6 minute read

5 Things to Do

‘Parallel Mothers,’ ‘Naughty bits’ and more ....

Richard Duckett and Victor D. Infante Worcester Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK

Advertisement

Getting ‘Naughty’

In October 2019, 4th Wall Stage Company kicked off its eighth season with “Naughty Bits,” a romp in collaboration with Lowell’s Image Theater that featured a collection of provocative, humorous and outrageous original skits and songs. As it turned out, that would be it for live, in-person theater for 4th Wall for over two years. But now 4th Wall is back, full circle, with “More Naughty Bits” April 21 and 22 at the BrickBox Theater at the JMAC. The performances are a “Friendraiser” for the company, whose regular productions are soon to get underway after a long delay. “Our previous ‘Naughty Bits’ was so well-received, we thought we would create an evening of frivolity with provocative pieces geared to get people back in the theater again,” said Barbara Guertin of 4th Wall. There will be a house band, performances by 4th Wall regulars and colleagues from other theaters including Jerry Bizantz from Image Theater, and Elaine Crane of Greater Worcester Opera Company, a cash bar, raffles, and more. Adult content. (RD)

What: “More Naught Bits” — 4th Wall Stage Company When: 7:30 p.m. April 21 and 22 Where: BrickBox Theater at the Jean McDonough Arts Center, 20B Franklin Street, Worcester How much: $12.50 to $27.50 reserved seating. www.jmacworcester.org The cast of the original production of "The Naughty

Bits." SUBMITTED PHOTO

There will be an opening reception for "With Aloha, tropical landscapes and flora: a solo exhibition" by Piya Samant, from 5 to 8 p.m. April 16 at The Park View Room. SUBMITTED PHOTO

‘A Vivid Memoir of Travels’

“With Aloha” is a collection of 24 landscape and floral paintings by Piya Samant on view at the Park View Room, 230 Park Ave., Worcester, with an opening reception April 16. The paintings are inspired by tropical locations and “this exhibition is a vivid memoir of my travels. It captures unbounded sunsets, stunning vistas, and exotic flora on canvas. With love … With gratitude … With Aloha,” Samant said. (RD)

What: “With Aloha, tropical landscapes and flora: a solo exhibition” by Piya Samant When: Opening reception 5 to 8 p.m. April 16. Galley open 2 to 4 p.m. April 24, May 1, May 8, May 15 and May 22. Where: The Park View Room, 230 Park Avenue, Worcester How much: Free and open to the public

‘Parallel Mothers’

In veteran Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar’s latest film “Parallel Mothers,” two pregnant women, Janis (Penelope Cruz) and Ana (Milena Smit) share a hospital room and both give birth at the same time. Janis, middle-aged, is exultant. Ana, an adolescent, is scared, repentant and traumatized. But a close link between the two will be forged by events that further change both their lives. “Parallel Mothers” was accorded a nineminute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival, and Cruz received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. The film is being presented locally by cinema-worcester. (RD)

What: “Parallel Mothers” presented by cinema-worcester When: 7 p.m. April 15 Where: Park View Room, 230 Park Ave., Worcester How much: $11; $9 students and seniors. www.cinema-worcester.com

Cannabis

Continued from Page 18

brate, Freeway Rick Ross (former drug trafficker, current author and drug policy reform advocate) and NBA legend Gary Payton will be on site to showcase their new products and talk about their involvement in the cannabis industry. Green Meadows’ normal hours of operation are 10 a.m.-7 p.m., but check their social media in the coming days for more details on when Rick and Gary will be showing up.

Showing of ‘Half Baked’ at Greenfield Garden Cinema April 20 | 4:20-8:45 p.m. | 361 Main St., Greenfield

Perhaps I’m stretching the definition of Central Massachusetts by including an event that’s west of the Connecticut River, but our city’s lack of a proper movie theater has been well documented, so consider taking a trip down Route 2 to historic downtown Greenfield. Studio reps forced Dave Chappelle and co-writer Neal Brennan to make massive re-writes to the original script of 1998’s “Half Baked,” resulting in a film that Brennan once called “a weed movie for kids.” Does this cameo-packed movie hold up to your hazy memories of it from college? I’ll let you ascertain that. Tickets are available for the 4 p.m. showing at the low cost of $4.20, while the 7 p.m. showing will be full priced ($10). The venue kindly asks you not to consume cannabis in the theater, but invites you to indulge beforehand.

Various Worcester Dispensaries April 20

You can bet pretty much every cannabis retailer in the city will have some sort of festivities for the big day, but here’s what we know so far: Resinate (1191 Millbury St.) will be having a party that will include a “photo booth, Resinate goodies and more.” Mission (640 Lincoln St.) is hosting some pop-ups and vendors, including Cresco, CANN, and Airopro, and will have some deals for medical patients in the run-up to 4/20. The Vault (17 Mountain St. E) will have a special menu for 4/20, featuring products from brands across the state. Major Bloom (76 Millbury St.) will have some special 4/20-themed edible products for sale.

Correction: In the March 15 edition of Cannabis Confidential titled “Cannabis Primary shows pot not a primary concern for gov candidates,” the article failed to mention that Josh Caldwell, a candidate for the Democratic nomination for governor, had not received an invitation to the Tree House Craft Cannabis’ Cannabis Primary event. The author regrets the error.

Down to Earth

Grassroots Central Mass will celebrate Earth Day with a pair of events: One outside, the other online. The first event is the “Trees Are Treasures” celebration at Wells State Park in Sturbridge. The event will feature a family-friendly stroll along the Mill Pond Trail, featuring encounters with a reformed, tree-loving lumberjack and the Lady of the Wetlands along the way. The event will also include children’s play and entertainment zones, an environmental book swap and a tree seedling giveaway. In the Zoom event, career retrofitter and home sustainability expert Wes Golomb of New Hampshire will present the program, “Moving Toward Your Net Zero Home,” about how working toward sustainability in our lives can start at home. (VDI)

What: “Trees Are Treasures” celebration Where: Wells State Park, 159 Walker Pond Road, Sturbridge When: 11 a.m. To 4 p.m. April 23 How Much: Free What: “Moving Toward Your Net Zero Home” Self-proclaimed “Energy Geek” Wes Golomb will give a presentation on Zoom for Grassroots Central Mass.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

When: 7 p.m. April 22 For More Information: Free. For Zoom information, email emailing climate@grassrootscentralmass.org.

Making ‘Connection’

College of the Holy Cross students in the seminar “Music, Performance, and Community” taught by Professor Shirish Korde have spent the past semester honing their skills and working with the community through workshops, local excursions, and masterclasses led by world-class musicians. Their studies and efforts culminate with a free public concert “Connecting Neighborhoods through Music and Performance” at the BrickBox Theater at the JMAC. Students will be joined by alumni and music department faculty. A diverse program features works by J. S. Bach, Beethoven, Saint-Saëns, Piazzolla, and Tchaikovsky. Jazz composers will include Monk, Jobim, Ellington, and others. The seminar is part of Korde’s three-year Scholarship in Action project, a collaboration between the department of music at Holy Cross and Music Worcester. (RD)

What: Connecting Neighborhoods through Music and Performance When: 7 p.m. April 19 Where: BrickBox Theater at the Jean McDonough Arts Center, 20B Franklin Street, Worcester How much: Free

Professor Shirish Korde and the students of Holy Cross will present “Connecting Neighborhoods through Music and Performance.” PROMOTIONAL PHOTO This Week’s Answer