The Goat or Who is Sylvia?

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Edward Albee‘s The Goat or, Who is Sylvia? is an absurdest play with subtle references to ancient Greek tragedy. It poked fun at modern liberal ideals, and taboos. It is not an easy play to digest. In the first scene Martin (Allan Whitehead) has turned 50. He seems to have it all a very successful career as an architect and a loving wife, Stevie (Merritt Anne Cooke-Greene). They joke with each other clearly loving each others company. Martin’s friend, Ross (Mark Anthony Kelly) is a reporter and he sets up his video camera to record an interview with his longtime friend. Though Martin is at the pinnacle of his career it became clear that he was not happy about turning 50.

I had sketched a reading of Edward Albee’s play back in 2010, so I knew what was to come in the second scene. Thought Martin had been faithful for his whole marriage, he had recently met Sylvia and fell  deeply in love. Perhaps it was the country air but he was different around her. He confessed this affair to Ross who immediately wrote a letter to Martin’s wife to warn her. What followed was a long confession my Martin to his wife while she broke just about every delicate item in the living room. I have to confess that there was so much yelling that I began to tone it out. The entire scene seemed hell bent on a single note of frantic yelling and emotional destruction. Martin’s Son, Billy (Adam Minossora) was home through the confession and he didn’t take the news well. Though Martin was out doing unimaginable things in the name of love he was not accepting of his son’s homosexuality. This was strange double standard for this father son relationship.

I will say it again, this is a hard show to watch. It is unnerving. It was a daring choice for Director Marco DeGeorge to bring it to Theater on the Edge (5542 Hansel Avenue Orlando FL). The first evening’s performance was sold out. Perhaps Orlando is ready for some really unsettling and cutting edge theater.

CREATIVE TEAM:
(Producer / Set Designer)
Elaitheia Quinn (Asst. Director / Creative Asst.)
Riley Walden (Directing Asst.)
Chris Ivers (Builder)
Megan Raitano (Associate Producer / Stage Manager)
Derek Alan Rowe (Graphic Designer)
DeeDee Strauss (Box Office).

The Goat, or, Who is Sylvia? is running April 2, 2019 to May 5, 2019. Tickets are $23 to $35.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for April 6 and 7, 2019

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Saturday April 6, 2019

1pm to 3pm Free. Creative City Project’s Immersive Projection Installation. Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 445 S Magnolia Ave, Orlando, FL 32801.

6pm to 8pm Free. FL ANTIFEST IV Music festival. Grumpy’s Underground Lounge, 1018 N. Mills Ave Orlando FL. Celebrating Florida’s experimental music scene.

7:30pm to 9:30pm Free. Titanic: The Musical UCF. Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 445 S Magnolia Ave, Orlando, FL 32801.

Sunday April 7, 2019 

10am to Noon Free. Heartfulness Relaxation and Meditation Class. University, 5200 Vineland Rd, Orlando, FL 32811. The Method of Heartfulness A simple and practical way to experience the heart’s unlimited resources.

Noon to 1pm Free. Yoga. Lake Eola Park on lawn by Red Gazebo.

2pm to 4pm Free but get food and drink. Hollerbach’s Springfest. Hollerbach’s Willow Tree Cafe, 205 E. First St., Sanford FL. A spring version of Oktoberfest complete with sausages, pretzels, beer
and people dancing to polka music in lederhosen and dirndls.

Sugar Art Fashion Show

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The Sugar  Art Fashion Show took place during The Americas Cake Fair 2017 at the Orange County Convention Center, West Concourse Hall. Organizers didn’t know how to handle the crowd gathered, resulting in an endless wait to be seated. So I could get busy sketching, I slipped into the back row while the chaos to be seated played out. Everyone was desperate for front row seats. Perhaps people hoped some icing might fall and they could taste the fashion first hand.

A portion of the proceeds from the fashion show went to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. The New York-style fashion show displayed mouth-watering haute couture. Gorgeous edible ensembles were masterfully designed by more than one dozen celebrated sugar, cake and chocolate artisans. The fashion designers were asked to base there edible creations on famous movies and the results were quite fun. The models strutted there sweet stuff down the catwalk during this one-of-a-kind event hosted by Food Network Star, Chef Emily Ellyn and Fashion Stylist/On-Air Style Expert Melanie Pace.

When I walked back to my car, I discovered that I had left my umbrella under the seat in the convention center.  I didn’t decide to walk all the way back. I tend to leave a little piece of myself everywhere I go.

The Little Merman from the Black Lagoon

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Written and directed by Christian Kelty, The Little Merman from the Black Lagoon is a mash up of the 1950’s horror film and a classic cartoon fairy tale. A group of scientists travel the Amazon in search of the legendary “Gill-Man,” and come face to face with Ethyl the Merman and his friends from “under the lagoon”. Christain himself took on the role of the Merman who is curious about life with legs.

Julie (Jenn Gannon) and Richard (Scottie Campbell) were the scientist couple who discovered a merman’s hand and wanted to find the evolutionary missing link. Salty was  the captain who steered their course with a tiny ship wheel that conveniently thrust out from his groin. The fourth member on the expedition (Timmy Walczak) was the chauvinistic financial backer of the trip. He was always  putting Richard down and jockeying for dominance. He was most comfortable when holding a weapon. He wasn’t interested in research but in manly trophies.

A second story line developed under the lagoon, with the Little Merman, Ethyl, collecting human art and trinkets and arguing with his father. Butch a jerk of a shrimp acted as his conscience, siding with is father’s wishes while Angie the angler fish encouraged the merman’s more refined and creative wishes with his counsel. The Merman sang much of Part of your World with lyrics reflecting the idea that though life above water has its problems it has to be better than life in the lagoon. Certainly up there they don’t reprimand their sons.

I didn’t get to see the entirety of the show in this rehearsal but I have to believe that the Merman will one day walk on two legs and I suspect he will meet the researchers. The chauvinist, using a harpoon forced Salty to turn the boat around. I liked the staging of this scene because the actors rotated around Salty as the boat turned making it seem like we all were turning with them. I don’t know what path followed. I’ll have to see the show to find out.

Later that day I was taking to Pam Schwartz about the names of the characters of the show. ‘When I am lost in sketching, I don’t always catch such details. She explained that the Merman was named Ethyl. What a strange name for a merman we both thought and then the light bulb went off for us both. Oooooo. Ethyl Merman was a huge Broadway star. There is no business like show business!

Original Art and Set Design by Alexa Busnot and Sam Hazell

Original Puppets Designed and created by David Jordan

Original Score by Atif Shariff

PERFORMANCES DATES-

Fri     4/5/2019     6:30pm doors – 7pm Show

Sun   4/7/2019     12:30pm doors- 1pm Show

Thu   4/11/2019   7:30pm doors- 8pm Show

Sun   4/14/2019   12pm doors- 1pm Show

Thu   4/18/2019   7:30pm doors- 8pm Show

Fri     4/19/2019   6:30pm doors- 7pm Show

Mon  4/22/2019   8:30pm doors- 9pm Show (Industry Night)

Thu   4/25/2019   8:30pm doors- 9pm Show

Tickets are:

$20 in advance

$25 at the door

$10 for Monday APRIL 22nd

Doors open 30 minutes prior to showtime.

Seating is extremely limited for each show.

The performances will take place in the upstairs bar Stonewall Bar Orlando (741 W Church St, Orlando, Florida 32805.)

The Guesthouse

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The Guesthouse (1321 N. Mills Ave Orlando, Florida 32803) is in the space formerly used by the Peacock Room. I sketched many times in the Peacock Room since they held artist openings and some of Orlando’s edgier performances. In October they would transform the interior with Hollywood grade Halloween displays.  I quite simply miss that venue.

I hosted ODD (Orlando Drink and Draw) at the Guesthouse because I wanted to see how the space had been transformed. The interior has many potted plants and dark walls an ceiling. Round soft orbs create a warm romantic glow. The bar stool are utilitarian but look rather uncomfortable.

Pam Schwartz and I sat at a small side table to sip our drinks. I didn’t order one of the craft cocktails preferring to just sip a beer as I sketched. I was told the Army-Navy, is a gin-based wonder.  Although the place gives off a classy vibe I rather preferred the grungier vibe of the former Peacock Room.

Orlando’s 5th Annual Celebrity Bartender Night

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The Center, and Tito’s Handmade Vodka presented Orlando’s 5th Annual Celebrity Bartender Night was held at SAVOY Orlando (1913 North Orange Ave, Orlando, Florida 32804.) Some of Orlando’s most well known local celebrities were serving from behind
the bar. Pam Schwartz, the Chief Curator at the Orange County Regional History Center was invited by the Center to be one of the Celebrity bartenders.

While Pam served drinks, I sketched as the crowd filled in at the bar. At several spots along the bar there were illuminated boxes which would act as the stages for dancers. Unfortunately no one was dancing while I sketched. It honestly seemed like a rather slow night at the Savoy.

Of course, on June 12, 2016 the scene at Pulse was much like this one, with people out having a good time. I still check for back entrances and possible escape routes. We live in crazy times, but it is good to see that isn’t stopping anyone from getting out and having a good time. All of the celebrity tips went to provide lifesaving health and counseling programs for the
LGBTQ community at the Center. It felt good having a drink and a buzz for a good cause.

Buddy Dyer Official 2019 Campaign Kickoff

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The 5th Buddy Dyer reelection Campaign Kickoff was held at The Abbey (100 S Eola Dr, Orlando, FL 32801). This was an invite only event, so I was happy Pam Schwartz the Chief Curator the the Orange County Regional History Center, invited me along. As we approached people were lined up at tables at the entrance signing paperwork presumably making donations to the campaign. Contributions are limited to $1,000 per person or entity. 

 Entering the venue, there was an immediate crush of humanity. People were shoulder to shoulder, and we pressed our way in, negotiating through narrow gaps in the crowd. We met a few friends and then I pressed towards the media area. Media TV cameras were set up at the back of the dance floor and there was no one on the dance floor so we crossed over to some some tables where I found a spot I could sit and sketch.

Rather than sketch the podium on stage, I decided to sketch the crowd behind the media. The Mayor’s speech was short and sweet, defining what is great about Orlando. He pointed out the divisiveness in political discourse today and reminded us that after the horror of the Pulse Nightclub massacre, we responded not with hate of anger, but with unity and love. It is a shame the rest of the country doesn’t learn something from what happened here in Orlando. The mayors address wasn’t more than 10 minutes long, although he joked about having  more pages of notes. He asked the crowd to shout out what they love about Orlando. I heard “soccer” to my left and then the multitude of shouts blended together. He said that he loves seeing families out enjoying the parks on the weekends and that Orlando is a great place to raise a family. Buddy has been instrumental in the development of the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, and the new Lake Nona Community. In a list of the best cities to live in Orlando ranked 64th.

I finished up the painting as the crowd dispersed. When the Abbey started flashing the lights, I knew it was time to leave with the rest of the stragglers. Buddy has been in office for 16 years. So far Dyer’s re-election prospects have not drawn a major challenge.

Thai Festival

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The Wat Florida Dhammaram Buddhist Meditation Center (2421 Old Vineland Road,
Kissimmee, FL
34746) hosted its 16th Annual Taste of Thailand Food Festival 2017. The event was a celebration full of fun and laughter, live entertainment and of course Yummy Thai Food, there were also displays of Thai culture, costumes and traditional Thai music.

 Pam and I quickly wandered through the event and I settled on sketching this group of musicians as they performed on traditional Thai instruments. The performer on the large string instrument in the foreground unfortunately left as soon as I started sketching and he never returned. Thai music was soothing and meditative.

Once the sketch was done Pam and I went about the serious business of trying the Thai food available. Unfortunate many vendors started running out of food, so we didn’t try everything. We watched as a chef prepared a purple Thai pancake dish. I probably should have sketched because the preparations took quite some time.

The meditation Center itself is gorgeous with intricately carved details covered in gold. It had rained earlier in the day. It turned out that the spot where I parked was a mud puddle. My tired spun, kicking up mud when I tried to back out. Pam pushed the car as I drove. We gently rocked forward and back multiple times until the tire was free.

The $12 ticket price is well worth it if you go early since it is all you can eat. Be aware however that the food can run out quickly.

Weekend Top 6 Picks for March 30 and 31. 2019

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Saturday March 30, 2019

10am to 5pm Free. Fort Christmas Bluegrass and Backyard BBQ Fest. Fort Christmas Historical Park and Museum, 1300 Fort Christmas Road. Barbecue contest for best chicken and St. Louis pork-style ribs.

10am to 5pm Free. Community Chalk Art Festival. Carrabba’s Italian Grill, 5475 Gateway Village Cir Ste 103, Orlando, FL 32812. Community Chalk Art Festival Live chalk painting dedicated to the local community’s diversity.

11am to 7pm Free. Longwood Pirate Seafood Festival. Reiter Park, 301 W. Warren Ave., Longwood Fl. Filled with vendors, mermaids,
a pirate village, great music, a pirate ship for kids to climb and a
shark ride. An assortment of ocean delights are available, along with
beer and wine.

Sunday March 31, 2019

11am to 7pm Free. Arab Fest. Lake Eola Park, Eola Drive, North Eola Drive and East Robinson Street. Arab Fest Cultural heritage festival celebrating Arabic art, food and traditions.

7pm to 9pm Tickets are donation based. Waterfalls, Forests, Coastlines, and Other Musical Dreams. Timucua Arts Foundation 2000 S Summerlin Ave, Orlando, Florida 32806. Central Florida Composers Forum presents “Waterfalls, Forests,
Coastlines, and other Musical Dreams,” a concert of works by local
composers at Timucua White House, March 31.

Winter Park, Florida –
The Central Florida Composers Forum will present “Waterfalls, Forests,
Coastlines, and other Musical Dreams,” a showcase concert of selected
works scored for Pierrot Ensemble by Full Sail University composer and
Central Florida Composers Forum founder and Executive Director Charlie
Griffin, University of Central Florida’s recent transplant Alex Burtzos,
Orlando-based composers Erik Branch, Damien Simon, and film composer
and Cocoa Beach resident Joe Gray.

The term Pierrot Ensemble
refers to a specific instrumentation used by Austrian (and later
Austrian-American) composer Arnold Schoenberg for his seminal and most
famous work, Pierrot Lunaire. Composed in 1912 for voice, flute,
clarinet, violin, cello, piano, and percussion, this combination was
subsequently taken up by many later composers such as Milton Babbitt,
John Cage, and Peter Maxwell Davies.

The musicians featured in
this concert will be Julie Bateman (voice), Katie Mess (flute), Erik
Cole (clarinet), Pepina Dell’Ollio (violin), Abigail Collins (cello),
Ammon Perry Bratt (piano), and Justin Steger (percussion).

A
diverse collection of works on the program include Charlie Griffin’s
Shifting Coastlines, a trio of songs whose lyrics are taken from an
anthology of poetry called Verse and Universe. These songs all draw upon
science and math to explore the human experience. One example from the
set is “Love’s Discrete Non-linearity,” a poem set like a Gypsy tango
that uses the language of Chaos Theory to understand a romantic
relationship. Selections from two works by Alex Burtzos will be on the
program: The Birth of Dangun, a ballet based on the Korean myth of
creation, and The Impossible Object, a multi-movement work inspired by
works of M.C. Escher. Four vignettes by Erik Branch will include a
premiere of his Brises Dansantes. The concert will be rounded out by Joe
Gray’s The Black Forest, and Damien Simon’s Change.

10pm to midnight. Free but get a coffee. Comedy Open Mic. Austin’s Coffee, 929 W Fairbanks Ave, Winter Park, Fl. Free comedy show! Come out and laugh, or give it a try yourself.

Mini CityArts

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City Arts Orlando Celebrated its Grand Opening In The Historic Rogers Kiene Building In Downtown Orlando. The Downtown Arts District’s gallery marked the opening of its new location with a ribbon cutting with Orlando Mayor
Buddy Dyer and Orlando City Commissioners. When Pam Schwartz and I arrived on the scene the gallery was too packed to get inside. Another artist, Jonathan Stemberger, was already set up across the street documenting the scene on a large yellow canvas. I have seen him at other events recording history much the way I do, so I was pleased to get a chance to meet him. He gave me his card, or so I thought. When I got home and took it out of my pocket, it turned out to be a sticker with a silhouette of a Jackal-ope on it.

I worked from the far corner to sketch the crowd pressing through the doors below the historic spire. While working, Gladiola Sotomayor shared with me photos she had taken of the mural we had worked on together that now hangs in the Orlando International Airport. I have been through the airport multiple time and not seen it yet. At sunset there is a golden column of light that shines down Pine Street only on the Rogers Kiene tower. It was exciting to see, and I splashed down some vibrant yellows and oranges in response.

With the sketch done, Pam and I went inside to explore. This building offers far less space than the former City Arts Factory a few blocks away. Artists still have to pay for the right to exhibit their work. Inside it was very crowded and the music was highly amplified. Violinist Michelle Jones performed all night. I admire how she is turning the violin into a hip pop instrument.


I was most curious about the new gallery space upstairs that had formerly been a screening room for films. The stadium seating had been removed to open up the room. I have seen and sketched so many amazing performances in that space over the years, so it will be missed by me. Now it was filled with artwork created by patients in the Integrative Medicine department at Orlando Health. The program is called Arts in Medicine. I sketched Andrea Canny who was part of a similar program funded by LIVESTRONG. A dancer was in the center of the room, so it was impossible to get close to any of the paintings on display. 

The hall ways upstairs are narrow and a woman knocked into several paintings causing them to slip on their hooks, almost falling off the wall. Another woman slammed her hand against the canvas saving it from slipping further. Together they righted the canvases. Across from them, Heisenberg, from Breaking Bad glared, his portrait covered in blue crystals of Meth.

 Though there might not have been enough space, the people who love visual arts spilled out into the street.