'High School Musical' is boffo at Museum; it's still running on high

Looks like it's a winner. The Wild Horse Children's Theater production of Disney's "High School Musical" was sold out last weekend and indications are for another SRO weekend, said Pat Josten, show producer. It's a very lively show aimed at the whole family, Shows are at 7 p.m. Friday, 4 and 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. It's a lot less expensive than most rock concerts: $10 general admission, $8 for students and seniors, $5 for children under 12. You can get tickets at 887-0438 or at the desk of the Children's Museum of North Nevada, 813 N. Carson St. Tickets may be available at the door for any remaining seats - but don't count on it.

MUSIC IN THE AIR

Ring in the season with the Carson City Symphony as it presents its 24th annual "Holiday Treat" concert, featuring the symphony and the Carson Chamber Singers at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Carson City Community Center. Pre-concert entertainment by the Symphony Flute Ensemble begins at 3 p.m. in the lobby. The two groups will join together for "A Feast of Carols" and the "Holiday Treat" tradition, "A Christmas Singalong" for orchestra, chorus and audience.

Tickets are $12 general admission, $10 for seniors, students, and Symphony Association members and free for children age 16 and younger. Tickets are available in advance at the Brewery Arts Center, 449 W. King St., at ActivityTickets.com or at the door. Call the Symphony at 883-4154.

Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Dave Mason brings 37 years of memorable rock music to the South Shore Room at Harrah's Lake Tahoe Saturday. Hailing from Worcester, England, Dave Mason teamed up with Steve Winwood, Jim Capaldi and Chris Wood to form one of rock music's most influential bands, Traffic. Dave Mason and his band are on stage beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 each, plus tax. Call (800) 786-8208 or see www.TotalRewardsTahoe.com.

The Mile High Jazz Band will be joined by Krista Benjamin, Suzanne Roberts, Rita Geil, and other award-winning poets for an evening of jazz and poetry at Comma Coffee from 8 to 10 p.m. Tuesday. The theme of the evening, "Rites and Rituals," relates to holidays and to life. The poets take turns to read a poem before each song played by the big band. "Reading at this venue is a lot of fun," Benjamin says. "Everyone has a chance to digest one poem before hearing the next."

"It adds an element of surprise for the audience when they discover the connection between the poem and the song," says David Bugli, band leader and pianist.

Comma Coffee at 312 S. Carson St., is across the street from the state legislative building in Carson City. General admission is $5 at the door; $4 for members of the Mile High Jazz Band Association.; and free for those 18 and younger. Call 883-4154, or visit www.MileHighJazz.com.

The Sierra Lyric Opera Studio will present "Hallelujah," a concert of arias and ensembles from George Handel's "Messiah"at 6 p.m. Sunday at the South Reno Baptist Church, 6780 S. McCarran Blvd. Appearing will be Maria Arrigotti and Jamie and Faye Wheeler, all of Carson City. Tickets are $10 at the door. Call 336-8319.

And don't forget the Nevada Museum of Art's Sunday brunches on the third and fourth Sunday of the month. On the third it's jazz, the fourth a classical quartet. Food and drink from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Great setting, and you can wander the museum after the music.

KUNG FU SHOW IN RENO

"Monkey King Creates Havoc in Heaven," a nonstop kung fu-style show, will make its premiere appearance in North America with a limited engagement run in Sammy's Showroom at Harrah's Reno. "Monkey King Creates Havoc in Heaven" has a limited engagement run Dec. 12 -16. Ticket prices are $29.95 and $34.95 for VIP seating. Call 788-2900 or visit harrahsreno.com.

MORE ON THE WEB

What we can't squeeze in here on the printed page we'll add to the Nevada Appeal Web site: nevadaappeal.com. More on video games, music, movies and books in the entertainment category. Plus over the weekend, Sam's Best Bets will lead you to what's happening around town and in area boites.

• Contact Sam Bauman at 881-1236 or Sbauman@nevadaappeal.com.

hold

FROM THE VAULTS

"The Tailor of Panama" is an odd spy film with offbeat characters, clever script, good acting. There's not a lot of do-or-die action, but fine character development, with a cast of Pierce Brosnan, Geoffrey Rush, and Jamie Lee Curtis. This is smart moviemaking.

Directed by John Boorman, it's based on John Le Carre's novel (written in his post-cold war frame) and it stars Pierce Brosnan, Geoffrey Rush, and Jamie Lee Curtis. But even though this movie is a spy story starring Pierce Brosnan. This is no James Bond film. Here Brosnan is an scheming bogus MI6 operator working his own game in Panama.

Harry Pendel (Rush) is the tailor who claims he got his training on London's Savile Row but actually learned how in prison. His wife Louisa (Curtis) in a government functionary. But Louisa knows nothing about the years that Harry served in prison. She's also unaware that he's in financial trouble by buying a losing farm.

British spy named Andy Osnard ( Brosnan) drops into Harry's tailor shop to set up some information channels. As Harry measures Osnard, he asks, "Do we dress right or left? Most gentlemen favor left these days. Don't think it's political." "Never know where the bloody thing is," answers Osnard. "Bobs about like a windsock." Think about it.

Things get nicely complex with more cast members: Marta (Leonor Varela); Mickie Abraxas (Brendan Gleeson); Uncle Benny, (Harold Pinter); Francesca Deane (Catherine McCormack). Many cross currents evolve, with Fran bedding Brosnan in some very shy sex scenes.

In the long run, the bad guys are the CIA, U.S, military and State Department who OK an attack on Panama (this is after the canal has been given to Panama).

Not your usual spy thriller, with fine acting by Rush as the beleaguered tailor. Not exactly kind to the USA, but well worth the look. Rated R, 109 minutes, released in 2001.