Have you already seen the Christmas tree at Old Town Square? Have you had a taste of svařák and roast chestnuts? Have you bought at least one Christmas present? Do you need a break from the holiday hustle and bustle? Here we are with a few tips.
The theatre Alfred ve Dvoře stages tonight the Prague premiere of The Cat, a 45-minute audiovisual performance combining cinema with improvised acting and puppet theatre. Are you curious to see the last 45 minutes in the life of a cat that fell from a roof? The show starts at 8pm.
The Irish quartet of two poets and two singers known as The Voice and the Verse will take up the stage at Divadlo Inspirace on Malostranské náměstí Friday. Prague Fringe fans already know the words and tunes of these four Irishmen will be a laughable experience.
Now for music: US guitarist and songwriter Joe Bonamassa, whom the Guitar Player magazine readers voted 2007’s best blues guitarist, will play songs from his recent album Live From Nowhere in Particular at Prague’s club Vagon Thursday. Prague-based blues band Stan the Man will open the evening.
Palác Akropolis will see a show of the Paris-based band of two Swedes and an American known as Thieves Like Us. Their sound is a mix of electronica, pop, and funk and be sure to bring good dancing shoes as the Thieves will make you move.
If you are into opera music, you shouldn’t miss the concert of José Carreras 15 December. The Spanish tenor, one of the most prominent opera singers of his generation, will perform at Prague’s Congress Centre. The cheapest tickets available at the moment cost CZK 3,900.
Pass the Popcorn
The following days offer a great opportunity to see the latest film releases for the ticket price of only CZK 50. The Filmánie event takes place from 11 till 17 December at multiplexes (Village Cinemas, Palace Cinemas, Cinema City) and Lucerna. The discounted ticket is valid for all screenings, including this week’s premiers: L’instinct de mort (Public Enemy N°1), Jean-Francois Richet’s movie based on a fictional story of French gangster Jacques Mesrine; animated film for kids, Niko – Lentäjän poika; Czech film Sestra, which is based on a novel by Jáchym Topol and music by Psí vojáci; US drama Make It Happen; US comedy Four Christmases; The Day the Earth Stood Still, Scott Derrickson’s remake of the 1951 classic sci-fi about an alien visitor and his giant robot counterpart who visit Earth.
One movie though deserves special attention: Paranoid Park, an independent, low-budget film by Gus Van Sant. The author of Elephant again enters the world of maturing young people this time telling a story of a young skateboarder in a difficult life situation. Shooting in a loose style with mostly nonprofessionals cast makes the movie very authentic and well accepted by film critics and international audience. Paranoid Park will open the film festival Cinepur Choice at Světozor Thursday. Organisers of the annual Cinepur festival, which took place for the first time last year, say their goal is to present experimental film and production based on esthetic qualities, not marketing. Movies by Argentinean filmmaker Pablo Fendrik or French director Claire Denis are included in the festival programme. (11-14 December)
