Comedy of the Universe returns
By León Mendoza August 1, 2008 San Miguel de Allende

Live Comedy Theater
The Best of the Moulin Rough
Thu, Aug 7–Sat, Aug 9, 8pm
Sun, Aug 10, 5pm
Teatro Santa Ana
Biblioteca Pública
Reloj 50A
100 pesos

In France, the word “cabaret” initially referred to any business serving liquor. However, the history of cabaret culture began in 1881 with the opening of Le Chat Noir in the Monmartre district of Paris. It was an informal saloon where poets, artists and composers could share ideas and compositions.

Performers got to test new material, audiences enjoyed a stimulating evening for the price of a few drinks, and owners could count on a steady flow of regular customers – a win-win-win proposition. Le Chat Noir attracted such notables as Maupassant, Debussy and Satie.

Other cabarets soon sprang up all over Paris, and by 1900 similar establishments appeared in several French and German cities. As time went by, many of these rooms featured scheduled entertainment, ranging in size from a few musicians to full floorshows. Cabarets brought a new intimacy and informal spirit to public performances. Audiences sat at cozy tables consuming food and drink while performers worked right in their midst. Inevitably, audience members became part of the show, interacting with performers—and even each other.

America’s first Parisian-style cabaret was Sans-Souci (1915), a 42nd Street establishment owned by the popular dance team of Vernon and Irene Castle. The earliest American cabarets were not exact copies of their European ancestors. Political and social satire were nowhere in sight, but late hours and sophisticated audiences meant all sorts of boundaries could be stretched. New York’s cabaret goers sought an alternative to other popular forms of diversion.

The “Comedy of the Universe” celebrates the cabaret-comedy-variety show with its thirteenth production: The Best of the Moulin Rough (in English for the Spanish impaired). One of the most entertaining shows of the season hits again, right in the funny bone! The Comedy of the Universe hilarious takes on the human condition has never failed to cause spontaneous eruptions of pure enjoyment and laughter.

For nine years now, this comedy company has delighted San Miguel audiences, at least twice a year, with all kind of clean and joyful skits, this time the Troupe presents a series of skits called The Best of the Moulin Rough. The Comedy of the Universe is known for its fast-paced vaudevillian repertoire hitting on the mark when depicting the ordinary to the most sublime. The Troupe consists of a group of very talented young actors, led by José Luis Mendoza (the curly haired specimen that runs the movies). Committed to delivering love, communicating joy and entertaining by clean laughter, their shows are very popular among the local audiences and always surprise the newcomers and visitors.

New cultural center opening
By Mariana Schultz

Grand Opening
Shelter VG4
Sat, Aug 2, 6pm
Vicente Guerrero 4
Colonia San Rafael

After years of setbacks and roadblocks, one of the most talked-about projects in San Miguel is about to become reality as “Shelter VG4” announces its grand opening.

“I’d heard that starting a business in Mexico can be, um, ‘challenging’ but I never thought I’d be wading through red tape for three years,” says founder John Wharton of the ambitious cultural center. “It was one of those projects that, had we known just how much effort it would require, we might never have undertaken it.”

As it is, Wharton has no regrets about creating Shelter VG4 with its 65-seat “Shelter Theater,” “the Space” rehearsal and classroom salon, “Café VG4” and “el Parque” beer garden which will offer visitors live performances in a tree-filled garden.

“Shelter,” as the “ArtSpace Avant-Garde” is popularly known, continues to be a work in progress with only the theater, Space and Café functioning. The beer garden and “Cha Lounge,” an après-show tapas bar, are scheduled to be operational in the fall.

“Our idea,” says Wharton, “was to offer San Miguel audiences a nearby venue for exciting and unusual works, including films, that cater to our intellectually adventurous population, both foreign and Mexican.” To that end, Shelter Theater will feature primarily independent and foreign films which are not generally seen in San Miguel. Full program information is available on the website’s calendar at www.sheltervg4.com.

The name “Shelter” comes from Wharton’s first reaction at seeing the half-built structure. “I have no idea what the former owner was thinking when he made it but I looked at the enormous room and thought, ‘it looks like a fallout shelter—and a great place to put a small theater.’ Thus was born the Shelter concept of edgy, somewhat risky performing art.

The Space is Shelter’s answer to San Miguel’s crying need for artist-friendly rehearsal and classroom space. With its high ceilings and stunning wood floors, the 500-square-foot room offers directors and instructors a nearly ideal neutral space a 10-minute walk from the Jardín.

Located in the muy Mexicano colonia of San Rafael, Shelter is firmly committed to working with the community. “People here are curious about what we’ve been up to all this time,” says Wharton, “and they’ve been tremendously supportive as they see it accelerating development of their barrio. We’re saying thank you to them for their support with their own fiesta and a special film for the kids.”

One big advantage of being out of Centro is the availability of parking. “You can drive to Shelter and literally always find secure parking,” notes Wharton. “How many other theaters can boast that?” Driving to Shelter is easy as it sits one block beyond where Calzada de la Luz crosses the arroyo. The tree-filled calle Villanueva at the corner may be San Miguel’s only “boulevard.”

Open-minded audiences seeking something avant-garde and un-colonial are encouraged to find their “shelter from the ordinary” at Shelter VG4, San Miguel’s answer to SoHo, a cultural center for the rest of us.

Regrets Only good for your health?
By Tom King

Theater
Regrets Only
Fri–Sat, Aug 1–2, 8pm
Sun, Aug 3, 5pm
Teatro Santa Ana
Biblioteca Pública
Reloj 50A
150 pesos, reserved seats

According to Elizabeth Scott in The Laughing Cure, “Research has shown health benefits of laughter ranging from strengthening the immune system to reducing food cravings to increasing one’s threshold for pain. There’s even an emerging therapeutic field known as humor therapy to help people heal more quickly, among other things. Humor also has several important stress-relieving benefits.”

Players Workshop’s current production of Paul Rudnick’s Regrets Only could be just the prescription you need. Take some hilarious ingredients—a haughty, garbage-bag-wearing grandmother; a sassy, back-talking maid; a desperate, sometimes tipsy bride; a socialite in hairdo hell; and two grown men who sometimes act like posturing adolescents—and you’ve got the recipe for an evening of riotous fun.

Starring Jill and Michael Gottlieb, Tim Johnson, Crystal Calderoni, Lola Smith, Martin J. Grapengeter and Christian Baumgartner, Regrets Only punctures the myth of the sophisticated New Yorker, as a group of movers and shakers get, well, moved and shaken, and their glamorous world of couture gowns, ritzy benefits and penthouse aeries threatens to fall apart.

Underneath all the laughter, though, the play has some important things to say about our connections to one another and to the greater social fabric.

Playwright Paul Rudnick made his Broadway debut with I Hate Hamlet (a legendary production because of Nichol Williamson’s onstage antics), which was followed by hits such as Jeffrey and Regrets Only.

Many people have worked behind the scenes to make the play possible: stage manager Steve Weisberg, lighting guru José Luis Mendoza, producers Don and Gigi Barbaree and Players Workshop board chair Lola Smith. Don’s set-designing experience in England really came in handy in creating the McCullough’s Manhattan penthouse. House managers and ticket sellers complete the backstage cast.

This production is dedicated to late board member Ceil Harrison, herself an accomplished actress, whose commitment to Players Workshop is gratefully acknowledged

Tickets are available at the Biblioteca patio, 10:30am–1:30pm, and at the theater office, 4–7pm.