The visionary modern architect, John Lautner (1911-1994), now has his first major career retrospective at the Hammer Museum in Westwood.
    An apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright, Lautner practiced principally in Los Angeles. Some of his most iconic works were built in Silver Lake and Los Feliz: Silvertop which straddles the ridge above the reservoir, the Midtown School—now the home of the Lycee International de Los Angeles—and the circular Harvey Residence at the height of the Los Feliz Oaks.
    Displaying the architect’s own drawings and sketches, the show illuminates Lautner’s career from his midwestern upbringing to his final commissions.
    Helping establish his national reputation in 1938, was the only house he built for himself and his family, in Silver Lake on Micheltorena Avenue. A much later commission, 1963’s Silvertop, also known as the Reiner/Burchill Residence, came at a very pivotal point in his career, according to the exhibition’s co-curator, architect Frank Escher.
“It’s not just a house, it’s part of the landscape,” Escher said. “It is an absolute masterpiece and a very important house in 20th century architecture.”
    A number of projects featured in the exhibition should have local interest. An important unrealized commission, the Griffith Park Nature Center, was never built; plans and leafy drawings detail what could have been. However, Lautner’s design for the Beachwood Market is still in place today, though hardly a signature work. And while the buildings of the Midtown School are still extant as the Lycee in the Franklin Hills, the ambitious curriculum and innovative programs for the campus, which Lautner championed, are a thing of the past.
    In addition to the exhibition, numerous panels, film series and programs are ongoing at the Hammer. Exclusive home tours also allow visitors to experience Lautner’s transcendent architecture first hand.
For further information call (310) 443-7000 or visit www.hammer.ucla.edu.

[ THEATRE REVIEW ]

The Bard Now Playing at Barnsdall By Marilyn Oliver, Ledger Theater Critic

    This summer, it seems as though everyone is watching pennies, so it’s great to know that you can still enjoy an evening at the theater without breaking the budget. ??
    We have our own Shakespeare company right here in Barnsdall Park. Best of all, the ticket is free, and you don’t even have to pay for parking. This is not a fly-by-night company. The Independent Shakespeare Co. is in its fifth year of producing plays in the park, and it’s an equity company with professional actors.
The company is the brainchild of David Melville and was formed in 2001. It is funded through grants and public donations. After each performance, the actors mingle with the audience to gather cash and checks. Last year an estimated 11,000 people enjoyed the plays in the park.
    This year’s offerings are “Twelfth Night,”?“Henry IV, parts 1 and 2;” and “The Tragic History of Dr. Faustus,” by?Christopher Marlowe. ?Marlowe’s play is a slight departure from the company’s history of producing Shakespeare.
Although the play is serious, there are elements of fantasy and comedy. The drama—with elements of fantasy and comedy has a cast of over 40 characters and is not often performed in Los Angeles.
“Henry IV, ” explores the history of England during the Wars of the Roses. This production?incorporates parts I and II, for a full 2 hours and 40 minutes.
    I recently saw “Twelfth Night.”?As in many of Shakespeare’s comedies, there are mistaken identities, humorous characters and a lot of romance. Because of the outdoor setting, it was sometimes a little difficult to hear some of the actors—a problem which Melville says has been corrected. ?Nevertheless, expect some noise from the streets below and the occasional helicopter or small plane from above. ?
    A high point of the production was the clever repartee between Sir Toby Belch, played by Melville and Sir Andrew Aguecheek, portrayed by Thomas Ehas.
    The audience was filled with families enjoying picnics and included both young children and dogs.?
Through Aug. 24th at 7:30 p.m. with several staged summer readings on July 30th, Aug. 6th and 13th. Curtain raisers by guest artists an hour before the evening’s main performances are on Aug. 2nd, 7th, 8th, 16th and 20th. Parking is free on the hill. Some seating is provided, or you can bring your own blanket or chair. See the full season: www.independentshakespeare.com. Reservations: (323) 836-0288.