plays and Poe

[ellen_datlow]

Great Poe review from
The Green Man Review


I've seen a couple of plays in the last week--first I went to see Mabou Mines' version of Ibsen's The Doll House. I had high hopes for this as I usually love Mabou Mines (even though they gave an awful rendition of Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said about 20 years ago) and I read that there were puppets --something they use very well in their productions. However, the production was a major disappointment. Once you got past the initial shock of all the men being played by dwarfs or midgets and Nora being played as a whingy, obnoxious child who is almost six feet tall. The set is a doll house through whose small door everyone (male and female)must pass to get onto the set. Symbolically this works very nicely but once you get the symbolism there's not anything else in the production that says anything new....Btw, the puppets only appear at the end are not used very interestingly (so Mary, don't rush to see the show just for them). I left the theater being more than a little pissed off.

Last night I finally saw August: Osage County, the Pulitzer Prize winning play by Tracy Letts. It currently has a cast including Elizabeth Ashley, John Cullum, and Estelle Parsons. I had my doubts when it first began but within fifteen minutes I was mesmerized. The play's about an elderly couple--the husband's a big boozer, the wife a pill freak (with cancer of the mouth--a nice symbol of her viciousness). They have three grown daughters: two have moved away, the middle one remains in town. The mother's sister and brother-in-law are also in the picture. And a native American caregiver is hired to take care of the household and the mother.

The husband (John Cullum) disappears and the family comes together and ...interacts (badly). The characters are very nice drawn and the acting is fine. More complex relationships/problems emerge. The mother is a monster and Parsons plays her perfectly. As Rick Bowes says, it's a soap opera but a very good one. It's very long (over three hours) but totally absorbing.

Comments

[foresthouse.livejournal.com]

Wow, I love the play The Doll House, but I'm having trouble trying to imagine it being staged as you describe. It just sounds rather weird! Too bad it didn't work as they wanted it to.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

I don't recall the last time I'd seen it but it was a looong time ago. So this production was something I was looking forward to. Quite a dash of ice water.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Yeah, we saw that Doll House the first time around, because I kinda knew the composer, and of course I was curious about the production. We nearly walked out, it was so dull and pointless. I was absolutely gobsmacked that they brought it back!

And August: Osage . . . yeah!!! We saw the same cast, and they were amazing. Some fuckin' great writing, there - a real actors' play, and they were fully up to it. Glad you liked, it too. Can't believe Cullum is still playing in it, as he's simultaneously starring in HEROES (which we saw in early previews - hasn't quite gelled yet) - no wonder he doesn't stick around for his curtain call!

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, August: Osage relaly blew me away. Aha! You've just explained why Cullum wasn't there at the end. Rick remarked on it and said he must have a clause in his contract but I actually wondered if he was in something else simultaneously. Sheesh that's a lot of work.

I hadn't realized that they brought Doll House back--aighh. I liked the music a lot though..that worked.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Well, I just thought it was because Cullum didn't want to hang out for 2 hours with nothing to do...

Can we go to something with you & Rick sometime?

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

That's what he thought but if he's in another play...that makes a lot of sense.

Love to--the only thing is I check TDF regularly and you have to get the tix pretty quickly or they go. Rick seems to be online when I'm online --for ex, Last night there were tix for the Ringling Bros circus for $15.50 --I wanted to go--asked Rick and Ellie Lang. Rick said yes right away. I emailed Ellie late last night and this morning she still hadn't gotten back so I rung her- no response. So I just bought two tix--Ellie eventually got back to me and I could have gotten a separate ticket for her but she wouldn't be sitting with us...
In any case, saying all that...yes...if I find anything I'm interested in I can always call you or Delia to ask if you're interested...

but same here--if there's something you two are interested please ask. (I usually can't afford full price for anything which is why I'm constantly checking TDF.

We're going to the see the whole production of Binibon April 1st if you want to join us.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

It's frustrating because there are a bunch of things I want to see right now! But I'm leaving for 10 days in Florida tomorrow.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

Do you two like dance? There often dance troupes I want to see at the Joyce Theater and elsewhere (and they're on offer at TDF)

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Delia likes dance better than I do. Actually, it would be cool if she could go with you sometimes.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

I would do that--Rick's gone with me but I'm not sure he really LIKES it :-)

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

I know how that is! We're going to Boston tom'w, and to my brother's wedding next weekend. So no theatre before March 22!

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

Super--let's start looking when we all get back. Have you seen the great stuff on right now? Two major previews: Impressionism and Exit the King (great casts in both)

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

We definitely want to see Impressionism. We just got tix to 'JOE TURNER'S COME AND GONE" for March 25 - I gotta lotta love for August Wilson.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

I didn't see that on TDF.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

omg - I hate Ionesco, but that cast!!!!!!!! Gotta go.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

I didn't realize it was Ionesco--I like some of his stuff.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

I, too, am an obsessive TDF-er. I've found, though, that if you buy tix for a show, and add more tix for a friend later to the same show, they WILL give you seats together! Automatically! At least, that's been our experience.

As I keep an eye on it, I see what stays up for awhile. August: Osage, for instance, has been there forever, and others are pretty reliable. But I missed my chance at Blithe Spirit!

What version of BINIBON is April 1? The final one is end of May, right?

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

I hadn't realized that...I think it may be timing. After all the seats might be full up.
Oops. Yes. It's the circus that's APril 1st--want to join us? ;-)

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

I'll have to ask Delia, and let you know tom'w, OK?

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

I leave tomorrow late morning--if you want to do it, just book on TDF for that day and let me know if you're coming.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

OK! I'm guessing not, cause we're going out a lot that week, but will do.

Bon voyage, and say Hi to everyone at ICFA for us.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

But the CIRCUS!!! Cotton candy!
Thanks.
Will do.