A play tells a powerful story
Vashon Allied Arts will present a new play, “Atticus,” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 5 and 6, and 2 p.m. Nov. 6, at the Blue Heron. The play, adapted by Marc Powell, pastor of St. John Vianney Church on Vashon, is based on a novel — a finalist for both the National Book Award and PEN/Faulkner Award — that was penned in 1996 by California-based author Ron Hansen. Hansen will attend the opening night performance. “Atticus” addresses emotional and ethical issues that arise from an upright, wealthy oil man’s love for his deeply flawed, wayward son Scott. The show is directed by Islander Charlotte Tiencken, executive director of Seattle’s Book-It Theatre. Due to subject matter, this play is rated PG-13. Tickets, $12/$15, are on sale at Island book stores, the Blue Heron, Heron’s Nest, www.brownpapertickets.com and by calling 463-5131.
Chamber music for young and old
The Vashon Maury Chamber Orchestra, led by Karin Choo, will present its fall concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, at the Methodist Church. Joined by two Island soloists, cellist Rowena Hammill and oboist Irene Alexander Tokar, the orchestra will play works that bookend two centuries of classical music. The concert will include Giannini’s Allegro from Concerto Grosso for string orchestra, Cowell’s Hymn and Fuguing Tune No. 10 for oboe and strings, Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C Major, 1st movement, and Haydn’s Symphony No. 45 in F-sharp minor, “The Farewell.”
Selections from the program will be performed for Island kids at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 5, at the church. Entrance for the children’s concert is “pay-what-you-can.” Tickets for the Friday evening performance will be available at the door, $10 general and $7 students/seniors.
A book about survival and joy
Books by the Way, which will close soon, will host its last author event at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 6, at Café Luna, when Seattle author, Katherine Malmo, will read from her new book, “Who in This Room: The Realities of Cancer, Fish, and Demolition.”
The book chronicles what happened when the author was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer and given a 10 percent chance of living for five years. Told with humor and realism, “Who in This Room” is a story of a stubborn woman’s drive to survive and the instincts that help her come back to the world.
More information about the author and the book can be found at www.whointhisroom.com.
Make time for Panache Jazz
The Greta Matassa Quartet will close out the Panache Jazz Series at 8 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 12, at the Blue Heron. Matassa, called “a marvel of virtuosity” by the Los Angeles Times, will be joined by top regional players, including pianist Darin Clendenin, bassist Clipper Anderson and drummer/percussionist Mark Ivester. For tickets and more information, call 463-5131.
