Arts & Entertainment
Calendar: Nov. 16-22, 2018
Eagle parties, drag brunches, yummy Michael Carbonaro and lots more for the week ahead
Magician Michael Carbonaro performs at MGM National Harbor this weekend. (Photo courtesy Trickster Productions)
Friday, Nov. 16
The D.C. Eagle (3701 Benning Rd., N.E.) kicks off its anniversary weekend tonight at 11:30 p.m. with an appearance by Willam at the Birds of Prey Drag Show. She will perform and serve as the judge for the Mr. Eagle D.C. 2019 contest and the inaugural Ms. D.C. Eagle contest. Willam meet-and-greet tickets are $30 and include entry to the Birds of Prey drag show. Tickets for the show are $15. For a complete list of the D.C. Eagle’s anniversary events, visit dceagle.com.
The D.C. Eagle (3701 Benning Rd., N.E.) hosts Woof Happy Hour and Porn Star Bingo today at 5 p.m. Eddie Danger hosts the party. There will be free pizza at 7:30 p.m. Drink specials include $4 rail drinks, $4 draft beers and more. For more details, visit dceagle.com.
Comedian Aziz Ansari performs at the MGM National Harbor (101 MGM National Ave., Oxon Hill, Md.) tonight at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $47-93. For more information, visit mgmnationalharbor.com.
Macy’s (1201 G St., N.W.) presents its Holiday Unveiling today from 5-7 p.m. Guests can meet singer Keri Hilson, drop by the men’s tailoring showroom featuring singer Sam Tsui and meet and greet with Santa. There will be holiday spirit tastings, cigar rolling, activities, giveaways, surprises and more.WPGC 95.5’s Sunni of the “Joe Clair Morning Show” will host. Admission is free.
Saturday, Nov. 17
Lesbian comedian Emma Willmann performs at Drafthouse Comedy Theatre (1100 13th St., N.W.) tonight with shows at 7 and 9 p.m. Tickets are $20.
Annapolis Pride presents Drag Brunch at Rams Head On Stage (3 West St., Annapolis, Md.) today at 12:30 p.m. Victoria Bohmore and Shawnna Alexander host the show. Ganivah C. Diamond, M’ara Diamond, Kandi Pop, Sarah Nade, Jazmen Diamond and Prynce Sephora will perform. Tickets are $20. Food and beverages are sold separately. Half the proceeds will benefit Annapolis Pride. Guests must be 18 and over. Doors open at 11:30 p.m .For more details, visit ramsheadonstage.com.
The LGBTQ People of Color Support Group meets at the D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W.) today from 1-3 p.m. The peer support group, facilitated by Dakia Davis, is a safe space for LGBT people of color to talk about a variety of topics. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
KhushDC hosts its South Asian LGBTQ Support Group at the D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W.) today at 1:30 p.m. The group is only open to people who identify as LGBT and have a family heritage from South Asia. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Taqueria del Barrio (821 Upshur St., N.W.) hosts a no-shave drag brunch today from noon-3 p.m. Performers include Lilian Laurent, Tammy Kunte and Linda Lecter. Bearded queen and winner of D.C.’s Drag Wars Vagenessis will host the show. Ten percent of profits will benefit Whitman-Walker. For more details, visit facebook.com/delbarriodc.
Out magician Michael Carbonaro, known for his illusion TV series “The Carbonaro Effect,” performs at the MGM National Harbor (101 MGM National Ave., Oxon Hill, Md.) tonight at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $44-71. For more information, visit mgmnationalharbor.com.
Sunday, Nov. 18
Murray & Peter present “A Drag Queen Christmas: The Naughty Tour” at the Warner Theatre (513 13th St., N.W.) tonight at 8 p.m.”RuPaul’s Drag Race” alumni will perform including Alyssa Edwards, Aja, Latrice Royale, Farrah Moan, Monet X Change, Trinity Taylor, Raja and Naomi Smalls. Miz Cracker hosts the show. This is an all-ages show. Doors open at 7 p.m. and show starts at 8 p.m. Tickets range from $20-50.
Washington D.C. History & Culture, a non-profit community organization, will give a guided tour of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum (100 Raoul Wallenberg Pl., S.W.) today from 9:45 a.m.-noon. The tour will focus on the permanent exhibit and how it relates to the stories of Anne Frank and Oskar Schindler. Robert Kelleman, the founder of Washington D.C. History & Culture, will guide the tour. Then the group will have a lunch discussion in the museum cafe. For details, visit facebook.com/dchistoryandculture.
Monday, Nov. 19
The D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W.) hosts coffee drop-in hours for the senior LGBT community this morning from 10 a.m.-noon. Older LGBT adults can come and enjoy complimentary coffee and conversation with other community members. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
Tuesday, Nov. 20
The Metropolitan Community Church of Washington (474 Ridge St., N.W.) honors the 18th annual Transgender Day of Remembrance tonight from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Transgender Day of Remembrance evolved from the Remembering Our Dead web project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil in response to the unsolved 1998 murder of Rita Hester. ASL interpretation will be provided. The venue is also wheelchair accessible.
Wednesday, Nov. 21
The Tom Davoren Social Bridge Club meets tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Dignity Center (721 8th St., S.E.) for social bridge. No partner needed. For more information, call 301-345-1571.
Bookmen D.C., an informal gay men’s literature group, discusses “From Macho to Mariposa: Gay Latino Fiction” edited by Charles Rice-Gonzalez and Charlie Vasquez at the D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W.) tonight at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome. For more information, visit bookmendc.blogspot.com.
Vida Fitness hosts a free Thanksgiving Eve pre-burn open house at all locations today from 5 a.m.-11 p.m. Attendees can use Vida’s fitness equipment and cardio machines or drop by for a Zumba, cycling or HIIT class. Admission is free. RSVP at vidafitness.com/thanksgiving.
Thursday, Nov. 22
The D.C. Center (2000 14th St., N.W.) hosts Thanksgiving dinner today from 1-5 p.m. The dinner is welcome to all but especially for Center Global and Center Aging members who do not have Thanksgiving plans. Guests are invited to bring their favorite music, board games or holiday traditions to share with the group. Doors open at 1 p.m. Dinner starts at 2 p.m. For more information, visit thedccenter.org.
The 2026 Mr. Mid-Atlantic Leather competition was held at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill on Sunday. Seven contestants vied for the title and Gage Ryder was named the winner.
(Washington Blade photo by Michael Key)
Theater
Voiceless ‘Antony & Cleopatra’ a spectacle of operatic proportions
Synetic production pulls audience into grips of doomed lovers’ passion
‘Antony & Cleopatra’
Through Jan. 25
Synetic Theater at
Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Klein Theatre
450 7th St., N.W.
Synetictheater.org
A spectacle of operatic proportions, Synetic Theater’s “Antony & Cleopatra” is performed entirely voiceless. An adaptation of the Bard’s original (a play bursting with wordplay, metaphors, and poetic language), the celebrated company’s production doesn’t flinch before the challenge.
Staged by Paata Tsikurishvili and choreographed by Irina Tsikurishvili, this worthy remount is currently playing at Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Klein Theatre, the same venue where it premiered 10 years ago. Much is changed, including players, but the usual inimitable Synectic energy and ingenuity remain intact.
As audiences file into the Klein, they’re met with a monumental pyramid bathed in mist on a dimly lit stage. As the lights rise, the struggle kicks off: Cleopatra (Irina Kavsadze) and brother Ptolemy (Natan-Maël Gray) are each vying for the crown of Egypt. Alas, he wins and she’s banished from Alexandria along with her ethereal black-clad sidekick Mardian (Stella Bunch); but as history tells us, Cleopatra soon makes a triumphant return rolled in a carpet.
Meanwhile, in the increasingly dangerous Rome, Caesar (memorably played by Tony Amante) is assassinated by a group of senators. Here, his legendary Ides of March murder is rather elegantly achieved by silver masked politicians, leaving the epic storytelling to focus on the titular lovers.
The fabled couple is intense. As the Roman general Antony, Vato Tsikurishvili comes across as equal parts warrior, careerist, and beguiled lover. And despite a dose of earthiness, it’s clear that Kavsadze’s Cleopatra was born to be queen.
Phil Charlwood’s scenic design along with Colin K. Bills’ lighting cleverly morph the huge pyramidic structure into the throne of Egypt, the Roman Senate, and most astonishingly as a battle galley crashing across the seas with Tsikurishvili’s Antony ferociously at the helm.
There are some less subtle suggestions of location and empire building in the form of outsized cardboard puzzle pieces depicting the Mediterranean and a royal throne broken into jagged halves, and the back-and-forth of missives.
Of course, going wordless has its challenges. Kindly, Synectic provides a compact synopsis of the story. I’d recommend coming early and studying that page. With changing locations, lots of who’s who, shifting alliances, numerous war skirmishes, and lack of dialogue, it helps to get a jump on plot and characters.
Erik Teague’s terrific costume design is not only inspired but also helpful. Crimson red, silver, and white say Rome; while all things Egyptian have a more exotic look with lots of gold and diaphanous veils, etc.
When Synetic’s voicelessness works, it’s masterful. Many hands create the magic: There’s the direction, choreography, design, and the outrageously committed, sinewy built players who bring it to life through movement, some acrobatics, and the remarkable sword dancing using (actual sparking sabers) while twirling to original music composed by Konstantine Lortkipanidze.
Amid the tumultuous relationships and frequent battling (fight choreography compliments of Ben Cunis), moments of whimsy and humor aren’t unwelcome. Ptolemy has a few clownish bits as Cleopatra’s lesser sibling. And Antony’s powerful rival Octavian (ageless out actor Philip Fletcher) engages in peppy propaganda featuring a faux Cleopatra (played by Maryam Najafzada) as a less than virtuous queen enthusiastically engaged in an all-out sex romp.
When Antony and Cleopatra reach their respective ends with sword and adder, it comes almost as a relief. They’ve been through so much. And from start to finish, without uttering a word, Kavsadze and Tsikurishvili share a chemistry that pulls the audience into the grips of the doomed lovers’ palpable passion.
Out & About
Love board games and looking for love?
Quirk Events will host “Board Game Speed Dating for Gay Men” on Thursday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m. at KBird DC.
Searching for a partner can be challenging. But board games are always fun. So what if you combined board games and finding a partner?
Picture this: You sit down for a night of games. A gaming concierge walks you through several games over the course of the night. You play classics you love and discover brand new games you’ve never heard of, playing each with a different group of fun singles. All while in a great establishment.
At the end of the night, you give your gaming concierge a list of the folks you met that you’d like to date and a list of those you met that you’d like to just hang out with as friends. If any two people put down the same name as each other in either column, then your gaming concierge will make sure you get each other’s e-mail address and you can coordinate a time to hang out.
Tickets cost $31.80 and can be purchased on Eventbrite.
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Comings & Goings
