Friday, August 23, 2013

"“I hope grown-ups get in a room and behave like grown-ups, not simply actors on a political stage.”"

From:

Clock Is Ticking for Recess, and for a Deficit Deal

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Maybe we all would be a little better if we turned to our fellow human being.

This morning, I was standing on a very crowded 4 or 5 train coming to work in Brooklyn, reading advertisements and zoning out really. I had noticed the guy sitting in front of me fiddling with his phone, but I didn't pay much attention to him or what he was doing. After a few minutes, he spoke up to the girl sitting next to him, asking if she knew why his text message only allowed him to type so many characters or words or something. And then he told her about a problem that he had with his phone over the weekend. But the most interesting thing about this observation was that I honestly felt that he was being completely honest and sincere with his question and explanation; it appeared that he had no ulterior motive. I felt like he truly needed her help and assistant; he was simply curious. The girl hesitantly smiled, but she must have felt the same way because she did engage him and attempt to help him figure out the problem. And the mood was so comfortable in that moment because the girl sitting next to her chimed in and joined the conversation. Once the interaction was established, I felt myself smiling and wanting to join the activity. The positive energy in that car was contagious for a select group of people, and I observed humanity at its best this morning, and it felt good for a change. It's too bad that there were others around us, who ended up getting off at the Wall Street exit, that rolled their eyes in disgust because one human being decided to express himself and turn to his fellow human being. Reactions are a good way to determine the good from the bad...

The guy eventually went about his business, but before he got too far away from the situation, he said, "I'm getting off at the next stop, but you ladies have a nice day." They thanked him and wished him the same. Maybe we all would be a little better if we turned to our fellow human being. Is it possible to create a healthier society by asking our neighbor a simple question and for a little help?

Friday, August 16, 2013

"In dealing with the dream world of the outcast of society, it explores the human condition, the alienation of man, his solitude, his futile search for meaning and reality."

"Genet's theatre is, profoundly, a theatre of social protest. Yet, like that of Ionesco, and of Adamov before his conversion to epic realism, it resolutely rejects political commitment, political argument, didacticism, or propaganda. In dealing with the dream world of the outcast of society, it explores the human condition, the alienation of man, his solitude, his futile search for meaning and reality.

Although Genet's theatre differs in many aspects of method and approach from that of the other dramatists discussed in this book, it bears many of the essential hallmarks that they have in common-the abandonment of the concepts of character and motivation; the concentration on states of mind and basic human situations, rather than on the development of a narrative plot from exposition to solution, the devaluation of language as a means of communication and understanding, the rejection of didactic purpose; and the confrontation of the spectator with the harsh facts of a cruel world and his own isolation. As such THE BALCONY and THE BLACKS can with certainty, THE MAIDS with a good deal of probability, be regarded as examples of the Theatre of the Absurd."

From:

The Theatre of the Absurd

by Martin Esslin

"Bringing Some of the Rust Belt to Sag Harbor"

From:

Bringing Some of the Rust Belt to Sag Harbor

Frank Oriti’s Paintings at Richard J. Demato

 
 

Thursday, August 15, 2013

"All of Broadway’s a Stage"

From:
 
New York Story

All of Broadway’s a Stage

Monday, August 12, 2013

"At Chekhov’s Estate, a Pastoral Literary Shrine Belies a Turbulent Century"

From:
Melikhovo Journal

At Chekhov’s Estate, a Pastoral Literary Shrine Belies a Turbulent Century


Saturday, August 10, 2013

"In a Theater Mecca, ‘Fringe’ Tends to Mean Choosy"

From:

In a Theater Mecca, ‘Fringe’ Tends to Mean Choosy
The New York Times

I saw this article in the paper this morning. It brought back good memories from last year, and I'm still proud and honored to have been chosen to be a part of FringeNYC last year, and I hope that I have that opportunity again in the future.

Check out the entire article here.