Monday news and reviews

I find that catching up on the days arts news makes Monday mornings much more bearable...

Art

Minneapolis Institute of Arts unveiling major buy

The Minneapolis Institute of Arts unveils a major acquisition when it opens a new exhibition on paintings from Venice next Sunday.

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Music

Jayhawks keep on shining at First Ave

With the opening guitar chord and organ pump of "Wichita," the Jayhawks immediately threw something of a curve ball at their hometown fans Saturday at First Avenue.

- Chris Riemenschneider

Charlie Parr at Hell's Kitchen, 1/29/11

Parr's music, it just rolls. It's got that rolling feeling, not the rhythmic train feel sometimes characteristic of the genre, but a gentle, yet consistently intentional roll.

-Nikki Miller, City Pages

Twin Cities Hip-Hop Awards at First Avenue, 1/28/11

On Friday night, the First Avenue mainroom was full of hip-hop fans recognizing the Twin Cities' strong scene.

- Jack Spencer, City Pages

Guster gratefully grace the State Theatre

The Friday show, which attracted a generously packed house at the 2,200-seat venue, didn't disappoint.

- Jay Gabler, TC Daily Planet

Stage

This oldies jukebox is stuck in the middle

"The Marvelous Wonderettes" are sweet, spunky girls, but their tight harmonies rarely generate any snap or pop.

- Graydon Royce, Star Tribune

Minnesota Opera's 'Mary Stuart' has duo of transcendent divas

In the Minnesota Opera's 'Mary Stuart,' two powerful sopranos make larger-than-life characters -- Queen Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots -- flawed and fascinating figures.

- Rob Hubbard, Pioneer Press

"Mary Stuart" at the Minnesota Opera: A long goodbye

Mary Stuart has a pretty simple plot when it comes to the onstage action, but draws on an intimidatingly vast range of European royal history that even the Royals themselves probably couldn't entirely keep track of while it was happening.

- Jay Gabler, TC Daily Planet

A sizzling "Doubt" by Ten Thousand Things

Though it's only six years old, John Patrick Shanley's play Doubt: A Parable has already become a contemporary classic.

- Jay Gabler, TC Daily Planet