By Susan Granger

I’m incredibly conflicted about “The Birth of a Nation.” Writer/director/actor Nate Parker has created a searing, powerful Civil War drama, revolving around an 1831 slave rebellion led by Nat Turner.

Set on cotton plantations in Southampton County, Virginia, it reveals that, as a child, Nat (Tony Espinosa) was recognized by an African tribal shaman as a potential prophet/leader. And he’s encouraged to read the Bible by his master’s wife (Penelope Ann Miller).

Years later, Nat (Nate Parker) becomes a Baptist preacher. Amid rumors of insurrection, he’s rented out by his alcoholic owner (Armie Hammer), travelling to neighboring plantations to spread his gospel of subservience and peace.

That’s before brutal acts of traumatic violence turn soulful Nat into a mythic crusader, experiencing intense religious visions and viewing a solar eclipse as a sign from God to lead a ferociously bloody uprising that claimed 60 white families and led to the slaughter of 200 blacks in retaliation.

The cast of the Westport Country Playhouse production of the reimagined version of Lerner & Loewe’s “Camelot” rehearses for tonight’s first preview at the Westport Country Playhouse. Directed by Mark Lamos, Playhouse artistic director, the classic musical features Tony Award-winner Robert Sean Leonard as King Arthur, Britney Coleman as Guinevere and Stephen Mark Lukas as Lancelot. Opening night is Saturday and it runs through Oct. 30. Pictured is Coleman with members of the cast. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

For almost six decades, a tiny store on Westport’s Post Road East was at the center of the town’s arts community.

The Max’s sign came down in May 2015, nine months after the store’s closing. This photo became a poster for the exhibit. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Lynn U. Miller for WestportNow.com

First as Fine Arts Stationers beginning in 1956 and later as Max’s Art Supplies, owner Max Kaplan doled out not only paints and pastels but camaraderie and commiseration.

Shuttered in 2014, the store is making a comeback beginning Friday with an exhibit at the Westport Historical Society called “Art to the Max.”

It features original art that graced Max’s windows from 1975-2014, including hand-drawn calendars by longtime Max’s employee Nina Royce.

Designed so that Westport’s restaurants can showcase their fare at customer friendly prices, Restaurant Week (actually two weeks) opens Sunday and runs through Oct. 16.

This year 25 eateries are participating, offering fixed price meals and cocktails “to suit any foodie’s interest and pocketbook,” says Matthew Mandell, executive director of the Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce.

“It’s all part of the continuing ‘Eat Local’ campaign to promote area restaurants, which began two weeks ago with the Slice of Saugatuck,” Mandell said.

“Our restaurants have embraced this event wholeheartedly, making it very robust,” he added about the participating moderate, family style to high end establishments. “People will need the two weeks.”

Boca Restaurant & Bar, 43 Main St., will officially open on Monday, according to Chef Luis Arias (above).  The wide ranging menu of Italy, Spain and France cuisine includes tapas, salads, pizza, pasta, burgers, paella, seafood, chicken and meat plates. The new establishment is located in the space formerly occupied by Acqua Ristorante Mediterraneo for 20 years. Owned by East Norwalk resident Revision Bonfim, the daily hours are 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. for lunch and 4 p.m. -10:30 p.m. for dinner. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

By Susan Granger

When an explosion on April 10, 2010, ignited the “Deepwater Horizon” oil rig, the blowout lasted 87 days, leaking 4.9 million gallons into the Gulf, resulting in the worst ecological disaster in American history.

Told through the perspective of Chief Electronics Technician Mike Williams (Mark Wahlberg), it begins as he bids goodbye to his wife (Kate Hudson) and young daughter, hoping to snag a ‘dinosaur bone’ for her to show to her class in school.

Preparing to be transported to the enormous rig, just off the Louisiana coast, he greets co-worker Andrea Fleytas (Gina Rodriguez) and reports for duty to Captain “Mr. Jimmy” Harrell (Kurt Russell), who, ironically, is presented with a workplace Safety Award, just before the “well from hell” bursts.

Conversing in terse, indecipherable, technical jargon, it’s obvious that certain “negative pressure tests,” along with other maintenance procedures, were not properly performed because of monetary pressure.

The Westport Arts Center and the Westport Farmers Market tonight announced the winners of the second annual Young Shoots student digital photography competition at a gallery-like reception at Sugar & Olives Restaurant, Norwalk. The competition, jointly sponsored by the two Westport nonprofits, was designed to provide an opportunity for students to demonstrate their creativity through the digital photography medium, and to showcase the local color and vibrancy of the market.The winners included Claire Langdon (c), first place for “Fungal Forrest,” ages 15-18, and Emma Langdon (r), fan favorite, “Untitled,” for ages 11-14. At left is mom, Lori Langdon. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Leslie LaSala for WestportNow.com