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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The Lake County Arts Council presents the 39th annual Spring Dance Festival audition on Saturday, March 7.

The audition will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Lakeport Dance Studio, 93 Soda Bay Road.

This year's theme is "Dance is in the Air!"

Please come with a prepared piece you are interested in sharing with the community.

The dance piece must be family-friendly. All styles are welcome!

This year’s Spring Dance Festival performances will take place at 7 p.m. Saturday, April 4, and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 5.

If you are interested, please contact Blair Brookes at 209-269-6766 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. so they can schedule an audition time.
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‘TOMMY’ ON CBS NETWORK

Police procedural shows have been a staple of network and cable television for so long that it is difficult to imagine many new twists for the genre as so many series have the feeling of being inspired by shows that came before.

If there is a new variation for “Tommy” on the CBS network, it could be executive producer Tom Szentgyorgi’s observation during the winter press tour that the new series was “inspired by the absence of somebody.”

He was referring to the fact the three largest cities in the country, Los Angeles, New York and Chicago, have never had a female chief of police, and so why not rectify the situation with Edie Falco’s Abigail “Tommy” Thomas taking charge of the Los Angeles Police Department.

As an actress who has made a strong presence in cable shows like “The Sopranos” and “Nurse Jackie,” Edie Falco is an interesting yet effective choice for creating a cop show that Szentgyorgi describes as being less about action and more focused on relationships.

Falco’s Tommy, as she prefers to be called, has been hired by Mayor Buddy Gray (Thomas Sadoski) away from the NYPD as the result of pressure from a federal judge to appoint a woman to the post.

The previous chief, Milt Leakey (Corbin Bernsen), though apparently still popular with the rank-and-file, was accused of sexual harassment by different women while a prostitution scandal that festered under his watch also figured into his dismissal.

As a New Yorker with the accent intact, Tommy is an outsider coming in to run a police department with no knowledge of the local culture. To cement the outsider status, she’s also a lesbian and seems to relish being identified as a “feminist icon.”

Not unlike the pilot of FOX’s “Deputy,” also set in Los Angeles, the first episode of “Tommy” steps into the politics of immigration when an LAPD officer fakes a traffic stop of immigrants to thwart an arrest by ICE agents.

What follows is the most improbable involvement of a police chief of volunteering to take a minor child into her own custody even though she’s living temporarily in a hotel, a situation that stretches credibility.

Moreover, when not struggling to reconnect with her estranged adult daughter Kate (Olivia Lucy Phillip), Tommy is such a hands-on chief that her appearance at every crime scene makes one wonder how she finds the time to exercise management of LAPD.

Navigating the politics of City Hall and maneuvering through the culture of the police force offer Edie Falco a chance to shine but may not do much to elevate “Tommy” beyond the standard procedural.

CABLE TV WINTER-SPRING PREVIEW – PART FOUR

Al Pacino, an iconic thespian with a great career on the screen, stage and occasional forays into TV movies, has arguably been one of the greatest masters of intensity as a method actor in films such as “The Godfather” and “Scarface.”

Pacino’s forceful personality is certain to follow his character of Meyer Offerman in the Amazon Prime Video series “Hunters,” in his role as a Nazi hunter in 1977 New York City.

When a Holocaust survivor is brutally murdered in her own home, Offerman recruits her grandson into a secret organization that is determined to track down hundreds of high-ranking Nazi officials conspiring to create a Fourth Reich in the United States.

The eclectic vigilante squad of hunters sets out on a bloody quest for revenge to bring the Nazis to justice and thwart their new genocidal plans.

During the winter TV press tour, series creator David Weil, while acknowledging that Nazis who sought refuge after the war on our shores were hunted through legal action, observed that “Hunters” is “a piece about wish fulfillment” of Nazis being eliminated.

That Pacino’s character brings intensity to his role of a hunter is powerfully brought home where he brutally nails the hand of his prey to a desk with the sharp blow of a big knife. The others are equally up to the task of violent retribution.

The setting of the series in the late Seventies allows for more Holocaust survivors to be among us. As it is, the last known World War II Nazi living in the United States, was deported to Germany in 2018 and died a year ago.

Fans of “Downton Abbey,” of which there are many, may want to tune in to the new EPIX series “Belgravia,” a story of secrets and scandals amongst the upper echelon of London society in the 19th century.

An invitation to the Duchess of Richmond’s ball on the eve of the Battle of Waterloo sets in motion a series of events that will have consequences for decades to come as secrets unravel.

Not surprisingly, “Belgravia” is based on the bestselling novel of Julian Fellowes, who just so happens to be the creator, writer and executive producer of the award-winning “Downton Abbey” television series. Safe to say we likely know what to expect of another period drama.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.
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Ted Kooser. Photo credit: UNL Publications and Photography.

Tolstoy said, "Nothing can make our life, or the lives of other people, more beautiful than perpetual kindness."

I found this poem by Dorianne Laux in Poetry of Presence: An Anthology of Mindfulness Poems, published by Grayson Books of West Hartford, CT.

The poet, whose most recent book of poetry is Only As The Day Is Long, lives in Maine.

For the Sake of Strangers

No matter what the grief, its weight,
we are obliged to carry it.
We rise and gather momentum, the dull strength
that pushes us through crowds.
And then the young boy gives me directions
so avidly. A woman holds the glass door open,
waiting patiently for my empty body to pass through.
All day it continues, each kindness
reaching toward another—a stranger
singing to no one as I pass on the path, trees
offering their blossoms, a child
who lifts his almond eyes and smiles.
Somehow they always find me, seem even
to be waiting, determined to keep me
from myself, from the thing that calls to me
as it must have once called to them—
this temptation to step off the edge
and fall weightless, away from the world.


American Life in Poetry does not accept unsolicited manuscripts. It is made possible by The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the Department of English at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Poem copyright ©1994 by Dorianne Laux, "For the Sake of Strangers," from What We Carry, (BOA Editions, Ltd., 1994). Poem reprinted by permission of Dorianne Laux and the publisher. Introduction copyright @2020 by The Poetry Foundation. The introduction’s author, Ted Kooser, served as United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004-2006.
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Ted Kooser. Photo credit: UNL Publications and Photography.

This week’s poem is one of my favorites and I can’t explain why in the 15 years I’ve been writing this column I’ve neglected until now to share it with you. Wendell Berry is one of our country’s finest writers, a poet, a fiction writer, an activist and a Kentucky farmer.

This poem is from “New Collected Poems” from Counterpoint Press, 2012. Berry’s most recent book of poetry is “A Small Porch.”

Before Dark

From the porch at dusk I watched
a kingfisher wild in flight
he could only have made for joy.

He came down the river, splashing
against the water’s dimming face
like a skipped rock, passing

on down out of sight. And still
I could hear the splashes
farther and farther away

as it grew darker. He came back
the same way, dusky as his shadow,
sudden beyond the willows.

The splashes went on out of hearing.
It was dark then. Somewhere
the night had accommodated him

– at the place he was headed for
or where, led by his delight,
he came.


American Life in Poetry does not accept unsolicited manuscripts. It is made possible by The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the Department of English at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Poem copyright ©1985 by Wendell Berry, "Before Dark," from New Collected Poems, (Counterpoint Press, 2012). Poem reprinted by permission of Wendell Berry and the publisher. Introduction copyright @2020 by The Poetry Foundation. The introduction’s author, Ted Kooser, served as United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004-2006.
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From left to right, Spencer Brewer, Elizabeth MacDougall, Ed Rinehart, David Neft, Tom Ganoung, Elena Casanova and Patrick Fitzgerald. Courtesy photo.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – A diverse range of musical styles on the keyboard will be presented at the Soper Reese Theatre on Sunday, March 8, by seven well-known professional pianists from the region.

Musicians will combine their talent and years of experience to benefit fundraising efforts for the arts and education in Lake County.

The Lake County Friends of Mendocino College is partnering with the Soper Reese Theatre to sponsor the ninth annual Pianists Benefit Concert.

The afternoon begins at 2 p.m. with a no-host reception featuring fine regional wines from Lake and Mendocino counties, followed by the concert at 3 p.m.

A silent auction of items donated by businesses and individuals will be held during the reception and intermission. All proceeds benefit the two sponsoring organizations.

Lake County artists Tom Ganoung and David Neft will be joined by Mendocino County performers Spencer Brewer, Elena Casanova, Patrick Fitzgerald, Elizabeth MacDougall, and Ed Reinhart. The concert will feature all the pianists on stage throughout the performance as they converse about their life experiences and play a variety of musical selections.

Persons or businesses interested in supporting this fundraising effort are invited to become sponsors. Sponsors receive preference for premium reserved seats. Please contact the Soper Reese Theatre at 707-263-0577.

Sponsors to date include Anonymous Donor, Mike Bielenberg, Bernie and Lynne Butcher, Arlene Hanlon, Susie LaPointe, Jim and Wilda Shock, and Strong Financial Network.

Tickets are $27 for regular reserved seats and $32 for premium reserved, and may be purchased online at soperreesetheatre.com or from the Travel Center, 825 S. Main St. in Lakeport, Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm. The theatre is located at 275 So. Main St., Lakeport. For more information call 707-263-0577.

“The Lake County Friends, an affiliate of the Mendocino College Foundation, was created to benefit Lake County students and programs. We are delighted that proceeds from this benefit concert will enable us to continue and expand this support,” said Wilda Shock, chairperson of Friends.

Proceeds from past concerts have funded scholarships for Lake County students at Mendocino College, a science laboratory, math and English tutors at the Lake Center, and supplies for art and ESL classes. This summer’s production of Shakespeare at the Lake in Lakeport and Clearlake will receive funds for student participation.

The Soper Reese Theatre is a restored performing arts venue operated by an all-volunteer management team under the auspices of the Lake County Arts Council. “Concert proceeds will be dedicated to the theatre’s Restroom Re-do renovation project which will modernize and expand facilities, and meet ADA standards,” according to Mike Adams, executive director.
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‘BIRDS OF PREY’ (Rated R)

Just for the record and for whatever it is worth, the full film title of the DC Comics twisted tale of an anti-heroine’s antics is “Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn).”

The emancipation arrives in the form of Margot Robbie’s Harley Quinn letting everyone know during an animated opening credit sequence that no longer being the main squeeze for The Joker places her on the open market.

Independence comes with a stiff price since Harley is now missing the protection of Mr. J, as she calls her ex, has to fend for herself in a Gotham City that is an incredibly dangerous place, much more so than Detroit on a bad weekend.

Robbie’s Harley was first seen a few years ago in the borderline execrable “Suicide Squad,” but fortunately “Birds of Prey” is neither a sequel nor a spinoff of the first failed attempt to establish this flamboyant character as a tough cookie.

Having to operate on her own terms, Harley has a target on her back from an assortment of bad guys, the worst being the narcissistic Roman Sionis (Ewan McGregor), a mob boss backed up by his bleach-blonde henchman Victor Zsasz (Chris Messina).

Seemingly ambiguous about being on either side of the law, Harley takes the sticky-fingered pickpocket street urchin Cass (Ella Jay Basco) under her wing for lifting an extremely valuable diamond belonging to Sionis, the sadistic crime lord known as Black Mask.

The problem for Harley is that she initially sought favor with Sionis for his protection by seeking to earn the bounty on Cass’ head until switching gears to save the annoying kid from an ugly fate despite the risk to her own survival.

Harley teams up with Renee Montoya (Rosie Perez), an outcast detective ready for some vigilante justice; the revenge-minded Huntress (Mary Elizabeth Winstead), and Black Canary (Jumee Smollett-Bell), a singer with the supernatural power of a devastating scream.

On the heels of the subversive energy and madcap behavior of Harley, the next most interesting character is arguably the crossbow-wielding Huntress whose backstory about witnessing as a child the murder of her entire family explains her focused goal of rage-fueled retribution.

A suspension of disbelief is required to accept that the “Birds,” as Harley’s gang would be known, engage in implausible action scenes of girl power pummeling the stuffing out of the many, and stronger, male antagonists that outnumber them.

That “Birds of Prey” takes flight on its dazzling acrobatic fast-paced action sequences may not be enough to overcome the feeling that an exciting female action hero will be much better realized by Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman in the coming film “Wonder Woman 1984.”

‘CABLE TV WINTER-SPRING PREVIEW – PART 3’

During the winter TV press tour, the subscription service YouTube Originals announced the debut of the documentary “This is Paris,” set to premiere in May, that is billed as an authentic look at the woman behind the global icon known as Paris Hilton.

A ballroom full of critics were treated to a trick demonstration by magician David Blaine whereby he sows his mouth shut with needle and thread while a squeamish Paris Hilton stands by to witness a playing card pulled from his mouth.

Susanne Daniels, YouTube’s head of Original Content, let it be known the death-defying illusionist would partner with the subscription service for an unprecedented live event that would presumably offer a lighter and brighter side of David Blaine.

With previous launches of music livestream events featuring artists like Coldplay and Taylor Swift, YouTube is a natural platform for the documentary “Coachella: 20 Years in the Desert,” premiering March 31, for behind-the-scenes stories of the famed music festival.

The AMC Networks, which includes IFC and BBC America programs, has demonstrated it has the magic touch in developing popular series like “Mad Men,” “Breaking Bad” and “Killing Eve,” to name only a few.

The AMC series that elicits the most inquiries from friends about its inevitable return is “Better Call Saul.” Well, the wait is nearly over for a two-night premiere event of the fifth season scheduled for Feb. 23 and 24.

As reported during the press tour, Bob Odenkirk’s Jimmy McGill decides to practice law in Albuquerque as “Saul Goodman,” creating unexpected and profound waves of change in New Mexico’s legal and illegal circles.

Series co-creator Peter Gould announced they are about to start work on a sixth season, which sad to say he said would be the last, while noting that his team doesn’t “have much of an idea” of how it will end, only that they are aiming to wind up with a total of 63 episodes.

AMC’s “Dispatches from Elsewhere,” premiering on March 1st, is an anthology series created by and starring Jason Segel that is described as a modern take on a “Wizard of Oz” story in a series that is a weird journey of four diverse strangers on a quest for connection and meaning.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.

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