“Fackham Hall” Is a Lot of Laughs
Fackham Hall, featuring the aristocratic Davenport family, is a spoof on period films and series like Downton Abby and Upstairs/Downstairs. Directed by Jim O’Hanlon, it’s a vehicle for a variety…
A Sequel (of Sorts) to “Hamnet”
The current film Hamnet is resonating with critics and audiences alike in its searing depiction of tragic loss in the life of William Shakespeare—and how that event inspired what is…
“Marty Supreme” Is, Well, Supreme
The newest film by Josh Safdie (co-director with brother Benny Safdie of Uncut Gems and Good Time), stars arguably the most relevant actor right now: Timothée Chalamet. One reason that…
OperaSLO Gala Bids 2025 Adieu
Opera San Luis Obispo, scores of musical artists, and an enthusiastic audience said goodbye to 2025 at the Performing Arts Center SLO on New Year's Eve. Between a patriotic opening…
Zhao’s “Hamnet” Pays Homage to “Hamlet”
Photos by Agata Grzybowska When we think of William Shakespeare, we imagine the playwright, the man from Stratford Upon Avon, the man whose words arguably changed the world. They…
Festival Mozaic Chamber Concert Dazzles
Wow! They did it again! Festival Mozaic music director Scott Yoo and colleagues dazzled SLO County art music aficionados on December 7 with three chamber works from the Romantic era…
“The Mastermind” Ultimately Underwhelms
The Mastermind, the newest film from American director Kelly Reichardt, does a couple of things really well, and others, sadly, not so well. The story, set in the 1970s, centers…
“Bravi!” for Master Chorale’s Songs of Joy
On the Sunday before Thanksgiving, Thomas Davies led the San Luis Obispo Master Chorale, its orchestra, and four soloists in a compelling trio of works from different musical eras: Classical,…
“It’s a Wonderful Life” Is a Wonderful Play
Geoff Higgins and Kristen Saunders It’s a wonderful play. It’s not a conventional play—it has actors playing voice actors putting on a radio play, so they get to read…
“It Was Just an Accident” Examines Injustice
The films of Jafar Panahi (The Mirror, Offside) had him imprisoned for six years and banned from filmmaking for 20 years by the Iranian government. Panahi’s films are so controversial…