Fool for Love passed the “gay test.” The first criteria that I look for in enjoying Sam Shepard is the amount of gay that I find on stage. Obviously I celebrate all that gay artists and particularly stage artists have done – – but I do not like gay with my Sam Shepard. If it isn’t 100% straight, then it just doesn’t tell the story and fits like bad, off-the-rack clothing.
This play was bleak and sexually explosive. Seldom did they ever mention the sex act and even more seldom they didn’t go to the easy, cheap overplayed crudeness in language that would fuel a play say by David Mamet. Little was said or done with the sexuality but you won’t find a play that smokes with lust more then this. Continue reading Fool for Love→
Cloud Nine was the dirtiest play that I have ever read – that is when I was in undergraduate school in the early eighties. It was full of not only talk about gender, cross-dressing, gay and lesbian issues – – it actually played them out – – and further – – it went on to stage actual sex acts on stage. I thought the world of that the world of theatre was going to change forever! It did! – – at least to the the 90’s when all of this actually become a bit played out – and certainly here in the 21st century it plays out as a curious period piece of a play suffering as a severe horn-dog and unable to find a date for the weekend. Continue reading Cloud Nine→
Along with a good number of New Yorkers, I went to see The Christians fully ready to celebrate a roasting, lampooning and biting satire on those who call themselves fundamental Christians – – but boy did I receive a sit down and shut up moment!
From the first moment that the church choir shuffled their way on stage and that ridiculous electronic “magic organ” played I was armed and ready. The faces of that pudgy, white chorus with their sweet, sweet, oh so sweet faces and women with only reasonable makeup and reasonable shoes started to do their thing, I sharpened my fangs and thought I was in for a treat. Pastors wife was sitting there so composed and elegant with that somewhat superior smile, church elder grasping the bible (the only things older then he) and the pastor went to the pulpit. Ready, set – – oooops Continue reading The Christians→
Work calls and I am packing my bags to return to Jacksonville, Florida to begin teaching my 22nd year of teaching theatre at a high school for the perormings arts. It wont’ be until late September that I will likely be able to get back to NY and feed my addiction.
This summer has been wonderful for theatre. It has been a long time since I have seen such diversity. I am so struck by the work of Annie Baker with her successful prodction of The Flick and her less then satisfactory John. However, the concept of taking the stage pause to a whole new level is quite an exploration – – so close to being beautiful and so close to being just boring. I am wondering how other playwrights are going to pick up on this trend.
While I am off the New York theatre scene for a month, I do invite you to switch over to my new blog, Theatre Class Addict at www.theatreclassaddict.com to followings the musings of a 22 year veteran of the theatre classroom preparing classes that I have taught for years and ones that I am just creating from scratch. I would really love your feedback. How fun this has been! – – to think that someone out there may actually read this – – and more – how fun to excicercise my voice and opinion. Till September.
Miss Julie
produced by Theatre of the Nations, Moscow
written by August Strindberg
adapted by Mikhail Durnenkov
Lincoln Center Festival
directed by Thomas Ostermeier
July 27, 2015 Production website 💉 out of 5
What in the hell was I supposed to be watching? I had the following choices throughout the entire production:
1. Snow falling around the circular revolving stage.
2. Sub-titles in 3 various screens.
3. A giant screen upstage with a down camera focused on the kitchen sink and stove top as food was made and dishes left dirty. For at least 30 minutes we simply watched a pile of dirty dishes being projected on the 20’ upstage screen.
4. And, oh, the actors – – them too.
Smartly I got tickets a good deal of distance from the stage so that my neck wasn’t unduly dislocated. Continue reading Miss Julie→
Fool for Love
