Monday, October 25, 2010

GRRRRRR!

These are some of the happy faces I saw at Friday night's performance of "Noises Off." A picture of my face would have been...cranky. Where was everyone? While the house was respectable, I recall times when the main floor was filled, along with one or both balconies. What is happening?
I know, I know...the economy....too tightly scheduled....too much to choose from....an occasional disappointing show...but really, when times get tough we all need to escape, and what better way to escape than through an evening with the arts.
"Noises Off" was a fine production - tough show for director, cast and support technicians, but they pulled it off with confidence. What impressed me most was that everyone on stage appeared to be having fun. As a theatre director, that is something of which I am acutely aware. When a cast is well rehearsed, and confident, the audience is more comfortable and more ready to suspend disbelief. A stronger energy exists when a cast if well rehearsed, and I suspect that this particular director did not buy into two of my most despised theatre myths: we don't want to peak too soon, and a bad dress rehearsal makes for a good opening night. To me, those are excuses, and...oh well, now I'm on my soapbox pretending to know what I'm talking about...so I will step down.
Suffice it to say I was disappointed in the number of empty seats. They should have been filled as we all celebrated and ushered in the Masquers' 80th season of working their behinds off to make us laugh, cry, think, and tap our toes. Hey, why not make it a point to take in at least two arts offering in the next year? Challenge your friends to do the same. Let's all work together to spread the word about the myriad of talent we have in our own backyard.
***My cranky face would also be an appropriate illustration of the book our book group as chosen for November - A Reliable Wife. The 58 pages I have read so far are chilly, and the main character's attitude toward women and relationships is beyond bothersome. Even though there have been enough hints dropped indicating that I am to keep my eye on the evil female character, I will be surprised if I find her as distasteful as the main male. You can see that I haven't warmed up to either enough to even recall their names right now. The book is an easy read; I expect I will be finished by tomorrow. For some reason, I find myself looking at the author's picture in the back of the book and wondering what anger in his past of led to the creation of these characters and situation.s I'll let you know if I am swayed differently after getting the whole story.
I better go before any more angst escapes. Have a wonderful week....I will make it a point to gush with happiness next week!

Saturday, October 16, 2010

A Book, A Baby, and Some Theatre News








Well, this is my first attempt at sending a You tube video your way. I hope it works.


Over the past two weeks, I have been getting requests for Pete the Cat. When I finally asked why, a customer directed me to this video, discovered by an administrator with the MPSD. There's no denying the joy these two are getting from "reading."

Ironically, I recently read the results of a 20 year study lead by Mariah Evans, Associate Professor of Sociology and Resource Economics at the University of Nevada. Her massive study showed that being raised in a bookless home has as great an effect on the level of education a child will attain as having parents who are barely literate (3 years). By the same token, being raised in a home with a 500-book library has as great an impact as having parents who have a university eduction (15 + years of education). But, we are all readers, book lovers, and respecters of words, and we knew this,didn't we?



No worries with Angie and Kevin's baby...due in five or so weeks. Our book group had a little shower for Angie on Friday, and she got this funny onesie from Valerie...proof that this baby will not only be surrounded by books, but also by people who love books. We have officially invited him (no name yet...at least not one that Angie will share) to join our books group. Here's an interesting Angie-fact...she used to work as a chef for the Packers Organization and has some might fine stories about Brett Favre which I cannot now relate!

For October, we chose to watch the Anne of Green Gables mini-series starring Megan Follows and Colleen Dewhurst. I seldom watch a movie more than once (unless of course the there is a certain, compelling star!) but I have seen this series three times. For some reason, the first two times, I missed the segment where Matthew Cuthbert dies. I had already cried through three scenes, so what's one more, I guess.


True confessions! I never read any of the "Anne" books, so last weekend I started and finished the first in the series. I enjoyed it every bit as much as the movie. This is essentially a feel good story, but the author does not avoid difficult issues, and each character, in turn, struggles with some type of emotional catharsis. Anne is exuberant, spunky, strong, and silly; the others characters are also multi-layered; most of us have similar characters in our lives - an we are some of them! Will I read the rest of the Lucy Maude Montgomery books? Probably not! Too many other books calling...



*****

I am looking forward to the Masquers play this weekend - "Noises Off." I stopped at the CCC this morning, and while there, I checked out the set. Muli-level and two sided! What a talented designer and master builder they had for this show. "Noises Off" is a fast paced, door slammer type show, about show biz. I hear the local cast is having tons of fun with this complicated show, and I am sure you will too. Get there if you can.


UW-Manitowoc is also rehearsing an ambitious show for November - "Rent - watch for dates and info.


Thanks for stopping by.

Monday, October 11, 2010

A Visit with Frankie and Barb

We had a nice visit with Frankie and Barb on Saturday. Frankie had an accident that left her back legs paralyzed. Vets advised Barb that Frankie had only a 30% chance of walking again. When it was determined that Frankie would not be one of the fortunate 30%, Barb began extensive research to find ways to make life as normal for Frankie as possible. Frankie was outfitted with a wheelchair. You should see her zip around in that little vehicle! There are also daily therapy, exercise and massage sessions. It all has paid off. I wish you could have been here to see how happy Frankie is.
Barb herself is quite an inspiration. She is a gentle person, who you just know would go to the nth degree in any situation before giving up. She speaks both emotionally and realistically about Frankie's situation. Frankie shares Barb's compassionate spirit, and together they visit schools and elder care facilities.
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Did I mention that I'm reading Sarah Waters' The Little Stranger? I grabbed it thinking it would be a light Halloween read, nothing special, but still appropriate for the season. Well, if you are a Bronte fan, particularly a fan of Wuthering Heights, I am sure you would like this book. It has just the right amount of mystery, and enough creepiness to keep the pages turning. Who can resist dark, Gothic homes, narrow, echoing hallways, and stern matriarchs wearing black veils of Spanish lace? Throw in an antagonist named Roderick and you have shades of Poe's The Fall of the House of Usher just to keep things interesting.
At this point, I'm not sure what the central issue is shaping up to be, but I suspect the story may revolve around a 14 year servant who wants to leave because the house troubles her. Of course, in good British manor mysteries, she has no where else to turn, so she has to stay with this unsettling family, in a house that no doubt will be revealing secrets shortly. I'll keep you posted.
Not much else to report except that I have been enjoying this exceptional weather and wishing it could stay like this until April.
Thanks for stopping by.

Monday, October 4, 2010

Some Notes, Some Books and a Movie



I have a couple unrelated items for you today...


Last week, a Lincoln High School history teacher called asking if she could buy some of the hydrangeas from the side of our building. She
puts flowers on her students' desk...makes the day merrier for them. I told her to take as many as she wanted, and, a few days later, she stopped by with a nice surprise. Her kids has written thank-you notes. Now, granted, the notes were teacher "inspired," but I appreciated them none-the less. Like the flowers on the desks, the notes pepped up my day because they were unexpected. They ran the gamut from required to sincere to silly. I enjoyed every one of them, and thought you might like some of them as well.



Let's start with a note from an old soul..."Hey, thank you for the flowers. They make me think of the good old days when things were okay."


"Your flowers make me think." Hmmm. About what, I wonder.


I like this one for the scentiment and the signature: "Thank you very much for the flowers. They make the room smell a lot better. Thanks a lot from a kid in our class.

I received notes about butterflies, deodorant, allergies, and welcome breaks from studying. Some even included tiny pieces of artwork - flowers and smiley faces, and bits of advice..." keep smiling no matter how bad things get."

Did you know that there is a celeb at Lincoln? It's true. Here's his note: "My name is Justin Bieber and I fricken love you 4 all the flowers."

Another student, who appears to know me began her note, "Beave..."..she was heading for Bev, I assume, and got sidetracked.

My favorite was short, simple and fresh, "Thanks Homie."


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If you're a regular "Fine Print" reader, you know that from time to time, my animal, Mrs. George Burns (GB) hijacks the blog and writes a post in what she calls "The Dog Blog." It seems she's not the only opinionated dog around. Chet, from Spencer Quinn's Chet and Bernie books writes his own blog. You can check it out athttp://chetthedog,com/.

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Have you ever had one of those experiences that leaves you knowing something has to be done, but not knowing what to do? Last night I watched "The Stoning of Soraya M," which left me with a beyond helpless feeling. The film is based on actual incidents involving an Iranian woman named Soraya. Her husband has been promised a fourteen year old girl in marriage, if he can help the girl's father escape the death penalty. Soraya refuses to free him from the marriage, knowing she will not be able to care for her children alone. The mayor offers her an indecent proposal, which she also rejects. Eventually, her husband, along with religious and political leaders, schemes to accuse and convict her of adultery, punishable by death.

That's the plot, but the underlying devaluation of women depicted is both stunning and sickening. I know reports say things are changing, but years will pass before any significant moves toward freedom, dignity and happiness are the norm for Middle Eastern women. This is where I get angry and confused. Is awareness enough? I think, had I gone to school at a different time in our cultural and political history, had I been instilled with a different mindset, and if I were a different and more courageous person, I would probably have carved out an activist lifestyle...living dirt poor, but trying to make a difference in some small way.

For many people awareness is enough. Far too many individuals simply need a good kick in the butt once in a while to open their eyes so they stop complaining and start appreciating what they have. I'm still stuck with the question about what do those of us who already know how wonderful our lives are...what can we do for those who don't? So, last year I promised myself to obsess less and laugh more. Looks like my personal goal for the coming months dropped in my lap last night. We'll see where this takes me.
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What am I reading? I started a ghost story called The Little Stranger by Sarah Walters. Looks like it will span several generations...the characters' generastions, not mine.