Hello again everybody! I've been slacking on the updates, I know, but there really hasn't been much going on to speak of. Last week's meeting didn't happen, so nothing to discuss last week.
That means twice as much for this week, though. First, we're a little behind schedule, so we're making ourselves focus on getting some of the loose ends tied up. This coming Thursday, we are all going to sit down together in the same room and discuss all of the artwork to get a final consensus, and begin milling through the 211 pages of literature submissions.
Gary managed to find a printer that has given us a great price for the journal. Last year, we recieved 500 copies for $3200. This year, it looks like we're going to be able to print 1000 of essentially the same journal for $1800. Our funding is still not quite there, but we're way closer to $1800 than we are to $3200!! I actually have in my possession about $1200, and I believe Angela has another $500, so we should be able to pull this off.
So, it looks like we're going to be able to sell this and print whatever we want. Good to know that hard work actually does pay off once in a while!
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Friday, April 20, 2007
Review of Romeo and Juliet at A Noise Within
The Children of an Idle BrainA Review of Romeo and Juliet at A Noise Within
234 S. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA. 91204
Date: 25 March 2007
The theatre A Noise Within may not seem like a grand structure among the neighboring shopping malls, office buildings, and restaurants. However, this old Masonic temple holds more grandeur within its near century old walls than does its contemporary neighbors. It is in this aging temple/teenage theatre that a nearly full house awaits on pins and needles to partake of the story of star-crossed lovers, blood feuds, and death that is Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
Director Michael Murray does an awe-inspiring job conveying the comedy, romance, and tragedy of this Shakespearean classic, with the help of a cast of very talented actors of course. All of the actors in Murray’s production of Romeo and Juliet do a splendid job with their character/characters, but there are two players that—in this reviewer’s opinion—steal the show.
J. Todd Adams’ portrayal of Romeo’s fearless, garrulous friend Mercutio is one of the outstanding performances that stole the show, and audience attention—despite his minute break of character when a bulb blew in one of the overhead spotlights. For instance, Adams’ energy and conviction when delivering Mercutio’s throaty Queen Mab oration is unabashedly mind blowing—proving that we all suffer from “the children of an idle brain” (1.4.97). Also, when Mercutio is slain by Ken Merckx’s fiery Tybalt; Adams’ raging sincerity—“A plague o’ both your houses” (3.1.90)!—brought forth tears to some of the audience members eyes—including mine own. Not to mention, that after Mercutio’s tragic death Adams sprung into action with a fire extinguisher when a couch fire broke out in the alley behind the theatre. A fact none of the audience was privy to until after the show was over.
The other scene thief in Murray’s production is the bawdy Nurse, played brilliantly by accomplished actress Deborah Strang. Strang’s portrayal of Juliet’s robust and bawdy nurse commanded the audience’s attention and at times laughter in every scene that dared to contain her—which is quite often. For instance, the point in act two scene four when Adams’ Mercutio playfully accosts Strang’s Nurse left the whole audience in stitches. Most notably when the Nurse beats Michael Thompson’s Peter with her handbag for letting Mercutio use the Nurse “at his pleasure” (2.4.153)—hilarious!
Murray’s production of Romeo and Juliet—Murray has set scene in 1930’s Italy with Tybalt as a Nazi SS officer—is a robust display of gut wrenching comedy and melancholy tragedy. The fight scenes—choreographed by Ken Merckx—are breathtakingly daring. Most notably the initial fray that begins the play, which finds the small stage filled to the brim with action. The first half is exciting, energetic, and comical; while the tragic second half is rightly slower than the hilarious first half of the play. The continued great performance of Mark Bramhall as Friar Laurence is a definite high point of the play’s second half. Although I wasn’t overly impressed with Steve Coombs’ Romeo—Coombs flubbed a couple lines—or Joy Osmanski’s Juliet, the five hour round trip and fourteen dollar admission fee are well worth the experience of seeing a live production of a Shakespeare classic.
Overall, Murray’s production of Romeo and Juliet is a joy to behold, with the modest stage used to its fullest potential and 1930’s costumes—courtesy of Denitsa Bliznakova—are lavish, especially those worn during the masque. A Noise Within will be featuring Murray’s production of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet from March 24 thru May 25. So, grab a friend, loved one, classmate, stranger, or just lone wolf it and go have an awesome theatre experience at A Noise Within, you will not be disappointed.
Work Cited
Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. The Complete Works of Shakespeare: Shakespeare’s Tragedies, 5th Edition. Ed. David Bevington. New York, NY: Pearson/Longman, 2007. 1009-1050.
Date: 25 March 2007
The theatre A Noise Within may not seem like a grand structure among the neighboring shopping malls, office buildings, and restaurants. However, this old Masonic temple holds more grandeur within its near century old walls than does its contemporary neighbors. It is in this aging temple/teenage theatre that a nearly full house awaits on pins and needles to partake of the story of star-crossed lovers, blood feuds, and death that is Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
Director Michael Murray does an awe-inspiring job conveying the comedy, romance, and tragedy of this Shakespearean classic, with the help of a cast of very talented actors of course. All of the actors in Murray’s production of Romeo and Juliet do a splendid job with their character/characters, but there are two players that—in this reviewer’s opinion—steal the show.
J. Todd Adams’ portrayal of Romeo’s fearless, garrulous friend Mercutio is one of the outstanding performances that stole the show, and audience attention—despite his minute break of character when a bulb blew in one of the overhead spotlights. For instance, Adams’ energy and conviction when delivering Mercutio’s throaty Queen Mab oration is unabashedly mind blowing—proving that we all suffer from “the children of an idle brain” (1.4.97). Also, when Mercutio is slain by Ken Merckx’s fiery Tybalt; Adams’ raging sincerity—“A plague o’ both your houses” (3.1.90)!—brought forth tears to some of the audience members eyes—including mine own. Not to mention, that after Mercutio’s tragic death Adams sprung into action with a fire extinguisher when a couch fire broke out in the alley behind the theatre. A fact none of the audience was privy to until after the show was over.
The other scene thief in Murray’s production is the bawdy Nurse, played brilliantly by accomplished actress Deborah Strang. Strang’s portrayal of Juliet’s robust and bawdy nurse commanded the audience’s attention and at times laughter in every scene that dared to contain her—which is quite often. For instance, the point in act two scene four when Adams’ Mercutio playfully accosts Strang’s Nurse left the whole audience in stitches. Most notably when the Nurse beats Michael Thompson’s Peter with her handbag for letting Mercutio use the Nurse “at his pleasure” (2.4.153)—hilarious!
Murray’s production of Romeo and Juliet—Murray has set scene in 1930’s Italy with Tybalt as a Nazi SS officer—is a robust display of gut wrenching comedy and melancholy tragedy. The fight scenes—choreographed by Ken Merckx—are breathtakingly daring. Most notably the initial fray that begins the play, which finds the small stage filled to the brim with action. The first half is exciting, energetic, and comical; while the tragic second half is rightly slower than the hilarious first half of the play. The continued great performance of Mark Bramhall as Friar Laurence is a definite high point of the play’s second half. Although I wasn’t overly impressed with Steve Coombs’ Romeo—Coombs flubbed a couple lines—or Joy Osmanski’s Juliet, the five hour round trip and fourteen dollar admission fee are well worth the experience of seeing a live production of a Shakespeare classic.
Overall, Murray’s production of Romeo and Juliet is a joy to behold, with the modest stage used to its fullest potential and 1930’s costumes—courtesy of Denitsa Bliznakova—are lavish, especially those worn during the masque. A Noise Within will be featuring Murray’s production of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet from March 24 thru May 25. So, grab a friend, loved one, classmate, stranger, or just lone wolf it and go have an awesome theatre experience at A Noise Within, you will not be disappointed.
Work Cited
Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. The Complete Works of Shakespeare: Shakespeare’s Tragedies, 5th Edition. Ed. David Bevington. New York, NY: Pearson/Longman, 2007. 1009-1050.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Romeo and Juliet at A Noise Within
Sunday, March 25, my English 235 Shakespeare class and I took a big white van down south to Glendale to see Romeo and Juliet at A Noise Within. For many of my students, this was a first time experience with live Shakespeare (for some, live drama altogether), and so this was a particularly special event.
A Noise Within is located in an old converted Masonic Temple Building in downtown Glendale and is the only theater company in Southern California working in the repertory tradition. The company produces six plays annually and has won numerous awards including twenty-five (yes, twenty-five!) Los Angeles Drama Critics’ Circle awards. Not surprisingly, their production of Romeo and Juliet, lived up to their pedigree.
Please check back here in the near future for student reviews of the performance.
A Noise Within is located in an old converted Masonic Temple Building in downtown Glendale and is the only theater company in Southern California working in the repertory tradition. The company produces six plays annually and has won numerous awards including twenty-five (yes, twenty-five!) Los Angeles Drama Critics’ Circle awards. Not surprisingly, their production of Romeo and Juliet, lived up to their pedigree.
Please check back here in the near future for student reviews of the performance.
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Little Quiet in Here...
Just dropping in to let everyone know what's been going on with Met over spring break.
Angela and I have been contacting local businesses, friends, family, everyone for donations. We have had some luck-- weve raised around $800. Although this is nowhere near our main goal of $3500, I don't think it's unreasonable to expect to have the $1500 for the binding and everything.
I was really hoping to be able to raise the full amount; I would absolutely love to see this project become independant, and would also love to be a part of it's becoming independant. It almost seems as though all this work will have been for nothing if we don't get the full amount, if we have to do all of this again next year and still not be able to sell it or publish everyone's work in it. But, we're trying, and that's all we can do.
I have high hopes for the upcoming Art Show. The Art Association has added Cerro Coso to the list of gelleries on the Studio Tour this year, and we're expecting around 300 people to come through. I figure if I can get ten dollars from each person, we're set! But how? I've had fleeting thoughts of raffles and such, and have a few businesses that are willing to donate gift certificates for one, but theres two problems: one; I have to work all weekend and will be unable to be there the whole time, and two; we're too strapped for time to be able to plan and coordinate anything that's more than my own personal project. I have to talk to a few people still and get all the details ironed out, but I think I'm going to try it still. If anyone can help or has any ideas, let me know. (please!) The art show is April 21st and 22nd, and will feature all student work in various mediums. Stop by and see my work! And donate to Met!
Angela and I have been contacting local businesses, friends, family, everyone for donations. We have had some luck-- weve raised around $800. Although this is nowhere near our main goal of $3500, I don't think it's unreasonable to expect to have the $1500 for the binding and everything.
I was really hoping to be able to raise the full amount; I would absolutely love to see this project become independant, and would also love to be a part of it's becoming independant. It almost seems as though all this work will have been for nothing if we don't get the full amount, if we have to do all of this again next year and still not be able to sell it or publish everyone's work in it. But, we're trying, and that's all we can do.
I have high hopes for the upcoming Art Show. The Art Association has added Cerro Coso to the list of gelleries on the Studio Tour this year, and we're expecting around 300 people to come through. I figure if I can get ten dollars from each person, we're set! But how? I've had fleeting thoughts of raffles and such, and have a few businesses that are willing to donate gift certificates for one, but theres two problems: one; I have to work all weekend and will be unable to be there the whole time, and two; we're too strapped for time to be able to plan and coordinate anything that's more than my own personal project. I have to talk to a few people still and get all the details ironed out, but I think I'm going to try it still. If anyone can help or has any ideas, let me know. (please!) The art show is April 21st and 22nd, and will feature all student work in various mediums. Stop by and see my work! And donate to Met!
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