Offerings from Pittsburgh's cultural arts and entertainment events:
'dansaq!'
An unlikely but intriguing partnership between a string quartet and a tap dance duo launched the Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall's Meet the Challenge performance series last Thursday.
For "dansaq!", the skilled and talented musicians of Cuarteto Latinoamericano and percussionist Ricardo Gallardo provided music of contemporary Latin American composers for the imaginative and inventive performances of Tapage dancers and choreographers Mari Fujibayashi and Olivia Rosenkrantz.
The pairing of tap and contemporary Latin American classics was as successful as it was unusual with dancers and musicians complementing each other's performances to create a refreshingly different evening of art.
The evening also served as an opportunity for the Carnegie Music Hall in Carnegie to show off the impressive results of its ongoing $8.6 million campaign to restore and renovate the music hall and library.
-- Alice T. Carter
'Of Mice and Men'
The literary classic "Of Mice and Men" transpired onstage this weekend in a live version that was compelling and engaging.
"Of Mice and Men" -- a production of Prime Stage Theatre based on the 1930s novel by John Steinbeck -- stuck pretty faithfully to the book's storyline, and the actors and actresses captured the characters' personalities well. This is especially true of Lennie, played by Broadway actor Randy Kovitz, who appeared in the show under a Pittsburgh guest artist contract.
Lennie -- the large, mentally challenged sidekick to George, who acts like an older brother -- has a unique personality and mannerisms, which Kovitz captured well. The audience sympathized with the innocent-minded Lennie, who means well, but doesn't know any better, when he injures and even kills someone with his physical strength.
The play, directed by Richard Keitel, explores the culture and emotions associated with the Great Depression. Themes abound of friendship, optimism despite dire circumstances, and what it means to do right by someone you care about -- a controversy that appears in the dramatic ending.
After the play at the New Hazlett Theater on the North Side, cast and production members participated in a question-and-answer session, where audience members could further explore the themes in the sad yet powerful Steinbeck story.
-- Kellie B. Gormly
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