LIVEWIRE: Beyoncé set to play 1st live concert in almost 5 years, E3
OFF THE MENU: New year, new trends for dining out, E5
CALENDAR: Events at museums, galleries in WMass, E10
“Native Gardens,” a play about next-door neighbors, their gardens, culture clashes and other social issues, opens today at the Majestic Theater in West Springfield continuing its 25th season.
The play, which runs through Feb.12, looks at how next-door neighbors in an affluent neighborhood in Washington, D.C., hash out border disputes and cultural misunderstandings. The comedy focuses on Frank and Virginia Butely, residents of a lush home who fill their time with dinner parties and tending to Frank’s prize-winning garden. When lawyer Pablo Del Valle and his pregnant wife Tania move into the fixer-upper next door, they challenge the status quo by cultivating a “native garden,” planting only vegetation indigenous to the area, and threatening Frank’s annual entry to the Potomac Horticultural Society’s neighborhood garden contest.
“J. T. Waite, who has done a number of shows with us, who was actually in the play down in Florida a year or so ago, recommended it to me. I liked it and found it to be a good story about
a culture clash between two couples that resolves on good terms. And J. T. is actually performing in our production,” said Danny Eaton, the Majestic’s founder and producing director.
Cast members include J. T. Waite as Frank, Ellen Barry as Virginia, Peter Evangelista as Pablo and Sara Linares as Tania. They are joined by Tina Sparkle, Michael Morales and Mikey Perez, who portray three gardeners. The play is directed by James Warwick, who trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama in London. He played leading roles in London’s West End theater and
on national tour as well as many series for BBC Television before coming to America and directing U.S. regional and off-Broadway theater. He currently lives in the Berkshires and has directed for the Chester Theater and Shakespeare and Co.
“James came to the Majestic to watch a friend of his perform in our production of Noel Coward’s ‘Blithe Spirit.’ We struck up a conversation afterwards and the next day he emailed me his resume. I knew of him, for sure, and wrote back asking him if that was his way of telling me he wanted to direct for us and I told him we would love to have him,” Eaton said.
Warwick said he was ”genuinely impressed” when visiting the Majestic.
“They set high standards for themselves ... the whole production from the acting to the set and design. The theater was filled, and these
Actors, from left, Sara Linares, Tina Sparkle, Mikey Perez and Michael Graham Morales are shown in a scene from “Native Gardens,” being staged at West Springfield’s Majestic Theater. (KAIT RANKINS PHOTO)“Native Gardens” [is] a “thoughtprovoking, serious comedy that crosses several genres.”
James Warwick, director of “Native Gardens”
BEYONCÉ IS REportedly going to play a full live concert for the first time in almost five years.
Beyoncé, 41, released her seventh studio album, “Renaissance,” in 2022, but has not performed a full-length show since 2018. But according to The Sun newspaper’s “Bizarre” column, the singer will perform an hourlong concert at Atlantis, The Palm resort in Dubai on Jan. 21.
“Beyonce is being lined up to sing at Atlantis as part of a huge event. The hotel has put on a range of massive performances recently, with Kylie Minogue booked in to perform on New Year’s Eve,” a source told the newspaper.
• Comedian Joe Pera will play the Academy of Music in Northampton on Jan. 20.
including ‘”Joe Pera Helps You Find the Perfect Christmas Tree” and “Relaxing Old Footage with Joe Pera.” Pera can also be seen appearing on Season 5 of “Search Party.”
• Chic founder Nile Rodgers has called Thom Bell “one of the greatest musical geniuses of our time.”
Bell, a Grammy Award-winning producer who was renowned as one of the creators of the Sound of Philadelphia (along with Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff) died
AGOSTINI / INVISION
Born in Buffalo, New York, but now living in New York City, Pera is best known for his current Adult Swim series, “Joe Pera Talks With You.” He has performed on programs such as “Conan” and “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” as well as on various Comedy Central shows.
After his animated special “Joe Pera Talks You To Sleep,” he followed up with other projects for Adult Swim
Doc’s Place: Karaoke. 1264 Granby Road, Chicopee
Southwick Inn: Open mic hosted by Steve Piper of Roadhouse Band. 479 College Highway, Southwick
The Drake: Kalliope Jones & Lemon Street. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst
The Still: Drink specials. 63 Springfield St., Agawam
West Springfield Fish and Game Club: CD jukebox, pool table. 329 Garden St., Feeding Hills
Whip City Brew: DJ with dance. 287 Elm St., Westfield
Delaney House: Ask Me Now. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke
Doc’s Place: Karaoke. 1264 Granby Road, Chicopee
SEE NIGHTCLUBS, PAGE E12
(STEPHANIE AARONSON / THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER VIA AP, FILE)
SEE LIVEWIRE, PAGE E12
Comedian Joe Pera will play the Academy of Music in Northampton on Jan. 20.
(EVAN
days in the challenging times of COVID that is not easy to do. The audience was laughing it up and I felt this is why we do theater. The Majestic is a true community center,” Warwick said.
The director called “Native Gardens” a “thought-provoking, serious comedy that crosses several genres.”
“It is a play that will appeal to every single member of the audience, nobody gets left out in the story. Everybody will recognize one of the four character or part of the situation they find themselves in. And the play finishes with the couples feeling a genuine warmth and regard for one another despite the insurmountable challenges they faced,” Warwick said.
J. T. Waite, who plays Frank, agreed with Warwick that the audience will “see a little of themselves in every
one of the characters” and he finds Frank a “complex little man.”
“I lived in D.C. for a few years in the mid ‘90s and met a lot like him in Georgetown. He is proud man who is set in his ways. Part of what I enjoy about the play is that he comes to recognize there might be another way to approach situations, not just that this is right and this is wrong. He is a very amusing character, He is a serious person as far as he is concerned and I like him,” Waite said
Ticket prices range from $29 to $35 and can be obtained by visiting or calling the box office at 413-747-7797 during hours of operation, Monday through Friday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Audience members are required to wear a mask while in the building unless eating or drinking in the café.
For more information, visit majestictheater.com.
“It is a play that will appeal to every single member of the audience, nobody gets left out in the story.”James
Warwick, director of “Native Gardens”
NOW THAT WE have both elbows planted firmly on the bar of the new year, I thought I’d make a list of both resolutions and wishes for 2023 — one for each month.
We have a whole year of beer before us, so let’s set it up properly. (Because of the length of this project, I set it up in two parts, one for this week and one for next week.) Let’s get started:
• January: Let’s start out with a small resolution (before we start breaking them). Try to expand our beer horizons. No matter how open-minded and adventurous one is, I’m guessing everyone still has a blind spot or bias or two. Whether it’s a brewery you’ve shunned or a style you’ve found lacking, how about we all try to give these things another chance — or even two chances. You still might not love them, but then again, you might;
• February: Let’s counter that resolution with a wish for the coldest and shortest month that we see some love for lower-alcohol stouts. Imperial stouts have (somewhat understandably) gotten a lot of attention. Out of the top 10 rated beers on Beer Advocate, six are imperial stouts of at least 11% ABV. My recent trip to Ireland points out to me that brewers can make stouts of less than 5% ABV that are just as worthy of applause;
• March: As the month of St. Patrick’s Day, I’ll add another wish here for the U.S. to import more Irish craft beer. I know there are probably good reasons that most beer bars don’t do this, but I’d love to see more on tap, or even in cans and bottles here on this side of
George Lenker Beer Nut
the Atlantic;
• April: I’m beating the same old drum here, but I haven’t mentioned it in a while. I’d love to see more brewpubs serve their beer on cask at least once in a while. I know the logistical problems, but perhaps a venue could have a real ale night once a month. That way cask ale fans could plan on it and drink most of it quickly;
• May: How about a resolution to treat a friend who isn’t into craft beer to a few brews at a local beer bar or brewery? Most places have “starter” or “gateway” beers that won’t overwhelm neophytes. If nothing else, I’m betting a lovely conversation might ensue; and
• June: As the weather gets warmer, my wish is that more craft breweries add a lager to the mix. Some places already have one or more, and I know the time factor in making a good lager handcuffs smaller breweries in some ways. But it seems that moderate to larger craft breweries could afford to commit to lagers more than many do. (Kudos to those who already are on board with this).
Check back next week for July through December resolutions and wishes.
Cheers!
THE ARRIVAL OF every new calendar year inevitably triggers restaurant industry trendenistas to indulge in their favorite sport — predicting the direction in which the industry will move in the months to follow.
In some ways, this new year’s week is no different than in years past; the food service trade press has generated plenty of predictions. Yet there’s also an element of caution in those prognostications that reflects the bumpy ride the industry has experienced since 2020. Those who follow the industry and claim to be “in the know” seem a bit more restrained this year when they talk about the future of dining out.
While many of the predictions for 2023 are short on specifics, there are forces at work that will continue to reshape the restaurant business going forward.
First and foremost, labor issues will continue to be a multifaceted, high-im-
pact trend. The current labor crunch in the hospitality industry is a convergence of factors — demographics, economics, and attitudes toward work — but the on-the-ground
ILOVE LISTS. I LOVE making them, checking them off and then the feeling you get when you finally finish everything on it.
Let me add that I especially love handwritten lists you can carry around in your pocket and add to or cross off with a pen or pencil.
For grocery shopping, for books to read, people to call or holiday cards to write this time of year. (I promise they’re coming soon!)
Sometimes, though, you just can’t quite get to everything on certain lists. A few items can slip through the cracks. More than anything for me, that’s especially true when it comes to what wines to write about each week.
I keep a running list of wines or topics to write about each week. Most of them eventually make it into a column, but there’s just not enough time or space to get to certain wines.
It’s why I started writing this annual column about “forgotten” wines, right after my annual top 10 wines under $10 wine column. There’s no specific theme to these wines. They’re not from a particular region or made with a specific grape. They’re simply great wines that I just didn’t get around to writing about this past year.
Here are eight great wines that slipped through the cracks for me. Hope you enjoy and hope you had a great holiday season:
• 2019 Coeur De Rochevine St. Joseph ($36 Suggested Retail Price)
This robust red wine from France’s northern Rhone
region made entirely with syrah grapes has a powerful yet finish with hints of blackberries, black licorice and almonds. Definitely a hearty wine, but not overpowering or over the top. This one’s just right, as Goldilocks once said.
• 2020 Nobles Rives Cave De Tain Crozes-Hermitage ($20 MSRP)
Another red wine made with 100% syrah grapes from France’s northern Rhone region, this particular one comes from the Crozes-Hermitage south of the St. Joseph region, which is where the wine listed above comes from. If possible, I definitely recommend tasting two syrahs side by side from both subregions in the northern Rhone region. The differences between syrahs from St. Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage are subtle but distinct. They’re often both intense, powerful and robust. They’re also both relatively affordable syrahs compared to highly prized (and very expensive) ones from Cote Rotie. This particular wine
has all those qualities as well as bright, ripe fruit flavors and aromas.
• 2019 Frank Family Vineyards Napa Valley Zinfandel ($45 MSRP)
Velvety smooth and filled with luxurious flavors and aromas, this red blend of 90% zinfandel and 10% petit sirah grapes from a family-owned winery in California’s Napa Valley has a multi-layered personality, ranging from hints of dried plums and black pepper to fresh lavender and roasted coffee. A delightful wine with a distinct personality.
• 2019 Tres Picos Garnacha Borsao ($19 MSRP)
This lively yet dry red wine from the Campo De Borja region in northeastern central Spain just south of the better-known Rioja region has a wonderful, fresh finish. It is made from 100% garnacha grapes. Here, the flavors are clean and bright and range from plums and dark chocolate mixed with floral notes and aromas. A beautiful, understated,
refreshing red wine.
• 2021 Highland Forty One Monterey County Pinot Noir ($21 MSRP)
Another light, bright red wine, this one made with 100% pinot noir grapes comes
from California’s Monterey County near the Pacific Ocean. Its delicate flavors range from fresh raspberries and cherries to floral notes with subtle hints of elderflower and sea salt. Definitely a lighter red wine perfect with a wide range of meats, fish and cheeses.
• 2019 Infinitum Primitivo Torrevento ($15 MSRP)
If you love big, bold, fruit-forward red wines, this playful 100% primitivo from the Puglia region in southern Italy’s just the wine for you. Here, the flavors and aromas range from ripe plums and blackberries to roasted almonds and cherries. And if you can’t find this particular primitivo, I definitely encourage you to try another one from southern Italy. They’re some of my favorite, affordable red wines from Italy.’
• 2019 Ritual Casablanca Valley Pinot Noir ($23 MSRP)
You can find pinot noir wines from practically anywhere in the world now due to its longstanding popularity. (Thanks, “Sideways.”) But like
Several of the wines recommended this week. (KEN ROSS PHOTO)
reality is quite predictable. Restaurant staff will remain difficult to recruit and costly to retain, and the impacts of continuing labor challenges will continue to manifest themselves in reduced operating hours, more automation, upward pressure on menu prices, and, too often, a decline in the quality of the service provided.
The dynamics of work-athome versus back-to-theoffice are also dictating the future direction of restaurant operations. Work-at-home has helped support to-go offerings and third-party-delivery options, while returning to the workplace has brought customers back to those downtown restaurant locations that count office tower workers among their customer base. Restaurant owners and chain executives alike will have to be ready to adjust their offerings to reflect where customers are physically spending their workdays in the year ahead.
A third significant mega-trend for 2023 will be continued volatility in food and commodity supply chains. Everything from crop failures, product shortages, and dramatic price swings will require lot of menu fine tuning, not only in terms of what restaurant menus offer, but how much and at what price.
Expect to see many operators focusing close attention on food waste, cutting back on or eliminating altogether traditional offerings like bread service, salads as part of a dinner offering and other “freebies.”
Chefs are likely to explore ways of using profitably the byproducts of food preparation — peels, meat trim, and other “waste” that they once simply discarded — in pursuit of a new cuisine based on “reclaimed” foodstuffs.
• The Black Birch Vineyard of Hatfield and Champney’s Restaurant & Tavern at the Deerfield Inn in Deerfield will be collaborating to serve a wine tasting dinner
on Jan. 14. This pairing dinner of five courses will begin with a selection of charcuterie in the form of Manchego cheese, soppressata and deviled eggs, an assortment that will be followed by a lump crab cake appetizer.
A pasta offering in the form of pecorino gnocchi in a toasted walnut cream will follow, with a main course of wild boar osso bucco next in the order of service. With the boar roasted garlic mashed potatoes and a medley of winter vegetables will be served. Dessert is to be a chocolate torte sauced with raspberry coulis and garnished with whipped local cream.
Five Black Birch wines will be poured during the dinner, one with each course. Cost to attend is $95 plus tax and gratuity. Reservations are strongly recommended; call 413-7745587 to book a table or to get more details.
• The Salem Cross Inn in West Brookfield began observing winter hours this week. The inn will serve dinner starting at 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, while Sunday hours are to be noon to 5 p.m. The winter schedule will remain in force through the month of March.
Fireplace Feasts, the inn’s recreation of a hearty 18th-century dinner celebration, will continue through the winter months on most Friday and Saturday evenings as well as Sunday afternoons. Reservations for Fireplace Feasts are sold out through January but
are still available from early February until the end of the series in late April.
Tickets can be purchased online at salemcrossinn.com or by calling 508-867-2345.
• The Dirty Truth beer hall in Northampton has announced its annual winter break that will run through Tuesday. The Dirty Truth can be reached at 413-585-5999.
• A tribute performance honoring 1980s crooners like Tom Jones and Englebert Humperdink is planned for Jan. 15 at Figaro Restaurant in Enfield. The dinner and show will feature Joe Saimeri and Richie Mitnick providing the music. An Italian-American buffet will be featured prior to the 7 p.m. performance.
Tickets for the show portion of the evening are $25, and a separate dinner or beverage purchase is also required. To purchase tickets, call Figaro Restaurant at 860-745-2414.
• The Munich Haus German restaurant in Chicopee has announced its schedule of Hunter Harvest game feasts with the first planned for Jan. 14 at 6 p.m.
A buffet dinner of “wild things” will include roasted wild boar, fried alligator, and rabbit; game stew and game sausage will also be available. The feast’s focal point is to be a carving station stocked with venison, bison, elk, and mountain goat. Complementing the game selections will be an assortment of side dishes and salads.
Dinner is $65, and tickets
can be obtained online at MunichHaus.com. Additional Hunter Harvest game feast dates have been set for February, March and April.
• The explosive growth of the sport of pickleball has captured the interest of restaurant entrepreneurs eager to profit from the convergence of fun and food.
Several chains have been developing hybrid concepts that bring together pickleball courts and restaurant-style amenities. One of these emerging brands of “eatertainment,” Chicken N Pickle, is currently engaged in an expansion effort.
Chicken N Pickle locations feature pickleball courts (both indoor and outdoor), various yard games such as cornhole, and a restaurant/sports bar facility. As the concept’s name suggests, wood-fired rotisserie chicken is the signature product, with additional menu selections like wings, burgers, and various sides available as well. Full bar service is provided, and a typical Chicken N Pickle layout offers both inside and outdoor dining options.
Pickleball players can reserve courts, compete in leagues, and arrange for instruction as to how the game is played.
Chicken N Pickle’s expansion has been primarily confined to the Midwest, although a unit is under development outside of Las Vegas, where a dog park will also be part of the facilities offered.
Of course the interesting
questions are whether the current pickleball fad is sustainable and how a business model that’s land- and capital-intensive can prosper in markets where the “outdoor” season is limited and site development costs are high.
More details are available at the brand’s website, chicken npickle.com
• Vanished Valley Brewing Co. in Ludlow is promoting a Winter Warmer beer dinner. Planned for Jan. 16 at 6 p.m., the event will feature Vanished Valley beers and ales paired up with a selection of special dishes.
Sauces and condiments prepared by the Lizard Mill Sauce Co., of Worcester, are contributing heat and spice to the event;. The five-course dinner features a number of Lizard Mill’s artisan flavor builders.
The first course is to be whole prawns with a garlic habanero sauce; duck wings with peach habanero glaze will follow. Even dessert, Mexican hot chocolate cannoli, will incorporate a good measure of spice.
Tickets are $58 and are on sale at Vanished Valley’s website, vanishedvalley.com.
• Always a sell-out event, Robert Burns Night returns to Champney’s Restaurant & Tavern at the Deerfield Inn on Jan. 20.
Burns Nights are celebrations held across the English-speaking world for more than two centuries. The occasion commemorates the January 25, 1759, birth of Scotland’s greatest man of letters, Robert Burns.
Champney’s will honor the traditions that are part of a Burns Night, including music, poetry, food, and a wee dram o’ two. The menu is slated to include haggis; a beef, lamb, and venison fricassee; and sticky toffee pudding.
The tariff for the evening is $95 plus tax and gratuity. Reservations should be made by calling 413-774-5587.
Hugh Robert is a faculty member in Holyoke Community College’s hospitality and culinary arts program and has nearly 50 years of restaurant and educational experience. Robert can be reached online at OffTheMenuGuy@aol.com.
THE LATEST ENTRY in the DC Extended Universe tops DVD releases this week.
“Black Adam”: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson joins the DC Comics universe as the supercharged champion Black Adam, who is woken up from his 5,000-year slumber and tangles with the Justice Society league of superheroes. Also starring Aldis Hodge, Noah Centineo and Pierce Brosnan and directed by Jaume ColletSerra.
“While massive global star Johnson is clearly the box office draw, dramatic roles aren’t his forte, and that’s especially clear here, as he delivers a dour and dark dramatic performance that’s lacking his natural charisma,” writes Tribune News Service critic Katie Walsh in her review. “The director does heroic work crafting a film around Johnson that is fast and entertaining, tossing needle drops and skateboard stunts and movie references and zombies and funny uncles and fire demons in the mix just to keep us somewhat distracted from the void that is Black Adam himself.”
Also new on DVD • “Prey for the Devil”: A nun is forced to reckon with her past while trying to save a young girl from a demonic force in this horror film.
• “Armageddon Time”: A cinematic memoir of the writer/director James Gray, who inspects his 1980s childhood growing up in
Queens, New York. Starring Banks Repeta, Anthony Hopkins, Anne Hathaway and Jeremy Strong.
• “Chesapeake Shores: Season 6”: The Hallmark Channel family drama sails off into the sunset, ending its run after six seasons.
• “On the Line”: Thriller starring Mel Gibson as a radio host who takes a call from a listener who then informs him they are holding his wife and daughter hostage.
• “Star Trek: Prodigy: Season 1: Episodes 1-10”: Kate Mulgrew of “Star Trek: Voyager” returns in this animated series about a motley crew of young aliens in the Delta Quadrant who find an abandoned ship, the USS Protostar, and must
learn to work together to make their way towards the Alpha Quadrant.
• “The System”: Upon returning home from war, a veteran is recruited to go undercover, pretending to be an inmate in order to expose the corruption at a notorious prison. Starring Terrence Howard, Jeremy Piven and Tyrese Gibson.
• “The Menu”: Ralph Fiennes portrays the world-class-est of worldclass chefs, inviting a select handful of foodies to his remote island resort for the meal of a lifetime, in this horror satire that also features Anya TaylorJoy, Nicholas Hoult, John Leguizamo and Judith Light.
any wine, where the grapes are grown can make a big difference in the wine. In this particular case, this pinot noir from the Casablanca Valley in
northern Chile has a light, floral-like finish and aroma with hints of subtle raspberry and strawberry. A truly delightful wine.
• 2017 Nestore Bosco Pan Montepulciano D’Abruzzo ($19 MSRP)
Montepulciano wines definitely didn’t slip through the cracks this past year in this column. I raved about Montepulciano wines just a few weeks ago and did my best to explain them. (They’re a grape, a wine region and sometimes even a type of
wine.) But these wines are so great, there’s always room for one more good one. In this particular case, this red wine has wonderful, vibrant flavors ranging from fresh-picked blueberries and cherries to blackberries and vanilla. Definitely a wine that de-
serves recognition rather than slipping through the cracks. Cheers!
Wine Press by Ken Ross appears on Masslive.com every Monday and in print in The Republican’s Weekend section every Thursday.
“The director does heroic work crafting a film around Johnson that is fast and entertaining, tossing needle drops and skateboard stunts and movie references and zombies and funny uncles and fire demons in the mix just to keep us somewhat distracted from the void that is Black Adam himself.”
KATIE WALSH, TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE CRITIC
DIRECTOR NOAH
Baumbach always has made original films, earning respect for efforts he’s written or co-written that include “Kicking and Screaming” (1995), “The Squid and the Whale” (2005) and “Frances Ha” (2015).
After the release of his excellent, Academy Award-nominated drama “Marriage Story” in 2019, however, he didn’t have a plan for a next film, an original story he was ready to tell. As a result, he chose a doozy of a book for his first adaptation: Don DeLillo’s award-winning “White Noise.”
Baumbach first read the book relatively soon after its publication in 1985, after being given it by his father, a novelist himself and a lover of cinema. Baumbach revisited the novel in 2019, the year his father died, and says he was highly affected by DeLillo’s tale, which explores themes including consumerism, religion, mass hysteria and, especially, fear of death.
Given a limited theatrical release about a month ago, Baumbach’s adaptation landed on Netflix Dec. 30.
After two viewings — one at an advanced screening in late November and another much more recently in a living room — “White Noise” proves to be a film both fascinating and frustrating, with characters that seem relatable at times and anything but at others. And although he struggles with tone, Baumbach clearly wanted to do the novel justice, taking us through its three titled parts
rrts
Rating: R (for brief violence and language
Running time: 136 minutes
How to watch: Now streaming on Netflix
for a journey unusual and unpredictable.
After a brief prologue in which a college professor, Don Cheadle’s Murray Suskind, celebrates the tradition of the great car crash in cinema — “The movie breaks away from complicated human passions to show us something elemental, something loud and fiery, head on,” he says, in a bit of foreshadowing — during a classroom lecture at the Collegeon-the-Hill, begins Part One: “Waves and Radiation.”
Now we are introduced to another professor, Jack Gladney (Adam Driver), a pioneer in the field of Hitler studies (who is embarrassed he cannot speak German), and his family: wife Babette (Greta Gerwig); three children from previous relationships, Denise (Raffey Cassidy), Heinrich (Sam Nivola), Steffie (May Nivola); and a very young boy, Wilder, from their union. Theirs is a house full of warmth and relatively sophisticated discussion, seemingly an idyllic vision of a college-town home.
“Life is good, Jack,” Babette remarks as they lie in bed, talking about how each wants to die before the other, not wanting to live in a world without his or her partner.
That good, consump -
tion-heavy American life of the 1980s is exemplified via visits to the supermarket, constructed in an abandoned big-box store and filled with thousands of eye-catching products, many of them custom creations made in the name of period accuracy.
Within this colorful celebration of abundance, as the Gladneys traverse the inviting aisles, Jack converses with the likewise shopping Murray, who wants to do with Elvis Presley what Jack has done with the fascist icon.
“Hitler is now ‘Gladney’s Hitler!’” he exclaims with both appreciation and envy. “I marvel at what you’ve done with the man!”
(Murray also opines about Babette’s hair, that it is a “living wonder.” “Yes it is,” Jack agrees. “She has important hair,” Murray concludes.)
The town soon must grapple with more concerning matters, in Part Two: “The Airborne Toxic Event.”
As the first act comes to its rousing conclusion, Baumbach cuts back and forth between one of Murray’s Elvis lectures, in which he and a visiting Jack trade off paralleling narratives about Presley and Hitler, and the inevitable collision
between a truck with a drinking-and-distracted driver and a train carrying toxic chemicals. It’s impressive filmmaking.
Still, the absurdity that has pervaded “White Noise” to this point remains as the stakes are raised, as the town is forced to evacuate and in which Jack comes in close contact with a black cloud first referred to as “a feathery plume” and then the “black, billowing cloud” but eventually getting the moniker after which the film’s middle act is named.
The last, most bizarre and hardest-to-embrace section of the film, “Dylarama,” relates to an experimental drug Babette secretly has been taking, Dylar, which becomes of great interest to Jack for more than one reason.
Before the story’s end, DeLillo and Baumbach take us to some strange places, both literally and figuratively.
You don’t envy Baumbach taking on this adaptation given the complexities of the source material. Nonetheless, you find yourself frequently wishing he would turn up the zany meter. As it is, “White Noise” is regularly ridiculous without ever being genuinely funny. We’re surely supposed
to laugh more than we do at the conversations among Jack and other academics — one of whom is portrayed by actor-musician Andre Benjamin — at the fictional college over lunch.
Plus, we simply do not know how to feel about Jack and Babette, despite solid performances by Driver — a Baumbach regular and one of his “Marriage Story” stars — and Gerwig, Baumbach’s partner and a writing collaborator and onscreen performer in several of his movies. (It’s nice to see her return to acting after two impressive directorial efforts, 2017’s “Lady Bird” and 2019’s “Little Women.”) We really neither like them nor loathe them, which may be the idea but feels unsatisfying all the same.
Ultimately, it can be hard to find a groove with “White Noise,” despite so many interesting and appealing components. You want both a little more from it and a little less of it, as it feels just a bit long at more than two hours.
The best thing you can say about it, though, is it’s a film that stays with you after you see it, engaging your mind in a way that contradicts its title.
Build with Lego: Thu., 3:30-4:30 p.m., Chicopee Main Library, Freeform building time for ages 6 and up. No registration required, 449 Front St., Chicopee, 413-594-1800.
MGM Casino: Thu.-Sun., MGM Springfield, featuring retail stores, restaurants, Regal Cinemas and more. For more information, visit mgmspringfield. com, 1 MGM Way, Springfield.
Applause Series: Fri., 7 p.m. Online, virtual performance only. “I Dissent” a one-woman show about the life of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, performed by Sheryl Faye. Broadcast on Agawam Comcast Channel 15 and streamed on agawammedia.tv, free.
MGM Casino: See Thursday listing
Urban Kizomba Workshop and Latin Dance Social: Sat., 6:30 p.m. Blue Room at CitySpace, 6:10-6:30 p.m., check-in; 6:307:30 p.m., disability and accessibility discussion; 7:30-9 p.m., Urban Kiz workshop; 9-11 p.m., social (bachata/salsa/kiz). $25 in advance, $30 at the door, $10 social only. Cash or Venmo @ Angelique-Baker-1, 43 Main St., Easthampton.
MGM Casino: See Thursday listing
West Springfield Coin Club Meeting: Sun., 7 p.m. Mittineague Congregational Church. A video presentation will be shown on the United States Trade Dollars of 1873-1885. Refreshments will be available. Guests are always welcome. For more information, contact Peter Setian at 413-596-9871, 1840 Westfield St., West Springfield.
Dr. Seuss Sculpture Garden: Outdoor sculpture garden of larger-than-life bronze statues of Springfield native Dr. Seuss at his drawing board surrounded by some of his most beloved characters including Horton the
Elephant, the Grinch, the Lorax and others. Free on the green.
George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum: Permanent exhibit: “Ancient Treasures,” a display of artifacts from ancient China, Greece, Rome and Egypt. Handson making activities in the Hasbro Games Art Discovery Center. Part of the free family activities.
Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History: “The Grinch: A Car with a History,” through Nov. 1, 2023. Permanent exhibit: more than two dozen Indian motorcycles and related memorabilia.
Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts: “Josh Simpson: Visionary Explorations in Glass,” through Jan. 15. Museum a la Carte: Today, 12:15 p.m., “Restorative Native Research in the Kwinitekw (Connecticut River Valley).” $4, free for members.
Presented by Dr. Margaret M. Bruchac (Abenaki), associate professor of anthropology, coordinator of Native American and Indigenous Studies, and associate faculty in the Penn Cultural Heritage Center, University of Pennsylvania.
Springfield Science Museum: “We’re Still Here,” through June 30. Native Voices Initiative begins with contemporary perspectives. Curated by Aprell May Munford. Stars Over Springfield: Fri., 7:30 p.m., $3, $2 for children.
Join members of the Springfield Stars Club for skygazing in the
Science Museum’s observatory. If overcast, attendees will be offered a tour of the observatory. Kaitlynn Goulette and members of the Westfield High Astronomy Club will share how they got their start in astronomy.
The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum: Permanent exhibit. First floor exhibition provides interactive three-dimensional exhibits. Second floor contains Theodor Geisel’s personal memorabilia. Timed tickets required, for reservations visit springfield museums.org
Quadrangle admission — $25 for adults, $16.50 for seniors (60+) and college students with ID, $13 for children ages 3-17; free to children under age 3 and members, Springfield residents are free with proof of residency. Welcome Center and Museum store. Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Amelia Park Children’s Museum: Permanent exhibit: Hands-on activities and creative exhibits, including the Hurricane Simulator. Sign up online for a play session at ameliapark museum.org. Mon., 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Thu.-Sun., 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Open for groups Tues. and Wed. $8 adults, $8 children (12 months and older), $4 grandparents/
seniors (60+), military personnel and teachers receive a 10% discount off the price of regular admission. Members and infants free, 29 South Broad St., Westfield, or ameliaparkmuseum.org
Children’s Museum at Holyoke: Permanent exhibit: Amazing world of learning and play. Tues.Fri., 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun., noon-4 p.m. Closed Mondays. In the event of severe weather conditions, check Facebook or Instagram, or local TV Station 22 for closures. Children and adults $8; seniors (62+) $5; children under 1 year of age and members are free. 444 Dwight St., Holyoke, or childrens museumholyoke.org.
East Longmeadow Historical Commission Museum: Permanent exhibit: Historical artifacts. Featured at the museum are East Longmeadow artifacts pertaining to the quarries, local Native Americans, period clothing, the railroad system, and much more. 1-3 p.m. on the third Saturday of the month through June, weather permitting. Free. 87 Maple St., East Longmeadow
Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art: “Eric Carle’s Book Birthdays,” through March 5.
“The Carle Collection: Recent Acquisitions,” through April 9. Permanent exhibit: Gabrielle Healy Carroll Storytime Programs are held Tues. and Fri. 10:30 a.m.; Sat. 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.;
Sun. 2 p.m., free with admission. The museum will be closed Jan. 1-13 for routine maintenance. Museum hours: Weds.-Fri, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun, noon-5 p.m. $6, $9, $22.50 for a family of four, 125 West Bay Road, Amherst or carlemuseum. org
Holyoke Heritage State Park: Permanent exhibit: Preserving the history and culture of Holyoke through permanent exhibits on the paper and textile industry. Also featuring a new scale model of Mountain Park. Visitor Center open Tues.-Sun., noon to 4 p.m. Closed Mon. Free admission. mass.gov/locations/ holyoke-heritage-state-park 221 Appleton St., Holyoke, 413534-1723.
Josiah Day House: Permanent exhibit: Featuring guided tours, artifacts, furniture, clothing and documents from 1754-1902. Call for open house schedule and individual tours. $3, $1 children 6-12, free for members, 70 Park St., West Springfield, 413-734-8322.
Mead Art Museum: Permanent exhibit: Various American and European paintings, Mexican ceramics, Tibetan scroll paintings and more. Museum hours: Tues.Thu. and Sun., 9 a.m.-midnight; Fri., 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free, 220 South Pleasant St., Amherst or amherst.edu
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Permanent exhibit: Three floors with dozens of hands-on exhibits, a regulation sized basketball court and more than 900 artifacts on display.
Exhibits include “High Above Center Court,” “Hall of Honor,” “1891 Gallery,” “Players Gallery,” “James Goldstein Superfan gallery,” and “Jerry Colangelo Court of Dreams.” Mon.-Fri., 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $28 adults (16-24); $23 seniors (63+); $19 youth (5-15); $23 students with valid high school or college ID; free for ages under 5. 1000 West Columbus Ave., Springfield or hoophall.com
Norman Rockwell Museum: “Norman Rockwell Drawings, 1914-1976,” through Sat. “Eloise and More: The Life and Art of Hilary Knight,” through March 12. “Norman Rockwell’s Spirit of the Holidays,” through Feb. 5. Permanent exhibit: Gallery. Thu.-Mon., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Closed Tues. and Wed. Advance ticket purchase required. $20 adults; $18 seniors, AAA, retired military; $10 college students, free children ages 18 and under,
members and active military. 9 Route 183, Stockbridge or nrm. org
Old Sturbridge Village: Permanent exhibit. Jan. 1-12, OSV will be closed. $28, $26 seniors, $14 college students with ID & children 4-17, free for children 3 and under, Route 20, Sturbridge or osv.org
Pan African Historical Museum USA: Permanent exhibit: Exhibitions by local artists. Hours: Tues.-Fri., noon-4 p.m. Free. 1500 Main St., Springfield, 413-733-1823.
Polish Center of Discovery and Learning: Permanent exhibit: A living monument safeguarding historical objects representative of the material culture of the Polish people in America. Galleries include “Coming to America”; “At Home in America”; “Folk Art”; “History.”
The Polish Center is open to the public daily, Mon.-Fri, 1-5 p.m., except for inclement weather and holidays. Other times may be scheduled by appointment. $5 donation, 33 South St., Chicopee or polishcenter.net
Springfield Armory National Historic Site: Ranger-led interpretive programs offered in the museum in the afternoon.
Junior Ranger programs conducted frequently each day. Wed.-Sun., 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. 1 Armory Square, Springfield or nps.gov/spar
Susan B. Anthony Birthplace Museum: Permanent exhibit: Daniel Anthony’s Store, The Legacy Room, The Birthing Room, The Portrait Gallery. Open Fri.-Sun., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. $10 adults, $8 seniors, $6 students and children 6-17, free for children under 6 and NARM/NEMA/ROAM members, 67 East Road, Adams or susanbanthonybirthplace.com
The Emily Dickinson Museum: Admission to the museum is by guided tour, for which advance-purchase timed tickets are required. Visit EmilyDickinsonMuseum.org/ Visit to purchase your tickets and for more information. 280 Main St., Amherst.
Titanic Museum: Permanent exhibit: Exhibits from the collection of the International Titanic Historical Society. Mon.Fri., 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-3 p.m. $4, $2 children and students, 208 Main St., Indian Orchard or titanic1.org
University Museum of Contemporary Art - Fine Arts
Center: Permanent exhibit. The Fine Arts Center, requires patrons to be fully vaccinated to attend performances. Masks are not required, but are welcome and encouraged. The University Museum is open through May 1; Tue.–Fri., 11 a.m.–4:30 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., noon–4p p.m.; and first Thursdays until 8 p.m. Closed Mondays, holidays, and academic breaks. Check for snow days at umass.edu/closing/. 151 Presidents Drive, Amherst Volleyball Hall of Fame: Permanent exhibit. Tues.-Sun., 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Closed Mon. 444 Dwight St., Holyoke, or volleyhall.org
Wistariahurst Museum: Permanent exhibit: Gardens and grounds open daily from dawn to dusk. Carriage House and gift shop open Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. $7 Holyoke residents; $5 seniors; $5 youth (under 18); free museum members, active military and family members. 238 Cabot St., Holyoke or wistariahurst.org
Yiddish Book Center: Permanent exhibit, “A Velt mit veltelekh: The Worlds of Jewish Culture.” The center will be open to the public on Thu., Fri., Sun. and Mon. from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed Shabbos (Saturday) and Jewish and legal holidays. $8 adults, $6 seniors, free for members, students and children, 1021 West St., Amherst or yiddishbookcenter.org.
A.P.E. Gallery: Permanent exhibit. Tues.-Thu., noon-5 p.m.; Fri.Sat., noon-8 p.m.; Sun., noon-5 p.m. “Deconstructions” Works by Adrienne Albro-Fisher, Isabela Cusano, Henry Prentiss, Fri.-Jan. 30. Artist reception during Arts Night Out, Jan. 13, 5-8 p.m. at the Mezzanine Gallery, 33 Hawley St. Mon.-Thu., 1-4 p.m., Fri., 11 a.m.-2 p.m. or by appointment. Contact kathycouch@apearts. org or call 413-586-5553. 126 Main St., Northampton or apearts.org
Amy H. Carberry Fine Arts Gallery: Permanent exhibit. Tues.-Fri., 12:30-4:30 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. First floor of building 28. 1 Armory Square, Springfield, 413-755-5258.
Forbes Library: Jan. exhibits open through Jan. 30, reception Sat., 2-4:30 p.m. Mosaics by Cynthia Fisher, paintings by Lennie Kaumzha, photographs by Paul Yandoli. 20 West St., Northampton or forbeslibrary. org
Gallery A3 Amherst Art Alliance: “Birds” by Keith Hollingworth, Fri.-Jan. 28. Opening reception today, 5-7:30 p.m.; Art Forum online, Jan. 19, 7:30 p.m. Register at gallerya3.com; gallery open Thu.-Sun., 2-7 p.m. 28 Amity St., Amherst, 413-2564250.
Hope and Feathers Framing
and Gallery: 11th annual Small Works Show, through Jan. 12. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Thu., 10 a.m.- 8 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.4 p.m. 319 Main St., Amherst or hopeandfeathersframing. com
Indian Orchard Mills Dane Gallery: All new exhibits every month featuring the artists at Indian Orchard Mills. Sat. noon-4 p.m. or by appointment. 34 Front St., Indian Orchard, 413-5433321.
J. H. Miller Custom Framing and Gallery: Featuring the works of local artists. Mon.-Fri., 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thu., 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 86 Elm St., West Springfield, 413-732-9128.
Jasper Rand Art Museum: Permanent exhibit. Mon.-Thu., 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. 6 Elm St., Westfield or westath.org
Sunnyside Road Gallery: Featuring the work of Carolyn Avery. Sat., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. or by calling 413-569-0384. 52 Sunnyside Road, Southwick
Trinity United Methodist Church: “Boars Head Festival memories: Photos and Memorabilia,” in the Trinity Community Gallery, through Jan. 31. Open Sun. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and during the week by appointment. Call 413-218-7391 for more information. 361 Sumner Ave., Springfield.
Great Falls Discovery Center: “Nice and Easy Walk” Fridays in Jan., 1 p.m. Meet at the main entrance. An easy-paced, one to two-mile guided walk, along the Canalside Rail Trail or downtown Turners Falls, geared for seniors, but open to all ages. Wear appropriate clothing and sturdy boots. Bring water. Free. In case of inclement weather, come on inside for the interpretive topic of the day. 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls or greatfallsma.org
Natural Bridge State Park: Visitors Center exhibits. Daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., year-round; explore the park story through displays, artifacts and scavenger hunts. $2 parking fee, programs are free, 107 McAuley Road, North Adams
Northfield Mountain: Children’s Art Activity Series. First Sat. of the month through June, creating art together, using natural materials and traditional art supplies. In each class, hear stories of the season while you work. Join all seven classes or come for just one or two. Sat. 10 a.m. to noon, for children ages 4-10, limit ten children per class. The programs will take place both inside and outside, so dress appropriately for the weather. To register, visit firstlightpower. com/northfield. 99 Millers Falls Road, Northfield.
Farmers Market at Forest Park: Winter farmers market Sat., 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Jan 7 and 21; Feb. 4 and 18; March 4 and 18, April 1 and 15. Sumner Avenue, Springfield or farmersmarketatforest park.com.
Winter Farmers Market at the Hampshire Mall: Inside the Target Hallway of the Hampshire Mall. Find vegetables, meats, baked goods, crafts and more Saturdays, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., through March 25. Family friendly, and handicap accessible. EBT/HIP accepted. Located on the PVPA 43 & FC buslines. Free and ample parking, wfmhm. com. 367 Russell St., Hadley
The Republican is not responsible for unannounced schedule changes. Listings must be received two weeks before the date of the event. Items should be mailed to Entertainment Guide, The Republican, P.O. Box 1329, Springfield, MA 01102-1329, emailed to pmastriano@repub com or submitted to masslive. com/myevent
on Dec. 22 at the age of 79. Rodgers told Rolling Stone that he “worshiped” Bell. “I think of him in the same way as Stevie Wonder or Burt Bacharach or Lennon and McCartney. He was on that level,” Rodgers said. “Sometimes people take music for granted, ‘It’s a pop song.’ But when you dissect it and really listen to it and take it apart and understand it on a granular level, those records he made have some of the best arrangements you can imagine, up there with Bacharach, Mancini, and Bach.”
• Speaking on comic Marc Maron’s “WTF” podcast, Courtney Love gave Lana Del Rey quite a huge compliment by comparing Del Rey to her late husband, Kurt Cobain.
Love said, “Lana and Kurt are the only two true musical geniuses I’ve ever known And by that I mean they can Spielberg anything.”
Cobain, the frontman for Nirvana, was married to Love when he died by suicide in 1994. They had a daughter, Frances Bean, who is now 30.
Love said that Del Rey, who is releasing a new album “Did You Know That There’s
a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd” in March, had a key characteristic shared with Cobain.
“She’s got the integrity that Kurt had,” Love said.
• Chuck D said that Public Enemy received harsher treatment from law enforcement than other artists.
In an interview with The Guardian, the rapper was responding to a fan question as to whether Public Enemy faced government intimidation and tough treatment due to the group’s music, which was often critical of authority and American culture.
“I don’t know about intimidation, but, yeah, probably more than anybody in music,” he said.
Public Enemy used straightforward lyrics that confronted such topics as racism, police brutality and the cultural power structure of the U.S. But despite feeling targeted. Chuck D took a philosophical attitude about the times.
“It’s nothing to be annoyed by. It’s what it is. The most I could do was to make songs about it,” he said. “On Public Enemy’s first album, ‘Yo! Bum Rush the Show,’ we said the governments are responsible. Governments, plural, because governments like to split up human beings, but music likes to unite people.”
Doc’s Place: Karaoke. 1264 Granby Road, Chicopee
The Drake: Amherst Regional High School: Cabaret. 44 N. Pleasant St., Amherst
Theodores’: The Mighty Soul Drivers. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
West Springfield Fish and Game Club: CD jukebox, pool table. 329 Garden St., Feeding Hills
Doc’s Place: Karaoke. 1264 Granby Road, Chicopee
The Drake: Amherst Regional High School: Cabaret. 44 N.Pleasant St., Amherst
Whip City Brew: DJ with dance. 287 Elm St., Westfield
The Drake: Open Mic Night. 44 North Pleasant St., Amherst
Doc’s Place: Karaoke. 1264 Granby Road, Chicopee
The Republican is not responsible for unannounced schedule changes. Listings must be received two weeks before the date of the event. Items should be mailed to Entertainment Guide, The Republican, P.O. Box 1329, Springfield, MA 01102-1329, emailed to pmastriano@repub. com or submitted to masslive. com/myevent
