Summer Arts got off to a bouncy and good-hearted start Monday night with the antics of Bossy Flyer, a nimble duo that brought together acrobatics, mime, dance, a spray bottle of Clorox and lots of comedy in a fresh and invigorating performance. Taylor Casas and Cynthia Price, both Summer Arts instructors in the “Dynamic Partnering” course, offered a whimsical take on “The Odd Couple.”

One of the best things about them was their ability to be “small” in their performances when need be, from vocals to movements to comic double-takes — and then save the big gestures for the most impactful moments. (One of the reasons I often don’t connect with mimes is because I perceive so many of them to be constantly mugging and overacting.) Casas and Price show that subtlety can work wonders: the slightest flick of a wrist, the gentlest mumble, the smallest raise of an eyebrow, all of which can convey an intention with far more exactitude than being broad and brassy. Plus, their chemistry together is just fierce and funny. The show would be a hit at any fringe festival. (Indeed, they were the winner of the 2018 San Diego Fringe Outstanding Physical Arts Award.) Perhaps they will put Fresno’s Rogue Festival on their calendar?

[perfectpullquote align=”left” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=”18″]Pictured above: The Diavolo dance company performs July 19, and you can win tickets. Photo: Summer Arts[/perfectpullquote]

The rest of Summer Arts unfolds in front of us like a great big picnic dinner just unveiled on the lawn. For the next four weeks, there are so many interesting lectures and performances to ponder. But that time will fly by. I encourage you to check out the calendar now and note which things you want to attend.

And to make things even easier, I’m giving away tickets to nine selected events. Most of the following events are $25 a ticket, so winning a pair is a pretty good deal. Remember that these ticket giveaways are open only to members, donors and individual sponsors of The Munro Review. (A free membership is available.) Details are below. To enter any of these giveaways, leave a comment on this post (and be sure to tell me which event you’re hoping for). You’re welcome to enter for multiple events, but be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry.

Here’s what you can win:

• 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 2, John Wright Theatre: a pair of tickets to Richard Carter and Daniel Keys’ painting lecture. (Daniel, if you recall, is the Fresno painter who has achieved great things in the art world; I wrote about him in March). Because of the tight turnaround, I’ll give these tickets away to the FIRST member who responds with a comment asking for them on this post.

• 7 p.m. Friday, July 5, John Wright Theatre: a pair of tickets to “Souls in Process: An Evening of Solo Plays” featuring Kayla Kearney and Robert Lee Hart. Entry deadline: 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 3. Leave a comment on this post asking for these tickets specifically.

Related story: Welcome to Summer Arts 2019: Intro interview, 5 picks and more

• 7 p.m. Saturday, July 6, Concert Hall: a pair of tickets to “An Evening of French Piano Music.” Artists include Jeffrey LaDeur, Gwendolyn Mok and Richard Shuster. Entry deadline: 10 a.m. Friday, July 5. Leave a comment on this post asking for these tickets specifically.

• 7 p.m. Monday, July 8, John Wright Theatre: a pair of tickets to “Swords and Shakespeare,” a combat presentation. Entry deadline: 2 p.m. Friday, July 5. Leave a comment on this post asking for these tickets specifically.

• 7 p.m. Monday, July 15, John Wright Theatre: a pair of tickets to Indira Pensado’s solo performance of “Crastchep,” which synthesizes dance, music and theater to create an abstract portrait of the soul. Entry deadline: 2 p.m. Friday, July 12. Leave a comment on this post asking for these tickets specifically.

• 7 p.m. Friday, July 19, John Wright Theatre: a pair of tickets to Diavolo, the renowned Los Angeles-based dance company. In 2017, Diavolo was one of the Top 10 contestants to reach the finale of “America’s Got Talent.” This performance is the most anticipated of the Summer Arts season. Entry deadline: 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 16. Leave a comment on this post asking for these tickets specifically.

• 7 p.m. Saturday, July 20: a pair of tickets to readings by authors Terese Marie Mailhot (“Heart Berries: A Memoir”) and Lidia Yuknavitch (“The Book of Joan”). Entry deadline: 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 16. Leave a comment on this post asking for these tickets specifically.

• 7 p.m. Monday, July 22: A pair of tickets to a solo performance by Natsuko Ohama of “Morgan O-Yuki Snow Fragrance,” a story centered on the famed geisha. Entry deadline: 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 17. Leave a comment on this post asking for these tickets specifically.

• 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 24: A pair of tickets to an Afro-Caribbean jazz concert featuring such artists seven-time Grammy-nominated percussionist John Santos and multiple Grammy Award-winner Doug Beavers on trombone. Entry deadline: 2 p.m. Friday, July 19. Leave a comment on this post asking for these tickets specifically.

A reminder

Tax-deductible memberships for The Munro Review start at $5 a month, and you can make a one-time donation of as little as $3. (Paid memberships help keep the site running, and paid members get special members-only benefits. Please consider a paid membership in support of independent, local arts journalism.) A free membership option is available. For details on how to join, go to the Membership and Sponsorship page. No purchase, donation or membership is necessary to enter the ticket giveaway.