Art Gallery

By Kevin Lee Associate Editor

Camille

Where: Bernheim Hall in Ben May Main Library (701 Govt. St.)

When: Sunday, Sept. 30, 2 p.m.

This 1936 film was based on Alexandre Dumas’ novel Lady of the Camellias and starred two of the biggest stars of its day, Robert Taylor and the incomparable Greta Garbo. This is reputed to be Garbo’s finest work and the actress went on to become a true giant of Hollywood whose mystique still survives almost a century after her career began.

The story also inspired Giuseppe Verdi to produce La Traviata, a work offered by the Mobile Opera on Oct. 25 and 27. As such, this showing features a discussion with University of South Alabama Professor of Art Robert Bantens and Mobile Opera Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Jerome Shannon.

For further info, call 208-7097 or go to www.mplonline.org.

Works by Wiley Farrell and Bronwyn Coffeen: Autumn’s Regalia

Where: Skinny Gallery, Mobile Arts Council (318 Dauphin St.)

When: Oct. 1 – Nov. 2

Autumn can be a wistful time for transplants to Mobile who grew up with traditional seasons. The arboreal colors and brisk air, the textures of wood and wool, the smells of burning leaves and fireplaces, even the sound of crunching foliage and busy rake tines are sorely missed.

You can grasp a portion of these in the October showing at the Skinny Gallery downtown. Wiley Farrell’s work on bowls and urns brings out the rustic beauty only found in wood grain and Bronwyn Coffeen’s impressionistic paintings of trees in fall colors complete the nod to a magical time of year.

The gallery is open Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. – noon. Entrance is free.

If you ask nicely, they might even scatter some leaves on the floor for you and hand you a rake.

Dracula and Me by Shari Prestwood

Where: Fairhope and Mobile

When: Saturday, Sept. 29 & Saturday, Oct. 7

When Bram Stoker brought the world’s most famous neck biter to life with his 1897 novel Dracula, who knew comedy would ensue? The Transylvanian ghoul has been twisted into a variety of jovial forms, perhaps most notoriously by terminally tan George Hamilton in the disco era send-up “Love at First Bite.”

This original comic murder mystery is brought to life by Commedia del Arte and benefits the University of South Alabama’s fine arts magazine, The Oracle.

The first performance is at the USA Baldwin County Campus Theatre (Summit & St. James in Fairhope), Sept. 29 at 7:30 p.m. The second show is slated to unfold at the Museum of Mobile (111 So. Royal St.), Oct. 7 at 2:30 p.m.

Entrance is $5 in Fairhope, free at the museum.

For more info call 510-0654 or 478-9438 or e-mail Commedia_del_Art_Mobile@yahoo.com.

Kevin Lee is Lagniappe associate editor. Contact him at klee@lagniappemobile.com.

Archives