k l a t OF THE TOWNS by bill beggs jr.
chesterfield
Are you ready for “Weird Al” Yankovic? He must not think so, because his show Aug. 28 at Chesterfield Amphitheater is titled ‘The Unfortunate Return of the Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour.’ Opening the show will be Weird Al’s long-time friend, comedian Emo Philips. The 133-date tour will culminate in New York on Oct. 29 with Weird Al’s first-ever concert at Carnegie Hall. Although he’ll draw from his 14 studio albums, the long-haired accordion maestro has promised to deliver a different set list every night. And rather than focus on the goofy parody hits from his career, like “Eat It” and “Smells Like Nirvana,” Weird Al will perform non-parody material—pastiches, hysterical polkas you can dance to and original songs that have largely avoided pop-culture radar. (My favorite: “One More Minute,” a
downtown
Yoo might be able to check out a copy of James Dickey’s bestselling novel Deliverance at St. Louis Public Library’s central branch downtown. But then that would actually involve reading a book, right? Well, instead, you could have checked out the film adaptation at the library April 16, as part of the Golden Anniversary Series from Cinema St. Louis. The event involves a pre-show discussion of a select 1972 movie with a film connoisseur, followed by the movie itself. I’ll admit to not having seen the film starring Burt Reynolds, but was spellbound by the book. It was a nail-biting experience I’d rather not repeat … and certainly not on screen. The quirky instrumental “Dueling Banjos,” a lively bluegrass ditty that became a Top 40 hit on the radio 50 years ago, gave no inkling of the horrors that awaited canoeing buddies Reynolds et al. in the woods. But mind-bending suspense of a different sort awaits the audience in next month’s installment of the anniversary series, Bob Fosse’s Cabaret, which won eight Academy Awards, including Best Director for Fosse, Best Actress for Liza Minnelli and Best Supporting Actor for Michael York. Theater and dance critic Calvin Wilson will lead the pre-show presentation and discussion. The 1:30 p.m. screening and parking are free. Set in early-1930s Berlin, the story follows star-crossed lovers Minnelli and York, against the terrifying rise of Nazism as a backdrop. Cabaret lost the Oscar for Best Picture in 1972 to The Godfather, the blockbuster mafia movie that is up for discussion and viewing in September. It also will be screened at the library; several other features and discussions will be virtual. Whether the event is held online or in person, film critics, film academics, filmmakers and writers will offer introductory remarks and participate in discussions about the films. At cinemastlouis.org, you will find the Golden Anniversaries Series under Events.
america’s center doo-wop song with creepy lyrics, such as “I’d rather dive into a swimming pool filled with double-edged razor blades / Than spend one more minute with you.”) He’ll leave behind the high-octane theatrics— costumes, props, video screens—for just his band of almost 40 years. The biggest-selling comedy recording artist of all time and a five-time Grammy winner, Weird Al is one of only five artists to have had Top 40 singles in each of the last four decades—the other four being Michael Jackson, Madonna, U2 and Kenny G. Enjoy fine acoustics underneath the stars; reserved and lawn seating are both available. Visit chesterfieldamphitheater.com for tickets, which also will be available at the box office an hour before the 7:45 p.m. show.
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Contact Bill at wrtrs.blck@gmail.com.
TOWN&style
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APRIL 20, 2022
Anyone who’s ever seen The Big Bang Theory knows that Dr. Sheldon Cooper was the nerdiest dweeb among the group of high-functioning dorks—but they all loved Comic-Con. Which brings us to the closest thing to it here in St. Louis, the inaugural FANEXPO St. Louis next month at America’s Center. True fans will be eager to rub elbows with the real Capt. James T. Kirk of the Starship Enterprise, otherwise known as William Shatner. The 90-something actor played Kirk on the legendary sci-fi TV series Star Trek, which first aired in the 1960s. There’ll be plenty of other appearances, of course. Kevin Smith, writer and director of the cult movie Clerks, will be joined by four cast members at the convention, which from 2013 to 2019 was known as Wizard World. It will run Friday through Sunday, May 13 to 15, and will feature stars of productions ranging from reality to anime. Many of the real people behind the voices on popular animated series, e.g. Futurama and SpongeBob SquarePants, are slated to appear. Visit fanexpohq.com/fanexpostlouis for details on all the real and imaginary fun.
TTia triv☛
WHAT ARE A FEW OTHER ROLES WILLIAM SHATNER PLAYED, BESIDES STAR TREK, BOSTON LEGAL AND A SPOKESMAN IN THE PRICELINE COMMERCIALS?
LAST ISSUE’S Q&A What event in Rome during his honeymoon, in 1972, brought worldwide attention to Bob Cassilly that he’d rather have not experienced? Cassilly was in Vatican City waiting to see La Pietà, Michelangelo’s marble masterpiece of Madonna and Child, when a madman shouting that he was Jesus Christ attacked the statue with a pickaxe. Cassilly helped subdue the man, Laszlo Toth, who had already caused grievous damage. Restorers had to reproduce some missing pieces, including a few of the Virgin Mary’s fingers and her nose, which sightseers had pocketed as souvenirs.
