I saw Derek Jarman's The Tempest, and Prospero's Books (dir. Peter Greenaway) tonight. I disliked them both. I know a lot of people whose opinions I respect who are into these films, so I wanted to like them as well. However, it was not to be. They bored me stiff. It's hard to make The Tempest boring, but boy, did these films manage it. Just for ( Read more... )

Copy/pasted from my Facebook:

Last night: got to see "Love's Labor's Lost IN SPACE" done by Theatre@First. Let me urge you all very strongly: GO SEE IT. There's one more performance left, today, at 4:00 p.m.

This production contains: humans in love, androids in love, a small cute child who is much smarter than the adults, live theremin music so you ( Read more... )

I saw the production of Shakespeare's Nothing Will Ever Be Okay Again This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things King Lear on Boston Common last night, and I recommend it for anybody who wants to watch a good production of a harrowing and nihilistic play. It's running Tuesdays through Sundays till August 9th, it's free, and more info is hereThis is not ( Read more... )

Last weekend I went visiting in New York after Thanksgiving. It was awesome. I'm still in denial about the trip being over. You know how an adventurous day can seem like it packed far more than one day's worth of activity? I wandered in a huge wilderness park at the (northern) pointy end of Manhattan, was taken to fascinating little cafes, hiked ( Read more... )

Today: A Midsummer Night's Dream read-through.  It was excellent.  Performances were funny, fun and intelligent, I had a great time and I think the performers were enjoying themselves too.  (I don't like to take major roles in these things.  The fun is in watching other people do the show.  As I have said quite a lot since I thought of the idea, I' ( Read more... )

So I don't know if I told you folks, but I like superhero movies.  Never was much of a one for comics in my youth, but I surprised myself the other year by liking Captain America and it's been fun ever since.  The Avengers back in June, Thor the other week, Iron Man 2 while I was doing the, well, ironing the other day, and now The Dark Knight Rises ( Read more... )

Worthy of notice: the King Lear party on Sunday was delightful.  lignota arrived early, and kindly helped me photocopy a mountain of scripts and break out the refreshments.  I am astonished and gratified by everybody's devotion to Shakespeare--not only did everybody come out here to the boonies for the occasion (we boon something fierce out here), but skogkatt ( Read more... )

Apart from a slight cold, I am quite well.  I splurged just now by ordering spicy takeout, which makes me feel better when I'm sore and congested.  I've got to go out and get it in a few minutes.

I have a temporary job painting houses with my landlady and neighbors.  That'll tide me over for the moment.

Sunday is the postponed "Tempest" party, and it ( Read more... )

So, Hamlet with overt gay sex is apparently A Thing at the moment.  This review describes a book in which a famous author writes Hamlet-plus-gay-sex badly.  (I admit I've not read the work in question, but it sounds dire, judging by the few quotes.)  On the plus side, this is leading to discussion of Shakespearean slash that's actually good (and ( Read more... )

Remember that Romeo and Juliet/Dawn of the Dead crossover play that I'm so taken with?  scottedelman  is holding a competition for short films made from "A Plague On Both Your Houses".  Details are here.

This strikes me as an excellent idea.  Offering a prize is nice, but that's just icing on the cake.  The real reward lies in having fun being fannish.  ( Read more... )