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Author Topic:   God, _Rent_ Sucks
Rrhain
Member
Posts: 6351
From: San Diego, CA, USA
Joined: 05-03-2003


Message 16 of 28 (265176)
12-02-2005 11:20 PM
Reply to: Message 6 by clpMINI
11-28-2005 12:34 PM


Re: Rent Rant?
clpMINI responds to me:
quote:
I would say that the meanings of Mark and Roger finishing their own movies and songs was to establish something more lasting and personal in a world where everything else they had was temporary. Everything else seemed very fleeting.
Possibly, but that contradicts what Roger and Mimi were saying in "Another Day:" "No day but today." That's even the tag line they're using to advertise the film. Of course everything is fleeting. That's what they're celebrating: Life is something that is precious and passes quickly so it must be lived to its fullest right here, right now.
And that's precisely why Mimi has to die. If she lives, she betrays the Bohemian spirit they are supposed to be filled with. That isn't to say that Bohemians are supposed to die young, but the point is that her death creates a new beginning, a new bittersweet joy, a connection between Roger and Collins in their shared grief...which was just destroyed since she didn't die.
No, the song and the film were nothing more than great feats of self-indulgent crap to be of significance only to Roger and Mark and their tiny circle of friends. Oh, they think it holds great significance but like most all pieces of performance art (such as Maureen's), it doesn't since it is too personal, too directed. The symbols only have meaning to those who have fully lived the life of the one performing...
...and only one person has.
That doesn't mean that there is no art in the highly personal. It simply means that you have abandoned the universal for the personal and you shouldn't expect those who don't share your personal viewpoint to understand what you are doing. And it isn't because they don't have a soul. It's because you're talking to yourself.

Rrhain

Thank you for your submission to Science. Your paper was reviewed by a jury of seventh graders so that they could look for balance and to allow them to make up their own minds. We are sorry to say that they found your paper "bogus," specifically describing the section on the laboratory work "boring." We regret that we will be unable to publish your work at this time.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 6 by clpMINI, posted 11-28-2005 12:34 PM clpMINI has not replied

  
Rrhain
Member
Posts: 6351
From: San Diego, CA, USA
Joined: 05-03-2003


Message 17 of 28 (265178)
12-03-2005 12:01 AM
Reply to: Message 2 by Phat
11-28-2005 3:03 AM


Re: Rant about Rent
My two favorite shows are Chess (the original London production, not the disgusting Broadway version) and Into the Woods.
I saw the former in London with Anthony Head (the brother of Murray, who played Freddie in the original cast...and of Buffy the Vampire fame) as Freddie. The set design was absolutely amazing. They had a floor laid out in an 8x8 grid that could be lit up from underneath white and red to create checkerboards, acting spaces, etc. The board raised and lowered, spun, and tilted to whatever was appropriate and it was used to amazing effect in "Mountain Duet." They had it spun so it was corner to corner, all squares lit white, and raked to a huge degree so the top corner looked like a snow-topped mountain. With the actors wearing black and white clothing, Anatoly and Florence looked like they were floating above the stage as they walked up and down the set.
I liked Into the Woods from my first time when I saw it in LA with Cleo Laine as the Witch, but I saw a touring production where, once again, the set design was brilliant. They used gigantic pop-up books. Open this side and a tree rises, the other side and it's the interior of the Baker's house. When they got to the point where the Baker's Wife is crushed by the giant, they had a book opened up to a huge tree pop-up and she started backing up to the tree. The spot pulls in tighter and the book slowly closed upon her.
But the thing that keeps wandering through my mind for Into the Woods is that the Witch is a man (the giant's a woman, after all, so there's precedent for playing with people's heads.) Why? Listen to her diatribe to Rapunzel: "What would you have me do? What would you have me be? Handsome like a prince?" I suppose it's a bit too Sweeney Todd, but it seems like the Witch wants Rapunzel not just because the Witch wants a child....
Then there was The Mystery of Irma Vep. It took me to about two-thirds of the way through the first act before I finally realized...there's only two men playing all the parts. And then I got to do the show, myself. Opening night, the scene between Lady Enid and Jane where Jane is telling about Victor and she tells Enid to drink up her toddy. I was playing Enid and I take my mug and slam it back...and my wig falls off.
I slowly turn to Jane and say, "Well, Jane...now you know something about me. Don't tell Lord Edgar!" The actor playing Jane (who also plays Lord Edgar) responded, "I wouldn't dream of it!" Brought the house down. I tried to get that to happen every night for the rest of the run and it never did.
Later, I played evil stepsister Asphyxia in a British Panto version of Cinderella. I ended up winning local theatre awards for that and for Irma Vep. Hmm...I play a woman and I win an award. Perhaps I should be reconsidering my choices of roles. I was in a recent production of The Wizard of Oz and some of the others were wondering if I was auditioning for the Wicked Witch....

Rrhain

Thank you for your submission to Science. Your paper was reviewed by a jury of seventh graders so that they could look for balance and to allow them to make up their own minds. We are sorry to say that they found your paper "bogus," specifically describing the section on the laboratory work "boring." We regret that we will be unable to publish your work at this time.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 2 by Phat, posted 11-28-2005 3:03 AM Phat has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 18 by RAZD, posted 12-04-2005 3:11 PM Rrhain has replied
 Message 26 by crashfrog, posted 12-11-2005 12:30 PM Rrhain has not replied

  
RAZD
Member (Idle past 1405 days)
Posts: 20714
From: the other end of the sidewalk
Joined: 03-14-2004


Message 18 of 28 (265488)
12-04-2005 3:11 PM
Reply to: Message 17 by Rrhain
12-03-2005 12:01 AM


Re: Rant about Rent
ever see "the Norman Conquests" (series of 4 plays, central character Norman having multiple affairs, all takes place in one house on one weekend, but each play is a different room in the house)? I thought it was hilarious and very well done by a small troop in Toronto (several many years ago).

we are limited in our ability to understand
by our ability to understand
RebelAAmerican.Zen[Deist
... to learn ... to think ... to live ... to laugh ...
to share.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 17 by Rrhain, posted 12-03-2005 12:01 AM Rrhain has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 19 by Rrhain, posted 12-10-2005 4:33 AM RAZD has not replied
 Message 20 by Nighttrain, posted 12-10-2005 4:42 AM RAZD has replied

  
Rrhain
Member
Posts: 6351
From: San Diego, CA, USA
Joined: 05-03-2003


Message 19 of 28 (267461)
12-10-2005 4:33 AM
Reply to: Message 18 by RAZD
12-04-2005 3:11 PM


Re: Rant about Rent
RAZD responds to me:
quote:
ever see "the Norman Conquests"
Can't say that I have. Unfortunately, I don't often get a chance to see plays...I'm usually in them.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 18 by RAZD, posted 12-04-2005 3:11 PM RAZD has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 22 by berberry, posted 12-10-2005 10:58 AM Rrhain has replied

  
Nighttrain
Member (Idle past 3994 days)
Posts: 1512
From: brisbane,australia
Joined: 06-08-2004


Message 20 of 28 (267462)
12-10-2005 4:42 AM
Reply to: Message 18 by RAZD
12-04-2005 3:11 PM


Re: Rant about Rent
Glad it was better than Ayckbourn`s book which was boring as hell.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 18 by RAZD, posted 12-04-2005 3:11 PM RAZD has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 21 by RAZD, posted 12-10-2005 7:54 AM Nighttrain has not replied

  
RAZD
Member (Idle past 1405 days)
Posts: 20714
From: the other end of the sidewalk
Joined: 03-14-2004


Message 21 of 28 (267474)
12-10-2005 7:54 AM
Reply to: Message 20 by Nighttrain
12-10-2005 4:42 AM


Re: Rant about book derivations
then I won't rush out to buy the book
that does show one of the critical differences between plays movies and books - the amount of time that can be devoted to the plot and characters.
movies and plays derived from books always have to make compromises on what to exclude.
so what you usually end up with is a {short story version} of the book.
books derived from plays or movies (or radio shows) can add material
so that a good play was developed from a boring book only means the book should have been a short story ... in the first place
imao.

we are limited in our ability to understand
by our ability to understand
RebelAAmerican.Zen[Deist
... to learn ... to think ... to live ... to laugh ...
to share.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 20 by Nighttrain, posted 12-10-2005 4:42 AM Nighttrain has not replied

  
berberry
Inactive Member


Message 22 of 28 (267509)
12-10-2005 10:58 AM
Reply to: Message 19 by Rrhain
12-10-2005 4:33 AM


Re: Rant about Rent
I'm so jealous of you. I love plays and I frequently wish I had taken acting in school.
If you don't mind my asking, have you ever done Shakespeare? If so, what was your favorite role?

This message is a reply to:
 Message 19 by Rrhain, posted 12-10-2005 4:33 AM Rrhain has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 24 by macaroniandcheese, posted 12-11-2005 3:24 AM berberry has not replied
 Message 25 by Rrhain, posted 12-11-2005 5:03 AM berberry has not replied

  
Yaro
Member (Idle past 6496 days)
Posts: 1797
Joined: 07-12-2003


Message 23 of 28 (267520)
12-10-2005 11:44 AM


Anyone ever seen Headwig and The Angry Inch?
I saw the movie and it was excelent. As I understand it, it was quite a popular play as well. Anyone seen it?

  
macaroniandcheese 
Suspended Member (Idle past 3928 days)
Posts: 4258
Joined: 05-24-2004


Message 24 of 28 (267711)
12-11-2005 3:24 AM
Reply to: Message 22 by berberry
12-10-2005 10:58 AM


Re: Rant about Rent
me too... but then i'm not melodramatic enough for most people to cast me.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 22 by berberry, posted 12-10-2005 10:58 AM berberry has not replied

  
Rrhain
Member
Posts: 6351
From: San Diego, CA, USA
Joined: 05-03-2003


Message 25 of 28 (267716)
12-11-2005 5:03 AM
Reply to: Message 22 by berberry
12-10-2005 10:58 AM


Re: Rant about Rent
Gads, my resume? Yes, I've done Shakespeare. Not a lot, but the times I did it have always been interesting.
My first was Antonion in The Tempest. We did it in mask since there is a theme of surface versus substance in the play. We decided to make Prospero and Antonio eagles (P bald and A golden). Each character would find the appropriate moment in the play in which the mask is removed to reveal what is truly underneath...mine had to be torn from my face because Antonio would never, ever willingly relinquish his power.
I combined his browbeating comments to Sebastian to kill Alonso into a monologue and with it, got my internship at the Royal National.
Next came The Taming of the Shrew as Lucentio. Outdoor play where I and the woman playing Bianca were admonished to stop being so enthusiastic during our makeout scene (at one point, Bianca grabs my hands and puts them on her own ass as we're rolling around on the floor)...some of the regulars for the theatre were a bit stodgy and complaining.
And right after that, another company asked me to do Shrew for them...this time as Tranio. As some may recall, Lucentio and Tranio are master-and-servant and have a few scenes together. It was a bit of work trying to do reverse the scene...since they had also asked the actor who played Tranio in the first production to play Lucentio.
I had auditioned for Much Ado and was trying for either Benedick or Claudio but the director seemed to think I was only interested in Benedick and he already had the actor in mind whom he wanted for that role. So, I auditioned for Two Gents and got Antonio (when did I become the father? I'm in my 30s and I'm playing men who have sons who are 20. Do I really look that old?) But just as we had started rehearsal, I got a call from the original company that their Claudio had to withdraw and would I be interested.
Well...yeah...last week. Sorry, committed to another production.
And then, of course, there was The Compleat Wrks of Wllm Shkspr (abridged) where I got to play everybody. When we got to the football scene with me as Richard II. "But there's a heavy press from King John!" and the guy playing John takes the fake sword and stabs me with it just as I'm trying to complete the pass. Well, one day, the sword didn't go under my arm and tagged me right in the chest and since we had been doing the show for a month or so, we were no longer nervous about that so it was a really good stab.
Fortunately, my line at that point was, "My gross flesh sinks downward!" Ow!
I've done the "To be or not to be" speech from Compleat Wrks for a couple of auditions and I've always confused the hell out of the auditioners..."Is he really having a breakdown up there?" For those who don't know, Compleat Wrks is, indeed, all of Shakespeares plays and sonnets condensed into a single show. The second act (after a brief foray into the Sonnets) is nothing but Hamlet. So the guy playing Hamlet gets down and starts to do the big speech:
To be, or not to be: that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;
...or just to take a nap and hope you wake up in time to make dinner because you've gotta make guacamole for 12 and I just can't handle the pressure of this speech!
It goes on in that vein and unless you know that the piece is supposed to be that way, you might get the idea that the actor really has flipped out.
And that's it, really. I'm not the big Shakespeare hound. I'd like to try my hand at Comedy of Errors or when I get old enough, Titus Andronicus. But the best time I had was Compleat Wrks. As Daniel, I was the one who got to close Act I with the random "talent show" portion. The old soft shoe and then doing a magic trick. I'm a bit of an amateur magician so I did a fairly simple one. Deck of cards to the audience, get one of them to pick one (and you'd be surprised how many people don't know that you're supposed to pick a card when you offer them a card to pick without saying anything), wrap the cards in a handkerchief, and then gently shake the cards in the pouch as the chosen card slowly penetrates the cloth and comes out. Usually impressive but one night, someone shouted out, "Oh, my god! How did he do that?!"
And oh, the Ophelias. Audience participation time! The guy playing Ophelia (yes, it's just three of us men so one of us has to be the girl) is trying to say how Ophelia is a complex character. I'm having none of it. Please. Anybody could play Ophelia. That woman (point to someone in the audience) could play Ophelia. OK! Let's get her up here!
Now, Bob...do you mind if we call you "Bob"?...here's what you have to do. Hamlet is going to say to you, "Get thee to a nunnery!" and you scream. OK? "Get thee to a nunnery!" and scream. You think you can do that? (She does). Great...here we go!
Get thee to a nunnery!
Now, normally this is the chance for the woman up there to show if she is either a) a ham at which point she will scream her lungs out or b) completely scared witless and comes out with a tiny squeak that can't be heard beyond the first row. Either way, it's funny. But one night....
Get thee to a nunnery!
...(*pause*)...Wait, what am I supposed to do again?
Oh, man...look, we went over this! Hamlet says, "Get thee to a nunnery" and you scream!
The guy playing Ophelia, of course, rose to the occaision: "See! I told you that Ophelia is a very difficult part! Not just anybody can do it!"

Rrhain

Thank you for your submission to Science. Your paper was reviewed by a jury of seventh graders so that they could look for balance and to allow them to make up their own minds. We are sorry to say that they found your paper "bogus," specifically describing the section on the laboratory work "boring." We regret that we will be unable to publish your work at this time.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 22 by berberry, posted 12-10-2005 10:58 AM berberry has not replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 28 by Parasomnium, posted 12-12-2005 7:54 AM Rrhain has not replied

  
crashfrog
Member (Idle past 1467 days)
Posts: 19762
From: Silver Spring, MD
Joined: 03-20-2003


Message 26 of 28 (267761)
12-11-2005 12:30 PM
Reply to: Message 17 by Rrhain
12-03-2005 12:01 AM


Re: Rant about Rent
I saw the former in London with Anthony Head (the brother of Murray, who played Freddie in the original cast...and of Buffy the Vampire fame) as Freddie. The set design was absolutely amazing.
Do you remember which theatre that was? I'm somewhat of a technical geek about these things.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 17 by Rrhain, posted 12-03-2005 12:01 AM Rrhain has not replied

  
Nighttrain
Member (Idle past 3994 days)
Posts: 1512
From: brisbane,australia
Joined: 06-08-2004


Message 27 of 28 (267872)
12-11-2005 7:15 PM


ThingsThespian and Others
My lad started off as a actor (Orton`s 'Loot',among others) and moved into screen-writing and movie-making. He made a full-length sci-fi film for AU$3,000 and sold it to Channel Nine where it surfaces as a late,late movie. He is at present teaching in the U.K. as a bread-earner while trying to flog his screen scripts. Who knows, one day he may return to acting, older, wiser, poorer?

  
Parasomnium
Member
Posts: 2224
Joined: 07-15-2003


Message 28 of 28 (268069)
12-12-2005 7:54 AM
Reply to: Message 25 by Rrhain
12-11-2005 5:03 AM


Re: Rant about Rent
Rrhain writes:
And oh, the Ophelias. Audience participation time! The guy playing Ophelia (yes, it's just three of us men so one of us has to be the girl) is trying to say how Ophelia is a complex character. I'm having none of it. Please. Anybody could play Ophelia. That woman (point to someone in the audience) could play Ophelia. OK! Let's get her up here!
Now, Bob...do you mind if we call you "Bob"?...here's what you have to do. Hamlet is going to say to you, "Get thee to a nunnery!" and you scream. OK? "Get thee to a nunnery!" and scream. You think you can do that? (She does). Great...here we go!
Get thee to a nunnery!
Now, normally this is the chance for the woman up there to show if she is either a) a ham at which point she will scream her lungs out or b) completely scared witless and comes out with a tiny squeak that can't be heard beyond the first row. Either way, it's funny. But one night....
Get thee to a nunnery!
...(*pause*)...Wait, what am I supposed to do again?
Oh, man...look, we went over this! Hamlet says, "Get thee to a nunnery" and you scream!
The guy playing Ophelia, of course, rose to the occaision: "See! I told you that Ophelia is a very difficult part! Not just anybody can do it!"
Delightful!
Rrhain, please stop moaning about buggery and give us more of this.

"Also, all signatures should be done away with if lasting for more than one week. Ok, two weeks." - Robin Rohan

This message is a reply to:
 Message 25 by Rrhain, posted 12-11-2005 5:03 AM Rrhain has not replied

  
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