The Curious Theatre Company presented four short plays Wednesday night — each a 15-minute salute to a formidable Denverite.
The fantastic four were political powerhouse Elbra Wedgeworth, 107-year-old Rockmount Ranch Wear CEO Papa Jack Weil, Denver Art Museum CEO Lewis Sharp and Cuba Cuba restaurant owner Kristy Socarras Bigelow.
The standout play was for Papa Jack, who sat in the front row with grandson Steve Weil.
Playwright Steven Cole Hughes created 107 really short plays, racing through Papa Jack’s life. It was touching, humble, funny and smart. And Michael Morgan as Weil was a wonder, capturing the legend’s gentle ways, humor and posture.
The best lines from Papa Jack in the play: “People say I have an amazing memory for a man my age. And I say, ‘Who the heck is going to contradict me?’ ”
On Wal-Mart’s Sam Walton, not much to say, “other than he was a hillbilly (SOB).”
And what about all the pretty girls who come into the store these days to kiss him and pose with him for pictures? “Where were you girls when I was your age?”
Said Steve, “My grandfather is a hard act to replicate, and they did it very sensitively. I was very impressed.”
So were we all.
Aspen alerts.
We hear Mark Fischer, owner of the hit Carbondale restaurants SIX89 and Phat Thai, is scouting sites in Denver to open a spot here. . . . The Colorado Tourism Picnic on June 12 at Maroon Bells includes food from Frank Bonanno (Mizuna), Mark Ferguson (Spago), Jennifer Jasinski (Rioja), Tommy Lennardson (Social), Lachlan McKinnon-Patterson (Frasca) and Fischer. . . . Expected at the Aspen Food & Wine Classic June 12-15: Ivanka Trump, Rocco DiSpirito and Mick Fleetwood with his wine. Fleetwood also is performing in Snowmass on June 14. . . . Art collectors John and Amy Phelan made a wonderful gift to the Aspen Art Museum: Admission to the art house will be free to everyone for the next 10 years.
Denver swim club.
Denver Magazine is about to hit the streets with its third issue. KHOW’s Peter Boyles delivers an interview with Denver Post publisher and MediaNews CEO William Dean Singleton.
But it’s the swimsuit fashion layout that’ll get everybody talking. It can only be described as extremely provocative.
“We’re giving Denver a much needed shot of adrenaline,” says editor Dahlia Weinstein.
City spirit.
Janet Elway chairs the Excelsior Youth Center’s 2008 Ever Upward Gala on May 30, honoring Lannie Garrett, Victoria Aguilar, Denise Stephenson-Hawk, Christine Soto and Glory Weisberg. . . . Lisa Williams talks to dead people June 8 at the Buell Theatre. . . . Bill Maher is at the Paramount on July 10. . . . Thirty acts will entertain runners along the route at Monday’s BolderBoulder — and you can get a free CD (BolderBoulder Bootlegs Vol. 5). Check it all out at . . . . Sez who: “The trouble with jogging is that the ice falls out of your glass.” — Martin Mull
Bill Husted’s column appears Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. He also appears Tuesdays and Fridays on “Good Day Colorado” on Fox 31. You can reach him at bhusted@denverpost.com or 303-954-1486. Take a peek at Husted’s next column at .
