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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Theatre
- Hits: 94
This, last night at the Capitol, interpretive dance/theatre. Very good, quite enjoyed, and I really need to get out more...
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Theatre
- Hits: 288
Off to see a play. By which I mean "A Play, A Play, What Could Be More Boring Than a PLAY!!", read in the voice of Homer Simpson.
Now, community theatre, the best of intentions, the What, this play, a suspense/horror? In the vein of Agatha Christie supposedly. And the Who - well, local community thespians, all of whom turn in a fine job; this town is filled with talent, the Where - at the theatre, of course, the When, showtimes as advertised, but what eludes me is the "Why". I mean, suspenseful it is not, not at all, and looking up the play, it's not locally written, it's not particularly good, it seems to be a staple of the "dinner theatre" crowd, which is an artform that constantly eludes me. Mindless entertainment, of the ilk you might find on any TV set, done live in front of you, suspenseful not in the least, and I'm perplexed as to why it was written (to fill seats in empty theatres, presumably, but - no other reason??), and why it was chosen (and a good time was had by all...or maybe it demanded no royalties?), and were I a little less considerate I would have taken the lead of the people next to me and vanished during the intermission. There's the real mystery, where did they go? And why were they here? Why am I here? Maybe that's the point of it, to bring me to an existential crisis...
Anyways, short of burning the script and starting completely over - and shooting the playwright - I was at a loss as to how to improve it when it occurred to me that it could be greatly improved with a little - a lot - of "Audience Participation". By which I mean perhaps the audience could be involved, prompted, to give loud gasps of shock-horror-surprise - at all the right moments, prime them, and then, really, maybe then a good time could have been had by all.
Otherwise I was just watching the thespians having a great time while I myself felt that any reaction would have been so over the top - act surprised, gasp? Clearly your faking this Mr. Boyle, you should have seen that coming a mile away - you did, in fact, didn't you?
Anyways, all about supporting the local community theatre, but maybe we have to get them some better scripts...
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Theatre
- Hits: 377
Shakespeare, as done by community theatre, "A Midsummers Night Dream" yet again, popular out here for reasons I need hardly go into. Stolen bedsheets, tablecloths, curtains, gaudy embroidery stolen from Grandma's cupboard and repurposed into the local costume designers idea of Shakespearean dress, Eurithmy swathed 'dancers' interpreting the dialogue, easily as out there as the Valley version I saw a few years ago, and while Shakespeare would be rolling in his grave rest assured everyone else was laughing...
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Theatre
- Hits: 329
An early escape from a semi-busy restaurant, off to the Kootenay Burlesque Festival.
Now this was almost a miss - I've seen enough burlesque festivals to last me a lifetime, and there's a Harridan that constantly harangues me at these events, but - bloody hell, it's a small town, avail yourself of whatever culture offers itself.
It did not disappoint.
Most of the acts, standard, pretty girl, BBW, BBBW, BBBBW girl, girls that resemble Ken's Fraternal Twin, takes off most of her clothes. Camp witty MC. Etc. Etc. The locals, they hoot and holler and support every performer, irregardless. And I have to say - it takes some gumption (?? Probably not, there may be other things at play here) to take off your clothes on stage, even if you're "perfect" - but - for those less than perfect, and a good many were, well...
Hats off. Nobody in the audience should have left feeling they had anything to hide.
There were dancers/performers from across the US, but really - there was no need - the local talent in every aspect was every bit as good.
One act stands out - an older couple - man/woman - 65 ish, maybe 70. It opens with the woman (shorter, plump) revealing herself in the spotlight with some racy BDSM regalia on. Then it cuts to the man (tall, bald head, black lipstick, full bdsm gimp outfit, with added rhinestones and sparkles) - back to the audience. Music. She whips him and he turns to face the audience. Now he shuffles to the music and she proceeds to ... with her whip. And it was fucking hilarious. And I mean hilarious. Worthy of the Nelson Talent Show. It proceeds, it would baffle me to describe it, "Over the Top", turned up not to 10 or 11 but easily 15 or 20. I was searching my pocket for the Gold Lion to hand them.
And so that was it. For the one act described poorly above I would have felt I had gotten my money's worth, the rest was all gravy and filler.
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- Written by: Rod Boyle
- Category: Theatre
- Hits: 518
In the days when people still gathered I would have loved this. However, as that is still out of the question (and it won't be coming live anywhere near, anytime soon) - the "film" version does just fine.
Derek DelGaudio's 1-Man Show intertwines sleight of hand with a discourse on the nature of identity - Autobiographical, Thoughtful, Touching - more than simply amazement & wonder he makes you "feel". This is excellent.
Note - at the end see which celebrities you can recognize in the audience - you know you've got a first-rate show when these are the people showing up to see you.
Currently on Hulu, or you can search around and find it elsewhere. ***** (5 Stars)