Live theater really only needs a play, actors, and an audience. When the play is well written, the actors solid, and the audience appreciative, magic can happen and the experience stays with the participants long after the theater lights go out.
Circle Mirror Transformation written by Annie Baker, directed by John Hruschka and produced by the Next Stage is that type of an experience.
Visualize an acting class with one teacher, Marty, and four students. The class consists of the teacher’s husband James, Theresa, an attractive young woman who has had some acting experience, Schultz, a young, recently divorced man, and a sixteen year old girl, Lauren, who wants to learn to act.
Through very brief scenes, the class exercises slowly reveal the fears, truths, and hidden feelings of not only the students, but of the teacher as well. The audience watches characters reveal layers of themselves, as well as relationships that develop and fall apart.
Director Hruschka has paced the show perfectly. From the very quiet opening, through the angry scenes, to the tranquil ending when each person accepts who he is, the audience stayed connected to the characters.
The cast consisted of two regulars, Caitlin Osborn (Marty) and Tom McClary (her husband James). We have come to expect great performances from these two veteran actors. Tom has perfected the “puzzled/bewildered look” so it always comes as a surprise that he can do angry scenes so well.
Lauren Strauss (Theresa) and Sebastian Arroyo (Shultz) were new names for me. Both of them have the ability to appear perfectly cast in their parts, as if there is no “acting” involved. They also each had an opportunity to show tender moments that were very believable.
High school sophomore Julia Laplante (Lauren) is not a new face, but one that the area definitely should be watching. Through her facial expressions and body language we watched a very insecure little girl mature before our eyes.
I have learned to always expect the unexpected from the Next Stage and once again I was not disappointed. If you have not found this group and you enjoy meaningful theater, you have this weekend to check out Circle Mirror Transformation, winner of the 2010 Obie Award for The Best New American Play.
Performances will be April the 6th at 8:00, April the 7th at 2:00 and 8:00 and April the 8th at 2:00. The Studio Space is located in the State Theater on College Avenue in State College. Tickets are $16 (students and seniors $14).
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
BOOK REVIEWS: Vacation Reading 2012
We just got back from our yearly trip west. This was a trip for me to read the light fun books that would not take up the space for an individual review. So here is a hint of what I did when the Black Jack tables were cold.
Usually I enjoy Dorothy Garlock books. Her "historical fiction" genre takes place during the Great Depression and the Second World War. Granted, that is not that far back in time for some of us. Her STAY A LITTLE LONGER was not as good as I expected.
Rachel Watkins has been taking care of a failing boardinghouse, a mother who refuses to leave her bedroom, an uncle who stays drunk most of the time, and her dead sister’s young daughter. When her supposedly dead brother-in-law returns from the war, she is dealing with all of the above, plus someone who is willing to kill to get the property that the boardinghouse occupies.
The story was good enough and the characters were likable, but the author really strained my sense of logic with some of the plot twists.
Sharon Sala has never been a disappointment to me. Her books always have believable characters and more than enough suspense to keep the reader turning pages. Her trilogy STORM FRONT is very good.
The three stories take place in the small town during and after a twister causes damage not only to the town, but to the comfortable life style of the people. Torn Apart revolves around a little boy and the sexual predator who has been watching him. The storm provides the opportunity for the abduction of the child. Blown Away is writer Cari North’s story. Just before the twister hits. Cari stumbles across her ex-fiancé digging a grave out in the Louisiana woods. Rushing home, she finds that her family, including a “look-alike” cousin, has been destroyed by the storm. Exchanging identities with the dead cousin gives Cari a chance to find proof of the murder. The third book, Swept Away tells of four prisoners, one of them an important undercover agent, who escape when the side of the local prison is blown away by the storm. What makes these three books so interesting is how each plot is woven through all three books--but not enough to ruin any one of them.
Finally, Margaret Coel's latest, THE LOST BIRD, has Arapaho attorney, Vicky Holden, and Father John O’Malley searching for the truth about all of the babies that were born on the reservation and supposedly died at birth. Now thirty years later, questions arise when the old priest who has been sent to be Father John’s assistant is murdered. This is one of my favorite series. Coel writes well and is definitely a voice for the modern Native American as he struggles to keep his people’s traditions alive.
Usually I enjoy Dorothy Garlock books. Her "historical fiction" genre takes place during the Great Depression and the Second World War. Granted, that is not that far back in time for some of us. Her STAY A LITTLE LONGER was not as good as I expected.
Rachel Watkins has been taking care of a failing boardinghouse, a mother who refuses to leave her bedroom, an uncle who stays drunk most of the time, and her dead sister’s young daughter. When her supposedly dead brother-in-law returns from the war, she is dealing with all of the above, plus someone who is willing to kill to get the property that the boardinghouse occupies.
The story was good enough and the characters were likable, but the author really strained my sense of logic with some of the plot twists.
Sharon Sala has never been a disappointment to me. Her books always have believable characters and more than enough suspense to keep the reader turning pages. Her trilogy STORM FRONT is very good.
The three stories take place in the small town during and after a twister causes damage not only to the town, but to the comfortable life style of the people. Torn Apart revolves around a little boy and the sexual predator who has been watching him. The storm provides the opportunity for the abduction of the child. Blown Away is writer Cari North’s story. Just before the twister hits. Cari stumbles across her ex-fiancé digging a grave out in the Louisiana woods. Rushing home, she finds that her family, including a “look-alike” cousin, has been destroyed by the storm. Exchanging identities with the dead cousin gives Cari a chance to find proof of the murder. The third book, Swept Away tells of four prisoners, one of them an important undercover agent, who escape when the side of the local prison is blown away by the storm. What makes these three books so interesting is how each plot is woven through all three books--but not enough to ruin any one of them.
Finally, Margaret Coel's latest, THE LOST BIRD, has Arapaho attorney, Vicky Holden, and Father John O’Malley searching for the truth about all of the babies that were born on the reservation and supposedly died at birth. Now thirty years later, questions arise when the old priest who has been sent to be Father John’s assistant is murdered. This is one of my favorite series. Coel writes well and is definitely a voice for the modern Native American as he struggles to keep his people’s traditions alive.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
BOOK REVIEW: Unwise Passions
It has often been said that truth is stranger than fiction. To me that means that sometimes a book based on well-documented facts can be the most fascinating book of the week.
UNWISE PASSIONS by Alan Pell Crawford is an excellent example of a true story that will keep you up at night until the last page. It is the book to give the friend who is interested in the early struggles of our country, as well as introducing us to a remarkable woman, woman who was at the center of what is considered to be the First Great Scandal of Eighteen-Century America.
Anne Cary Randolph, known to her family and friends as Nancy, and her sister Judith Randolph were part of the Randolph family of Virginia. The family was the closest thing to royalty that the new country had. Among their brothers and sister was Thomas Mann Randolph who was married to Martha (Patsy) Jefferson, daughter of Thomas Jefferson.
Patsy and Thomas were cousins, as were Judith and her husband Richard Randolph. Their family tree shows that this was a common practice. It was said that only a Randolph was good enough to marry a Randolph.
The book centers on Nancy Randolph. Nancy appears to have been a pretty, vivacious girl. She had received several offers of marriage, but became engaged to Theodorick one of Richard’s brothers. In the process she had turned down his other brother John.
Theo dies before they can be married and rumors start that Nancy and Richard, her brother-in-law, have had a child and murdered it. Not only were they accused of murder, but of incest. Marrying first cousins was not against the law, but an affair with a brother-in-law was.
Through the following trial and Nancy’s life after Richard’s death, the reader gets to see many of the political figures of the time. Crawford has been very diligent in his research. His notes at the end of the book give credit to the letters and diaries from the time. Because most of the cast of characters were well known, their correspondence has saved.
Although I had trouble keeping the Randolph family names straight at first, I soon became very intrigued by these real people. I learned more about Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Gouverneur Morris than I ever got in history classes.
If the beginning of our country and a personal glimpse of some of our founding fathers are of interest to you, this is an excellent find. If you just like to read about interesting people and how strong the human spirit is, this is a good book for you. It is always fascinating to see how people, politics, and scandal do not change much over the years.
UNWISE PASSIONS by Alan Pell Crawford is an excellent example of a true story that will keep you up at night until the last page. It is the book to give the friend who is interested in the early struggles of our country, as well as introducing us to a remarkable woman, woman who was at the center of what is considered to be the First Great Scandal of Eighteen-Century America.
Anne Cary Randolph, known to her family and friends as Nancy, and her sister Judith Randolph were part of the Randolph family of Virginia. The family was the closest thing to royalty that the new country had. Among their brothers and sister was Thomas Mann Randolph who was married to Martha (Patsy) Jefferson, daughter of Thomas Jefferson.
Patsy and Thomas were cousins, as were Judith and her husband Richard Randolph. Their family tree shows that this was a common practice. It was said that only a Randolph was good enough to marry a Randolph.
The book centers on Nancy Randolph. Nancy appears to have been a pretty, vivacious girl. She had received several offers of marriage, but became engaged to Theodorick one of Richard’s brothers. In the process she had turned down his other brother John.
Theo dies before they can be married and rumors start that Nancy and Richard, her brother-in-law, have had a child and murdered it. Not only were they accused of murder, but of incest. Marrying first cousins was not against the law, but an affair with a brother-in-law was.
Through the following trial and Nancy’s life after Richard’s death, the reader gets to see many of the political figures of the time. Crawford has been very diligent in his research. His notes at the end of the book give credit to the letters and diaries from the time. Because most of the cast of characters were well known, their correspondence has saved.
Although I had trouble keeping the Randolph family names straight at first, I soon became very intrigued by these real people. I learned more about Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and Gouverneur Morris than I ever got in history classes.
If the beginning of our country and a personal glimpse of some of our founding fathers are of interest to you, this is an excellent find. If you just like to read about interesting people and how strong the human spirit is, this is a good book for you. It is always fascinating to see how people, politics, and scandal do not change much over the years.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
BOOK REVIEW: The Encyclopedia of Bad Taste
A friend gave me a copy of THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BAD TASTE recently. Rather than spend time asking myself, “Why me?” I decided to take the title at face value and just enjoy it.
In true encyclopedia style, Jane and Michael Stern have set up the book with subjects from A, accordion music, to Z, zoot suits. Each subject has been carefully researched so that the facts can be easily referenced. Due to limited space and a fear of offending some of our readers, I have chosen several that I found to be enlightening.
How dull our world would be without Jell-O. It has become so popular that the term itself has gone from a brand name to a generic word for any gelatin desert. It is so versatile that it is found in little plain cubes being served to sick people in hospitals to ornate salads as a mainstay at covered dish suppers. It is how Americans really eat; most gourmet magazines rarely mention it.
Pop-topping is a term that was new to me, but I remember the fad vividly. Not too long ago, cans needed a can opener. After having to use his car bumper at a picnic to open a can of beer, Ermal Cleon Fraze invented the pull-tab can opener. Unfortunately, people threw the tabs on sidewalks and grass as cigarette butts are thrown creating a litter problem.
Flash back to 1970, the night before a big Tom Jones concert. Gonzalo Chavez needed something outstanding to wear. He made two vests, one for himself and one for a friend, out of the throw away pull tabs. From that simple beginning, Mr. Chavez changed his name to Pop -Top Terp and started an industry of garments made from pop-tops. Fortunately, for us, the next invention allowed the tab to stay with the can. We do have to thank Pop-Top Terp for being one of the early pioneers of recycling.
Of course Loud Ties, Spam, T-shirts with personal statements, Velvet Art and Candle Art are among the things included. I took it personally that Fuzzy Dice had a chapter. Then I remembered reading someplace that there is no such thing as good taste or bad taste; it is what you like.
This would be a great “coffee table” book; the conversations would be endless.
In true encyclopedia style, Jane and Michael Stern have set up the book with subjects from A, accordion music, to Z, zoot suits. Each subject has been carefully researched so that the facts can be easily referenced. Due to limited space and a fear of offending some of our readers, I have chosen several that I found to be enlightening.
How dull our world would be without Jell-O. It has become so popular that the term itself has gone from a brand name to a generic word for any gelatin desert. It is so versatile that it is found in little plain cubes being served to sick people in hospitals to ornate salads as a mainstay at covered dish suppers. It is how Americans really eat; most gourmet magazines rarely mention it.
Pop-topping is a term that was new to me, but I remember the fad vividly. Not too long ago, cans needed a can opener. After having to use his car bumper at a picnic to open a can of beer, Ermal Cleon Fraze invented the pull-tab can opener. Unfortunately, people threw the tabs on sidewalks and grass as cigarette butts are thrown creating a litter problem.
Flash back to 1970, the night before a big Tom Jones concert. Gonzalo Chavez needed something outstanding to wear. He made two vests, one for himself and one for a friend, out of the throw away pull tabs. From that simple beginning, Mr. Chavez changed his name to Pop -Top Terp and started an industry of garments made from pop-tops. Fortunately, for us, the next invention allowed the tab to stay with the can. We do have to thank Pop-Top Terp for being one of the early pioneers of recycling.
Of course Loud Ties, Spam, T-shirts with personal statements, Velvet Art and Candle Art are among the things included. I took it personally that Fuzzy Dice had a chapter. Then I remembered reading someplace that there is no such thing as good taste or bad taste; it is what you like.
This would be a great “coffee table” book; the conversations would be endless.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
BOOK REVIEW: On Chesil Beach
ON CHESIL BEACH by Ian McEwan could only take place in the early 1960’s before the Sexual Revolution and could only have been written after enough time has passed for that era to be viewed objectively.
Edward and Florence are in the honeymoon suite in a cozy hotel on the Dorset coast of England. They had been married that morning and this is the first chance they have had to be alone. The sitting room is charming, the meal good, and, from where Florence is sitting, the bed is uncomfortably in her line of vision.
The meal and conversation become increasingly strained. As we read their private thoughts, we see how each is struggling with the fears of the night ahead. The sad part of their story is that they do love each other, but fear of the physical side of love will take them on a journey to a point of no return.
McEwan has crafted a story that shows his talent with words and mood. The problem for most readers today will be to understand the couple’s complete lack of openness. We are in part the result of the decade when we grew up. The difference between being a product of the 1950’s and that of being from the 1970’s or later is noteworthy and may make the point of this book less relevant for different generations.
McEwan has captured the style of writing of the early 1960’s British authors. It is formal and the words have elegance, but that causes a distance from the characters. That makes it difficult for the reader to identify with Edward or Florence. I felt sad for them, but also wanted to give them a good shaking. All they needed was the ability to communicate. It is important to remember how much harder it was to have open conversations about sex before the days of Woodstock.
I chose ON CHESIL BEACH because I wanted to try an Ian McEwan book and this looked as if it would be a fast read. As a result, I do not know if this is typical of his work. This will not go on a list of my favorite books, but I will try his more popular Atonement next time.
Edward and Florence are in the honeymoon suite in a cozy hotel on the Dorset coast of England. They had been married that morning and this is the first chance they have had to be alone. The sitting room is charming, the meal good, and, from where Florence is sitting, the bed is uncomfortably in her line of vision.
The meal and conversation become increasingly strained. As we read their private thoughts, we see how each is struggling with the fears of the night ahead. The sad part of their story is that they do love each other, but fear of the physical side of love will take them on a journey to a point of no return.
McEwan has crafted a story that shows his talent with words and mood. The problem for most readers today will be to understand the couple’s complete lack of openness. We are in part the result of the decade when we grew up. The difference between being a product of the 1950’s and that of being from the 1970’s or later is noteworthy and may make the point of this book less relevant for different generations.
McEwan has captured the style of writing of the early 1960’s British authors. It is formal and the words have elegance, but that causes a distance from the characters. That makes it difficult for the reader to identify with Edward or Florence. I felt sad for them, but also wanted to give them a good shaking. All they needed was the ability to communicate. It is important to remember how much harder it was to have open conversations about sex before the days of Woodstock.
I chose ON CHESIL BEACH because I wanted to try an Ian McEwan book and this looked as if it would be a fast read. As a result, I do not know if this is typical of his work. This will not go on a list of my favorite books, but I will try his more popular Atonement next time.
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