Wooden Boat Festival Returns to Balboa Yacht Club June 7 and 8
By Christopher Trela | NB Indy
Wooden boat lovers and yachting fans, get ready for the annual Newport Beach Wooden Boat Festival that returns to the Balboa Yacht Club June 7 and 8 with more than 40 wooden vessels of all sizes on display.
This year’s festival theme is “The Art & Craft of the Wooden Boat,” and celebrates the intricate craftsmanship and timeless beauty of wooden boats.
“Event guests will be able to immerse themselves in the centuries-old artform
of wooden boat building, and the fine woodworking and artistic details that adorn the boats,” said event chair Stephen Paljieg. “This year’s event will be bigger and better than ever. Its theme captures the essence of the passion and artistry behind these magnificent, oneof-a-kind watercrafts and the inclusion of the master craftsmen who build and keep them in ‘Bristol condition’ takes it to a whole new level of experience.”
On June 8, event guests will be able to stroll the Balboa Yacht Club docks, board the
wooden boats that have come for the festival and talk to owners about what makes their wooden vessel so special.
There’s also an opportunity to step back in time to cruise aboard the America – a replica of the 139-foot wooden sailing yacht that won the historic Royal Yacht Squadron’s 100 Guinea Cup race in 1851.
There will be plenty to do on land. According to information from the Wooden Boat Festival,
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Newport Beach City Manager Update
By Grace Leung, Newport Beach City Manager
Last week the County of Orange released the results of its 2024 Point in Time Count, which provides data on the homeless population by region and city. This effort is required by the federal government every two years and helps direct resources to areas where they are most needed.
I am pleased to report that Newport Beach’s numbers decreased from the previous count, from 96 in 2022 to 71 in 2024. While this
number fluctuates, as documented in the City’s monthly assessments, I believe some of the reduction can be attributed to our proactive approach, including new municipal ordinances, as part of a comprehensive program designed to help unhoused members of the community find stable, permanent housing.
Addressing homelessness is an ongoing regional challenge. Countywide, the number of homeless people (both unsheltered and
Residential Burglaries in Pacific Ridge and Crystal Cove Communities
By NB Indy Staff
A residential burglary occurred in the Pacific Ridge Community between approximately 10 a.m. on May 17 and 2 p.m. on May 18.
While the victims were away, an unknown suspect accessed the backyard of the property and shattered a first floor glass door. Once inside, the suspect went upstairs and rummaged through drawers in bedrooms and closets before fleeing the scene. At some point during the burglary, a kitchen table was also broken.
The burglary was discovered on May 20 and reported to police. The loss was jewelry. No description of the suspect is available. Another residential burglary occurred in the Crystal Cove Community between approximately 8:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. on May 17.
While the victims were away, an unknown suspect access the backyard of the property and shattered a first floor window to get into the house. Once inside, the suspect rummaged through a bedroom and located a safe in a closet. The safe was forcibly removed and opened before the suspect fled the scene. The burglary was discovered and reported to police on May 18. The loss was jewelry and watches. No information on the suspect is available.
The Newport Beach Police Department advises that if you see suspicious activity within your neighborhood (especially at a home where you know your neighbors are on vacation, have gone out for the evening, or their home is for sale), please call the Newport Beach Police Department immediately at (949) 644-3717.
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CITY MANAGER Page 7
Grace Leung, Newport Beach City Manager
Astor won the People’s Choice Award at the 2023 Wooden Boat Festival / File photo by Jim Collins
STEPPING OUT
Newport Theatre Arts Center Stages Witty Noel Coward Comedy ‘Blithe Spirit’
By Eric Marchese | Special to the NB Indy
Noël Coward’s comedy “Blithe Spirit” is typically played as a frivolous romp and at a generally superficial level.
Not at Newport Theatre Arts Center, where director Matt Koutroulis strikes gold by digging beneath the surface of the famed 1941 play.
Yes, laughs still abound, and Coward’s trademark wit and brilliance shine through nearly every scene and line of dialogue, but Koutroulis and company show how the script expertly intertwines humor with reality. The characters are taken seriously, and that adds welcome new layers to the fun.
In his latest work, novelist Charles Condomine (Jason Cook) plans to explore the world of the occult, so he and wife Ruth (Jessica Plotin) invite famed medium Madame Arcati (Judy Jones) to a dinner party at their posh home along with their friends, the Bradfords (Scott Keister and Julianne Bancroft).
While Madame Arcati is a “professional” spiritualist who makes a living conducting seances and investigating paranormal occurrences, Charles jokingly tells his wife and
friends he’ll depict the medium in his new book as “a professional charlatan.”
Perhaps somewhat predictably, Madame Arcati (with help from her otherworldly contact Daphne) causes the spirit of Charles’s deceased first wife Elvira (Victoria Leigh Serra) to rematerialize in ectoplasmic form in the Condomine home.
Charles is at first convinced Elvira is a hallucination and her presence an aberration – and that Ruth is “stolid” and “obtuse” for not believing him or
seen and heard only by Charles, communicates with him alone, frustrating Ruth – and causing her to misinterpret words spoken to Elvira. It’s an odd, supernaturally funny way to depict a scenario Coward later terms “astral bigamy,”
“Blithe Spirit” starts out as a drawing room comedy of manners, then veers toward the supernatural, and finally plumbs the complexities of marriage vis à vis how a man relates to wives former and current. It thus proves itself a comedic commentary on human nature (but with supernatural overtones).
being more sympathetic.
During the 1920s and ’30s, spiritualism was an absolute mania, and Coward deftly capitalizes on this with an after-dinner séance as the play’s focal point. We get complete (rather than partial) darkness, with the actors bathed in bluish-green lighting of the strange events. The scene is aptly eerie versus being silly and jokey on one hand or, on the other, leaden.
Coward generates the right amount and level of comic chaos as Elvira,
Every cast member thankfully lacks the mannered performing style prevalent in the ’30s and early ’40s – a credit to Koutroulis and his actors, and Cook, Plotin and Serra superbly play out Coward’s concept of a physicalastral ménage à trois.
Cook and Plotin positively sparkle as Charles and Ruth, who are ultra-rich, and ultra-polished in the best Coward tradition – much like Elyot and Amanda from his “Private Lives.”
As opposed to an overly stuffy and plastic or phony persona, Cook’s
The cast of “Blithe Spirit.” Photo by Sarah Whitwell
‘BLITHE SPIRIT’ Page 10
LOCAL FOCUS
Oh Buoy, What a Noisy World
By Richard Simon | NB Indy
In the aqueous world of local pinnipeds, it’s known as the NWP “hotel.”
To mariners, however, it’s the red buoy marking the entrance to yachtrich Newport Harbor. On foggy days, the swell-generated clang of its bell guides in those who are without radar. Perhaps just as a reliable as that sonic signal are the various sounds blared out by reclining sea lions that have lunged atop the buoy to sun themselves and rest.
Neither vacationers to a Waikiki beach at high season (the world’s most crowded beach), nor sardines in a can, could be any more packed together than these sea lions. To successfully thrust upon the buoy, one has to be first, or be the biggest, in order to claim a spot. Among the first “words” any young sea lion doubtlessly learns if it wants to claim a space is “smushed.”
To approach the buoy from downwind, no radar or bell is necessary to home in on, for if your nose is working, you’ll find the NWP buoy.
To most people, the many vocal blurts from sea lions is simply just annoying noise, especially from those animals that can’t find space on the buoy, so instead choose home-front docks or moored boats on which to lounge…and communicate.
There are those who find sea lion noise of interest; they’ve learned through whatever it takes to become a PhD what those vocalizations mean. So now, because of this short article, no grad school degree is necessary: Sea Lions blow out a variety of vocalizations, according to Supportwild. com. Those include barks (similar
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to those made by dogs), growls, and a combination of bark and whistle. As humans have nonvocal gestures or sounds, seal lions, too, offer up nonvocal noises, such as clapping their jaws, slapping their flippers on the water and honking through their nostrils. These noises vary depending on species, gender and individuals.
Barks are issued for communicating with other sea lions or warning off predators.
Throaty growls are used when they are threatened or when they become aggressive.
Whistle-barks may convey information about one’s identity or location.
Flipper slapping may be an invita-
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EDITOR Christopher Trela christopher@newportbeachindy.com DESIGN/PRODUCTION
CREATIVE
Annual Balboa Island Parade is Sunday June 2
By Christopher Trela | NB Indy
The 29th Annual Balboa Island Parade is Sunday, June 2, and it promises to be a fun event.
This year’s theme is “Balboa Island in Paradise – A Tribute to Jimmy Buffett,” with an after-party featuring Mark Wood and the Parrot Head Band.
As in past years, the parade will be filled with children on bikes, island dogs, decorated golf carts and floats, horses, decorated cars, Keystone Cops, drill teams (including the famous Patio Chair Drill Team), the USC Marching Band and Cheer, school bands, local dignitaries and much more.
The parade begins on the Balboa Island Bridge and continues down Marine Avenue. The After-Party
SALES
ADVERTISING SALES TEAM Carol Josepher, Chris Mattingley, Adrienne Kruse, Mara Hertel
PRODUCTION MANAGER Tina Leydecker tina@firebrandmediainc.com
starts immediately following the parade in front of the Fire Station. Come dressed in your favorite Jimmy Buffett attire, bring your beach chair and enjoy the parade Jimmy Buffett style.
The bridge closes to vehicle traffic at 10:45 a.m.; the parade starts at 11 a.m. Parking on Balboa Island will be difficult. Try parking along Bayside Drive, or take a ride share service. You could also park in the Balboa Fun Zone, take the car ferry across to Balboa Island, and walk to Marine Avenue.
The parade is sponsored by the Balboa Island Improvement Association. Awards for parade participants will be presented at the AllIsland “Pancake Breakfast” at the Beek Center on Saturday, June 22.
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Sea Lions on a buoy near the entrance to Newport Harbor / Photo by Richard Simon
American Legion Post 291 Color Guard in the 2023 Balboa Island Parade. Photo by Lawrence Sherwin.
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Newport Beach-Based Financial Advisor Qualifies for Edward Jones Recognition Conference
By NB Indy Staff
Newport Beach Financial Advisor Tammy McKennon, of the Edward Jones office in Newport Beach, recently qualified for the Edward Jones recognition conference, Momentum, which celebrates the contributions
and achievements of 819 successful financial advisors from the firm’s more than 19,000.
The event will be held May 20-23 in Orlando, FL, and includes financial advisors from both the U.S. and Canada.
“It’s a great honor to be recognized for the success of my practice and the experience my team and I deliver to our clients,” McKennon said. “The opportunity to collaborate with the leaders of the firm and with other successful Edward Jones financial advisors in North America is an incredible resource for us to continue providing value for our clients.”
The Momentum conference recognizes high-achieving financial advisors who have embraced the momentum it takes to build and sustain a successful practice through leadership, service, advice and guid-
CHARITY SPOTLIGHT
ance. Attendees will be immersed in learning opportunities and a collaborative environment designed to propel them to even greater heights.
“At the heart of our firm’s purpose is making a positive difference for those around us. Financial advisors attending Momentum have put that purpose into action by helping clients find and fund the possibilities for their lives,” said Chuck Orban, an Edward Jones principal responsible for the firm’s recognition events. “I look forward to the upcoming three days with this dynamic, motivated, service-oriented group of professionals.”
Attendees were selected based on the success of their practice. In keeping with the firm’s culture and spirit of partnership, there was not a set number of attendees for the conference. Instead, every financial advisor
who met the criteria qualified to attend, thereby keeping the focus on operational and service quality.
Tammy McKennon’s office is at 1501 Westcliff Dr. #307, in Newport Beach.
McKennon and her client support team professionals can be reached at McKennon’s website at https://www. edwardjones.com/us-en/financialadvisor/tammy-mckennon.
Edward Jones is a leading financial services firm in the U.S. and through its affiliate in Canada. The firm’s more than 19,000 financial advisors serve more than eight million clients with a total of $2 trillion in client assets under care at the end of December 2023. Edward Jones’ purpose is to partner for positive impact to improve the lives of its clients and colleagues, and together, better our communities and society.
KidWorks’ Women’s Pickleball for a Purpose Event in Newport Beach Nets Nearly $80,000 for College and Career Programs
By NB Indy Staff
The Tennis Club at Newport Beach Country Club hosted the KidWorks Women’s Pickleball Event on April 11, which raised nearly $80,000 for the KidWorks College and Career Programs, which prepares first-generation college students for higher education beyond high school.
The programs include the nonprofit’s College Apps Academy, Campus Crash along with engagement with KidWorks college counselors, and care packages for its college students.
Over the last four years, the KidWorks Pickleball event has raised over $300,000 in total.
The highly successful fundraising
initiative was created by a committee of dedicated women who want to assist the Santa Ana-based 501(C) (3) nonprofit that provides academic, personal development, and leadership programs for children and teens in overlooked communities.
“Your support ensures our deserving students will continue to benefit from robust college and career programs,” said KidWorks CEO and Executive Director David Benavides. “Activities like our College Apps Academy, Campus Crash and mentorship programs are designed to prepare first generation, low-income students on their journey towards college success.”
The 2024 event committee members from Newport Beach are chair Debbie Trammell, along with Kathy Ursini, Lori Junkins, Heather Gaughan, Sharon Roy, Jill Schriber, Wendy Hafer Cox, Susie Luer, Beth Hallett, Sharon Rinker, Holly Anderson and Kyle Team, who is also a KidWorks board member.
Other committee members are Janet Dichiro and C.C. Knowles of Corona del Mar, and Betsy Flynn of Laguna Hills. Also participating in the event is Leslie Seidner, a member of the KidWorks Advisory Council and resident of Newport Beach.
To learn more about the next event, which is set for April 24, 2025 at The
Financial Advisor Tammy McKennon
Photo: Members of the Pickleball committee (L-R): Lori Junkins, Kathy Ursini, Wendy Hafer Cox, Beth Hallett, Lisa Gels, Debbie Trammell, Holly Anderson, C.C. Knowles, Janet DiChiro, Kim Carpenter, Sharon Rinker, Jill Schriber and Kyle Team
City Manager
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sheltered) increased by 28 percent from 2022, from 5,718 to 7,322. It should be noted, however, when comparing 2019 to 2024, the increase was smaller, at seven percent for both sheltered and unsheltered.
A priority focus of the City Council, the City of Newport Beach has significantly strengthened its approach to addressing homelessness in recent years. Our homeless response now includes a dedicated police officer and homeless services manager; temporary shelter beds; full-time outreach teams; mobile mental health care; benefits counseling; new ordinances to reduce camping and other activities on public property; referrals to federal state, county and nonprofit programs; and more.
In addition, our Good Giving campaign helps reduce panhandling while providing resources and support to help individuals as they work to gain employment, obtain shelter, or make other strides toward exiting the streets.
View the County’s summary document to learn more about the 2024 Point in Time Count: ceo.ocgov.com/ care-coordination/care-coordinationadditional-documents.
REGISTRATION
FOR SUMMER CLASSES OPENS MAY 16
Get ready for an exciting summer: Registration for the City’s summer classes
opened on Thursday, May 16 at 8 a.m.
See the latest Newport Navigator at newportbeachca.gov/register for information on summer classes for all ages and interests, as well as community events such as Movies in the Park and July 4 is for Families.
Shred, E-Waste Event Draws
Big Crowds
The City’s waste diversion event on Saturday, May 4 was the most wellattended to date, with a total of 875 vehicles passing through.
Nearly 14 tons of paper material was collected for shredding and more than five tons of e-waste was diverted from landfills. More than 43 tons of compost was distributed for gardening and landscaping purposes. The compost is made from organic materials of the type that is recycled in residential collection carts.
The City would like to thank CR&R for coordinating shredding services with PaperCuts, providing compost, and for providing complimentary kitchen pails for organic recycling. Thank you also to California Electronics for collecting and diverting e-waste from landfills, Orange County Waste & Recycling for making bagged compost available for local agencies and to the student volunteers from Sage Hill’s E-Waste Club.
GENERAL PLAN UPDATE
The City is seeking the community’s continued help to shape the future of Newport Beach through a comprehensive General Plan update.
The central hub for this effort is our newly updated website, Newport, Together, with key information, resources and opportunities to provide critical feedback.
The City’s General Plan is being updated to reflect the community’s current needs and future aspirations. The General Plan contains goals that establish values and direction, policies that guide decision-making, and programs that carry out the actions needed to achieve these goals. The last comprehensive update of Newport Beach’s General Plan was in 2006.
A core part of updating the General Plan is engaging with residents and other stakeholders to capture and articulate a shared vision for the City for the next 20 years and beyond. Outreach at various community events began in March 2024 and will continue through 2025. If you missed the earlier events, you can get involved on the Newport, Together website. There, you can access many resources for this effort, including a project timeline, FAQs, a document library, feedback form, and an opportunity to subscribe to an email list for ongoing updates.
A short questionnaire and interactive map of Newport Beach is live, and the team wants to hear from community members, residents and business owners. Leave a pinpoint marker anywhere on the map and add a comment of what you love about your community, where are there opportunities to meet needs, areas that need improvement, and what is important
to you and your fellow community members.
I encourage you to visit the Newport, Together website and stay informed! Visit the website at newporttogether. mysocialpinpoint.com. If you have questions or comments, please email gpupdate@newportbeachca.gov.
JOIN US AT THE FIELD OF HONOR EVENT
The City of Newport Beach is proud to support the 15th Annual Field of Honor, presented by the Exchange Club of Newport Harbor. The free event will run from Friday, May 17 through Monday, May 27 at Castaways Park, 700 Dover Dr.
The event displays 1,776 large American flags along the paths of Castaways Park overlooking Newport Harbor to honor armed forces members, past and present, and first responders who have served or are serving our country and our communities.
Two special events are planned: May 18 at noon to celebrate Armed Forces Day, and May 27 at noon to celebrate Memorial Day, featuring keynote speaker Elaine Brattain, former national chaplain for the American Gold Star Mothers.
The event benefits organizations that support military members and other charities.
CITY MANAGER Page 11
STEPPING OUT
Baroque Music Festival Returns to Corona del Mar with ‘All the Pleasures’ Theme June 16 – 23
By Christopher Trela | NB Indy
Get ready to have a pleasurable experience when The Baroque Music Festival, Newport Beach’s only professional classical music performing organization, returns to Corona del Mar with a theme of “All the Pleasures: The Italian Influence in London and Beyond.”
According to information from the Baroque Music Festival, this year’s Festival focuses on music by a wide range of Baroque-era English composers, juxtaposed with pieces by their continental European predecessors and contemporaries.
Specialist musicians present five concerts over eight days at venues in Corona del Mar and Newport Beach.
Esteemed Baroque violinist Elizabeth Blumenstock directs the season, curating and leading all but one (the Monday recital) of the performances.
Blumenstock maintains a busy international schedule performing on the 17th-century Guarneri violin on loan by the Philharmonia Baroque Period Instrument Trust.
“The Guarneri violin is very much a 17th century style, with a highly arched
belly, a carved back, not a flat smooth shaping instrument,” she said. “It’s very beautiful and possess a generally bright, clear, sweet sound, with a fair resonance, not as much as some, so it’s a little dependent on the environment. It’s designed to be played in churches.”
Many of the Baroque Music Festival concerts do indeed take place in local churches.
Blumenstock serves as a concertmaster and soloist of Baroque orchestras nationwide and in Germany, and was named artistic director of the Baroque Music Festival in 2011. Her carefully curated selections of Baroque masterpieces for the 2024 Festival is as eclectic and entertaining as ever, ranging from Italian violin duos to a grand Handel choral work.
BAROQUE MUSICAL FESTIVAL PROGRAM
This year’s Festival is anchored by two Sunday afternoon concerts at St. Mark Presbyterian Church with the Festival Orchestra, joined for the Finale by the Festival Chorus.
For the opener, dubbed “London Fog, Italian Sunshine,” soloists from
the ensemble bring out the southern sun—the influence of Italian music on London-based composers.
Chamber ensembles and soloists give three evening concerts between the larger-scale Sunday events.
Monday evening’s intimate “Time Stands Still: English Lute Songs” recital highlights the superb acoustics of St. Michael & All Angels Church in Corona
del Mar.
Then, the Festival presents two concerts within the lush rounds of Corona del Mar’s Sherman Library & Gardens, a beloved venue since the first series in 1981. This year, musicians gather there on Wednesday evening, June 19 for Nightingales in the Gardens
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Baroque Music Festival concert inside a church in Newport Beach
BAROQUE Page 10
OFF THE MENU
Newport Beach Nobu Restaurant Welcomes Chef Nobu Matsuhisa for Taste of Nobu Event May 30
By Christopher Trela | NB Indy
What could be better than dining at famed Japanese restaurant Nobu Newport Beach? How about having Chef Nobu Matsuhisa in the house for a special Taste of Nobu dining experience on Thursday, May 30 from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Nobu Newport Beach welcomes acclaimed chef and restauranter Nobu Matsuhisa for what can only be called an evening to remember. Guests can indulge in a culinary journey with signature canapes, live chef stations, and hand-crafted cocktails, all while having a chance to meet the pioneering Japanese chef.
Tickets to the event are now available to the public and will include complimentary food and drinks for the evening. The event is 21+ only and tickets are non-refundable.
Tickets are $300 per person (plus tax) tax and can be purchased via the restaurant’s website at https:// noburestaurants.com/newportbeach/home.
For those who don’t know the
background of Nobu, the renowned restaurant is recognized for pioneering new-style Japanese cuisine. It began as a business partnership in 1994 between Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, actor Robert De Niro, and producer Meir Teper. The flagship location is in New York, but now 30 years later the Nobu brand is essentially an empire that spans across five continents and includes the hospitality business, Nobu Hotels.
Nobu restaurants continue to receive praise and rave reviews, with devoted followers that relish Chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s innovation in traditional Japanese cooking. Born and raised in Saitama, Japan, Nobu served a rigorous apprenticeship at a respected sushi bar in Tokyo. He eventually traveled to Peru and opened a sushi bar. Ac -
cording to his bio, Chef Nobu was challenged by the new culture and regional ingredients, which kindled his inventive style, known today as Nobu Style.
After three years in Peru, Nobu moved to Argentina, then home to Japan, then on to Alaska, before finally settling in Los Angeles.
Nobu opened Matsuhisa in Beverly Hills in January 1987. The restaurant was an instant hit, and food lovers and celebrities alike flocked to the restaurant. It was here that his longtime friendship and business relationship with actor and director Robert De Niro began.
It was at De Niro’s urging that together they opened the very first Nobu in New York City in 1994 with restaurateur Drew Nieporent. Like Matsuhisa, Nobu was an instant hit. In 2013 the Nobu enterprise expanded to include the first ever Nobu Hotels.
Chef Nobu currently has over 50 restaurants and 16 hotels, spanning across five continents.
• ROOFING REPLACEMENTS/REPAIRS
• BALCONY DECK STRUCTURAL RECONSTRUCTION
• ROOFING WATERPROOFING
• EXTENSIVE DRY ROT/TERMITE REPAIRS
• SHEET METAL FOR HARSH COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS
• IN DEPTH SPECIFICATION/STRUCTURAL ENGINEERING
• INTERIOR DAMAGE REPAIRS
• BALCONY RAIL SYSTEM DESIGNS/GLASS/CABLE
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• STUCCO/PLASTER RECONSTRUCTION
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Above: Chef Nobu Matsuhisa; right: Nobu cuisine
Boat Festival
PAGE 1
maritime craftsmen will be at work, guest speakers will be telling tales of experiences with wooden boats, and plein air artists will be capturing the beauty of the boats. Add live music, activities for kids, specialty craft cocktails and artisan foods, and you’ve got something for everyone.
A day earlier on Friday, June 7, is a special Opening Night event. The evening will include cocktails and appetizers aboard the America, plus early access to tour some of the amazing boats and craftsman exhibits. Dinner, music and a live auction under the stars will follow.
The 2024 Newport Beach Wooden Festival is hosted by Balboa Yacht Club in collaboration with the City of Newport Beach, the County of Orange, and Visit Newport/Newport Beach & Co. The Balboa Yacht Club is at 1801 Bayside Drive in Corona del Mar. Festival tickets are $15. Cruises on the America are $75. Opening Night tickets are $175. Children under 12 are free. All tickets can be purchased in advance online. Saturday June 8 tickets can also be purchased at the gate on the day of the event.
Visit newportbeachwoodenboatfestival. com for tickets and more information.
Pickleball
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Tennis Club at Newport Beach Country Club, please visit kidworksoc.org/ pickleball.
Since 1993, KidWorks has helped children, youth and families living in under-resourced neighborhoods in central Santa Ana. As a 501(C) (3) nonprofit, KidWorks makes an 18-year commitment to its students walking with students from “Pre-K through B.A.”
To learn more about KidWorks and to read its success stories, please visit www.kidworksoc.org.
‘Blithe Spirit’
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manner is smoothly urbane. He wisely downplays the traits of vain egotism and “beastly” treatment of Chares’s wives noted in the script, using his beautiful voice and cultured mannerisms to display his character’s suave ennui.
While the role of Ruth can sound one or two monotonous notes, Plotin skillfully crafts countless personality traits, and wins us over in doing so.
We get the nonchalant socialite, effervescent hostess, giggling flibbertigibbet, second wife outraged by her husband’s seeming preference of her predecessor over her, solicitous spouse convinced hubby has had too much of the sauce and not enough sleep, and woman exasperated and vexed in dealing with her now-erratic husband and his mischievous former wife’s spirit.
Serra shows Elvira’s impish, playful nature, yet deftly avoids stressing her petulance. She wisely underplays Elvira’s delight in causing turmoil in Charles and Ruth’s marriage – and we delight in seeing Charles caught in a vise between both wives, as Plotin, Serra and Cook excel in depicting frenzied scenarios.
Jones weaves the slightly off-the-wall persona at the center of NTAC’s staging, her bobbling voice telling us everything we need to know about Madame Arcati.
Jones aptly comes off as dotty, and dryly eccentric, and she and director Koutroulis wisely refrain from forcing the laughs. Jones avoids portraying a buffoon or using Arcati as mere comic relief, instead giving us a genuine, matter-of-fact woman who forthrightly presents herself to those she meets.
Keister’s Dr. Bradman is comically stuffy while taking the concept of being a polite guest to comical extremes, while Bancroft and Becky King make the most of the supporting roles of Mrs. Bradman and jittery young servant Edith.
Koutroulis’s cast imparts neither a contemporary acting style nor one borrowed from the period, and his cast’s
CLASSIFIED SECTION
dialects are spot-on – notably Cook, Plotin, Jones, Keister and Bancroft.
Rather than stereotypes, NTAC’s actors show us real people of privilege, with Charles and Ruth (and at times Madame Arcati) coming to grips with a supernatural scenario. Thanks to Coward, their plight might be riddled with hilarity, but thanks to NTAC, Charles and Ruth are utterly real and, therefore, wholly convincing.
Kat Scott and Jenny Wentworth’s costumes capture the elegant milieu of the characters. Serra’s appearance as Elvira is notably dazzling, the actor arrayed in glittery yet spectrally pale golden-green attire and (self-created) hair and makeup work.
In its design and construction by Jim Huffman, Joshua Serrano, Michael Corcoran and Leslye Wanthal, the set conveys the Condomines’s wealth, with luxurious furnishings that include a chandelier and Victrola and walls lined with rare paintings and books.
Toward the play’s conclusion, Coward wrestles with tying up every loose plot strand, which causes the staging’s pace to flag – a minor quibble, considering how consistently the dialogue and character portrayals ranges from delicate humor to more pronounced and overtly physical laughs. With this show at this venue, the playwright can be referred to as “NTAC” (“Noel ‘The Author’ Coward).”
In Newport Beach, we see that the masterful Coward has crafted something 100 percent tasteful – and something enjoyably theatrical that, as NTAC’s staging proves, has transcended time.
Newport Theatre Arts Center, 2501 Cliff Drive, Newport Beach. Through June 2. Running time: Two hours, 50 minutes (including intermission). 7:30 p.m. Thu.-Sat., 2 p.m. Sun. Tickets: $25. Ticket purchase / information: 949-6310288, ntactickets.com.
Buoy
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tion to play, while nasal honking might translate to “Here I am.” That doesn’t work well in any of Newport’s trendy taverns.
Baroque PAGE 8
(music for three violin soloists, and more) and Friday evening, June 21 for Galante in the Gardens (Bach, and late Baroque chamber music by Telemann and others).
The season will close with Handel & Purcell Choral Odes, showcasing each composer’s stunning vocal music, alongside instrumental selections. Countertenor Clifton Massey returns to the Festival along with debuting soloists Nola Richardson (soprano), Gregório Taniguchi (tenor), and Jesse Blumberg (baritone).
In addition to the ticketed concerts, audience members are invited to enjoy Baroque music performed al fresco by South Coast Brass, beginning 45 minutes before each concert. At all performances, audience members and musicians are encouraged to mingle for conversation and refreshment at complimentary “wine and waters” receptions.
TICKET INFORMATION
Subscriptions: $325 for all five concerts. Price includes reservable premium seating at each concert and a private caterer post‐concert dinner following the Festival Finale on Sunday, June 23. Single Tickets: Range from $45 to $55 for individual concerts, for open seating.
Students Go for Baroque Rush Tickets for Under-30s (age 12 and above): $10 on the day of performance only, cash only, with a valid student card and photo ID. Email students@bmfcdm.org for further information, and to inquire about group bookings and our open dress rehearsals for students.
Exclusively for NMUSD families: thanks to support from the City of Newport Beach, the adult accompanying any NMUSD student(s) age 12 or over is also eligible for the $10 rush ticket rate. Proof of enrollment at an NMUSD school is required to receive the discounted rate.
Festival subscriptions, single tickets, and full program and venue information are at www.bmf-cdm.org or available by calling (949) 760‐7887 and leaving a message for a callback within 24 hours.
Employer: Boldyn Networks US Operations LLC. Title: DAS Operations Engineer. Job Location: Newport Beach, California. Job Requirements: Bachelor’s Degree in Telecommunications Engineering, Information Technology, or related and 24 months in Engineer occupation. Description: Perform and manage third party vendors and contractors for maintenance activities and site inspections. Trouble-shoot Distributed Antenna Systems (DAS) network alarms and issues to resolution (remote and on-site) includes replacing faulty equipment. Ensure all preventive maintenance are performed: heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), Fire Suppression System, Outdoor remote fan clean, DAS software upgrade. Support deployment new DAS installation and perform acceptance inspection prior to on-air. Responsible for DAS equipment inventory and spares for all DAS systems. Establish, document, and maintain DAS operations standards and practices. Establish and adhere to Service Level Agreements with wireless operators. Guide and train new NOC (Network Operations Center) and Tier 1 engineers/Technicians. Please send resumes to tanyn.boulay@boldyn.com. Salary: $104,797.92
More complex vocalizations may be used to attract or seduce females, or indicate territory or dominance status. (No wonder my squeaky voice never attracted the cheerleaders.)
It’s assumed that many of sea lions’ vocalizations also express emotions and intentions. For most of us, sea lion language is about as incomprehensible as trying to master Mandarin Chinese or Finnish from a condensed mail order course. But when you stand on the sand to embrace the sea, or when you sail out of the harbor, stop your engine or luff the canvas for a moment to listen to the barks and growls and honks. You may just learn a new language.
The Baroque Music Festival was founded in 1981 by Dr. Burton Karson, then Professor of Music at CSU Fullerton. The annual season of five June concerts is a high-quality musical experience and an accessible way to discover, or rediscover, the uplifting beauty and joy of Baroqueera music (written from around 1600 to 1750), right in the heart of the local community.
Over the past four decades, the Festival has evolved as an esteemed and popular cultural institution in Orange County. Performing primarily on period instruments in intimate settings, acclaimed instrumentalists and vocal soloists assemble each June in Corona del Mar and Newport Beach.
CITY BEGINS SUMMER BEACH MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS
The City’s Public Works Department has switched to its summer work schedule.
During the summer season, maintenance crews and contractors start their daily routine at 5 a.m. each day of the week to clean beach area parks, landscape areas and medians. The beach crew’s early start time ensures that the heavy equipment and litter picking concludes before the summer beach visitors arrive.
The City deploys porters from morning to evening to keep the public areas clean and stocked. Trash collection contractors will adjust their schedules later this month to include more frequency of pick-ups and earlier start times.
In addition, Public Work facilities maintenance crews began transitioning from off-season large project repair work to increased summer site inspection and maintenance work. Facilities crews focus their efforts on daily inspections and quick repairs of facility infrastructure to ensure bathrooms and showers are working continually.
Daily maintenance and repair take center stage while the summer crowds fill the beaches. In addition, contracted janitorial services increase from two cleanings a day to a night cleaning and multiple day cleanings, with porter visits to keep supplies stocked and restrooms cleaned.
NIGHT REPAVING WORK BEGAN MAY 12 ON E. COAST HIGHWAY
The City is starting night paving work Sunday, May 12 on East Coast Highway from MacArthur Boulevard to Jamboree Road.
Lane closures will be in place on East Coast Highway between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Sunday nights through Friday mornings.
The repaving work is scheduled to be completed by mid-June, and additional work such as signage and striping completed by late June.
NEWPORT HARBOR EMERGENCY
WATERLINE REPAIRS UNDERWAY
The City’s Utilities, Public Works and Harbor departments have been working on emergency repairs to a broken 12inch water line in Newport Harbor. This water line is a important redundant line that moves water between Balboa Island and the Peninsula.
With the help of specialty contractors, the underwater portion of the pipe repair has been completed. Crews are working on preparing the pipe for a specialty reinforcement liner that will be pulled through the pipe next week.
CATCH BASIN SCREENS INSTALLED TO ENHANCE SUMMER WATER QUALITY
This week the City’s Utilities Department began the seasonal installation of more than 400 screens
covering storm drain catch basins around Newport Harbor.
During the summer season these screens provide an extra layer of protection to prevent trash from entering the storm drain systems that empty into the Harbor.
This extra effort is in addition to the City’s weekly street sweeping and regular cleaning of catch basins and underground trash capture devices. The screens are removed every year in the fall ahead of the rainy season.
BE WELL MOBILE CRISIS RESPONSE
The Be Well mobile crisis response team operates in Newport Beach 12 hours a day, seven days a week to respond to mental and behavioral health crises. The mobile unit is staffed with mental health specialists and works closely with the City’s police and fire departments.
Last week, the Be Well team:
• Transported a person to the Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter.
• Transported a person to crisis stabilization unit.
• Transported a person to a residential detox facility.
• Transported a person to a substance use disorder facility.
• Transported a person to the Be Well sobring station.
• Transported two people to homeless services providers.
The mobile crisis team is dispatched through the Newport Beach Police Department. To request service, dial 911 or call the Police Department’s nonemergency line at (949) 644-3717.
HOMELESSNESS RESPONSE
This week, the City’s homeless outreach and response teams:
• Placed a person in permanent housing from the Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter. He experienced homelessness for four years.
• Placed two people in the Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter and transported one of them.
• Enrolled seven people into services.
• Continued to shelter people: 24 people who had been experiencing homelessness in Newport Beach are sheltered in the Costa Mesa Bridge Shelter.
CITY SEEKS RESIDENT INPUT ON GENERAL PLAN UPDATE
The City’s General Plan is being updated to reflect the community’s current needs and future aspirations. The General Plan contains goals that establish values and direction, policies that guide decision making, and programs that carry out the actions needed to achieve these goals. The last comprehensive update of Newport Beach’s General Plan was in 2006.
A core part of updating the General Plan is engaging with residents and other stakeholders to capture and articulate a shared vision for the city for the next 20 years.
You are encouraged to visit the project’s website at newportbeachca.gov/ gpupdate to learn more.
6/22 DESPERADO (
6/23 JUSTIN HAYWARD
6/28 THE BACON BROTHERS
6/29 SKELETON CREW (G raT eful d
7/3 IAN MOORE 7/5 WALTER MICHAELS BAND
7/6 SHINE ON (P ink f
7/12 YYNOT ( r ush
) 7/13 FAST TIMES -
7/14 THE CREAM OF CLAPTON BAND feat. Will Johns & Noah East 7/19 THE 5TH DIMENSION
7/20 Y&T 7/25 THE RAT PACK
7/26 KEN GARCIA 7/27 BOB SCHNEIDER 7/28 BOBBY GRAY 8/1 CASH’D OUT (J ohnny C ash T ribu T e ) 8/2 Beach Boy AL JARDINE 8/3 CUBENSIS (G raT eful d ead T ribu T
) 8/9 BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY 8/17 PIANO MEN: GENERATIONS
8/23 SUPER DIAMOND 8/24 SUPER DIAMOND 8/27 TAB BENOIT & ANDERS OSBORNE with Special Guest JD SIMO 8/29 THE PETTY BREAKERS 8/30 GLENN HUGHES - Deep Purple Set - 50 T h anniversary of b urn 8/31 MICK ADAMS & THE STONES 9/1 MIDGE URE 9/7 SOUTHERN ROCK THROWDOWN ( l ynyrd s kynyrd , b ad C o ., ZZ T o P T
T
)
) 9/12 GRAHAM BONNET P erformin G r ainbo W , ms G & a l C aT ra ZZ 9/14 JOURNEY USA (J ourney T ribu T e ) 9/15 BENISE: Fiesta! 9/19 THE MAN IN BLACK (J ohnny C ash T ribu T e ) 9/22 JANE MONHEIT 9/25 ANA POPOVIC 9/27 DAVE MASON 10/3 ZEBRA 10/4 MIRAGE ( f lee TW ood m a C T ribu T e ) 10/5 KIMBERLY PERRY (of The Band Perry) 10/10 HENRY KAPONO 10/11 HENRY KAPONO 10/16 JIMMIE VAUGHAN 10/18 GARY PUCKETT & THE UNION GAP 10/20 THE YOUNG DUBLINERS 10/31 OINGO BOINGO FORMER MEMBERS UNTOUCHABLES 11/1 OINGO BOINGO FORMER MEMBERS UNTOUCHABLES 11/3 THE WINEHOUSE EXPERIENCE ( a my W inehouse T ribu T e ) 11/8 COMMON SENSE 11/9 TYRONE WELLS 11/15 RONSTADT REVIVAL 11/16 JOSHUA RADIN & RON POPE 11/22 SPACE ODDITY ( d avid b o W ie T ribu T e ) 11/23 RUFUS WAINWRIGHT
11/27 BEATLES VS STONES 11/29 THE PLATTERS
11/30 LEE ROCKER of the Stray Cats 12/4 LIVINGSTON TAYLOR and LOUDON WAINWRIGHT III
