Clef Notes
It was like a scene from a Merchant-Ivory movie when CAMA – the Community Arts Music Association – kicked off its 100th anniversary season with a Music on the Riviera reception for major donors at Riviera Park.
More than 100 guests strolled the grounds, seeking shade under the umbrellas from the blazing sun, as the UCSB Flute Ensemble, conducted by Jill Felber, performed, along with cellist Katrina Agate, and violinist Sara Bashere.
Christine Emmons, chair of the international circle, spoke about the centennial season, which includes the Los Angeles Philharmonic with Gustavo Dudamel, legendary violinist Itzhak Perlman, the Russian National Orchestra, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and London’s Philharmonia Orchestra under former L.A. Phil director Esa-Pekka Salonen.
Among the music loving crowd were Deborah Bertling, centennial celebration chair, CAMA president Robert Montgomery and his wife Valerie, Barbara Burger and Paul Munch, Robert Emmons, Mahri Kerley, Lynn Kirst, Christopher Lancashire and Catherine Gee, Mary Collier, Denny and Bitsy Bacon, and Kimberly Phillips.
Lies Detector
The School for Lies, the first show of the Ensemble Theatre’s 40th anniversary season, is a deliciously hilarious freewheeling production based on the 1666 work The Misanthrope, Moliere’s classic comedy.
Written by David Ives, the playwright of the company’s popular 2013 production The Liar, and directed by company artistic director Jonathan Fox, the script, in rhyming verse, is an effervescent comedy of manners featuring Adam Mondschein as a caustic courtier who falls for widow and socialite Celimene, delightfully played by Jill Van Velzer, who even resorts to rap to make her point.
Jamie Torcellini as the hapless butler and Matt Wolpe as mischief-maker Philinte add to the madcap mix, with Ross Hellwig, Lara Hillier, Matt Shea, and Samantha Eggers completing the highly entertaining cast.
The production runs through Sunday, October 21.
