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The best in the arts in 2010
Published: 12/30/2010 6:18 PM
Last Modified: 12/30/2010 6:18 PM

The last few editions of the Tulsa World have featured several of the Scene staff looking back over the highlights of 2010 – the best movies of the year, the ever-changing world of local restaurants, the biggest moments in popular music that had a direct impact on the city.

Fascinating topics, all – and all very well-addressed by my colleagues. It made me wish that I had had a little more time in 2010 to sample some of new restaurants, or take in a movie, or maybe even take in my first-ever show at the BOk Center.

Unfortunately, there was plenty in Tulsa’s visual and performing arts to keep me busy. And for the dozen or so of you out there who on occasion take a glance at this blog (Hi, Cousin Brent! Hi, Mom and Dad! Hello, my wonderful wife!), and might wish to know what were the best of the things that kept me out and about most nights of the year, we offer the follow:

BEST BIG SHOW
No question – practically no contest: The Broadway touring production of “August: Osage County” that played the Tulsa PAC in late January.
Tulsa native Tracy Letts’ darkly funny play about the ultimate dysfunctional family was an absolutely breathtaking experience. The cast, led by Oscar winner Estelle Parsons, brought the Weston family to galvanizing life. Unfortunately, it came to town just days before a blizzard hit Tulsa, which meant fewer people got the chance to see this remarkable show. But those that did aren’t going to forget it.
Not-so-close Second: “Wicked.” This was the second year this show has played Tulsa, and the slightly more restrained performances by leading ladies Vicki Noon and Natalie Daradich gave this fantastic story a very human soul.

BEST MUSICAL PERFORMANCE
Several concerts we attended this year had their memorable moments, such as Kevin Kenner’s performance of the Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Signature Symphony in November; the Emerson String Quartet in January playing the music of Ives, Beethoven and Shostakovich with incredible passion and focus; the undeniable emotional power of the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra’s performance of the Symphony No. 5 by Shostakovich on Sept. 11.
But for us, the most impressive musical moment of the year came in June, when the Bartlesville Symphony Orchestra and Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey presented the world premiere of “Ludwig” as part of the OK Mozart International Festival.
It is usually bad form to quote oneself, but we can’t think of a better way to describe our reaction to this piece than this:
“What makes ‘Ludwig’ work is that the jazz and classical entities are completely and organically integrated — something achieved by more or less deconstructing Beethoven's music and rebuilding it according to the detailed plan established by the score but building it with some different materials.
“The Beethoven symphonies are there in ‘Ludwig,’ their musical structure intact, familiar melodies all in place. And yet, they sounded startling and new.”

BEST DANCE PERFORMANCE
The Trey McIntyre Project put on an impressive show in November, especially with the piece “Wild Sweet Love,” and Tulsa Ballet’s evening of newly commissioned work, “Pop Culture,” featured three of the strongest ballets yet in this series, including Ma Cong’s exquisite “Speaking of Each.”
But the best evening of dance this year involved a somewhat older ballet by Cong – “Carmina Burnana,” presented in May.
This work brought together five of the city’s major arts groups – the ballet, the Tulsa Symphony, Tulsa Opera, the Tulsa Oratorio Chorus and Tulsa Youth Opera – for a stunning performance that had all the primal power and ecstatic beauty that Carl Orff’s dramatic cantata promises.
Add to this the concentrated blast that is William Forsythe’s “The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude,” and it made for an unforgettable evening.

BEST ART SHOW
I will stick with the museums, as I did not get the chance to get to as many galleries as perhaps I should.
Gilcrease Museum’s “The Masterpieces of Charles M. Russell” was an impressive exhibit, as was its comprehensive “America: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of a Nation” – both demonstrated the great riches of the museum’s vast collections.
But the show that I’ll remember the most will be “Adaptation” at Philbrook. Art has always been about transformation, and this exhibit of video art works demonstrated that quality in ways that were startling and disturbing, whimsical and entertaining.

BEST LOCAL THEATER
Again, my assessment of this category is limited, as I did not start covering local theater until May of this year.
But in spite of missing a good portion of the season, I was still able to catch some excellent plays and musicals.
These include the American Theatre Company’s “Twelve Angry Men,” a very deserving winner of the top prize at this year’s Tulsa Awards for Theater Excellence; Odeum Theatre’s fearless presentation of Tracy Letts’ “Bug”; Playhouse Tulsa’s intriguing take on “Macbeth”; ATC’s delightful “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”; and the Actors Company of Tulsa’s unusual but effective staging of Neil Simon’s “Rumors” at Harwelden Mansion.
However, when it comes to the best local theater show I’ve seen this year, again it was a matter of no contest.
“House” and “Garden,” presented by Playhouse Tulsa as part of Summerstage, was easily the best thing I’ve seen this year.
Not just the best local theater – the best experience I had in a theater in 2010. Period.
These two plays by Alan Ayckbourn are designed to be performed simultaneously in two separate theaters, with the same 13 cast members moving between the two locations.
But simply beyond the physical challenges and ambitions of the show, “House” and “Garden” were perfectly cast and perfectly played, the atmosphere of slightly bitter comedy expertly created and maintained.
As was stated in the original review, it took me five hours over the course of two nights, sitting in not very comfortable seats, to watch these two plays. And I would have gladly gone through the experience again, because these two plays were that good.



Reader Comments 1 Total
Jayhawk Ken (2 years ago)
Am I the only non-family member to follow your blog offerings? Well, thank you, James, for your blog and especially for your very helpful guidance to theater- and concert-goers in the Tulsa World throughout the year.

You sure hit the right notes in selecting "August: Osage County" as your BEST BIG SHOW for 2010 and the double-staged "House" and "Garden" as the BEST LOCAL THEATER experience of the year. These shows not only were immensely entertaining, they lodged themselves as personal favorites from decades of theater experiences. Playhouse Tulsa has raised the bar for local theater and I eagerly await its intriguing variety of upcoming productions.

I'm glad you'll be along again in 2011 to reward true artistry and inform ticket-buyers. Thanks!
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ARTS

James D. Watts Jr. has lived in Oklahoma for most his life, even though he still has people saying to him, "Don't sound like you're from around these parts." A University of Oklahoma Phi Beta Kappa graduate, Watts has received the Governor Arts Award, Harwelden Award and the National Conference of Christians and Jews Beth Macklin Award for his writing. Before coming to the Tulsa World, Watts worked for the Tulsa Tribune.

Contact him at (918) 581-8478.

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