City Week

For the Love of Vinyl

If you are a musical dunce like me, you may have entertained the notion of delving into records just for the sake of proving to friends that you do know all about, for example, Jimi Hendrix. Even though I really don't know much at all.

Can't we just put aside our musical (non)senses and get along? Tucson's 17th Street Market would say yes.

On Saturday, July 22, the 17th Street Market will host its first ever "Vinyl Roadshow: Twist and Shout." All are invited to bring their own personal collections for appraisal, peruse others' stashes of vintage records and listen to some good music. It's an idea, market spokeswoman Bonnie Brooks said, that was inspired by watching Antiques Roadshow.

Harvey Brooks, Bonnie's husband and a music connoisseur who has played with the likes of Hendrix, The Doors and Steely Dan, will be there to show off and auction off some of his vintage collection.

Carl Hanni, a Weekly contributor who does "Scratchy Records" shows at the Red Room at Grill, will be spinning and appraising vinyl at the event. Members of KXCI 91.3 FM will also be present for spinning and selling, as a fundraiser for the station.

Bonnie Brooks said that the appeal of records has begun to grow in recent years. At the 17th Street Market "we've had requests for a vinyl shelf," she said. "It's becoming a big thing."

All musicologists--and music-ignoramuses--are welcome to attend for good conversation, good fun and good vinyl. --B.P.

Sexual, Silly Brits!

Britain's cuisine may be tasteless, but its comedy certainly is not. And one of jolly ol' London's notable comedies, See How They Run, will be performed right here in the Old Pueblo at the Live Theatre Workshop.

The 1940s three-act farce, written by Philip King and directed by LTW's Stephen Frankenfield, opens Saturday, July 22, and runs through Aug. 27.

"It's a British sex farce, basically," said actress Jodi Rankin, who's also LTW's director of education, "It's just a crazy, crazy farce."

The comedy centers around mishaps in pre-World War II Britain. A British vicar who is married to an American actress and an escaped convict who appears at the vicarage and dresses up in vicar garb join other characters to contribute to the mayhem. Rankin said that there is "a lot of mistaken identity with the convict and who the vicar is."

Rankin plays the role of meddling townie Miss Skillon. See How They Run also stars Cliff Madison as the Rev. Toop, Christian Armstrong as Clive, Debbie Runge as Penelope and Steve McKee as the Bishop of Lax.

Following the 2 1/2-hour opening show on Saturday will be an opening reception attended by the cast and crew. Audience members are invited to chat with the cast while noshing on wine and cheese. (Baked beans and toast are not included in the menu.)

Show times are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday matinees are at 3 p.m. Tickets cost $13-16. Two preview performances will take place on Thursday, July 20, and Friday, July 21, for $11. --B.P.

White Rabbits and Top Hats

Are you ready to be amazed? Rub your eyes in disbelief and astonishment? Then head on down to The Gaslight Theatre and check out the "It's Magic" show, featuring magician Norm Marini and his partners, the husband-and-wife duo of Gene and Charlene Collins.

Marini says he got interested in magic around the age of 11, because he used to frequent Alexander's magic shop, which once graced the Grant and Country Club roads area, where he learned about magic--and caused mischief, no doubt.

Marini says he often brings audience members on stage to be a part of the show, and says he encourages lots of audience participation.

"I perform for 1 1/2 to two hours, with full-blown illusions," he says. "It's a Las Vegas-style magic show."

In his late teens and early 20s, Marini says, he started working for the magic show "Battle of the Magicians" and got the opportunity to be a stage manager, as well as perform for the first time on stage.

Marini has been voted "Stage Magician of the Year" in Tucson and is past president of the Society of American Magicians. "And now I've been on stage doing this for money for 18 years," he says. "There's going to be big illusions, comedy, humor and live animals."

The Collinses, who have been performing magic for many years, will perform classic, rather than Vegas-style, magic, says Marini. "They'll be using white doves and other live animals," Marini says.

The "It's Magic" show has been in Tucson for about 12 years, Marini says, and it's been at the Gaslight for at least the last eight. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the show begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $14 for adults and $11 for children 12 and younger. Reservations must be made before the show by calling 886-9428. --J.K.

Get Your Oboe Freak On

Hot Sunday afternoons in Tucson can be boring. Really, really boring. So if you're looking for something to do in the cool, air-conditioned indoors, the Bach Society's presentation of "Diversions for Oboe and Strings" is a perfect fit.

The second concert in St. Andrew's Episcopal Church's annual summertime series, this concert will feature Lindabeth Binkley, principal oboist of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra; Steven Moeckel, concertmaster and violinist of TSO; Adrienne Horne, a cellist with TSO; and Alex Woods on the viola.

This concert will be a medley of music specifically orchestrated for oboe and string quartets. Binkley will be performing an oboe solo by Benjamin Britten entitled "Six Metamorphoses After Ovid."

The Bach Society formed many years ago, says Christina Jarvis, volunteer organizer. It ceased operation for several years and is now back up and running.

"We try to get an eclectic mix of music," she says. "Everything from Bach to Celtic music has been featured in our concerts."

The St. Andrew's Bach Society was founded in 1989 by the Rev. Charles Ingram, and has been running continuously under the direction of Jarvis since 1996.

This summer's concert series is dedicated to the Rev. Robert Williams, who retired this year, says Jarvis, who is also the choir director at Grace St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

The society puts on four concerts each summer. The concert on Aug. 6 will feature the Kinghorn Duo performing pieces for four-hand piano and opera arias. The Aug. 20 concert will feature Gonzalo Molano on guitar, playing a variety of pieces by different composers, Jarvis says.

The concert, which starts at 3 p.m., costs $10 for general admission and $5 for students with identification. The church, at the corner of 16th Street and Fifth Avenue, is wheelchair accessible. --J.K.