Page 66 - Sonoma County gazette September 2018

The Leisure Seeker
by Diane McCurdy
We live in a death denying indeed a death
defying society and I am society’s child.
In fact, as a nation we would rather not mention that troublesome event at all. People pass away, expire, or “kick the bucket”. It
would be morbid to dwell on the inevitable but perhaps it would dispel some of the fear
that surrounds death if we came to terms with it. I see so many movies but the film that really
resonated, that I reflect back on is The Leisure Seeker. It did not particularly impress the critics in this country. But I have a hunch it was better received over seas where they have a more intimate
relationship with the grim reaper. It is also noteworthy that the writers, editor, composer, and cinematographer are
all Italian. The stars are Helen Mirren who is British but of recent Russian descent and Donald Sutherland who is Canadian. Donald is actually 83 and Helen is 73. They are perfectly suited to their roles of a couple of
50 years. Donald is experiencing the middle stages of dementia and Helen is gravely ill evidenced by her pill- popping and her bouts of nausea. She is probably suffering from terminal cancer.
In what appears to be an irresponsible whim to their adult children but actually is a finely tuned plan engineered by Helen, the couple embarks on a road trip in their vintage R.V. christened The Leisure Seeker. The idea is
take Donald from their home in Massachusetts to Florida so that
Donald, a retired English professor, can finally see the home of his idol, Ernest Hemingway. Along the way long forgotten secrets bubble to the surface as
well as adventures and misadventures. Donald stumbles onto a Trump rally and shows up with a “Make America Great Again” hat but is clueless as to the meaning. Then he accuses Helen of still being in love with an old boyfriend. This necessitates a detour to a nursing home where one of the residents is Dick Gregory who delivers one of the funniest cameos on celluloid. As their children fret and worry the couple meander from campground to hotel. Sutherland gives a nuanced performance of a brilliant mind that is diminishing. Mirren exudes a warmth and tenderness as she deals with her husband’s mental and her own physical decline.
This is not a depressing “downer”. Scattered throughout there is a great deal of comedy. The film is bittersweet.
By Date
Sep 27 ~ Best of the Fest – Documentary Films - Letters from Baghdad - Gertrude Bell, 12p, 7p Sebastopol Center for the Arts, 282 South High St,, Sebastopol, 707- 829-4797, sebastopolfilmfestival.org
Sep 23 ~ 4th Sundays - Rio Theater - Toy Story - The secret life of toys when people are not around. $6,$4 under 13, FREE 2 and under, Rio Theater and Cafe, 20396 Bohemian Highway, Monte Rio, 707-520-4075, riotheater.com
Call for Entries
Jul 28 - Sep 1 ~ Epic Editing Challenge - Are you an epic film editor? Prove your skills by taking the Epic Editing Challenge. KrisTruini@kriscoart
Outdoor Movies
Sep 7, 14, 21 ~ Movies in Howarth Park - FREE, Howarth Park, 630 Summerfield Rd., Santa Rosa, srcity.org/2170/Movies- in-the-Park
Sep 7 ~ Black Panther - FREE Movies on the Green, FREE, 7p Green Music Center at Sonoma State University, 1801 East Cotati Ave., Weill Lawn, Rohnert Park, gmc.sonoma.edu
By Date
Sep 1, 2 ~ The Comedy of Errors - A madcap ride, known as Shakespeare's funniest! Shakespeare’s first and shortest play is a farcical onslaught of mistaken identities, fateful romance and family reunions. $18-$36, 7p, 6th St. Playhouse, 52 W 6th St., The Cannery Ruins - Parking lot entrance, Santa Rosa, 707-523-4185, 6thSt.playhouse.com
- All’s Well That Ends Well runs Th, Fr, Sat @ 7pm and Speechless Shakespeare Sun @ 4pm. Bring your short lawn chair to enjoy a vaudevillian presentation for the entire family. FREE, Foundry Wharf Green, 625 2nd St., Petaluma, 707-364- 8667, petalumashakespeare.org
Sep 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14, 15, 16 ~ Savage Wealth - Striver Todd and slacker Gabe are two brothers seeking to sell their inherited lake view Tahoe home. The only obstacle is childhood friend who wishes to sell the vacant lot opposite their property. $15-$30, Main Stage West, 104 N Main St., Sebastopol, 707- 823-0177, mainstagewest.com
Sep 14 ~ Movie Night on Courthouse Square - Pretty in Pink, FREE, 6:30- 10p, Downtown Santa Rosa, 600- 636 4th St, Santa Rosa, 707-545-1414, santarosametrochamber.com
Rialto Cinemas
6868 McKinley St., Sebastopol, 707-525-4840, rialtocinemas.com
Sep 6,15 ~ NT Live 2018 Fall Season - A new version of August Strinberg's play Miss Julie. $18-$26
Sep 6, 15, 20 ~ An American in Paris - The Musical - Featuring the music and lyrics of George and Ira Gershwin. $18-$26, 1p and 7p
Sep 27,29 ~ NT Live 2018 Fall Season - King Lear - Ian McKellen's portrayal of the King. $18-$24, Sep 27, 7p, Sep 29, 10a
Sonoma Film Institute
$5 suggested donation, $5 parking fee, Sonoma State University, 1801 E. Cotati Ave., Warren Auditorium, IRohnert Park, 707- 664-2606, sfi.sonoma.edu
Sep 14,16 ~ In the Fade - Exploring terrorist attacks in Germany.
Sep 21,23 ~ Shakespeare Wallah - English actors in India performing Shakespeare.
Sep 26 ~ Free Showing: Award-Winning
"Who Is Dayani Cristal?" with Gael Garcia Bernal FREE 6:30p
Thru Sep 1 ~ Shakespeare By The River
Sep 28,30 ~ High School - 1968 documentary on a Philadelphia high school.
Sep 12 - 15 ~ 16th Annual Chautauqua Revue - extravaganza of community celebration with storytelling, vaudeville, and circus, the Revue is a show like no other. $10-$55, Sep 12-14, 7:30p, Sep 15, 2p and 7:30p, Occidental Arts & Ecology Center, 15290 Coleman Valley Rd., North Garden Theater, Occidental, 707-874- 1557, oaec.org/events/performances
Thru Oct 7 ~ Guys and Dolls - High rollers and the gals who love them! Jam-packed with big, flashy numbers like “Luck Be a Lady” and “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat,” $22-$35, 6th St. Playhouse, 52 W 6th St., G.K. Hardt Theatre, Santa Rosa, 707-523-4185, 6thSt.playhouse.com
Thru Oct 7 ~ Tapas Short Play Festival 2018 - Pegasus Theater Company presents Tapas a New Short Play Festival written by Bay Area playwrights $15-$18, Mt. Jackson Masonic Lodge, 14040 Church St., Guerneville, 800-838-3006, Frances Werner, pegasustheater8.brownpapertickets. com, franceswerner@sonic.net
Ongoing
Reader's Theatre Group ~ Read a script adapted from literature.The audience picturing the action from hearing the script being read aloud. It requires no sets, costumes, props, or memorized lines. Meet in the OCA classroom. FREE; 2nd & 4th Tue; 7p, Occidental Center for the Arts, 3850 Doris Murphy Court, Occidental, 707-829- 2176, occidentalcenterforthearts.org/, joanjustjoan@hotmail.com
READ Diane McCurdy’s DVD and Book REVIEWS @ SonomaCountyGazette.com
66 - www.sonomacountygazette.com - 9/18