Arts & Society

Gary Tischler • April 20, 2011

New and fresh Irish playwright Enda Walsh is currently getting a full-blown festival exposure at the Studio Theater, with “Penelope,” his contemporary version of the story of Ulysses and his wife, having already been performed.

Now its “The Walworth Face” and “The New Electric Ballroom,” starring some of DC’s finest veteran actors and actresses, being performed simultaneously in the Milton and at the Mead theaters, respectively.

In “The Walworth Farce” you get to see Walsh’s work, his furious passion for words embedded. There’s something brazenly revolting, revolutionary and rash about this play, which builds from confusion to clarity and madness, while blasting away just about all traces of fondness for Irish sentimentality and tropes.

Here’s the trip: three Irish men living in London, a father and two sons, act out the recurring and changing history and farce of their lives in their disjointed up-high city flat. It’s a cross-dressing, sometimes dangerous, violent sorting out of their own history, of murder, death, displacement and identity, plus there’s a prize for best actor each time out. When the youngest son brings in an interloper, things go straight to the inevitable hell, with no pit stop for purgatory.

Ted Van Griethuysen shows again his gift for going from classical, Shakespeare and Shaw to the crude poetics of contemporary Irish plays. He’s a mad, sly, bully-boy ringmaster here. The acting, including Aubrey Deeker and Alex Morf as the sons, is superb all around, and the tensions and foreboding is electric.

“The New Electric Ballroom” stars Jennifer Mendenhall and Nancy Robinette as two Irish sisters lost in the memories of their small-town youth, trying to find the truth.

Gary Tischler •

This Oprah Winfrey-backed musical theater version of Alice Walker’s powerful novel packs more emotional punch than your everyday Broadway musical. The road company, now at the National Theater through April 24, talks and sings the story of Celie, a much put upon young black woman who rises above abuse, ignorance and suffering to become the cornerstone of life for many people. The film version, which starred Whoopee Goldberg, Danny Glover and Oprah Winfrey herself, was directed by Steve Spielberg with great intensity, if a little too much sentiment, and was nominated for 11 Oscars (but won none). The musical is a powerful surprise and moves with flair and power to tell an emotionally affecting story.

Mary Bird •

The weather outside was frightful but inside Al Tiramisu restaurant on Apr. 16, it was only sunshine and Italian cuisine at its authentic best. To celebrate the 150th anniversary of the unification of Italy and the 15th anniversary of his Dupont Circle restaurant, chef/owner and enchanting host Luigi Diotaiuti launched the first in a series of cooking classes featuring 20 regions. Each class will feature insights into the history, culture, inhabitants, food and wine through a hands on cooking demonstration and three course repast with wine pairings. Saturday’s program focused on Sicily with baked sardines and a molded pasta dish highlighting eggplant followed by stuffed cuttlefish. The wines were the region’s stellar offerings. The next event will be May 21 showcasing Sardinia. The program will conclude with an anniversary feast in the fall. [gallery ids="99646,105279,105286,105283" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney •

The N Street Village Gala, always a joyous and easy-going affair, celebrated the powerful women of the nation’s capital and the shelter’s women in recovery at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, April 6. Honored for turning their lives around were Camela Carney, Rene Petaway and Carol Toran. Founders’ awards were given to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and board member Carol Wheeler. Presenter and political pundit Mark Shields remarked: “If you want something done, ask a woman.” PBS’s Gwen Ifill was mistress of ceremonies. Melissa Maxfield was the gala chair was with Diana Enzi and Julianna Smoot as honorary chairs. [gallery ids="99653,105331,105324,105328" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

Susie Dyer and Liza Marshall co-chaired the Fifth Annual Celebration of Hope Gala supporting The Wellness Community of Greater Washington, DC (TWC-DC). The event was held at The Fairfax Hotel on Apr. 7 and honored former Board Chair Barbara Bey, who received the Celebration of Hope Award. Specialties, Inc. was honored with the Partnership Award. TWC-DC offers people with cancer and their loved ones a free of charge professional program providing emotional support, education and hope. Board Chair Scott Ogden said “we help participants help themselves.” President & CEO Paula Rothenberg echoed that sentiment noting “the roller coaster of emotions.” [gallery ids="99647,105284,105290,105288" nav="thumbs"]

Robert Devaney •

Leadership Greater Washington celebrated its 25th birthday at the Newseum, April 12, as members of different years reunited. The impressive group of newsmakers and influencers — connecting business leaders and going beyond regional borders — continues to advance and live by its mission of networking and collaboration through education and other programs that brings leaders together to solve problems. It serves more than 17 city and county governments in D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia. [gallery ids="99652,105330,105326,105319,105322" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetowner •

At the National Building Museum
on March 16th.

Robert Devaney •

The Citizens Association of Georgetown joined with Boffi, the high-end kitchen and bathroom showroom on M Street, and neighborhood chefs on March 21 to give residents an exquisite setting for a springtime taste of their restaurants’ culinary talents. From Clydes, Salvatore Ferro’s crab and spring vegetable salad; from Farmers & Fishers, Al Nappo’s baby cheeseburgers; from Mate, Kahn’s colorful sushi; from Mie N Yu, mixologist Mike Cherner’s cherry blossom cocktail; and from Paolo’s, Tom Chenshaw’s gnocchi. With demonstrations and advice from the chefs, the crowd noshed and chatted through the glassy lit, sleekly modern space. And secrets from the chefs? Ferro said, “Fresh ingredients and this guy,” pointing to his boss John Guattery, Clyde’s corporate chef. Farmers & Fishers’ Nappo revealed: “It’s all in the seasoning, my friend.” And one of the winners for a gift certificate at one of these places? This newspaper’s publisher, Sonya Bernhardt. [gallery ids="99629,105166,105164" nav="thumbs"]

Mary Bird •

On Apr. 4, members of Washington Women and Wine held a Wine, Women and Shoes “Shop til You drop” Spring Celebration in the shoe department at Saks Fifth Avenue, Chevy Chase to support Dress for Success-DC. Dress for Success (DFS) is an international non-profit organization promoting the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and career development tools. Since 1997, DFS has served more than 550,000 women around the world. Saks partnered corporately with Napa Valley’s St. Suprey Vineyards and Winery which provided a “shoemmelier.” Guests enjoyed wine and hors d’oeuvres while admiring the latest shoes with a portion of purchases benefiting DFS. [gallery ids="102555,119973,119981,119984" nav="thumbs"]