Some sopranos singing the title role of "Lucia di Lammermoor" work their way up to the great climactic Mad Scene (and some die there ... or before), but not Talise Trevigne. This young, beautiful soprano from San Jose sang a "Lucia" on fire from the first note to the last Friday night, in a world-class performance in circumstances that couldn’t be humbler. Read More

About the series: In a saloon town such as San Francisco, the bartender plays a crucial role. Confessor, friend, sounding board — the man or woman behind the plank sees to it that our needs are met with elegance, grace and often wit. They see humanity at its best and most convivial, but also offer a nod and a welcome to the lonely. But what do they see when they look at us? What are the tricks of their trade? And what lessons have they learned along the way? In this Examiner weekly feature, we talk to some of our local bartenders to find out.Bimbo’s 365 Club Read More

Two lonely hearts crescendo into insect-obsessed, codependent madness in "Bug," a psycho-romantic horror thriller directed by 1970s heavyweight William Friedkin. Don’t expect an effects-packed, extravagant chiller — never mind Friedkin’s "Exorcist" credentials. The film is a chamber-scale, material-worldly brand of creeper and — until it goes ludicrous — an inspired, crawly look at human need. Read More

Watching "At World’s End," Disney’s latest entry in the ongoing misadventures of Capt. Jack Sparrow, it’s easy to forget that the original "Pirates of the Caribbean" was inspired by something as simple as a theme-park ride. Four years later, the franchise has morphed into a labyrinthine juggernaut, with each successive story more convoluted than the last. And yet, in the end, there’s an anchor that keeps this ship from drifting too far astray — Sparrow, a rogue charmer who, in Johnny Depp’s capable hands, has emerged as one of the truly iconic characters of the last decade. Read More