Weekend Event Planner

These are the 8 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

As we ease into 2023, event organizers are doing the same, with relatively few new events taking place this weekend. Among them will be a classical music concert, two local theater productions, two traveling comedians, the return of an acclaimed Chinese dance experience, a tribute to Elvis, and the end of a notable art exhibition.

Below are the best ways to spend your precious free time this weekend. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.

Thursday, January 5

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents "Shostakovich Symphony No. 5"
The program for "Shostakovich Symphony No. 5," featuring conductor James Conlon and violinist Alexander Kerr, will include Shostakovich's Festive Overture, Korngold's Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D Major, and Shostakovich's Symphony No. 5 in D minor. The Dallas Symphony Orchestra will perform the concert three times through Sunday at Meyerson Symphony Center.

Junior Players presents Be More Chill
Jeremy Heere is just an average teenager. That is, until he finds out about "The Squip," a tiny supercomputer that promises to bring him everything he desires most. But is being the most popular guy in school worth the risk? Blending the contemporary with retro sci-fi, the production takes on the competing voices in all of our heads, and ultimately proves there's never been a better time in history to be yourself. There will be four performances through Sunday at Moody Performance Hall.

Friday, January 6

Art Centre Theatre presents Pride & Prejudice
All of the wit and romance of Jane Austen's classic 1813 novel come to life in this refreshingly fast-paced and engaging new adaptation. When the independent-minded Elizabeth meets the handsome but enigmatic Mr. Darcy, she is determined not to let her feelings triumph over her own good sense - but the truth turns out to be slipperier than it seems. The production will have five performances through January 15 at Art Centre Theatre in Plano.

Improv Arlington presents Adele Givens
Adele Givens shined as a member of The Queens of Comedy. She has worked with noted comedians such as Sinbad, Damon Wayans, and Martin Lawrence, and her television credits include The Steve Harvey Show, Tracey Takes On, Moesha, Martin, HBO's Def Comedy Jam, and Showtime at the Apollo. She'll perform five times through Sunday at Improv Arlington.

Shen Yun
Shen Yun’s unique artistic vision expands theatrical experience into a multi-dimensional, deeply moving journey. Featuring one of the world’s most ancient and richest dance systems - classical Chinese dance - along with dynamic animated backdrops and all-original orchestral works, Shen Yun opens a portal to a civilization of enchanting beauty and enlightening wisdom. There will be seven performances through January 15 at Winspear Opera House.

Improv Addison presents Jared Freid
Jared Freid is a stand-up comedian based out of New York City with a strong focus on dating and relationships. His comedy is current and reflects the ordinary daily thoughts of everyone you know, especially if you know a lot of millennials that are obsessing over dating apps, trying to be real adults, and worrying about their bodies. Freid will perform five times through Sunday at Improv Addison.

Saturday, January 7

Entertainment Series of Irving presents Kraig Parker: The Ultimate Elvis
The day before what would have been Elvis Presley's 88th birthday, the Entertainment Series of Irving presents Kraig Parker: The Ultimate Elvis in continuation of its "Timeless Tributes" series. Unlike many imitators, Parker hits the stage with a full Las Vegas style show band. The concert takes place at Irving Arts Center.

Sunday, January 8

Nasher Sculpture Center presents Nairy Baghramian: "Modèle vivant" closing day
Sunday will be the final day to view "Modèle vivant," the exhibition from 2022 Nasher Prize Laureate Nairy Baghramian, at Nasher Sculpture Center. Over the past three decades, Baghramian has delved into elements of sculptural practice and installation to create works that challenge their settings and upend expected modes of presentation as well as the architectural, sociological, political and historical contexts that inform them. For her Nasher exhibition, Baghramian created a new series of sculptures that explore the provisional body as the site of trauma by disrupting the habits of the conditioned eye.

Photo courtesy of Shen Yun

Shen Yun will perform at Winspear Opera House, January 6-15.

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Movie Review

The Magic Faraway Tree is a whimsical family lark that fails to take root

Photo courtesy of Vertical Entertainment

Andrew Garfield, Delilah Bennett-Cardy, Claire Foy, Phoenix Laroche, and Billie Gadson in The Magic Faraway Tree.

With kids and families always on the hunt for entertainment, it’s typically a safe bet for a movie studio to offer up something new, even if it is a film based on an old property. The Magic Faraway Tree, based on a series of books that started in the 1930s, is a very old property, one that its filmmakers have tried to liven up with a few stars, a lot of whimsy, and a boatload of CGI.

The Thompson family, led by stay-at-home dad Tim (Andrew Garfield) and breadwinner mom Polly (Claire Foy), are forced to move to a rundown country home when Polly gets laid off. The kids - Joe (Phoenix Laroche), Fran (Billie Gadson), and Beth (Delilah Bennett-Cardy) - are used to the perks of city life like wifi and electricity, and each of them rebels in their own way to their new lot in life.

Fran, enticed by a fairy named Silky (Nicola Coughlan), is the first to venture out of the house, making her way to a magic tree that transports her to a world full of strange characters like Moonface (Nonso Anozie), Saucepan Man (Dustin Demri-Burns), Dame Washalot (Jessica Gunning), and more. Her adventures there not only broaden the world she thought she knew, but may be the key to helping her ailing family.

Directed by Ben Gregor and written by Simon Farnaby (Paddington 2, Wonka), the film is a pleasant enough lark, but it fails to fully capture the imagination. The five-member family has a lot going on, from an initially-mute Fran to a domestic situation that raises more questions than it answers. The film tries to incorporate an anti-technology message through Tim’s hatred of a smart refrigerator (voiced by Judi Dench!) and the kids' addictions to devices, but it’s quickly shed in favor of other options.

Once Fran makes it to the Magic Faraway Tree, there’s a nice shift in the storytelling, but it’s unclear what the ultimate goal is. It’s a good idea to have Fran, the youngest of the children, convince her older, more cynical siblings about the virtues of the magic world, but the conflict in the real world doesn’t seem to rise to the level needed for the escape the tree provides.

There also seems to be a missing link in the storytelling for viewers to understand the importance of the fantastical characters. The visuals of seeing Moonface and his crescent moon-shaped hair, a man with a suit full of banging pots, and more are fun for a while, but not enough to carry the whole film. A last-minute revelation feels like it was something that should have been disclosed much earlier to help strengthen the emotions of the story.

A two-time Oscar nominee, Garfield is making his first foray into family movies (if you don’t count playing Spider-Man), and while he does a good job, he doesn’t make the best fit for the semi-goofy role. The same goes for the Emmy-winning Foy, who isn’t given much of anything to do. The movie puts the story on the shoulders of the three child actors, and while each of them acquit themselves well, none of them are so outstanding as to be noteworthy.

With nearly 90-year-old source material, The Magic Faraway Tree needed to be something truly special to stand out in the 21st century movie world. Unfortunately, it features a mostly forgettable story that features some fun visuals, a couple of cute kids, and not much else.

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The Magic Faraway Tree is now playing in theaters.

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