Don't Miss List

Spanish at the Symphony, reliving Madame Butterfly & German collage power, who could ask for more?

Seeing a performance of Madame Butterfly has been a tradition in the author's family.

Editors Note: We've asked Houston arts leaders and CultureMap contributors to pick the jewels from Houston's upcoming arts season — the events that they don't plan to miss. Here's what's on the list of CultureMap's high and low culture (he's half of the hilarious Real Housewives commentating duo) extraordinaireTheodore Bale

During a stroll through an airport concourse last year, I gave in to temptation and bought one of those highly-touted Spanish language immersion programs. It’s pretty good.

By this time, however, I’m tired of speaking to the voice recognition program in my laptop. I need some real human interaction. So I’m thrilled that the Houston Symphony is offering a free concert at Jones Hall on September 12 that coincides perfectly with my eagerly anticipated autumn adult-Ed Spanish class.

The Chevron Fiesta Sinfónica Familiar features music from a variety of Hispanic composers, most of whom I’ve never heard of. Galindo’s Sones de Mariachi and Chávez: Sinfonía India will certainly set me in the right mood, along with Moncayo’s Huapango and Revueltas: Sensemayá, when I start to practice my verb conjugations. Brett Mitchell conducts this creative, one-night-only program.

It was a common ritual of my youth to enjoy a Japanese dinner with my mother and then see a great staging of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly. It sounds hokey, I know, but I’m thrilled that Houston Grand Opera is giving me another chance to relive those wonderful memories with its season-opening new production.

This staging features the work of director Michael Grandage, set and costume designer Christopher Oram, and lighting designer Neil Austin. Their recognized production of Britten’s Billy Budd at the Glyndebourne Festival is just a hint of what is sure to be a stunning version of Butterfly, the team’s first opera production for an American company.

Since the performances run from October 22 through November 5, I intend to return with a young friend who aspires to become an opera singer. She’s never seen a staged performance before, and this one is sure to win her over.

After watching dance mostly on television this month (yes, I’m a serious addict of So You Think You Can Dance), I’m eager to see some real bodies in motion, and in the company of a live audience. I’ll continue my exploration of the flourishing local contemporary dance scene at the Weekend of Texas Contemporary Dance, offered free at the Miller Outdoor Theater September 24-25. Dances performed to both live and recorded music are offered from a wide range of Houston groups, including Noble Motion Dance, Revolve Dance Company, Vault, infinite Moving Ever Evolving (iMEE), and many others.

The 11 a.m.. show on Saturday is especially intended for families, and features performances from Houston Ballet II and The Anjali Dance Company.

I’ll definitely be heading to DiverseWorks for Yasuko Yokoshi’s brilliantly weird Tyler, Tyler, on October 14-16. Films of the unusual dance stuck out most definitely during DiverseWorks’ press conference last month. With both classically-trained Kabuki dancers and contemporary artists, the goal of the event is described as “not to have the performers exchange their respective forms, but to examine the nature of cultural identity by experimenting with cultural form.” I’m there.

After the stunning last season from this presenter, in particular Morgan Thorson’s Heaven, I know that this is where I’ll find the most cutting-edge dance in the city. Original music from Steven Reker, along with scores from Sakamoto, Cat Power and Lou Reed, accompanies the dance.

In between these stunning performances, I plan to return time and again to The Menil Collection to see Kurt Schwitters: Color and Collage, which opens on October 22. The German collagist is one of my all-time favorites, and it will be the first time I’ll get to enter inside his legendary Merzbau, a chamber-like sculpture made from found material. One visit won’t be enough.

Seeing a performance of Madame Butterfly has been a tradition in the author's family.

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Movie Review

New movie Friendship pairs Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd in a bizarre bromance

Photo courtesy of A24

Tim Robinson and Paul Rudd in Friendship.

Comedian Tim Robinson has gained a cult following thanks to series like Detroiters and I Think You Should Leave, in which his brand of cringe comedy is on full display. The former Saturday Night Live writer/performer has had a few small movie roles over the years, but he’s now getting his first starring role in the off-kilter Friendship.

Robinson plays Craig, a mild-mannered suburbanite with a wife, Tami (Kate Mara), and son, Steven (Jack Dylan Grazer). Craig has a boring life that involves little more than going to his middle manager job while wearing the same clothes day after day, anticipating the next Marvel movie, and helping Tami out with her at-home floral business.

He gets a jolt of energy when Austin (Paul Rudd) moves into the neighborhood. The two men seem to hit it off, with Austin — a weatherman at a local TV channel — even taking Craig on a couple of impromptu adventures. But when Craig commits a couple of faux pas at a group gathering at Austin’s house, their bond starts to fracture.

Even though the film is written and directed by Andrew DeYoung, it’s clear that Robinson had a big influence on the style of comedy it features. There are no big set pieces with a slew of jokes coming one after another. Instead, the film forces the audience to try to vibe with the very particular type of wavelength it’s giving off, one that could almost be called anti-comedy for the way the laughs come out of left field.

The 100-minute film is full of random comedic moments, like Steven kissing Tami on the lips, Craig being obsessed with his plain brown clothes, a group sing-along, and more. More often than not, it’s the way Craig reacts to both normal and abnormal situations that gets the laughs. The character is needy and oblivious, two traits that combine to make many of his actions cringeworthy.

Perhaps most importantly for this type of movie, many things in the story go unexplained or don’t make sense. Seemingly crucial elements are brought up only to fade away just as quickly, while other parts that appeared to be throwaway sections get callbacks later in the film. DeYoung and Robinson are determined to keep the audience on their toes the entire time, never knowing what to expect next.

Robinson has the perfect face for a story like this, one that’s bland enough to blend into the background but memorable enough to sell the jokes. His demeanor is also excellent, never becoming too expressive, even when he gets angry. With long hair, a mustache, and a certain swagger, Rudd is a great complement to Robinson. Only in a film like this would an everyman like Rudd be considered the suave and cool one.

There will be some that will see Friendship and come away wondering what the hell they just watched. But anyone who goes in knowing that they’re about to witness a comedy that challenges their sensibilities will likely have a great time.

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Friendship is now playing in select theaters.

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