Because we all know how well Marxism worked out
Anna and I went to see "Threepenny Opera" at Rice today, and it was superb. Strong cast, strong pit, well lit, well directed, well costumed, the whole nine yards. Patrick's sunglasses and hat as a blind beggar get a special mention, because they are awesome. I see a photo of him wearing them posted on Facebook, but it doesn't do it justice.
I really like the guy who played the lead in this show, Mack the Knife (that's the character's name, not his). He was Tony for Weiss' West Side Story, a fact which I only remembered when I really pushed myself to answer the nagging question, "where do I know him from?" I wouldn't want him to take this the wrong way, but I think he makes a very good murderous bandit--I like him better as a dark antihero than a naive wears-his-heart-on-the-sleeve kid.
The three main female roles are all played by young professionals, so needless to say, they kicked ass. Oh, it looks like Mrs. Peachum was also played by a professional, so make that the four main female roles. I liked Polly's character the best, because she kind of goes back and forth between ditzy blond and grab-em-by-the-balls tough. I half expected her character to stab someone in the back and steal the plot...and maybe I was a little disappointed when she didn't.
In their advertisements, they say: It asks the central rhetorical question, "Who is the bigger criminal: he who robs a bank or he who founds one?" There wasn't any bank robbing, and there weren't any bankers, so I'm really not clear on why it asks this question. I understand that the work is supposed to be challenging capitalism, but I don't find it very convincing on that front. That may be because I take attacks on capitalism to be criticisms of human nature. Threepenny opera is certainly critical of human nature.
What absolutely floors me, though, is to hear when this was written: 1928. I could have gone the entire show under the impression that this was written during my lifetime. The characters, the music, and the tone of the show feel modern to me (maybe because I do so much G&S?). Their advertisements also talk about this show inspiring Cabaret, Chicago, and Urinetown, and the connections are easy to see.
I felt kind of meh about the plot itself. By the end of the show, I didn't really care what happened. But I think that was kind of beside the point, anyway. The music was awesome, though, and I look forward to finding a soundtrack.
I really like the guy who played the lead in this show, Mack the Knife (that's the character's name, not his). He was Tony for Weiss' West Side Story, a fact which I only remembered when I really pushed myself to answer the nagging question, "where do I know him from?" I wouldn't want him to take this the wrong way, but I think he makes a very good murderous bandit--I like him better as a dark antihero than a naive wears-his-heart-on-the-sleeve kid.
The three main female roles are all played by young professionals, so needless to say, they kicked ass. Oh, it looks like Mrs. Peachum was also played by a professional, so make that the four main female roles. I liked Polly's character the best, because she kind of goes back and forth between ditzy blond and grab-em-by-the-balls tough. I half expected her character to stab someone in the back and steal the plot...and maybe I was a little disappointed when she didn't.
In their advertisements, they say: It asks the central rhetorical question, "Who is the bigger criminal: he who robs a bank or he who founds one?" There wasn't any bank robbing, and there weren't any bankers, so I'm really not clear on why it asks this question. I understand that the work is supposed to be challenging capitalism, but I don't find it very convincing on that front. That may be because I take attacks on capitalism to be criticisms of human nature. Threepenny opera is certainly critical of human nature.
What absolutely floors me, though, is to hear when this was written: 1928. I could have gone the entire show under the impression that this was written during my lifetime. The characters, the music, and the tone of the show feel modern to me (maybe because I do so much G&S?). Their advertisements also talk about this show inspiring Cabaret, Chicago, and Urinetown, and the connections are easy to see.
I felt kind of meh about the plot itself. By the end of the show, I didn't really care what happened. But I think that was kind of beside the point, anyway. The music was awesome, though, and I look forward to finding a soundtrack.