weekend event planner

Here are the top 10 things to do in Houston this weekend

Hilarious actor-comedian Craig Robinson hits Houston this weekend.

Have you ever wanted to take part in a walk or run, but you didn't really want to, well, walk or run?

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo will start up its virtual, 34th annual Rodeo Run on Saturday, which will go until Sunday, May 9. In addition to the traditional 5K or 10K walk, run or wheelchair race, there are also two new race categories, bonus challenges and opportunities to win special prizes.

As always, plenty of events and activities are on tap. Look for a hilarious alum of The Office, a 10-minute play festival, and a Kentucky Derby party — with a disco theme.

Here are your best for the weekend.

Thursday, April 29

Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation presents A Celebration of Reading
The Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation will present its 27th annual fundraiser as a hybrid production. Guests at the event will enjoy a professional-quality program, featuring a line-up of bestselling authors and entertainers, followed by dinner.

The lineup features authors former President George W. Bush, Matthew McConaughey (virtual appearance), Mark Sullivan, Elin Hilderbrand, and husband-and-wife duo Peter Baker and Susan B. Glasser. 6:30 pm.

Improv Houston presents Craig Robinson
Craig Robinson is best known for his role as acerbic Dunder-Mifflin employee Darryl Philbin on NBC’s Emmy-winning The Office. The man has also done a lot of movies and TV, from Judd Apatow movies like Knocked Up to acting alongside the late Chadwick Boseman in the James Brown biopic Get on Up to headlining his own, short-lived sitcom (called Mr. Robinson, of course). Catch him this weekend as he does his musical brand of stand-up at the Improv. 7 pm (7:30 and 9:45 pm Friday; 7 and 9:30 pm Saturday).

Friday, April 30

Mother's Day Trunk Show Series at Deutsch Fine Jewelry
Deutsch Fine Jewelry will host Houston-based, women-owned designer Armenta on Friday and New York-based designer Lauren K. on Friday and Saturday. Handcrafted in Houston, Armenta provides women from disadvantaged circumstances a better chance in life, hiring women based on passion rather than skill set. As for Lauren K. they will showcase their one-of-a-kind pieces, perfect for the mom who is looking to add a splash of color to her jewelry collection. 6 pm (5 pm Saturday).

Houston Symphony presents Brian Del Signore Plus Brahms
Principal percussionist Brian Del Signore makes an extra-special, Houston Symphony solo debut, performing the marimba movement from his own Percussion Concerto. Plus, hear "Celestial Blue" by Grammy and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Jennifer Higdon, followed by an invigorating early masterpiece by Benjamin Britten. The concerts close with Brahms’s genial Serenade No. 2. The Saturday performance will be live-streamed for home viewers. 8 pm (2:30 pm Sunday).

Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts presents 10-Minute Play Festival
All this weekend, the UH School of Theatre & Dance will present its annual 10-Minute Play Festival. This one-weekend-only, popular showcase highlights some of the best new works by B.F.A. playwrights, as well as pieces selected from their international 10-minute play contest. The video link for this event will be continuously viewable between Friday night and Sunday at 11 pm. Ticket registration closes at 8:30 pm on Sunday. 8 pm.

Saturday, May 1

Archway Gallery presents Shirl Riccetti and donna e perkins: "Exploring Paint" virtual opening
When friends Shirl Riccetti & donna e perkins decided to have a show together, they could never have anticipated such a tumultuous year as 2020. Perkins, an abstract painter, and Riccetti, a more traditional painter, decided to confront the challenges of 2020 by continuing to do what they have been doing for most of their lives. The virtual opening and artist talks will be posted to the gallery website, Facebook and YouTube. The exhibition will remain on display through Thursday, June 3. 10 am.

Sounds to Live By at the Menil Collection
Bring your picnic blankets and head out to the Menil for an afternoon of free, outdoor-music listening on the museum’s east lawn. Jamal Cyrus, Peter Lucas, and DJ Flash Gordon Parks will be spinning an eclectic mix of vinyl records from their personal collections. The event will take place on the Menil’s east lawn. Guests are required to abide by the museum’s COVID-19 safety protocols. Additional green-space policies apply. 3 pm.

Disco Derby at Onion Creek Cafe While there are plenty of Kentucky Derby parties this weekend, this one sounds the funkiest. Put on your favorite hat, disco shirt or whatever you're comfortable in as hosts Denver Courtney (aka Denverado) and DJ Melodic transform Onion Creek into "Disco Alley." There will be cash and prizes for best-dressed, as well as spins on a "prize wheel." There will also be plenty of food and drink specials all day. Derby and/or disco attire is encouraged but not required. 7 pm.

Sunday, May 2

The Women's Fund presents Board with Breakfast in Bed The Women’s Fund for Health Education and Resiliency’s ROC for H.E.R. will present a virtual Board with Breakfast in Bed to celebrate moms, mentors and friends via Zoom. Guests are invited to wear their PJs and stay in bed while Board & Bordeaux founder Stacy Williams teaches the art of charcuterie board arrangement. Brunch board ingredients, a bamboo board, mini mimosas, and an access link to the Zoom class will be provided on Saturday. 11 am.

Strange Bird Immersive presents The Man From Beyond InThe Man From Beyond, Madame Daphne leads a private séance to contact the spirit of Harry Houdini. But all is not what it seems, and when the ghost appears, things take a dramatic turn. Unravel mysteries a century in the making, and you could find yourselves doing more than escaping a room. The hybrid experience of immersive theatre and game will leave guests wondering if the magic is real. 2 pm.

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Movie Review

Over-the-top acting and incoherent plot drag down Her Private Hell

Photo courtesy of Neon

Sophie Thatcher in Her Private Hell.

Danish filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn is not someone who plays nice with the general film world. His 2011 film Drive introduced him to American audiences in a big way, but that pulsating thriller was followed up with artier films like Only God Forgives and The Neon Demon that eschewed coherent plots in favor of moody, atmospheric pieces.

Winding Refn, who hasn’t made a feature film in 10 years, has gone fully down the rabbit hole with Her Private Hell. Taking place in a liminal space that kind of resembles Earth but also feels like someone’s dreams/nightmares, the film focuses on Elle (Sophie Thatcher), an actor currently starring in a sci-fi film. Staying at a hotel with newcomer Hunter (Kristine Froseth), the two bond over their shared passion and the legend of Elle’s father, Johnny Thunders (Dougray Scott), who’s now married to Elle’s friend Dominique (Havana Rose Liu).

After spending a good amount of (mostly incomprehensible) time with that group, Refn introduces Private K (Charles Melton), who seems to be living in post-World War II Japan. He is looking for his daughter, who might have been taken by a mysterious figure known as “Leatherman,” and he will stop at nothing to find her, fighting whoever stands in his way.

It becomes clear almost right away that Winding Refn has no desire to engage in traditional storytelling in this film. The main characters wander through neon-drenched streets and buildings, which are often surrounded by a mist that is referred to on multiple occasions but never explained. Everyone speaks as if in a constant state of wonderment, and there are many moments where it’s unclear if events are actually happening, part of a movie-within-a-movie, or something else entirely.

Unlike his previous films, Winding Refn has taken the characters in this film completely out of the real world, with every scene taking place in a sparsely decorated room or street that is obviously a movie set. While there are moments where this decision really works, especially the striking first shot of a human-like figure mixed in with a cityscape and clouds, most of the time it only adds to the stilted nature of the film as a whole.

In fact, the entire movie has the feel of an avant-garde theater exercise. Every actor seems to be trying to outdo the others with awkward performances and out-sized reactions. Two very specific characters make appearances in both sides of the story for seemingly no reason other than to inject their weirdness into both spaces. The shocking violence that crops up on occasion would have more of an impact if it was related to anything intelligible.

Thatcher (Companion) and Liu (Tuner) are among the young stars who have had breakout moments in recent years, but neither of them is served well by this hot mess of a movie. They, along with Melton, still demonstrate the talent they possess, but the oddity of the film weighs them down. Scott makes an impression for all the wrong reasons, while Froseth is called upon to play a character who might as well not be there at all.

If there’s any kind of message that Winding Refn was trying to convey with Her Private Hell, it’s lost among the flashing lights, overload of pink, and jewel-like structures. Filmmakers who try to make art for art’s sake have a place in the world, but this film too often feels like people are making things up as they go, with no real goal in mind.

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Her Private Hell opens in theaters on July 24.

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