then hightail it back to work. Luckily, Guild Hall has saved me the time and money. In the luxurious comfort of a seat in the John Drew Theatre, I can watch that grand dame of thespians perform LIVE in the role of Madame Ranavskaya direct from London. Though meant to be a tragicomedy, most modern productions of the play have leaned toward its less buoyant themes. Financial ruin and panic are at the heart of the play, and so is inequality and hubris. It’s a story about the excesses of the very wealthy and the lack of access to opportunity for the lower classes. These are issues that crackle with relevance today. Chekhov has his fun, putting these words into the mouth of one of his characters: “You should not be in a theater watching a fictional life. You should be examining your own life.” As an audience, we laugh, understanding we’re in on and part of the joke. Charles Spencer of The Telegraph said of this production that “it is wonderfully fresh, funny and deeply felt” and that Wanamaker “heartwrenchingly captures the character’s mixture of reckless frivolity and sudden moments of piercing guilt and grief.” Tickets cost $18, $16 for members (cheaper than a plane ticket).
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