Kalamazoo Civic Makes for a Cozy Evening Out!
Warmed by a cozy cocktail and filling filet at 600 Kitchen, I spent the chilly Friday evening in Kalamazoo. Not having spent much time there, I relied on a friends recommendation for dinner and I was not disappointed. Though the open dining room gave the restaurant an expansive feeling, the cozy brick walls and acoustics made the space welcoming. The menu at 600 Kitchen is eclectic, there is an emphasis on using seasonal ingredients and this lends itself to having a variety of palettes represented on its menu. You can find Michigan Cut Steak or Kimchi Stew and Goat Cheese Mousse on the same menu. After experiencing the deep flavors of the Brown Flannel hot chocolate cocktail and discovering a new Irish Creme that will now be a staple in my home, I chose the Grilled Salmon dish and was not disappointed. 600 Kitchen is certainly worth a return visit (or two).
Next, on the docket, we traveled to the Kalamazoo Civic’s production of Art by Yasmina Reza. The Carver Center Studio was the perfect venue for this three-person show. One could argue there’s a fourth character in the story, a painting that could be listed as the antagonist, though it does little more than exist. When the character Serge, played by Ellen Bennett, purchases a painting for a large sum, the three friends find themselves coming to a crossroad of sorts in their relationship. Mark, played by RJ Soule, finds the purchase ridiculous while Yvan, played by Jake Burrell, is more agreeable to the piece. It’s a story of how art is approached and viewed, sure, but it’s more importantly a story of how we approach relationships.
With both Bennett and Burrell making their Kalamazoo Civic debut, the trio worked to show the audience the strain and triumphs of long friendships. Under the direction of Connor Klock and technical direction of Phillip A. Miller, the production used the Carver stage to explore the role of art and the role of friendships as we search for meaning in our lives.
All in all, it was a cozy evening, despite the frigid temperatures outside and I look forward to exploring more of the city and its offerings in the future. As we were reminded during the pre-show announcement, it has been more than 770 days since an opening night was held at the Carver Center Studio and I am sure the actors were as anxious as I to experience the magic of live theatre once again.
The Kalamazoo Civic has an interesting season ahead, offering some shows not typically produced locally including the musical Xanadu, August Wislon’s The Piano Lesson and Murder on the Orient Express. Crowd pleasers Schoolhouse Rock Jr. and Disney’s Descendants are also on the docket for this season.
This review was written by Amy Jo Brown
