Fun, Italian-style: Some truly old-fashioned, old-school Italian traditions return to the South Bay this weekend with the 44th edition of the Italian Family Festa in San Jose’s History Park, 1650 Senter Road. How old-fashioned? How about the annual grape-stomping contest? (Although we regretfully report that San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan is not available to defend his crown.) Attractions also include a wide variety of music, including Opera San Jose and a band devoted to songs made famous by the iconic 20th-century Italian singer Mina; bocce ball; pizza-tossing; Italian flag throwers; re-creations of historic aspects of Italian life and society, featuring the Gaesatae et Legio Roma!, a living history performance group; and lots of traditional Italian food and drink options. There will also be kids-zone, swordsmanship demonstrations and lessons, a magic show and more. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. Contact www.italianfamilyfestasj.org/.
Freebie of the week: The quest for a magic love potion has been going on since time began, immortalized through the ages in story, song and even opera. Gaetano Donizetti added his interpretation to mix with his 1832 comic masterpiece, “The Elixir of Love,” and paid homage to the trope by having his lead female character sing an aria about Tristan and Isolde, whose fateful love affair began when they accidentally drank said potion, in the very first act. Walnut Creek-based Festival Opera is offering up free open-air productions of this frothy delight in two East Bay locations this week, beginning with the 6 p.m. Thursday performance at Orinda Community Park and ending with the 4 p.m. repeat on Sunday at Walnut Creek Civic Park. Tenor Spencer Greene stars as the lovestruck rustic Nemorino, and soprano Marielle Leiboff is the witty – and wealthy – damsel Adina that Nemorino fears he cannot win without the liquid enhancement. His rival is the braggart Sergeant Belcore, sung by baritone Liam Daley; and baritone Igor Vieira fills the role of Dulcamara, the quack who delivers the title elixir. For more information, visit festivalopera.org.
Another freebie: So many shows these days dealing with politics, power and family remain timely and relevant. Shakespeare also was drawn by those themes; one wonders if he is turning in his grave wishing he could have a crack at today’s landscape. Then again, today’s power players running amok are so lacking in savvy; Shakespeare likely wouldn’t find them worthy of his talents. Instead, let’s appreciate the Bard for his monumental catalog, especially since it’s the season for Shakespeare productions, many of which are free. This weekend, San Francisco Shakespeare in the Park launches its 44th season of presenting free touring productions serving up a streamlined take on a Bard classic (most run about 90 minutes) and intended as family-friendly affairs. This year’s show is the Roman empire-themed “Antony and Cleopatra,” which, as organizers describe, “examines the conflict between duty and desire, and the impact of personal relationships on political power.” Upcoming performances of “Antony and Cleopatra” are at 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 1-2 and Aug. 8-9 in Cupertino’s Memorial Park Amphitheater, 21163 Anton Way. Visitors are welcome to bring food and drink and blankets and lawn chairs. The theater offers terraced concrete seating and grassy hillside space. Future performances are in Redwood City’s Red Morton Park from Aug. 15-30; San Francisco’s McLaren Park from Sept. 5-13; and San Francisco’s Sue Bierman Park from Sept. 19-27. More information is at https://sfshakes.org/.
Food for thought: “Chicken, Chitlins and Caviar” might sound like the foundation of a superlative supper, but it’s also the title of a Bay-Area-born music and dance revue focusing on the Black American experience returning to the Lesher Center in Walnut Creek this weekend for its fifth annual production. It’s conceived and created by singer, actor, producer, director and lecturer April Wright, a Richmond native, director of several gospel choirs and host of “The Gospel Experience” radio show on Saturday mornings on KPFA-94.1 FM. She also stars in the production that features several 60-plus female actors. Wright, who runs the Symphony-Enterprises entertainment company that produces the revue, has said she called the show “Chicken, Chitlins and Caviar” because food, like music and theater, is a rich part of the Black American life. The revue plays at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Lesher Center, 1601 Civic Drive. Tickets are $40-$60 at www.lesherartscener.org.
All Bond, all night long: This week offers the prime opportunity to hear a long string of unforgettable 007 theme songs performed by a major symphony orchestra in a celebrated concert hall and/or scenic outdoor amphitheater. Guest conductor Steven Reineke and the San Francisco Symphony are providing exactly that, with assistance from Tony Award-winning Broadway star Lena Hall on vocals, at Stanford University’s Frost Amphitheatre at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and again at 7:30 p.m. Friday in San Francisco’s Davies Hall. Songwriter John Barry, who contributed a whopping total of 11 theme songs for the James Bond movies, will be well-represented, with nine in the lineup, including those from “Thunderball,” “From Russia with Love,” “You Only Live Twice,” “Moonraker” and “Diamonds Are Forever.” Also on tap is the work that might be the most famous, Paul McCartney and Wings’ “Live and Let Die,” which was commissioned for the 1973 film and orchestrated by the great George Martin, who also composed the entire movie score. Tickets for the “James Bond Forever” concerts range from $54 to $155; get them at sfsymphony.org.