This Week in Orlando: Culture for Your Calendar, July 26, 2010 edition
By Josh Garrick 

Mark Twain to Visit the Winter Park Playhouse
That outspoken icon of American wit and wisdom Mark Twain will be
brought to life by veteran local actor Michael Edwards in his
original, one-man show Man Is the Only Animal Who Blushes… Or Needs To!
from July 23rd to August 1st at The Winter Park Playhouse.  Edwards has
acted professionally for over 40 years alongside such luminaries as
Cherry Jones, Brian Dennehy, Pat Hingle and the late Nancy Walker.
“Michael Edwards’ ability to portray Mark Twain is uncanny,” says Roy
Alan of The Winter Park Playhouse, “Michael has spent a lifetime
studying every nuance of Mark Twain’s speech, movement and appearance
making his performance among the most authentic characterizations I have
ever seen.” This evening of wit, song and home-spun humor is to be
found at The Winter Park Playhouse at 711-C Orange Avenue in Winter
Park. Visit winterparkplayhouse.org
or call 407.645.0145.

Psychological Drama
The Mad Cow Theatre takes on our hot summer nights with some scorching ‘drama’ as they present The Heiress, a psychological play based on the Henry James novel Washington Square. The Heiress is
a study in suppressed emotion based on the heightened manners and mores
of 1850’s New York, where a lonely widower and his even lonelier
daughter live lives empty of emotion. That life is changed completely
when a charming suitor comes to woo the daughter, but WHY did he appear
so suddenly and what exactly are his ‘intentions?’ Produced around the
world on stage and screen, this story of love and betrayal was written
by Ruth and Augustus Goetz. Directed by Michael Marinaccio, the cast
features Jennifer Christa Palmer as Catherine. The Heiress will be performed from July 23 to August 22 at Mad Cow Theatre, 105 S. Magnolia Ave in Downtown Orlando. Visit madcowtheatre.com or call 407.297.8788   

Waiting for Godot
The Relevant Theatrics Theatre Company has decided to take on one of the most perplexing and ‘moving’ plays of the last century – Samuel Beckett's ‘Waiting for Godot’.

In the middle of the 20th Century, the New York Times called the play "One of the true masterpieces of the century,” and yet it is a play in which “nothing happens.”  Two apparently homeless men wait – and wait – for someone (Godot) while they play word games. Those word games – often comical, sometimes tragic, and always poetic – represent man’s quest for the meaning of life and are recognized as one of the prime examples of existential writing in all of literature.  In other words, this is NOT traditional summer theatre fare. ‘Godot’ will be performed from August 6th to the15th at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center in Orlando. To purchase tickets in advance, visit redchairproject.com. Reservations may be made by calling 407-809-5266.

The Hot Summer Boat Show
Yes this is an ARTS column, but try and tell the owners of those big (and not-so-big) boats that their ‘floating palace’ is not a form of art.  “All things boating” will be on display from August 6th to 8th at the Orange County Convention Center with the return of the Summer Boat Show. Boats offered by exhibitors from across Central Florida will be on display, as well as family activities on the show floor, including a new Kids Zone featuring “The Pirates of the Treasure Coast.”  Joe Pozo, president of Boat Tree, says “The marine industry is slowly rebounding from one of the worst recessions in memory. The Hot Summer Boat Show is an important step in the turn-around process for many of the exhibitors at the show.” The fun comes from the dozens of boats on the show floor, ready to be boarded for a closer look and a dream or two of lazy afternoons on the water. Admission is $5; children 15 and under are free. For advance ticketing, visit www.boatshowflorida.com

Ms. Jacqueline Jones at Winter Park Playhouse
The ever-popular Ms. Jacqueline Jones will showcase the vocal styling which has made her a true diva in her cabaret act ‘Hello Darlings,’ as part of the Winter Park Playhouse Cabaret Series on August 6 at 7:30 pm and August 7 at 2 pm and 7:30 pm. Ms. Jones has performed around the world, and her high-energy blend of Jazz, Rhythm and Blues and Contemporary music delights audiences whether she is performing in an intimate club or on the concert stage. Captivating her audiences at The Winter Park Playhouse with her voice, wit and showmanship will come naturally for this dynamic performer.  Seating is limited to 50, so reservations are recommended. Tickets are $15 and include a drink from the bar.  The Playhouse is located at 711-C Orange Avenue in Winter Park. Call 407-645-0145 or visit winterparkplayhouse.org.

Sir Tamas Kocsis' Final (Local) Performance
Orlando Philharmonic Concertmaster Sir Tamas Kocsis returns for a final performance with the Orchestra in a concert titled Tamas and Family on Monday, August 9 at the Lowndes Shakespeare Center, 812 E. Rollins Street. Tamas and Family features Kocsis along with Alexander Stevens, William Goodwin, Grace Bahng and Mark Fischer.  Works include Haydn's String Quartet op. 3, No. 5; Mozart's Horn Quintet K. 407 and Dvorak's String Quartet No. 12 "American."  Kocsis studied at the Liszt Academy before coming to the United States in 1989, where he later attended the Juilliard School. His departure is based on Sir Tamas’ recent acceptance of the position of Concertmaster of the Ulster Orchestra in Belfast, Ireland. Sir Tamas was recently honored with a Knighthood in Budapest where he was accepted at the highest possible rank of ‘Commander.’  For tickets, call 407-770-0071, or visit www.OrlandoPhil.org

Josh Garrick is the Florida Arts Editor for Wandering Educators.
Remember to come back and read his weekly arts column about Florida Arts Events.