EXTRA CRITICUM

"Ireland" (or) Why do people lately feel obligated to narrate in movie theatres?

The turning point happened sometime last year, during a screening of Richard LaGravanese's Hilary Swank vehicle, P.S. I Love You, which was surprisingly much better than its advertising campaign would have us believe. There we are sitting in a darkened, half-full movie theatre, getting wrapped up in the heartache and hope of our heroine's journey when at a critical juncture in the story, a lady sitting behind us exclaims to her husband: "Ireland."

When You Make a Biopic of My Life, Focus on This Moment

As a rule, I dislike biopics. There are two reasons for this. One, I often ask myself would I be interested in this film if it weren't about someone famous and the answer is usually no. [ed note: for related post, see: Savage Race - our endless obsession with wealth and power] Two, they are often too broad and unfocused. Trying to tell the breadth of a person's life in two or three or six hours is a fool's endeavor. As a straightforward narrative, you get something lifeless like Rhapsody in Blue. In its more artsy incarnations you are given a fractured portrait that can work very well indeed (Andrei Rublev, not a true biopic, but close enough) or not well at all (I'm Not There).  

Drunken! Careening! Writers! "Now We Are Six" Jan 15, KGB Bar, FREE!

Who knew? Because I went to one-too-many readings in which there were too many readers, reading for too long, I said to the guy who owns KGB: "give me my own night (please)." And he did, and I began to put together a reading series dedicated to the proposition that readings should be excellent, well-read pieces that have at least one thing in them that makes people laugh (nervous laughter counts), and don't run more than 15 minutes each.

I stole (with permission) the series name from a writer friend who, in describing the photography on one of our favorite shows, called it "Drunken! Careening! Cameramen!"

Snapshot Guessing Game

Left, a publicity photo from a theater production. The first person who correctly guesses a) the name of the play and b) the name of the character in the play will be my guest for a drink next week when I am performing in Manhattan (or anytime you're in Los Angeles). Now, if you can also guess the year and location the photo was taken, I will throw in dinner.

HINT: Pictured is an iconic "routine" from the play, a classic of twentieth century drama.

No fair guessing if you already know the answer.

(Click on thumbnail to see the image full-size.)

Mr. Mom in West Palm, Part V - In Which he Contemplates Returning to New York

I wanna go home.

When I first got to Florida, I could not even entertain the thought of returning to New York. I was so glad to be off the treadmill I had been on, so happy to bask in the warm weather. I had a house, a yard! Why would I want to return?

Now I wanna go home.

Print Magazine Death Watch: Entertainment Weekly, safe for now, but how long?

As the print publishing industry caves in on itself, Entertainment Weekly (one of the few mags I subscribe to and read voraciously every week) has announced that they are letting go of a few staffers and naming Jess Cagle of PEOPLE as the new editor.

10 Best American Movies? Really?

A friend of mine sent me an e-mail last night, subject field: “blog fodder?” In the e-mail, a link to a New York Times blog. Here it is. When you open this page, make sure to hold your breath, because it stinks.

http://fish.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/the-10-best-american-movies/?em

It stinks so bad, I don’t want to acknowledge its existence. But since it is THE TIMES, I feel like attention must be paid.

Coming Out . . .

Okay, I’m coming out.

     I know that may seem odd to some of you who know me (and have known that I was formerly in a committed relationship with a man for fourteen years), but it’s not that kind of coming out. I’m coming out . . . about my writing. Or, more to the point, the fact that I don’t. And as I write that last line, my hands are trembling, my mouth is drying out and I’m wondering what the “f” I’m doing telling you this. But I have to get this off my chest because I’m struggling with the same thing a lot of you struggle with.

"New" Energy?

If Sunday night was a time to mourn shows, there was also ample reason for some producers and actors to see new creative prospects on the horizon, rather than just financial clouds.

“There feels like a new energy or a new hope,” said the Broadway casting agent Bernard Telsey, who is involved in coming productions, including “Blithe Spirit” and “9 to 5.” He also noted that auditions were starting for two new planned productions for next season, “Spider-Man” and “Catch Me if You Can.”

—from Monday's New York Times

Blithe Spirit, first produced on Broadway in 1941; this will be the third revival.

9 to 5, based on the 1980 film comedy.

Spider-Man, based on the Marvel Comics character first seen in 1962 that has spawned at least five comic book titles, several animated and live-action television series, syndicated newspaper comic strips and a successful series of films.

Catch Me if You Can, based on the 2002 film based on Frank Abagnale's biography.

Snapshots: Ah... the memories!

Just stumbled upon this promotional still from my play, Rapt, which played for a few weeks at The Culture Project in late 2002. I had forgotten about this shot, which I really like 'cause it really captures the spirit of that show. Got any favorite snapshots of your own? Share 'em here.

[pictured L to R: Chris Arruda, Lisa Barnes]

EUREKA! I am a now a New Author on Extra Criticum!

After Rolando was so kind as to invite me to be amongst you fine authors that are a part of Extra Criticum, I was having the most difficult of times 'accepting his invitation'.  Over and over again typepad let me know that they have never heard of me re: my email name and password.  I tried different name combinations with slightly different passwords, as I change it up depending on the account.  Pet name plus age, different pet name plus a different number - sometimes an age, sometimes a birthdate.  Sometimes I would use only a current pet name sans number. Back in the day I would use my 1st dead pet's name no number added, then I switched to my second dead pet name, etc.  In recent years I have tried to 'keep it simple' and use the same, most current pet name and a number combo of which I will not let on here.  However, I still use two different number combos on bill payments thus my confusion when I tried what felt like a kazillion different pet/number combos to get access to Extra Criticum dishearteningly to no avail.

"Imagine a man running out of his body..."

This is one of my lines from Tov ("good"), a new work-in-progress from the Los Angeles-based ensemble Rosanna Gamson/World Wide. Choreographer Rosanna Gamson is known for layered and literate works of dance theater that are visually evocative, emotionally powerful and deftly crafted. Her newest production threads the histories of her Polish Jewish ancestors with the fate of the tarpan horse, a breed that exists now only in a “recreated” form, to examine reinvention, regeneration and the groundless optimism invoked by the phrase “Gam zeh le-tovah,” or “This too is for the good.”

If you are or will be in Los Angeles on Sunday, January 11th, please come see excerpts of Tov,drink flavored (and/or unflavored) vodka (and/or other soft, medium and hard drinks) and eat delicious snacks and support dance and dance theater in LA. If you are or will be in New York, please come see the first incarnation of Tov in its entirety on January 15th & 17th, presented by the JCC in Manhattan.

The Lunar Adventures of Dar and Matey! Three nights! Next week!

Hello Everyone!  Shameless Promotion here!

Next week my short play: The Lunar Adventures of Dar and Matey, Estuary Pirates lands at the Manhattan Theatre Source for a three night run!  As a part of the InGenius Festival Dar and Matey is the short adventure of Dar and Matey (the aforementioned pirates) who crash on the moon.  In order to get back home, they have made a deal with King Kuna Luna, King of the Moon: rescue his daughter from the Terrible Titan of the Moon Tim!  Adventure!  Romance!  A Robot!

Monologues! Monologues! Monologues! This Thurs, 1/8 in NYC

I do get out a little bit in the city of New York…

And this Thursday night is no exception (and the following Thursday, which I’ll also post about).

So if you are around, and fancy a drink, and some good actors performing monologues from many wonderful playwrights, then you should seriously consider heading downtown to the Cornelia St. Café for an event that’s hosted/produced by my dear friend & fellow playwright Bob Shuman, who also does the Stage Voices blog.

Milk: Co-Starring Anita Bryant

I went to see Milk with a friend who is just discovering my movie viewing habits. She was interested to hear that I will often watch films I like more than once, and films that I love over and over. I explained that the first time I watch a film it's as a movie goer, letting myself become engrossed with the story and the acting. Subsequent times I watch as a filmmaker, trying to figure out the mechanics of how the film worked as well as it did, how it did what it did to move me. When we left Milk, and after discussing why we both liked it, she asked, "So, is this a film you'll watch again? Or again and again? Or never again?"

I paused for a second. "I'd watch it again, but only because of how the director used the archival footage. That is remarkable."