By Susan Granger

Without doubt, “The Lobster” is one of the most bizarre films I’ve ever seen.

Set in the near future in an alternate universe, it’s an existential allegory about the determination within every culture to pair people off. Whether heterosexual or homosexual, conforming means being part of a couple.

When his wife leaves him for another man, David (Colin Farrell) has only 45 days to find another partner or face ‘Transformation’ into the animal of his choice. Most people want to be a dog, which is why there are so many of them. But David chooses to be re-embodied as a lobster.

To facilitate finding a prospective mate, David checks into a spa-like Hotel, where the Manager (Olivia Coleman) sternly explains the regimented schedule required of him and other newcomers – there’s one who lisps (John C. Reilly), another who limps (Ben Whishaw), a woman prone to nosebleeds (Jessica Barden) and one who is heartless (Aggeliki Papoulia).

The Staples Players cast and crew of the upcoming production of “Harvey,” a student-directed effort, posed for a group shot by the Saugatuck River. The 1945 Pulitzer-winning comedy by Mary Chase
will be presented Thursday, June 2, Friday, June 3, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 5 at 5 p.m. at Toquet Hall, 58 Post Road East. Pictured (l-r) Georgia Wright, 14, freshman; Jordan Goodness,18, senior; Zoe Fox, 18, senior, assistant director; Aaron Samuels, 18, senior, and Michael Dodd, 16, sophomore, stage manager. For tickets, click here. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Lynn U. Miller for WestportNow.com

Just in time for the Memorial Day weekend and warm weather, the patio bar at the Pearl at Longshore Restaurant at Westport’s Longshore Club Park opened for business today. The WMD band kicks off the Sunday music series from 4 to 8 p.m.  (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

With actor James Naughton moderating, characters from Ron Chernow’s books engaged in a debate tonight as the Westport Library honored Chernow. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Author Ron Chernow was pleased tonight when two Westport elementary school students recited musical segments of “Hamilton” to him.  Jocelyn, 10, (l) and Sophie, 12, Kessler said they listen to the “Hamilton” album every day. Their mother, Elizabeth said the words inspired the girls’ understanding of the founding fathers (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

Scenes from tonight’s Westport Library BOOKED for the Evening honoring author Ron Chernow. Dave Matlow, J.C. Martin, and Pam Einarsen for WestportNow.com

Workers apply finishing touches today to the outdoor patio at Pearl at Longshore, which opens Friday at 4 p.m., at The restaurant, formerly Splash, is located at Longshore Club Park and opened last February. Pearl announced the launch of a new Live@Pearl Summer Music Series Sundays from 4 to 8 p.m. Kicking off on Sunday is the New York City band the WMDs. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Dave Matlow for WestportNow.com

By Jonathan Turner

Like many people who watched Alisan Porter win NBC’s “The Voice” Tuesday night, Judy Luster wasn’t surprised. The retired Moline, Ill. teacher directed Ms. Porter in high-school musicals in Connecticut in 1996-97.

Retired teacher Judy Luster with her theater memorabilia at her Moline, Ill. home. (CLICK TO ENLARGE) Jacob .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

“It was impossible to believe she would grow because she was already so good,” Ms. Luster said. “She’s a triple threat—actor, singer and dancer.”

Ms. Porter, now 34 and a mother of two, was 5 when she became the youngest “Star Search” participant to win that competition. When she was 10, she played the title role in the 1991 John Hughes movie, “Curly Sue.”

Ms. Luster said the first time she saw her former student on stage was when Ms. Porter was a freshman at Staples High School in Westport, Conn., and portrayed Anita in “West Side Story.” “She blew everybody away.”

By Susan Granger

Celebrating Memorial Day weekend, Bryan Singer once again wrangles Marvel’s mutants through another adventure, “X-Men Apocalypse,” set 10 years after “Days of Future Past” (2014).

This time, the super-villain is Apocalypse (Oscar Isaac), the world’s first and most powerful mutant, invincible/immortal En Sabah Nur, who ruled ancient Egypt circa. 3600 B.C. before being entombed in an immense pyramid - until he awakens in 1983 at the height of the Cold War in the Reagan era.

After hibernating for 5,500 years, the petulant Pharaoh is not a happy camper, now that “the weak have taken over.”

Vowing to “wipe clean this world,” he solicits disillusioned Erik Lensherr/Magneto (Michael Fassbender) and his colleagues Warren Worthington/Archangel (Ben Hardy), Elizabeth Braddock/Psylocke (Olivia Munn), and Ororo Munroe/Storm (Alexandra Shipp) into becoming his legendary “four horsemen.”