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family fun KIDS
thru Dec 6 ~ Mary Poppins ~ presented by SRJC Theatre Arts, 1501 Mendocino Ave, Parking permits for $4 are required in campus lots. Tickets www.theatrearts. santarosa.edu/; (707) 527-4307. Tickets range from $12 to $22.
Dec 1 ~ Lightwire Theater’s A Very Electric Christmas ~ a unique glow- in-the-dark presentation—follows the story of a young bird named Max and his family as they head south for the winter. Wells Fargo Center for the Arts, 50 Mark West Springs Road, Santa Rosa. $21 adults, $16 child. Arrive early for Free Fun with Art. 707-546-3600.
Everyone’s favorite flying car comes to life in this Broadway musical. It’s based on the beloved film version of a children’s book by Ian Fleming. $10 for youth, $15 for adults. Cinnabar Theater, 3333 Petaluma Blvd North at Skillman Lane. 707-763-8920, www.cinnabartheater.org
Dec 5 ~ Science Saturday ~ Families are welcome to stop by and join a Discovery Center naturalist for fun, hands-on activities with a different theme each month. Activities start on the hour at 1, 2 or 3 p.m. Science Saturdays feature tangible experiments and projects that let children explore the world around us. Free event. Parking is $7 or free for Regional Parks members.
Dec 5 ~ Michael’s Kids Club ~ They craft. You shop. Drop in to Michaels and Kids take home a completed project. 30 minutes of creative craft fun, including supplies. $2 per child. 10a-noon. Michael’s in Santa Rosa and Petaluma.
Dec 5 ~ Comic Artist Workshop for Girl Scout Cadettes ~ Earn your Comic Artist badge in this special, hands-on workshop. Work with a professional cartoonist to develop stories and characters and create your own four- panel comic strip from beginning to end. For fees and reservations, (707) 544-5472. Charles M. Schulz Museum, www.schulzmuseum.org
Dec 5 ~ Home Depot Kids Workshop ~ Holiday Stacking Blocks, Home Depot, 4825 Redwood Drive,Rohnert Park. Hands-on workshop and build fun holiday stacking blocks. All kids get to keep their craft, receive a FREE certificate of achievement, a Workshop Apron, and a commemorative pin while supplies last. 9a-Noon. www.workshops.homedepot.com
Dec 5 ~ Disney’s Prep & Landing: Drawing Inspiration from A Charlie Brown Christmas ~ Kevin Deters and Stevie Wermers-Skelton, directors and writers of Disney’s Prep & Landing animated Christmas specials, will discuss their process of creating the shows, and how A Charlie Brown Christmas influenced them along the way. 2p, Charles M. Schulz Museum, www.schulzmuseum.org
Dec 8 ~ Benedettiville Storytime at Copperfield’s ~ Jen and Gio will regale you and your kids with stories and songs. They’ll be rocking the kids’ section somewhere between The Rainbow Fairies and Harold and the Purple Crayon. Free. 140 Kentucky St, Petaluma. www.copperfieldsbooks.com
Dec 12 ~ Holly Jolly Holiday Fundraiser ~ Come to a Double Feature presented in the large 500 seat theater! ELF 5p followed by the classic film, White Christmas at 8p. In between there will be Live Entertainment at 7! Adults $8, Children $6. Spreckles Theater. 707-588- 3400, 5409 Snyder Lane, Rohnert Park.
Dec 13 ~ Tutu-A-Gogo Storytime: Rapunzel ~ Story Time with Rapunzel. Great for both boys and girls. 10:15-11a. $14. 707-620-0663. 9030 Windsor Rd, Windsor.
Dec 19 ~ Family Nature Walks ~ Get the kids outside and let them explore Spring Lake Regional Park with a naturalist from the park’s Environmental Discovery Center. One-hour hikes start at 1 and 3p. Return to the Center for nature-themed crafts and to explore the touchable tide pool and other exhibits. Parking is $7 or free for Regional Parks members. Heavy rain cancels.
Dec 31 ~ Happy New Year, Charlie Brown ~ Ring in the New Year with hands-on crafts for kids, and Santa Rosa’s only Up-Down and Baby Balloon Drops at noon, and root beer toasts at noon and 3p! 10a-4p. Charles M. Schulz Museum, www.schulzmuseum.org
Charles M. Schulz Museum & Research Center ~ 2301 Hardies Ln, Santa Rosa. Visit the Museum website for a complete class schedule, or call for fees and reservations at (707) 284-1263. www.schulzmuseum.org
DVD Reviews
Another Cinderella
By Diane McCurdy
The story of Cinderella story has been told hundreds of times in hundreds
of different ways and will be told hundreds of times hence. According to Joseph Campbell the disdained beauty who overcomes her dire situation and achieves royal status is something ingrained in our collective unconscious. We crave it. What makes this version special is its director and cast. No less
a personage than
Kenneth Branagh,
eminent actor
and interpreter of
Shakespeare, is in the
driver’s seat. He gave
us a four hour version
of Hamlet so he is an
odd but successful
choice to helm a fairy
tale. Oscar winner,
Cate Blanchett, is
the maliciously,
malignant stepmother. Oftentimes it is the villain who steals the show
and Cate does it here magnificently. Helena Bonham Carter is the fairy godmother. Known not only for her quirkiness in her personal life but in her portrayals she makes a perfect bouncy spirit. Galloping in as the charming prince is Richard Madden from The Game of Thrones and the glass slipper lady herself is Lily James of Downton Abbey. She is down to earth and animated but Cindy should never have to play second fiddle to her prince and the truth is he is prettier than she is. This is a film for adults as well as children with wonderful settings, accessories and costumes, circumstance and pomp.
From the fantastical to the very real we have Me Earl and the Dying Girl. Greg, the “me” of the title is a typical teenager, not quite a nerd or a loner but he exists on the fringes of high school society not belonging to any definitive group. Greg and Earl spend their time making video remakes of famous movies giving them weird titles that are supposed to be puns but don’t quite measure up. Adapted from a young adult novel, the film treats themes of death and friendship wrapped in a bittersweet coming of age drama. It is slight and fragile and almost poetic in concept.
Earl, who is black, and Greg are inseparable. Rachel, the dying girl, is not
a close friend of either but Greg’s mother insists that he spend times with
her because she feels sorry for her. Initially all three resist the idea of a trio. Greg doesn’t want to be bothered. Earl is oblivious and Rachel doesn’t want their pity. But, predictably, a strong bond is created. Now all this could have melted into a gooey maudlin mess but as deftly handled by director, Alfonso Gomez Rejon, the film is touching without trying to wring out buckets of tears. The viewer might feel a little dewy eyed, however.
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Dec 4-6 ~ Chitty Chitty Bang Bang ~
Little Ones ~ 10am - Noon Enjoy stories, arts and crafts activities, and movement games. $5 per child.
Every 2nd Sat ~ Second Saturday Cartoonist: Ellis Kim, 1-3p
Children’s Museum of Sonoma County. Free with admission. cmosc.org
Every Thu ~ Musical Moments with Nancy Nelle ~ Signs-ups required, start at 9:30a. 10-10:30a
Every Fri ~ Crazy, Awesome Science! ~ This program often includes a scientific demonstration followed by hands-on science for everyone. 2-3p
Every Sat ~ Science Saturday at Environmental Discovery Center ~ FREE. Tangible experiments & projects let children explore the natural world. Every first Sat. 1, 2 & 3 p.m. Event is free. Parking $7. 393 Violetti Rd., Santa Rosa. parks.sonomacounty.ca.gov.
Every Sat ~ Art Spark ~ Watercolor paints, printmaking, felting & building cars. 10–11 a.m. $7. Babies free. Children’s Museum of Sonoma County. 1835 W. Steele Ln., Santa Rosa. cmosc.org.
1st Sat ~ KidsWorx Creative Workshop at Friedman’s Home Improvement ~ 9a–12p at the Santa Rosa Friedman’s Home Improvement store. FREE monthly KidsWorx Creative Workshop. 4055 Santa Rosa Avenue, Santa Rosa www.friedmanshome.com/category/ kidsworx/
Both of these films are gentle but have a core that is profound in purveying some universal truths in a lyrical, wistful way.
ARCHIVES of Diane McCurdy and Don Gibble’s Movie Reviews can be found at
SonomaCountyGazette.com - Search FILM