Dashing Through the Shows...

This past week was another big ball of crazy and there is no sign of it letting up anytime soon. Multiple meetings with an assortment of people happened. The main topic at these meetings was the the workshop for the dramaturgical development of a new play that is part of my thesis. I've spent lot's of time with Diana, the writer, discussing her script and the workshop. It is all coming into focus as the days go by.

I also saw three shows this week. Well, really, two and a half (I'll explain)...
On Tuesday I saw The Hotel Cerise by Bonnie Greer at Theatre Royal Stratford East. This is a new play based on, the classic, The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov. The play moves the location from turn of the century Russia to contemporary Michigan where a once affluent African American family is struggling to keep their home and hotel which, in it's glory days hosted famous jazz musicians, civil rights leaders and an assortment of influential people from various sectors. And naturally, the property has a cherry orchard which symbolizes beauty, abundance and a sanctuary from the troubles of life. I have to note, the play had an incredible set with tall white tree shapes that made up the walls of the mansion. The effect was elegant and majestic. The cast was an ensemble of twelve and delivered some lovely moments with the dramatic story.

On Thursday I found myself attending two performances. I had already accepted a complementary ticket to the English National Opera's performance of Bizet's The Pearl Fishers when the producing team Homer Simpson, offer me a ticket to see Hans Teeuwan: Real Rancour. The Pearl Fishers was a show I booked this summer for the incoming BA students when I was working at Central. There were extra tickets so staff and I were offered the spares. Prior to Thursday, I had never seen an ENO production, never seen The Pearl Fishers and never seen anything at the London Coliseum where the performance was held. Hans Teeuwan: Real Rancour was also an association of mine from work over the summer. Producer Zoe Simpson, hired me for a few days work on this UK tour. I felt it was important to go in support of the show and to thank Zoe in person. Plus, I wanted to see what I had been working on. The opera started at 7:30 and Hans Teeuwan, a stand up comedian, didn't start until 9:30. So, I went to both. I went to the opera and caught the first act then darted over to Leicester Square to see the comedy.

One day I will find out what happens to the forbidden love that was blooming in the coastal village. My guess, since it is opera, is that it doesn't end well. What I did see was a fabulous spectacle. During the overture, a scrim was down and lighting effects were used to establish an underwater environment. Aerial acrobats "swam" into view from the top of the proscenium. Three of them dove and fluttered via wire rigging and made us feel we were watching an under the sea dance. The aerialists swam off and the scrim gave way to a shanty town coastal village populated with a humongous chorus that sang us into the story. We were introduced to the main characters and set up for what I suspect is the demise of the forbidden lovers. The music was beautiful. Bizet never disappoints me. His most famous work is probably Carmen. This was as far as we got before intermission. I wish I could have seen more but I had to dash.

Leicester Square is only about a five minute walk from the London Coliseum. I arrived to meet my friend Remi. I was offered two tickets so, I invited Remi to come along. We had time for a quick catch up before going into the Leicester Square Theatre for ninety minutes of stand up comedy. Hans Teeuwan is Dutch but as with so many northern Europeans, his English is flawless. We had a good laugh but in retrospect, it was a little odd going from the classical and traditional atmosphere of the opera to the debaucherous topics of Hans' stand up comedy. But variety is the spice of life!

This week I have some lectures at school and more workshop preparation. No shows scheduled thus far, but you never know what last minute plans will manifest.

Until next time...
Take care!
-m