One depressing summer so far
Haven't had the heart to make an update. It's just been a singularly depressing summer for the most part. The protests and riots have continued on a daily basis. While there seems to be stabs at making lasting change, and piecemeal efforts made on a local basis, the vision for that elusive better future, never cohesive to begin with, has become even more fragmented. I fear if there's another incident on the level of George Floyd, or that the officers responsible aren't convicted, there will be civil war. I'm not the only one to say this, either.
In addition, after bringing COVID-19 cases down in April and most of May, most of the states are now seeing a surge in cases. Between the Memorial Day weekend, reopenings, protests and people pretty much giving up and ignoring the fact that there is a pandemic, despite the evidence that this is NOT just the flu, we've seen positive cases skyrocket. More testing, yes, is a part of it- but there's just more cases. Florida, Texas and Arizona are especially worrisome. Florida his nearly 9,000 cases just today, beating records that have been set over the past week or so. Saw another story where one main Texas hospital is at 100 percent capacity in its ICU. All three states are growing dangerously close to capacity. One hard-hit state has stopped alcohol sales, another has shuttered its bars (I think Arizona and Florida respectively, but I could be wrong). Texas has postponed continued rollouts.
Even Ohio has seen an increases, although not as bad as the southern and western states. Still, the governor looked graver than I've seen him since the start of all this. I'd heard plans on how schools would reopen would be announced this week; I have to wonder if he's waiting to see what will happen with numbers this weekend. I have a feeling that if they continue to rise over the weekend, it will be straight online school. I know earlier this month he had said he wanted buildings to reopen at least on a part time basis, but that was before things started getting bad again. I knew a surge was coming but didn't think it would be this bad.
Another reason for the governor's somber mood- the health director stepped back into an advisory role and is no longer head of the state department of health. Can't blame her- protesters were showing up at her house, and Acton and her family were getting death threats.
I knew this nation would eventually get pandemic fatigue. Just look at history. But I didn't expect it to happen this quickly, and things to become so divisive. Historians are calling this the most divisive time in our country's history since the Civil War. The amount of violence and damage, not to mention the vitriol, is just disheartening. I've said it before- unfortunately, pretty speeches and peaceful marches don't do it when it comes to making lasting change. Only physical pain and financial pain will do that. I still hold out hope that with continued pain and continued pressure, maybe this time the damage and bloodshed will lead at least to meaningful reforms, and there have been many good ideas and many positive steps taken already. But I once read an apt description of America in a book about an Olympic champion; it's a little out of context here, the coach was referring to the lack of training facilities and regular coaches, but it still fits: America- land of the free, home of the undisciplined.
I fear that eventually, whether due to a collectively short attention span, COVID-19, or some combination of, our attention will drift away from reform and needed change, what little progress has been made will be quietly rolled back and all will settle into dust, until the next incident. I hope and pray this does not happen, I really want to be wrong. I really, really want the unflagging pressure to continue unabated in changing laws, restructuring our criminal justice system and stamping out hate and its symbols. Please, let me be wrong. Because if I'm right, I fear the next incident will be the final straw. There will be Civil War, and the whole nation will burn. If it comes to that, a part of me thinks we will have deserved this, but the very thought ties my stomach into knots.
Thankfully, it hasn't all been gloomy. On the personal front at least things have largely been good. Visited my parents a couple of times, including for Father's Day. Not for long, but I really needed that. Saw my grandpa at his new abode, an assisted living center. He hates it but unfortunately it became necessary. Poor Pat. I know she's struggling. Glad I was able to get something in, because I wonder if Ohio will have to go back into quasi-lockdown. Things aren't there, yet, I think the next couple weeks will tell. But with Independence Day coming up, the weather being nice all in all, and so many people in revolt over the business closings and restrictions, I don't see the numbers improving. This is depressing; I'd hoped that, with care, perhaps I can go out more, see people, at least outside. But with the uptick...
But enough, there is more good news. Don't think I had this earlier but I'm participating in another virtual staged reading, this time of Our Town. I have a great role, Mrs. Soames, the town gossip and busybody. I probably have the funniest scene in the play. We had our first reading last night, and will start filming in August, with release on August 22. Again, this has been a silver lining with the pandemic- no way I could have participated in something like this with regular office hours and regular school board meetings. I do feel bad for those who tread the boards on a regular basis, though- especially for those who make this their livelihood. This pandemic is really excoriating the arts field.
Another thing I'm participating in, starting Tuesday - and something else I couldn't have done in typical times - is a free costume workshop taught by a phenomenally talented area costumer (and really sweet guy). We are studying Eliza Doolittle and fashion for that general time period. Eliza has some sweet, sweet costumes, and this is late Edwardian/late Belle Epoque, one of my favorite time periods for design. So looking forward to this workshop series, it's going to be such a blast! I've already pulled my paper doll books and have been doing some short readings and video viewing on Poiret, Paquin, Cartier, and Tiffany, some of the influencers of that time. I have ideas already. Binge watching on Downton Abbey has helped as well.
Oh yes, I've been binge watching Downton Abbey with my lil sis. We finished season 1 and are almost done with season 2. May have to get DVDs for the remainder, the series gets pulled from streaming July 1. LOVE it. It has drama, intrigue, mystery, gorgeous costumes and wonderful, wonderful characters.
Have also had a couple movie nights- I think I've already mentioned Aquaman (a bit long in places, but loved it. I mean- Jason Momoa, does anything else really need to be said). Recently watched On The Basis of Sex, which is about a young Ruth Bader Ginsburg (affectionately known as the Notorious RBG), and her first big case, which she argued with her husband Martin- a sex discrimination case that involved a man who wanted to claim a tax break for caring for his mother. He had been denied essentially because he was a man. The Ginsburgs won in the appeals court. Just an amazing movie. Most female hero-style movies, including nonfiction, tend to focus on unmarried and childless woman; Ginsburg not only was married, but had a daughter (and later a son). An unmarried woman seeking a profession raised eyebrows, but a married woman with a child trying to make a career I'm sure led to pearl-clutching. The misogyny shown in the movie I'm sure was accurate and it was nauseating. Ginsburg is not shown as perfect- she's human, and that's what I really liked. But what an admirable woman, and admirable person. Just love this movie, everyone should see it.
I actually have some books to include with this post. Actually, three play scripts and a book. Wow, just realized it's been a while...
The Book Mouse's Book Report:
8. A Midsummer Night's Dream, by William Shakespeare. This is, in truth, a reread, for when I played one of Titania's squad in a virtual staged reading, but I'm counting it. I pick up on more and more with each reading and each viewing. Still, this is an example I give when I point out that plays are meant to be seen, and any high school teacher teaching a play - especially something like Shakespeare - should not only arrange for a quality version to watch (preferably live), but the viewing should come BEFORE the reading. I actually read this on my own in high school. I've always liked Shakespeare and read several of his works on my own. But I remember with this one, I read it because I had heard how wonderful it was, and how popular it is. When I finished though, I was underwhelmed. Why was this so popular? I thought. Also the whole scene with the play within I play just came off as insipid on the printed page. Years later, I saw the fairly recent movie version with Kevin Kline, Stanley Tucci, Calista Lockheart and Michelle Pfeiffer, among many big names. Oh my gosh, Midsummer went from meh to marvelous. And that mechanicals production towards the end? My favorite scene by far. I laughed until I cried. I've seen it staged at least twice since, and Midsummer is now my favorite Shakespeare play.
For those not familiar with this charming fantasy, there are three stories that come together. One involves two young men and two young women in a love triangle that gets turned into a Gordion knot after a puck accidentally mistakes the identity of his targets. The second story involves a spat between the king and queen of the fairy realm over a changeling boy. The third involves a group of laborers, who have more zeal than skill in theatrics, who are trying to put together a show for the newly married duke. One of the laborers, Bottom, becomes the unwitting punchline in a practical joke on Titania, the fairy queen. Because it's a comedy, everyone ends up happy.
9. Our Town, by Thornton Wilder. A re-read for me, in preparation for a virtual staged reading. I read this in high school; we started by reading the script, then saw a video of a staged version of it. This is one of a few examples I have of where, if a high school teacher is teaching a play, a quality production of the play needs to not only be seen, but seen FIRST before reading it. I really didn't understand why this work was considered so important or so wonderful just by reading it, indeed, I was bored by the reading. The video staging, while not the greatest production, did help. The part I remembered most was Act III, in the graveyard- that really made an impact. It was so different, and so emotional. I've since seen it on stage a couple times as an adult, including a wonderful production at a summer theater ages ago and a very good high school production a couple of years ago, and as an adult I appreciate it a good deal more.
This play, usually done in minimalist style, is essentially a slice of life story set in a small town at the turn of the century. There's no big mystery, no real action, it just focuses on two perfectly normal families, with attention on the two teens - George and Emily - who eventually fall in love. The first act focuses on birth and new beginnings, the second on love and marriage, and the third act on death. The story is told through the Stage Manager, who serves as a guide both for the audience and the people on stage.
10. Stop Kiss, by Diana Son. I read this one for my book club, who are fellow theater enthusiasts. I'm surprised this one hasn't been done around here (as far as I know). The short, one-act play centers on Callie, a traffic reporter and longtime resident of New York City, and Sara, a newcomer to the city who has just accepted a job as a teacher at a Bronx school. Callie and Sara meet through another friend when Sara needs a place to keep her cat. Their friendship grows as time goes on. The play alternates between scenes from the present day, and flashback scenes that bring the audience full circle. Present day is after Sara is brutally attacked when she and Callie are walking through a park; Sara is now in the hospital, and Callie, who also was injured faces hard questions about why the attack happened (there's more than a little victim blaming). The flashback scenes show the growing relationship between Callie and Sara, and what led to the attack. The play is well-written; the pacing is good, with nice character development and a bit of mystery.
11. Baracoon, by Zora Neale Hurston. Hurston, a novelist, traveled to Alabama on to meet Cudjo Lewis (or, as he preferred, Kossola), who, in 1927 was a survivor from the Clotilda, the last known slaver ship known to make the trip in 1859 from the Americas to coastal Africa and back, with an illegal cargo of human chattel. He was 86 at the time of the interviews, and a good portion of the book includes not only his life growing up in Dahomey, and the traditions he grew up with, but his capture and the sad circumstances that made it possible. His accounts touch briefly on his time as a slave, but then concentrate more on his life after the Civil War. He was one of the founders of African Town (now Plataea, Alabama), which was started by those slaves who had been brought over from Africa. Kossola describes especially the prejudice he saw not just from the white residents but the black Americans who never saw Africa. Hurston also includes historical background in her work, to serve as a frame for Kossola's memories, but the book is primarily his account. Hurston remarks on the accuracy of the majority of his recollections. It's a short, insightful read. It takes a little time to get into the rhythm of Kossola's dialogue (Hurston tried to recapture his way of speaking) but once you do that, it's an engaging story.