A Bronx Tale

I went to see A Bronx Tale last night at the Hobby Center. It's essentially a one-man show starring Chazz Palminteri narrating a semi-autobiographical story from his youth. Some may recall the movie with the same name starring both Palminteri and Robert DeNiro from 1993. I enjoyed the movie, but wasn't sure how it would translate as a one-man play. Since the story is his own, and Palminteri is a wonderful character actor, he pulls it off quite successfully. There were many funny parts, and he has the mannerisms of each character down perfectly as he switches from one persona to the next. There is a moment at the end where you could hear a pin drop in the theater, and even though you may anticipate the climactic moment, it still makes you jump in your seat. He was wonderfully warm to his audience, and even invited people to wait by the stage door for autographs.

Houston Taiko Festival

Since this weekend was GORGEOUS, and the city seems to be getting back on its feet again, I thought it was a good opportunity to get outside with my fellow Houstonians and catch the Taiko Festival at Miller Outdoor Theater. The show was cool - lots of martial arts, dancing and drumming. There are some videos on my You Tube page. It's one of my favorite things to do in the city when the weather is nice. The park is really lovely since they have done all the updates, and its a great place to hang (for free) with the kids, the dogs, etc. All the Miller Outdoor Theater shows are also free, and it is much like the Woodlands venue, where you basically claim your spot on the hillside, and you can pack a picnic while you enjoy the show. Of course, it can get a bit noisy as the little kids are winding down and the adults are imbibing adult beverages, but it's a great way to spend a lovely fall evening.

Angels in America

I spent Saturday afternoon in Fort Worth seeing my friend David play the lead in Angels in America, an opera based on the hit play. The opera is in English, and is a bit more modern than traditional opera, but it is done very well. Each of the artists play many roles, so my hat is off to all of them for conquering several very difficult parts. The theater was an intimate venue, so every seat in the house was a good one. If you are in the area, I suggest checking it out. David tells me that all the major players are all coincidentally from Texas originally. It makes me glad to see the arts supported in such a way that we are able to produce great talents like David and his fellow castmates.