PeoriaStory

'Beautiful' is Beautiful

PEORIA, IL -- 'Beautiful, the Carol King Musical' is terrific. It played Nov. 23 at the Peoria Civic Center, which is ugly. More on that later.

The musical, part of the Civic Center's Broadway series, is fast paced fun, and clever, beautifully sung and acted.   The sets are amazing. The musical numbers are well done by its cast of at least a dozen players.  And it even has a real orchestra in the pit.

But -- there were no programs so no way to tell who the talented actors were, and whether this was an Actors Equity cast.

The Civic Center outsourced its Broadway series to a group in Denver, which cut corners by not having programs, though they can be supported by ads.  Instead they cooked up a scheme whereby you can use your phone to access a QR code in the theater to see the program.  On the phone? Please.

The security system was equally screwed up, sending women with purses back to their cars to ditch them (were car burglars watching?). I crammed my necessities into the pockets of my coat.

The line to get into the theater was miles long, at least 10 minutes, and for no purpose, delaying the opening of the show.  This time no one asked to see our car keys and cell phones. How many  people will boycott the place over this?  And of course the carpets are still grubby. A disgrace.

What to do? Complain to the mayor? It makes Peoria look bad, and stupid to have such a mess. Meanwhile  if you can see this show, do it. Maybe in Chicago. 

 -- Elaine Hopkins

 

 

Synphony for Women

Peoria, IL -- The Peoria Symphony Orchestra's tribute to Peoria native Betty Friedan, on Nov. 20 at the Peoria Civic Center Theater, was wonderful, with some annoying issues.

The orchestra played three pieces by its composer-in-residence Stephanie Ann Boyd, including one written to honor Friedan. They were all quite interesting musically, melodic with dissonance, like the women's movement itself.

And the orchestra was terrific, as was violin soloist Sirena Huang. She smoothly handled a mini-incident, when a string on her 400-year-old violin came loose.  She quickly switched violins with the first chair violinist, and the piece continued. Then that section was replayed.

Nevertheless the program had issues.  Two big screens were not used as effectively as they could have been. No videos were broadcast showing the concert live with the conductor and players, as the Heartland Festival Orchestra does at its concerts.

The operatic soloist for two of the pieces, Michelle DeYoung sang beautifully but the audience would have benefited from supertitles of her lyrics on the screens.

Then there's the Civic Center itself -- after 18 months of COVID shutdown nothing has improved.  The carpet is still dirty, a disgrace. It  needs to be replaced.

Worse yet, some idiot has dreamed up the security system from hell.  A woman cannot bring in a purse, as everything is supposed to be in plastic baggies. Ridiculous. Keys and phones must go through an air terminal type screening process, which I suspect is a fake because it didn't catch mine, in my purse, hidden beneath my coat.

We met an older woman outside the theater entrance who had been sent back to her car,, in the cold and dark, to stash her modestly sized purse.  I will bet she'll never return to the place. She warned us what was in store, so I hid my purse beneath my coat.

Five Points Washington doesn't do any of this. It should stop immediately if the Civic Center wants people to return.

 -- Elaine Hopkins  

 

"Save Our Riverfront"

CHILLICOTHE, IL -- A group has formed to save the Chillicothe riverfront from plans to put a barge terminal on a nearby island. 

Here's the story with photo from The Community Word.

And here's a terrific letter from state Rep.Ryan Spain opposing the project.

  -- Elaine Hopkins

Whiskey Barron Revealed

PEORIA, IL --Get Acquainted With Peoria Whiskey Baron Joseph B. Greenhut, Nov. 14, 2:30 PM at the GAR Hall, 416 Hamilton Blvd, Peoria, IL.

From a news release:  

On Nov. 14 there's a rare opportunity to learn about one of the least understood but most pivotal public figures of Peoria from Peoria author Dr. Victoria Loberg, as she explores the life and legacy of Joseph Benedict Greenhut: Whiskey Baron, Merchant Prince.

In the latter half 19th century, whiskey was king in Central Illinois. Atop the pyramid of distillers was Joseph Benedict Greenhut, the most powerful of those who became known as America’s “whiskey barons.”

Arriving in America almost penniless, Greenhut left Peoria several decades later worth millions, headed for the East Coast, where he acquired and operated what was known as the world’s largest department store.

Greenhut and his wife, the former Clara Wolfner, left an indelible mark on Central Illinois by helping establish the Children’s Home, the Peoria Country Club and much more…including our own Greenhut Memorial Grand Army of the Republic Hall.

Dr. Loberg will reveal the exciting story of Joseph Greenhut, who entered public life as a Civil War hero (leading the only all-Jewish unit to fight in the war), became a prolific inventor, pivoted to the distilling industry, entered the mercantile world and was a friend to U.S. Presidents and prominent Americans.

The G.A.R. Hall was principally funded by Captain Greenhut and dedicated by Civil War veterans and other citizens to his memory. Sunday, Nov. 14, will be a fitting way to celebrate our community, Greenhut, and the stewardship of Greenhut Memorial Hall by the Central Illinois Landmarks Foundation, which has worked for decades to honor and restore this National Register of Historic Places structure.

Who: AUTHOR VICTORIA LOBERG
When: SUNDAY NOV. 14, 2:30 p.m. ($10 donation requested)
What: PRESENTATION FOLLOWED BY BOOK SIGNING, SNACKS AND DRINKS, PRIZES & FUN
Where: GREENHUT MEMORIAL GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC HALL, 416 HAMILTON BLVD., PEORIA
—Copies of Dr. Loberg’s book, Joseph Benedict Greenhut: Whiskey Baron, Merchant Prince, will be available for sale to the public.

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