A Cauliflower Bouquet for Winter. Tried this Monday Night. People Loved It.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/05/dining/05apperex.html?ref=dining
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING is being set in 1930's Raj India. Bollywood dance influence.
Dear Brenda,
Now following the Gala AND the tsunami in our republic, I am ready to pick up the pieces and MOVE ON...
Let's have a long talk on the phone.
I will read over your notes. Excellent research.
My main influences are; "I Served The King of England" and "Monsoon Wedding." I have got "Women of The Raj" and have read the Tarquin Hall detective novels set in Delhi as well as "The Weight of Heaven" (bit of a downer/effect of imperialistic good intentions. I saw "Shakespeare Wallah" another wonderful movie about Brits in India and "Heat and Dust" set in 1920 Raj India.
I have been working with Peter on the set and it is almost there. I'll explain the process. I showed him some of the costume sketches to inspire. It is Ursula who can be Indian. She might be the one to be mistaken for Hero (even this is flexible, really.) Generally, I was wondering about a tea length dress alternative for the women that could be either afternoon or evening. You know I'm interested by abstractions from reality, a take on 1930's. I see a slightly unreal world in the play that allows such perfect resolution.
This reminds me that I must get in touch with our Bruce Mann to discuss reasonable adaptations of names from Shakespeare's Italian.
Dear Brenda,
Now following the Gala AND the tsunami in our republic, I am ready to pick up the pieces and MOVE ON...
Let's have a long talk on the phone.
I will read over your notes. Excellent research.
My main influences are; "I Served The King of England" and "Monsoon Wedding." I have got "Women of The Raj" and have read the Tarquin Hall detective novels set in Delhi as well as "The Weight of Heaven" (bit of a downer/effect of imperialistic good intentions. I saw "Shakespeare Wallah" another wonderful movie about Brits in India and "Heat and Dust" set in 1920 Raj India.
I have been working with Peter on the set and it is almost there. I'll explain the process. I showed him some of the costume sketches to inspire. It is Ursula who can be Indian. She might be the one to be mistaken for Hero (even this is flexible, really.) Generally, I was wondering about a tea length dress alternative for the women that could be either afternoon or evening. You know I'm interested by abstractions from reality, a take on 1930's. I see a slightly unreal world in the play that allows such perfect resolution.
This reminds me that I must get in touch with our Bruce Mann to discuss reasonable adaptations of names from Shakespeare's Italian.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Meg, sorry to be slow getting back.
I have "desk hours" at dawn daily. The rest of the day I seem to be "away from my desk."
Anyway, the house below seems a touch Spanish in look. Some of the more outlandish casa on Bankhead are more Spanish than Italian. I think its all that California hacienda thing that happened in the 1800's in America.
My "concept" is evolving. One of my first professional productions was a Sicilian mafia 1930's Much Ado set in (of all places) Sicily! Geoffrey was fond of it.
But I've gone through thoughts of the Deep South (don't think I could get actors to play slaves) and Casablanca (sad and set in a bar). Not specific yet. The 1920's might be too F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby."
Humphrey Bogart in 'Casablanca' and Ingrid Bergman are older and world weary. She a spinster, he a worn Peter Pan. The play is a rite of spring, about sex/love= attraction. The theme of warfare is on the edges. The troops have just had a victory. The violence in the play is Benedick vs Claudio over Claudio's dumping of Hero. Same as in "Bridget Jone's Diary" when Colin Firth beats up Hugh Grant.
I may end up with an eclectic European look -- more like what Nancy will be seeing on her French rivers tour. I just watched "I Served The King of England" on Starz last night. A Czechoslavakian film set in Prague --wonderful, delightful. Great playfulness and wit.
I have "desk hours" at dawn daily. The rest of the day I seem to be "away from my desk."
Anyway, the house below seems a touch Spanish in look. Some of the more outlandish casa on Bankhead are more Spanish than Italian. I think its all that California hacienda thing that happened in the 1800's in America.
My "concept" is evolving. One of my first professional productions was a Sicilian mafia 1930's Much Ado set in (of all places) Sicily! Geoffrey was fond of it.
But I've gone through thoughts of the Deep South (don't think I could get actors to play slaves) and Casablanca (sad and set in a bar). Not specific yet. The 1920's might be too F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby."
Humphrey Bogart in 'Casablanca' and Ingrid Bergman are older and world weary. She a spinster, he a worn Peter Pan. The play is a rite of spring, about sex/love= attraction. The theme of warfare is on the edges. The troops have just had a victory. The violence in the play is Benedick vs Claudio over Claudio's dumping of Hero. Same as in "Bridget Jone's Diary" when Colin Firth beats up Hugh Grant.
I may end up with an eclectic European look -- more like what Nancy will be seeing on her French rivers tour. I just watched "I Served The King of England" on Starz last night. A Czechoslavakian film set in Prague --wonderful, delightful. Great playfulness and wit.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Praise for Cast of Lettice and Lovage
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Excerpts from Michael Howley's review
The actress playing the role [of Lettice] must be an exceptional storyteller, and Ms. VanFossen... rises to an inspired portrayal.
ASF intern Melanie Wilson's... bubbly...vivacious presence serves well to counterbalance Miss Schoen's propriety
Ms. Monferdini [as Lotte Schoen]...is a delight. Her... changes are so subtle.
Mr. Bardolph, Anthony Cochrane ... in a wonderfully comic turn that is infectious.
....as we have been transported by their performances, we join these two exceptional women in their triumph.
Excerpts from Michael Howley's review
The actress playing the role [of Lettice] must be an exceptional storyteller, and Ms. VanFossen... rises to an inspired portrayal.
ASF intern Melanie Wilson's... bubbly...vivacious presence serves well to counterbalance Miss Schoen's propriety
Ms. Monferdini [as Lotte Schoen]...is a delight. Her... changes are so subtle.
Mr. Bardolph, Anthony Cochrane ... in a wonderfully comic turn that is infectious.
....as we have been transported by their performances, we join these two exceptional women in their triumph.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
BRAVA!! TOI, TOI, TOI!!!
Spread the word: Fantastic shows in the REP SEASON at ASF! the best HAMLET people have ever seen, a great clear production of the rarely done ALL'S WELL and Tudor fun and hijinks in LETTICE AND LOVAGE.
We're back!!!!
FAN MAIL
Diana, dear:
I hasten to tell you that you were GREAT!!! I've just returned from your matinee where I went with Chip, Becky and their daughter, Allie. I LOVED your performance which had a perfect blend of the dear and the outrageous--a plateau to be strived for not only on stage but in real life!!! We chatted with Geoffrey both before the play and at intermission and we sat with Kay Blount, Red Blount's daughter, who also loved it. Her brother, Tom, who designed the theatre and I with my John who was also an architect, gave us a certain osmosis knowledge in the segment involving lousy architecture--and also the attitude of their priorities when a beautiful building was demolished--with people in it!!!
You depicted the blood and gore beautifully but I only wish you could also have told the tourists about Lord Cranmer's burning at the stake. I could see you standing there against the flames putting your hand out and having the hand severed in the fire and your taking the severed hand up with the other hand, holding it up to heaven and addressing God in no uncertain terms by saying, "As you are my witness, I have done all I could to see that the bloody prayer book is preserved as I envisioned it." Or maybe Lord Cranmer could have been visiting the house with the steps, got into fisticuffs with the Pope who just happened to be visiting and wrestled him down the stairs where the Pope was pinioned on the peak of his miter and was overheard to say, "My good man, this will cost you more indulgences than you can imagine." I have no idea why I came to your mind as you said I did whilst you were working up the character!
I did enjoy it so much and you do such a splendid job. All in my party were thoroughly enmeshed and enjoyed it greatly. That was a very difficult role and I'm now marveling about things like learning all the lines and being on stage the whole time and technicalties like that. They defy me. I cannot do any sort of public speaking--just rave to my closest friends and I am in awe of your performance.
Brava and Love,
Dodgie
Diana, dear:
I hasten to tell you that you were GREAT!!! I've just returned from your matinee where I went with Chip, Becky and their daughter, Allie. I LOVED your performance which had a perfect blend of the dear and the outrageous--a plateau to be strived for not only on stage but in real life!!! We chatted with Geoffrey both before the play and at intermission and we sat with Kay Blount, Red Blount's daughter, who also loved it. Her brother, Tom, who designed the theatre and I with my John who was also an architect, gave us a certain osmosis knowledge in the segment involving lousy architecture--and also the attitude of their priorities when a beautiful building was demolished--with people in it!!!
You depicted the blood and gore beautifully but I only wish you could also have told the tourists about Lord Cranmer's burning at the stake. I could see you standing there against the flames putting your hand out and having the hand severed in the fire and your taking the severed hand up with the other hand, holding it up to heaven and addressing God in no uncertain terms by saying, "As you are my witness, I have done all I could to see that the bloody prayer book is preserved as I envisioned it." Or maybe Lord Cranmer could have been visiting the house with the steps, got into fisticuffs with the Pope who just happened to be visiting and wrestled him down the stairs where the Pope was pinioned on the peak of his miter and was overheard to say, "My good man, this will cost you more indulgences than you can imagine." I have no idea why I came to your mind as you said I did whilst you were working up the character!
I did enjoy it so much and you do such a splendid job. All in my party were thoroughly enmeshed and enjoyed it greatly. That was a very difficult role and I'm now marveling about things like learning all the lines and being on stage the whole time and technicalties like that. They defy me. I cannot do any sort of public speaking--just rave to my closest friends and I am in awe of your performance.
Brava and Love,
Dodgie
Thursday, April 29, 2010
PBS Hamlet
Hamlet. Another shiny floor Shakespeare with Dr. Who in the lead! Broadcast on PBS last night. Not to be confused with a chance to see a real live production of "Hamlet" on stage.
Did all this mirror floor stuff get started with Jack Gold's production of Tom Stoppard's "The Coast of Utopia" at Lincoln Center? I saw that in about 2005.
I know Alice saw at least two shiny floor Shakespeare plays in London in 2006 during her junior year semester in London. The thing about "The Coast of Utopia" that really set it apart was the hoard of migrating peasants moving through fog on the shiny floor.
http://iamatvjunkie.typepad.com/i_am_a_tv_junkie_a_blog_f/2010/04/david-tennants-hamlet-on-pbs-great-performances-starting-tonight-on-bluray-dvd-may-4.html
Did all this mirror floor stuff get started with Jack Gold's production of Tom Stoppard's "The Coast of Utopia" at Lincoln Center? I saw that in about 2005.
I know Alice saw at least two shiny floor Shakespeare plays in London in 2006 during her junior year semester in London. The thing about "The Coast of Utopia" that really set it apart was the hoard of migrating peasants moving through fog on the shiny floor.
http://iamatvjunkie.typepad.com/i_am_a_tv_junkie_a_blog_f/2010/04/david-tennants-hamlet-on-pbs-great-performances-starting-tonight-on-bluray-dvd-may-4.html
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