City Week

Remembering a 'Biatch'

Fay Wray was a biatch. Or so says Tucsonan Carole Little, stepdaughter of the lauded actress.

"She was a big a-hole. She was just so phony. And that's OK, because she was an actress. That's who she was," said Little.

Wray, who played Ann Darrow in the original King Kong, will be celebrated at the Fox Tucson Theatre on Thursday, July 13 (that's tonight, if you're reading this the day the paper officially hits the streets). Following the screening of the classic 1933 film, Little will head the Fay Wray-themed Memorabilia Afterparty. A collection of family photos will accompany an auction of an original King Kong movie poster and a signed copy of Fay Wray's autobiography, On the Other Hand.

"She was a big person in Hollywood. She was treated as an A-list even though she was a B-list in reality. Now she's an A-list actress," said Little.

Little, who settled in Tucson in the 1970s, remembers her childhood as one characterized by glamorous movie stars, romps around Hollywood, appearances at hip parties and first-class treatment. "I lived a very privileged life; I just didn't know it," said Little. "I thought everyone was related to movie stars."

She will share many stories from her life with the famed actress. Little said that she does love her stepmother, who died in 2004, "but she was a biatch."

The event is part of the Fox's summer series of classic movies. Little's appearance gives a unique twist to the screenings.

"The whole thing with us is that we want to rekindle some interest and show some classic films," said Herb Stratford, executive director of the Fox. "It was just kind of nice that there was someone here in town."

King Kong will play on Thursday, July 13, and Friday, July 14. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the film begins at 7:30. The Memorabilia Afterparty will follow the Thursday screening. Tickets are $10 reserved and $25 for love a seat. --B.P.

Consciousness on Canvas

Toying with the subconscious can be tricky, especially when one seeks to use the subconscious to cultivate a greater perspective of the cosmos.

Sounds heavy, I know.

Tucson artist Shinsuke Higuchi will feature his art in a solo exhibit at the Shane House Gallery. Higuchi said his art addresses cosmic ideas and levels of consciousness. "I intend for my work to uncover subconscious understandings," Higuchi said, and "I reflect in my concerns."

Higuchi was born in Kitakyushu City, Japan, and came to the United States in the late 1990s. He studied briefly at the State University of New York at Albany before transferring to the University of Arizona to study with Professor Chuck Hitner. Throughout his career, he has participated in more than a dozen shows, but his upcoming show will be only his second solo exhibition.

"Well, this is kind of a review of my artistic career," Higuchi said. The Shane House Gallery will feature a large collection of acrylic paintings that Higuchi has composed during the last five years. Some of his pieces have been shown in previous exhibits, while some will make their debut in this exhibition. The art, he said, is "visually very intense."

His artwork, he hopes, will appeal to everyone with an interest in art or those seeking to comprehend the subconscious. "Cosmic understanding means allowing the rhythm of joy into our life," elaborated Higuchi in an e-mail.

He will appear at the opening reception on Saturday, July 15, from 7 to 9 p.m. The gallery is open from 5 to 6 p.m. on Saturdays and by appointment. --B.P.

Super Spoof!

Taking cues from popular recent movies like Pirates of the Caribbean and The Incredibles, a local theater has created spoofs of these movies for the entire family to enjoy together.

All Together Theatre, which is Live Theatre Workshop's family series, puts on six kid-friendly shows each year, according to Michael Martinez, coordinator of the program.

The current play, The Unbendables: Super Hero Team "A," is a musical-comedy take of The Incredibles. The story is centered around a superhero whose memory has been erased, turning him into more of a bumbling idiot than any sort of superhuman being, Martinez said.

The concept began as a direct spoof of The Incredibles, Martinez said, and "totally exploded and went in a whole different direction."

Beyond the play, kids love the interactive atmosphere, Martinez said. Throughout the show, the little ones are encouraged to take part in the action going on in front of them. In addition, the kids get to meet the actors afterwards.

"They all ask for autographs from our actors, and it cracks me up, because I'm thinking, 'These people live here in Tucson!'" Martinez said.

In addition to comedy and audience interaction, The Unbendables features original music and two dueling pianists, according to a press release.

The show runs every Sunday at 1 p.m. until Aug. 20. Tickets range from $5 to $8. --E.R.

Oink This!

A local bookstore will host a birthday party this weekend, but the guest of honor is requesting no cake, only apples.

The party is in honor of Sophie the pig, the store mascot of Clues Unlimited, which is owned by Chris Acevedo.

Sophie is Acevedo's 300-pound pet, and for the last six years, she has celebrated her birthday at the bookstore, giving families an opportunity to come out and feed and pet her, Acevedo said.

The party is a bit different this year, because it also features a book signing by author Sy Montgomery, whose newest book, The Good Good Pig: The Extraordinary Life of Christopher Hogwood, obviously fits in well with the party's theme.

"Sophie's parties are always fun, but we're really looking forward to this year's event," Acevedo said. "It will be the author's last stop on her book tour, and how perfect for it to culminate with a pig birthday party."

The event is more than just a party and a book signing. Twenty percent of the sales of The Good Good Pig will go to the Ironwood Pig Sanctuary in Marana. People in attendance can also learn about sponsoring or even adopting a pig from the sanctuary, Acevedo said.

The sanctuary has more than 600 pigs on their property, which are there for a multitude of reasons--deserted pigs are found wandering in the desert; owners are no longer able to care for the animals because of physical problems; or people just didn't realize that a little piglet would grow to be hundreds of pounds, Acevedo said.

The event is free and open to the public. --E.R.