Comment Archives: Stories: Arts
Re: “The Year in Triangle Theater 2012”
The May constitutional amendment was not MERELY against same-sex marriages [and please don't call it "gay marriage", Byron]; it was also against civil unions, domestic partnerships, or any other "domestic legal union" (from the text of the bill). Please report the full dangers of the Amendment if you're going to bring it up.
Re: “Paperhand Puppet Intervention teams up with Morehead Planetarium”
Oh I gotta see this. Paperhand Rulez!
Re: “Duke Theater Studies' revival of the 17th-century classic Women Beware Women”
One hates to correct a reader in error. I prefer to take Chill's mistaken remark as a tribute to the actor who performed one of more striking roles in this show in drag.
That apparent success seems to have made the production's claim of an all-female cast, in itself, a more effective inquiry into gender roles than much of the work we saw here on stage.
Let's be clear: It is profoundly refreshing whenever a director chooses to feature any community that has experienced unearned difficulties finding roles on our regional stage. It is also deeply useful when a production effectively calls into question long-held beliefs concerning gender and sexuality. Among any number of productions O'Berski has directed, his "Cherry Orchard" and "Glass" have effectively done both.
I regret that this production ultimately did neither of these things very well. Largely, this is because we couldn't consistently believe any of the students on stage. That would include those I mentioned by name, who only found convincing moments among otherwise incomplete performances.
Even if a character's main work involves criticizing a specific gender role, we still have to buy into the character constructing the criticism. Anything less basically takes us out of the realm of acting. Unfortunately, that's where many of the students on stage spent much of the evening. Far too many of them were playing at characters, not playing characters.
Dress-up isn't theater. And it can't be said to empower a group of students to put them on stage before a paying public without first adequately preparing them to succeed there.
As a discipline, Theater Studies sometimes is accused of privileging the analysis of performance over the actual work itself. This production largely seems an unfortunate case in point. Duke Theater Studies appears to have taught some of this group to investigate gender. But by what we've seen here, it isn't clear how effectively it's taught any of them how to act.
A fundamental imbalance is suggested. Perhaps someone should look into it.
Re: “Manbites Dog celebrates 25 years with a return to where it started”
... which was what we called Shelbyville in those days.
Re: “Manbites Dog celebrates 25 years with a return to where it started”
Speaking of McDonald's on that side of Northeast Durham at Avondale Drive and North Roxboro Street near Club Blvd.......it opened in 1959 as one of the first franchises in the Bull City,which to this day is still going strong.....At the time it was the only McDonald's in town until the mid-1970's where the chain expanded its operations throughout Durham.....nowadays,McDonald's is everywhere you wanna go.
Re: “Manbites Dog celebrates 25 years with a return to where it started”
You were saying about where this theater originated at? I know that side of town as rough and dangerous. Northeast Durham by Braggtown is especially rundown by the shopping center that is at the intersection of North Roxboro Street and East Club Boulevard. The Manbites Dog Theater was on the opposite end of the shopping center that across the street from a King's Red & White Supermarket, a taqueria establishment(formerly the Old Fowler's Grocery),that is surrounded by fast food establishments, check cashing centers and anything else....The shopping center at the corner of North Roxboro and Club was once home to a Winn-Dixie grocer(formerly Western Auto now Advance Auto),and a Eckerd Drugs and the fast food joints that ran along Roxboro Street by Avondale Drive were Arby's(which moved next door to the local McDonald's), once upon a time a Dunkin Donuts and not to even mention the Sizzler Steak House and right next door the KFC....These days, Dunkin Donuts, and the Sizzler are gone,and so is the local KFC(which is now home to crackheads and drug dealers and other run down stuff).....By the way,does anyone remember Shoney's being at the intersections of Avondale Drive and North Roxboro Street near Interstate 85? That is gone too. The McDonald's at the crossroads of Avondale Drive and North Roxboro Street was in fact the first fast food establishment in Durham during the 1960's....before it exploded into the abyss that it is today...
I too remember seeing one play in either 1987 or 1988 at this little theater,and it probably was the one of the more explicit ones.........Even to where it moved to on Foster Street near the old ballpark gives a more diverse feel....with more to cover than it was originally on the rough side of town...that is Braggtown Northeast Durham.
Re: “Duke Theater Studies' revival of the 17th-century classic Women Beware Women”
Mr. Woods failed to address O'berski's unique decision to cast all women for the show. A decision I believe became the defining characteristic of the production along with gender changes for several characters and an altered ending without the moralizing judgement of the Cardinal. O'berski undoubtedly deviated from Middleton's vision for the play, however, he is certainly deserving of a critique that actually addresses the experimental and innovative directorial choices he made for this production. C'mon Byron, do better.
Re: “The Cone sisters and the coming of modernism at the Nasher Museum”
A well written, thorough article on the subject. Thank you!
Re: “The ordinary becomes exceptional in The Spectacular of Vernacular at the Ackland”
The "Deep North" that has been around since before '08 : www.reverbnation.com/dndb
Re: “New doc American Meat leaves one wondering, "Is there any such thing as humane meat?"”
Yes, thank you very much for considering the animals. All animal agriculture entails unnecessary suffering and premature death. We don't need to eat animal products and, in fact, are better off not doing so. See:
http://tinyurl.com/9gktnh3
There is no valid justification for needlessly causing animals harm for food that is also bad for us and for the planet.
The great news: going vegan is easier, healthier, and more delicious than ever. See, for example: http://www.vrg.org
Re: “Conservative pastor advocates sitting out presidential election”
Rev. Patrick Wooden should be educated on the the phrase "....the separation of church and state....and not paying taxes". If the he wants to play politics in the pulpit of the "Upper Room Church of God" he can contribute to PAYING TAXES !
MY PROPOSAL:
Mixing church with government in the pulpit then pay taxes on those hidden republican donations he's probably receiving. Hummm, sounds like Obama needs to amend the 1894 'Tax Exemption Act for churches like the "Upper Room Church of God" and brother man Rev. Wooden ?
Read this article Rev. Wooden - http://churchesandtaxes.procon.org/#backgr…
Re: “Conservative pastor advocates sitting out presidential election”
It is funny how so many times being a proper Christian is code for: religiously intolerant xenophobic homophobe.
Re: “How to Build a Forest, and a life lesson”
For those planning to visit the Forest this weekend, here's a link to information about parking at Duke's West Campus http://sites.duke.edu/howtobuildaforest/ti…
Re: “Ghost and Spice's bumpy Harold and Maude”
If all you care about is technical perfection, great scenery and DPAC effects, then by all means do not see this show. However, it you want to see a funny and poignant story, fantastic acting by actors of all ages, and great music to boot, then you will LOVE this show. I saw the same performance and not one bump bothered me, I was laughing too hard! I think this reviewer missed the several elephants in the room and focused on some ants. The opportunity to see Joan Darling in a role that is perfect for her as the 80 year old Maude is the first elephant. The second is that this is a wildly ambitious show for the tiny Common Ground Theater and it is the last performance of a great theatre company- Ghost & Spice. This is what I would have focused on.
Re: “The Brothers Size, an amazing script by Tarell Alvin McCraney”
Thank you, that has been corrected.
Re: “The Brothers Size, an amazing script by Tarell Alvin McCraney”
Running time is a little under 100 minutes (NOT 140 minutes).
Re: “Burning Coal Theatre Company presents Brigadoon to kick off its 16th season”
Congratulations Natalie!
Re: “Lizard Lick Towing's Ron Shirley and the mythical promises of reality television”
Totally addicted to this show!!! The whole crew rocks!!! Much continued success to Ron, Amy, Bobby and rest of the gang. :)
Re: “Lizard Lick Towing's Ron Shirley and the mythical promises of reality television”
love the show ron love the show and bobby the best boy ya got no one can replace him and r u selling lizard lick. Travis
Re: “The Cone sisters and the coming of modernism at the Nasher Museum”
Nice article. This exhibit is definitely worth seeing, both for the art and for a fascinating glimpse into the lives of these unusual and eccentric sisters.
Karen S