A bag of curdled cream, "Leche Mala", we call it.
Saw a postcard for this show at WED, and now it turns out Jenny from Messiah is involved in it: Midsummer. Apparently Shakespeare was actually a Jewish woman:
Our work is based on new scholarship which shows the author of "Shakespeare's" cannon to be Amelia Bassano Lanyer, a Jewish woman of Moroccan descent. She was born to a family of court musicians, was Lord Hunsdon's (the Lord Chamberlain) mistress for over ten years and was the first English woman to publish a book of poetry. This scholarship was presented and well received at the February meeting of the Authorship Trust in London.
In addition to illuminating the author of the works, we bring to light the underlying allegorical structure that has been ignored, or missed, for 400 years. The plays are, in fact, ironic Christian satires which aim to expose Christ as a literary figure created by the Romans. I know this is heavy, but stay with me; one small example: how many times in literature has there been a little Iudean boy whose mother was a virgin associated with the Sea and was stolen away and transfigured? Well, I can think of the one in Midsummer and the one in the Bible.
We will be using meta-theatrical techniques, signage to highlight inter-textuality, songs, dances, fighting, and the expected sex with donkeys and walls. The result is a fascinating mixture of Medieval Mystery Plays, Theatre of the Absurd, and slapstick comedy (that's right, the dang this is actually entertaining as hell).
I believe this is the most important work I've been involved with. It is certainly the most international and high-profile piece and I'm not entirely certain that we won't be run out of town for it. If you are a fan of Amelia (Shakespeare) or of the theatre itself, it behooves you to see the show and make yourself part of the discussion we are opening up to the world.
(sic)
Last night's Camino Real went surprisingly well for a Thursday night. Jack said afterward that we all had "Saturday Night Energy". And he also told me I did an especially good job. Strange, since I was feeling very out of it. I guess I can fake high energy.
Roland asked to borrow my tank top (his was lost), so he ended up wearing it during the first half of the play. Odd, to be without it; I was running around completely shirtless backstage at one point.
Also, Maeve tells me that in Ireland, Tank Tops are "vests" and Vests are "tank tops". I said, "Now you're just making shit up". And apparently a jumper is a "pinafore". She brought her son to the show. He's maybe 4, and adorable.
I told Carlo that I read one of the reviews from the 1999 production, and discovered that Lewis Black played the Loan Shark and Nursie- he was so excited, he had to call his wife to tell her (she loves LB). Also decided Mark Wahlberg would be awesome as Kilroy in our imaginary Broadway production.
Convinced Roland that I actually was high in the after-party scene onstage.
The sign language production went well; my cousin didn't show up, alas, with a cadre of deaf people. I probably should have sent out a reminder.
Tony and ceebeegee are coming tonight! Yay!
Roland invited me to a party with a bunch of musicians after the show/talkback, but I don't know if I'll go. He said I'm welcome to bring my friends. I do have to go see Glory's production of Serenading Louie tomorrow afternoon, so maybe I shouldn't stay out too late.
Oh, and we're ALL OVER the front cover of Jersey City's Current newspaper.
Our work is based on new scholarship which shows the author of "Shakespeare's" cannon to be Amelia Bassano Lanyer, a Jewish woman of Moroccan descent. She was born to a family of court musicians, was Lord Hunsdon's (the Lord Chamberlain) mistress for over ten years and was the first English woman to publish a book of poetry. This scholarship was presented and well received at the February meeting of the Authorship Trust in London.
In addition to illuminating the author of the works, we bring to light the underlying allegorical structure that has been ignored, or missed, for 400 years. The plays are, in fact, ironic Christian satires which aim to expose Christ as a literary figure created by the Romans. I know this is heavy, but stay with me; one small example: how many times in literature has there been a little Iudean boy whose mother was a virgin associated with the Sea and was stolen away and transfigured? Well, I can think of the one in Midsummer and the one in the Bible.
We will be using meta-theatrical techniques, signage to highlight inter-textuality, songs, dances, fighting, and the expected sex with donkeys and walls. The result is a fascinating mixture of Medieval Mystery Plays, Theatre of the Absurd, and slapstick comedy (that's right, the dang this is actually entertaining as hell).
I believe this is the most important work I've been involved with. It is certainly the most international and high-profile piece and I'm not entirely certain that we won't be run out of town for it. If you are a fan of Amelia (Shakespeare) or of the theatre itself, it behooves you to see the show and make yourself part of the discussion we are opening up to the world.
(sic)
Last night's Camino Real went surprisingly well for a Thursday night. Jack said afterward that we all had "Saturday Night Energy". And he also told me I did an especially good job. Strange, since I was feeling very out of it. I guess I can fake high energy.
Roland asked to borrow my tank top (his was lost), so he ended up wearing it during the first half of the play. Odd, to be without it; I was running around completely shirtless backstage at one point.
Also, Maeve tells me that in Ireland, Tank Tops are "vests" and Vests are "tank tops". I said, "Now you're just making shit up". And apparently a jumper is a "pinafore". She brought her son to the show. He's maybe 4, and adorable.
I told Carlo that I read one of the reviews from the 1999 production, and discovered that Lewis Black played the Loan Shark and Nursie- he was so excited, he had to call his wife to tell her (she loves LB). Also decided Mark Wahlberg would be awesome as Kilroy in our imaginary Broadway production.
Convinced Roland that I actually was high in the after-party scene onstage.
The sign language production went well; my cousin didn't show up, alas, with a cadre of deaf people. I probably should have sent out a reminder.
Tony and ceebeegee are coming tonight! Yay!
Roland invited me to a party with a bunch of musicians after the show/talkback, but I don't know if I'll go. He said I'm welcome to bring my friends. I do have to go see Glory's production of Serenading Louie tomorrow afternoon, so maybe I shouldn't stay out too late.
Oh, and we're ALL OVER the front cover of Jersey City's Current newspaper.