While drudgery may be the first thing brought to mind by the kitchen sink – peel those potatoes! – this weekend feels like everything but the kitchen sink.
Widely assorted picks for your free time include a cinema-inspired pooch party, the imaginative story of an out of control id set to rock ’n’ roll classics and a cavorting quintet of jump-and-jive fellows whose members share a moniker most associated with one of the Three Stooges.
Everything but the kitchen sink? Actually, it might be in there somewhere.
All are welcome from every nook of the metro at this seasonal expedition for egg-ceptional treats, sponsored by RezDowntown. The only thing not provided are the baskets and the sharp eyes needed for effectively gathering up Peter Cottontail’s signature hidden treats. There’s also a petting zoo, cookie decorating, bounce houses, games, crafts and temporary tattoos, which may be the best kinds of tattoo to get, whether you’re 9 or 90. (Take it easy, Tat Nation, I said may.)
Saturday, 10 a.m.-noon; Liberty Memorial, 2 Memorial Drive, Kansas City, Mo.; admission: free.
The Black Repertory Theatre of Kansas City presents its riff on the lasting appeal of big-band-era force of nature Louis Jordan, based on the madcap short film, “Five Guys Named Moe,” which starred Jordan and his swinging band in 1943. Jordan’s rhythm-happy, attitude-drenched approach to tuneful entertainment was a forerunner of early rock ’n’ roll as initially practiced by African American acts that, in turn, influenced early white adopters of the music that would take over the world. The ridiculous plot of “Five Guys Named Moe” is really beside the point. You’ll want to get up and dance – and so you should!
Thursday through Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 3 p.m.; the Arts Asylum, 1000 E. Ninth St., Kansas City, Mo.; tickets: $30 ($25 for seniors).
3. ‘Return to the Forbidden Planet’
The revered 1956 science-fiction film, “Forbidden Planet,” is the inspiration for this retro jukebox musical that amps up the already far-out proceedings with 1950s and ’60s rock hits. The original flick’s otherworldly storyline, swiped from William Shakespeare’s “The Tempest,” remains more or less intact on stage: A weird scientist and his wondrous daughter living on a distant orb are visited by interstellar travelers from Earth. After the niceties are exhausted (anyone for some Tang?), everyone must deal with the galactic elephant in the room – an uncontainable creature that turns out to be the horrific product of the scientist’s unchecked primordial impulses. That’s right, I just gave away the ending. Because there are no spoiler warnings in space!
4. Golden Age of Hollywood Ball
Everybody wants a taste of the Academy Awards, and you'll have a chance to get fitted for a gown or a tuxedo to walk the red carpet just like they do at the Oscars. Making it as easy to do as asking for your close-up is the Golden Age of Hollywood Ball, sponsored by the Redux Society. Access the movie-star persona you’ve been dying to share with the world and get a free dance lesson to boot. No acceptance speeches will be necessary, but who says you can’t try to give one, anyway?
Friday, 8 p.m.; Tiffany Ballroom at Kansas City Masonic Temple, 903 Harrison St., Kansas City, Mo; tickets: $25.
5. New York Dog Film Festival and Pooch Party
If you have a dog, then you love it. So there’s a built-in audience for both of the 75-minute dog-loving documentary anthology films, “Second Chances” and “Love Changes Everything,” that will make up the traveling New York Dog Film Festival portion of this year’s Kansas City Film Festival. If adoring dog docs aren’t enough, you can take your own bark-maker to a related pooch party, which includes a “best-dressed doggie” contest. Where else can a bulldog and a dachshund go as Laurel and Hardy? Woof!
Back-to-back dog film screenings at noon and 2 p.m., Friday and Sunday, Cinemark Palace on the Plaza, 526 Nichols Road, Kansas City, Mo.; tickets: $10; Pooch Party, 4-6 p.m. Saturday, Sheraton Suites Country Club Plaza, 770 W. 47th St., Kansas City, Mo.; tickets: $50 (must be purchased in advance).
Banjo punk. I could stop there, but what far-afield fun would that be? The official bio of the itinerant musical outfit known as the Goddamn Gallows refers to the wayward group’s sound as “twanged-out punk … gypsy-punk ... hobocore” and, my favorite, “gutterbilly.” Ladies and gentleman, I believe we’ve found our kitchen sink!
Sunday, 8 p.m.; the Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire St., Lawrence, Kan.; tickets: $15.
Brian McTavish is a regular arts and culture contributor for KCUR 89.3. You can reach him at brianmctavish@gmail.com.
