PAGE 16THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2018

THE HERALDEntertainment: Weekend

WARNING: Small spoonfuls of sugary spoilers ahead!

Now that’s what I call a fantas-tic follow-up of a pop-in.

A mere 54 years after Julie An-drews as Mary Poppins descend-ed from the sky with her umbrel-la, working her magic with one downtrodden family onscreen in a movie destined to become a timeless Disney classic cherished by multiple generations of view-ers worldwide, the practically perfect nanny has returned.

The good news: While it would be all but impossible to match one of the most beloved and acclaimed musicals of all time, “Mary Pop-pins Returns” is a sequel worthy of the name.

This is a wall-to-wall smile of a movie: big of heart and large in scale, lavishly staged, beautifully photographed and brimming with show-stopping musical numbers. Again, it would be folly to expect any of the individual numbers or the soundtrack as a whole to at-tain the lasting pop culture status of “A Spoonful of Sugar,” et al., but you’ll likely be humming the melodies of more than a few of the tunes from “Returns” as you exit the theater, and in the days and weeks to follow.

Of course, all the noble inten-tions, all the infectious musical numbers, all the clever call-backs in plot and character, all the po-tentially funny and exhilarating and heart-tugging adventures — all of that hinges on the casting. If we don’t love the new Mary Pop-pins, how are we to even consider falling for the movie itself ?

Ah, but from the moment Emily Blunt lightly floats to the ground through the snarling winds of a ferocious storm, umbrella in hand of course, it’s difficult to imagine anyone else more suited to the role, more at home inhabiting the cheeky, strong-willed, delightfully adventurous, politely subversive and always loving Mary Poppins. She is sensational.

And there’s star power a-pop-pin’ in the supporting cast, from Lin Manuel-Miranda’s brightly shining and winning performance as Jack, the lamplighter with a heart of gold and the spirit of a hero who is our singing guide throughout the fantasy adven-ture; to Ben Whishaw and Emily Mortimer as the grown-up Banks siblings, who have nearly forgot-ten Mary Poppins’ lessons in the face of real-life troubles; to the “surprise” cameos from a couple

of living legends in their 90s.“Mary Poppins Returns” is set

in London during the economic depression, aka the Great Slump of the 1930s, about a quarter-cen-tury after the events of the origi-nal film.

A year after the death of his wife, Michael Banks (Whishaw) remains a broken man, stumbling through everyday life in a haze, barely hanging on. To be sure, Michael is a devoted father to his children — Anabel (Pixie Davies), John (Nathanael Saleh) and little Georgie (Joel Dawson) — but with-out the help of the daffy but loving housekeeper Ellen (Julie Walters) and Michael’s selfless sister, Jane (Mortimer), he’d be lost.

In fact, even with their assis-tance, Michael is facing ruin. He’s on the verge of losing the family house on Cherry Tree Lane — the very house in which Michael and

Jane grew up. Even worse, Mi-chael is becoming increasingly impatient and distant with the children, and he’s in danger of forever losing sight of what really matters in this world.

That’s just about the time Mary Poppins re-appears and announc-es she’ll be taking on the role of the nanny for Michael’s children, because heaven knows they need some discipline and guidance (oh and maybe some heaping scoops of magic and wonder as well).

Poof ! Just like that, a mun-dane thing like bath time for the grimy, grumbling kids turns into an exhilarating and surreal un-derwater and on-the-water thrill ride. (By the time it’s over, even the most cynical of the children is fully with Team Poppins.)

And in perhaps the most mem-orable adventure in the entire film, a crack in a ceramic bowl in

the Banks’ home leads to Mary and Jack and the kids plunging into the world depicted in the etchings on that bowl. Costumed as if they’re animated characters but retaining their live-action forms, they interact with animat-ed, talking animals, from a dog to a horse to a badger, in a prolonged sequence featuring an elaborate musical number and some genu-inely harrowing escapades.

Great stuff, taking advantage of modern-day technology while remaining lovingly true to the vi-sual spirit of the original.

Meryl Streep has a single-scene, comic-relief, almost ex-haustively over-the-top appear-ance as Mary’s eccentric cousin Topsy. It’s reminiscent of one-offs in many a Broadway musical, and I’m not sure it was all that nec-essary, especially in a film that, with all its bright spots, does lag

here and there over the two-hour, 10-minute running time.

David Warner is a hoot as the retired naval officer Admiral Boom, still living across the way from the Banks’ house. Colin Firth is a hiss-worthy villain as William Wilkins, the current president of the Fidelity Fiduciary Bank, who is essentially the Mr. Potter to Mi-chael Banks’ George Bailey. I don’t think it’s much of a surprise any-more, given all the pre-film public-ity, but I’ll issue a spoiler alert one last time before noting the abso-lutely lovely and sweet and funny and touching cameos by Dick Van Dyke and Angela Lansbury.

What a gift it is to see the 93-year-old Van Dyke and Lans-bury on the big screen again.

And what a magnificent and joy-inducing holiday present “Mary Poppins Returns” is for all of us.

Classic revived in the most wonderful way

JAY MAIDMENT/DISNEY/ASSOCIATED PRESS

Lin-Manuel Miranda, left, Pixie Davies, Joel Dawson, Nathanael Saleh and Emily Blunt star in “Mary Poppins Returns.” The film is showing at Jasper 8 Theatres.

R I C H A R D R O E P E R

Mary Poppins Returnsêêê½

Cast: Emily Blunt, Lin Manuel-Miranda, Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer, Julie WaltersRating: PG for some mild the-matic elements and brief action.

Dubois County Special Olympics provides a number of athletic events to those with intellectual disabilities.

Dubois County Special

Olympics P.O. Box 355

Jasper, IN 47547

(812) 630-4292 Stephani Lane (county coordinator)

16 Entertainment

S anta says ...

Season Tickets M a ke A G rea t

Christm a s G ift! S im ply ca ll the o ffice

812-683-3700 a n d lea v e yo u r n a m e

& pho n e n u m ber o r em a il

dcbo m bers@ psci.n et

W e w ill co n ta ct yo u w ith sea tin g o ptio n s

a n d prices.

1163 Wernsing Road, Jasper 812-634-7030

Open Christmas Eve Mon., Dec. 24

until 5 pm

Closed Christmas Day, December 25 Open Wednesday, December 26 Regular Hours

Have a Safe & Merry Christmas NEW YEAR’S EVE SPECIAL!

Dining Room Open 4 pm-9 pm

Serving BBQ Beef Brisket with choice of Potato, Salad & Baked Beans

Taking Reservations for New Year’s Eve Call Now – 812-634-7030

Closed New Year’s Day. Open January 2.

Kitchen Open 9 am-5 pm Soup & Sandwiches

ENTERTAINMENT: WEEKEND ■ PAGE 17THE HERALD ■ THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2018

All times are Eastern unless otherwise noted.

Current cinemaNew ReleasesMary Poppins Returns êêê½ (Jasper 8 Theatres) While it would be all but impossible to match one of the most beloved and acclaimed musicals of all time, “Mary Poppins Returns” is a sequel worthy of the name. Emily Blunt is sensational, along with a stellar supporting cast including Lin-Manuel Miranda, in this wall-to-wall smile of a movie: big of heart and large in scale, brimming with show-stopping musical numbers. (Musical, PG, 2 hrs. 10 min.)

Currently playingThe Grinch êê (Jasper 8 Theatres) Here’s a new take on the Dr. Seuss tale/And this is quite a match:/The Grinch is voiced — just wait for it/By the man called Cumberbatch!/From time to time you’ll laugh and maybe shed a tear/But this isn’t the kind of “Grinch” you’ll want to see each year. (Animated comedy, PG, 1 hr. 30 min.) The Mule êêê Clint Eastwood directs and stars as a 90-ish horticulturalist who takes a delivery job and later learns what he’s hauling is drugs. This isn’t close to being on a par with Eastwood’s past triumphs, but it’s an entertaining enough offbeat crime story featuring an amazing cast. (Crime comedy/drama, R, 1 hr. 56 min.)

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse êêêê The best “Spider-Man” movie yet, and one of the best 2018 films of any kind, is peppered with clever visual touches and crackling good inside jokes. The story about a new Spidey meeting versions of the character in alternate universes is a brilliant, exuberant, soaring and original adventure. (Animated adventure, PG, 1 hr. 57 min.)

IMAXShowplace Cinemas East, 1801 Morgan Center Drive, Evansville: “Aquaman.” www.showplacecinemas.com

EventsAttractionsAngel Mounds Historic Site, 8215 Pollack Ave., Evansville. Hours (CT): 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. Closed major holidays. www.angelmounds.org

Big Splash Adventure, Valley of the Springs Resort, 8505 W. State Road 56, French Lick. 877-936-3866 or www.bigsplashadventure.com

Falls of the Ohio State Park Interpretive Center, at the end of West Riverside Drive, Clarksville. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and Saturdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. Closed major holidays. www.fallsoftheohio.org

Indiana Caverns, 1267 Green Acres Lane S.W., Corydon. Features a 25-minute boat ride, a waterfall, thriving cave life and Big Bone Mountain. Hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily April through October and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily November through March. Closed Christmas. www.indianacaverns.com

Jasper City Mill, 160 Third Ave. The mill features cornmeal ground on site, craft items, old-fashioned candy and local products. Exhibit (changes every six months): Dubois County Art Guild Gallery Walk, items from artisans and rustic Amish furniture available in the gift shop. Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. Closed major holidays.Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, Lincoln City (all times CT). Park hours: Memorial Visitor Center, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. through March 31, 2019; farm, closed for the season; nature center, open, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays; Colonel Jones Home, noon-4 p.m. Thursdays-Sundays, June-August. www.nps.gov/libo/ or 812-937-4541

Louisville Zoo, 1100 Trevilian Way. Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily through March 15, 2019. www.louisvillezoo.org

Marengo Cave Park: The Crystal Palace walking tour features a formation-filled room and huge flowstone deposits, while the Dripstone Trail walking tour is known for its profusion of delicate soda straw formations, slender totem pole stalagmites and penny ceiling. Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily. http://marengocave.com

Mega Cavern, 1841 Taylor Ave., Louisville. Historic Tram Tours, Mega Zips and Mega Quest, an underground ropes challenge. Closed major holidays. 877-614-6342 or www.louisvillemegacavern.com

Mesker Park Zoo, 1545 Mesker Park Drive, Evansville. Hours (CT): 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. 812-435-6143 or www.meskerparkzoo.com

Wilstem Ranch, Paoli: Grizzly, Giraffe and Kangaroo Encounters. www.wilstemranch.com or 812-936-4484

Other eventsSanta Claus Land of Lights, 5-9 p.m. CT nightly through Dec. 30 (closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day), Lake Rudolf Campground & RV Resort, Santa Claus. $15 per car.

Upcoming eventsWine Pairings, 8 p.m. Dec. 28, Atrium, West Baden Spring Hotel. Reservations required. 812-936-5579

French Lick Kitchen Live, Grand Colonade Restaurant, French Lick Springs Hotel, 1:30 p.m. Jan. 12 and 26; Feb. 2 and 16; and March 2.

Candlelight Walk, 4:30-8 p.m. CT Jan. 19, 2019, Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial, Lincoln City.

Cirque Du Soleil: Corteo, Jan. 23-27, 2019, The Ford Center, , 1 S.E. MLK Jr. Blvd., Evansville. For tickets call 800-745-3000 or visit www.ticketmaster.com

Chocolate Fest, 1-4 p.m. Feb. 9, Hoosier Ballroom, French Lick Springs Hotel.

Frozen on Ice, April 4-7, 2019, The Ford Center, , 1 S.E. MLK Jr. Blvd., Evansville. For tickets call 800-745-3000 or visit www.ticketmaster.com

ExhibitsKrempp GalleryVisual Arts Committee, through Wednesday. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays and noon to 3 p.m. Sundays. Closed major holidays.

Saint MeinradArchabbey LibraryExhibit: Christmas Crèches, through Dec. 28. Hours: Call 357-6401 or 800-987-7311 or visit www.saintmeinrad.edu/library/hours/

Other galleriesIvy Tech Bower-Suhrheinrich Visual Arts Center, 3501 N. First Ave., Evansville. Hours (CT): 1-6 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. Closed major holidays. www.ivytech.edu/southwest

Flame Run Glass Studio and Gallery, 815 W. Market St., Louisville. Hours: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Closed major holidays. 502-584-5353 or www.flamerun.com

The Green Building Gallery, 732 E. Market St., Louisville. Hours: 9-5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Fridays and 4-9 p.m. Saturdays. Closed major holidays. www.thegreenbuilding.net/gallery/index.html or 502-561-1162

New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art, 506 Main St. Hours (CT): 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays. Closed major holidays. 812-682-3156 or www.nhgallery.com

Dubois County MuseumMembership: 2019 memberships are available. Purchase a membership and receive free admission into the museum from the day the membership is purchased through Dec. 31, 2019.

Storytime for Kids, 10:30 a.m., Saturdays, Jan. 12, Feb. 9, March 9, April 13, and May 11.

Permanent exhibits: Our Eldest

Daughter, The Cold War (1945-1991), Black Heritage in Dubois County, Grand Army of the Republic, A Bicentennial Remembrance: The Story of German Immigration to Dubois County, Safari Room, The Story of Bill Schroeder and the Jarvik Heart; Main Street Dubois County (a model town from the 1900s featuring 17 businesses, including Stewart Hotel, Schutz’s Shoe Service and a funeral home, doctor’s office, jail, barbershop, church, bank, surveying office and bar), Grand Army of the Republic, Little Pioneer Children’s Play Area (includes one-room schoolhouse, book nook, toy area and dress-up area), Lewis and Clark keel boat, The Law in Dubois County, Honoring the Military, The Civil War Diary of William C. Benson, Model Trains, Dubois County in World War I, The Spanish-American War and Dubois County, Huntingburg Wagon Works, Girl Scouting in Dubois County, People of the Woodlands, Trace the Buffalo, Pioneer Area, Germans, Land Owners Map, Early Settlers of Dubois County, Cheering our Champions, Furniture, Civil War Flag, Prisoners of War, The Mills of Dubois County. Also, Heidet Blacksmith Shop, depicts the original shop from Ferdinand; Lindauer Sandstone Quarry and Grindstone Works of St. Henry, displays days of sandstone manufacturing; Eckert Log Home, assembled log home inside the museum shows building material and home life inside a German-style log home; Women’s Work is Never Done, choreographs the daily work week of pioneer women; History of Coal Mining; Meyer Planing Mill of Haysville; Ferdinand Sawmill; Huntingburg Buggy Works wagon; History of Boy Scouting; Antique Farm Machinery, featuring more than 75 pieces, including a binder, reaper, corn shredder and 1879 Buckeye hoe wheat drill; Tinker the Horse, represents the contribution of animals to the history of the area; silver smelter from Buck Shoals in Haysville; giant fruit press; threshing machine belted to a Kitten engine, one of five working steam engines; cane press and evaporator pan like the one used to make Birdseye molasses; and murals of Zoar, Birdseye, Celestine, Dubois, Duff, Ferdinand, Huntingburg, Portersville/Boone Township, St. Henry/Johnsburg, St. Anthony/St. Marks, Holland, Haysville, Ireland, Jasper and Schnellville.

Hours: The museum, 2704 N. Newton St., is open from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays and 1-4 p.m. Sundays. Admission charged. Can be found on Facebook and at www.duboiscountymuseum.org. 812-634-7733

Huntingburg MuseumOn exhibit: Commercial, manufacturing, military, school and social club memorabilia; the Geiger bedroom, family Bible and other belongings; a dollhouse inside a grandmother clock; a pony cart; and a 1950s kitchen.

The museum is in Huntingburg City Hall, 508 E. Fourth St. Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays unless City Hall is closed and by appointment. Closed major holidays. 683-2211.

Santa Claus Museum & VillageVillage: 1880 Santa Claus Church, the original Santa Claus Post Office and 1935 Santa Claus Statue.

Museum: exhibits on the history of Santa Claus, including the beginnings of the town, its post offices, Candy Castle and the evolution of Santa Claus Land to Holiday World and free letters to Santa. The museum is at 69 N. State Road 245.

Gift shop, museum and village hours (CT): 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sundays-Fridays and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays, through Dec. 21; and 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Dec. 22. 812-544-2434 or www.santaclausmuseum.org

Other museums Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame & Museum, 311 W. Second St., Owensboro. bluegrassmuseum.org

Evansville African American Museum, 579 S. Garvin St. Hours (CT): 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays

through Fridays and noon-5 p.m. Saturdays. Closed major holidays. 812-423-5188 or www.evansvilleaamuseum.org

Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science, 411 S.E. Riverside Drive. Hours (CT): 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and noon-5 p.m. Sundays. Closed major holidays. 812-425-2406 or www.emuseum.org

Frazier History Museum, 829 W. Main St., Louisville. Exhibits: The Lewis & Clark Experience, through 2018. Hours: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon-5 p.m. Sundays. Closed major holidays. 502-753-5663 or www.fraziermuseum.org

Henager Memories & Nostalgia Museum, 8837 S. State Road 57, Elberfeld. Hours (CT): 8 a.m.-5 p.m., weekdays and 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays. Closed major holidays. 812-795-2230 or www.henagermuseum.com

Koch Family Children’s Museum of Evansville, 22 S.E. Fifth St. Hours (CT): 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and noon-5 p.m. Sundays. Closed major holidays. 812-464-2663 or www.cmoekids.org.

Owensboro (Ky.) Museum of Fine Art, 901 Frederica St. Hours (CT): 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Fridays and 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. 270-685-3181 or www.omfa.us

Owensboro Museum of Science and History, 122 E. Second St. Hours (CT): 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 1-5 p.m. Sundays.

Red Skelton Museum of American Comedy, 20 Red Skelton Blvd., Vincennes. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and noon-5 p.m. Sundays. Closed major holidays. 812-888-2105

Reitz Home Museum, 224 S.E. First St., Evansville. Hours: 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. CT Tuesdays through Sundays. Closed major holidays. 812-426-1871 or www.reitzhome.com

Speed Art Museum, 2035 S. 3rd St., Louisville. Exhibits: American Story book: The Imaginary Travelogue of Thomas Chambers, through Jan. 6; Picasso to Pollock: Modern Masterwoks from the Eskenazi Museum of Art at Indiana University, through Jan. 13; and Keltie Ferris: •O•P•E•N•, through Feb. 3. Hours: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays

and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays. 502-852-5555

Science CentersKentucky Science Center, 737 W. Main St., Louisville. Hours: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 9:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and noon-6 p.m. Sundays. Closed major holidays. 800-591-2203 or www.kysciencecenter.org

Night LifeDancesAmerican Legion Post 147, Jasper: 7-9 p.m. Tuesdays, line and couples dancing. $5, 482-5426 for information.

Orange County Senior Citizens Center, 8497 W. Main St., French Lick: 7-9:30 p.m. Fridays, dance with live band.

William Tell Center, 1301 11th St., Tell City, 7-10 p.m. CT Saturdays. Open to all ages; smoke and alcohol free. $5, includes snacks. Sponsored by the William Tell Senior Citizens.

CasinosTropicana, Evansville: Neon Summer, Friday and Saturday; Pink Cadillac, Dec. 28-29; The Devonshires, Dec. 31; Jimmy Church Band, Jan. 4-5. www.tropicanacasinos.com

French Lick Casino: Casino Lounge (8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.) — DJ Charlie, Saturday; and WildWood, Dec. 31. 888-936-9360 or www.frenchlick.com/entertainment/concerts

On stage Actors Community TheatreDinner theatre: “The Dinner Party,” April 4-6, 2019. Dinner theatre patrons must be 18 or older.

Plays: “Into the Woods,” July 25-28, 2019.

All of the shows will be performed at the Jasper Arts Center. Season tickets and two-event packages are available at ActorsCommunityTheatre.com.

Jasper Arts CenterMain Stage Series — Mark Chesnutt and Joe Diffie, 7:30 p.m., Jan. 19; and Forever Young: You Life/Your Music, 7:30 p.m., Feb. 9.

E N T E R TA I N M E N T G U I D E

Please turn to the next page

17 Entertainment

7742 E . E lls w orth Rd ., Ce le s tin e

• 8pm - M id n ight • Doors Ope n 6pm

• K itc he n 6pm Chic ke n & Te n d e rloin Din n e rs

• Ca s h Ba r (s orry n o c re d it c a rd s )

$5 Cove r Cha rge (M us t b e 21)

Year End Dine & Dance

C E L E S TIN E C OM M UN ITY C L UB

celestinecom m unityclub.com

L ive M us ic - De c . 29, 2018

THE HERALD ■ THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2018PAGE 18 ■ ENTERTAINMENT: WEEKEND

Backstage Series — The Poulenc Trio, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 27; and Matt Beilis, 7:30 p.m., March 8.

Family Fun Series — The Amazing Max, 3:30 p.m., Feb. 24.

Live at The Astra! — The Good Humor Men, 7:30 p.m., March 15.

Tickets are available by calling the arts center at 482-3070.

Area concertsAbbeydell Hall at the Legend of French Lick, 7328 W. County Road 100 W, West Baden Springs: Christmas Treasures, Saturday. www.legendoffrenchlick.com/abbeydell-hall

Calumet, 2210 Mill St., Jasper: Sounds of Summer: A Beach Boys Tribute, 6:30 p.m., Feb. 16; portion of proceeds will be donated to St. Vincent de Paul. www.T’heCalumet.Eventbrite.com or 812-319-1281

Other concertsCorydon Live (formerly Corydon Jamboree), 320 Hurst Lane, north of town square: Billy Keith and Greg Perkins, Dec. 29. 812-734-6288 or www.corydon.live

Derby Dinner Playhouse, Clarksville: The Monarchs, Jan. 2-3; Chris Collins & Boulder Canyon: A Tribute to John Denver, Jan. 4-5; World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra, April 8; The Doo Wops & The Wulfe Bros, May 13; Mo5aic, June 3; The River City Boys: Salute to the Songs of the Statler Brothers, Aug. 5; The VanDells, Aug. 5; Branson on the Road, Aug. 26; The Ladies for Liberty & The Soldiers of Swing, Sept. 9; How Great Thou Art: The Gospel Music of Elvis Presley, Oct. 7; The Return: A Beatles Tribute, Nov. 4; 812-288-8281 or www.derbydinner.com.

The Ford Center, 1 S.E. MLK Jr. Blvd., Evansville: Luke Combs, Feb. 13; Blake Shelton, March 2; Casting Crowns, March 14; Godsmack, April

19. For the complete schedule, visit www.thefordcenter.com. For tickets call 800-745-3000 or visit www.ticketmaster.com

KFC Yum! Center, Louisville: Alan Jackson, Jan 25; Cher, Feb. 4; Blake Shelton, March 1; Metallica, March 9; KISS, March 12; Kenny Chesney, April 4; Legends of Hip Hop, April 5; Backstreet Boys, Sept. 13; Carrie Underwood, Oct. 17. For the complete schedule, visit www.kfcyumcenter.com. For tickets call 800-745-3000 or visit www.ticketmaster.com

The Kentucky Center, 501 W. Main St., Louisville: Elvis Tribute Artist Spectacular, Jan. 11; MLK R&B Soul Concert, Jan. 19; Black Violin, Feb. 27; The Choir of Man, March 27; Dianara, March 9. www.kentuckycenter.org

Louisville Palace Theater, 625 S. Fourth St.: Kansas, March 23, 2019. For a complete schedule, visit www.louisvillepalace.com. 800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com

Owensboro Convention Center, 501 W. Second St.: Muddfest 2019 with Puddle of Mudd, Saliva, Trapt, Savid Abel and Tantric, April 27. OwensboroTickets.com

Victory Theatre, 600 Main St., Evansville (all times CT): Country Legends, Feb. 9; Needtobreathe, Feb. 16; Vienna Boys Choir, March 2; Home Free, March 28; Evansville www.evansvillephilharmonic.org or www.victorytheatre.com

PlaysActors Theatre of Louisville, 316 W. Main St.: “The Santaland Diaries,” through Sunday; “A Velveteen Rabbit Christmas,” through Saturday; “Love, Sex and the IRS,” Jan. 9-Feb 17; “The Robber Bridegroom,” Feb. 20-March 31; “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” Feb. 23-March 30; “Newsies,” April3-May19; “Snow White & The Prince,” May 25-June 29; . 502-584-1205 or www.actorstheatre.org/visit/ticketing-options/

Derby Dinner Playhouse, Clarksville:

“Holiday Inn,” through Dec. 31; and “A Velveteen Rabbit Christmas,” through Dec. 22. 812-288-8281 or www.derbydinner.com.

Evansville Civic Theatre, 717 N. Fulton Ave.: “Big River,” Jan. 25-27 and Feb. 1-3; “And Then There Were None,” March 22-24 and 29-31; and “The 39 Steps,” May 17-19 and 24-26. www.evansvillecivictheatre.org or 812-425-2800.

The Kentucky Center, 501 W. Main St., Louisville: “Something Rotten,” Jan. 15-20; “Book of Mormon,” Feb. 26-March 3; “Hamilton,” June 4-23, 2019. www.kentuckycenter.org

RiverPark Center, 101 Daviess St., Owensboro: “Wizard of Oz,” Feb. 7; “Something Rotten,” Feb. 26, 2019; and “Kinky Boots,” April 3, 2019.

■ Items for the Entertainment Guide may be emailed to news@dcherald.com or mailed to Entertainment Guide, The Herald, 216 E. Fourth St., Jasper IN 47546. The deadline is noon Tuesday for Thursday’s Herald.

E N T E R TA I N M E N T G U I D E

Aquaman is the Gronk of the DC Universe.

Like the tight end for the Pa-triots, the fish-man is a uniquely

talented physical specimen who has great instincts and a way of coming up big in the clutch — but he’s also a bit goofy and he likes to party in his off-hours.

The saving grace of director James Wan’s great-looking and reasonably entertaining but also meandering and sometimes truly ridiculous “Aquaman” is that everyone from Wan to the team of screenwriters through the tal-ented cast seems to get the sheer, waterlogged lunacy of this story, so why not have fun with it?

We met Jason Momoa’s Arthur Curry/Aquaman in the DC ex-tended universe movies “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” (2016) and “Justice League” (2017). Now he takes center stage in an origins story about the loner, free-spirit “half-breed” (his father was a lighthouse keeper, his mother the queen of Atlantis) who knows he has special powers, but isn’t interested in claiming his rightful place as the ruler of the seas.

Until the stakes are so high, he doesn’t really have a choice. A reluctant, anti-hero superhero! There’s a new one, cough-cough.

Momoa’s Arthur is a giant, ripped, strikingly handsome, heavily tattooed hulk of a man with flowing, 1980s rock star hair, tons of interesting man-jewelry and a wardrobe of casual and styl-ish outfits that make him look like a former Olympic swimmer now in heavy demand as the coolest surf instructor on the Big Island.

(Arthur’s hairstyle seems par-ticularly questionable, given he’s constantly getting wet and is for-ever whipping his head around to get those damp and tangled locks out of his face. Wouldn’t a sleek, shaved-head look be more practical?)

Arthur is happily doing his thing in the water and (mostly) in the Surface World, aka dry land. He performs the occasional act of heroism, e.g., thwarting pirates who have taken command of a

sub, and then hurries off to down pints of suds with his pops (Tem-uera Morrison), who still walks down to his dock every day in the hopes he’ll see Arthur’s mother, Atlanna, the noble queen of Atlan-tis who disappeared some 20 years ago and is thought to be dead.

Ah, but there’s trouble bub-bling beneath the surface, in the expansive and fantastical under-water world.

Turns out there’s a whole Thor-Loki sibling dynamic just waiting to explode. Arthur’s scheming, power-mad, younger half-brother, King Orm of Atlantis (Patrick Wil-son), hungers for all-out war with the Surface World and is putting together an alliance with the lead-ers of the six other underwater kingdoms.

That’s right, it’s not just At-lantis way down below the ocean. There are seven kingdoms. I think my favorite is the Brine, popu-lated by brave and noble and re-ally disgusting-looking crusta-ceans, some of them bigger than a Godzilla.

In a prelude to the inevitable final confrontation, Arthur and Orm square off in The Ring of Fire, which looks like an under-water football stadium and is packed to the rafters with Atlan-teans. Eventually the battle moves outside of the arena, which must have ticked off the Atlanteans who paid good money for their seats.

Amber Heard plays Mera, a young queen of the sea who is betrothed to Orm but saves Ar-

thur’s life in the nick of time, even though Mera thinks Arthur is a dopey brute who doesn’t under-stand what’s at stake and she’d never be attracted to Arthur, ahem.

Mera is really cool. She’s smart and brave and fierce and beauti-ful, and she has long, magenta hair, as if Mera stopped off at a pop-up Halloween costume store and bought a fun wig on her way to battle. Oh, and Mera’s dad is King Nereus, who’s played by Dolph Lundgren, and let’s hear it for Dolph Lundgren having roles in two big movies this year. (See Drago, “Creed II.”)

Willem Dafoe is Vulko, who’s basically the Mr. Miyagi to Ar-thur’s Daniel-San — teaching him all kinds of moves, including a special trick. (Arthur even makes a Cobra Kai joke at one point.) Ya-hya Abdul-Mateen II is unfortu-nately lost in the shuffle as the un-derdeveloped character of Black Manta.

“Aquaman” sags a bit in the middle, as Arthur and Mera team up for an “Indiana Jones”-type adventure, searching for the long-lost Trident of Neptune, and yeah, it’s basically Thor’s hammer. The glorified scavenger hunt takes them to the Sahara, to hidden un-derwater communities, and even to Sicily, where they enjoy an in-terlude set to Roy Orbison’s “She’s a Mystery to Me” that feels like a scene from a romantic comedy accidentally spliced into a super-hero film.

Jason Momoa is not the most expressive of actors, but he has the physicality and the willing-ness to make himself look silly and the natural charisma of a Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. As the main villain, Patrick Wilson (a fine actor) sports some fantas-tic, color-coordinated outfits and elaborate facial armor that give off an “Eyes Wide Shut” meets Fash-ion Week Beneath the Sea vibe, but Wilson doesn’t have the dark camp charm of Tom Hiddleston’s

Loki. Nicole Kidman looks un-comfortable and almost confused as Atlanna, who has her own fashion-forward style even though she’s been in underwater exile for some 20 years and doesn’t seem to be living anywhere near any bou-tiques or beauty parlors.

I don’t see “Aquaman” ever reaching icon status, but I’ll say this: He’s a lot more fun on his own, when he’s not saddled with those overly serious stiffs Super-man and Batman.

‘Aquaman’ soaked to gills with crazy comic-book fun

Aquamanêêê

Cast: Jason Momoa, Amber Heard, Willem Dafoe, Patrick Wilson, Dolph Lundgren, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Nicole KidmanRating: PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi violence and action, and for some language.

R I C H A R D R O E P E R

Jason Momoa has the starring role in “Aquaman.” The film opens today at Jasper 8 Theatres

WARNER BROS. PICTURESASSOCIATED PRESS

18 Entertainnment

Join us on Facebook

Presented by

Pa c k a ge inc lu d es : ■ Two tickets to Thursday evening “Hamilton”

❍ Orchestra seating ❍ Kentucky Center for the Arts

■ Overnight at the Galt House Hotel ❍ Next door to the theater ❍ Room and tax included

■ Breakfast for two at the Galt House

N o t inc lu d ed : ■ Parking at the Galt House ■ Baggage handling at the hotel

“ Ha m ilto n” geta w a y in Lo u is ville Thursday, June 20, 2019

Email for more information: lifestyletours1983@gmail.com

For reservations call 812-682-4477