JUNE:
The Matinee Friends have always enjoyed the concerts by The Phoenix Gay Men’s Chorus, so we were expecting a wonderful afternoon when we went to the Tempe Center for the Arts on June 28 to attend their “Broadway Lights” show. We were not disappointed; in fact this was the best program with the biggest chorus from this group of talented men that we have been lucky enough to see.
In addition to many songs we could recognize instantly, they did several unfamiliar ones, which made for a perfectly varied program. A skilled group of 14 musicians provided the musical accompaniment. And to top it off, their dance troupe added an exciting addition to many of the numbers. There was also a smaller group of twelve called Canyon Echoes that sang several a capella numbers. We were entertained, amused, impressed, and moved by this standout concert.
AUGUST: (See picture at the top of this post)
Four Matinee Friends were the lucky few to enjoy an afternoon at one of our favorite theaters, the Don Bluth Frontrow Theater. There is not a bad seat in this intimate in-the-round venue. Our treat on Saturday, August 1, was “Baskerville”, a mix of farce, slapstick and thrills, based on the classic Sherlock Holmes mystery on the moors. Who killed Sir Charles Baskerville? Will his heir survive? Is there really a huge, bloodthirsty, murderous hound roaming the countryside? In addition to Holmes and Watson, there were about forty other characters played by only three actors. These folks were amazing in their portrayals of individual people, with changes in expression, speech, and very quick costume changes. It was the perfect entertainment for a sweltering summer afternoon.
