Rumpelstiltskin

Looking for a new Christmas opera tradition, AVA Opera Theater opened its production of Rumpelstiltskin yesterday at Haverford School's Centennial Hall. The opera, by Joseph Baber to a libretto by John Gardner, had been staged here in 1978 in a production that used giant chairs to jostle perspectives of reality. This production, using a turntable, casts the piece in medieval times and in human scale to suggest a cartoon presence as a means of drawing singers and listeners closer.

Timothy Greatbatch's Scenes from the Brothers Grimm (Book 2) for clarinet and strings received its premiere last night at the Port of History Museum, under the able ministrations of the Tashi quintet. Greatbatch has structured the work in two seven-minute parts, "The Elfin Grove," a fast-slow-fast set of variations, and "Rumpelstiltskin," a slow movement and presto. Both pieces are attractively picturesque. "Elfin's" syncopated rhythmic gestures and interlocking tritones suggest the bouncing from tree to tree of the storyline, while its tranquillo section calls forth images of an elfin palace.

Stealing a page from meta-universe science fiction - and maybe from the desperate scribes at Lost - Shrek Forever After , also known as Shrek: The Final Chapter (make 'em promise!), also known as Shrek 4, finds the big green ogre venturing into an alternate reality where the scenarios played out in previous Shreks have mostly been undone. Donkey as Shrek's best friend? Nope, they're strangers. Fiona as Shrek's one true love and spouse? Forget it. She's the leader of an ogre resistance movement, decked out in warrior gear and built like an R. Crumb dream girl.

"Shrek Forever After" is about the big green ogre wrestling with the problems of middle age, and though he has a tough time of it, things could be worse. For one thing, Shrek doesn't have to fret about getting fat and cranky. He was already both of those things. And he's already made the biggest decision confronting males of his age - do I wear my pants under my paunch, or over it? Shrek's an under. So how are his problems made manifest? Well, his kids are in his face all the time, and his spouse is a constant, throbbing pain in his rear-end.

When Philadelphia Theatre Caravan stops at a school or community group - dressing up a drab auditorium with the brightest of sets - magic happens. Over the next two weeks, the caravan, which has reached 100,000 schoolchildren a year since its founding in 1985, will be parked at the Annenberg Center for 15 performances of The Frog Prince and Other Enchantments, an adaptation of the Grimm tales The Frog Prince, Prudent Hans and Rumpelstiltskin. The creative force behind this show is the troupe's artistic director, Drucie McDaniel.

Music Liquid Liquid. Since 2000, DJ and promoter David Pianka has hosted Making Time, a groovy series of party jams at various Philly venues. The N.Y.C.-based minimalist funk outfit Liquid Liquid's spare, evocative sound made for throbbing underground hits such as "Bellhead" and "Cavern" back in the day. Making Time 10 Year Anniversary Summer of Radness Blast-Off Weekend Finale, with Pink Skull, at 9 tonight at Voyeur, 1221 St. James St. Tickets: $10 in advance/$15 at the door.

Ever listened to the sounds of a circus? Tomorrow, the Haddonfield Symphony presents two performances of "Music Under the Big Top," a concert for young people featuring music with a circus theme. Children can listen to the music of Stravinsky's Circus Polka while watching performers from the Give and Take Jugglers prance and dance. Guest-conducted by Henry Bloch, the symphony will play a program that includes Mussorgsky's Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks. "Music Under the Big Top" at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow at Haddonfield Memorial High School Auditorium, Kings Highway East, Haddonfield, and at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow at Voorhees School Theater, Voorhees Middle School, Holly Oak Drive, Voorhees.

As the son of a construction worker, I can tell you with modest authority that the plight of the working class has never looked more alluring than it does on Dream Street. If, growing up, my jeans had fit as perfectly as they do on this show's hero, Denis Debeau (Dale Midkiff), and if the local bars had attracted as many beautiful women as the ones in Denis' neighborhood do - well, frankly, I never would have given the glamorous world of journalism the first thought. Filmed and set in Hoboken, N.J., Dream Street premiered last week with a 90-minute pilot that quickly established the show's blunt yet witty tone.

My beloved horse, Joy, recently passed away. A beautiful gray thoroughbred mare, she was the first horse I owned and the first one I lost. I was in the city when it happened, far away from anyone who could really understand. It was hard for even me to understand. It felt so different from losing a dog or a cat, not better or worse, but different. Every pet has a unique personality. My cat is different from my dog, my dog Pip is different from my mom's dog Tony. But my relationship to each of them is the same: just love.

My beloved horse, Joy, recently passed away. A beautiful gray thoroughbred mare, she was the first horse I owned and the first one I lost. I was in the city when it happened, far away from anyone who could really understand. It was hard for even me to understand. It felt so different from losing a dog or a cat, not better or worse, but different. Every pet has a unique personality. My cat is different from my dog, my dog Pip is different from my mom's dog Tony. But my relationship to each of them is the same: just love.

Music Liquid Liquid. Since 2000, DJ and promoter David Pianka has hosted Making Time, a groovy series of party jams at various Philly venues. The N.Y.C.-based minimalist funk outfit Liquid Liquid's spare, evocative sound made for throbbing underground hits such as "Bellhead" and "Cavern" back in the day. Making Time 10 Year Anniversary Summer of Radness Blast-Off Weekend Finale, with Pink Skull, at 9 tonight at Voyeur, 1221 St. James St. Tickets: $10 in advance/$15 at the door.

"Shrek Forever After" is about the big green ogre wrestling with the problems of middle age, and though he has a tough time of it, things could be worse. For one thing, Shrek doesn't have to fret about getting fat and cranky. He was already both of those things. And he's already made the biggest decision confronting males of his age - do I wear my pants under my paunch, or over it? Shrek's an under. So how are his problems made manifest? Well, his kids are in his face all the time, and his spouse is a constant, throbbing pain in his rear-end.

Stealing a page from meta-universe science fiction - and maybe from the desperate scribes at Lost - Shrek Forever After , also known as Shrek: The Final Chapter (make 'em promise!), also known as Shrek 4, finds the big green ogre venturing into an alternate reality where the scenarios played out in previous Shreks have mostly been undone. Donkey as Shrek's best friend? Nope, they're strangers. Fiona as Shrek's one true love and spouse? Forget it. She's the leader of an ogre resistance movement, decked out in warrior gear and built like an R. Crumb dream girl.

Looking for a new Christmas opera tradition, AVA Opera Theater opened its production of Rumpelstiltskin yesterday at Haverford School's Centennial Hall. The opera, by Joseph Baber to a libretto by John Gardner, had been staged here in 1978 in a production that used giant chairs to jostle perspectives of reality. This production, using a turntable, casts the piece in medieval times and in human scale to suggest a cartoon presence as a means of drawing singers and listeners closer.

When Philadelphia Theatre Caravan stops at a school or community group - dressing up a drab auditorium with the brightest of sets - magic happens. Over the next two weeks, the caravan, which has reached 100,000 schoolchildren a year since its founding in 1985, will be parked at the Annenberg Center for 15 performances of The Frog Prince and Other Enchantments, an adaptation of the Grimm tales The Frog Prince, Prudent Hans and Rumpelstiltskin. The creative force behind this show is the troupe's artistic director, Drucie McDaniel.

Ever listened to the sounds of a circus? Tomorrow, the Haddonfield Symphony presents two performances of "Music Under the Big Top," a concert for young people featuring music with a circus theme. Children can listen to the music of Stravinsky's Circus Polka while watching performers from the Give and Take Jugglers prance and dance. Guest-conducted by Henry Bloch, the symphony will play a program that includes Mussorgsky's Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks. "Music Under the Big Top" at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow at Haddonfield Memorial High School Auditorium, Kings Highway East, Haddonfield, and at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow at Voorhees School Theater, Voorhees Middle School, Holly Oak Drive, Voorhees.

Timothy Greatbatch's Scenes from the Brothers Grimm (Book 2) for clarinet and strings received its premiere last night at the Port of History Museum, under the able ministrations of the Tashi quintet. Greatbatch has structured the work in two seven-minute parts, "The Elfin Grove," a fast-slow-fast set of variations, and "Rumpelstiltskin," a slow movement and presto. Both pieces are attractively picturesque. "Elfin's" syncopated rhythmic gestures and interlocking tritones suggest the bouncing from tree to tree of the storyline, while its tranquillo section calls forth images of an elfin palace.

As the son of a construction worker, I can tell you with modest authority that the plight of the working class has never looked more alluring than it does on Dream Street. If, growing up, my jeans had fit as perfectly as they do on this show's hero, Denis Debeau (Dale Midkiff), and if the local bars had attracted as many beautiful women as the ones in Denis' neighborhood do - well, frankly, I never would have given the glamorous world of journalism the first thought. Filmed and set in Hoboken, N.J., Dream Street premiered last week with a 90-minute pilot that quickly established the show's blunt yet witty tone.