Friday, March 25, 2011

Boston Marriage - the review

Yesterday the Valley News published their review of our production. I'm embarrassed for them. I wrote a response, but couldn't decide if I wanted to post it. I thought I'd give myself a full day to cool down and reflect. I'm cool and reflective and posting my response.

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A review of Boston Marriage was in the paper this morning, and it’s a positive one. Positive, but moronic. It reads like a high school book report, whose author has simply ripped off most of it from wikipedia. It’s a “snapshot of the lives of three women.” That is, among other things, a totally meaningless statement. But that pales in comparison to the assertion that the play is about a lesbian relationship. Sure, in the same way that Hamlet is “about” the divine right of kings or Long Day’s Journey is “about” drug use. Please. Next time, Valley News, send someone who has actually graduated from high school.
Almost all of the review (and I use the term very loosely) is a plot synopsis. Thanks for giving away the dramatically surprising elements that we want the audience to discover for themselves. Perhaps it’s a good way to fill up a column when one has nothing either original or perceptive to say. 
“Catherine . . . provides a bit of comic relief.” Comic relief from what, the constant eruptions of laughter coming from the audience? Anyone who uses the term “comic relief” in a review is holding up a flag that says “I may not know anything about the theatre, but I read a play once in high school English class.” 
I’m still trying to figure out why it’s important to point out that this play was written in the “pre 9/11 age.” Is it because female relationships were so extraordinary way back then? My God, that was twelve years ago! He should have read the program. “Today, a story about a love affair between two women seems almost quaint.” What? So a story about heterosexual relationships would be what - prehistoric? What’s your point?
The fact that he spends one entire sentence talking about the remarkable actors in this production, and does so with the perception of someone who once saw an elementary school Christmas production, is of little consequence. Because he does point out that the play has a “subtext.” Let me point out something that may be of use in any further theatre criticism that you do (God help us) - all plays have “subtext.”  And then I’m still trying to figure out what he means by calling the production “sparse.” He never explains it, and so since it’s an apparently trivial observation I’ll ignore it.
I know I can’t ask for someone with the requisite knowledge of theatre, of acting, of human interaction and the nature of story-telling - but I would like to ask for someone who has been to a play before.
I hope you’ll all be able to see this wonderful production. The acting is amazing and the script is simply a work of genius.

Monday, March 21, 2011

BOSTON MARRIAGE is open





It's been a while since I posted anything here. (I've been kind of busy getting this show up.)  But we're open now, and the audiences are blown away by the show. I've been hearing things like "best acting I've ever seen in this area" and "my cheeks hurt from laughing." People are really impressed and moved by the work these three women are doing, but no one is more impressed with them than I am. It has been an absolute joy to create this wonderful thing with them.


Caitlin, Brandy, Alexis during rehearsal

Weekend work - gold and black lacquer
Finished set

We're going into the second weekend of performances, and I'll post some production shots soon.

And I'll have another thing to post - an announcement is coming.

- Bill

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Boston Marriage has begun!

We're now underway, rehearsing this wonderful play. Working with three very talented women every day is a joy in so many ways. We find ourselves reveling in the unbounded wit, feasting on the glorious language, finding out what makes these characters do what they do. It is a thrilling challenge.

Alexis Black and Brandy Zarle

Caitlin Glasgo

Tomorrow we start drilling into Act Two . . . lots of things to discover. Four of us who can't wait to get to work.

- Bill