By Susan Granger

Going into the Oscar Foreign Language race as an overwhelming favorite, “Toni Erdmann,” German filmmaker Maren Ade’s poignant comedic-drama, revolves around a practical-joking father who tries to reconnect with his uptight daughter by creating an outrageous alter-ego.

Within that context, Ade satirically tackles feminism, workplace sexism, international capitalism, and German arrogance within the European Union.

After his beloved dog dies, divorced, middle-aged Winifred Conradi (Peter Simonischek) feels totally lost. So he tries to reconnect with his only child — daughter Ines (Sandra Huller) — who is obsessive about her executive consulting work in Romania.

When Winifred, an eccentric prankster, turns up, unannounced, in Bucharest for the weekend, Ines is curt and obviously annoyed. “Are you really human?” he finally inquires.

Duo Cantabile today performed “Love Notes” with piano and violin duets in honor of Valentine’s Day at the Westport Library. The program featured music, songs and stories of Frederic Chopin, Clara Schumann, Cesar Franck and George Gershwin performed by award-winning young artists Eric Siepkes and Akiko Kobayashi. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Contributed photo

The Westport Country Playhouse will host “Letters to Our Daughters,” a special community event honoring International Women’s day on Wednesday, March 8.

Tony Award-winning actress and Westport mom Kelli O’Hara is one of the readers. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Helen Klisser During for WestportNow.com

The 7 p.m. event will feature a diverse group of performers and writers including Tony Award winners Joanna Gleason and Kelli O’Hara, and best-selling author Jane Green, an announcement said.

The program is curated by Samantha Goober and Anne Keefe, Playhouse artist. The evening is free-of-charge, by reservation with the Playhouse’s box office, 203-227-4177, or online at http://www.westportplayhouse.org. Seating is general admission. The program is geared for ages 14 and up.

International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, the announcement said. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

By Susan Granger

M. Night Shyamalan burst onto the cinematic scene with audacious plot twists in “The Sixth Sense,” “Unbreakable” and “Signs.” But “The Lady in the Water,” “The Village,” “The Happening,” “The Last Airbender,” “After Earth” and “The Visit” were subsequent disappointments.

Now he’s back with a vengeance, infusing “Split,” a horrifying abduction story, with preposterous pop psychology and surprise linking to one of his earlier films. No spoiler here. That’s tantalizing enough.

Psychologically disturbed Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy) kidnaps three high school girls. According to his compassionate therapist, Dr. Fletcher (Betty Buckley), he suffers from DID (dissociative identity disorder), manifesting 23 different personalities with a 24th, the Beast, about to surface.

Imprisoned in a subterranean bunker, his teenage victims are terrified. There’s popular Claire (Haley Lu Richardson), her bestie Marcia (Jessica Sula) and their disconsolate classmate Casey (Anya Taylor-Joy), a loner whose deeply disturbing back story is gradually revealed.

Staples Players were treated today to a visit from special guest, actor Nancy Opel. A veteran singer and actress who has performed in 14 Broadway shows, Opel shared stories of her career and offered advice to the student actors. She originated the role of Ms. Pennywise in the Broadway run of “Urinetown,” which Staples Players will produce in March. Opel grew up in the Kansas communities of Prairie Village and Leawood, and graduated from Shawnee Mission East High School. She trained at Juilliard. Tickets to the Staples Players production will be available beginning March 4 at http://www.staplesplayers.com. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Photo by Kerry Long

Audience members today applaud actors Patricia Kalember (l) and Bethany Caputo after their performance in the Play With Your Food lunchtime play reading series at Westport’s Toquet Hall. Performances continue Wednesday and Thursday in Westport with later performances in Greenwich and Fairfield. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Phyllis Groner for WestportNow.com

There was a reunion of Westport Country Playhouse theater veterans tonight at a post-performance gathering of a script in hand play reading of “The Supporting Cast.” Pictured with director and curator Anne Keefe (2nd l) are Kiera Naughton (l), who read the role of Sally; her real-life father, actor James Naughton, and actress Cynthia Wallace. Wallace performed in the Paul Newman production of “Our Town” at the Playhouse in 2002. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Actors paused today during a rehearsal for tonight’s Westport Country Playhouse Script In Hand reading of “Supporting Cast” by the late George Furth, American librettist, playwright, and actor. The play, a comedy, revolves around the wife of a successful author who has written a book about friends who are spouses of celebrities and what it is like to be married to somebody famous. The reading will be directed by Anne Keefe, Playhouse associate artist and curator of the playreading series. Pictured: (seated, l-r) Deirdre Madigan, David Beach, Maggie Lacey and Keira Naughton. Kathleen McNenny was not available for the photo. Standing, Martha Stout, stage directions, and Anne Keefe, director. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Scenes from today’s 18th annual crossword puzzle contest at the Westport Library. Miggs Burroughs for WestportNow.com