The week's highlights
FLATHEAD LAKE INTERNATIONAL CINEMAFEST
Showboat Cinemas, Polson, Jan. 24-26
After a successful first outing, the Flathead Lake International Cinemafest is about to launch its second event in a big way.
The festival is showing 79 films, ranging from documentaries to animated features to three-minute shorts, from 16 countries.
The opening night party, 5 to 7:30 p.m., Friday, is a tribute to “The Great Gatsby” and partygoers are urged to dress in Roaring ’20s attire. Hors d'oeuvres, champagne, wine and beer will be served.
KECI television anchor Steve Fetveit will serve as emcee for the evening. Following the party at 8 p.m. the films begin on both screens at the Showboat Cinemas in downtown Polson.
Saturday morning FLIC Jr. begins at 8:30 a.m. with a free children’s movie “Despicable Me 2.” A light breakfast will be provided and kids are invited to wear “jammies” for a comfortable morning event. Films continue through Saturday night, and on Sunday film blocks begin at 10 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. “The Best Of” awards will be announced at the closing party dessert reception, Sunday, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., at Showboat Cinemas.
Tickets and the complete program are available online at www.flicpolson.com and at the Showboat Cinemas.
'GIGI'
Museum at Central School, Kalispell, Jan. 28, 7 p.m., no charge
The museum begins its seventh year of free film club screenings with the 1958 musical romantic comedy “Gigi.”
Leslie Caron stars as Gigi, an avant-garde French waif being groomed as the “fille de joie”of affluent and handsome Gaston (Louis Jourdan). Soon Gigi turns into a stunning beauty, and the head-over-heels Gaston asks for her hand. But Gigi’s courtesan grandmother is aghast.
This 1958 film won Oscars for best picture and best director (Vincente Minnelli). Music and lyrics by Lerner and Loewe, arranged and conducted by Andre Previn, include “Thank Heaven for Little Girls” sung by Maurice Chevalier. The film is rated G and runs 116 minutes. There is no charge. Donations will be accepted to help defray the cost of acquiring and showing the films. The movie and popcorn are free, and wine, beer, pop and water will be for sale. Seating is provided, but people can also bring their own floor pillows, portable chairs, or whatever is comfortable for viewing the film.
The museum is located at 124 Second Ave E. in Kalispell. Call 756-8381 for more information.
‘SHAKESPEARE: NEXT GENERATION” Black Curtain Theatre
O’Shaughnessy Center, Whitefish, Jan . 25-26, 7:30 p.m., $10 for adults, $8 for students
“Shakespeare: Next Generation,” directed by Whitefish Theatre Company artistic director Jesse DeVine, is the first Black Curtain play featuring only young actors and the second Shakespeare production in Whitefish Theatre Company’s history. Using scenes and monologues from several Shakespeare plays, such as “Macbeth,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” and “Romeo and Juliet,” “Shakespeare: Next Generation” offers talented area youth the chance to speak some of the greatest lines ever written. Through stylized vocal work and physical movement, young actors will bring Shakespeare's characters to life in an exciting new way, aiming to surprise the audience with their interpretations of the Bard's poetic language.
“This is Shakespeare as you've never seen before,” DeVine said. “By adorning each Shakespeare character with exaggerated movement and voice, the challenging text becomes not only less daunting to the kids, but also to the audience.
“These remarkable kids are already jumping in with two feet, delving into detailed character work and taking huge risks to bring the language of Shakespeare to life.”
As a Black Curtain production, viewers are reminded that there will minimal staging, no set or props, and actors will be reading from a script.
Tickets are sold only at the door on the evenings of each show. The box office opens at 6:30 p.m. and is located at 1 Central Ave., Whitefish. For more information, call 862-5371.