Arts & Entertainment
Moonlit magic
Female-dominated Cirque show a wonder
Andreanne Nadeau, the Moon Goddess riding a cerceau. (Photo courtesy Cirque du Soleil)
‘Cirque du Soleil Amaluna’
Through Sept. 21
At National Harbor
300 Waterfront Street
Oxon Hill, MD
$45-270
800-450-1480,
You can spot Cirque du Soleil’s trademark blue and yellow striped tent from miles away. Sitting on a bluff above the National Harbor complex on the banks of the Potomac in Maryland, the big top conjures the kind of circus excitement you knew as kid. But forget the whip-toting tamer putting defanged lions through the paces. Cirque is about what people can do.
With its latest installation “Amaluna,” the Quebec-based franchise pays tribute to the power and allure of women. From its young woman coming-of-age storyline to its core female performers to its all-girl band, “Amaluna” offers a less-testosterone-fueled experience than Cirque’s other shows. But don’t fear, along with the daring, body-bending ladies, there’s plenty nimble beefcake on hand to keep everyone happy.
“Amaluna” (an etymological mash of “mother” and “moon”) refers to a mysterious, lunar-lit island inhabited by women and watched over by goddesses. Staged by Broadway’s Diane Paulus (best known for her celebrated revivals of musicals “Pippin” and “Porgy and Bess”), this dazzling amalgam of street theater and Vegas follows a narrative loosely based on Shakespeare’s “The Tempest,” only in this telling it’s singing sorceress Prospera (Julie McInnes) not Prospero whose magic sets the action in motion.
Prospera’s daughter Miranda needs a mate. The only male on hand is her half human, lizard-tailed pal Cali (Viktor Kee). Despite his enviable abs, he doesn’t make the grade, so mother summons a storm landing a crew of displaced young men on Amaluna’s shores. Miranda falls for Romeo (Evgeny Kurkin), the cutest of the bunch. But nothing comes easy. The pair’s fledgling infatuation must face many tests of the uniquely Cirque variety: for bikini-clad Miranda (the comely and cut Iuliia Mykhailova), it’s a series of contortionist moves on the slippery lip of a huge glass bowl. As Romeo, buff Kurkin demonstrates his outrageous upper body strength with a super tall, death-defying Chinese pole. It’s amazing stuff.
The climate-controlled venue is cavernous allowing the cast to soar through the night sky on aerial straps. And while the moody lighting creates a world of sea, stars and moon, it’s the performers’ athleticism and superbly executed physical feats that make the show.
The acts are varied ranging from highflying acrobatics to Cali’s immensely enjoyable juggling act which combines the tradition of circus and the flash that is Cirque. The tricks are incredible. Not at all the usual circus filler fare that you might expect. The all-male teeterboard act features a crew of well-built shirtless guys attempting to escape from a makeshift prison. It’s an exciting demonstration of strength and tumbling.
Not to say, the show is without flaws. Ever wonder where Olympic wannabes go? It appears the female gymnasts end up doing the uneven bar en masse with a traveling circus. It’s not easy. But when you come to Cirque, you expect to be blown away. This act was underwhelming. And what would a circus be without clowns? In this case, better. Sadly, the comic relief is tiresome.
The show’s highlight is titled Manipulation, an exotic balancing act performed by dancer Lili Chao Rigolo. Bit by bit, she deliberately picks up palm leaf ribs with her toes, slowly but surely assembling a piece of movable art that resembles a huge avian skeleton. The implication of her breath heightens the drama. Hers is intriguing and masterful artistry.
Overall, “Amaluna” is wondrous, transporting summer magic.
Evgeny Kurkin as Romeo in ‘Amaluna.’ (Photo courtesy Cirque du Soleil)
a&e features
Eastern Shore chef named James Beard Finalist
Harley Peet creates inventive food in an inclusive space
In a small Eastern Shore town filled with boutiques, galleries, and the occasional cry of waterfowl from the Chesapeake, Chef Harley Peet is most at home. In his Viennese-inflected, Maryland-sourced fine-dining destination Bas Rouge, Peet draws from his Northern Michigan upbringing, Culinary Institute of America education, and identity as a gay man, for inspiration.
And recently, Peet was named a James Beard Finalist for Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic – the first “Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic” finalist representing the Eastern Shore.
Peet, after graduation from the Culinary Institute of America, took a position as sous chef at Tilghman Island Inn, not far from Bas Rouge. Falling in love with the Eastern Shore, he continued his passion for racing sailboats, boating, gardening, and fishing, and living his somewhat pastoral life as he opened Bas Rouge in 2016 as head chef, a restaurant part of the Bluepoint Hospitality group, which runs more than a dozen concepts in and around Easton, Md.
Coming from a rural area and being gay, Peet knew he had his work cut out for him. He was always aware that the service and hospitality industry “can be down and dirty and rough.”
Now as a leader in the kitchen, he aims to “set a good example, and treat people how I want to be treated. I also want to make sure if you’re at our establishment, I’m the first to stand up and say something.”
The Bas Rouge cuisine, he says, is Contemporary European. “I’m inspired by old-world techniques of countries like Austria, Germany, and France, but I love putting a new spin on classic dishes and finding innovative ways to incorporate the bounty of local Chesapeake ingredients.”
His proudest dish: the humble-yet-elevated Wiener Schnitzel. “It is authentic to what one would expect to find in Vienna, down to the Lingonberries.” From his in-house bakery, Peet dries and grinds the housemade Kaiser-Semmel bread to use as the breadcrumbs.
Peet works to support the LGBTQ community inside and outside of the kitchen. “I love that our Bluepoint Hospitality team has created welcoming spaces where our patrons feel comfortable dining at each of our establishments. Our staff have a genuine respect for one another and work together free of judgment.”
Representing Bluepoint, Peet has participated in events like Chefs for Equality with the Human Rights Campaign, advocating for LGBTQ rights.
At Bas Rouge, Peet brings together his passion for inclusion steeped in a sustainability ethic. He sees environmental stewardship as a way of life. Peet and his husband have lived and worked on their own organic farm for several years. Through research in Europe, he learned about international marine sourcing. Witnessing the impacts of overfishing, Peet considers his own role in promoting eco-friendly practices at Bas Rouge. To that end, he ensures responsible sourcing commitments through his purveyors, relationships that have helped create significant change in how people dine in Easton.
“I have built great relationships in the community and there’s nothing better than one of our long-standing purveyors stopping in with a cooler of fresh fish from the Chesapeake Bay. This goes especially for catching and plating the invasive blue catfish species, which helps control the species’ threat to the local ecosystem.
Through his kitchen exploits, Peet expressed a unique connection to another gay icon in a rural fine-dining restaurant: Patrick O’Connell, of three Michelin starred Inn at Little Washington. In fact, Peet’s husband helped design some of O’Connell’s kitchen spaces. They’ve both been able to navigate treacherous restaurant-industry waters, and have come out triumphant and celebrated. Of O’Connell, Peet says that he “sees [his restaurants] as canvas, all artistry, he sees this as every night is a show.” But at the same time, his “judgment-free space makes him a role model.”
Being in Easton itself is not without challenges. Sourcing is a challenge, having to either fly or ship in ingredients, whereas urban restaurants have the benefit of trucking, he says. The small town “is romantic and charming,” but logistics are difficult – one of the reasons that Peet ensures his team is diverse, building in different viewpoints, and also “making things a hell of a lot more fun.”
Reflecting on challenges and finding (and creating) space on the Eastern Shore, Peet confirmed how important it was to surround himself with people who set a good example, and “if you don’t like the way something is going, fuck them and move on.”
Team DC, the umbrella organization for LGBTQ-friendly sports teams and leagues in the D.C. area, held its annual Night of Champions Awards Gala on Saturday, April 20 at the Hilton National Mall. The organization gave out scholarships to area LGBTQ student athletes as well as awards to the Different Drummers, Kelly Laczko of Duplex Diner, Stacy Smith of the Edmund Burke School, Bryan Frank of Triout, JC Adams of DCG Basketball and the DC Gay Flag Football League.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
The 2024 National Cannabis Festival was held at the Fields at RFK Stadium on April 19-20.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Covering the @NatlCannaFest at RFK Stadium for @WashBlade . Stop by the LGBTQ+ booth and pick up a paper if you are here. pic.twitter.com/is7hnsaPns
— Michael Patrick Key (@MichaelKeyWB) April 20, 2024
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