ENTERTAINMENT
Saturday, February 20, 2016
MOVIE REVIEW
East Oregonian
Page 3C
PENDLETON
Community theater stages ‘Eleemosynary’
Play probes relationships of
three generations of women
East Oregonian
Rafy/A24 via AP
This photo shows Anya
Taylor-Joy as Thomasin in a
scene from “The Witch.”
‘The Witch’ a
haunting prequel
to Salem trials
ۻۻۻۼ
R, 92 minutes
(AP) — Set under gray
Puritan skies in a deathly autumn,
“The Witch” is a slow-burning
1600s horror thriller so bone-dry
it would only take a match for the
whole movie to go up in Àames.
“A New England folktale” is
how the opening titles describe
writer-director Robert Eggers’
impressively rigorous feature
debut. The ¿lm doesn’t just
take place in early 17th century
America, but it has effectively
summoned the nightmares and
superstitions of the era, much
of which Eggers faithfully
reproduced from various
historical sources.
The subject here is less
witches as some supernatural
fright than the Puritan psychology
that dreamed them. Do not expect
broomsticks.
A family, led by a prideful
patriarch, William (Ralph Ineson,
terri¿c), is banished from the
plantation after his stubborn
refusal to accept common law as
above his own, superior piety. “I
would be glad of it,” he seethes
when threatened with expulsion.
Our images of the settlement
are Àeeting. The eldest of the
¿ve children, Thomasin (Anya
Taylor-Joy, in a breakout
performance) peers backward as
the wooden gates close behind
them as they ride out. The picture
is drained of color and the score
(by Mark Korven) is eerie and
discordant: trouble waits outside
the gates.
After setting up a scrappy
existence in the wilderness,
misfortunes mount. The crops
die and when Thomasin takes
the newborn out near the forest,
the child vanishes. That night,
after frantic searching, an image
Àickers of a witch-like ¿gure
Àoating toward a full moon.
A spell of mysterious source
seems to have settled over the
family that spookily manifests
in various farm animals: a rabbit
in the woods, a bloody chick in
an egg. Eventually, a goat and a
crow get in on the act. A suitably
creepy set of toddler twins is
here, too.
As things get steadily worse
and demons seem literally at the
door, the faith of the family is
tested. Suspicions begin falling on
Thomasin, a fair, pale-white girl
whose growth into womanhood
is drawing the curious gaze of her
younger brother, Caleb (Harvey
Scrimshaw). Could she be a
witch?
The spell is cast over the
viewer, too, as the authentically
resurrected world of “The Witch”
transports to a time of suffocating
fear, born out of a harsh new land
and hardened religious fervor.
Taking place decades before the
Salem witch trials, “The Witch”
is a kind of horror chamber piece,
a stripped-bare prequel to the
forces that propel Arthur Miller’s
“The Crucible” and Nathaniel
Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet
Letter.”
The characters speak in the
formal diction of the period —
lots of “thees” and such. It’s a
kind of time travel, for those
looking for a far grimmer trip
to colonial America than New
England tourist attractions afford.
It is, to say the least, not a barrel
of laughs.
But what makes “The Witch”
more than a mere museum
reclamation project is Taylor-Joy.
The movie is in many ways seen
through Thomasin, who stands
apart from her devoted family.
Wide-eyed and rebellious, she
more resembles a girl of today.
Whether she is, in fact, a witch
remains in suspense. But we
witness how Puritan paranoia and
misogyny turns a pretty young
woman like Thomasin into a
fearsome seductress in the eyes of
her family.
When the combustible “The
Witch” ¿nally lets itself ablaze,
the brutal and surprisingly
sober ¿nale is also — and
more thrillingly — Thomasin’s
awakening. Drawn by the lure to
break free of her upbringing, to
“live deliciously,” she turns out
to be something scarier than the
Puritans could fathom: a teenager.
Described by the St. Paul
Pioneer Press and Dispatch as
“funny, perceptive, and eloquently
written,” “Eleemosynary” will be
staged by the College Community
Theatre.
The play jumps back and forth
in time and space, memory and
emotion, to examine the lives of
three generations of exceptional
women.
“Each character is in a quest for
love, ful¿llment, and, ultimately,
forgiveness and understanding,”
said Craig McIntosh, College
Community
Theatre
artistic
director.
A Pay-What-You-Can preview
night is Thursday, Feb. 25 at 7:30
p.m. in Bob Clapp Theatre, located
in Pioneer Hall at Blue Mountain
Community College, Pendleton.
Subsequent performances are
Feb. 26-27 and March 3-5 at 7:30
p.m. and matinée shows are Feb.
28 and March 6 at 2 p.m. Tickets
Photo contributed by Debbie McIntosh
Chris Ferguson, Katie Scruggs and Vanessa Hawkins will take
the stage in the College Community Theatre production of
“Eleemosynary.” It opens with a Pay-What-You-Can Preview Night
Thursday, Feb. 25 in the Bob Clapp Theatre at Blue Mountain
Community College in Pendleton.
for regular performances are $10
for adults and $5 for students.
The show contains some mature
language and isn’t really suitable
for young children. The box of¿ce
phone number is 541-278-5953. In
addition, tickets will be available at
the door.
Dorothea Westbrook, played by
Chris Ferguson, is a self-declared
eccentric. Her daughter, Artie,
portrayed by Vanessa Hawkins, is a
brilliant research scholar with total
recall. And her daughter, Echo,
played by Katie Scruggs, has been
raised mostly by her unorthodox
grandmother and is the reigning
national spelling bee champion.
“Playwright Lee Blessing
maneuvers these remarkable and
complicated women through
personal, emotional, and societal
land mines with both humor and
compassion,” McIntosh said.
Others involved with the
production include Osa Jubilee
Forrester as stage manager, Josh
King as production manager and
Gary Burnett and Don Pinkerton
are lead carpenters, with additional
set construction and decoration by
Elizabeth Olsen, Cody Pedroza
and Christian Quinlin. Also, Gary
Ferguson is lighting designer,
Matt Henry is light board operator,
Judy Moore is box of¿ce manager
and house managers are Doreen
Matteson and Gary Burnett.
“Eleemosynary” replaces the
previously scheduled musical
“Hello Dolly.” Season ticket
holders will use “Hello Dolly”
tickets for this production.
For more information, contact
McIntosh at 541-278-5928 or cct@
bluecc.edu.
WHAT TO DO
Festivals
Eastern Oregon Bridal
Show
Sunday, Feb. 21; noon-4
p.m.
Hermiston
Conference
Center, 415 S. Highway 395
www.eobridalshow.com
$7/door, $5/advance, addi-
tional discounts for brides who
buy tickets in advance. Offers
one-stop wedding planning.
Wedding fashion show at 1:30
p.m.
Eastern Oregon Back-
country Festival
Friday, Feb. 26; 7 p.m.
Art Center East, 1006
Penn Ave., La Grande
Feb. 27-28; all day
Anthony Lakes Mountain
Resort
www.eou.edu/outdoor/east-
ern-oregon-backcountry-festi-
val-2016
Donations accepted. The
festival kicks off with a showing
of the Winter Wildlands Film
Festival. Local food and beer
are available for purchase and
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tion. The party moves to Antho-
ny Lakes on Saturday with an
uphill/downhill race, clinics and
live music by the Wasteland
Kings in the Starbottle Saloon.
Sunday features self-organized
tours of Anthony Lakes back-
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the Wallowa Avalanche Center.
Lift ticket and equipment rental
discounts are available for Sat-
urday and Sunday activities.
Beerex Fest
Saturday, Feb. 27; noon-7
p.m.
Nookies/Hermiston Brew-
ing Co., 125 N. First St., Herm-
iston
w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m /
events/207152289629450
$10/advance, $15/at the
door, $25/couple. Features
15+ breweries, live music and
smoked food specials. 21 and
older.
Art & Museums
ArtWORKz 2016
Monday-Saturdays, 9 a.m.-
5 p.m.
Tamástslikt Cultural Insti-
tute, near Wildhorse Resort &
Casino.
www.tamastslikt.org
Free reception, regular ad-
mission is $10/adults, $9/se-
nior citizens, $6/youths, free/5
and under or $25/family of four.
Youth art show and competition
features original artwork from
area youths. Runs through
Feb. 27.
In The Footsteps of
Charles Heaney
Tuesday-Fridays, 10 a.m.-
4 p.m., Saturdays, 10 a.m.-4
p.m.
Pendleton Center for the
Arts, 214 N. Main St.
www.pendletonarts.org
Free. Exhibit features the
work of Tom Prochaska and
Christy Wyckoff, who created
sketches and prints based on
the travels of Oregon land-
scape artist Charles Heaney
(1897-1981). Also, in the Lo-
renzen Board Room is an ex-
hibit by Pendleton artist Andrew
Sykes. Runs through end of
February.
Heritage Station Muse-
um
Tuesday-Saturdays
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
108 S.W. Frazer Ave.,
Pendleton
www.heritagestationmuse-
um.org
$5/adults, $2/student, $4/
seniors, $10/family.
SAGE Center
Monday-Saturdays
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
101 Olson Road, Board-
man
www.visitsage.com
$5/adults, $3/students, se-
niors, free/under 5. An interac-
tive visitor center highlighting
sustainable agriculture and
energy. On-site store features
local art, jewelry, food, wine
and gifts.
Music
Inland Northwest Or-
chestra
Saturday, Feb. 20; 4 p.m.
Enterprise High School,
201 S.E. Fourth St.
Sunday, Feb. 21; 4 p.m.
Hermiston High School,
600 S. First St.
www.inlandnorthwestmusi-
cians.com
Free, but donations accept-
ed. Features Tchaikovshy’s “Ro-
meo and Juliet,.” Based on the
Shakespeare play, it’s designed
like a symphonic poem in sona-
ta form. Program also includes
Mendelssohn’s Symphony No.
5 Op. 107 - “Reformation.”
His Little Feet
Saturday, Feb. 20; 6 p.m.
Armand Larive Middle
School, 1497 S.W. Ninth St.,
Hermiston.
www.hislittlefeet.org
Free, but love offering taken.
Faith-based program features
orphaned and rescued children
ages 6-13 from several coun-
tries, including India, Ethiopia
and Haiti.
Rock-Bot Karaoke
Saturday, Feb. 20, 9 p.m.
No cover
Wildhorse Sports Bar at
Wildhorse Resort & Casino, off
Highway 331, Mission.
Fun Addicts
Friday, Feb. 26; Saturday,
Feb. 27, 9 p.m. No cover
Wildhorse Sports Bar at
Wildhorse Resort & Casino, off
Highway 331, Mission.
Oregon Mandolin Or-
chestra
Saturday, Feb. 27; 7:30
p.m.
Vert Auditorium, 480 S.W.
Dorion Ave., Pendleton
www.oregoneastsymphony.
org
$20/adults, $15/students,
seniors, $45/family. Presented
by the Oregon East Symphony,
the Portland-based ensemble
will perform some numbers with
symphony members.
Small Souls
Monday, March 21; 7 p.m.
All ages. No cover.
*UHDW 3DFL¿F :LQH &RI-
fee Co., 403 S. Main St., Pend-
leton
There is No Mountain
Thursday, March 24; 7 p.m.
All ages. No cover.
*UHDW 3DFL¿F :LQH &RI-
fee Co., 403 S. Main St., Pend-
leton
premium seats. 21-and-over
show features Joey from the
hit ABC series “Full House.”
Dave Coulier also is known for
his voice-over talent, includ-
ing many Saturday morning
cartoon favorites. No-host bar
available.
DJ music
Saturdays, 8 p.m.
The Pheasant, 149 E. Main
St., Hermiston
Sunday Fundays
Sundays; 4 p.m.
Riverside Sports Bar, 1501
Sixth St., Umatilla
No cover. Food/drink spe-
cials available.
Whiskey Wednesday
Game Night
Wednesdays; 3-7 p.m.
The Pheasant, 149 E. Main
St., Hermiston
No cover. Drink specials
and games, including Xbox
360, Nintendo Wii, PlayStation
3 and Nintendo 64.
RocKaraoke
Third Wednesdays, 8 p.m.
Wildhorse Sports Bar,
Wildhorse Resort & Casino, off
Highway 331, Mission.
No cover. Live band kara-
oke the third Wednesday of
each month through December.
Thursday Night Comedy
Thursdays, 8 p.m.
Wildhorse Sports Bar,
Wildhorse Resort & Casino, off
Highway 331, Mission.
Fridays 8 p.m. (9 p.m. if
game on)
Riverside Sports Bar,
1501 Sixth St., Umatilla
DJ and dancing
Fridays, 8 p.m.
The Pheasant, 149 E.
Main St., Hermiston
Stage & film
“My Fair Lady”
Feb. 20, 26-27, March
4-5, 11-12; 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 20, 27, March 5, 12;
2:30 p.m.
Elgin Opera House, 104
N. Eighth St.
w w w. e l g i n o p e r a h o u s e .
com
Reserved $17/$8. The
Broadway musical hit set in
London in 1912 features the
transformation of Eliza Doo-
little into an upper class lady.
“Eleemosynary”
Feb. 25-27, March 3-5;
7:30 p.m.
Feb. 28, March 6; 2 p.m.
Bob
Clapp
Theatre,
BMCC, 2411 N.W. Carden
Ave., Pendleton
Feb. 25 is pay-what-you-can
preview night; other performanc-
es, $10/adults, $5/students.
College Community Theatre
production of Lee Blessing that
probes multi-generational rela-
tionships.
Mac’s Trivia Night
Thursdays, 8 p.m. No cov-
er
Mac’s Bar & Grill, 1400
S.W. Dorion Ave., Pendleton
21 and older. East. Drink.
Think. Teams of 2-8 compete in
trivia contest with other teams.
Live host and prizes. Series
runs through Feb. 25.
Digital Karaoke
Thursdays and Fridays, 8
p.m.
The Pheasant, 149 E. Main
St., Hermiston
Wine tasting
Night life
Fridays, 4-8 p.m.
Sno Road Winery, 111 W.
Main St., Echo.
Dave Coulier
Open Mic
Thursday, March 10; 7 p.m.
Wildhorse Rivers Event
Center, off Highway 331, Mis-
sion.
www.wildhorse.com
$19/general seating, $29/
Karaoke
First/third Friday each
month, 8 p.m.-midnight
The Packard Tavern, 118
S.E. Court Ave., Pendleton
www.facebook.com/groups/
pendletonopenmic
Hot tickets
Toby Mac. March 15, Toy-
ota Center, Kennewick. Tick-
ets ($26-69.50) available via
www.ticketmaster.com
Joseph and the Amaz-
ing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
May 10, Windermere Theater,
Kennewick. Tickets ($47-67)
available via www.ticketmas-
ter.com
Hunter Hayes. Aug. 26,
Benton-Franklin Fair, Pasco.
Also Salt N Pepa (Aug. 23).
Tickets ($15) available via
Kennewick Ranch & Home or
www.bentonfranklinfair.com
———
Want to get your event list-
ed in our calendar? Send in-
formation to tmalgesini@eas-
toregonian.com, or c/o Tammy
Malgesini, 333 E. Main Street,
Hermiston, OR, 97838.
BRIEFLY
Oregon Mandolin Orchestra
performs Feb. 27
PENDLETON — The Oregon East
Symphony presents the Oregon Mandolin
Orchestra, a Portland-based group of about 30
members.
The concert, which is in memory of Mary
Brown, is Saturday, Feb. 27 at 7:30 p.m. in
the Vert Auditorium, 480 S.W. Dorion Ave.,
Pendleton. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for
students or seniors and $45 for a family. They
are available at the symphony of¿ce, Armchair
Books or at the door.
The Oregon Mandolin Orchestra was
founded by Elizabeth and Brian Oberlin in
an effort to revive the beauty and popularity
of the traditional mandolin orchestra. The
ensemble includes mandolins, mandolas,
mandocellos and double basses.
With the emergence of folk music, the
mandolin regained popularity, and mandolin
orchestras are popular in many U.S. cities.
Their presence abroad, which never waned,
also continues to grow. The music for
mandolin orchestras ranges from classical to
swing to jazz and everything in between.
In addition to its program, the Oregon
Mandolin Orchestra will perform a selection
of collaborative pieces with members of the
Oregon East Symphony.
For more information, call 541-276-0320
or visit www.oregoneastsymphony.org.
‘Full House’ star to entertain
at Wildhorse
MISSION — Known best for his role as
Joey from the hit ABC series “Full House,”
Dave Coulier will perform at Wildhorse
Resort & Casino.
As part of its 21st anniversary celebration,
Coulier will perform stand-up comedy
Thursday, March 10 at 7 p.m. at the resort,
which is located off Highway 331, Mission.
Contributed photo
The Oregon Mandolin Orchestra directed by Brian Oberlin, front center, will perform
Saturday, Feb. 27 at the Vert Auditorium in Pendleton.
The 21-and-older show includes a
no-host bar.
Tickets are $19 for general seating
or $29 for premium seats. They can
be purchased at the casino’s gift shop
or at www.wildhorseresort.com.
Also known for his voice-over
talent, Coulier’s additional credits
include many Saturday morning
cartoon favorites. He began by doing
voices on Hanna-Barbera’s “Scooby Coulier
Doo” and has lent his voice in others
including the re-syndicated version of “The
Jetsons” and “The Muppet Babies.”
Following the success of “Full House,”
Coulier hosted “America’s Funniest People,”
ABC’s “World’s Funniest Videos” and his
own series, “Out of Control for Nickelodeon.”
Recently, Coulier guest starred on “How I
Met Your Mother” and “The Tonight Show
Starring Jimmy Fallon.”
The show will kick off a weekend of
anniversary events at the resort,
including the popular ¿reworks
show. The sky will ignite with
color Saturday, March 12 at 8
p.m. A special musical medley
choreographed with the ¿reworks
will blast from huge speakers or
people can listen from a car radio
by tuning to Umatilla Tribal radio
KCUW, 104.3 FM.
For more information, contact
Tiah DeGrofft, Wildhorse
community relations, at 541-966-1628, tiah.
degrofft@wildhorseresort.com or visit www.
wildhorseresort.com.
———
Submit information to:
community@
eastoregonian.com or drop off to the attention
of Tammy Malgesini at 333 E. Main St., Herm-
iston or Renee Struthers at 211 S.E. Byers Ave.,
Pendleton. Call 541-564-4539 or 541-966-
0818 with questions.