Ruined

My Unifying Vision:  This play is in the Congo during a civil war.  The play states how some people had to live their live to survive and not be killed for just being on the wrong side of the street.  This play will bring reality of war and choices people have to choose to live or die. The feeling will be dark and depressing.  The reality of how people view war will see the truth not what they want to believe. Struggle of love, honor, and betrayal will be the underlining theme of this production.  Dreams of the past and future are just dreams. Each character will have to be strong and have the want to live. Some have to make sure they stand their ground.  My actors will show their strength and weakness. There will be the sound of war and sound rain and the sound hope throughout this play.

Theater of Choice:

My theater choice would be "Circle in the Square" theater in New York city.  The reasoning behind this pick is I saw Sweenty Todd there when I was in HS and it made you feel that you where right there in the shop with Sweenty.  This play the audience needs to be close and personal with this play to understand what is really going on. This theater place is small and close. Just to get into the front row you have to step on stage. (so yes i can say i have been on a broadway stage once in my life time). My Target audience is the upper class people that never had to seen war or even hard time.  I want them to see choices they would never have to make make, feel the pain theses characters are going through, and most of all make them see that their perfect little world is not real for everyone and they need to realize how lucky they are.

Scenic Design:
Well this play is from the Cogo, so it will be placed in that world.  It will feel like you are in the rain forest.  it will be dark not only due to the Cogo but we are in War.  Background will have Trees, smog, Fires from villages being burned, musty smelling and also cheap perfume smelling due to we are in a Madame house.  As the Audience comes in and feel of the Rainforest is upon them.  The smog, will be there and moisture in the air.  the stage will be Mama's House. It will be run down and nothing fancy.  A basic shack in vision.  Dirty wood floors, old bar and old furniture.  It will not be high class but enough to know you are out of the world of war.  Even the china will be warn and chip to show hard times. 

Costume design:
Well this is the easiest part.  One the ladies will be wearing Red worn dresses.  Red has always been a sign of prositution in the days so it would be the theme for the ladies of the house.  Now Mama would have the best outfit out of all the girls because she is the Master of the game.  she would look like the boss and one you know you have to go through to get anything.  The girls their outfits are ruined. Red but ripped due to they have been abused by all these men.  money is tight and not one of the ladies are good with the sewing so they can't be perfect.  they will be coverred enough for public view but you know they will be easy to come off.  the soldiers that are government will have the uniforms that have no holes, they may be dirty with blood and mud but they are not falling apart.  the rebells are not in real uniforms they are in plain dirty and bloody clothes of common people.  they will have a wrap on the arms that states they are with the rebels but they are not good enough to afford real uniforms.  In a way we are looking like we did back in the civil war.  The Union is the governement uniforms and the Conferates are the rebels.  All costumes except for mama (to a degree) will be rough and ruin.  You want to see that these are not good times and blood and evil is there.

Lighting: 
we are looking at war and prostitution so the lighting is simple. Dark and gloomy throughtout most of the play.  Spot lights on the characters during their section but not so bright and cheery.  Now we know the ending is a part of hope so the ending light will be brighter then the rest.  There are times in the play where hope comes into play and you will see some sunshine but as you know it will be short live until the end.  The lighting will help set the mood that this is not a happy play and this play is about war and pain.  The death of innocencents in may ways.  If you ever been to the Holocaust Musuem this is the feeling I am going with the lighting.  As you enter that elevator in the museum the lighting in there made you feel death. Well you will feel death as you see this play.  It may not be physical death of the villiagers but death of what some people call their souls and values.

Sounds:
As sound is very important in all plays and movies.  It sets the mood.  You will hear the rain falling in the distances, you will hear people crying and dying, you will also here the voices of Sophia trying to bring calm and hope to the people as she sings.  Just because you are in Mama's house of neutral area you can not forget what is going on behind those doors.  You also need to know that she isn't safe in her places as the play goes on so the sounds must be there to remind you that you are just minutes not from harm way. so the Burning of the villages in the background and hearing of the crying of pain will be a reminder that this is a place pain and death. 


scences from the Real PLAY

 (scene from the real play)
(Sounds of the rainforest)

dearly departed

Stage

  I will first have to say "WOW".  After the week I had, this was a great way to end the week.  The Show was GREAT!  I don't know who was laughing the most out of the six girls but we all loved it. 



half of the girls going to the show



The cast was great.  Each actor played the part as I would have  imaged.  There were a few scences that Bubby Ray was too soft but I was in front so I heard him.  I will wonder how many black and blues JR got throught out the running ofthe show? His wife was GREAT as well she played the part to a "T".  Delightful well she got the best reviews all of us girls. Even though she didn't speak much she was the hit of each scence ("Sorry guys") I was expecting her to "Fart" with the beans if all was possible and if it would have happen it would have Killed (in a good way) the scene.

I can't say anything bad about this play. it was what my doctor order after having two bad weeks.  I got to spend time with family and friends, laugh until it hurt, and most of all forget my problems for those few hours.

Okay one bad note:  WHERE WAS THE DIRECTOR??? In Broadway the director comes out at the end of the play for their bows.  Lucky I did see you before the play and got to somewhat point you out to my family. BUT They even were upset you didn't come on stage.  You are the director.  people can act yes but the director is the real show behind the show and you deserved your credit. 

me and donna (had to add me)

the two girls the one in the back is my kid and best friend

Anna and the Tropic Reviews

Going back to the Theater after approximately 16 years was an experience I so long wish I never waited so long to revisit.This experience was in someways extremely special since it was the first play my 16 year old daughter got to see and I think she is now hooked on seeing more. Not only did I have my daughter there to enjoy the experience but my man's daughter who was so excited to see a Theater production as well.  We came early to make sure we got front row seats.  We enjoy listening to the play and learning about the characters and as an audience member, I got to go back to place of my roots and remember the plays I was so lucky to see as a teenager and young adult on Broadway, Westpoint, and London. 

I learned that night that there are so many people that are older than I that never been to a reproduction and in ways it makes me feel bless on the childhood I had living in the State of New York.  Also blessed that my parents are exteremly into the arts. 

This play was well directed, well casted and the costumes were right on the dot to that time period. I say this not just in the dresses and hair style but even the stockings had the seems in the back which is how they were made back then.  You may ask how I know this,  well I am a member of the International Costuming Guild and the NYNJ Costuming chapter (aka Sick Pups).  The characters played the part well and kept you on your toes. 

The only down side was the ending and nothing against the actors but the writer. I was expecting the Dad to shoot the brother for raping the daughter, but I was expecting a longer play and was shocked it was already 2hrs.  The play also hit good points that it was started on time.  Okay one more down side no refreshment stand.  When you have a pregnant guest that would have been nice but that is just another benefit of being able to see plays at broadway.

I did notice one more item that has nothing to do again with the cast but the audience.  Once again I am made aware of my upbringing from NY and not Florida.  I was always force that if you go to the theater whether it is off broadway or on broadway, you dress up. Jeans, flipflop, tanktops, shorts, etc were not allowed when I went to a play. My mother would have killed me dressing like that.  Now you don't need to dress up like you are going to prom but church clothes were good starters.  That again shows how different cultures view the arts in different views.

As I end this blog. I give this play thumbs up. I am please I went and would recommend it to anyone I can.  I am also looking for Dearly Departed next month. Another night out with the girls and even bringing more people which includes one that has never been to a true production before. Also now the thirst for more plays have been back into my blood and who knows maybe next semster I will grow courageand even try and audition.

may not be the way the stage was set here in DSC but very close

American Musical

American Muscial:

The American Muscial Started as early as the rolling 20's in America.It was a form of history in some ways to bring out issues of society to the public.  We had great musicals as Porgy and Bess, which musical hits from Gershwins, and South Pacific that showed us the issues between black and white.  Musicals are the form of theater where you bring drama and comedy to music and dance.  This form had it rise and falls over the years.  As in the 30's and 40's and then in the 60's the musicals took from broadway to Hollywood which such great Actors as Frank Sintra and Gene Kelly starred in many musicals.  Even Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dick got some of their acting credits in such musicals that took from the stage to the theater and then back to the stage.  In the american musical you will see great stage art work and muscial that will tell you a story love, sadness, hard time, etc.) Most musicals the audience can releate to the story they are telling (expect for cat's i don't understand that show) but the audience are moved by the actions and lyics of the music playing.  For me i can watch musicals almost all day long (as long it isn't cat's) Musical takes me to a place where my troubles are long forgotten and i dream that i am on stage with the actors.

Cat's the second longest musical to hit NYC. 1982-2000

One of the all time famous Musical that played on New York City Broadway was the Musical "Cat" by Andrew Llyod Webber. It is the second longest show to run in New York City starting in 1982. Now on a personal view, I will never know how this show lasted so long since i slepted for the first act, but i guess the music from the second half, which had the musical hit "Memories" done by Barbara Streinsand and the outfits that made the human look like real cats brought the people in. Cat's was moved to second by the musical Opera "Phantom of the Opera" which is another Andrew Llyod Webber production.  Though i come close to seeing that show but failed each time, i will see it before i die.

(memories - cat's the only hit from this musical and only one reason to see it: in my opinion)

starlight express cast - it is was a great experience to see live in London

Though Cat'sand Phantom hold the all time best for Andrew Llyod Webber, my favorite musical by him is actually the one that got the lowest reviews. Starlight Express was a musical based on Roller skates.  This musical the actors roller blade all over the stage. Trust me you don't even want to sleep because there is so much action and music.  I was lucky and saw this play in London and was in awed.  Of course after seeing this musical I had to see cats because Cats got such great reviews and maybe i should seen Cats first. The  plot features around a group of toy railway trains, portrayed by actors on roller-skates, who come to life inside the mind of a small boy. The characters race to become the 'fastest engine in the world', and in the end, the underdog, Rusty, triumphs, winning the race and the heart of a beautiful observation car (starlight). Now the plot for Cat's well it just about cats and i am sorry i can watch my cat at home for more entertainment.


(starlight express video) and this is from london which is where i got to see it

Interesting facts:

my favorite Movie Musical and turned broadway On The Town - the day i feel in love with Gene Kelly

Many musicals were not just the master mind of one person.  In the early stages the greatest musicals were the master mind of two people. Roger and Hammerstein  in many ways were the grandfather of the American Musical which were hits back from the 30-60's and many of their plays were turned in to movies which brought the musical to everyone.  The highlight of the movie musical is one of my all time favorites "On The Town" starring Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra

The biggest hight of the American Musical actaully started in the 1980's and the truth of the matter is that the hight of the american musical period was not even from America but from England.  The Master mind of Andrew Llyod Webber grew to fame here in America with his wonder hits of Cat's, Phatonm of The Opera and Starlight Express to just name a few.


Biliography
Flner, Mira, Orenstein, Claudia; The World of Theater, Person Eduation 2006, pg 169-174
Wikipedia, Cat's the Musical; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cats_(musical) web.
Wikipedia, Starlight Express: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starlight_Express web.
videos:  Cat's and Starlight express: http://youtube.com/ ; web

chinese opera

Chinese Opera:  The Chinese Opera is one that combines the world of music and dance and marital arts in all in one. This opera has best of all worlds to view. There are the basic  four roles in the opera which are the female, male, the clown and the painted face (which is the strong male).  As one of the few Traditions that allowed women back into the world of opera in their form shanghai after many of years of women being outlaw it is great to see the women back in the world of performing art.  This opera children are train at a young age to become opera stars. 

Interesting facts:  Started in the Song Dynasty but the major change happen in the Yuan Dynasty. Another interesting fact : Jackie Chan started his career as a chinesee opera star.  Not only does he marvel the american eye with his martial art training but his ablity to make it look flawless.  Third interesting fact:  The colors in the face painting shows you the type of charactor you are seeing; (of coure this is played by the strong male actor) the photos below to show different faces.

 

 (different views of face painting characters)

Face painting color guide lines:

Redder: Courage, loyalty and straight forwardness

Blacker: Impulsiveness

Bluer: Cruelty

Whiter: Wickedness

 White Nose: Joviality

Peking Opera
This video clip is just one of many of chinese opera but this form is one that is most view by american todays.

Sources:

Felner, Mira and Orenstein, Claudia; The World of Theatre Traditions and Innovation, 2006 Pearson Education, Inc. pg 133.

Chinese culutre: http://www.west-meet-east.com/opera.htm#ohis (web)

Peking Opera video clip: http://www.youtube.com/; web 2010