At the Theaters

Boston Globe journalists, deadly seas, seduction and opera

Mon, 01/25/2016 - 12:30pm

The Harbor Theatre

“Spotlight” In 2001, editor Marty Baron of The Boston Globe assigns a team of journalists to investigate allegations against John Geoghan, a defrocked priest accused of molesting more than 80 boys. Led by editor Walter “Robby” Robinson (Michael Keaton), nine reporters, Michael Rezendes (Mark Ruffalo), Matt Carroll (Brian d' Arcy James) and Sacha Pfeiffer (Rachel McAdams) interview victims and try to unseal sensitive documents.

The reporters make it their mission to provide proof of a cover-up of sexual abuse within the Roman Catholic Church. Also stars Liev Schreiber, John Slattery and Stanley Tucci.

“Spotlight” plays Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 7 p.m.

A reviewer for The Washington Post wrote: “It’s not a stretch to suggest that “Spotlight” is the finest newspaper movie of its era, joining “Citizen Kane” and “All the President’s Men” in the pantheon of classics of the drama.” 

“The Finest Hours” On February 18, 1952, a massive storm splits the SS Pendleton in two, trapping more than 30 sailors inside the tanker’s sinking stern. Engineer Ray Sybert (Casey Affleck) bravely takes charge to organize a strategy for his fellow survivors.

As word of the disaster reaches the Coast Guard in Chatham, Massachusetts, Chief Warrant Officer Daniel Cluff (Eric Bana) orders a daring rescue mission. Despite the ferocious weather, coxswain Bernie Webber (Chris Pine) takes three men on a lifeboat to try and save the crew against seemingly impossible odds.

The screenplay is by Oscar® nominee Scott Silver and Oscar nominees Paul Tamasy  and Eric Johnson based on the acclaimed non-fiction book of the same name by Michael J. Tougias and Casey Sherman. The film also stars Ben Foster, Holliday Grainger and John Ortiz.

VARIETY: “The Finest Hours” is a fully respectable nautical nailbiter.”

Let the nailbiting begin! Sneak Screening Thursday, Jan. 28 at 7! Rest of run: Friday, Jan. 29 and Saturday, Jan. 30, Thursday, Feb. 4 through 6 at 7 p.m.; Sunday, Jan. 31, 2 p.m. matinee.

"Der Rosenkavalier"  This production of the Richard Strauss opera was recorded at Saltzberg Festival in 2014. It is presented in German with English subtitles. Conducted by Franz Welser-Möst, directed byHarry Kupfer, the opera stars Krassimira Stoyanova as The Feldmarschallin, Sophie Koch as Octavian and Mojca Erdmann as Sophie. Plays Wednesday, Feb. 3 at 2 and 7 p.m. Tickets for operas - $20/adults, $18/seniors and youth, $16/theatre members - are available one 1/2 hour before curtain.

The Harbor Theatre is located at 2 Theater Street in Boothbay Harbor. For more information, call 207-633-0438 or visit www.harbortheatre.net.

Lincoln Theater

“Les Liaisons Dangereuses” The National Theatre Live brings the Donmar Warehouse’s highly anticipated new production, directed by Josie Rourke and including Elaine Cassidy (The Paradise), Janet McTeer (The White Queen) and Dominic West (The Wire). Former lovers, the Marquise de Merteuil and Vicomte de Valmont now compete in games of seduction and revenge. Merteuil incites Valmont to corrupt the innocent Cecile de Volanges before her wedding night but Valmont has targeted the peerlessly virtuous and beautiful Madame de Tourvel. While these merciless aristocrats toy with others’ hearts and reputations, their own may prove more fragile than they supposed.   Broadcast live from the Donmar Warehouse on Thu., Jan. 28 at 2 p.m. and rebroadcast at 7 p.m.

Downton in Damariscotta The 6th and final season of the highest-rated drama in PBS history, “Downton Abbey,” comes again to the Lincoln Theater Fridays through March 4 at 2 p.m.., free to the public. Episode #4 airs Friday, Jan. 29.

“Spotlight” A team of Boston Globe investigative reporters, played by Michael Keaton, Brian d’Arcy James, Rachel McAdams and Mark Ruffalo, takes on the local archdiocese in this powerful fact-based newspaper procedural, directed by Tom McCarthy. The movie, with its superb cast and tightly constructed script, has been nominated for 3 Golden Globes and 6 Academy Awards including Best Picture, is an unflinching investigation of systemic moral rot and a rousing defense of the values of professional journalism. Plays Friday, Jan. 29 and Saturday, Jan. 30 at 7 p.m.; Sunday, Jan. 31 at 3 and 7 p.m.

Puccini's “Turandot,” The Met Live in HD Swedish dramatic soprano Nina Stemme sings her first Met performances of the demanding title role of Puccini’s Chinese ice princess of ancient China, whose riddles doom every suitor who seeks her hand. Paolo Carignani conducts Franco Zeffirelli’s visually spectacular 1987 production. Playing Saturday, Jan. 30 at 1 p.m.

The Lincoln Theater is located at 2 Theater Street in Damariscotta. For more information, call 207-563-3424 or visit www.atthelincoln.org.