13 Southwest Waterfront: Oklahoma!

After eating at Cantina Marina, Sam & I walked across the street to Arena Stage to see Oklahoma!, the production Molly Smith, Arena's Artistic Director, chose to kick-off the theatre's return to the newly renovated space.

And what better way to kick it off than with the musical that marked the beginning of a truly authentic, American art form, the musical.

This isn't to say that acting, dancing, and singing had never co-existed on stage, but Oklahoma! marked the first time all three elements worked together to advance the storyline, particularly the dance. This was marked by an epic 15-minute "dream ballet" which was originally choreographed by one of modern dance's matriarchs, Agnes de Mille.

Anyway, you can read more about this milestone in American history elsewhere. Let me move onto the space. The original two stages were preserved and enclosed by the structure you see in the pictures, the undulations of the facade meant to mimic the near-by river. A third stage and administrative spaces meant to house Arena's entire staff under one roof for the first time, were also part of this Capital campaign.

This effort also marks a milestone in theatre history, although this time it marks the end of an era as well as a beginning. This will probably be one of the last, great capital additions to performing spaces in the Metropolitan DC area. Without getting into it, changing trends in audience, fundraising, revenue, and the nature of art and entertainment, along with social media, and not to mention the economy, would make it difficult to see the kind of development we've seen recently (with Woolly, Signature Theatre, the Shakespeare Theatre, and now Arena, to name the ones that come to mind) financially feasible and sustainable anytime in the near future.

This isn't to say that this is a good or a bad thing. If anything, Arena Stage's new space opens at a pivotal time not just for theatre in America, but for the arts. And if their first season is any indication as to how they plan to engage their audience and the community, both local and national, as well as the preservation and creation of significant American theatre, then this opening, and this show, also marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter of arts in DC and the US.


Oklahoma! is on Arena's Fichlander Stage, and has garnered a good bit of attention. Peter Marks, with the Washington Post, wrote a glowing review last week, and Patrick Healy commented on some of the buzz it's been getting on Broadway.

One of the first shows my mom introduced to me growing up, this production of Oklahoma! pays its respect to the musical theatre tradition, by an organization that is dedicated to the stewardship of American theatre, its artists, and its audiences.

See Oklahoma! if you appreciate musical theatre and would like to see a significant work skillfully revived. However, if musicals are not your cup of tea, I encourage you to take a look at the rest of the season, as there is something for everyone.

13 Southwest Waterfront: Cantina Marina

Note: I recommend checking out this place ASAP! Go before the weather gets colder!


Cantina Marina is the perfect place to grab a bite (or a drink) if you ever find yourself at the Southwest Waterfront. Surrounded by large family-style seafood restaurants, Cantina Marina's funky look - a hybrid between sailboat and cruiseship - is proof that DC's Food Scene has personality. Another plus: it's right across the street from Arena Stage where JR and I planned on seeing a show after dinner.

Cantina Marina will remind you of summer even if it's freezing outside. The restaurant embraces the pleasant feeling of the sea in it's design. It's also located on the Potomac River which serves for a stunning view of the District.

As soon as I looked at the menu I saw the Mini Corn Dogs. (Secret: I love corn dogs!). These were genuine but bite-sized versions of the cornmeal coated, deep-fried hotdogs (I'm so embarrassed). They are served with a side dip of Creole Aioli (garlicky and tangy) for those who like their corn dogs exotic.

I ordered the "Cantina Marina Famous Tacos". I've never had fish tacos before so I thought that dining out on the waterfront was the best opportunity to try them. The combination of soft tortilla and grilled halibut was very light and delicious. I wished the dish came with more than two tacos.

JR ordered the Jambalaya Pasta. As light as the tacos were, this dish was rich. JR and I both agreed that it was very creamy. Generously peppered veggies, chicken and sausage also added to the richness. I recommend a bottle of Corona to wash off this heavy dish.


A view of the gorgeous sunset made a great ending to a great meal. Cantina Marina (also a bar) was filling up as the night begun and I would've stayed longer but we were running late for the show at Arena. Luckily enough, the theatre is right across the street!

12 Crystal City: Hasar Masob

As Sam mentioned, we switched our roles for this evening out (something I believe is healthy to do, but also driven by necessity as I was in the production he saw).

So our originally scheduled program for the post-show entertainment was going to be Thai. However, the first Thai restaurant was not allowing late seating, and the second had already closed its curtains for the day.

On impulse, I suggested we attend a late-night dish at Hara Mesob, an Ethiopian establishment I had only been to once. Now, the mesob is a straw table unique to this culture, and encourages a means for all audience members to be engaged in an evening long improvisation.


Granted, they also have traditional, American restaurant tables (with corners and such), but the dish we ordered still encouraged the same interaction. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

The prologue and exposition for the evening was provided by a wonderful woman by the name of Sunny. She was engaging above and beyond your typical server's performance. She made the evening personal by finding out about us, and informing her about herself. Not only that, she made it clear that late seating was allowed, particularly if there were still other patrons enjoying a savory performance.

That being said, the dish we ordered amounted to a one-act, in that we got a mixed platter. I can't even remember the particulars, but it was a delicious performance in the round. Instead of everyone having a individually ordered performance which others might sample, everyone at the table enjoyed a singular dish, simply from different points of view.

Now, the scenic design for this shared dish involved multiple meats and vegetables, resting atop one singular piece of injera, which was also used in place of utensils. The improvisation part comes when your hands start to dance, by tearing of pieces of injera, then navigating them to whichever dish you might want to try. The hands of you and your fellow dinner guests begin to weave in and out of each other, and when they land at their destination, a quick pinching motion captures the food and brings it back to your mouth.

It was never spoken, but this was mostly a silent dance, much like the production "Plate" saw and reviewed. There's no explicit portions, so you can't help but keep in mind making sure the other person still has an option to enjoy whatever you might. This proved not to be so much of an issue, as we were too full to finish everything on the platter.

Now for an encore, we enjoyed a bit of Tiramisu, which Sunny once more provided just a bit of personal insight about.
If you would like a unique, communal, engaging and personal dining experience, I would strongly recommend you consider checking out Hasar Masob.

Harar Mesob on Yelp

12 Crystal City: King Arthur

(Flyer from Synetic's website)

So we’re switching things up this time: I’ll review the Arts since the “stage” part of the blog is actually on stage. But I won’t go that far… my forever-hungry stomach was well engaged when I went to see Synetic’s King Arthur. It was a feast of kings!

Location:

Tucked in the middle of Crystal City buildings but very close to the metro station. The venue is more fancy than low-key, and not necessarily charming. But home is home so congrats to the theatre company (led by Paata and Irina Tsikurishvili) for finally finding a permanent venue for their shows!

Seating:

This show uses a “water stage”. The “splash zone” (first two rows for some, apparently first five for others) has been the Talk of the Town. So when you go buy your tickets ask yourself the same questions you do when you go out and dine: do I want a seat in the back and enjoy my meal quietly? Or do I want the exciting spot next to the open kitchen? It all depends on what you’re in the mood for; to be or not to be… splashed.

Starters:

Water is one of the main ingredients in this show. Some might presume that this causes the production to be gimmicky or a monotonous series of splish and splash, but don’t be fooled. The use of water is so creative and dynamic and you come to realize this right at the beginning: Merlin (Alex Mills) walks on stage creating ripples in the lake that are beautifully reflected on the background; a few minutes later, Morgan le Fay (Jodi Niehoff) emerges from that same lake causing a strong splash that disturbs the serenity of the scene.

Entrée #1:

Consistently strong, with a couple of traditional fighting scenes expected from an epic like King Arthur. What impressed me the most however was the cleaver use of lighting and “non-lighting”. Light and darkness, as water, are prominent parts of this production. They are put into great use in a scene where Uther magically morphs into king Cornwall as he sneaks into the castle to sleep with queen Ingraine.

Palate Cleanser:

The dancing sequences are refreshing after all the fighting and drama. The first was served on the Round Table when Arthur (Ben Cunis) is enshrined as king. The guys proved that they are not only good at the fight scenes but also excel at dance during this folklore-esque piece.
   
The second followed soon as Arthur and Guinevere (Brynn Tucker) celebrate their marriage. This seemed to be a favorite scene for many, including the actors themselves. The brilliant Celtic-Modern fusion music that infuses the ambient is most apparent here.

Entrée #2:

More fighting and drama. You also start to see the creative versatility of the set: a scene which introduces Lancelot (Vato Tsikurishvili) uses the “rocks” on stage as a bridge; before that, they were the Round Table; and later on, they will be turned into a mountain. Another showcase of creativity is in the “ménage a trios” scene between Arthur, Morgan, and Guinevere. Like a great complex dish, this scene plays with your senses as the three stand apart performing a series of well coordinated movements. Flavors then smoothly blend into one another; love and sensuality becomes hate and anger as Morgan rapes Arthur towards the end of the scene.

Dessert:

After this amazing feast of senses you are left looking forward to dessert. Unfortunately, there is no grand finale. However the lack of a powerful final impact is compensated by an elegant artistic touch. The final scene mirrors the first scene when Merlin appears with the Excalibur. This time around, the wizard disappears in darkness as the legendary sword returns back to the water, creating a full circle that marks the end of the show.

Final Comments:

King Arthur is as fantastic as previous shows that I’ve seen by Synetic. Although the “water stage” is a new concept to the company, they manage to make it work so well and so artistically that it doesn’t detract from the group’s amazing performance. If you are not yet convinced, I’ll leave you with this amazing trailer.

11 Chinatown: The Vibrator Play

So, this post is unbelievably late, and for that I apologize.

"In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play" was actually extended at Woolly Mammoth, and closed a couple of weekends ago. So while reading this might not serve as a review of a show you might see, hopefully it will give you an idea of what Woolly has in store for its audiences, this season.

The Vibrator Play by Sarah Ruhl, kicks of a season intended to provide a "striptease of the subconscious". The essence of the season is to be "a focused and poignant exploration of our attitudes toward gender, age, race, and sexuality in a manner that's uniquely Woolly". I could try to sum up the piece, by Woolly's synopsis will do just fine:

"At the dawn of the electrical age, a new medical device is developed to pacify “hysterical” women, but it produces a shockingly different result. Pulitzer Prize-finalist Sarah Ruhl, creator of Dead Man’s Cell Phone and The Clean House, returns with a richly textured comedy about marriage, motherhood, and the charged energy between our bodies"

Now, Woolly is by far one of my favorite theatre companies. Part of what I love (and this is the Arts Management lens coming in) is their mission:

. . . to ignite an explosive engagement between theatre artists and the community by developing, producing, and promoting new plays that explore the edges of theatrical style and human experience, and by implementing new ways to use the artistry of theatre to serve the people of Greater Washington, DC.

LOVE IT!!

And I definitely believe that's what they're continuing to do, and have done with this show.

Walking in, the set is definitely interesting, with some heavy duty medical lights hanging from the ceiling, as if saying that the stage is this giant operating table, yet the bulk of the scenic design incorporating wood, from walls to furniture. And just to add the audience into the mix, a viewing gallery of sorts, serves as the second floor of the house on stage.

Although the title of the piece is "In the Next Room", the only thing separating the living room from the...'operating' room is a door and its frame, which provides for some very interesting scenes with action and dialogue occurring in both rooms simultaneously.

The highlight of the play for me is the dialogue between two women, the doctor's first patient and the doctor's wife, when describing the completely different experiences each had upon treatment of the device. The insightful yet hilarious writing is the essence of what really drives the first act.

The second act, is less entertaining, which isn't to say it is less artful. It leaves the lofty and light-hearted canopy of the subject matter addressed in the beginning, and becomes mired in the weeds, trying to make philosophical and logical sense of emotional and sexual well-being and health.

Some of the musings it left me with were as universal and general as people not wanting to be alone, but then as personal as what do individuals look to for companionship.

All-in-all, a worthwhile evening, and a great start to an exciting season.

11 Chinatown: Burma

Once again, we found ourselves in DC's cute LITTLE Chinatown (Fake Chinatown, Chinablock, whatever people call it these days). JR and some friends and I went for dinner while we waited for a play to start. We chose Burma because we never really have Burmese food that often, plus, it's the only Burmese restaurant in the District!

The restaurant was not as dive-y as I thought. It was actually quite pleasant. Art that looked "Burmese" embellished the yellow walls. It was interesting to look around.

I ordered the appetizers part of our meal. We began with the Gold Fingers, which are sticks of calabash squash lightly battered and deep fried. They reminded me of Pumpkin Tempura... but unfortunately not quite as good.

Our next appetizer was the Green Tea Leaf Salad. Interesting concept but the table didn't enjoy it that much. I was wishing to get a taste of the green tea in the salad but it had a strong salty/hearty taste (MSG?) that overwhelmed the rest of the potentially tasty ingredients.

One of our friends ordered the Burmese Mango Pork. I usually love stewed pork but this was just fine. It was savory and tangy but didn't have that "thing" that makes you love stewed pork dishes. Sorry Burmese Mango Pork, I just don't think that there was a spark...

Another friend ordered the Kokang Chicken. This dish was colorful: white chicken breasts, green cilantro, red tomatoes, and yellow ginger, all soaked in brown soy/sesame sauce. The colors however didn't not reflect much of the taste and I thought that the dish was a little bit bland :(

But to end on a delicious note, we did actually have a good dish! The winner for the night was the Chicken Sauteed Kebab. JR was the one who ordered this (how does he do this all the time?! Am I not the foodie part of this blog?). Anyway, this was our favorite out of all. Well marinated chicken with sauteed veggies... what's not to love?!


Burma was a pleasant dining experience, but not so much for the food. I don't know if I'll go back but if I do, I'll definitely try out other dishes on the menu. Oh, and did I mention that they serve Singha Beer? I'll also go back for that.

10 Penn Quarter: Busboys & Poets and FroZenYo

I overheard a group of people trying to decide on where to go and eat after catching "The Sleeping Beauty Puppet Ballet" at Mount Vernon Church. "Let's go eat somewhere cool," they said. I wondered if they knew about Busboys and Poets. 

Busboys, as I like to say to some of my non-DC visitors, is one of the places where you see DC at its best. It's a place where a bunch of cool, diverse people come together for a yummy meal, as they wait for an independent movie screening to start, then buy a book about social change on their way out... to come back again and check out which artist or activist will be speaking at the venue next week. You will like Busboys if you appreciate the feeling of a satisfied tummy after a great meal at a great restaurant. However, you will LOVE Busboys because you wont only leave with a happy stomach, but an inspired soul as well.
 

After catching the Fringe show, JR and I walked to the Busboys and Poets on 5th and K for brunch (there are three locations...something that I have mixed feelings about). I got the Chicken Salad Sandwich. It was perfect for a Hot-DC-Summer-Day. The whole-grain bread came with light chicken salad (accented with apple, raisin, and walnuts), in addition to a generous amount of avocado and tomatoes, making the sandwich more fresh and summery.

JR went for a more traditional brunch option - Western Omelete and Grits. The eggs were normal but both JR and I thought that the grits were delicious. They were creamy and tasty... not like those bland grits that come on the side of your order but you never eat.

Good Food: Check. Good Atmosphere: Check. We had a great time at Busboys and I'll obviously come back again! But what about dessert?...

After a two hour break seeing "Avenue Q" at the Landsburgh Theatre, we stopped by FroZenYo for a Fro-Yo fix (short for "frozen yogurt" for anyone who's wondering). The place was crowded with people who mixed and matched from 16 fro-yo flavors, with toppings, of course.

JR satisfied his sweet tooth with dulce de leche fro-yo topped with walnuts in caramel sauce. I unsuccessfully attempted to balance out his very sweet combination with pistachio fro-yo topped with vanilla cookies...very very sweet! I told JR that we should rename our blog to "Plate2Stage: A Guide on How to Become Cultured and Fat". He ignored my comment and continued eating his fro-yo happily.