Mama Says

There’s just one weekend remaining to enjoy the fall show at Near West Theatre. Rodgers & Hammerstein’s adaptation of Margaret Landon’s book Anna and the King of Siam draws on NWT’s great strengths: the warmth, energy and effervescent goodwill of an intergenerational cast, creative choreography that makes the little stage at St. Patrick’s Club seem far broader than its physical space, and catchy songs like “Getting to Know You” and “Shall We Dance.” As my eight-year-old son (who has grown sleek and sophisticated on a diet consisting of large servings of NWT) recently observed, “Why don’t we just buy season tickets?”

Set in the opulent Far East in the 1860’s, The King and I is a fictionalized account of adventurous Englishwoman, Anna Leonowens, who becomes governess to the many children of the autocratic King of Siam, now Thailand. Talking on the themes of imperialism and the perceived barbarism of Siam, it has vital and pertinent things to say about differing cultural perspectives on slavery, polygamy, and the roles of women in society. With the USA and Iraq dominating our global awareness, The King and I East meets West themes leap forward with new urgency.

The show runs November 21-December 7, with no performance on Thanksgiving Day. Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances are at 7:30 p.m. Curtain time for Sunday matinees is 3 p.m. All tickets are $6 for general admission seating. Parking is free and guarded. Reservations are recommended for all performances. Please call NWT’s box office at 216-621-3242.

Performances are on the third floor of St. Pat’s Club Building, 3606 Bridge Ave., in Ohio City (at the corner of W. 38th & Bridge Avenue). For more information, check www.nearwesttheatre.org

If you’re a fan of things with wheels, Saturday, December 13th would be a good day for you to make a trip downtown. On that day, you’ll be able to enjoy two different attractions.

First, take the RTA Rapid to Tower City (it’s only $1 for an all-day pass on 12/6 and 12/13). Before you leave the station, you’ll have the chance to visit with some old friends from Cleveland media history, view photos of holidays past from the collection at Cleveland State University, and take a guided tour of vintage streetcars. If you missed the streetcar rides along the Waterfront line this past July, you’ll want to take this opportunity to visit some of the collection from the now-closed Trolleyville USA. The exhibit will be open from 10 AM-4 PM, and from noon-3 PM you can meet Ray Stawiarski of Franz the Toymaker. No word on whether he’ll don the lederhosen he wore when teaching little television viewers to build their own toys in the mid-60s. Bit nippy.

After checking out the holiday decorations on The Avenue — and maybe taking advantage of your Sweet Treats coupon — head outside for Victorian Horse & Buggy Parade at 5:30 PM. Dozens of candlelit carriages will parade along Euclid and around Public Square.

Incidentally, if you enjoy seeing people transporting themselves with grace and energy on their own two feet, you can wrap up your evening over at the Cleveland Trust building for “A Waltz Happening: An Evening of Live Waltz Music and Dance” with GroundWorks Dance Theatre.