Streaming Spotlight by Cindy Summers
Enola Holmes – Amazon Originals

Eudoria Holmes (Helena Bonham Carter) named her daughter Enola (Millie Bobby Brown) because she was a fan of word games and is “alone” spelled backwards, as wanted Enola to grow up to be an independent woman. On the morning of Enola’s sixteenth birthday, she discovered her mother had left leaving some gifts, including some handmade cards with pressed flowers with inspirational sayings.

The disappearance of her mother prompted the return of her two brothers, Mycroft (Sam Claflin) and Sherlock (Henry Cavill), the famous detective, scholar, chemist, virtuoso violinist, expert marksman, pugilist, and brilliant deductive thinker. Sherlock deduced that his mother had planned leaving and not returning. Mycroft’s main concern was finding a boarding school for Enola, which she did not want, but Enola was legally Mycroft’s ward in the absence of their mother.

Enola disguised herself as a boy, went to the train station and headed off to find her mother. She slipped into a private car, where a young man a was hiding in a luggage bag. He introduced himself as Viscount Tewkesbury, the Marquess of Basilwether (Louis Partridge), who snuck onboard to escape his family. The man looking for Tewkesbury found him and tried to throw him off the train, and Enola hit him with a cane and they escaped by jumping from the train and headed to London.

Enola then placed cyphers in every paper she thought her mother may read. Enola then went to the only address she saw her mother write letters to in London, where upstairs she found a group of women practicing martial arts. The teacher Edith knew Enola and Enola recognized her from a women’s meeting at her mother’s home. Remembering names mentioned from that meeting, Enola was able to reverse the names she heard and find the corresponding places in London.

Enola was attacked by the man from the train, set off some explosives to escape and decided to find Tewkesbury. Enola went to the flower market, and found Tewkesbury there. They went back to where Enola was staying when Inspector Lestrade from Scotland Yard burst into the room, catching Enola and turned her over to Mycroft, who dropped her off at Miss Harrison’s Finishing School.

Enola realized the Tewkesbury was in danger because his vote for change would carry much weight with the current Lords in power, and at that very moment Tewkesbury showed up in a wicker crate. Tewkesbury used the crate to sneak Enola out, and they escaped by stealing Miss Harrsion’s motor car and headed to Tewkesbury’s home having determined it was his uncle who was trying to kill him.

They again encounter the man from the train, who knocked out Enola and attempted to kill Tewkesbury, but Enola used a Jujitsu move causing him to fall onto a a statue and die. Tewkesbury’s grandmother revealed herself as the person behind the plan to kill Tewkesbury and used a shotgun to shoot her grandson. Fortunately, Tewkesbury was wearing a metal shield and was unharmed.

Enola returned to her room to find her mother who said she couldn’t stay but wanted to apologize and explain that she had to leave to secure a future world for her daughter, only to learn her daughter had been behind protecting Tewkesbury to support the Reform Bill. Millie Bobby Brown is perfect in her role as Enola Holmes in this amusing detective story having interesting and relatable family dynamics centered around a witty, confident heroine that’s a great inspiration for younger generations of women.

Rated: PG-13
123 minutes

Streaming Spotlight
by Cindy Summers

RBG – 2018 Documentary
Hulu

This documentary follows the heroic life of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who started as a young female law student challenging the norms of equality to attend Harvard Law School during a time when men did not want women there, through her career as an equal rights attorney, to her appointment on the U.S. Supreme Court. Ginsburg became known as the Notorious R.B.G., champion for equality and the Great Dissenter against an ever-growing ultra-conservative U.S. Supreme court.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg earned a bachelor’s degree at Cornell University, where she met her husband, Martin Ginsburg. While attending Harvard Law School in her early twenties (being one of only nine women to the 500 men attending), she was caring for her two-year-old daughter and husband who was going through radiation therapy due to cancer. She gathered her husband’s coursework (who was also in law school) from friends so he wouldn’t fall behind and still handled her own coarse load, somehow managing to make the prestigious Harvard Law Review.

Ruth transferred to Columbia Law School and after graduating Columbia, she became a law professor at Rutgers Law School and Columbia Law School. Inspired by her students, she agreed to teach a course in the new subject of “Gender and Law” as well as a course on “Women and the Law”. Ruth also began dealing with sex discrimination cases, becoming a litigator during the emergence of a Woman’s Rights movement in the 1970s, which had the potential of playing a similar societal role to the Black Civil Right’s movement of the 60s.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg advocated for both men and women facing gender-based bias, successfully arguing five of six cases regarding gender discrimination before the U.S. Supreme Court. Ginsburg argued these cases in the 1970s, when gender discrimination was rampant in U.S. society and an all-male Supreme Court was generally skeptical of claims of bias against women.).

Ruth was always humble and shy, and Marty loved and respected Ruth so much that he went on a relentless campaign to get her nominated to the Supreme Court, using his many contacts in the business and legal communities. Ginsburg was appointed to the federal judiciary by President Jimmy Carter, and later appointed to the Supreme Court by President Bill Clinton.

Justice Ginsburg was the second woman to serve on the Supreme Court, at the time along with Sandra Day O’Conner. Ruth guided that court to understand that women cannot be excluded just because they are women and to start with an assumption that both genders must be treated equally. Ginsburg’s style was to build consensus and was more in the middle of how the justices ranked in ideology in 1993 on a scale from liberal to conservative. Though opposites in most every way, Ginsburg and Scalia developed a strong friendship, were regularly seen attending the opera together and attended speaking events together with a friendly jovial presence.

Justice Ginsburg was a pioneering women’s rights advocate that inspired a younger generation to get involved in the court system with her quick wit and great sense of humor. She became an icon in her 80’s being considered by many to be a superhero, with mottoes appearing like “Can’t spell Truth without Ruth” and becoming known as the Notorious R.B.G. She served on the Supreme Court 27 years until her unfortunate passing this last week at the age of 87 after several battles with cancer.

Rated: PG
97 minutes

Streaming Spotlight
by Cindy Summers

Critical Thinking
Amazon Prime

Critical Thinking is based on the true story where in 1998 five Latin and Black students from Miami Jackson High School in Miami, Florida overcame the challenging situations in their under-served community and at home, eventually winning the National Chess Championships under the guidance of their teacher Mario Martinez (John Leguizamo) with his “never give up on them” attitude.

Most of the students in Mr. Martinez’s Critical Thinking class came there due to troubles in other areas at school, with Principal Kestel (Rachel Bay Jones) using it as more of a detention situation. When students come to the class, Mr. Martinez gives them two choices, do nothing or play chess, joking that he looks forward to the day a student would actually choose chess.

While having his students’ attention, Mr. Martinez tried to instill better choices and values that would help them to achieve success outside their circumstances. The neighborhood was so rough that a student who was walking home from school and didn’t speak English accidentally bumped into a Black girl causing her to drop her portable CD player, which she did not take well and began yelling at him. Andre Lamar (Ramses Jimenez) drove up to the situation asking her if there was a problem, to which she said this guys my problem and then without even pausing shot the teen in the head saying “there’s no problem no more”.

Mr. Martinez taught them positional chess, tried to get them to focus on the artistry of the game, and taught them that “in the game material advantage was not everything” through examples of classic chess games from unconventional chess masters such as the Opera Game authored by Paul Morphy.

Later Marcel Martinez (Jeffry Batista) ended up enrolling at Miami Jackson High from Cuba sharing his book of original moves in exchange for being schooled in traditional positional chess. Marcel was so skilled he could play 4 matches simultaneously against the team with his back turned and win every match. He became the ringer for the team after Ito’s exit due to pressures from losing his auto repair job and falling in with Andre Lamar.

The team was fortunate enough to be gifted some cross-country tickets to the national competition sponsored by the airline to attend the National Chess Championships in Southern California. Mr. Martinez had these parting words as they left to compete, “You already got the knowledge and the moves and the strategy, now it’s just about that thing, that intangible that’s part of you that you bring to the game”.

Marcel had to play the guy who had never lost a game, and when his opponent asked him to come into the bathroom to convince him for a draw, Marcel said no needing a whole point not a half a point for the team to win. When they returned, Marcel realized that his opponent’s clock had not been stopped and he had run down to only 2 minutes, while Marcel still had over 4 minutes left on his clock. Instead of taking advantage of the opportunity, Marcel let his clock wind down to match his opponent be a good sportsman, then played the game and won.

This film highlights the challenges of minorities in under-served communities, but provides inspiration with it’s message that “it doesn’t matter how rich or poor you are, what Ivy League school you may go or may not go to, what prison you hopefully never step foot in because chess is the great equalizer”.

117 minutes

by Shirley Lorraine

Theaters offer digital performances

The Elite Theater based in Oxnard, is presenting periodic digital offerings. Opening on August 21 and continuing through Aug. 28 is 24 Minutes by David Dudley. A one-act play, 24 Minutes features a 911-emergency operator (Yanelly DeLaRosa) who takes a disturbing call made by Caller 1 (Rachel Lemos). The call is coming from a frightened, near-hysterical young woman shot in the thigh who is bleeding on the bathroom floor of a club. Attempts to get specific information is spotty which causes the operator to reflect on similarities surrounding an estrangement with her own daughter of the same name and orientation as the caller. The operator struggles to stay professional and calm while at the same time trying to adjust her own thinking to be more understanding. The call takes only 24 minutes, at which point the caller is no longer heard.

The play is dedicated “in honor of the 49” which took a little research for me to connect as it is not clear from the piece by itself. The 15-minute play is a well-acted and well directed slice of time depicting a portion of the terrorist shooting at the Pulse Nightclub, a gay club in Orlando, Florida on June 12, 2016. In that melee, 49 died and 53 others were injured. The incident has been cited as the second worst mass shooting by a single gunman in U.S. history up to that time.

Next up for the Elite is 20 Questions by Allie Costa, to be presented September 25, 26 and 27. Check the website at www.thelite.org to buy a $5.00 ticket which reserves you an invitation to the stream.

Elite’s digital performances are made possible in part by the City of Oxnard’s Arts in Public Places Grant Program, the Oxnard Cultural Arts Commission, and by patron donations.

A new work is soon to be in rehearsal at the Camarillo Skyway Playhouse, digitally, of course. Playwright, actor, and director Michael Perlmutter will be premiering his new work “Polite Conversation & Wine”. Watch for information on the YouTube streaming event to be held the weekend of September 26. Check www.skywayplayhouse.org for up to date information.

Through a special collaboration, the Rubicon Theatre is offering free digital viewings of Arlene Hutton’s Nibroc Trilogy, previously performed at the Rubicon. There will be two performances of each of the three plays streamed online at Vimeo.com.

The Last Train to Nibroc will air Saturday, August 29 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, August 30 at 2 p.m.

See Rock City will air Saturday, September 5 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, September 6 at 2 p.m.

Gulf View Drive will be seen on Saturday, September 12 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, September 13 at 2 p.m.

All performance require a reservation to receive an online invitation and password to join in. www.rubicontheatre.org has all the details.

Ventura County theater is out there. Grab a snack, wear something comfy, log on and tune in.

Streaming Spotlight by Cindy Summers

7500
Amazon Originals

As the crew boarded for a flight from Berlin to Paris, it seemed just like any other day at work for Tobias Ellis (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), a young American co-pilot with a calm demeanor, who was pleased the crew included his flight-attendant girlfriend Gökce (Aylin Tezel). Tobias had flown with pilot Michael Lutzmann (Carlo Kitzlinger) before and as they went through the preflight checklist they caught up on their personal lives having not flown together for a while.

Shortly after takeoff, a group of terrorists hijacked the plane with knives made from broken glass, initially entering the cockpit and stabbing the pilot in the chest repeatedly. Tobias was cut badly on his left arm but was able to fight them off and lock all but one terrorist out of the cockpit who knocked out, tied up with first aid tape and strapped into the jump seat.

Tobias radioed ground control that they had a 7-5-0-0 (the airline code for hijacking) but that he had resumed control over the plane and his pilot was alive but injured. Outside the cockpit, the terrorists were frantically trying to break in to retrieve their leader Kenan (Murathan Muslu) and get control of the plane, which Tobias was able to watch through a security camera focused on the cockpit door.

Unfortunately, the pilot succumbed to his injuries, and Tobias was instructed to redirect to the nearest airport that could handle the situation, which was in Hanover. This only angered the terrorists more, who decided to threaten to kill hostages if Tobias did not allow them to gain access to the cockpit. Through it all, Tobias handled things with a calm reserve.

Regardless of their treats, Tobias knew it was his duty and refused to open the door. As he watched helplessly on camera, the first passenger was killed, which seemed to upset the youngest terrorist named Vedat (Omid Memar). Then the terrorists got a stewardess, not knowing it was Tobias’ girlfriend, who pleaded with him in Turkish to not open the door and not to cooperate with the terrorist and was murdered right in front of him.

Vedat got very upset when Gökce was killed, saying it was wrong because she was Muslim like them, which Tobias saw on camera and thought he may have an ally in Vedat. Tobias used the plane’s audio system to encourage the hostages to fight the terrorists, saying they only had broken glass and could easily overpower their captures if they worked together. The hostages overtook several terrorists, and Vedat fled to the cockpit door pleading to be let in.

Tobias let Vedat in the cockpit, on the premise of needing help to fly the plane, but unfortunately Kenan came to and escaped, knocked Tobias unconscious, regained control of the plane and then set out to crash it. This was not part of the plan to Vedat, who panicked and kept saying over and over that he didn’t want to die as Kenan rambled Muslim martyr statements. Vedat’s will to live was too strong, and he stabbed Kenan in the neck to prevent him from crashing the plane.

Vedat helped Tobias land the plane in Hanover, but wanted the plane to be refueled using Tobias as a hostage for his demands. Despite Tobias’ urgings to stop and surrender, Vedat continued making threats and was taken out by a sharpshooter.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt has a strong ability to display incredible emotional control during all the edge of your seat moments, which viewers will find plenty of in this high flying thriller.

Rated: R (for violence/terror and language)
92 minutes

Streaming Spotlight by Cindy Summers
The Umbrella Academy
Netflix Original Series

On October 1, 1989, 43 children were inexplicably born around the world to mothers who had not been pregnant that morning. An eccentric billionaire named Reginald Hargreeves sought out these special children and adopted seven, which later revealed had special powers to save the world and made a superhero squad called “The Umbrella Academy”. In their teen years, various issues arose and the team disbanded. Years later as they reached their 30’s, Hargeeve’s passed brings the surviving six of them back together to work through their shared challenging experiences from their childhood and to save the world from a rapidly approaching apocalypse.

Number 1 “Luther” (Tom Hopper) had superhuman powers derived from a near death experience when Hargreeves brought him back to life and was an astronaut living on the moon. Number 2 “Diego” (David Castaneda) was super skilled with knives and blades and spent his time listening to the police scanner to help victims. Number 3 “Allison” (Emmy Raver-Lampman) could plant thoughts in people’s minds. Number 4 “Klaus” (Robert Sheehan) could see entities that had crossed over into the Afterlife, though struggled with drug addiction to deal with his gift. Number 5 (Aidan Gallagher) had disappeared when he was 13 years old, his gift being able to move invisibly through space. Number 6 “Ben” had giant tentacles that would appear when he was forced to fight that passed away in his teens, though became a constant spirit companion of Klaus. Number 7 “Vanya” (Ellen Page) was a talented violinist who was always taught that she was not special and had no powers, taking medication to control her nerves. She wrote a book about being Number 7 that exposed many family secrets and was shunned by many of her siblings.

Though they called him father, Reginald Hargreeves was cold and distant, using the children primarily for experiments while controlling the use of their powers and formally named them “The Umbrella Academy”, publicly wearing school uniforms with masks. As teenagers, he they would be sent on fighting crime missions to thwart things like bank robberies using their individual special skills, except for number 7, who was constantly told that she just wasn’t special. The grew up with a nurturing cyborg mom and Pogo, a humanized chimpanzee that was somewhat of a caring father figure to them, though was loyal to their father.

On the day they all return for their father’s funeral, a vortex appeared and out fell 13 year old Number 5, who had traveled through time to warn them that there was an impending apocalypse happening in 8 days that they had to prevent. Number 5 had learned to travel through time and was 58 in his mind, but appeared back into a 13 year old body. His father warned him that jumping through time was extremely challenging and forbid Number 5 from trying it, though of course that’s exactly what Number 5 did. Unfortunately, he traveled to a time just after the apocalypse and got trapped there for 17 years family time, though 45 years in time travel.

Number 5 had one clue, a prosthetic eye, and determined that there was a single person that needed to be taken out in order to avoid the apocalypse whose name was Harold Jenkins. Harold Jenkins was actually the past identity of Leonard Peabody (John Magaro), Number 7’s new boyfriend who unbeknownst to her had found their father’s journal and was grooming her powers that she was unaware she even had since her father hid them from her. The group decided that regardless of the issues between them, they needed to work together to find a way to stop the apocalypse, along the way finding out many unknown truths about their past with their father.

Along with some intriguing super hero creation stories, The Umbrella Academy is filled with relatable family dynamics, dark humor and unpredictable plot twists interestingly revealed.

Rated: TV-14
10 Episodes – 60 min each

Streaming Spotlight by Cindy Summers

Palm Springs
Hulu Originals

Putting a new spin on the well-known concept of the movie Groundhog Day, Palm Springs finds carefree Nyles reliving a crazy wedding day over and over again and manages to also suck in the sister of the bride Sarah, who both find themselves unable to escape waking up to the same day no matter what they do.

Nyles (Adam Sanberg) woke up in a Palm Springs motel to attend the wedding of his girlfriend Misty’s best friend Tala. After the wedding, Nyles crashed the reception with a moving, yet at times questionable toast wearing casual beach wear with disheveled hair. Nyles was mimicking and mocking reception guests with a strange synchronicity to catch the attention of the maid of honor Sarah (Cristin Milioti), whom he rescued with his unusual toast.

Nyles asked Sarah to leave the party, so they headed out to the desert where Nyles got shot with an arrow in the back by a camo-wearing bow hunter with a nightlight who seemed to be hunting Nyles and who Nyles called “Roy” (J.K. Simmons). Nyles fled and was hit with a second arrow in the leg by Roy, who then disappeared into a cave.

Nyles crawled his way into the same cave, and Sarah came in behind him. He shouted out “don’t come in here” to warn her as he disappeared into the light and woke up to the same day. Sarah didn’t listen and found herself also waking up to the same day. She chased down Nyles demanding an explanation, as apparently he had been through this before.

Nyles explained “This is today, today is yesterday, and tomorrow is also today. It’s one of those infinite time loop situations you might have heard about.” Sarah didn’t want to believe it so she went out to the desert to look for answers against Nyles’ advice and her day got reset again.

Despite their individual repeated attempts to change things, Nyles and Sarah always reset to the morning of the wedding, so decided to just embrace the belief that nothing matters and experience anything and everything without fear. They became fast friends in fun, until Sarah discovered Nyles had lied to her about never hooking up with her before she went in the cave.

The next day, Sarah didn’t wake up Nyles as usual and wasn’t seen by him for months, even though they both were waking up to the same day. Unknown to Nyles, while he was wasting time just wasting time, Sarah was studying Quantum Physics to get out of the day.

Unfortunately, Sarah’s solution involved blowing themselves up at a specific time in the cave. Nyles was too afraid, but realized he’d rather die in an explosion with Sarah than live in the loop without her, so went and found her in the cave in the desert. Sarah’s plan worked and they found themselves being kicked out of their refuge pool by the vacationing family that finally returned.

Palm Spring is filled with clever, witty dialog and sharp comedic timing. It also shows the same day from both Nyles’ and Sarah’s perspectives (similar to Gus Van Sant’s movie Elephant), and viewers who enjoy this movie would appreciate the beginning so much more by re-watching at least the first 15 minutes.

Rated: R
87 minutes

Streaming Spotlight by Cindy Summers

The Old Guard
Netflix

The Old Guard is based on the acclaimed graphic novel by Greg Rucka about a covert group of immortal mercenaries that have been protecting the world for centuries. Led by Andy (Charlize Theron) who, being the oldest and whom they call “Boss”, unexpectedly loses her centuries of immortality with the appearance of Nile (Kiki Layne). Due to being misled by a previously trusted client named Copley (Chiwetel Ejiofor), the team’s special abilities are exposed to the head of Merrick Corp. who believes their DNA could be the answer to aging and illness, as well as creating great wealth for his pharmaceutical company.

After some time apart, the team of four (Andy, Joe, Nicky and Booker) met in Morocco to rescue some kidnapped students, arranged by a previous client named Copley, but were ambushed by a team hired by Copley to catch them, and were shot with hundreds of rounds. The gunmen let down their guard while bullets seemed to magically exit from the bodies of Andy’s team as they came back to life and slaughtered the gunmen. Copley had a long held theory that they were immortal and showed the video to Merrick (Harry Melling), who was developing various anti-aging and anti-disease pharmaceuticals.

After escaping the shootout, the team had a combined dream of a female soldier that was an indicator that there was someone else out there like them, which hadn’t happened for 200 years, Her name was Nile Freeman, a marine in Afghanistan that had gotten in an altercation where her throat was slit and though it seemed she died, she miraculously recovered without even a scratch, which was very disconcerting to her fellow soldiers. Andy, knowing the challenges Nile was facing, left to find the female marine and sent the rest of team after Copley for setting them up.

Andy found Nile and defended her against the soldiers that were about to have her sent away due to her strange recovery. She took her to meet the rest of the team in Paris where they explained that they knew where to find her because they dream of each of each other until they find one another. Joe and Nicky had been part of the team since the Crusades and after endlessly trying to kill each other became lovers. Andy was the oldest, and was struggling with loosing Quynh long ago, who was dropped in a steel cage in the ocean to die and come back to life for eternity.

Unfortunately, Joe and Nicky were captured by an assault team lead by Copley and taken to Merrick’s lab. Nile decided it was all too much, so Andy & Booker went to the lab to rescue Joe and Nicky. Unknown to the team, Booker was working with Copley and helped to capture Andy by shooting her, not knowing she had lost her immortality, but was captured himself by Merrick’s team to be caged and tested with the others.

Nile found Copley, who showed her every incredible thing Andy had affected throughout history with her actions, explaining he turned the team over to help stop disease because of losing his wife. Copley took Nile to the lab to rescue the team and after they escaped they decided Booker’s punishment would be to be alone for 100 years. The team then returned to Copley’s place where they saw all the research he had done to chronicle their heroic efforts throughout time, so they let him off the hook in exchange for protecting them and their anonymity so that they could continue their work.

This film has exquisitely timed action-packed sequences that mimic well-choreographed dance, and Charlize Theron is perfectly cast as the leader of this extraordinary team of immortals. The ending also points toward a sequel with Quynh showing up at Booker’s place six months after his exile.

Rating: R (for sequences of graphic violence, and language)
125 minutes

by Shirley Lorraine

Fractured Actors Serve Laughs A La Carte

Actors gotta act. Audiences love to laugh. To meet both needs, the Fractured Actors Theater Company presented a digital production called Laughter in Place last Friday evening. Though not widely advertised, the Company has been around for several years and has produced some challenging and engaging material covering a wide range of styles and subjects. They tout “theater for a non-traditional audience”. I take that to mean anything goes. I especially love the phrase one of the actors said – “actors in isolation only get weirder.” So true. Haven’t we all changed a bit?

Noted on the Fractured Actors’ website is this statement – “Revisit your favorite characters from our past Speakeasy Projects and meet a new host of oddballs and misfits with brand new stories to tell about these strange times we’re all experiencing together. From afar. But also together.”

Now really, few things are better than being able to watch a show in your p.j.’s with your favorite beverage and snacks readily at hand. You don’t even have to comb your hair.

The one-hour YouTube premiere featured a collection of Zoom interludes, sketch comedy, original music, and a variety of talents. Host Bryan White stated, “We’re glad to not be with you this evening.” Of note are two original songs written and performed by Shelby Figueroa. The lament of Introvert’s Paradise is right on point. Her song Trash TV also has clever lyrics and is well done. She is accompanied in both by James Dorward.

A few of the sketches are re-dos of vignettes from previous performances. Some add a measure of pointed social commentary on the Covid-19 situation. A surprise visit from Dr. Fauci (Bryan White) illuminates the importance of social distancing. It is healing to laugh at how everyone is coping, or not. Grad party shows a family celebrating a middle school graduation via Zoom. Youngster Hunter Ham (the Grad) is a highlight. The inserted product advertisements are amusing and inventive. There is a little something for everyone.

Even the actor’s pets get into the act. One vignette features a bevy of cats (and one dog) voicing their feelings on owners who get in their space.

In the spirit of theatrical generosity, with tongue firmly in cheek, the Company promises a full refund of your (free) admission should you not thoroughly enjoy the evening of laughter. Totally worth twice the price. A guarantee is always appreciated.

Fractured Actors welcomes performers and backstage helpers of all types, all experiences, and all ages to be involved. Missed this one? I almost did but I am glad I got to catch the premiere showing. And, the production is available on the company’s YouTube channel to watch any time. Go to YouTube Fractured Actors to join in.

The best way to stay informed of what’s up next is to subscribe to the company’s email list via their website, www.FracturedActors.com.

by Shirley Lorraine

Entertainment Available in Creative Ways

Local stages are still dark, but some theater companies are finding ways to meet the need for entertainment and education in creative and innovative ways.

Conejo Playhouse in Thousand Oaks has been offering CPT Saturday Afternoon Live, a series of stand-alone workshops and webinars via Zoom Saturday afternoons at 2 p.m. Many are free. Advance registration is required to get the Zoom invitation and log-in information. Visit the theater’s website at www.conejoplayers.org for specifics.

Also at Conejo, coming in August will be Car Park Theatre! An evening of Broadway songs, silent auction (bid via phone) and dinner available through Big Mann BBQ. All from the safety of your car! Audition information is on their website with event details to follow soon.

Ventura’s Rubicon Theatre is bringing a Safe Distance Drive-in Theatre Concert Series to the parking lot of the Ventura Fairgrounds in July, August, and early September. The live 75-minute concerts will be performed on an elevated stage and projected onto four large screens. Cars will be parked with safe distance guidelines. The line up includes Drive-in Hits, Samonsky Sings Sinatra, Forever Plaid Reunion Concert, Jimmy Messina and Friends, and Music of the Knights. Contact the service desk at 1-800-667-2900 or visit www.rubicontheatre.org for more information and tickets.

Several of the theaters are periodically offering streamed performances of various kinds. Check your favorite VC theater’s website to get current information. Here are a few: Elite Theater – www.theelite.org; SPTC – www.santapaulatheatercenter.org; Ojai Arts Center – www.ojaiact.org; Camarillo – www.skywayplayhouse.org; Moorpark – www.highstreetartscenter.com; and Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center – www.simi-arts.org.

As of last Friday and for a few weeks forward, the Elite Theater is presenting “A Midsummer Night’s Stream” – a digital offering of the Bard’s well-known summer staple. The actors are all chiming in from their own homes, so the video qualities vary. The production is a work in progress. Opening night’s performance was still experiencing a few technological challenges, but Shakespeare’s words are always melodic, and it was thrilling to see “live” theater continuing. Register for a performance at the Elite website. The tickets are only $5.00 and, hey, you can watch in the comfort of your own home. Give it a try.

It remains to be seen when and if any of these theaters will be able to physically reopen. In the meantime, keep checking in to see what is happening. Your support is needed. All of our theaters gratefully accept donations to help secure reopening.

Of course, if you are so inclined, impromptu street theater (six feet apart, please) is still an option. Dance, sing, play an instrument, recite a poem, or tell jokes. At the very least, you will share smiles with others.

Another theater update – The Bank of America Performing Arts Center Thousand Oaks (Civic Arts Plaza) has announced that all live performances are cancelled until January 2021. Those holding tickets may contact the box office at 805.449.2787 or visit their website at www.BAPACthousandoaks.com for details.