We've so much time, so little to do ...
10/24 '14
Strike that. Reverse it.
It is my ambition to introduce Archer to all of the plays and musicals I have loved and some of the ones I have been indifferent to, but see as theatre canon. Then, of course, there are all of the shows that have come out since I was at the height of my theatre days, and all the shows that will be born in the future.
Next on our viewing list - Peter Pan at the Players' Club of Swarthmore tonight. I like the Players' Club. Archer and I saw Joseph there (I don't need to type out the whole name of the show, do I?) and their production was fantastic. Their production of The Fantasticks was weak due to the casting of Luisa (she could sing, but she needed to act too), but the rest of the cast was good, and their tech is consistent and doesn't make me want to scream, "Light the FACE, the FACE!!!" like so many local theatres do, even semi-professional ones. Really, it's not that hard, if the actor is meant to be the focus of the scene, get him or her into the light unless it's Bill Sykes and then create some really nasty shadows on purpose.
Also, I am eager to show him the movie version of Fiddler on the Roof for many reasons, not the least of which is to see if he recognizes Max from The Muppet Movie. Shhhh.
If you know of a good production in the PhilaDel area (we live in Media), please drop me a recommendation.
Hunter and I are compiling a playlist. Last night we added the theme from Superman and the Imperial March. Sadly, we can't even buy a copy of Ewok Celebration (better known to all of us 80s kids as 'Yub Nub') so we have to watch it on YouTube. And watch it, and watch it, and watch it ... well at least we found the version with Real Vader's ghost as opposed to ... ok, I was about to rag on Hayden Christiansen's "acting skills" but now I am wondering who sucked worse, him in the prequels or Paul Walker (RIP) in Timeline and if we can make this into a drinking game. Because if I am going down THAT rabbit hole, I will need many drinks.
Hedgerow's doing Hamlet. Looks like a small-cast, Old West version. I know the Wilma's doing Hamlet too. Let me know if Fang wants to read my condensed Hamlet first.
People's Light does an annual panto at Christmastime. This time it's Arthur & The Tale Of The Red Dragon. might be too young for him, might be fun.
The Lantern's going to do Doubt, which might blow his mind, but since he liked Glass, he'll probably like this.
People's Light is doing The Cherry Orchard. Please don't subject him to Chekov.
And, of course, The Wilma's doing R&G Are Dead.
That's all I know about for right now.
b) Fuck, he has to sit through a production of Hamlet before he can truly appreciate R&G Are Dead. Hamlet, in my opinion, is a great piece of prose but a boring play. Or rather, a frustrating one, because if Hamlet just grew some balls and got off his ass and acted like a King instead of a whiny teenager with Oedipus issues ... well, I guess there wouldn't be a play then, would there?