Bletchley Circle

Mon, 06/30/2014 - 10:25am by Enzy

Do you love watching mysteries but feel like the genre is a little heavy handed with the male detective? If so, check out Bletchley Circle! With an extraordinary flair for code breaking and razor-sharp intelligence skills, four seemingly ordinary women become the unlikely investigators of a string of grisly murders in this original thriller, set against the backdrop of post-war London.

Season 1 introduces us to Susan. Her conventionality masks a sharp, inquisitive mind. She may appear every inch the typical 1950s wife and mother, but when she hears about a string of unsolved murders in London, Susan’s old Bletchley spirit is ignited. Secretly, Susan reconvenes the formidable foursome – bohemian and streetwise Millie; Lucy, with her brilliant photographic memory and Jean, the methodical no-nonsense organizer. A race against the clock ensues as the women work to outwit the culprit. Can they rekindle their singular expertise and discover the killer’s next move – before he strikes again?

Season 2 opens with the episode Blood on Their Hands. Former Bletchley Park girl Alice Merren is in prison awaiting trial for murder. Jean stands behind her innocence and tries to reunite the circle in an attempt to help one of their own. Lucy is now getting on well in a clerical job at Scotland Yard and keeping her head down, and Millie is working as a German translator. Susan is reluctant to get involved after the occurrences in season 1. The second episode Uncustomed Goods, Millie branches out into what she believes to be a harmless sideline of dealing in uncustomed goods. This endeavor leads to her being kidnapped and held in a seedy hotel by some gangsters. On discovering this, Alice goes to Jean and Lucy to help. The girls start to investigate in order to save their friend and, as they do so, uncover a much darker, hidden world of crime.

Michigan Shakespeare Festival

Monday August 4, 2014: 7:00pm to 8:30pm
Pittsfield Branch: Program Room

Young Actors Guild: Macbeth

Sun, 05/04/2014 - 4:13pm by annevm

The Ann Arbor Young Actors Guild is gearing up for its presentation of Macbeth May 16-18 at the U-M Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre. In this classic play by William Shakespeare, an 11th century Scottish nobleman is led by an evil prophecy and his ruthless wife to the treasonous act that makes him king Ticket information is here.

Ann Arbor Civic Theater: Noises Off

Sun, 05/04/2014 - 3:09pm by annevm

Ann Arbor Civic Theater will present Noises Off May 8-11. From the synopsis on the A2ct web page: "Noises Off finds a dysfunctional theater troupe mounting a classic farce entitled Nothing On. This comedy-within-a-comedy offers the audience a glimpse behind the scenes during dress rehearsal, the opening performance, and a performance toward the end of the run." Ticket information is here.

Pioneer High School Spring Musical: Rent

Mon, 04/07/2014 - 1:13pm by annevm

Theatre Guild at Pioneer High School will present the musical Rent by Jonathan Larson April 25 - May 4. From the AADL website: "A year in the life of a group of friends who love, fight, and laugh together as they face important social issues such as AIDS, homosexuality, drug abuse, and homelessness." More information is
here. The show is not for young children.

Skyline High Spring Show: Moon Over Buffalo

Mon, 04/07/2014 - 12:39pm by annevm

Skyline High School in Ann Arbor will present Ken Ludwig's comedic farce Moon Over Buffalo April 25-27. More information is here. The New York Times had this to say about the stage production: "Ken Ludwig is one of those rare contemporary playwrights who thinks in terms of old-fashioned knockabout farce, and that’s something to be cherished."

Performance Network: Richard III Re-imagined

Mon, 04/07/2014 - 11:49am by annevm

Performance Network Theatre in downtown Ann Arbor will present a reimagined version of William Shakespeare's classic play Richard III from April 24 - June 1. From the PNT website: "... One of Shakespeare’s most famous histories gets an innovative ... treatment in this boldly re-imagined tale of power, treachery, seduction and fate. Performance Network Associate Artistic Director Carla Milarch stars as Richard, the ruthless and conniving Plantagenet, whose ascent to power is littered with corpses. This revolutionary take on the age-old classic explores the themes and fate of gender, power, and government set in the distant yet ominous future." Ticket information is here. The theater is located in downtown Ann Arbor at 120 E. Huron Street.

New TV shows on DVD @ AADL

Thu, 04/03/2014 - 1:37pm by manz

The library is always acquiring additional TV shows, be they hot and new, or oldies but goodies. Here are some new mystery series from the UK on their way to AADL:

Broadchurch, Season 1
When the body of eleven-year-old Danny Latimer is found on the beach in Broadchurch on the Dorset coast, Detective Sergeant Ellie Miller and her newly-appointed boss, Detective Inspector Alec Hardy, are called to investigate. As suspicions mount and the mystery deepens, a national spotlight descends upon Broadchurch, threatening to pull the town, its residents and their secrets apart.

The Broker's Man, Series 1
Jimmy is an ex-cop turned insurance investigator whose cunning and insight are well-suited to the business of exposing con men and fraudsters. With his police training, he's able to take on any case, no matter how dangerous. Fresh off a divorce and a breakup with his colleague and mistress, Jimmy still hasn't learned when to shut his wandering eyes and turn off his rakish charm. As he struggles to rebuild his family, keeping them safe from the perils of his work proves to be his ultimate test.

For more TV shows, be sure to check out AADL’s lists for HOT TV shows, as well as NEW TV shows.

Purple Rose Theatre: Spring Comedy Festival

Thu, 04/03/2014 - 11:29am by annevm

Mark your calendars! Purple Rose Theatre in Chelsea is presenting a Spring Comedy Festival: Lovers, Liars & Lunatics, through May 24. Directed by Guy Sanville, this is a collection of world-premiere short comedies looking at the nature of loss, love, revenge, and renewal. New plays by Jeff Daniels and other Purple Rose favorites will be presented. Language and content are geared for adults. For ticket information, click here

New TV Series @ AADL

Thu, 03/20/2014 - 3:22pm by manz

The library is always acquiring additional TV shows, be they hot and new, or oldies but goodies. Here are some series new to AADL:

The Mindy Project Season 1
Meet Mindy, a single OB/GYN who wants her life to be like a romantic comedy but just can't find the right leading man. She attempts to balance her unpredictable workplace with some truly offbeat dating situations.

Copper season 1
Set in 1860s New York City, the drama is centered on Kevin Corcoran, an intense, rugged, Irish-American cop working in the city's notorious Five Points neighborhood. He struggles to maintain his moral compass while embarking on a quest to learn the truth about the disappearance of his wife and the death of his daughter.

Lilyhammer Season 1
After Frank 'The Fixer' Tagliano testifies against his Mafia boss in New York, he enters the Witness Protection Program and makes an unusual demand: He wants to be set up with a new life in the Norwegian small town of Lillehammer, or as he calls it, 'LILYHAMMER.' Thrust into a brand new world, Frank is confronted with a colorful cast of characters totally unlike the New York variety.

Murder rooms: The Dark Beginnings of Sherlock Holmes
The story of the relationship between the young Arthur Conan Doyle and his real-life mentor and noted forensic scientist, Dr. Joseph Bell, as they unite to solve the most baffling murder cases in Victorian Scotland. More Sherlock!!

Beck
He's got no style, he's got no flash and he's squarely in middle age. But Swedish detective Martin Beck is good at one thing: methodically catching criminals so that they can be put away... for a long time. His tightly-wound partner, Gunvald, is his opposite: an impulsive man who cuts a dashing figure, is in no way politically correct and who never met a boundary he didn't leap across. Characters are based on the novels by Maj Sjöwall & Per Wahlöö.

For more TV shows, be sure to check out AADL’s lists for HOT TV shows, as well as NEW TV shows.