Venal Scene

Friday, April 22, 2005

No Matter Where You Go, There You Are

(My three year-old daughter Ruby and I sit on the couch, watching "Sesame Street".)

RUBY:
When people die, they come back as a baby.

ME:
So you died, and came back as a baby?

RUBY:
Yes.

ME:
Who were you before you died?

RUBY:
(thinks, then:) Ruby.

posted by Dan 12:31 PM
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My God, I Think I Understand This

Slow Children: theatre weenieness ahead. For those who care not for that road, I give you this. (h/t Adam)

Everyone I spoke to said Bill Irwin wasn't up to the part of George. Poor Mr. Noodle. And yet, I still wanted to see Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, because I've only seen the movie. It's effective, but the realism of the medium strikes some dissonant chords with Albee's New Carthage, a college town that masquerades as a naturalistic environment. Must be seen on the stage, as retrogrades like myself intone. (Yeah, yeah, Taylor and Burton are great, okay?!)

Don't believe the critics on Irwin's performance. I find myself agreeing with Ben Brantley...[shudder]. Irwin's twitching, milquetoast performance lends credence to Martha's quip, "If you existed, I'd divorce you." When he unleashes his nuclear option in the final third of the play, it's not "out of character," it's the backbone that Martha speaks of and Nick demeans. It's always out of character when the nerdy guy turns around and throttles you. But you sound like a twit for uttering the phrase "I don't believe it" as the oxygen leaves your brain...

It's Richard Burton's performance that's the problem. Second to A Streetcar Named Desire, I don't think there are perceptions of stage characters as cemented in my consciousness as Taylor and Burton's are in Woolf. But Burton's the emasculated bull in that film, and that's my problem with his interpretation. Watching it, I always feel that at any moment he can throw off those glasses, tie on his cape, and rescue Lois from the clutches of Luthor. His brutality is no surprise. With Irwin, it's a stiff shot.

And I'd just like to say that accompanying my tipsy playwright friend Molly down from the balcony was the highlight of my week.

posted by Dan 11:46 AM
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