By C.S. Gilbert

It’s not just beginning to look a lot like Christmas — Key West is in full-blown, sparkling, twinkling, flashing, imbibing holiday mode, with a buffet of available delights.

 

First off, if you haven’t seen “Cock,” Key West FRINGE’s hit at the Studios of Key West through Saturday, see it. Tickets are at Keystix.com. We found it an amusing but disconcerting peek into the soul of relationships; our Mark Howell gave it a rave. And tonight, Dec. 11, is the Key West High School’s holiday band and chorus concert; from the sample we saw of the band members playing for the FKCC Keys Chorale concert last Friday, we anticipate a high-quality show. That’s 7 p.m. at the high school.

 

Key West Contemporary Dance Theater presented “Train in the Distance,” a major show at Tennessee Williams Theater on Friday but in spite of calls and emails requesting details, we haven’t heard a word. We can only hope for the success of this immensely skilled troupe.

 

But take heart; one can see a dance concert at TWT next weekend as well when Allison Mayer brings her FKCC Ballet and Southernmost Dance Theatre to TWT Saturday at 8 p.m. for “Holiday” – including musical guests “The Fabulous Spectrelle Review.” Tickets again are at Keystix.

 

If it’s a gaggle of geese and a pride of lions, how about a cacophony of authors? That’s certainly what it sounded like on Saturday for the massive (maybe three dozen writers) Amazing Book Fair at Smokin’ Tuna produced by The Writers Bloc, aka Shirrel Rhodes and Michael Haskins. Reportedly, no one made out like a bandit but everybody at least made their registration money back – and if we hadn’t had a couple of beers, we would have made a profit. A good time was had by all.

 

Then on Sunday, Ruben Navarro and MUSE did it again: JAZZPOP!, described as an experimental show , trying out tunes as prelude to taking the show on the road, eventually. (Apparently seven years touring in “Naked Boys Singing” didn’t dissuade him.) This was a softer Navarro, taking it down a bit and featuring some fine old standards: “Like Someone in Love,” “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” and that wonderful old chestnut, “Secret Love.” He appears again at MUSE in a traditional holiday show (“no experimentation,” he promised) on Saturday at 8 p.m. That’s upstairs at Kelly’s, 301 Whitehead.

 

Finally, opening Friday 5 till 8 p.m. and continuing on Saturday 1 till 5 p.m., award-winning multi-media artist Deborah Goldman, known for her imaginative interpretations of the natural world, hosts open house at her studio, 7 First St., Big Coppitt Key.

 

Belated Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa and Joyous Yule!

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