Endgame

Before the play begins, the audience faces an image that resembles a René Magritte painting. A formless background of white clouds against blue sky is projected into the drawn curtain. When the curtain is pulled back, we see the familiar, iconic set of Samuel Beckett’s Endgame. A sheeted object rests center stage. Two more sheeted objects rest off to the side. Sand rests in piles on the floor. A large, cylindrical steel wall stands with two high porthole windows stands above the set. Todd Rosenthal’s set is well-crafted and everything is almost eerily, perfectly in place besides the painted-on stains and filth on the set walls. In the role of Clov, a servant who cannot sit down, Milwaukee Rep Resident Actor Lee E. Ernst exhibits considerable talent for bringing subtlety to his somewhat pathetic character. He walks with an awful trudge. Everything from the precise peculiarity of Clov’s laugh to his unique way of climbing a ladder is breathtakingly idiosyncratic. The physical aspect of Ernst’s performance is especially indispensable at the beginning of the play when the character speaks no dialogue, busily drawing the sheets off two ashbins and his elderly charge Hamm, played by Mark Corkins. He resonates deeply in this role. The character’s pompous egocentrism, breathing through Corkins, echoes over an infinite abyss of monotony at the end of the world. Corkins and Ernst craft a brilliantly dark comedy, tempered with just the right amount of drama. Endgame is easily the single most powerful production The Rep has staged this season. Adding contrast to Corkins and Ernst are Torrey Hanson and Laura Gordon in the roles of Nagg and Nell. Gordon’s performance is the nadir of human emotion — a minimalist symphony. Hanson is hauntingly stark, rumbling along in the semi-death of Hamm’s father until it comes time to tell the joke. Hanson’s delivery of the joke provides a perfect counterpoint to the rest of the production. Endgame has been described as a staged dramatic poem for four actors. There’s a gentle rhythm and percussion moving through the characters that can be played with endless subtle variations. These four very talented and seasoned Rep actors create an impressive spoken word quartet, aided by Ernst’s talent for physical performance. For those in the right state of mind for the comedy of misery, this production is sheer pleasure from beginning to end. The Milwaukee Rep’s production of Endgame runs now through April 20 at the Stiemke Theater. For more information call the Rep box office at 414-224-9490 or visit the Rep online.

3/20/2008

“The last time we played here, we didn’t play here,” bassist Joanna Bolme reminisced, referring to The Jicks’ 2003 “Milwaukee Show,” where they unexpectedly played an entire set pulled strictly from the Pavement back catalog. Their March 20th show at the Pabst Theater, the second stop on the Jicks’ spring 2008 headlining tour with John Vanderslice, didn’t make such history. This time, the band did what they were supposed to: supported new release Real Emotional Trash. Nine of the disc’s ten tracks were included; “Elmo Delmo” wasn’t. Three songs into the set, someone vocally demanded that Malkmus turn up his guitar (“Down? Or Up?” Malkmus clarified, somehow confused. “Guitars aren’t important to this band,” Bolme joked), but generally, the audience of mostly white male 20-somethings was complacent. “This record was made for playing live, not for listening,” a friend criticized in the lobby at a beer break during the tame “Out Of Reaches.” Though true that something like “Baltimore,” busting with bass-lines and lots of opportunity for Malkmus to prove his guitar fluency, is win-win, 2003’s Pig Lib brought the show’s most stellar point — and some looseness — with “(Do Not Feed the) Oyster.” The second half of “Real Emotional Trash” was also easily climactic; its throbbing energy lured even more of those mostly white male 20-somethings away from their theater seats and toward the pit of the stage. The band bottomed out in a cheap attempt to score points during “Hopscotch Willie.” They lifted their drinks while emphasizing the lyrics “underneath the pier/with BEER!” but didn’t get the reaction they anticipated from Brew City. The crowd had one repeated request throughout the evening, and the lively “Baby C’mon” (Face the Truth, 2005) was finally played as the set’s last word, leaving the audience stomping and howling for an encore. The Jicks returned with a cover of “Run to Your Lover,” and Malkmus confessed that his singing manner (no, nothing to do with cowbell) made him feel like a Will Ferrell impersonator. It took some consideration before finding another encore song new Jick, drummer Janet Weiss (the Bright Eyes tourmate formerly of Sleater-Kinney), would consent to. “We’re not playing “Troubbble,” Malkmus said, to audible disappointment. “We played that last night [in Minneapolis].” They settled on “Animal Midnight” and sent everyone packing before twelve o’clock. One couldn’t help feeling that what Minneapolis hadn’t already spoiled was being spared for Chicago the next night. There’s only space for one “Milwaukee Show” in the books, after all. VS

Milwaukee distillery wins prestigious gold medal

Milwaukee’s own Great Lakes Distillery has received a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition for their Rehorst Premium Milwaukee Gin. This small local distillery beat out over 800 entries from 63 countries in a blind tasting with their unique spirit that combines the flavors of sweet basil and Wisconsin ginseng to create a gin that’s truly…intoxicating! For more info, check out their website!

Hey Milwaukee Bad Guys, There’s A New Maestro in Town!

When Edward Flynn was appointed Milwaukee’s new police chief, the community engaged in a group swoon. Flynn hit all the right notes as he met with the various key constituencies in town. Politicians, law enforcement officials, community activists and the business community all applauded the choice and Mayor Tom Barrett was praised for using the heft of his office to twist arms and influence this critical appointment (which, of course, was made by the Fire and Police Commission and not by the Mayor). Chief Flynn is closely associated with the philosophy of community policing and everyone seems to agree that this is a wonderful thing. But community policing is one of those generic terms, like democracy, good schools and market economies, which appeal to most everyone but are not always so easy to put into action. While it’s way too early to issue a judgment on the chief’s performance, you have to say that so far, so good. First of all, he has authorized (ordered?) his district captains to develop proposals for addressing the critical issues in their communities. He has held public meetings to announce and promote these initiatives. People have noticed and, by and large, have responded well. Second of all, he has expanded the presence of beat cops in busy neighborhoods. I’ve seen more police walking around in the last few weeks than I have in years. This is a key component of community policing. Beat cops walking around neighborhoods obviously isn’t a new idea; but it happens be incredibly effective. Who’d have thought? Yesterday, Chief Flynn held a news conference at the District 5 headquarters to call attention to an early, if modest, success. Police conducted a crackdown in the neighborhood around N. 19th Street and W. Nash where a gang known as the Nash Street Boys was believed to be dealing drugs and intimidating people. A group of law enforcement officers including Milwaukee police and FBI agents conducted arrests of 39 individuals suspected of gang involvement on Feb. 14th. In the month following the Valentine’s Day arrests, total criminal activity decreased by one third (24 incidents in the month before contrasted with 16 incidents since). Chief Flynn was joined at the news conference by Mayor Barrett, District Attorney John Chisholm, as well as a cross section of uniformed officers and appreciative residents. Chief Flynn pointed out that this was only the beginning but part of community policing is to focus on results and these positive results were worth noticing. But I found the most noteworthy aspect of the announcement were the broad smiles on the faces of the young police officers. Flynn remarked that they were smiling because successful police work is fun. But after the news conference, the officers made it clear that they enthusiastically support the chief’s program. “It’s taken away a lot of the red tape and lets us do our jobs,” said Officer Teresa Heidemann. “We get to be cops.” It hasn’t been all smooth sailing for Chief Flynn. Somehow, his […]

City Plan Commission

Location: 809 N. Broadway, 1st Floor Boardroom. Agenda

Film in Amsterdam, NL

We’ve packed up the van and managed to find our way to Amsterdam. We must have brought a bit of Milwaukee with us because it is snowing! The locals are freaked out. Doesn’t help us convince this side of Europe about the effects of Global Warming but thats a conversation for another day. Click here to peep the socially conscious, world class AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL. Amsterdam hosts this amazing festival from March 26-30, 2008 – I’ll post pics in a few days…… Till next time, Howie – REEL Milw

Evidence Towards Future Urban Growth?

Life in suburbia Originally uploaded by Michael Burns Besides the obvious of actually stepping foot in urban Milwaukee, what statistical evidence exists to point to trends of increasing urbanization? Menomonee Falls resident, blogger, and friend Mike Rohde found a good article from the Atlantic that examines trends in housing that indicate urban living is the logical future for the United States. The article spends less time championing urban living than it does detailing why the sprawling suburbs will fail and become tomorrow’s worst neighborhoods.

New Park East Request for Proposals

Milwaukee Skyline Originally uploaded by compujeramey Milwaukee County intends to issue a request for proposals (RFP) for a Park East corridor plot of land on the western end of the reclaimed land, near the former Pabst brewery. With developments finally getting off the ground on formerly RFP’ed plots on the eastern end of the corridor, and redevelopment moving full speed ahead at The Brewery it seems logical to move forward at this time and put another plot up for sale. The proposed plot is the one east of 6th Street, north of West Winnebago Street, and south of McKinley Avenue. On the flip side, Robert Ruvin had a harder time securing a loan for his development inbetween 3rd and 4th Streets after the market began to turn. Construction hasn’t even started there yet, and a demo unit is in the works to begin condo sales starting in April. Is it therefore logical to put the chance of another development on the market and potentially damage development going on on other parcels? Yes, well it would be great if the county could let every development get to 100% before triggering another I think it’s important to continue to grease the wheels for other developments to get off the ground. Plus, in all reality by the time the county put out the RFP, it’s going to be at least two years before construction even breaks ground. That will give other developments plenty of time to sell units.. The worst thing that could happen is the current credit crunch could toward around, and for the downtown area to be caught with a lack of available units and development going on. If people want to move downtown, and it appears they do, the county and city should continue to encourage developers to get projects off the ground that produce urban infill and add to the strength of downtown. They’ve done a good job of that so far, and I hope they don’t pull this sale in the event of a market downturn. I expect that further development in the corridor is only going to accelerate the pace of sales and leasing of space, and increase the amount of developers wanting to put up buildings. It’s hard to sell someone on living next to a bunch of gravel lots, but it’s going to be ease to sell them on living amongst a lot of new, pedestrian-friendly developments within walking distance of the city’s best assets.

More than numbers in Iraq

Dump Kovac Before He Gets Started

100_5801 Originally uploaded by RNA Official Photo Site Dan Knauss wrote up an excellent analysis of the 3rd District Alderman race, which after the primary is down to Patrick Flaherty and Nik Kovac. If you’re a 3rd district resident or interested in Milwaukee politics, Dan’s article is definitely worth your time to read.

Weekly Milwaukee Development Bookmarks

Articles from the past week covering development in Milwaukee. JS Online: Options running dry Pabst Office Redevelopment Moves Along — Urban Milwaukee — Championing Urban Life In The Cream City Bowling Congress gets sweeter incentives from Texas – The Business Journal of Milwaukee: Milwaukee a top-five city for tech growth, study says (WTN News) OnMilwaukee.com Marketplace: No fooling, Vino 100 opens April 1 JS Online: Study sees Milwaukee’s star rising JS Online: Lake-water talks authorized JS Online: Youth program sponsor urges support Top 10 Up-And-Coming Tech Cities – Forbes.com OnMilwaukee.com Visitors Guide: New River Taxi a green way to travel by water AirTran adding Milwaukee/Washington, D.C., nonstop – The Business Journal of Milwaukee: New RedPrairie CEO says company will remain in Wisconsin – Small Business Times Forbes names Milwaukee one of U.S.’s “Top 10 Up-And-Coming Tech Cities” – Small Business Times

Northeast Side Area Plan Update

The updated Northeast Side Area Plan was recently posted to the Department of City Development’s website and the City is inviting the public to review the draft. The plan lays out goals, recommends guidelines, points out catalytic projects, and points to future improvements. Additionally significant public input has been integrated in the plan and will continue through an up coming public hearing. The public hearing for the Northeast Side Area Plan will be held during the May 12th City Plan Commission meeting. Assuming the City Plan Commission moves forward with the Northeast Side Area Plan this item will be schedule on May 13th before the Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee. If you don’t need to worry about deadlines and others. If you order with us are competent in all subjects: biology, geography, philosophy, mathematics, sociology, psychology, literature, art, history, and others. If you don’t need to worry about deadlines and quality of scientific art that won’t . Paperell Our professional paper writing service will create a real piece of scientific art that won’t leave your professor indifferent. Paper writers who work with us, you don’t need to worry about deadlines and others. If you don’t need to worry about deadlines and others. .