Wednesday, August 01, 2012
Shakespeare
We went with Peter and Donna to see the Tempest at Shakespeare and Company with Olivia Dukakis playing the part of Prospero (or Prospera).
Most did not think she was as good as they hoped and might agree with this review
http://blog.timesunion.com/localarts/the-tempest-shakespeare-company-72712/24418/
but I liked her as well as all the other actors. The entire experience was just so rich and satisfying. I have never seen a better Tempest.
http://berkshireonstage.com/2012/01/11/coming-to-shakespeare-company-in-2012-lear-tempest-satchmo-red-allergists-wife-tartuffe-more/
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=kristin+wold+ariel&hl=en&sa=X&qscrl=1&nord=1&rlz=1T4ADFA_enUS467US467&biw=1067&bih=411&tbm=isch&prmd=imvnso&tbnid=oX6eAMRUfa6HhM:&imgrefurl=http://berkshireonstage.com/2012/07/28/burns-and-cane-review-the-tempest-at-shakespeare-company/&docid=cX2fhrGlOyRleM&imgurl=http://berkshireonstage.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/bostempestlead.jpg&w=700&h=445&ei=ftsZUL7tJ8jZ6wGr24HwDA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=61&vpy=120&dur=88&hovh=179&hovw=282&tx=149&ty=128&sig=109016220057747376444&page=1&tbnh=95&tbnw=127&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:76
So many of the actors were above and beyond what I expect when I see live theater. They were rich in their personalities and perfect in their presentations. Ariel was perfectly spritelike. I loved her. I wish she lived in our woods.
http://www.drama.uconn.edu/Faculty/bios/Kristin_Wold.htm
We went up very early for a backstage tour. I am not a great fan of backstage tours, but this was one of the best. The presentation was quick spoken and packed with information. It was done by a administrator of the company and he seemed to know everything and respond easily to questions.
He led us through the theaters as well as the planned theater that will replicate Shakespeare's Rose theater. There is a small model that is testing the materials to be used to see what holds up and what does not. It is a thatched building where reeds are the only roof. It was quite interesting.
the building itself would cost 32 million to build and that would not include bathrooms, food places, dressing rooms. Those would have to be added outside of the replica. If building started today, it would be 12-15 years before it was finished. It was not a hasty improvement.
Some really old buildings exist in disrepair on the property, but they can't take them down unless they are going to immediately rebuild because they need to preserve the footprint in order to rebuild. So many rules.
Not part of the tour was the Shakespeare gardens filled with plants that are mentioned in the plays. The only one from the Tempest was one called Mallow or Malva Sylvestris. Donna thought it was a hybiscus.
In the play The Tempest. Gonzalo is saying “Had I plantation of this Isle, my lord…” when he is interrupted by Antonio and Sebastian saying: “He would sow it with nettle-seed. Or docks or mallow.”
http://www.eattheweeds.com/mallow-madness-the-false-roselle/
Also outside two sculptures caught my attention. One was Cubed by Michael Alfano. Here is a great video showing the possibilities in this piece of art
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaUQosmkKPo
Then there was Pregnant Cube
https://picasaweb.google.com/114105849746425335632/Berkshires2010#5499159209669138210
That was quite interesting. Looking inside the shapes were all circles or squiggles and a mirror. Outside it looked like a cube.
The origin of the expressions "raining cats and dogs" originates from the times of these roofs. Animals might be on the roof during tough weather and fall through is the rain was intense.
It was interesting that the building of a replica of the Rose Theater was faced with the issue of modern building codes, like I faced on my deck.
We visited all the rooms where things are made to support the plays, including shops and prop rooms. In one the staff that Prospero was to carry was being glued where it had split. Most impressive was the Fitzgerald Arms room that held perhaps the largest collection of prop guns, swords, knives, cleavers, etc in the world and certainly the largest in the northeast. We met the fellow responsible for the collection and for maintaining the props in good order. It was very impressive.
One sword he showed us had been made in a school metal shop where they had ordered over a dozen and hope then that the kids who made the swords would come and see the play.
There is plenty of outreach toward the younger set. The most unusual was a program that let youthful offenders do their time by participating in a play at Shakespeare and Company. Being "sentenced to Shakespeare" it was jokingly called. We saw some young people practicing for some play that involved drum rhythms and dancing. High Schools will perform their plays in their schools and then all come and see each other's presentations at Shakespeare and Company. One young girl who had been in one of the workshops was touring along with us and her family.
In one of the prop rooms we were told hat blood was one of the hardest bits to develop because each time it was used in a play it was a unique recipe in order both to do what it needed to do and be able to be cleaned quickly from the costumes.
In the rehearsal room we saw a stage which was bare except for outlines on the floor showing where furniture would be. Here the actors practiced. Generally, it was not until 4 days before the play that they performed in the theater itself and with the bits of the play in order. Amazing really.
Afterwards we stopped at Salmon Run for supper. I had a fine grilled salmon and good squash and zuchinni. Elizabeth had tilapia that was just yummy and let me get quite a few bites.
So we had a fine day. Peter and Donna had plenty to say about all sorts of topics. Peter is currently trying to decipher the cryptic penmanship from some original letters by a man who was under Seward during the Civil War and wrote to his wife from Japan. His penmanship was atrocious so Peter is helping to figure out what the letters say.
At home I caught a bluegill off the dock, wrote this blog, and went to bed.
Favorite quote:
"Your cram your words into my ear against the stomach of my sense."
I thought it appropriate to Facebook and posted it there.
*************************
I also found this argument against the exclusive nature of Silks, interesting as backdrop to my reading of Dick Francis and his book by that name.
http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/geoffrey-bindman/on-becoming-silk-ritual-restriction-and-royal-allegiance
In Francis it may also have been intended to reflect the costumes of jockeys in the world of horses.
Most did not think she was as good as they hoped and might agree with this review
http://blog.timesunion.com/localarts/the-tempest-shakespeare-company-72712/24418/
but I liked her as well as all the other actors. The entire experience was just so rich and satisfying. I have never seen a better Tempest.
http://berkshireonstage.com/2012/01/11/coming-to-shakespeare-company-in-2012-lear-tempest-satchmo-red-allergists-wife-tartuffe-more/
http://www.google.com/imgres?q=kristin+wold+ariel&hl=en&sa=X&qscrl=1&nord=1&rlz=1T4ADFA_enUS467US467&biw=1067&bih=411&tbm=isch&prmd=imvnso&tbnid=oX6eAMRUfa6HhM:&imgrefurl=http://berkshireonstage.com/2012/07/28/burns-and-cane-review-the-tempest-at-shakespeare-company/&docid=cX2fhrGlOyRleM&imgurl=http://berkshireonstage.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/bostempestlead.jpg&w=700&h=445&ei=ftsZUL7tJ8jZ6wGr24HwDA&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=61&vpy=120&dur=88&hovh=179&hovw=282&tx=149&ty=128&sig=109016220057747376444&page=1&tbnh=95&tbnw=127&start=0&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0,i:76
So many of the actors were above and beyond what I expect when I see live theater. They were rich in their personalities and perfect in their presentations. Ariel was perfectly spritelike. I loved her. I wish she lived in our woods.
http://www.drama.uconn.edu/Faculty/bios/Kristin_Wold.htm
We went up very early for a backstage tour. I am not a great fan of backstage tours, but this was one of the best. The presentation was quick spoken and packed with information. It was done by a administrator of the company and he seemed to know everything and respond easily to questions.
He led us through the theaters as well as the planned theater that will replicate Shakespeare's Rose theater. There is a small model that is testing the materials to be used to see what holds up and what does not. It is a thatched building where reeds are the only roof. It was quite interesting.
the building itself would cost 32 million to build and that would not include bathrooms, food places, dressing rooms. Those would have to be added outside of the replica. If building started today, it would be 12-15 years before it was finished. It was not a hasty improvement.
Some really old buildings exist in disrepair on the property, but they can't take them down unless they are going to immediately rebuild because they need to preserve the footprint in order to rebuild. So many rules.
Not part of the tour was the Shakespeare gardens filled with plants that are mentioned in the plays. The only one from the Tempest was one called Mallow or Malva Sylvestris. Donna thought it was a hybiscus.
In the play The Tempest. Gonzalo is saying “Had I plantation of this Isle, my lord…” when he is interrupted by Antonio and Sebastian saying: “He would sow it with nettle-seed. Or docks or mallow.”
http://www.eattheweeds.com/mallow-madness-the-false-roselle/
Also outside two sculptures caught my attention. One was Cubed by Michael Alfano. Here is a great video showing the possibilities in this piece of art
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaUQosmkKPo
Then there was Pregnant Cube
https://picasaweb.google.com/114105849746425335632/Berkshires2010#5499159209669138210
That was quite interesting. Looking inside the shapes were all circles or squiggles and a mirror. Outside it looked like a cube.
The origin of the expressions "raining cats and dogs" originates from the times of these roofs. Animals might be on the roof during tough weather and fall through is the rain was intense.
It was interesting that the building of a replica of the Rose Theater was faced with the issue of modern building codes, like I faced on my deck.
We visited all the rooms where things are made to support the plays, including shops and prop rooms. In one the staff that Prospero was to carry was being glued where it had split. Most impressive was the Fitzgerald Arms room that held perhaps the largest collection of prop guns, swords, knives, cleavers, etc in the world and certainly the largest in the northeast. We met the fellow responsible for the collection and for maintaining the props in good order. It was very impressive.
One sword he showed us had been made in a school metal shop where they had ordered over a dozen and hope then that the kids who made the swords would come and see the play.
There is plenty of outreach toward the younger set. The most unusual was a program that let youthful offenders do their time by participating in a play at Shakespeare and Company. Being "sentenced to Shakespeare" it was jokingly called. We saw some young people practicing for some play that involved drum rhythms and dancing. High Schools will perform their plays in their schools and then all come and see each other's presentations at Shakespeare and Company. One young girl who had been in one of the workshops was touring along with us and her family.
In one of the prop rooms we were told hat blood was one of the hardest bits to develop because each time it was used in a play it was a unique recipe in order both to do what it needed to do and be able to be cleaned quickly from the costumes.
In the rehearsal room we saw a stage which was bare except for outlines on the floor showing where furniture would be. Here the actors practiced. Generally, it was not until 4 days before the play that they performed in the theater itself and with the bits of the play in order. Amazing really.
Afterwards we stopped at Salmon Run for supper. I had a fine grilled salmon and good squash and zuchinni. Elizabeth had tilapia that was just yummy and let me get quite a few bites.
So we had a fine day. Peter and Donna had plenty to say about all sorts of topics. Peter is currently trying to decipher the cryptic penmanship from some original letters by a man who was under Seward during the Civil War and wrote to his wife from Japan. His penmanship was atrocious so Peter is helping to figure out what the letters say.
At home I caught a bluegill off the dock, wrote this blog, and went to bed.
Favorite quote:
"Your cram your words into my ear against the stomach of my sense."
I thought it appropriate to Facebook and posted it there.
*************************
I also found this argument against the exclusive nature of Silks, interesting as backdrop to my reading of Dick Francis and his book by that name.
http://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/geoffrey-bindman/on-becoming-silk-ritual-restriction-and-royal-allegiance
In Francis it may also have been intended to reflect the costumes of jockeys in the world of horses.
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