BOOKS & AUTHORS by Eeva-Liisa Waaraniemi
Corruption, Betrayal, and Intrigue
Anyone who delights in the romance and nostalgia of simply walking into a grand 90-year-old neighborhood library should experience St. Anthony Park Library at least once. You might as well go there with dual purpose, however, and tonight’s reading of Crossing Hoffa: A Teamster’s Story by Steven J. Harper seems to fit the bill. (No, I’m not talking about that Stephen J. Harper. Not that anyone knew who the Prime Minister of Canada was anyway.) In his first book, the slightly less high-profile Steven J. Harper–an author and Minneapolis native–shares a true tale more gripping than anything Mr. Prime Minister could cough up. Take the year–1959, the man–Harper’s father, and the problem–union corruption, and you’ve got the beginning of a two-year, life-endangering quest for a cleaner union.
7 p.m., St. Anthony Park Library, 2245 Como Ave., St. Paul; 651-642-0411; free.
FILM
Screw the Star-Crossed Lovers, Give Me Kung Fu
Building on Asian cinema’s historical fascination with Westerns, and tossing in the distinguished Film Noir, Tears of the Black Tiger results in a Tarantino-esque medley of genres laying out what is essentially just another sappy love story. But come on, no one went to see Kill Bill for the story line. This stuff is goood. Written and directed by Wisit Sasanatieng, Tears of the Black Tiger is a throwback to the golden years of Thai genre films. Using some of yesterday’s most popular film techniques — iris shots, wipes, and back-projection — Sasanatieng tells a tale of Noir-ish gunslinger out for revenge but compromised by love.
7 p.m., Room 155 Nicholson Hall, Institute for Advanced Study, Minneapolis; 612-626-5054; free.
THEATER & PERFORMANCE
A Union Impossible
More star-crossed lovers? You betcha! But only if you’re willing to leave work early. I know. I know. Can you stand the sacrifice? All right, raise your glasses. I’d like to make a toast to… well… drinking. Remember the Aquafina commercial in which everybody sang “Drink, Drink, Drink!” as they raised their steins and bottles of Aquafina in a robust toast to boozing it up? You know — the one with the bar wench and the accordian player. (Which one did you remember?) Well, this “Drinking Song,” as it’s actually called, is from Sigmund Romberg’s The Student Prince, an operatic remake of a German play about a prince who must sacrifice love for the well-being of his kingdom. Yup, it’s not a particularly original story — just another Queen Elizabeth, in fact — but let’s face it, we’re all suckers for this shit — especially the heart-wrenching finale. Are you sold yet? This afternoon, at 3 p.m., the Skylark Opera will present their interpretation of The Student Prince, directed by Randy Winkler and starring Mattt Morgan, Tracey Gorman, and Larry Weller. If you really can’t make it out of work early, then be sure to catch it at 8 p.m. on Friday or Saturday.
3 p.m., E.M. Pearson Theatre, 312 N. Hamline Ave., Concordia University, Saint Paul; 612-870-1099; $20-45.
Other shows tonight include Get Ready — a story (which I heard was great) of six legendary musicians stepping once again into the light — at the Penumbra Theatre. 7 p.m., 270 N Kent St., St. Paul; 651-224-3180; $15-30. And Mamma Mia at the Orpheum Theater. 7:30 p.m., 910 Hennepin Ave., Minneapolis; 612-373-5600; $20.50-67.50.
MUSIC by Eeva-Liisa WaarWaaraniemi
Truth Be Your Call, and Peace Be Your Way
Looking to come upon creatures you never knew existed? (Or just another excuse to leave work early?) How about listening to a smooth reggae beat reminiscent of the torrid smell of sun and salt? Beat the traffic — escape your job an hour or two early and head to the Minnesota Zoo. Check out a few animals with unique monikers: the pygmy slow loris, Matschie’s tree kangaroo, the binturong. If you manage to get there by 4 p.m., you can even catch the final dolphin show. Once your walking and animal-ogling urges have been satisfied, relax in the amphitheater with Ziggy Marley and the International Reggae Allstars. The second-oldest son of Bob Marley, Ziggy says his struggle is more spiritual than the physical struggle embodied by his father’s work. “Love is the answer to the problems,” he claims. In fact, his latest album is Love is my Religion.
7:30 p.m., Minnesota Zoo, 13000 Zoo Blvd., Apple Valley; 952-431-9303; $26.
MORE MUSIC
Get Loose, Momma
Don’t let yourself be led astray by the name, the style, and the sass — or even the fact that she hopes to release an all-Spanish album sometime soon. Nelly Furtado is not Latina. She is in fact Portuguese. (And no, they don’t speak Spanish in Portugal, smart ass.) Why does this matter? I don’t know. The woman is one hot hip-hop momma. Period. And yes, she is indeed a momma. Her daughter is three. But this doesn’t stop her from sharing the stage with the likes of Justin Timberlake, turning down $500,000 to pose for Playboy, or confessing her attraction to women. No. I’m telling you, this woman is hot — although I must confess my utter disgust and dismay to discover the the theme of this evening’s show is Miami. I mean, really! It just doesn’t get much more cliché than palm trees on a stage.
7:30 p.m., Xcel Energy Center, 175 W Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; 651-989-5151; $32.50-42.50.
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