Live Arts‘ all-is-fair-in-love-and-farce production of The Matchmaker is easily one of the local theater’s most charismatic, winning productions of the last two years. (Since Ain’t Misbehavin’, in my book.) Chris Patrick bounces exasperation and mania off of a brilliantly growled, stony-faced Chris Baumer; Ronda Hewitt is pleasantly impulsive as Irene Molloy; and Denise Stewart makes for a capably conniving Dolly Levi. The show’s run extends through this weekend, with shows April 2-4.
Bonus: Director Mendy St. Ours and sound guru Cristan Keighley outfitted the show in ’80s chic with a load of New Wave and arena rock cuts, many performed by a group called The Vitamin String Quartet. Give ’em a listen here. (I also recommend their covers of "The Chain" and "How Soon is Now?")
For those of you looking for heavier fare, or a nice graphic chaser to Second Street Gallery’s show, Waltz with Bashir screens at Vinegar Hill Theatre through Thursday. Bashir drew a good crowd during the last Virginia Film Festival and earned superlatives from those folks in the C-VILLE office to see it so far. (Upcoming Vinegar Hill forecast: Skip Gomorrah, wait patiently for Kelly Reichardt’s Wendy and Lucy.)
Now, for all you Bono fans who made it through Thornton Wilder and a film about the Lebanon War to get here, reap your rewards: U2 announced a date and a location for its Charlottesville gig—October 1 at Scott Stadium.
He’s the Baum! Irene Molloy (Ronda Hewitt, left) and Dolly Levi (Denise Stewart) fight for the affections of Horace Vandergelder (Chris Baumer), who has none. (Photo by Will Kerner)
