Posts by Bondo Wyszpolski
At Home Under the Stars – “Josef Koudelka: Nationality Doubtful” – photographs from five decades
Having famously photographed the 1968 invasion of Prague by Soviet-led Warsaw Pact armies, and fearing reprisals against himself and his family, Josef Koudelka fled his native Czechoslovakia. Like Odysseus before him, 20 years were to pass before he again set foot on native soil. Through March 22, Koudelka is the subject of a massive retrospective…
Read MoreThere, and Back Again – “Bruce Davidson/Paul Caponigro: Two American Photographers in Britain and Ireland”
Two acclaimed photographers, both now in their early 80s, Bruce Davidson (b.1933) and Paul Caponigro (b.1932), had never met until this generous exhibition of their work opened at the Yale Center for British Art earlier this year. Now it’s a lot closer, in San Marino, through March 9. There are similarities, and major differences, in…
Read MoreTrouble in Paradise – “Dido and Aeneas” and “Bluebeard’s Castle”
Contrary to what some people may think, not all operas are Wagnerian in length, and some (it’s true!) clock in at about one hour. Two of the latter, similar and dissimilar at the same time, are Henry Purcell’s “Dido and Aeneas,” composed in 1688 or possibly a couple of years earlier, and Bela Bartok’s “Bluebeard’s…
Read MoreTrouble in Paradise: “Dido and Aeneas” and “Bluebeard’s Castle”
Contrary to what some people may think, not all operas are Wagnerian in length, and some (it’s true!) clock in at about one hour. Two of the latter, similar and dissimilar at the same time, are Henry Purcell’s “Dido and Aeneas,” composed in 1688 or possibly a couple of years earlier, and Bela Bartok’s “Bluebeard’s Castle,” which dates to 1918. LA Opera is presenting both of them as a double-bill, and as conceived and directed by Barrie Kosky they are very much worth seeing.
Read MoreMat Gleason curates “Fresh” at South Bay Contemporary – A year ago, none of this existed: All work is from 2014
Guest curator Mat Gleason has spent a couple of hours moving artwork back and forth, testing different combinations until the pieces begin to fall into place. He approaches the layout for “Fresh” like a field commander planning a strategic battle, the battleground in this case being the spacious South Bay Contemporary, a museum-sized gallery in…
Read MoreMurder and Marriage at Two Local High Schools – The play’s the thing at Mira Costa and Redondo Union
They’re not exactly duking it out in the ring or on the field, but this weekend the drama departments of Mira Costa High School and Redondo Union High School are opening new plays. Both of them begin with the letter “M” but the similarities end there: Mira Costa’s “The Matchmaker” (by Thornton Wilder) is a…
Read MoreDarn it! I Can’t See a Thing! Surf City Theatre’s “Wait Until Dark” opens in Hermosa
A young blind woman is alone at home and a couple of gangsters have broken in. Unaware of what it contains, Susy Hendrix has a doll filled with illicit drugs. Can she hide? Will the bad guys find her? And what will happen to her when they do? Frederick Knott’s “Wait Until Dark” is a…
Read MoreWith grace and elegance – Ceramic art by Biliana Popova in Manhattan Beach
Biliana Popova has come a long way. She arrived in New York from Bulgaria in 1999, spent two days there, came to Los Angeles, and has lived here ever since. Although they’d met earlier, Popova invited curator Ann Martin to her solo show this past February, and clearly Martin was impressed. That set the ball…
Read MorePowering Up! Redondo’s electrifying new art show
Check out a book, and then check out the art. Friday through Sunday, the Redondo Beach Art Group (RBAG) is holding its annual “Power of Art” group show at the Redondo Beach Main Library. Georgette Gantner is this year’s organizer and chair, with plenty of support from RBAG’s co-presidents, Patti Linnette and Debbie Collette. Gantner…
Read MoreBlowing Out the Candles – Palos Verdes Estates comes of age
Throughout October, Palos Verdes Estates is celebrating its 75th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee, culminating with a big shindig on Saturday at the Palos Verdes Golf Club. Tickets are $125 and available at PVE’s City Hall or online at pvestates.org. Last Thursday, renowned jazz pianist and PV resident David Benoit performed with his trio at Farnham Martin…
Read MoreHome is Where the (He)art is It’s stylish! It’s new! It’s ESMoA!
Everyone will garnish it a little differently, but the concept of home includes being able to kick off our shoes while turning up the music, and to leave clothes, dishes, or newspapers (New York Times, Easy Reader) scattered about – at least until the better half or the kids come through the door. As usual,…
Read MoreA Silver Lining for the Silver Screen – Robert Enriquez brings his film festival to Hermosa
The South Bay doesn’t lack for smart, culturally hip people, and so it’s a bit of a mystery as to why it’s difficult to establish and maintain a viable theater for plays and musicals and a couple of movie theaters as well. At the same time, gung-ho individuals have initiated film festivals, yearly events that…
Read MoreScenes from a Marriage – “The Ten-Year Plan” premieres in Hermosa Beach
Conspiratorial glances darting between the director and the author of “The Ten-Year Plan” – you know what that means, don’t you? No? I’ll tell you: Don’t spill the beans about our world premiere, that’s what. Gerry Athas-Vazquez is having her play produced this Saturday and Sunday at the Second Story Theatre, located in the Hermosa…
Read MoreMaking memories with “Marjorie Prime”
The less said about this play, the better. No, I’m not slighting Jordan Harrison’s cleverly constructed “Marjorie Prime”; rather, I’m reminding myself to allow each theatergoer the pleasure – in the words of lead actress Lois Smith – “to discover the layers of the story as it unfolds.” And, believe me, this world premiere, now…
Read MoreGoing All the Way?-“Full Monty” at the Norris Theatre
The warning shot comes out of the blue. “If you think you know what ‘The Full Monty’ is about, you don’t,” says James W. Gruessing, Jr., the artistic director of Palos Verdes Performing Arts. Gruessing also happens to be directing this amusing but dramatic musical, which opens, let me check my daybook, tomorrow evening at…
Read MoreHermosa Beach author DJ Ass Maggots aims to heal
“Depraved, kind of egotistical writings by someone that’s clearly on drugs and needs psychiatric help.” — book opinion by author DJ Maggots alter ego.
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