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I just finished Oedipus at Colonus, translated by Francis Storrs. Perhaps 3½ stars for the play but not in this translation. Storrs translated the ancient Greek as if he was trying to write like an Elizabethan. I have enough trouble understanding the Elizabethans when their native tongue was English!I don't think that this play is as good (strong, powerful) as the other two Oedipus plays. However, this middle play of Sophocles' trilogy provides an important bridge between the more powerful first (Oedipus Rex) and last (Antigone) plays. It concludes the action of Oedipus Rex and sets the scene for the action in Antigone. Those two can of course stand on their own, but this play does flesh out the overarching story.
Over the weekend, I read another Joe Orton play, Entertaining Mr. Sloane.Amusing play about a young man (something like Mr. Ripley from Patricia Highsmith's classic) who is lodging with a woman whose whole family is trying to make some kind of claim on him. The homosexual aspect was probably risqué back in the 1960s when it was first performed, but what I found both funny and sad was the sexual competition between brother and sister.
Leslie wrote: "Over the weekend, I read another Joe Orton play, Entertaining Mr. Sloane.Amusing play about a young man (something like Mr. Ripley from Patricia Highsmith's classic) ..."
That sounds like Xavier Dolan movie. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0230859/
I get a regular email from an organisation called hiddeneurope (by the way I would definitely recommend them; their emails are generally very interesting).I'm sure they won't mind if I share the most recent one with you, which is about Shakespeare and Italy.
LETTER FROM EUROPE e-brief 2014/20
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"http://www.hiddeneurope.co.uk/hidden-..."
Thursday 31 July 2014
Dear fellow travellers
Hot summer days... and we've been meandering through northern Italy.
Virtually, with Shakespeare by our side. Remember Lucentio who, in 'The
Taming of the Shrew', leaves his home city of Pisa in Tuscany? Lucentio's
servant Tranio accompanies his master.
Pisa is, says Lucentio, no more than "a shallow plash", and Lucentio is
evidently a man with ambition. He wants to plunge into the deep. 'The deep'
is "fruitful Lombardy".
Shakespeare is, we might venture, being a tad hard on Pisa which is hardly
the backwater (or shallow plash) that Lucentio suggests. Did Shakespeare
perhaps receive a retainer from Lombardy and was thus bound to promote the
province's fruitful charm? Were that indeed the case, Shakespeare's
paymasters in Lombardy might have had just cause for grievance, because the
city to which Lucentio travels is Padua, which he dubs a "nursery of arts".
Now Padua is a lovely place, but it is not in Lombardy. Not now, nor in the
past. Shakespeare's choice of Padua as Lucentio's destination makes perfect
sense, for the city's university was already very popular with English
students by the mid-16th century. So Padua as a name already had a certain
currency in Elizabethan England. Had Shakespeare taken a quick peek at any
of the fine atlases in the hidden europe collection, he would have realised
that Padua was well east of Lombardy. He was, we think, misled by hazy
Elizabethan cartography. Lombardy was often imprecisely placed on the maps
of Shakespeare's day.
The north Italian city of Bergamo gets an interesting mention in 'The
Taming of the Shrew', where we learn that Tranio's father worked as a sail
maker in Bergamo - a fine city that has many assets, but proximity to any
lake or sea is not among them. A small town on a hilltop would hardly be a
propitious spot to develop a career making sails. Perhaps poor Tranio, let
down by his dad's daft business plan, grew up as a pauper and thus ended up
as a servant. Or did Shakespeare not quite know where Bergamo was?
Shakespeare's Italy is imprecise. But that of course is the prerogative of
theatre. It seems unlikely that Pisa really was so full of country bumpkins
as to make it a mere "shallow plash".
Elsewhere in Shakespeare's plays, we find a bevy of other north Italian
cities: Florence, Mantua and Verona. 'Romeo and Juliet' is essentially a
Verona play (even more so than 'The Two Gentlemen of Verona' which is as
much Milan as Verona). But there is of course a famous Mantua scene in
'Romeo and Juliet'. Romeo has been banished to the lakeside city, but we
learn little about Mantua. Which brings us back to 'The Taming of the
Shrew'. There is a nice scene in the latter play where Tranio suggests to
the pedant (who hails from Mantua) that leaving the town brings only death.
It is a point we always ponder as we wait on the station platform for a
train out of Mantua.
Tranio's advice to the pedant of Mantua might profitably have been directed
to Romeo. He hired horses and left Mantua. Within 24 hours he was dead.
Nicky Gardner and Susanne Kries
(editors, hidden europe)
Interesting, Gill. I enjoyed reading through it.
Mod
Katy, I know it's been a while since you posted this, but I'm curious how you liked them. Which was your favorite?
I see most of my plays in California where I live, but I recently got to see If/Then on Broadway. I was so excited! I took my 13 year old nephew to see it, and afterwards he said it was 4 out of 5 stars for him. For me, it was ok, but my expectations were just too high. I loved the last musical that team created, Next to Normal, a musical about mental illness of all things that just blew me away, so incredible!
Has anyone here read or seen A Delicate Balance? I first read it in a theatre studies class and loved it, then was fortunate enough to see it live.I'm not sure if this has been asked already, but do you all prefer reading or watching plays? They're both such different experiences, and watching has a lot more elements to enjoy (the visuals, the sounds, appreciation of the actors' talents, etc). But reading gives me a better comprehension of it and lets the play stay in my mind more clearly, because I can take my time with it. But in the end I think I'd prefer watching, because, theatre!
Mod
I've seen pretty good productions of The Zoo Story & Three Tall Women, and I've seen an amazing production of The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?.
Somehow I missed the production of A Delicate Balance! Where did you see it?! That's one of Albee's I haven't read either, although I know it's one of his several award winners. Oh, I would've loved to see it!
As far as reading or seeing plays performed, they're both good for different reasons as you say. Usually I will either read a play, then see it, then read it again afterwards. Or if I want to be surprised, I'll see it first and then read it afterwards. I think the two experiences deepen each other. I find I have a much fuller appreciation seeing some plays when I've read them as well because, just as you say, you can take time and savor the words!
Certain plays are very good read (even without seeing the performance). For instance, I thought Equus was mind-blowing in book form. Seeing it performed was amazing too, but it was a good read. Others I think are hard to understand on paper without the performance. I feel that way about Samuel Beckett, though that could be a flaw on my part - I don’t really understand his plays without seeing them.
Of these, the only one I know and have seen on stage in the West End (London) is Equus by Peter Shaffer. It was incredibly powerful and disturbing - before the film had been made, so even more shocking. I think Peter Firth played the young man, though Daniel Radcliffe played the part in 2007. Peter Shaffer also wrote Amadeus a few years later, which was also incredible on stage in the West End - and the film is brilliant too. An earlier play of his was Five Finger Exercise: A Play, though I've only seen that locally and on TV. I think it was considered very brave and outspoken at the time it was written.
Mod
Albee can be depressing, and The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? is about twice as disturbing as Equus if you can believe it (the second act is darkly hilarious but the third is shatteringly disturbing to the point that I hardly know what to make of it). But there are flashes of amazing genius in his plays. I strongly recommend reading The Zoo Story if you get a chance - a short one-act play & quick read, very thought provoking.
Just read the goodreads summary for Equus... Wow. :O I am disturbed and intrigued at the same time. I will have to check this one out.
Shannon Noel wrote: "Has anyone here read or seen A Delicate Balance? I first read it in a theatre studies class and loved it, then was fortunate enough to see it live..."Not me. I'd like to pick an Albee play for next year - would that be a good one to choose?
Shannon Noel wrote: "I'm not not sure if this has been asked already, but do you all prefer reading or watching plays? They're both such different experiences, and watching has a lot more elements to enjoy (the visuals, the sounds, appreciation of the actors' talents, etc). But reading gives me a better comprehension ..."
I prefer watching them but between the cost and the availability of productions often find reading them is the only way for me to experience many plays. I do find that reading them does help me retain details while watching can help me comprehend the overall action and mood (especially with Shakespeare and other "old" plays where the language is not always clear to me).
Greg wrote: "As far as reading or seeing plays performed, they're both good for different reasons as you say. Usually I will either read a play, then see it, then read it again afterwards. Or if I want to be surprised, I'll see it first and then read it afterwards. I think the two experiences deepen each other. I find I have a much fuller appreciation seeing some plays when I've read them as well because, just as you say, you can take time and savor the words! ..."
Well said Greg! I definitely agree that the experiences deepen each other :)
Greg - Thanks, have noted Edward AlbeeGreg and Leslie - I agree about Shakespeare. I try to read one of his plays, if it is unfamiliar, before I see it on stage.
Come to think of it, now that I've just read A Midsummer Night's Dream -
here's my review
- doesn't that mean I'm "entitled" to go and see a performance of it?! LOL
I have a musical and a play in mind that I particularly would like to watch and they are Oscar Wilde's Salome(musical) and The Importance of Being Earnest(play) because I enjoyed the texts so much. When I was in Paris in 2011 I wanted so much to watch the Richard Strauss musical "Salome" which was on at the Bastilles Opera House, but my companion isn't into plays or musicals, so I missed the chance :(I'm so thrilled I have a ticket for the Shakespeare Globe production of A Midsummer Night's Dream which is on in Hong Kong in November!!
Speaking of Shakespeare and Midsummer's, did you guys know about Julie Taymor's edition of Midsummer Night's Dream? I watched the trailer and the visuals/effects are like... KAPOW BOOM SHAZAM! Would probably be amazing to see live but apparently there is a film recording of it too, since Taymor is not touring it. Here's a link to the trailer: http://vimeo.com/103802510
Mod
Jean, I bought a copy of Amadeus, and I think at some point I'd like to read Five Finger Exercise: A Play as well. I liked Equus and want to read more!
I have that issue with expenses too Leslie. I can get deals at a number of theaters; so I go to those frequently. But some big shows I've never seen because they keep playing at expensive theaters with few deals. That's why I still haven't seen Wicked or Book of Mormon.
Shannon Noel wrote: "Speaking of Shakespeare and Midsummer's, did you guys know about Julie Taymor's edition of Midsummer Night's Dream? I watched the trailer and the visuals/effects are like... KAPOW BOOM SHAZAM! Woul..."That's interesting, Shannon. I didn't know that. But I think I would prefer Renaissance costumes and stage settings for Shakespearean plays :)
I think I'm with you there, Alice. I remember watching Shakespeare's Coriolanus in the round, so no scenery or sets, and in modern dress. I was bored out of my mind and could not tell what on earth was going on - except that a lot of men were shouting at one another. And I was studying the play at the time too...
Jean wrote: "I think I'm with you there, Alice. I remember watching Shakespeare's Coriolanus in the round, so no scenery or sets, and in modern dress. I was bored out of my mind and could not tell..."Interesting -- I saw A Merchant in Venice 2-3 years ago in which the language was all straight Shakespeare but the sets & costumes were modern and it worked amazingly well. They even had people do soliloquies as if they were talking into cell phones!
It was watching that play that started me on reading plays on a regular basis...
Perhaps The Merchant of Venice would work better than one of his histories, (which I tend not to like as much.) Though I should think a lot would depend on the skill of the staging. It does need to be done very well to make Shakespeare's language accessible to a modern audience - I think we need "clues". When I said modern dress, that was a bit misleading, sorry. They were all in anonymous plain smocks :( I just meant there were no proper costumes. Yours would probably have worked a lot better, Leslie. Although it may well have prompted me to want to see an authentic version afterwards, even so! :)
Mod
@Alice, have fun seeing it in Hong Kong! I know you will :)
I think the best Shakespeare production I've seen so far was a production of As You Like It with the pre-Downton Abbey Dan Stevens among others at the Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles.
For those California locals in OC or LA: There's actually a small production of Twelfth Night going on at the Long Beach Playhouse right now with fairly cheap tickets. http://www.lbplayhouse.org I don’t know how good it is but I've had pretty good luck with their Studio Theater before. The Mainstage has been hit or miss (non-equity), but so far the Studio Theater (equity) has been good, sometimes excellent. Hopefully I'll get a chance to see it.
Shannon Noel wrote: "Has anyone here read or seen A Delicate Balance? I first read it in a theatre studies class and loved it, then was fortunate enough to see it live.I'm not sure if this has been aske..."
I actually just read two plays I had already seen on stage, Boy Gets Girl and If There Is I Haven't Found It Yet: A Play. The first was better on stage. Actually I think Rebecca Gillman's plays are always better on stage. But I liked the second one better on paper. There is a lot of repetition in dialogue and I found it grating on stage, but not when reading it.
Does anyone know a play called Helvar's Night by Ingmar Villqist? It's on near here next month and I'm wondering whether to get a ticket for it.Earlier in the month Betrayal by Harold Pinter is on, so I'm going to see that.
Oh yes, and tonight I'm going to see the dress rehearsal of Roundelay, a new production by Alan Ayckbourn in celebration of his 75th birthday.
Mod
I am unfamiliar with Villqist. You seem to be on a roll with theater going, Gill! I am a bit jealous :D
Leslie wrote: "I am unfamiliar with Villqist. You seem to be on a roll with theater going, Gill! I am a bit jealous :D"It's mainly because the autumn programmes come out all at once and I've decided to book tickets now, rather than leave till the last minute, when it's usually too late. It's also from the chat on here, which has reinvigorated me re plays. So thanks, all!
Gill wrote: "Leslie wrote: "I am unfamiliar with Villqist. You seem to be on a roll with theater going, Gill! I am a bit jealous :D"It's mainly because the autumn programmes come out all at once and I've de..."
I am patting myself on the back for helping encourage people to read & see plays :P
In another vein, I am looking forward to our soon-to-start Autumn play by Molière, The Imaginary Invalid!
Mod
I've seen shows at several of these but a special recommendation from me for two of those on the list.
1.I've seen some great stuff at Antaeus.
2. Deaf West Theater is world class! I've seen both plays and musicals they've put on, all absolutely wonderful and all better than the source material they'd adapted. In their musicals, they usually use two actors for each main role, one singing and one signing ASL, both acting the part, often each acting a slightly different facet of the personality of the person they're playing. It's not only fascinating to watch, but their techniques allow for some subtle deepenings and twists of meaning. Their adaption of Pippin took the relatively shallow source material and made it into something nuanced and striking. Chills of pleasure and recognized truth .. it was that good! And the deaf dancers were amazing - so strikingly expressive that they almost felt like they'd spoken.
Also a shout out to one theater company not mentioned in the article: East West Players - they adapt plays and musicals with asian casts. It was founded by the playwright David Henry Hwang I believe in order to provide more working opportunities for talented asian actors and actresses. But it goes well beyond that. Some world class stuff at that theater too!
Mod
http://www.cineplex.com/Movie/matthew...
Greg wrote: "For those living in Canada, a Matthew Bourne dance performance of Sleeping Beauty will be showing in movie theaters in a limited engagement. It wasn't my favorite Bourne, but it was still good.h..."
Ooh, thanks for the info, Greg! I'll see if I have time to watch it that day :)
amber wrote: "I went to see a production of All My Sons on Sunday. So far that is my favorite Miller play."I like that one a lot too, although I have only seen the film adaptation.
Broadway is one of my favorite places. Envy can't be there right now!
Leslie wrote: "amber wrote: "I went to see a production of All My Sons on Sunday. So far that is my favorite Miller play."I like that one a lot too, although I have only seen the film adaptation."
I'll have to watch that sometime.
Mod
http://www.los-angeles-theatre.com/th...
I'm just back from seeing a stage performance of Betrayal. Well acted. Like much of Harold Pinter's work it's as much about what isn't said, as what is. I would recommend reading it, if you haven't seen it. It's semi-autobiographical, and is in part based on his seven year affair with Joan Bakewell (although this wasn't generally known, when it was first performed).
I saw a friend at the theatre, and we were discussing 'the best play ever'. We both rated Translations extremely highly. Has anyone else seen this? I think it's a wonderful, moving, timeless, story. Again, if you don't know it, give it a go. (Leslie, can't remember how the group plays are chosen, but this would be a good one imo)
I'm so jealous Greg. I wanted to see that when it was on Broadway but never made it. I may have to make a trip to LA!Gill, I say Betrayal a couple of years ago at a regional theater. I enjoyed it very much although it was quite disturbing.
I'm going to Clybourne Park tomorrow. I'm very much looking forward to it.
Mod
Katy, I really enjoyed The Trip to Bountiful! If you can't make it to the show, they filmed the same production with most of the Broadway cast - http://m.imdb.com/title/tt3317326/ It's available on Amazon both streaming and DVD -
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00JJ3E... :)
I've just been to see a dramatised version of A Month in the Country by J.L. Carr. It was well performed, using a very small set effectively. It was moving and also quite uplifting.
Gill - Yes I saw Translations by Brian Friel years ago at the National Theatre. Can't remember much about it I'm afraid though - sorry!
Jean wrote: "Gill - Yes I saw Translations by Brian Friel years ago at the National Theatre. Can't remember much about it I'm afraid though - sorry!"It was a touring Nationsl Theatre production that I saw, Jean. So it may have been the same one,
I have been reading a lot of plays this month -- just finished Waiting for Godot yesterday, which was a change of pace from all the Gilbert & Sullivan I have been enjoying!
As you know I am a sucker for Beckett ;) How did you like it?I saw two productions of Waiting for Godot this summer at the Beckett festival. One in French with subtitles that ran too slow which added a whole new layer of bizarre and one in Yiddish language which to my own surprise I didn't need any subtitles for. I hadn't been aware that Yiddish is so close to German and also that German integrated quite a few Yiddish terms that stem from either Hebrew or Slavic languages.
Mod
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The one I liked most was Arthur Miller, Death of a Salesman
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Enjoy them all Katy!