Looking for some tips on what to do this weekend and beyond? We’ve got you covered. Here are a few recommendations from Ocean State Media afternoon host Mareva Lindo and executive producer James Baumgartner.
1920s romance in rural Maine
“The History of Sound” is set during and after World War I and follows two men who meet at the New England Conservatory of Music. They end up spending months together collecting folk songs in rural Maine. The film stars Paul Mescal and Josh O’Connor and is based on a story by Massachusetts author Ben Shattuck, who will be at the screening for a post-film conversation, diving deeper into the work and his process of adapting the story into a screenplay.
Where: Zeiterion Performing Arts Center, New Bedford, MA
When: Thursday, August 6, 6:00 p.m.
Details: Zeiterion.org
1880s comedy of manners
Two young bachelors invent alter egos to escape social obligations, only to have their romantic schemes hilariously unravel. Overflowing with sharp wit and outrageous twists, “The Importance of Being Earnest” is a delightful romp that proves the truth is rarely as entertaining as a good lie. Contemporary Theater Company has set this production in 1985, 100 years after the play first premiered, but Oscar Wilde’s script is unchanged.
Where: Contemporary Theater Company, Wakefield, RI
When: Friday, August 7 and Saturday, August 8, 7:00 p.m. (plus more performances through September 12)
Details: contemporarytheatercompany.org
Watch for falling stars!
The Perseid meteor shower will peak this coming Wednesday and Thursday. It’s considered one of the best meteor showers of the year. And you can catch some amazing views at the Frosty Drew Observatory in Charlestown. Starting in the late night hours on Wednesday, you can see up to 100 or more meteors per hour. And there’s a new moon, which means darker skies, so conditions should be especially ideal.
Where: Frosty Drew Observatory, Charlestown, RI
When: Wednesday, August 12, 8:30 p.m. - Thursday, August 13, 3:00 a.m.
Details: FrostyDrew.org
Rhode Island plays New Jersey in 50s mob flick
In 1950s New Jersey, two teen football stars face life after the game and feel the pull of organized crime. “Bad News on the Doorstep” features a few Rhode Island locations, including a tiny diner in East Greenwich and our own parking lot here at Ocean State Media with a view of scenic Mashapaug Pond. The film stars Dante Palminteri, Nick Davi, Chazz Palminteri and Robert Davi.
Where: Providence Place Mall Apple Cinemas
When: Saturday, August 8, 7:00 p.m.
Details: https://prog.tsharp.xyz/en/riiff/44/film/12902/Bad-News-on-the-Doorstep
The art world of The Bahamas
“Reframing Paradise” is a documentary of the burgeoning art scene in The Bahamas. It includes a profile of John Cox, who graduated from RISD in 1996 and went home to Nassau to teach at the college there and open the POPOP arts center that had a catalyzing effect on the arts community. Later, he founded the FUZE art fair that exhibits the work of artists from across the Caribbean and draws tens of thousands of visitors. “Reframing Paradise” is a beautifully shot documentary that makes you feel like you’ve visited a dozen art galleries filled with beautiful, powerful work.
Where: Avon Cinema, Providence, RI
When: Friday, August 7, 5:00 p.m.
Details: https://prog.tsharp.xyz/en/riiff/44/film/12817/Reframing-Paradise
