Innovation can be fun when directors look for fresh new ways to grab an audience’s attention. However, it can sometimes go awry. Take the new presentation of Shakespeare’s ‘Tempest’ at the Cutting Ball Theatre. What they hoped for, I’m sure, is that the unique tinkering with “Tempest” would keep the audience enthralled. The Acting was as good as can be, considering that somewhere along the way Shakespeare Comedy does not come across as a slap-your-knee good time. No, by the time the play is over your knees will be locked and you won’t be able to budge.

I admit -- the set is very interesting. There is a modern desk and a modern chaise lounge parked along side a big swimming pool (no water) that suffices as the Ocean. On the desk is a tiny boat that wants us to believe that the characters of the play are actually riding it on the rough seas. An Actor shakes the boat back and forth to indicate the turbulence. You know – the boat in the bathtub routine.

This play has Shakespeare’s grand verbiage – but it didn’t grab me as I lusted for the door to open for an intermission. Getting back to the set – it’s the most interesting thing about this pretense. The lighting and special effects on the back wall were fascinating.

Where were the magical moments? They must have been on another stage. I saw no magical moments. But, I did hear a bunch of overwrought shouting. I love the Cutting Ball Theatre. But, this time around – it was disappointing. Over the years they have thrilled me with wonderful stories. Well, you can’t win all the time, I guess. This was one of those times. Water Boarding comes to mind. I felt that they treated the audience to that experience.

WHERE? CUTTING BALL THEATRE AT EXIT ON TAYLOR.

RATING: TWO GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNE!! –trademarked-


THE CAST OF 'THE PERFECT GANESH' AT NCTC. PHOTO: LOIS TEMA

NOT PERFECT GANESH

I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT I SUFFERED THROUGH ANOTHER OVERWROUGHT PLAY THE VERY NEXT EVENING.

I thought this would be different – more interesting and fun than the Tempest. Boy, was I whistling Dixie. The McNally play (A Perfect Ganesh) at the New Conservatory is a mind-numbing story about two friends who travel together to India. It’s part fantasy and part confusion. The interaction between the two women – one catty and the other comforting, have a couple of neat times together, but the pauses between conversations were endless.

Looking around – I could see the audience’s impatience. After all, the evening was at least three hours long. I can’t blame the women for being bitchy. The director needs to get the action to move along faster. If I had an ax in my media bag I would have chopped the stage into pieces. That would have added some excitement.

The problem with this play (and the Tempest) is that they are using smaller casts that have to play several different roles. Bad Idea. Not only is it confusing – but it downgrades the play going experience. It should be cast as it was written, with all the characters named in the script played by individuals. By using less – it’s boring as s**t!

The drama is drama less. The pauses between what is being said on the stage are ‘menopausal”. I am capable of analyzing things myself, when there are things to analyze. What I saw was the absence of real drama.

WHERE: AT THE NEW CONSERVATORY THEATRE

RATING: TWO GLASSES OF CHAMPAGNE!! –trademarked-


Tibet in Song. Docu Drama. Courtesy Photo.

TIBET IN SONG – THE MOVIE

It starts out as a pleasant documentary in the beautiful countryside of Tibet. Then along come the Chinese who takes away the tranquil lives of the Tibetan people. I would call it brainwashing -- as the Chinese blast musical themes with what they call “Publicity Groups” that are installed in each Tibetan Town. The Chinese know that the Tibetans love their folk music with their own songs “the Drinking Song”, The Milking Song”, The Butter churning song” and The Roofing Song.” Yes, the Tibetans were very fond of music.

The Chinese Government picked up on this love for music by putting up “Huge Boxes” – Speakers in each town. The ‘blasted’ message was always the same – wipe out the culture of Tibet…turn them into Chinese. They replaced the music with words that praised Chairman Mao.’ Lyric: ‘That’s Chairman Mao’s Radiance and that Laugh is Mao’s Goodness.’ Yeh – that’s a laugh. You could call it ‘Poison Radiance.” Chinese pop schlock – didn’t impress the Tibetans.

The movie is part Documentary, part Tibetan history and Chinese cruelty. Many fled Tibet. The chaos pushed them out of their homes as the bombs showered them with so-called love bombs.

Still to this day – the Chinese are still working their “Mind Draining” Publicity. But, it’s not working.

RATING: THREE BOXES OF POPCORN!!! – trademarked-

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