Nothing says “Tha
nks, Mom,” like a good book, of course. Perhaps it’s a vintage copy of Mommie Dearest. Or maybe a complete set of Augusten Burroughs books. It’s a great way to say, “Thanks for not raising me like that!” There will be books aplenty this weekend at Boswell Books (the former Harry W. Schwartz on Downer Avenue), which is celebrating its Grand Opening. On Friday, three—count ‘em—three woman authors (Anita Shreve, Elinor Lipman, and Mameve Medwed) will read from their latest work (7 p.m.). And during the day, they will be working the floor, telling curious book-lovers about their favorite novels and writers.
Like a lot of us, dancer Elizabeth Johnson is celebrating Mother’s Day with a brunch, but she wouldn’t be the Artistic Director of Your Mother Dances if she didn’t try to throw some dance in there as well. Brunches and Danc
es will feature work by Johnson (though not many, it is Mother’s Day after all and she deserves the time off) and other YMD dancers. Luc Vanier will offer an early version of a dance he’s been commissioned to do for the Milwaukee Ballet a year from now. And there will also be excerpts from Danceworks recent The Bra Project, and David Parker’s hilarious Nut/Cracked. Food is courtesy of Chef Phillip Berroug, who you might remember from Mequon’s late great restaurant, Sweet Basil.
An international group of artists has teamed up to create Theatre Gigante’s latest offering, Man in a Magic Square. Gigante founders Mark Anderson and Isabelle Kralj work often in Slovenia, and have turned to the work of early 20th-century Slovenian poet Srečko Kosovel, who has been called the Rimbaud of Slovenia. The text of the piece is by Kosovel and Anderson, and it features music by the great accordia
nist, Guy Klucevsek. This “artful puzzle of life” also features Slovenian National Theatre Balley dancer Urša Vidmar.
More about this “artful puzzle” can be found at the Pabst Theater on Wednesday, when David Greenberger and Paul Cebar presents “Cherry Picking Apple Blossom Time,” music based on Greenberger’s interviews with elderly Milwaukeeans over the past year. Greenberger is a sound/word artist who has been turning the words of his interview subjects into a kind of concrete poetry since he founded the magazine Duplex Planet 30 years ago. And here, Cebar and his musicians help turn the words into a soulful exploration of time, memory and the thrill of an everyday day moment that stays with you until the end of your life.
And speaking of puzzles, you can’t beat the existential one-liners of stand-up comedian Steven Wright, who brings his grumpy, deadpan observations to the Pabst on Thursday (“You can’t have everything; where would you put it?"). Wright hasn’t been 
as visible of late as he was in the 80s, but a 2006 Comedy Central appearance, and the CD release of I Still Have A Pony, has brought him back to stand-up stages, and to Milwaukee.
For classical music lovers, it’s a fine weekend for singing. The Bel Canto Chorus closes out its season in a romantic mood, with love songs both noble and earthly. Five pieces from the 20th century include Samuel Barber’s Prayers of Kierkegaard, settings of the Danish theologian’s writings, and Ralph Vaughn Williams’ Flos Campi, a wordless choral evocation of the Song of Songs.
For more ancient than modern tunes, Early Music Now hosts the Kitka Vocal ensemble, nine women who explore the rich harmonies of Eastern European sacred music. St. Josephat’s echoey basilica should be a perfect venue.
Movies for Grown-Ups: As the cacophonous trailers and commercials suggest, it’s time for the summer movie season to begin. But the more serious cinema scene isn’t gone yet. This weekend, The Milwaukee Underground Film Festival features three days of experimental, innovative and short films that come from around the world. And you can see the best Italy has to offer at the Italian Film Festival of Milwaukee, offering five feature-length movies from the last few years. Abondanza!
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