I watched “Chasing Amy” again this past week … and, no matter how many times I see it, I still hold out hope that Banky and Holden are going to get together at the end of the movie.
Author: Chas.
“The Pillowman” Wrap Up
Six weeks of rehearsals, six performances … and it’s all over.
After thinking about this show for so long, it feels kinda weird to be shut of it. It took about three years to find the right cast. I gotta give kudos to Jack (who played Tupolski) for hanging in there that long. I gave him the script to read and he immediately said “Yes.” Over the past few years, I had various people on the hook but they all fell through for various reasons. I have to say that I am glad. Last Spring, I hooked Steve (who played Ariel) into accepting … and then Colin agreed to play Katurian. I had been wanting Colin for the show for a while and I was really, really excited when he agreed to take on that massive role. I fretted over the role of Michal for several more months until Justin worked on “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.” After some harassment, he came on board and we were off and running.
I felt weird accepting compliments from people that came to see the show. Sure I directed it and came up with the lighting and sound design … but those four guys are the ones who made “The Pillowman” what it was. The acting was pretty much electric every night and I am bummed that I only got to see it on it’s feet for three dress rehearsals and the six performances.
I gotta say that I am really, really going to miss this show.
Hacked and Attacked
Ugh.
I was going to do a wonderful post last night about “The Pillowman” and how great the show turned out … but I noticed the admin on this site behaving strange. After some investigating, I discovered my web folders has been hacked with nasty, evil site redirecting malware from Russia.
So … after 4 hours of searching for answers, finding the malicious code and a doing a fresh install of the newest versions of WordPress and my site’s theme, I am back up and running. But I will damned if I can get my header image to show. Grrrrrrr.
Hopefully the site will be back to normal soon.
Eye Candy Break [TV Edition]
This is Rutledge Wood from “Top Gear.”
Off and Running
Yes. I have been MIA the past few weeks … but with good reason. Our Studio production of “The Pillowman” is now up and running. It’s been a busy few weeks trying to get everything together. I decided to do things the hard way and turn the main stage of the theater into a black box space. It’s been a lot of extra work but it helps give the show a little bit of edge due to changing things up for the audience. Folks that have come to see the show have been very complimentary. It’s nice to know folks appreciate theater that’s more “edgy” and not just your average “run of mill” stuff.
It helps that I have a damn fine cast. They have worked hard and are giving really fantastic performances in the show. I also have to give a big hat tip to my pal, Reed, for helping me find the right music for the show.
And, if you are interested, we had an article in last week’s issue of The Guide. Stina always does good write ups.
We have three performances under our belts with three more this coming weekend. Hopefully, I will have some official photos of the show to post sometime nest week.
Meanwhile …
This is the sort of thing you get into on a Friday night when you’re directing a show like “The Pillowman.” We open in two weeks!!!
Eye Candy Break [Criterion Edition]
Eye Candy Break [Avengers Edition]
While not wetting myself like most fanboys … I can say that the eye candy factor of Double Chris’s has me getting excited about “The Avengers.”
Upcoming [Theater Edition]
Take a wild guess what I am now directing!
I saw “The Pillowman” several years ago on a trip to NYC and loved it. Obviously, I have been wanting to see HART mount a production of it. The show has been bandied about in discussion for a few years … even going so far as to be suggested for the main stage. But, it’s not really the kind of show that our main stage audiences would support very well. Too much language and violence (or at least talk of violence). A few years ago I started passing the script around to folks for a possible production in the Feichter Studio. It never seemed to work out with the people I was bugging. And then suddenly last year, actors started to commit! So, now I am finally directing “The Pillowman” with a cast of four super fine actors (and a cameo by one super cute girl). We had our first rehearsal tonight and have a few more weeks to go before we open on February 24th. Viva la Theatre!
Gold Box Blues
Damn that Amazon and their Gold Box Deals!!! I just couldn’t pass up all five seasons of the original series of “The Twilight Zone” on Blu-ray for a super sweet price. I am never gonna get that credit card paid off.
Photo Evidence: “Spelling Bee”
Finally you can see some photos from the Haywood Arts Regional Theatre’s production of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” … directed by yours truly and starring a bunch of damn fine actors. See more after the jump! Continue reading “Photo Evidence: “Spelling Bee””
Out and About: The New Year
David and Myself at the annual end of the year party at HART.
Midnight zaniness at an excellent party host by Kiki and Franke.
“Tattoo” vs. “Tattoo”
David Fincher movies get me all excited. So, when it was announced he was at the helm of the American-ized version of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” I got super excited. I really enjoyed the Swedish film, so I was curious as to what Fincher would do with the material.
Now the results are in theaters and it stacks up well (and sometimes not so well) against the original Swedish film.
For the most part, Fincher’s version works very well. The tone of the movie is very cold, clinical and precise. Fincher seems more interested in presenting the mechanics of the investigation rather than making it a more lurid thriller. It’s kinda like a lighter and more user friendly version of “Zodiac.” Some plot elements from the book that were ditched in the original movie show up here which make a nice addition. All the actor’s are solid and the pacing clicks along fairly well (except for wrapping up all the loose threads at the end). Plus, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross deliver another very interesting soundtrack.
So, does Rooney Mara kick it as Lisbeth Slander? She does and then some. I liked Mara’s take of the character more than Noomi Rapace‘s. It’s more dark, internal and withdrawn.
The major problem with the movie is that it has about five endings. They catch the killer and then there are about four more plot points to resolve which drags out the ending. And the movie is fitted with a bizarre James Bond-esque opening credit sequence. It looks cool and plays under the blasting sounds of “Immigrant Song” (covered by Reznor/Ross/Karen O) … but it doesn’t really serve any other purpose than to look cool.
There are better Fincher films … but, on the whole, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” worth checking out.