Barber’s Best Bets

FOR MOVIE BUFFS:
—Silverdocs, the annual documentary film festival sponsored by the Discovery Channel and the American Film Institute, begins its 2009 edition on June 15. Running through June 22, the festival will screen over 100 films representing over 60 countries. Fourteen Academy Award nominated films will be shown.
Most of the screenings will take place at the AFI’s Silver Theatre & Cultural Center in Silver Spring. For more information, visit http://www.silverdocs.com.
—You may not have heard much, if anything, about the film Adoration, but make it your mission to go to the AMC Lowes Shirlington theater in Arlington or the Landmark Bethesda Row theater in Bethesda.
You’ll be rewarded with one of this year’s most provocative movies. This story of the maelstrom created when a Canadian high school student writes a monologue that seems to place him in the midst of a real life terrorist act offers a fascinating and complex look at the nature of truth and how perception shapes it.
Director and screenwriter Atom Egoyan (The Sweet Hereafter, Exotica) displays a maturity and assurance in his work here that’s been missing from his previous films. This is a movie you’ll be thinking about—and talking about—for weeks to come.
MPAA Rating: R for profanity. Joe’s Rating: Three and One Half (*** ½) Stars.

THEATRE
—The Washington Stage Guild, long the area’s home for outstanding productions of the works of George Bernard Shaw and revivals of rarely performed plays of quality, opens its second Summer Readings Series on Sunday.
The Guild will present staged readings of several plays, starring and directed by Guild members. Shaw’s Do We Agree? opens the series, which will culminate with the reading of a new work by playwright Ernie Joselovich in partnership with the Kennedy Center on Labor Day weekend.
The readings will be presented at the Flashpoint Arts Center, 916 G Street, N.W. They are free, but seating is limited, so reservations are strongly recommended. For reservations and more information, call (240)-582-0050 or visit http://www.info@stageguild.org.
—Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company gives you a sneak peek at part of its 2009-2010 season when monologist Mike Daisey (If You See Something, Say Something, How Theatre Failed America) presents a special in-process staging of his new work, The Last of The Cargo Cult on June 15.
The finished show will be presented at Woolly early next year, as part of its 30th season. Tickets for the performance are just $15. For more information, visit http://www.woollymammoth.net.
—Finally, two extensions of note: Studio Theatre will continue its production of Tom Stoppard’s Rock ’N’ Roll through June 21. The Folger Shakespeare Theatre’s production of Arcadia, starring Holly Twyford, is also continuing until the 21st.

CLUBS AND CONCERTS—The Prince William Chorale will offer a free performance featuring music by such popular composers as George Gershwin, Henry Mancini and Paul McCartney on Sunday. The event takes place at Covenant Church at 5640 Hoadly Road in Manassas. Refreshments will be available. For more information, visit http://www.pwcchorale.com.
—Also in Prince William County, Nissan Pavilion kicks off its summer season with country icon George Strait on Saturday and the reunited No Doubt (including Gwen Stefani) on June 16.
—Wolf Trap rolls on with Elvis Costello and his new band, the Sugarcanes, performing Thursday.
—The Gypsy Kings make their annual trip to the Filene Center for two nights, starting Friday. Fifties music fans can awaken old musical memories with The Ultimate Doo-Wop Show on Sunday. The Clovers and the Marcels are two of the acts on the bill. Rasta Thomas’ Bad Boys of Dance storms the stage, so to speak, on June 16. Jazz vocalist and pianist Diana Krall takes the stage on the 17th.
—The Birchmere in Alexandria welcomes the whimsical tunes of singer/songwriter Michael Franks Thursday and guitarist and singer Leo Kottke on Friday. Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mountain Boys headline Saturday, while country star Vince Gill and his band are there for two nights, June 15 and 16.
—The State Theatre in Falls Church plays host to Sonny Landreth on Saturday.
—The 9:30 Club in Washington offers Me’Shell Ndegeocello on Friday, Jonathan Richman on Sunday and the Plain White T’s on June 16.
—Blues Alley in Georgetown welcomes one of rap music’s original, no-nonsense social commentators, Gil Scott Heron, for four nights, starting Thursday.
—Tony Rock, the brother of Chris, takes the DC Improv stage for the weekend, also starting Thursday.
—Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood are the draw at the Verizon Center on Saturday.
—National Harbor gets a make-up visit from Big Head Todd & the Monsters and Tonic (making up for two rained-out shows) Thursday.
—The Rams Head Tavern in Annapolis showcases the Psychedelic Furs on Thursday and Michael Franks on Friday.
The blues/rock of Delbert McClinton fills the hall on June 17. The Rams Head Live! in Baltimore hosts the Plain White T’s on the 17th.
Enjoy!
Joe Barber’s entertainment reports and reviews can be heard Fridays through Sundays on the WTOP-FM Radio Network (103.5, 103.9, 107.7 & wtop.com.) He can be seen regularly on WETA-TV’s Around Town.