The Winter’s Tale

Today at 1 p.m., Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m.

$16 general admission, $11 with a student ID

Studio Theater at the Mondavi Center

The hallmark of a well-performed Shakespeare play is the degree to which a modern audience can understand the confusing dialogue. The department of theatre and dance production of The Winter’s Tale, directed by MFA candidate Patricia Miller, takes full advantage of the Bard’s sparse stage directions. The detailed and thoughtful actions successfully flesh out the often-confusing and quick-paced lines.

Interestingly, the play is neither wholly a tragedy nor a comedy. It begins in the court of Leontes, King of Sicilia, where a neighboring king has come to stay. However, Leontes’s wife seems a bit too hospitable toward the foreign King Polixenes; Leontes’s jealousy and paranoia soon threatens his friendships, family and kingdom.

Leontes, played by the extremely capable MFA student Brett Duggan, is a powerhouse of anger and expression. From the very beginning, perceptible facial twitches and vocal variations hint at both his discomfort and the raging storm of fury that is to come.

Junior dramatic arts major Christina Moore also brings expertise beyond her years as Leontes’s son Mamillus. Her childish mannerisms are flawless, as is her commitment to character even when not the center of attention.

Strangely, the play’s post-intermission is in an entirely different locale with nearly all-new characters taking place 16 years later in a Bohemian gypsy tribe. The stories may seem a bit fractured at first, but in true Shakespeare fashion, the complex connections become clearer as the play progresses.

It is here that the acting starts to be a little hit and miss, but the overall product is still good. All in all, it’s easily overlooked in the face of the cast’s exuberance, the engaging set designs and one lively discussion of dildos.

The production puts to use every resource at its disposal. The play’s main regional shift is ushered in with a charming flurry of fake snow. The actors regularly leap into the audience for a stealthy soliloquy. The suspended walkways that run the perimeter of the theater are used to their full extent for concurrent action, supernatural appearances and a location for abstract concepts (since it is a favorite haunt for the character called only “Time”).

If you couldn’t already tell from the review so far, the play is weird. For most Davis students, it’s safe to say, weird is good. Weird is exciting. Those who prefer their predictable white-bread world should stay at home. All those interested in a spontaneous jaunt into some of Shakespeare’s most enjoyable inconsistencies, check out this production.

As a parting thought and fun fact, The Winter’s Tale contains the Bard’s most famous stage direction: “Exit, pursued by a bear.” If this alone isn’t enough to get you into a seat, what is?

The Winter’s Tale runs until Feb. 22 at the Studio Theater at the Mondavi Center.

LAURA KROEGER can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.

Three on-campus performances will be held at the ASUCD Coffee House and the ARC Pavilion next week. Two of the shows will be co-hosted by both the ASUCD Entertainment Council and KDVS 90.3 FM, and the EC will also co-host Skull Candy, a collaborative show featuring Gym Class Heroes and several other artists.

This is not the first time EC and KDVS have collaborated – last October’s presentation of the Cave Singers at the Coho was put on by both the EC and KDVS DJ Michael Leahy.

EC director Thongxy Phansopha, a junior Spanish major, said the increased number of shows is simply more beneficial to the student body.

“We’re very happy to be working with the EC on this,” KDVS events coordinator Darach Miller said in an e-mail. “They’re great folks and I love where they’re going with the future of campus events. We wanted to bring thee best rocking night to the students, so that meant bringing it to the Coho. Thee is not a typo.”

Sharmi Basu, a junior political science major and co-publicity director at KDVS, said the station’s goal is to have a legitimate and constant on-campus venue in the future. She said the success of these events will also determine the likelihood of any future KDVS shows at the Coho.

“With the demolishing of the [Old Firehouse] and other complications, it’s been hard to get exposure for some more experimental acts on campus,” Basu said in an e-mail interview.

MUSE outlines the list of shows to be held on campus next week.

Tyvek, Th’ Losin’ Streaks, GGreen

Wednesday, 8 p.m., $5

ASUCD Coffee House

On Wednesday, KDVS and the EC will present three artists at the Coho. Tyvek, a Detroit-based band currently touring the west coast will headline the night, joined by local acts Th’ Losin’ Streaks and GGreen.

Miller said that the three groups are favorites among KDVS DJs. He added that many of their shows are typically booked after KDVS DJs contact their favorite artists and ask them to perform in Davis.

“Tyvek is a KDVS favorite and has topped our charts multiple times,” Basu said. “Last time I talked to them they said that Davis was one of their favorite places to play, simply because we bring it.”

“[Tyvek] are completely out of time and out of place, yet [are] never just ironic for irony’s sake,” said KDVS DJ Rick Ele, who hosts the show “Art for Spastics.” “This band exudes authenticity … and [are] surely one of the most fun and engaging bands this area has seen in recent years.”

Th’ Losin’ Streaks is a Sacramento-based band that has regularly performed in Davis. GGreen also comes from the Sacramento area.

Gym Class Heroes, Shwayze, Cisco Adler, DJ Skeet Skeet, LMFAO, HardNox, The Knux, Tyga

Thursday, Feb. 26, 8 p.m., $52/$37 general admission and $45/$29 with a student ID

ARC Pavilion

If Facebook invitations, flyers and posters weren’t enough to spread the word, the EC and music promotion company 6 Trees will present Gym Class Heroes, Shwayze, LMFAO, Tyga, The Knux and HardNox on Thursday at the ARC Pavilion.

According to its Facebook event page, the show has roughly 2,500 confirmed attendees. Lauren Young, a sophomore animal science major who plans to attend the show, said in an e-mail interview that she “[loves] the energy that Travis, the singer of [Gym Class Heroes], brings to the stage.”

“I think it’s awesome that we’ve been able to get such big names to Davis such as [Gym Class Heroes], Death Cab and Jason Mraz,” Young said. “It’s really exciting to have a chance to see them right in our own backyard!”

The venue’s familiar and on-campus location also adds to the appeal, Young said.

Doors open at 7 p.m. and performances will begin at 8 p.m. Tickets are available at the Freeborn Box Office and at tickets.com. For more information, visit the event’s Facebook group or the6trees.com.

Thao Nguyen, Agent Ribbons, BoomSnake

Friday, Feb. 27, 8 p.m., $5

ASUCD Coffee House

The second EC and KDVS production will feature Thao Nguyen, an indie-folk singer and guitarist known for her work in Thao Nguyen with the Get Down and Stay Down. Nguyen is currently in San Francisco for the Noise Pop music festival.

“I thought it was a great opportunity to get [Nguyen] here while she was still in SF,” Phansopha said.

Sacramento-based duo Agent Ribbons and BoomSnake will also perform.

Like the Wednesday show, the performances will begin at 8 p.m. and tickets cost $5 with a student ID. For more information, visit the event’s Facebook event page.

For more information on Entertainment Council, visit their Facebook page.

JUSTIN T. HO can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.

Wild Bill’s Tattoo-A-Thon

Saturday, 8 a.m. to midnight

205 Vernon Street in Roseville

It’s not usually the case for a tattoo parlor to be involved in community philanthropy, but for over seven years Wild Bill’s Tattoo has been donating thousands of dollars to the UC Davis Children’s Hospital.

Wild Bill’s Tattoo will be hosting its eighth annual Tattoo-A-Thon this Saturday from 8 a.m. to midnight. The shop is located at 205 Vernon Street in Roseville.

Eighteen volunteers will be working for 16 hours that day, and all proceeds will go to the UC Davis Children’s Hospital in Sacramento.

The tattoo parlor first became involved with charity work when Kim Forrest, one of Wild Bill’s Tattoo employees, started the annual fundraiser eight years ago, said Bill Hill, a tattoo artist and owner of Wild Bill’s Tattoo.

Last year, the staff at Wild Bill’s worked “16 hours nonstop, piercing and tattooing more than 100 clients, and raised a total of $15,150, including clothing and accessory sales,” Hill said in an e-mail.

The event attracts people from all over in support of the charity.

“[We get] lots of people with kids, kids that have been sick, kids at the hospital right now,“ Hill said. “The event in many ways is a good way for young patients to get their minds off their health.“

Krystal Betancourt, a tattoo artist at Wild Bill’s, finds that the most rewarding part of the event is working together for a good cause.

“We donate all of our time and energy to this whole day,” she said. “Any monetary compensation could not be better than that for us. The fact that it’s a community supporting the children’s hospital and that I have two kids myself, any kind of help especially to a hospital is the biggest contribution … that we can make as individuals.“

Because the annual event draws in such a diverse group of people, many bring their family members, friends and even children.

Kim Merseph, a mother of three, heard about the Tattoo-A-Thon through a friend and is planning to make the trip with her family and friends this Saturday.

Merseph’s oldest son has had three heart surgeries at the UC Davis Children‘s Hospital.

“I think it’s important [to get involved] in this day and age with the economy the way it is,” she said. “We have to pull together and help out when we can. I think it’s awesome that the staff at Wild Bill’s Tattoo is donating its services.“

Wild Bill’s Tattoo, now in its 35th year of operation, has raised a total of $76,000 for the Children’s Hospital over the last seven years.

“We are so fortunate to have a world class medical facility like UC Davis Children’s Hospital here in Sacramento,” Hill said. “The hospital and its renowned medical staff have profound impact in our community. The hospital informed us that they are naming part of the new unit at the hospital after our tattoo shop. I couldn‘t believe it. We are truly honored.“

For information about Wild Bill‘s Tattoo-A-Thon, visit wild-bills.com.

SIMONE WAHNG can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.

Beyond Therapy

Performance schedule:

Preview show: Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 8 p.m.

Feb. 26 to Feb. 28, 8 p.m.

Mar. 1, 2 p.m.

Mar. 5 to Mar. 7, 8 p.m.

Mar. 8, 2 p.m.

Tickets are $9 with a student ID, $12 general admission. Preview show tickets are a dollar off. Tickets can be purchased at the Freeborn Box Office

Studio 301 isn’t a room hidden somewhere on campus, nor is it a professional acting group located in Sacramento. It’s something much more interesting than that – Studio 301 is a student-run theater group that performs two different plays each year. The club receives nearly all of its funding from ticket sales and fundraisers and does not rely upon the UC Davis theatre and dance department for help organizing the performances or raising money.

This quarter Studio 301 will present Christopher Durang’s comedy Beyond Therapy from Feb. 25 until March 8. Tickets are $9 for students and $12 general admission.

Alison Stevenson – a sophomore English major, Studio 301 publicity coordinator and the director of Beyond Therapy – said that the club decided to perform a comedy in order to give student actors an alternative to the T&D department productions.

“We put on student-run productions that students decide on. Students are pretty much every aspect of the play,” Stevenson said. “For example, next quarter the T&D department is going to perform the musical Oklahoma. As a result, we’re going to do something besides a musical, so people who aren’t singers can perform as well.“

As for this quarter, Stevenson said she proposed Beyond Therapy to Studio 301 because the T&D department isn’t presenting any classic theatrical comedies for its 2008-2009 season.

Beyond Therapy is a play about two characters, Bruce and Prudence, who meet through a personal ad, Stevenson said.

“It’s perfect for students because the play includes all different levels of humor, from more sophomoric, college sex humor to smart and witty historical references,” she said. “I also think Christopher Durang is one of the greatest playwrights.“

Studio 301 president and junior theater and English double major Allison Minick said that the club was founded over five years ago but underwent major changes last year.

“In fall of 2007, we increased the professionalism and everything else in the club,” Minick said. “In the past, Studio 301 [was] just a social club or only a production company. Today we’re trying to give both to students.“

Past Studio 301 performances include The Last Five Years, Cabaret and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged). Last year was a successful year for the studio, as they performed Clark Gesner’s musical comedy You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown and a night of one-act plays based on unpublished and previously unperformed works written mostly by students, Minick said.

Minick’s love of theater and performance convinced her that joining Studio 301 was the right decision.

“I ran for president because I saw how well Joe Ferreira, the previous club president, brought everyone together with his professionalism. It’s something I wanted to be a part of.“

Stevenson said she sees the club as an important group on campus.

“We are proof to the community and other students that it is possible to be a student organization and put on professional shows,” she said. “There’s a great deal of determination in our group and it’s amazing how professional our shows end up considering that they are entirely student-run. It requires a lot of unity.“

Studio 301 treasurer and senior theater major Kate McGrath said the group provides an opportunity for any student – regardless of their major – to be involved in a theatrical production.

“We try to get people involved from all different departments doing different tasks like design and stage craft,” she said. “We are open to the whole school and to anyone who might not have enough time to work on a theatre department production.“

For Studio 301, dedication allows the productions to be successful.

“Since Studio 301 is all volunteer, we’ll take anyone who is willing to work hard,” McGrath said. “It’s a great way to start getting experience in theater and a great place to meet really fun people.“

ZACK FREDERICK can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.

The Coexist? Comedy Tour ft. Birdstrike Theater

Tuesday, 7 p.m., $4 general admission, $2 with a student ID

198 Young

Sometimes the topic of religion can be tense, controversial or even comforting. The Coexist? Comedy Tour is proving that religion can be a humorously good time as well.

The Coexist? Comedy Tour will perform at Young 198 on Feb. 24 at 7 p.m. Tickets for students are $2 and general admission is $4 and can be purchased at the door or at the Freeborn Hall box office.

Keith Lowell Jensen, Tapan Trivedi, John Ross, Sammy Obeid and Tissa Hami form this troupe, bringing their individual religious viewpoints and amazing comedic skills with them. Respectively titled The Atheist, The Hindu, The Christian, The Buddhist and The Muslim, these five comedians have been generating unrelenting excitement and laughter from audiences for the last year and a half.

The show will also feature Birdstrike Theater, a student improv comedy group on campus who will do a 30-minute opening set.

“I think it’s a really cool joint comedic effort and an awesome opportunity for UC Davis to have them come here,” said Mike Lane, director of Birdstrike Theater.

Jasmine Lau, ASUCD Entertainment Council assistant director, said that the EC decided to bring the tour to Davis to satiate requests for a comedy show.

Co-producers Jensen and Trivedi came up with the idea for the group backstage at The William J. Geery Theatre in Sacramento.

According to Trivedi, after he and Jensen uncovered each other’s opposing religious viewpoints, they decided to combine forces to create the tour.

“[We thought] if we can bring this on stage, it would be awesome,” Trivedi said.

Each member showcases his or her talent separately, following a line-up that depends on the location. They all do jokes about their own religions but also touch on each other’s religious viewpoints as well.

“Our first and foremost goal is to entertain, but the secondary goal is to educate,” Trivedi said.

The comedians‘ styles onstage vary from high energy to laid-back. Ross and Hami even include musical exhibitions during their sets, such as Hami’s parody of Adam Sandler’s “Chanukah Song“ – her version is a Ramadan Song – and Ross‘ use of the Omnichord on stage.

When trying to classify his style of humor, Jensen had to think for a second and laughed: “I don’t know, cerebral? That’s a word that someone else used to describe it recently. I think it’s really hard for an artist to classify their own stuff but I mean, it’s just stand-up comedy to me.“

Jensen said that his material covers everything from parents and schools to separation of church and state.

“Within this performing entity, my big issue is the idea that we need to allow for religious freedoms and make room for each other so that we can all get along,” he said. “I’m not out to paint anyone as the enemy. I’m just trying to make fun of them!”

He paused before adding, “And laugh with them hopefully!”

The group’s unique theme is a fresh form of comedy that has increasing success with numerous television appearances and shows at premier comedy clubs. Each comedian has the freedom to talk about anything, touching on unspoken taboos. Audiences have commented that the experience has stayed with them and been really positive, Jensen said.

“I love that we can address issues like that, but only if it’s making people laugh; that’s what they came for,” Jensen added.

For more information, visit coexistcomedy.com.

ELENA BUCKLEY can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.

Rating: 4

There’s a weighty back-story behind Swan Lake. Put simply, the band is a supergroup made up of three Canadian indie rock lead-singers – Carey Mercer of Frog Eyes, Spencer Krug of Wolf Parade and Sunset Rubdown, and Dan Bejar of Destroyer. If you haven’t heard their original bands, then you should put down this review and listen. You’re missing out on some of today’s most creative songwriting.

The first Swan Lake album, Beast Moans, combined four songs written by each of the singers into an entire LP. The resulting album suffered from inconsistency: Krug wrote a few masterpieces for the album, while Bejar and Mercer seemed to have brought only mediocre works unfit for their full-time projects. With the new album, all that has changed.

Enemy Mine‘s songs link together with an intricate cohesion – each of the three singers‘ distinctive voices are used to their full potential. The album opener, “Spanish Gold, 2044” is a brooding, climatic piece, all pounding drums, deep synthesizers and Mercer’s distinctive wail and literary lyrics. The track’s last two minutes sound like the world ripping itself apart: The song speeds up and Krug, Bejar and Mercer howl together above a swirling distorted guitar riff and deep piano.

The second track, “Paper Lace,” is something different altogether from the album opener. Where Mercer snarls and wails like a man about to lose his grip, Krug’s “Paper Lace” is a lover’s lullaby with a distinctive little guitar riff.

Bejar’s contributions are easily recognizable if you’re familiar with Destroyer – his characteristic sparkling piano and strange song arrangements are all present on Enemy Mine. Bejar’s ability to sing with the emotion of a brilliant storyteller will endear him to all but the most callous listener.

After opening with the apocalyptic “Spanish Gold, 2044,” Enemy Mine ends with Mercer once again sulking and pounding, this time through “Warlock Psychologist,” a song as ambitious, strange and fantastic as its title. Enemy Mine is much the same – captivating, uncanny and deeply listenable.

Zack Frederick

Sounds like: Frog Eyes, Wolf Parade, Destroyer

Give these tracks a listen: “Spanish Gold, 2044,” “Paper Lace“

Rating: 4

As the third full-length album from Scottish rockers Franz Ferdinand, Tonight comes over three years after their last LP.

Listeners expecting a return to the likes of singles “Take Me Out“ and “This Fire“ from their debut self-titled album will be pleasantly surprised. Tonight builds on the band‘s sophomore effort. You Could Have It So Much Better sought to escape their singularly catchy but repetitive disco-beat guitar rock standard with a brazen and expansive guitar-focused sound.

Here, lead singer Alex Kapranos, known for his catchy and sometimes frenetic, often tightly controlled wail, exhibits a new and focused self-confidence.

Returning to a more lean and balanced sound, Tonight takes advantage of its nocturnal themes to embrace a patient, and at times even contemplative, tone with a variegated style outside our preconceptions of Franz Ferdinand-type rock. At times showing an Afro-funk influence the band has admitted to, it also leans toward electronic experimentation.

Yet the best moments come as product of the band‘s ability to continually churn out memorable riffs and hooks.

Album opener and single “Ulysses“ is unlike the sound loyal fans know and love, and it is not entirely engaging upon first listen. But with just a few repeat listens, the record‘s subversively upbeat tone sinks in enough to believe Kapranos as he belts out lyrics like: “C‘mon doll and use me / I don‘t need your sympathy.“ As a rule, buoyant vocals and quietly funky beats sneakily overpower the dark, somnambular lyrics of songs like “Twilight Omens.“

The almost eight minute long “Lucid Dreams“ is a psychedelic funk-jam oddly reminiscent of the band‘s earlier work, but winds down into an electronic boogie that is hard not to dance to.

“Bite Hard,“ the album‘s second single, escapes from the additional layers of funk and introspection. Easily the most recognizable track compared with the band‘s previous output, it begins with a quiet, pensive whisper that explodes into upbeat catchiness.

As a whole, the album is punctuated with the swagger of a late-night guitar jam session. Even the album cover has Kapranos‘ hand up and in the face of the viewer, suggesting a nonchalance that avoids the pitfall of music trying too hard.

Franz Ferdinand‘s subtle shift in sound and style will grab you with its catchy beats and persistent, different sound that is anything but disagreeable.

Give these tracks a listen: “What You Came For,“ “Lucid Dreams“

For fans of: Arctic Monkeys, The Fratellis, The Killers

-Aaron Bruner

MUSIC

Tamarama, Owitrain, Early States, Accelerate

Today, 8 p.m., $10 in advance

The Boardwalk in Orangevale

Now usually I’m very wary of any self-proclaimed “artist“ who appears on a reality show. But I’ll admit that Tamarama’s Jay Lyon (known firstly as Whitney’s dreamy Aussie boyfriend on MTV pseudo-reality show “The City” and secondly as the lead singer for band Tamarama) doesn’t suck completely in the music department – that is, if I were to ever admit to being a fan of acts like Jack Johnson or John Mayer, or to even watching “The City“ in the first place.

Ricky Berger, The Stilts

Friday, 8 p.m., $5

Javalounge in Sacramento

Sactown show-goers should be familiar with the blond-tressed, red-lipsticked Ricky Berger, whose sophisticated jazzy pop stylings make for a perfect complement to this decidedly anti-corporate coffeehouse venue.

Rowdy Kate, The Nickel Slots, Richard March

Friday, 9 p.m., $5, 21

The G Street Pub

It’s a night of classic Americana and honky tonk at G St. Pub from a trifecta of Sactown talents, from the twangy rock ‘n‘ roll of The Nickel Slots to rootsy rhythms of Richard March.

Maldroid, PETS, Tough Luxury

Friday, 8 p.m., $5

Luigi’s Fungarden in Sacramento

It’s an admirable DIY work ethos of the 21st century. After winning YouTube’s first-ever underground music contest with their debut single and music video “He Said, She Said,” Oakland band Maldroid has been an integral part of the rock nouveau movement.

Songs for Presidents

Saturday, 9 p.m., $10, 21

Marilyn’s on K in Sacramento

Though 2009 is definitely the year of Barack Obama, singer-songwriters J. Matthew Gerken, Christian Kiefer and Jefferson Pitcher give nod to the presidents of years past. Of Great and Mortal Men: 43 Songs for 43 U.S. Presidencies is a three-album homage to all of Obama’s predecessors.

Classical Pops Duo

Sunday, 5 p.m.

Cloud Forest Cafe

There’s nothing like classical music and a cup of strong coffee to reaffirm that yes, you are indeed an adult. It’s a truly frighteningly realization.

Ghost to Falco, Foot Village, Dead Western, Wet Purse

Sunday, 7 p.m., $5

Villanova House

Eric Crespo is the main creative force behind Ghost to Falco, who has an all-too appropriate band moniker and the even more aptly named album torn or broken, shadowed or dark, cast off all doubts and ride the flames to freedom: Ranging from psychedelic minimalism to complex looping arrangements, the Portland-based “musical art project“ makes for an eerily beautiful and unsettlingly hypnotizing listening experience.

Murder by Death, The Builders and the Butchers, Fake Problems, Life as Ghosts

Sunday, 7:30 p.m., $12 in advance

The Boardwalk in Orangevale

It’s a little bit country, it’s a little bit rock ‘n‘ roll – with Johnny Cash and Nick Cave influenced vocals and plenty of cello shredding, Indiana foursome Murder by Death makes a strong case for Western goth.

AC Newman, Dent May and His Magnificent Ukulele

Tuesday, 8 p.m., $12 in advance, $14 day of show, 21

Harlow’s in Sacramento

Fans of the (mostly) Canadian supergroup The New Pornographers should be familiar to AC Newman. The red-headed frontman is up to his old tricks: power-pop predilections, catchy tunes and that endearingly dorky falsetto. His second solo album Get Guilty was released last month.

AT THE MOVIES

Confessions of a Shopaholic

Showing now at the Davis Regal Holiday 6 on F Street

Chick-lit turned chick-flick? Sounds like a winning combination.

ART / MONDAVI

Arthur Gonzalez

Today, 4:30 p.m., free

Technocultural Studies Building (formerly the Art Annex)

Sculptor Arthur Gonzalez is a former UC Davis graduate student who was an active familiar in New York’s East Village art scene in the ‘80s. This event is presented by the Art Studio Program Lecture Series.

Strangers on a Train

Monday, 6:30 p.m., $10 general admission, $5 with a student ID

Studio Theatre

This film adaption of Patricia Highsmith’s novel of the same name has all the makings of a classic thriller: murder, betrayal and Alfred Hitchcock as director.

RACHEL FILIPINAS can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.