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kangeikoI'm back. Didja miss me?
*
Last night,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
queenspanky, wingsmith and I went to see Now or Later, a new play by Christopher Shinn at the Royal Court Theatre. It's about the gay son of a US Presidential candidate, on election night - and his decision to go to a party the previous week dressed as Muhammed. ("How did they know you were dressed as Muhammed?" / "Well, the fact that I had 'Muhammed' written on my T-shirt probably helped.") as expected, the play was about politics and religion - but also about the personal vs. public, and family problems. I really liked how there was no 'win' scenario in this particular family; that whatever the outcome had been, John Jr would have felt it impact negatively on him. I also liked the different perspectives put forward - even though on occasion it felt that these conversations should have been held a lot earlier, and spaced out over a number of months, rather than taking place in one night. Nonetheless, it was a very powerful play, helped considerably by Eddie Redmayne's performance (John Jr), but hindered somewhat by uneven pacing and lacklustre direction. Still, overall it was an impressive achievement - succinct, witty, powerful, funny and touching at times. Given how cheap tickets are, it is highly recommended.
Quote:
John: When we [he & his ex-boyfriend] fell in love, he said a big part of why he fell in love with me was that I wanted a monogamous relationship. Which not a lot of gay guys do.
Jessica [his mother]: They don't?
John: Np. Especially not at Ivy league universities, where queer-theory professors teach that gay people who want monogamous relationships have self-loathingly internalized the value system of an oppressive patriarchal heteronormative culture.
I might as well have a Scarlet M pinned to my chest.
Jessica: I don't know what to say. I thought things had changed in the gay world.
John: Well, it doesn't help that politicians continue to deny gay people the right to marry, which sends a pretty clear signal. Why try to have something that society says you don't deserve and won't get?
*
In other theatre-related news,athena25 and I have tickets to see Ivanov at the end of October, which I am very excited about. I remain astonished at those who waited for the reviews to book, especially considering that it's Branagh doing Stoppard doing Chekhov. What were people waiting for? Direction by Peter Brooke? I had the good fortune to see Branagh on stage once before, in Mamet's Edmond at the National, which was very impressive indeed. I thought that perhaps the set dressing was a bit fussy at the time - I could quite happily have watched Branagh on an empty stage, he's certainly big enough to fill it - but the play itself was very good, and Branagh was amazing. Which, given that I'm not really a Mamet fan, says quite a bit for the direction and for Branagh himself.
*
I couldn't get tickets to see the RSC Hamlet, as they sold out within 2 hours of going on sale. Damnit. BUT. I may be seeing someone even dearer to my heart if all goes well in the next month. I have been given no promises, and will be a small puddle of goo if it happens, anyway, BUT. The mere possibility is making me happy.
*
I had to indulge and buy the special extended edition of Sex and the City: the Movie. I don't care if people think I'm silly, it's guaranteed to make me happy. As is Pret-a-Portea, which I am going to with my mummy on Sunday. Now, the plan was to also go to London Fashion Weekend, but I'm not sure that we'll have time, plus tea-dresses are a little difficult to manage when one is shopping. So the plan is to stay in Knightsbridge, rather than shuttling back and forth to S. Ken, and maybe finally find a tailor to fix my silk evening gown. (If you've seen me in the last 3 months, this has been the bane of my existence. C'MON. I know silk is difficult to repair, but it's not that bad, and, anyway, isn't this what specialist tailors are for???) I am, of course, obsessing about clothing and girl!things because that's what I do to cheer myself up. No-one is allowed to make a single disparaging comment on shoes, make-up or girlishness on pain of me being pouty.
Speaking of tailors, I must repairwingsmith's trousers. Honestly, that boy. Tut tut.
*
Last night,
queenspanky, wingsmith and I went to see Now or Later, a new play by Christopher Shinn at the Royal Court Theatre. It's about the gay son of a US Presidential candidate, on election night - and his decision to go to a party the previous week dressed as Muhammed. ("How did they know you were dressed as Muhammed?" / "Well, the fact that I had 'Muhammed' written on my T-shirt probably helped.") as expected, the play was about politics and religion - but also about the personal vs. public, and family problems. I really liked how there was no 'win' scenario in this particular family; that whatever the outcome had been, John Jr would have felt it impact negatively on him. I also liked the different perspectives put forward - even though on occasion it felt that these conversations should have been held a lot earlier, and spaced out over a number of months, rather than taking place in one night. Nonetheless, it was a very powerful play, helped considerably by Eddie Redmayne's performance (John Jr), but hindered somewhat by uneven pacing and lacklustre direction. Still, overall it was an impressive achievement - succinct, witty, powerful, funny and touching at times. Given how cheap tickets are, it is highly recommended.Quote:
John: When we [he & his ex-boyfriend] fell in love, he said a big part of why he fell in love with me was that I wanted a monogamous relationship. Which not a lot of gay guys do.
Jessica [his mother]: They don't?
John: Np. Especially not at Ivy league universities, where queer-theory professors teach that gay people who want monogamous relationships have self-loathingly internalized the value system of an oppressive patriarchal heteronormative culture.
I might as well have a Scarlet M pinned to my chest.
Jessica: I don't know what to say. I thought things had changed in the gay world.
John: Well, it doesn't help that politicians continue to deny gay people the right to marry, which sends a pretty clear signal. Why try to have something that society says you don't deserve and won't get?
*
In other theatre-related news,
athena25 and I have tickets to see Ivanov at the end of October, which I am very excited about. I remain astonished at those who waited for the reviews to book, especially considering that it's Branagh doing Stoppard doing Chekhov. What were people waiting for? Direction by Peter Brooke? I had the good fortune to see Branagh on stage once before, in Mamet's Edmond at the National, which was very impressive indeed. I thought that perhaps the set dressing was a bit fussy at the time - I could quite happily have watched Branagh on an empty stage, he's certainly big enough to fill it - but the play itself was very good, and Branagh was amazing. Which, given that I'm not really a Mamet fan, says quite a bit for the direction and for Branagh himself.*
I couldn't get tickets to see the RSC Hamlet, as they sold out within 2 hours of going on sale. Damnit. BUT. I may be seeing someone even dearer to my heart if all goes well in the next month. I have been given no promises, and will be a small puddle of goo if it happens, anyway, BUT. The mere possibility is making me happy.
*
I had to indulge and buy the special extended edition of Sex and the City: the Movie. I don't care if people think I'm silly, it's guaranteed to make me happy. As is Pret-a-Portea, which I am going to with my mummy on Sunday. Now, the plan was to also go to London Fashion Weekend, but I'm not sure that we'll have time, plus tea-dresses are a little difficult to manage when one is shopping. So the plan is to stay in Knightsbridge, rather than shuttling back and forth to S. Ken, and maybe finally find a tailor to fix my silk evening gown. (If you've seen me in the last 3 months, this has been the bane of my existence. C'MON. I know silk is difficult to repair, but it's not that bad, and, anyway, isn't this what specialist tailors are for???) I am, of course, obsessing about clothing and girl!things because that's what I do to cheer myself up. No-one is allowed to make a single disparaging comment on shoes, make-up or girlishness on pain of me being pouty.
Speaking of tailors, I must repair
wingsmith's trousers. Honestly, that boy. Tut tut.![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-09-24 08:03 pm (UTC)And aw, good to hear from you, babydoll. I wish my boss were back already; I do plan to ask him for a few days of vacation, yes.
no subject
Date: 2008-09-24 09:41 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-25 09:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-25 09:31 pm (UTC)I'm so damn glad I booked for Hamlet a year ago.
I didn't even know they were available then! But my head's not been screwed on straight re: theatre for a while. I'm taking charge of that again, dotcha worry. *girds loins*
no subject
Date: 2008-09-25 09:34 pm (UTC)...how do you feel about Sondheim?
no subject
Date: 2008-09-25 09:45 pm (UTC)Hmmm, that sounds like a smart idea... *scribbles*
...how do you feel about Sondheim?
Ooh, I like Sondheim! I've only seen Sunday in the Park with George, which was lovely, but I'm also a big fan of Into the Woods. Is there something new coming out?
no subject
Date: 2008-09-25 09:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-25 09:51 pm (UTC)I would totally bear his children. Even if they had spikey heads.
no subject
Date: 2008-09-25 09:55 pm (UTC)Though. I'm pretty sure that I've never seen anything he's directed on stage and been disappointed by it. Well. Maybe Merry Wives. But Trevor Nunn doing Sondheim at the Menier with Jason Carr? I almost don't care who's cast, it's going to be awesome.
no subject
Date: 2008-09-25 10:00 pm (UTC)