The New York Times - USA (2020-08-09)

2 AR THE NEW YORK TIMES, SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 2020

NICOLE HERRINGTON,the editor of

the Weekend Arts section, relishes

brooding dramas, yet has recently

found comfort in the reality series

“Below Deck Mediterranean.”

PASS OVER

MOVIE

I saw Antoinette Nwandu’s play in 2018.

Its power was reiterated by an audience

member’s wailing after the curtain call.

Drawing on “Waiting for Godot,” it tells

the story of two Black men “in an exist-

ential cycle of hopelessness,” Jesse Green

wrote in his New York Times review.

Spike Lee’s virtuoso adaptation, on Ama-

zon Prime Video, can’t replace the inti-

macy of theater, but it comes close.

LIANNE LA HAVAS

MUSIC

This British singer-songwriter’s beautiful

voice is so distinguishable. Her music —

encompassing R&B, pop, rock and more —

is a stress-busting balm. Her latest album,

“Lianne La Havas,” traces the arc of a

doomed relationship. When she sings

“Bittersweet summer rain/I’m born

again,” you feel liberated as well.

A BURNING

BOOK

I was immediately pulled into Megha

Majumdar’s debut novel about a young

Muslim woman in Kolkata, India, who is

falsely arrested in connection with a

heinous crime — because of a Facebook

post critical of the government. The com-

pelling story unfolds in real time, and is

propelled by three characters whose dif-

ferent perspectives enrich the narrative.

NPR

PODCAST

I devour episodes of “Pop Culture Happy

Hour,” “Code Switch” and “It’s Been a

Minute With Sam Sanders” once they

land. But it’s a 2013 episode of “This

American Life,” titled “129 Cars,” that has

stayed with me for weeks after first listen-

ing to it. The high drama that ensues as

the salespeople at a car dealership try to

meet their monthly goal is downright

gripping.

I MAY DESTROY YOU

TELEVISION

Seven episodes in, I can’t recommend this

HBO series enough. It’s unsettling but

funny, and the various story lines examin-

ing sexual assault, exploitation and artis-

tic creativity are deftly written by Mi-

chaela Coel. And Coel, who plays Arabella,

brings incalculable layers to this role.

THE QUEUE

Lianne La Havas

HOLLIE FERNANDO

Michaela Coel

NATALIE SEERY/HBO

Inside Culture

THIS WEEK FROM THE ARTS DESK

Around New York City, a public game of chess or checkers between friends (or even strangers) is a common

occurrence. Jessie Wender, a photo editor, combed through the archives of The New York Times for this

selection. Top, in the 1960s, the rain didn’t stop a game between gentlemen. Center left, in 1974, a litter

basket became a chess table in Midtown Manhattan. Center right is from the first round of the U.S. Women’s

Chess Championship at the Henry Hudson Hotel in 1964. Above, in 1991, Nathaniel Giles, left, of the

Brooklyn Elite Pool Checker Club contemplated his next move against his opponent, David Lane.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

JAMES JOWERS/GEORGE EASTMAN MUSEUM

THE NEW YORK TIMES EDDIE HAUSNER/THE NEW YORK TIMES

EDWARD KEATING/THE NEW YORK TIMES

What would you like to see from our photo archive? Send your ideas to [email protected] with the subject line “Photo Archive.”