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Los Angeles Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
As Laguna Playhouse puts on ‘Peril,' artistic director sees promise in its future
Laguna Playhouse has catered to a crowd that croons for a classic over the past couple of weeks, the latest production doing exactly that with the return of an iconic literary character. Hercule Poirot has taken center stage once more with this month's performances of 'Peril in the Alps.' Director and playwright Steven Dietz has delivered a sequel to 'Murder on the Links,' which was staged at the venue two years ago. It's the last week for fans of the eccentric mystery solver, played by Omri Schein, to catch him in action. The audience of 'Peril in the Alps,' which runs through Sunday, spends the bulk of the show trying to figure out how to catch a suspected guilty party who is always a few steps ahead. David Ellenstein, who joined Laguna Playhouse as interim artistic director in September 2022 and had the interim tag removed in May 2023, has acknowledged the importance of giving the people what they want and doing it well. That mandate then earns equity with the patrons to expose them to new things. Laguna Playhouse's upcoming season will take those chances, with two world premieres among its six-show slate. Those include a Paul Slade Smith comedy in 'Bedside Myself' (Oct. 29-Nov. 16) and more mystery in Matthew Salazar-Thompson's 'The Maltese Falcon' (April 15-May 3). 'It's always exciting to birth a play,' Ellenstein said. 'It's something where you're not just trying to do a play that exists the best you can, but you're actually creating something that's going to exist forever. The way that you do it for that first time is not only completely invented by the company, but then as the play gets published, that's the production that is used to create the printed script. It's been, basically, initially stamped by that first production, and being part of those is always very exciting.' The curtain goes up on the 2025-26 season with 'A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder' (Sept. 17 to Oct. 5). 'Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground,' featuring Tony Award winner John Rubinstein, runs from Jan. 14 to Feb. 1. 'Laughter on the 23rd Floor' (March 4 to 22) and 'Red' (June 10 to 28) round out the coming season's lineup. Ellenstein, who also has a history with Laguna Playhouse as an actor, is excited about the recent audience response. He said season ticket sales for next season are already in line with this year's, and the venue has opened its mezzanine level to accommodate demand on several occasions. 'My vision is to make it a thriving, full theater again, where the performances are packed and there's buzz about everyone, and we are moving in that direction,' said Ellenstein, who has also served as the artistic director of North Coast Repertory Theatre in Solana Beach since 2003. 'Since I've been [at Laguna Playhouse], we have increased the attendance,' he continued. 'We are re-staffing up because there were some staffing positions that needed to get refilled, and it's starting to happen there. I'm actually encouraged and optimistic about the future there and it coming back to its full glory.' An indication of that interest were the dozens of attendees who stayed behind to participate in a talkback with the cast following a performance last Friday evening. Discussion included line memorization, the actors' union status, evolving set changes due to stage size, plus the number of behind-the-scenes staff contributing to the six-actor play that features 29 characters. Valerie Larsen, who plays Captain Hastings, was asked about being cast in a male role. 'One thing that [Dietz] said to me when we were figuring things out, his mentality around that kind of thing is most classic literature characters are male,' Larsen said. 'The way he said it was, 'I think that everyone should have an opportunity to play the great characters.'' Schein's credits include writing the lyrics for 'The Remarkable Mister Holmes,' which was put on by Laguna Playhouse in March. He also played Poirot in 'Murder on the Links,' and describes the experience as 'intimidating' because of the public's familiarity with the character. 'So many people know [Poirot] because of the books, because of the TV show,' Schein said. 'Obviously, both 'Murder on the Links' and 'Peril in the Alps' are written by the same playwright and were directed by the same person, Steven Dietz. ''Murder on the Links' was actually based on the Agatha Christie novel, and he enjoyed the character so much that he wanted to live with the character somewhat. That's why he decided to write the sequel, 'Peril in the Alps.' It's interesting. I think this one is more comedic. Both were comic takes on the Hercule Poirot stories, but this one, I think, is more comical than the last one. We're getting more laughs, in general.' Gabbie Adner, Brian Mackey, Amanda Sitton and Christopher M. Williams team up to tackle the balance of the characters. 'Honky Tonk Angels' (July 30 to Aug. 17) will conclude the current season. There will also be a holiday special musical, 'A Snow White Christmas,' from Dec. 6 to 28.
Gulf Today
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Gulf Today
An aging widow's European river cruise turns deadly in 'Murder Takes a Vacation'
Muriel Blossom began her fictional career as a minor character in 2008, serving as an assistant to private detective Tess Monaghan, the protagonist in twelve of Laura Lippman's fine crime novels. Over the years, she proved valuable to Tess, excellent at surveillance because of an uncanny ability to blend into the background. But now, in "Murder Takes a Vacation," Mrs. Blossom, as she is always called, gets her star turn. "She was a large woman," Lippman writes. "OK, fine. She was fat." But Mrs. Blossom is comfortable with her body although she occasionally feels self-conscious when she senses others are judging her. She is in her late 60s now, widowed and a grandmother, but thanks to a winning lottery ticket she found in a parking lot, she has money for the first time in her life. One of the things she does with it is take her first trip to Europe. On the cross-Atlantic flight, and again when she reaches Paris, younger men begin showing Mrs. Blossom a great deal of attention. She rather likes this, although she wonders if they might be after her money. But soon, after she boards the cruise ship to tour the Seine, she becomes aware that she is being followed. Eventually her stateroom is ransacked and a stranger tries to mug her. To explain why would reveal too much of the story. Suffice it to say that Mrs. Blossom unwittingly gets caught up in something nefarious involving a jewel-encrusted bird that will remind readers of "The Maltese Falcon." And like Sam Spade, she has the strength and guile to deal with it. Lippman's crime novels are often gritty and street-smart, but in this funny, charming cozy about Mrs. Blossom's vacation, both the prose and the plot are playful. "As someone who often writes about terrible people," she says in her author's note, "I loved every minute I spent with Muriel Blossom." Associated Press
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
John Huston's Former L.A. Ranch Has a Miniature Disney Railroad, and It Just Listed for $20 Million
All aboard: A one-of-a-kind ranch in Tarzana, California, with its own fully operational miniature train, has just popped up for sale. The charming abode, which is on the market for $20 million with David Kramer of Compass and Paul Czako of Gussman Czako Estates, was originally built in 1941 for Academy Award-winning actor-director John Huston. The late Hollywood legend, famous for The Maltese Falcon, The African Queen, and The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, lived at the private estate back when the San Fernando Valley still had a Wild West vibe. He welcomed many big-name 'cowboys' into his digs, including famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright. More from Robb Report A 2,000-Acre Montana Ranch With 20 Private Ski Runs Lists for $24 Million Bill Koch's World-Class Wine Collection Just Sold for a Record $28.8 Million at Auction Inside a Luxe New Resort and Spa That Just Opened on the Greek Island of Crete RELATED: Late TV Legend Bob Newhart's Longtime L.A. Home Is Up for Grabs at $10.5 Million The 4.44-acre estate offers more than just an A-list pedigree, though. In 1959, the gated compound was snapped up by Gordon and Holly MacLean, friends of Disney and die-hard train collectors, who added one truly unique feature. With Disney's input, the MacLeans built the Tunnel, Cut & Trestle Railroad: a 7.5-inch gauge track that allows a tiny train to wind through the grounds. The circuit includes bridges, turntables, road signs, and a 240-foot tunnel that is long enough to make you briefly forget you're in Los Angeles. The dual-track system is no toy—it's engineered to run steam, electric, and propane-powered engines, giving the new owner plenty of options for trains. Over the years, the railroad has become a neighborhood legend, hosting community rides and drawing in fellow rail buffs from the L.A. Live Steamers Museum in Griffith Park. Each owner has kept the tradition alive—and yes, a mini-train is included in the sale. RELATED: Former Celtics Co-Owner Jim Pallotta Lists His Sprawling Massachusetts Estate for $38 Million The rest of the estate is just as over-the-top. There's a 12,170-square-foot, three-story main house with six bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, and nine fireplaces. A stone-lined pool flows partially under the house. A reimagined red barn—once a utilitarian structure, now an entertaining lodge—adds another 2,775 square feet, plus a kitchen, bar, bedroom, and loft. Toss in an 807-square-foot guest cottage, a nearly 2,000-square-foot train depot, and a storage wing, because why not? All up, eight bedrooms, 14 bathrooms, and 11 fireplaces are spread across more than 17,000 square feet of living space. Outside, the grounds feel like a private park, with koi ponds, stone paths, rolling lawns, a tennis court, a dog run, and a children's play area. You could hike up the hills, host a wedding, or fire up the steam engine for a spin around the trestle—whatever takes your fancy. The Tarzana compound is equal parts film set, fantasy camp, and legacy property, making it a great addition to any of Robb Report The 10 Priciest Neighborhoods in America (And How They Got to Be That Way) In Pictures: Most Expensive Properties Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Prizzi's Honor' at 40: How John and Anjelica Huston made history together with his penultimate picture
John Huston directed some of the best movies in film history. From his pathbreaking noirs like The Maltese Falcon and The Asphalt Jungle to The African Queen or The Man Who Would Be King, Huston was nominated for 14 Oscars, winning two for The Treasure of Sierra Madre (Best Director and Best Writing, Screenplay). Huston directed his final film, The Dead, while ill with emphysema, and died months before the film's release. His penultimate film, the black comedy organized crime film Prizzi's Honor, was easily one of his best — and that's saying something. Based on Richard Condon's 1982 novel, Prizzi's Honor was released 40 years ago, on June 14, 1985. The film centers Charley Partanna (Jack Nicholson), a mob hitman for the Prizzi family, who falls for Irene Walker (Kathleen Turner). The two become romantically entangled before the situation gets messy: he discovers Walker was married to a man Charley killed for stealing from the mob. That's a problem Irene and Charley can get through, but there are further problems in store. First, estranged Prizzi daughter Maerose (Anjelica Huston) has a past with Charley and ambitions of her own. Second, is the reveal that Irene's secretly an assassin, too, and the Prizzi family hired the duo to take each other out (in the murderous way, not the dating way), in an ever-shifting set of alliances and romantic entanglements. More from GoldDerby 'The Diplomat's' David Gyasi weighs in on a Dennison and Kate romance: 'Eventually something's gotta give' Vote for the 2025 Gold Derby TV Award nominees now! 'How to Train Your Dragon' flies to a franchise-best $83.7 million debut, dethrones 'Lilo & Stitch' There's an obvious resemblance here to 2005's Mr. & Mrs. Smith, where a loving married couple live secret double lives as killers, and one day are ordered by rival agencies to kill each other. Where Smith plays such a premise for ironic action-comedy, Prizzi's Honor highlights Charley's struggles between his duties to the family and to his love. It takes the dangers of mob life seriously, but the made men themselves are treated with humor (referring to protagonist Charley, Huston reportedly told Nicholson repeatedly to 'remember, he's stupid'), setting up an enjoyable parade of double-crosses and complex situations with a hint of tragic irony. The film was a surprise sleeper hit, finishing in the top 30 in a stacked movie year, and it was Anjelica Huston's big break. In Watch Me: A Memoir, Huston notes that no talent agency would bring her aboard before the Yvette Bikoff Agency. Huston was hired on for the SAG minimum, and she convinced Bikoff to negotiate for pay above scale. As Huston recounted in her memoir, the producers weren't thrilled, saying: 'You want more money for Anjelica Huston? You must be kidding. … We'd like nothing better than to see her dropped from the film. She has no talent. Her boyfriend is the star and her father is the director, that's the only reason we are even having this conversation.' 20th Century Fox courtesy of the Everett Collection At the 58th Academy Awards, The Color Purple and Out of Africa received a leading 11 nominations each, with Witness and Prizzi's Honor next with eight apiece. Out of Africa was the night's biggest winner with seven statuettes, while Purple was entirely shut out. Despite prestigious nominations including Best Picture (John Foreman), Best Director (John Huston), and Best Actor (Jack Nicholson), Prizzi's won only one. Anjelica Huston collected the film's only Oscar, for Best Supporting Actress, a well-earned accomplishment given what she went through to land the role. Though he didn't win Best Director, the film still made history for John Huston, who became the oldest person to receive a Best Director nomination at 79 for the film (now eclipsed by Martin Scorsese who was 81 in 2024 when Killers of the Flower Moon received a nomination). It also made John Huston the only person to have directed both his parent (Walter Huston, who won Best Supporting Actor for The Treasure of Sierra Madre) and his child to acting Oscars. Prizzi's Honor is a stunner of a black comedy that still holds up, and a testament for John Huston's ability to find levity even in dark moments. Best of GoldDerby 'It almost killed me': Horror maestro Mike Flanagan looks back at career-making hits from 'Gerald's Game' to 'Hill House' to 'Life of Chuck' Stephen King movies: 14 greatest films ranked worst to best 'The Life of Chuck' cast reveal their favorite Stephen King works, including Mark Hamill's love of the 'terrifying' 'Pet Sematary' Click here to read the full article.
San Francisco Chronicle
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Book Review: An aging widow's European river cruise turns deadly in 'Murder Takes a Vacation'
Muriel Blossom began her fictional career as a minor character in 2008, serving as an assistant to private detective Tess Monaghan, the protagonist in twelve of Laura Lippman's fine crime novels. Over the years, she proved valuable to Tess, excellent at surveillance because of an uncanny ability to blend into the background. But now, in 'Murder Takes a Vacation,' Mrs. Blossom, as she is always called, gets her star turn. 'She was a large woman,' Lippman writes. 'OK, fine. She was fat.' But Mrs. Blossom is comfortable with her body although she occasionally feels self-conscious when she senses others are judging her. She is in her late 60s now, widowed and a grandmother, but thanks to a winning lottery ticket she found in a parking lot, she has money for the first time in her life. One of the things she does with it is take her first trip to Europe. On the cross-Atlantic flight, and again when she reaches Paris, younger men begin showing Mrs. Blossom a great deal of attention. She rather likes this, although she wonders if they might be after her money. But soon, after she boards the cruise ship to tour the Seine, she becomes aware that she is being followed. Eventually her stateroom is ransacked and a stranger tries to mug her. To explain why would reveal too much of the story. Suffice it to say that Mrs. Blossom unwittingly gets caught up in something nefarious involving a jewel-encrusted bird that will remind readers of 'The Maltese Falcon.' And like Sam Spade, she has the strength and guile to deal with it. Lippman's crime novels are often gritty and street-smart, but in this funny, charming cozy about Mrs. Blossom's vacation, both the prose and the plot are playful. 'As someone who often writes about terrible people,' she says in her author's note, 'I loved every minute I spent with Muriel Blossom.' ___ Bruce DeSilva, winner of the Mystery Writers of America's Edgar Award, is the author of the Mulligan crime novels including 'The Dread Line.' ___
