A new view of Cinderella

No, this is not the beloved Disney schmaltz we all grew up with, not in style or substance. This is Cinderella through the looking glass, to mix children's classics metaphors. It's Cinderella as panto, a storytelling style that mixes Commedia dell'Arte with a bit of British vaudeville — a raucous theatrical goulash that features song, dance, buffoonery, slapstick and, yikes, audience participation. And, yes, the Theater in the Open production of "Cinderella: A Pretty Princess Panto," which runs through June 27 at Maudslay State Park, is packed with silly and timely modern references, everything from BP's horror show in the Gulf to Beyonce. Whoever she is. It also has some very significant, imaginative and, well, zany departures from the usual thing.

Like ...? Okay, since you asked, here are the Top Five:

1. 

The Wicked Stepmother (Wicky for short) is not mean at all and is played by a man.



2. Cinderella has to find the lost prince, instead of the other way around.



3. Cinderella and the Prince are very concerned about global warming and work together to fight it.

4.

The villains are taken from other stories, Malificent from "Sleeping Beauty," Ursula from "The Little Mermaid," and Cruella DeVille from "101 Dalmatians."

5. 

The cast includes a giraffe who is always showing up at the strangest times and could, quite possibly, save the day.

JUST THE FACTS, MAN: "Cinderella: A Pretty Princess Panto" runs Saturday and Sunday through June 27 at Maudslay State Park. Follow the flags from the main parking lot. Allow 10 minutes to reach the site. Tickets are $8 for adults, $5 for seniors and students and free for kids age 3 or younger. The June 5 show is free for all. For directions, click here. For more information, call 978-465-2572 or log onto http://theaterintheopen.org

Brewing up a bargain

Dude, the whole thing kind of smacks of effort, but this is New England and you know what that means. (That we're, um, thrifty people who will do any anything to save a buck.) And, besides, it's a good excuse to visit the Big Apple and support a hometown band you like in the first place — even though they're playing a couple of local dates in a couple of weeks just up the road a bit. But, anyhow, here's the deal. Drive to New York to see the Brew at The Mercury Lounge. Track down Chizzle, the Amesbury quartet's tour manager, and, someone cue Groucho, say the secret word (that would be shaqulkin, pronounced sha-kul-kin, which probably means something, we have no idea what.) Got it? Then you'll be entered into a raffle to win two weekend passes to one of the major summer music festivals. Like Mountain Jam, which will feature Gov't Mule, Levon Helm and Alison Krauss. And the Brew. Or the Naveva Festival, which will have George Clinton and Parliament Funk and Furthur, the current live-and-kicking project by the Dead's Phil Lesh and Bob Weir. And the Brew. Seems like, with the raffle and all, the odds of getting to one of these hippie fests are pretty slim, but that's just your New England pessimism. The Mercury holds just 200 people and not everyone will know the password, so, if you have the energy for a road trip, you have a good chance of scoring the tickets and bragging rights for bagging a major bargain — the passes for Mountain Jam are worth more than $320. (We're assuming the band's going all-out and including a camping pass.) We'll probably just catch the band at two dates at the Stone Church next month — and curse the bargain that got away. Check 'em out online for more information.

Cantemus sings Mother Nature's charms

One of the things we like about Cantemus is how the North Shore chorus always seems to include at least one “oddball” piece in their programs, something that throws you off balance a little — like last year’s take on R. Murray Schafer’s startling, magical “Snowforms,” a piece that doesn’t look or sound like anything remotely choral, that requires a leap of faith to be successfully performed. Or how the group may, on occasion, throw standard repertoire under the bus, just for a moment, with a program like “Voice of Jazz: Cantemus Swings,” a concert that found the 30-plus voice chorus “fronting” a six-piece jazz band, saxophones and all. And while folks from the chorus, like the publicist and music director may cringe a bit at the “oddball” characterization, they understand it and maybe even nourish it, knowing that they have a devoted audience — folks who have, as Music Director Gary Wood puts it, “been following the group for years, who are extremely supportive and are open to new experiences.” And Cantemus is doing it again with ”The Woodland Quiet: Songs of Nature and Beauty,” the spring program the North Shore chorus will bring to Newburyport next week.

At first blush, the program does not seem out of the ordinary. You’ve got your nature-themed works by major composers like Dvorak, Mendelssohn and Haydn — and now that the spring monsoons have finally ended, for now, we can restore our severely tested relationship with Mother Nature. You’ve got a couple of modern composers, the time-tested poetry by Goethe, Rossetti, Whitman and Millay — and then you’ve got “Earthsongs,” a nine-minute composition for piano, oboe and chorus by David Brunner, a professor at the University of Central Florida. The piece is not so unusual in form (despite its antiphonal section, which has two semi-independent groups of voices alternating musical phrases, which is unusual in secular music) as it is in content: It uses texts from decidedly non-standard sources: the 19th-century geologist James Gates Percival, a Buddhist writing from the “Sutta Nipata”; and a text from the United Nations Environmental Sabbath Program — all of which, the composer says, ”speak of the wonders of nature and of the importance of protecting the animals, caring for the plants and nurturing one another.”

 The program begins with “Waldesnacht,” a Brahms song. “I remembered some opening lyrics, translated from the original German,” Wood says, “something like ‘wondrous cool, thou woodland quiet.’ It seemed an intriguing statement, filled with lots of programming possibilities.” He began collecting songs that riff on that theme, like ”Woodland Bells” by Stephen Chatman. “These two opening works attempt to set the tone,” says Wood. “Music from the 19th century, then from the 21st, German texts and English texts, part song texts and evocative poetry, choral singing a cappella and accompanied, all celebrating Nature.” The program also features some of Mendelssohn’s “Songs of the Open Air,” one of Delius’ “To Be Sung of a Summer Night on the Water” works and a selection of Dvorak’s “Songs of Nature.” A contemporary song by Daniel Hall, for women’s voices with piano and oboe accompaniment, is set to words by Emily Dickinson that begin, “These are the days when birds come back…” Haydn’s “The Storm,” a madrigal, is the first time the composer wrote music for an English text, and captures the calamity and calmness of the sea. The 23-song program will close with the oboist and chorus performing Chatman’s “Thou Whose Harmony is the Music of the Spheres.”

Joining Cantemus and accompanist Frances Burmeister will be oboist Margaret Herlehy, principal oboist of the Hanover Chamber Orchestra and the Granite State Symphony, who also performs with Sospiri and Infinities ensembles.

JUST THE FACTS: Cantemus will perform “The Woodland Quiet: Songs of Nature and Beauty” at 7:30 p.m. May 1 at First Congregational Church, 12 School St., Rockport; and 4 p.m. May 2 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 166 High St., Newburyport. Tickets are $20 for adults, $17 for seniors and can be purchased online at cantemus.org. Save $2 by purchasing tickets at The Newburyport Printmaker, Nazir’s of Wenham, Norris Gallery and Frame Shop in Ipswich, the Book Shop of Beverly Farms, Toad Hall in Rockport and Gloucester Music. Admission is free for students age 21 and under.

JUST THE FOLKS: Performers in Cantemus come from 15 communities on the North Shore and New Hampshire. Here is the current lineup: Manchester-by-the-Sea: Music Director Gary Wood and singers Isabella Bates, David McCue and Anne Wood. Haverhill: Accompanist Frances Burmeister. Beverly: D. Scott Hufford, Pamela Morris, Richard Salandrea. Bradford: Alison Garner. Byfield: Doug Guy. Essex: Betsy Vicksell. Hamilton: Marcy Homer. Ipswich: Bill Effner, Gary Freeman, Hugh McCall, Anne Maguire, Dorothy Monnelly, Nat Pulsifer Sr., Pat Rolinger, Debby Twining. Lynnfield: Phil Boehmke, Priscilla March. Melrose: Bill Dowdall. Newbury: Norm Stein. Peabody: Marjorie Short. Rockport: Marcia Siegel. Wenham: Jamie Cabot, David Geikie, Bill Holloway, Betsy Lebel, Conrad Willeman. West Newbury: Michael Fosburg, Susan Nash. Durham, N.H.: Sydney van Asselt.

Griffins, lessons at Carriage House

Something completely different, classical music fans: Violinist Nicholas Kitchen and cellist Yeesun Kim, half of the Borromeo String Quartet, will present what they’re calling “an exploratory concert of masterworks,” which is a little bit music and a little bit lecture. Before each piece, the husband-and-wife team reviews interesting aspects of the music, highlighting points through examples and manuscripts projected on a screen — and then roll the pieces out for an informed spin around the musical block. The program will include Bach’s Suite No. 6 in D major, and Chaconne for solo violin, BWV 1004; Bartok’s Sonata for Violin Solo, Sz.117 and Ravel’s Sonata for violin and cello, which the composer dedicated to his pal Claude Debussy. Does any parent names kids Claude anymore? Kim and Kitchen, also faculty members at New England Conservatory, will be joined by violinists Mai Motobuch and Kristopher Tong. And here’s something else to look out for: their axes. Kitchen plays the famous Guarneri Del Gesu violin known as the “Baron Vitta,” which was entrusted into his care after it was given to the Library of Congress by Miyoko Yamane Goldberg — the wife of legendary violinist Szymon Goldberg. The idea is that it would ultimately be reunited with its original twin, the violin Fritz Kreisler played. Kim plays a cello carved by Peregrino Zanetto in 1576, one of the very oldest cellos in the world, adorned with evocative painted griffins.

This is the last performance of the Firehouse’s Home Concert series. It takes place at 7:30 p.m. April 10 at the Carriage House, 203 High St., Newburyport. Tickets are $60, or $55 for Firehouse members. The cost includes a wine reception, dessert, coffee and conversation after the concert. Tickets are available by calling 978.462.7336 or logging on at firehouse.org. The photo of Kitchen and Kim are courtesy of Christian Steiner.

Picks: March 19-26

MUSIC

CLASSICAL ONSLAUGHT: Their numbers are legion, some 275 young musicians from three dozen communities, and when the North Shore Youth Symphony Orchestra marches into the Firehouse, they’ll be playing in any number of configurations and perform in a number of styles, but the focus of their performances will be the “little” instruments — piccolo, flute and, to balance things out, oboe. The string sextet will play Scarlatti’s “Concerto,” the wind trio will play Arnold’s Divertimento for Flute, Oboe and Clarinet. Featured performer Catarina Bongiorni, oboe, will be performing the Haydn Concerto in C Major for oboe with piano accompanist. Nicholas Goodwin, piccolo, will perform Concerto for Piccolo and Orchestra by Lowell Liebermann. Op. 50. Also on the busy set list will be a trumpet/trombone quartet. The concert begins at 3 p.m. March 21 at the Firehouse. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students. Info: 978.462.7336, firehouse.org.

A MERE FOUR DECADES: Local guitar wizard Jack Mears has spent the last 45 years pursuing that perfect, if elusive, combination of tone, technique and taste — and says he’s almost there. Another half-century or so and he’ll have the thing nailed. In the meantime, he put together an all-star ensemble — drummer Steve Dow, bassist John Davies and pianist Anthony Rozakas — for his upcoming gig at the Firehouse. The show will feature a little bit of everything — jazz, R&B, rock. The show starts at 8 p.m. March 20. Tickets are $15. Info: 978.462.7336, firehouse.org

LOOK *AND* TOUCH: Let’s just come clean and say it: Classical concerts can be pretty boring for the kids, all that sitting around and being quiet and not even being allowed to fidget without getting dirty looks. Well, Music at Eden’s Edge makes cultural life just a little bit easier for families with the next in its family concert series, which takes place at 3 p.m. March 21 at at the historic First Religious Society, Unitarian Universalist Church, 26 Pleasant St., Newburyport. You’ll get an interesting musical program, plus a cleverly disguised learning opportunity during intermission — a chance to get up close and personal with the musicians and their instruments. Try a string instrument, meet a flute, and talk to the performers. And after the show, food and schmooze. Performers will be Orlando Cela, flute; Maria Benotti, violin; Mark Berger, viola; Neil Fairbairn, bassoon; and Sarah Freibert, cello. Tickets are $20, $15 for students, $60 for families. Info: 978.270.4463, edensedge.org.

ELEMENTAL, MY DEAR WATSON: Earth, Wind, Fire is a groundbreaking R&B band from way back in the day, winning six Grammys and an invitation into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. “Earth...Wind...Fire,” on the other hand, is an evening of clarinet trios by female composers performed by a female trio. The program will include works by Vally Weigl, an Austrian Jew brought to this country after the outbreak of World War II by the Quaker Society of Friends, and Nino Rota, perhaps best known for her scores of films by Fellini. The program brings together three very different instrumentalists with perspectives that have been shaped by different experiences — Mary Towse-Beck, pianist; Karen Luttik, clarinet; Dorothy Braker, cellist. The performance, part of the nonprofit’s Women’s History Month programming, tales place at 8 p.m. March 26 at the Actors Studio of Newburyport, The Tannery, 50 Water St., Mill #1, Suite #5, Newburyport. Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for students and seniors. Proceeds benefit the Actors Studio. Info: 978.465.1229 or newburyportacting.org. Order online at mktix.com.

THEATER

HAUNTING PRODUCTION: Cape Ann Theatre Collaborative has its coming out party March 19 with a production of “The Weir” by contemporary Irish playwright Conor McPherson. The story is set in a small pub in rural Ireland. Local guys swap spooky stories in an attempt to impress a young woman who recently moved into a nearby “haunted” house — until she turns the tables with a tale of her own. The company was founded in January. The show will be staged at 7:30 p.m. March 19-20 and 26-27, and at 2 p.m. March 21 and 28 at Gorton Theater, 267 E. Main St., Gloucester. The cast includes David McCaleb, Michael McNamara, Rory O’Connor, Michael O’Leary and Kierstin Searcy. Dublin native Pauline Miceli directs. Tickets are $15. Info: 978.879,3172.

MORE FRANK: The “new” adaptation of “The Diary of Anne Frank,” already more than a decade old at this point, has muddied the theatrical waters since Wendy Kesselman updated  — “restored,” is probably a more accurate term — the story  of eight people hiding from the Nazis in a concealed storage attic, told by a 13-year-old girl who, despite it all, still believes that “people are truly good at heart"  It’s darker, it’s “more Jewish,” it's much rougher, which is to  say more accurate, historically, that the ordinals, cleaned-up version of the diary. The Valley Players stage  the Kesselman adaptation from March 20 to April 3 at the Amesbury Playhouse, 194 Main St., Amesbury. Info: 978.388.9444.

GO, GO, GO LITTLE QUEENIE: A one-woman show written and performed by Eve Caballero and directed by Kim Crow, “Queenie” looks at a quirky and loveable homeless woman, who shares her strife and redemption. The show, a New England premiere, takes place at 8 p.m. March 20 and 3 p.m. March 21 at the Actors Studio of Newburyport at the Tannery, 50 Water St., Mill #1, Suite #5. Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for students and seniors. Info: 978.465.1229 or newburyportacting.org.

ELENA, ELEANOR: ... Eleanorum? Sounds like one of those irritating Latin declensions that ruined my life — or my grade point average, anyhow, in high school. But, no, we’re talking about Elena Dodd, who will be playing her almost-namesake Eleanor Roosevelt. Yes, she’s the same actor playing the same character as last year’s performance at the Actors Studio, but this time she’ll be talking about her life as wife, mother and First Lady. The show takes place at 8 p.m. March 27 and 3 p.m. March 28 at the Actors Studio of Newburyport at the Tannery, 50 Water St., Mill #1, Suite #5. Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for students and seniors. Info: 978.465.1229 or newburyportacting.org.
 

DANCE

IN A DOLL’S HOUSE: Or, as we say in Norwegian, Et dukkehjem. Not that Ibsen, that old sourpuss, has anything to do with this show — a tale of magical dolls, unrequited love and, somewhat surprisingly, happy endings, as Franz and his fiancée Swanilda become enthralled with the mysterious Dr. Coppelius and his mystical dolls. The Methuen Ballet Ensemble’s production of “Coppelia” begins at 3 p.m. March 28 at the Firehouse. Tickets are $20 for adults, $18 for students and seniors. Info: 978.462.7336, firehouse.org.

WHO YOU JIVING WITH THAT COSMIC DEBRIS: We’ve always been a little scared by dance, especially modern dance. So ephemeral, so difficult to get your mind around, but sometimes they get you with the name or the description. Like “Bubble of Debris,” an experimental duet by Jenny Carlson and Julie Pike Edmond, that, so the release tells us, incorporates plaster body casts into the piece. Which is something that you’ve got to see, right? Even if you don’t get the two inadvertent Zappa references. “Bubble” is one of eight pieces on the North Shore Dance Alliance program, which showcases new work by a range of North Shore choreographers and companies. The show begins at 8 p.m. March 26 and 27 at the Firehouse. Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for students, seniors and SDAH members. And, as they say, break a leg. Info: 978.462.7336.

FILM
Q UIET IN FRONT: It rude to talk during the movies, but afterwards? Yeah, that’s fine. And that’s what they do when the last of the credits blow by at The Screening Room on the first Monday of every month. It’s an informal film club. There’s no pressure. Just sit and chat — or listen. The chat is hosted by the Newburyport Film Club — the folks behind the Newburyport Documentary Film Festival. And there should be plenty to talk about April 5, when they’ll talk about “A Single Man,” which grabbed three Golden Globe nominations. It’s about a closeted gay man mourning the death of his lover. He decides that by the end of the day he will kill himself. The next 24 hours are fateful. He teaches a class, sees his neighbors and kids, chows down with his best friend. It runs April 2-15. Info: 978.462.3456 or newburyportmovies.com

THE PRINTED WORD
BOOK ‘EM, DANO: Asking book-lovers to donate books, even for a good cause, can be problematic. So many value judgments, so little time. It seems easier to let the books pile up than to decide which to banish. But, over the years, we’ve come up with a solution: Grit your teeth and get rid of the ones you’ve finished and the ones you know you’ll never read, like “Critique of Pure Reason.” Donate them to, well, let’s say the Great Old Book Sale. Then get to the sale early and buy twice as many books. Doesn’t really help you much, but it does help the Friends of the Newburyport Library, which will be accepting donations from March 27 to 12 p.m. March 31, The sale opens with Members Night on March 31, and ends with $2 Bag Day on April 3.

ONLY YOUR HAIRDRESSER KNOWS FOR SURE: Hairdressers are like bartenders. Kinda. Because people tell them stuff they would never tell anyone else because they know about the code of honor they are required to take before clipping or tipping. That’s why Richard Nocera, a hairdresser for four decades, knows so much about vaginas. Well, actually, despite the name of his new book — “Women Own All the Vaginas” — he’s offering insight into male sexuality, including the most difficult question of all: Why are men such idiots? Or, as he puts it, why do men do what they do? The book untangles our illusions about manhood, marriage, and monogamy through an exploration of the drives and desires that motivate men. He’ll be talking dirty (not really) at 3 p.m. March 20 at The Book Rack, 52 State St., Newburyport. It’s free. Info: womenownallthevaginas.com.
 

Keyed up for the SJSF

PHAT SATURDAY: The only thing cooler than the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival is the run-up leading to it, specifically the big fundraising bash for the free weekend festival. Like last year’s show with Barrence Whitfield, James Montgomery and Toni Lynn Washington. Or the blowout show the year before that — featuring the Ken Clark Organ Trio, the Mystix and the Boston Horns. Not to mention the weekend shows in Derby Square, bringing hot young talent out of the clubs and classrooms and into the streets — for free, just to get people thinking about the August festival — which is, incredibly, also free. Well, it’s all about to happen again. The big fundraiser takes place April 17 in the atrium of the Peabody Essex Museum — definitely a cool venue. They’re calling it “Keyed Up.” The program will feature some of the area’s hottest pianists, organists and keyboard players, including Grammy Award-winner David Maxwell, Marty Rowen (seen here  is this Tom Uellner photo) and Ken Clark of Fats Hammond, Jen Kearney of Jen Kearney and the Lost Onion and Benjamin Zecker of the Boston Horns. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. The show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $50, $45 for members of the Peabody Essex. Proceeds benefit the Salem Jazz and Soul Festival, a free weekend festival that runs from Aug. 21-22 at the Salem Willows, that spills out into Witch City clubs for a post-show performances, just to work out the energy. For more information, call 978.745.9500 or log onto pem.org/events or check out the SJSF web.

 

PICKS: MARCH 12-19

NOT BURSTING ANYONE’S BUBBLES

 Casey Carle started in the circus ... as a clown. Not one of those scary, balloon-twisting, horn-squeezing clowns with the big fat red nose, but a professional big league circus clown, Dr. F. R. Vescence, performing physical, slapstick work. He was the first clown in Ringling Bros. history to perform with bubbles — and the first clown in a circus anywhere to put a child inside a bubble. He eventually left the three rings behind to develop his act, BubbleMania, which has gotten bigger and more elaborate over the years. The show, which pulls into the Firehouse next week, combines comedy, music and science. There are bubbles of unusual shapes, sizes including a bubble big enough to envelope a child. There are floating spheres, soap-film "serpents," bouncing bubbles, columns of bubble foam and square bubbles — even bubbles that burst into flames, although these will not be part of the Newburyport show for safety reasons. Carle performs at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. March 13 at the Firehouse. Tickets are $11, or $9 for students and members.

MUSIC

NO, THE OTHER JOHNNY EDWARDS: Hmmmm, I always thought it was drug thing. You know? Orange Sunshine? Acid? It was all over the place just around the time Jimi was singing about another lysergical color and meteorological phenomena. C’mon, don’t play dumb. The grandkids aren’t around. Purple Haze! So we all thought "Sunshine" was some kind of anti-drug song. Turns out it was an anti-war song. Who knew? It makes sense, though, when you think about it. I guess we weren’t paying a whole lot of attention. Anyhow, Jonathan Edwards had a huge hit with the tune back in the day and has managed to stay afloat, creatively, through, yikes, four-plus decades. These days, he’s likely to be found on the road with his longtime accompanist Stuart Schulman on bass, piano, fiddle, and vocals and Taylor Armerding, formerly of Northern Lights, on mandolin. "I’ve been doing what I do best, which is playing live in front of people," he says. "I’ve been concentrating on that and loving it." He’s back at the Firehouse next week, but you better get a move-on because tickets usually go pretty fast. The show begins at 8 p.m. March 12. Tickets are $33 for SDAH members, or $35 for regular folks. Ask and I bet they’ll tell you how to become a member. Info: 978.462.7336, or firehouse.org.

ROCKING RELIEF EFFORT: So a-what can a poor boy do, ‘cept sing in a rock and roll band? The Stones had something else in mind, something less than positive, when they sang those lyrics, but those were different times. When Carriagetown musicians get together next week, they’ll be trying to build something up, not tear it down. Amesbury Rocks for Haiti will feature performances by middle school rockers Errata, Sour Cream and The Closers, led by AHS instructor Bob Kelley, and Kangaralien, a West Newbury-based acoustic act fronted by Steve Belleville and Eric Clemenzi, headlines the show. The show starts at 7 p.m. March 12 at Amesbury Middle School Performance Center. Admission is $5, more if you’ve got it. Proceeds benefit earthquake relief efforts in Haiti by the nonprofit Partners in Development based in Ipswich. Tickets will be available at the door. Visit www.pidonline.org or http://kangaralien.com for more.

ADDRESSING THE BLUES: It’s the name of an old Rolling Stones song (from the “12 X 5” album, trivia fans) and probably the most famous address in blues, the home base of Chess Records. But 2120 South Michigan Avenue is also the name of a five-piece blues band that draws its inspiration from the Chicago studio where Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and Little Walter recorded the songs that form the core of its repertoire (although they play everything from “Fever” to “Great Balls of Fire”). They’ll be checking in with Curtis Jerome Haynes on March 14 for another edition of the Sunday Soul sessions at Glenn’s Galley, 44 Merrimac St., Newburyport. The music starts at 6 p.m. There’s no cover. But we’ve learned it’s best to arrive early if you want a good seat. Info: 978.465.3811.

LOOK *AND* TOUCH: Let’s just come clean and say it: Classical concerts can be pretty boring for the kids, all that sitting around and being quiet and not even being allowed to fidget without getting dirty looks. Well, Music at Eden’s Edge makes cultural life just a little bit easier for families with the next in its family concert series, which takes place at 3 p.m. March 21 at at the historic First Religious Society, Unitarian Universalist Church, 26 Pleasant St., Newburyport. You’ll get an interesting musical program, plus a cleverly disguised learning opportunity during intermission — a chance to get up close and personal with the musicians and their instruments. Try a string instrument, meet a flute, and talk to the performers. And after the show, food and schmooze. Performers will be Orlando Cela, flute; Maria Benotti, violin; Mark Berger, viola; Neil Fairbairn, bassoon; and Sarah Freibert, cello. Tickets are $20, $15 for students, $60 for families. Info: 978.270.4463, edensedge.org.

ELEMENTAL, MY DEAR WATSON: Earth, Wind, Fire is a groundbreaking R&B band from way back in the day, winning six Grammys and an invitation into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. “Earth...Wind...Fire,” on the other hand, is an evening of clarinet trios by female composers performed by a female trio. The program will include works by Vally Weigl, an Austrian Jew brought to this country after the outbreak of World War II by the Quaker Society of Friends, and Nino Rota, perhaps best known for her scores of films by Fellini. The program brings together three very different instrumentalists with perspectives that have been shaped by different experiences — Mary Towse-Beck, pianist; Karen Luttik, clarinet; Dorothy Braker, cellist. The performance, part of the nonprofit’s Women’s History Month programming, tales place at 8 p.m. March 26 at the Actors Studio of Newburyport, The Tannery, 50 Water St., Mill #1, Suite #5, Newburyport. Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for students and seniors. Proceeds benefit the Actors Studio. Info: 978.465.1229 or newburyportacting.org. Order online at mktix.com.

THEATER

GO, GO, GO LITTLE QUEENIE: A one-woman show written and performed by Eve Caballero and directed by Kim Crow, “Queenie” looks at a quirky and loveable homeless woman, who shares her strife and redemption. The show, a New England premiere, takes place at 8 p.m. March 20 and 3 p.m. March 21 at the Actors Studio of Newburyport at the Tannery, 50 Water St., Mill #1, Suite #5. Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for students and seniors. Info: 978.465.1229 or newburyportacting.org.

ELENA, ELEANOR: ... Eleanorum? Sounds like one of those irritating Latin declensions that ruined my life — or my grade point average, anyhow, in high school. But, no, we’re talking about Elena Dodd, who will be playing her almost-namesake Eleanor Roosevelt. Yes, she’s the same actor playing the same character as last year’s performance at the Actors Studio, but this time she’ll be talking about her life as wife, mother and First Lady. The show takes place at 8 p.m. March 27 and 3 p.m. March 28 at the Actors Studio of Newburyport at the Tannery, 50 Water St., Mill #1, Suite #5. Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for students and seniors. Info: 978.465.1229 or newburyportacting.org.

FILM

THE NEXT GENERATION: “For the Next 7 Generations” is a documentary about the journey of 13 indigenous grandmothers traveling around the world to promote world peace and share their indigenous ways of healing. The film will be screened at the Actors Studio as part of its Women’s History Month programming. A post-screening discussion led by Carole Hart, the film’s director and producer, and Actors Studio founder Marc Clopton, who is also a shamanic practitioner, will follow. The film will be screened at 8 p.m. March 13 and 3 p.m. March 14 at the Actors Studio of Newburyport at the Tannery, 50 Water St., Mill #1, Suite #5. Tickets are $15 for adults, $13 for students and seniors. A portion of the proceeds of this screening will go to the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers. Info: 978.465.1229 or newburyportacting.org. and

QUIET IN FRONT: It rude to talk during the movies, but afterwards? Yeah, that’s fine. And that’s what they do when the last of the credits blow by at The Screening Room on the first Monday of every month. It’s an informal film club. There’s no pressure. Just sit and chat — or listen. The chat is hosted by the Newburyport Film Club — the folks behind the Newburyport Documentary Film Festival. And there should be plenty to talk about April 5, when they’ll talk about “A Single Man,” which grabbed three Golden Globe nominations. It’s about a closeted gay man mourning the death of his lover. He decides that by the end of the day he will kill himself. The next 24 hours are fateful. He teaches a class, sees his neighbors and kids, chows down with his best friend. It runs April 2-15. Info: 978.462.3456 or newburyportmovies.com

THE PRINTED WORD

BOOK ‘EM, DANO: Asking book-lovers to donate books, even for a good cause, can be problematic. So many value judgments, so little time. It seems easier to let the books pile up than to decide which to banish. But, over the years, we’ve come up with a solution: Grit your teeth and get rid of the ones you’ve finished and the ones you know you’ll never read, like “Critique of Pure Reason.” Donate them to, well, let’s say the Great Old Book Sale. Then get to the sale early and buy twice as many books. Doesn’t really help you much, but it does help the Friends of the Newburyport Library, which will be accepting donations from March 27 to 12 p.m. March 31, The sale opens with Members Night on March 31, and ends with $2 Bag Day on April 3.

ONLY YOUR HAIRDRESSER KNOWS FOR SURE: Hairdressers are like bartenders. Kinda. Because people tell them stuff they would never tell anyone else because they know about the code of honor they are required to take before clipping or tipping. That’s why Richard Nocera, a hairdresser for four decades, knows so much about vaginas. Well, actually, despite the name of his new book — “Women Own All the Vaginas” — he’s offering insight into male sexuality, including the most difficult question of all: Why are men such idiots? Or, as he puts it, why do men do what they do? The book untangles our illusions about manhood, marriage, and monogamy through an exploration of the drives and desires that motivate men. He’ll be talking dirty (not really) at 3 p.m. March 20 at The Book Rack, 52 State St., Newburyport. It’s free. Info: womenownallthevaginas.com.

ETC

SPIRITED PRODUCTION: She talks to dead people, using all the tricks of the trade, like clairaudience, precognition, psychometry — sometimes even cerosocopy, hoo-doo that involves hot wax, cold water and a little booga-booga. And they talk back to her, the dead people, presumably after folks are finished chowing down. Yup, Linnea Star will be connecting to eternity, as she put it, serving as a medium for ... cue the eerie da-da-da-da Twilight Zone music, messages from the other side at 1:30, 7 and 8 p.m. March 12 at the Amesbury Playhouse, 194 Main St., Amesbury. Dinner and show ... no, wait. I’m getting something here ... dinner and show will set you back $35. Info: 978.388.9444 or amesburyplayhouse.com.

COOKING UP FUN: Now, now. No need to fight. The point of Great Chef’s Night is great chefs’ food, and there will be plenty of that — gourmet offerings served up by nearly two dozen of the area’s top chefs. But there’ll also be plenty of good music, including the Pentucket Jazz Ensemble (under the direction of David Schumacher), the Alex Prezzano Quartet and Pentucket Treble Makers and Pentucket Soul Sisters, two a cappella bands, and there’ll also be a silent auction, including a week in St. Thomas, two nights in Kennebunkport, a 17-foot boat slip, a sail for four aboard the Nautical Wave. The bash takes place from 6 to 10 p.m. March 19 at The Governor’s Academy in Byfield. Tickets are $65. Proceeds support improvements at Anna Jaques Hospital. Info: ajh.org or 978-463-1150.

WEEKENDING

Matthew Stubbs, that's him, the dude on the left, who’s playing guitar with the legendary Charlie Musselwhite Band these days, checks in with Parker Wheeler at the Blues Party sessions on March 14. There’s a reason Blues Audience magazine named him outstanding guitarist last year. Brian Templeton and Dave Maxwell will also be sitting in … Phil McGowan Trio 7 to 10 p.m. Wednesdays at River Merrrimac Bar and Grille, 50 Water St. ... Characterizing a sound in a few short words can be fun and challenging. Usually artists are too close to the work, and sometimes too full of themselves, to do it right, but Derek Rando does a pretty good job of it. Here’s what he has to say about his music: "an indie attempt at pop music, sometimes shaking hands with neo-folk, in a room barely bright enough to see ... coming from the mouth of a prize fighter too tired to try anymore." That description gets its metaphorical hands around it quite nicely. Just back from the Land of La, Rando, who has two albums of that stuff under his belt and is in the studio working on a third, is doing his low-key tunes thing on most Saturdays at Oregano, 16 Pleasant St., Newburyport. Next show begins at 6:30 p.m. March 13. Call 978-462-5013 ... Elsewhere, New England blues legends Roomful of Blues kick off the weekend at Tupelo Music Hall, sharing the bill with Bellvue Cadillac on March 13, but if you’re looking for something just a little off the well-traveled musical paths, you should check out Glengarry Bhoys, whose hybrid of Canadian Highland Scots and French-Canadian musical idioms has evolved into a sound that is weighty, authoritative and entertaining. They play March 17 at the Salisbury venue. It’s a school night, but what you gonna do? Tupelo’s got some pretty amazing acts coming up, everyone from Richie Havens to Todd Rundgren and Joan Osborne in the next couple of weeks. Check out the schedule at tupelohallsalisbury.com … Curtis Jerome Haynes hosts 2120 S. Michigan Avenue on March 14 during the Sunday Soul sessions at Glenn’s Galley … At the Grog, you’ve got Hot like Fire playing reggae and soca music, as well as classic favorites by Bob Marley— and, natch, that "Hot Hot Hot" song on March 12 … Old faves The Henry Welch Band play  March 13.