‘YESTERDAY’ (Rated PG-13)

Imagine a world in which the music of The Beatles is unknown to the entire world.

That’s just not possible, but, in fact, “Yesterday” sets up the premise for an alternative timeline in the universe so that discovery of great songs is once again fresh and new.

In a small English seaside town in rural Suffolk, Jack Malik (Himesh Patel) is a struggling singer-songwriter performing in local pubs to an audience with a limited attention span that is mostly interested in downing pints of Guinness.

From a young age (seen in flashbacks), Jack has known that being an artist is a long slog but he kept at it because of the support of lifelong best friend Ellie (Lily James), now a schoolteacher acting as his manager.

Offered a gig at a music festival, Jack plays to a nearly empty tent where only a handful of old friends have gathered for encouragement. Dejected at this turn of events, Jack contemplates giving up his ambition, even if it means going back to a menial job stocking shelves.

Fate intervenes in a most unexpected way. A worldwide electrical blackout lasting 12 seconds plunges the globe into total darkness, leading to awkward situations everywhere and inevitable accidents, one of which affects Jack.

Struck by a bus while riding his bike and carrying his guitar, Jack wakes up in a hospital all banged up and missing two front teeth. At least his memory of the musical history remains intact.

For the rest of the world, however, the people of this new alternate universe have never heard of The Beatles. Jack learns this when he plays their famous song “Yesterday” for his friends on the new guitar they gave him as a welcome home gift.

The story benefits from many humorous situations, one of which is how Jack frantically hunts the Internet in vain for The Beatles and only comes up with images of the insect. Interestingly, no search came up with the iconic Volkswagen model.

Even a pursuit of song titles proves fruitless. “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” results only in pictures of produce that tastes best when stuffed with ground beef and rice, topped off with tomato sauce.

Frantically scribbling notes of all the greatest hits of the Fab Four, in one of the film’s funniest scenes Jack auditions for his parents, playing “Let it Be” in the living room while phone calls and sudden visits from neighbors keep rudely interrupting his performance.

Soon enough, Jack realizes that he can pass off the famous songs as his own, and all too quickly he’s recording some demo tapes and appearing on a local TV show. In no time at all, his musical repertoire is going viral and attracting the attention of record producers.

Getting noticed by sensational recording artist Ed Sheeran (playing himself), Jack is asked to join a concert tour as the opening act. He proves to be a hit with a raucous crowd in Moscow performing a rocking rendition of “Back in the U.S.S.R.”

Sensing a rival in his midst, Sheeran challenges Jack to a competition for the one who creates the best new song in a ten-minute window. Jack wins the bet with “The Long and Winding Road.”

Meanwhile, steel-hearted American recording agent Debra (Kate McKinnon) corrals Jack into a trip to Los Angeles to meet with music executives and public relations hacks who want to remake the singer into their vision of a rock star.

The boardroom scene is hilarious for the creative team’s sycophancy, constantly applauding and heaping adulation on every banal utterance made by Jack, while coming up with album covers that they think are better than the recognizable “White Album” or “Abbey Road” covers.

Only Jack knows that he is living a lie by pretending to be a great songwriter, and he wrestles with the notion that maybe Paul or Ringo just might show up at a press conference or a TV show to expose the deception.

He’s also troubled by the fact that his best friend Ellie has been pushed to the side. Everyone in the audience is fully aware that Jack and Ellie should be more than just friends, even though they act otherwise.

During a trip to Liverpool for inspiration, Jack is confronted by Ellie’s expression of her feelings for him, and he fumbles the situation such that we are left wondering if there is any hope for their future.

“Yesterday” leans into the romantic comedy angle to the degree that anything less than the unrequited love between them being resolved favorably would also seem unfortunate.

Still, roadblocks may well hinder their relationship, as the fame and fortune of playing to sold-out crowds at Wembley Stadium with Ed Sheeran is heady stuff for any musical artist.

Whether or not Jack realizes some things in life are more important than fame, “Yesterday” should be savored for the joyous pleasures of humor and emotion that turn the journey into a crowd-pleasing entertainment. This comedic Beatles tribute is well worth a trip to the cinema.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – Middletown Art Center is offering session two of “Adventures in Art Summer Camp” July 8 to 19.

The camp is offered Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., for ages 5 to 14.

Children will engage in creative art projects and explorations that incorporate kinetics, movement and whole child enrichment.

Activities include hula-hoop construction, decoration and hula hooping, pop-up books, mobiles, dance, rhythm making, kinetic sculptures and more.

The cost is $300 ($35 drop-in), which includes supplies and healthy snacks.

“This is my daughter’s 3rd summer attending Adventures in Art summer camp at the MAC,” said Alison Uuereb. “She loves being creative and she loves the varied experiences she has at camp each day. She is engaged in art making, dance, and music, and learns new and fun skills from local artists that are enthusiastic about working with kids.”

Visit www.middletownartcenter.org/camp to learn more and reserve your child’s spot, or call 707-809-8118.

Discounts are always available for siblings and for registration by July 7.

Movement Dynamics, like MAC’s first summer session in June Around the World, will be a unique, nurturing immersive arts experience.

The staff is comprised of four MAC teaching-artists: Lauren Schneider, credentialed art teacher with more than 20 years’ experience in public education K-12; Jessie Beck, African dance teacher and First grade teacher at Cobb Mountain Elementary; Laura Kennedy, mixed media and performance artist, and Darina Simeonova, architect and artist.

They’ll also have guest appearances by musician Victor Hall.

Middletown Art Center is a local nonprofit dedicated to weaving the arts into the fabric of our community.

Learn more about exhibits, events, and classes happening at MAC and how you can support a thriving community through the arts with your MAC membership at www.middletownartcenter.org .

The center is located in the heart of Middletown at 21456 Highway 175, at the corner of Highway 29.

A painting of northern pintails by Frank Dolphens Jr. of Omaha, Nebraska, has been chosen as the winner of the 2019 California Duck Stamp Art Contest.

The image will be the official design for the 2019-2020 stamp.

The contest judges praised the anatomical accuracy of Dolphens’s painting, as well as the accuracy of the habitat.

They complimented the excellent body shape and the contrast between the subjects and the background, which seems to make the pintails “pop” off the canvas. The judges also appreciated the three-bird composition and the fact that both sexes were represented.

“I have always admired the northern pintail,” said Dolphens. “I am inspired by their mysticism and their colors and was anxious to enter this year’s contest to portray these characteristics in the painting. I wanted to present the pintails in a grouping to show the strength of their colors in a background setting that enhanced their features.”

Artists from around the country submitted entries for the contest, sponsored by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

John Nelson Harris of Groveland, Fla., placed second, Jeffrey Klinefelter of Etna Green, Ind., placed third and Roberta Baer of Redding received honorable mention.

The top four paintings will be displayed at the Pacific Flyway Decoy Association’s 49th Annual Classic Wildlife Art Festival, which is scheduled for July 20 to 21 in Sacramento.

Since 1971, the California Duck Stamp Program’s annual contest has attracted top wildlife artists from around the country. The contest is traditionally open to artists from all 50 states in order to ensure a wide pool of submissions. All proceeds generated from stamp sales go directly to waterfowl conservation projects throughout California.

In the past, hunters were required to purchase and affix the stamp to their hunting licenses. Today, hunters are no longer required to carry the stamps because California’s modern licensing system prints proof of additional fees paid directly onto the license.

However, CDFW still produces the stamps, which can be requested on CDFW’s Web site at www.wildlife.ca.gov/licensing/collector-stamps .

All of this year’s top finishers can be seen here.

LAKEPORT, Calif. – If you’re a Francophile and even if you’re not (but you love parties), the Soper Reese Theatre invites you to a Bastille Fête on Sunday, July 14, at 7 p.m. to celebrate France’s national holiday, Bastille Day.

This evening of French-themed fun includes live music, dancing, surprise guests, food á la française, wine and song.

Wear your favorite French outfit, bring your worst French accent and get ready for a rousing sing-along of the French national anthem.

Headliner the French Oak Gypsy Band gives a fresh spin on French and American Swing Era classics with a repertoire from French Chanson, Gypsy Jazz, Dixieland Jazz.

North Bay vocalist Stella Heath and French/American guitar player Gabriel Pirard, lead this group of gypsies in their undeniably fun performances.

Reed player, James Inciardi, rounds out the group. With their French-inspired sound, spotlighting Heath’s magnetic vocals and the band’s tight rhythms they'll transport you straight into the bygone era of swing.

Tickets are now on sale for $25, $20 and $15. All seats are reserved. The dance floor will be open and dancing is encouraged, mais oui!

Tickets can be purchased online at www.soperreesetheatre.com or at The Travel Center, 825 S. Main St., Lakeport, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The theatre is located at 275 S. Main St., Lakeport, telephone 707-263-0577.

LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Auditions will be held next week for actor-singers (18 or older) for the original musical “Even In Shadow,” which will be shot on video in Lake County.

You may audition online or come to one of the live auditions.

Live auditions will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 11, and 1 p.m. Saturday, July 13, in the Friendship Hall at Kelseyville Presbyterian Church, 5340 Third St.

The deadline for online auditions is Monday, July 15, at 11:59 p.m.

Information on the production is on the Web site www.eveninshadow.com with a list of characters and their sides.

This play was originally produced in 2002 for Summer Theater Workshop. It has been revised and rewritten by its producers, Carolyn Wing Greenlee and Dan Worley of Kelseyville.

This is a unique opportunity for those who have desired to be involved in making a movie. Involvement also offers profit sharing for cast and crew.

Singers who are non-actors (18 or older) are also welcome to audition for the soundtrack, which will be recorded in-studio before the video is released. This is a great opportunity for singers who don't want to act, or don't match the look or visual age of one of the characters but can deliver a fitting vocal.

Crew members of all skills are also welcome to come out and meet with the producers.

I am often asked if I know of a good poem to be read at a wedding, and here's one by James Bertolino, from his new and selected poems, “Ravenous Bliss.”

Bertolino lives in Washington state and I have been a reader of his poetry for almost 50 years.

When he and I were younger, we often published in the same literary journals, most of which have slipped away into the past.

A Wedding Toast

May your love be firm,
and may your dream of life together
be a river between two shores—
by day bathed in sunlight, and by night
illuminated from within. May the heron
carry news of you to the heavens, and the salmon bring
the sea’s blue grace. May your twin thoughts
spiral upward like leafy vines,
like fiddle strings in the wind,
and be as noble as the Douglas fir.
May you never find yourselves back to back
without love pulling you around
into each other's arms.

American Life in Poetry does not accept unsolicited manuscripts. It is made possible by The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine. It is also supported by the Department of English at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. Poem copyright ©2014 by James Bertolino, "A Wedding Toast," from Ravenous Bliss, (MoonPath Press, 2014). Poem reprinted by permission of James Bertolino and the publisher. Introduction copyright ©2019 by The Poetry Foundation. The introduction’s author, Ted Kooser, served as United States Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 2004-2006.