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So, since my last post... and since that first review, a few other reviews have popped up... and not so positive ones either.
Here's the one from the Chicago Reader:
Will Act For Food tackles Wendy MacLeod's darkly comic portrait of a wealthy, insular family with big secrets. The script's manner is upper crust gothic: stylized depravity over cocktails. But Scott Pasko's slapdash production is at odds with MacLeod's controlled strangeness. Pasko's staging has the feel of a rushed student production, from the uneven, imprecise performances right down to the set's mismatched dorm-style furniture. Ultimately, the show needs more method, less madness. (ZT)
How does one respond appropriately? I have a few possible methods.
1. Review the review:
Overall, I found ZT's review of The House of Yes quite disappointing. The negative tone is consistent, so much so that one might even call it one-note. Its lack of specificity and its brevity combine to give it an "I did this in the bus on the way to school" feel. His final quip reads like something he's had scribbled in his notebook for months, just awaiting the right opportunity. By far, the highlight of this review is his critiquing of the set design. I can make no arguments with his assessment. Had he taken more time, he might have also mentioned that the set in question must be struck in a matter of 10 minutes every night. I guess the bus ride was just too short for that.
2: Re-write the review, turning faults into virtues:
Will Act For Food tackles Wendy MacLeod's darkly comic portrait of a wealthy, insular family with big secrets. The script's manner is upper crust gothic: stylized depravity over cocktails. Director Scott Pasko resists the impulse to play up the idle rich stereotypes that populate the script, instead seeking out moments of honesty and emotion. This production never loses its spontaneity; a far cry from the Coward-esque polish a first reading of the script might suggest. The performances are dynamic and show real, at times raw and ugly emotion. The honesty of this production is almost enough to transcend the design of the unfortunately clearly temporary set.
3: Remember that you don't really care what the Reader thinks anyway. They give everybody bad reviews. |
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So... 77 weeks since your last entry it says. Holy fucking shit. Time, she do fly.
It seems my last entry was sort of a "I have more of a life than I used to, so please forgive me for not being around... oh... and check this out (I have no idea now what it was you were supposed to check out.)" post.
This post may have a slightly similar vibe to it, now that I think about it.
I'm not sure anymore on whose friends list I still even appear. Doubtless, seeing my tired old avatar on your friends page was most likely a bit of a shock just now, eh?
For those of you who've heard nothing from me in... well 77 weeks (that can't be right, can it? I feel like it's longer... I guess the last post of substance was significantly earlier) here's a brief catch-up. I'd put it behind an LJ cut, but it's been so long, I have no idea how. Also, I used to use some LJ editor software or other that has long since been deleted from my old computer and never made it's way onto my new one. So, if you happen to see me on a fairly regular-ish basis, please bear with.
Since March of 2006, I got a job at artists frame service, was marginally promoted, vastly promoted and finally made into a manager, which is where I'm at today. It's a whirlwind of responsibilities to suit seemingly every last one of my predilections - there's hands-on finesserie; joyous brute destruction; bureaucratic intricacy; customer schmarmery - everything I could ever hope for.
Also, since that same March, I've been seeing (dating? involved with? in a relationship with?) my best friend, Troppy (melissa, if you must, but I wouldn't). We'd been swell pals for years and years; now we live together in a sweet-ass house (not to be confused with a sweet ass-house) that we have all to ourselves, save for these 2 hairy beasts (australian shepherd and odd australian shepherd-based mongrel). We all enjoy eating grilled meats in our backyard. You should come join us some time... once the weather warms up again.
At some point in the fall of 2006 (really? was that in 2006 too? it must have been) I joined a theatre company, Will Act For Food. I'm now their Creative Director, which mostly means that I'm responsible for the design of any and all promotional materials - mostly printed things, but I have some influence on the web-based goo as well.
And now, here we are, at the impetus for this long-awaited post.
Our spring production, The House of Yes by Wendy MacLeod, opened this past weekend.
In addition to designing promotional materials... I happen to be in it. So, I've been working pretty much constantly on this show in one capacity or another since the beginning of the year... and finally, tonight... a night off.
And... on top of that, the very first review of our show has appeared online... and it's a pretty good one to boot.
So... I guess what I'm saying is:
Check this shit out, yo. I'd love to see you there... |
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I know.
I know that I never post to this thing. I never update MySpace. I never email you. I never respond to your Myspace messages... or friendster.
There was a time when I did those things.
I have a job now... and I don't sit at a computer fucking around the webs all day... or even part of the day.
I have a girlfriend, so most evenings I'm with her.
These aren't excuses. Just facts.
Sometimes, though, I read something that I think everyone else needs to read too. So, I post.
This time it was this.
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Well, it's official.
thirty.
big whooop-de-shit.
I had the great fortune of being an honored guest at one party and the guest of honor at another (yes, there's a difference).
I was the recipient of two bottles of bourbon... possibly the giantest bottle of Jack Daniels in the world (now half-depleted) and a very lovely bottle of Woodfield Reserve (which is being saved for now)... oh and a partial box of banana twins.
I had a blast, of course, til about 5 when, still completely inebriated, it was time to go home and sleep.
I haven't been this drunk in a while... and that's saying something.
By this drunk, I mean that drunk... I'm not still drunk, I don't think... although my fingers might be...
Originally I was intending to go out for bloody marys this morning with some pals from the Source. Alas, Drunky McDrunkertonmansonski slept right through it. Oh well.
Now, I really need to work on some shit, yo. I'm auditioning for a show tomorrow (something I hardly ever do) and of course, I'm totally unprepared... and being me, instead of worrying obsessively about my actual monologues and being 100% on them, (which I do plan on doing for the rest of the day) I'm worrying obsessively about the little things I'm always so uncertain of...
Where should I play to? The other person in the scene, should I make them somewhere on the stage? some empty spot in the "audience?"
How much of an introduction do I give? I think last time I just said what play they were from and that was that... should I give the character name? I shouldn't spend too much time talking about the play or my monologue, right... just do the fucking thing...
Blah-di-blah-blah...
Anyway, for anyone who hasn't heard yet, I'm fully employed once again. I'm now the Framing Coordinator for Artist's Frame Service. I've been there two weeks, and so far it's great. I spent the first week at the showroom, which is where I'll be operating, following around the woman I'm replacing, learning a lot about my actual job... (by "learning about the job" I mean, doing the job while she messed around with the music on her computer... not the whole time, she totally taught me a bunch of shit...) and last week (and next week, too, it appears) I was (and will be) at the production facility, being on trained in every area of production so I can be a super-fucking framing rock star... which is the actual job title... it's neat. Last week was the wood department... this week, mats and fitting... the week after that, I think I'll be finally back to the showroom... gods, I hope so.
that's all I've got.i'm slightly: hung over ( a little) plugged into: Jockey full of Bourbon - Tom Waits (ok, not really) |
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Are we living in some sort of topsy-turvy world all of a sudden? Or is it just South Dakota?
HB1215 has just cleared the South Dakota House and will be soon considered by their Senate. HB1215 would ban abortion in South Dakota except to save the life of the mother. Under HB1215, performing an abortion, except to save the life of the mother, would be a Class 5 felony, which carries a penalty of five years in state prison, a $5,000 fine, or both. The mother would not be prosecuted.
And... it's main sponsor in the Senate is....
Sen. Julie Bartling, D.
(note: D stands for Democrat)
In response to proposed amendments by opponents (I'll tell you about them in a moment) of the draconian bill, Bartling said that the number of pregnancies resulting from rape and incest “are significantly small.”
“Exceptions would dilute the intent of the legislation,” Bartling said.
She said rape and incest exceptions would put a greater strain on the medical community in determining their validity.
“Where do you draw the line between consensual sex and rape?” Bartling said. She said some women could make false charges of rape in order to have an abortion.
It only gets weirder from here...
The Opponents:
Republican Sens. Stan Adelstein and Royal “Mac” McCracken said HB1215, which , goes too far and should include further exceptions.
“I feel very strongly that it should include exceptions for rape and incest victims,” McCracken said. “That was my position two years ago when we considered a similar bill, and I haven’t moved from that. I believe we should at least debate it on the floor.”
Adelstein said he will try for three amendments to HB1215.
One would be for rape and incest and another would include permanent impairment to the health of the mother.
Adelstein said his third amendment on the viability of the fetus would include language written by Dr. Marty Allison, the chairwoman of the State Task Force on Abortion. It says that abortion should be allowed in cases where the fetus “would have no medically accepted possibility of surviving birth or early infancy.”
Adelstein said: “If all the amendments pass, I will vote yes. Two, maybe. None, I won’t.”
McCracken said he would likely vote for HB1215 if exceptions for rape and incest are included.
So, we have a battle between the right and the far-right... with the far-right campaign being spearheaded by a Democrat.
Only in Amerika.
(all quotes from an article in the Rapid City Journal SD)i'm slightly:  confused plugged into: A Man's Life Flashing Before His eyes - Of Montreal |
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So... Februariness will occur; in fact, it's less than two hours away.
February.
It's just so inequitable. I pay rent monthly. My phone bill is monthly. Netflix is monthly. None of these things is based on my usage (technically the phone bill is, but I never ever ever go over my minutes.).
February.
It's shorter than every other month... 3 days shorter than some of them. 3 days; 72 hours; 4320 minutes; 259,200 seconds. I'm paying for that time.
In order to stay on top of things, I resolve to get the most out of the month of February. I will do my utmost to get my money's worth out of this paltry little month.
Who's with me?
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On a tangentially related note, perhaps the most underrated of all holidays falls in the month of February.
Groundhog's Day.
"groundhog's day or candlemas is the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. it was believed that bright clear weather on february 2nd meant 6 more weeks of winter weather. if it's gloomy and overcast then spring is just around the corner. in germany hibernating hedgehogs were watched to see if they stayed out of their burrows on candlemas or if they returned to catch a few more winks. later, german settlers in the america found no hedgehogs in their neighborhood, but, the plucky woodchuck, who has always shown a great aptitude for meteorology, stepped right up. the next thing you know, the woodchucks have adopted the stage name of "groundhogs" and lobbied to have the name "candlemas" changed to groundhog's day. the rest is history."
That was cribbed from himonkey.
So, the plan was to have a Groundhog's Day celebration here at the old homestead... but it doesn't appear that it's going to be happening... despite my less-than-an-hour-old vow to live February to its fullest. I'm working; I'm broke; it's a Thursday; we haven't done anything about inviting people; and it's in two days. Perhaps, we'll throw together a last-minute crampagne-ing. It has been known to happen.
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Coincidentally, perhaps the most overrated of all holidays lives in February as well:
Valentine's Day.
Who cares? I'm not just saying that because I'm bitter and alone; that's part of it, sure... but I was never too excited about it even when I was in a relationship. Theoretically, I show my love and affection for my SO everyday... and if I want to give her something special, doesn't it mean more when there's no holiday dictating that I should? Yes, it does. I'm right; Hallmark is wrong. So there.plugged into: On and off again - Sondre Lerche |
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I'm amazed often by the immensity of the world wide web. It amazes me the things that one finds purely accidentally... those accidental things that somehow make a deep impact.
I was looking for an mp3 (things you call fate... by sondre lerche) of a song that's only apparently available on the album... even at the itunes store, one has to purchase the whole album to get the song... which I was loathe to do, having already more than half of the album... this is not the interesting part of the story, obviously.
Somehow, in the middle of a series of tangentially related searches, I came across Imaginary Year... I can't describe it... so check it out... Here's what the creator of it has to say about what he's doing:
( Information Prose: A Manifesto )
OK... it's a serialized web narrative that takes place here in Chicago. Each entry can be read as a part of the ongoing story of each character involved in it... or one can read things in basically any order one wants... there are often links to other entries and to points elsewhere on the web... it's incredibly rich, complex and rewarding... I've only just begun to read it and it's been going on since 2000. Seriously, check it out.
Imaginary Yeari'm slightly:  impressed plugged into: Cars and Telephones - The Arcade Fire |
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))<>((
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Jan. 18th, 2006 @ 02:13 am
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So, I just watched "You and Me and Everyone We Know"
I feel like watching it again and again and again and showing it to everyone I know. Back and forth. Forever.
It was one of those movies that makes me simultaneously want to make work and to give up making things altogether... It was so good (imho) that it made me want to make something beautiful. It was so good that it makes me feel like there is no point anymore in trying to make things because nothing could be that good again. But something can, right?
Which brings to mind this thing I can't seem to get to go anywhere. That's not entirely true... it keeps going places and I'm not sure where it will end up... or if I'll be there with it. It started as a short story... became a play at some point and is now wrangling its way into trying to become some sort of graphic/textual interface... it was supposed to be clever word-stuff with mild surrealist tendencies... it became a comedy... then a drama?... and now?... something else... I just hope it becomes beautiful somewhere along the way.
Oh... and apparently LiveJournal is too smart for its own good. I tried to make the little text picture from the movie for the title of my post but since it has the little arrows (greater than/less than) LJ thinks it's some sort of an HTML tag. Alas.i'm slightly:  optimistic plugged into: dustin hoffman 12 - of montreal |
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Art.
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Jan. 18th, 2006 @ 02:04 am
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This is a little cheater post... mostly so I can keep track of something I posted in some other forum somewhere. I think it clarifies some things I've said in comments and in some interview ( post. )
So yeah... sorry if it's old news to you.i'm slightly:  contemplative plugged into: Little Trophy - Shrug |
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It has been brought to my attention *ahem* that it's been six weeks since my last confession...
I've transgressed greatly in that time, I'm sure. I'm not going to be cataloguing my sins here... there's a hard copy that can be requested under the Freedom of Information Act... I believe the requisite forms are available at your local library.
But, here are some highlights of the past six weeks:
December 3: Oh come on, like I really remember some random... wait, I do remember. I helped Jubjub (the ex, for those of you not in the know) at the "One of a Kind" show in the Merchandise Mart... very exciting I assure you. I did, however, manage to find christmas presents for my nieces... yay.
December 14: Passed a fairly uneventful Monkey Day... did go to the Chief's with Tropp and Enzo... I think we got pretty drunk that night.
Some time in here, I attended the CBA christmas party as the first and only non-employee to ever be invited. It was a magical evening... complete with "Eggnog Frost."
December 22-26: Akron has the foulest-tasting water ever... it even renders the coffee undrinkable. Met Sophie Grace, the newest niece... saw Madeline Ruth, the 2-year-old niece for the second time ever. Spent way too much time with my family. Realized that I hate the Veggie-Tales.
New Year's Eve: Double hugs.
And I've been ice skating a few times in there... it's becoming a regular thing. I seem to be improving somewhat. Maybe.
So, yeah. That's some stuff.
Other things have happened, some even of note... they may be mentioned elsewhere... or they may not be.i'm slightly:  blah plugged into: California Stars - Wilco/Billy Bragg |
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... of the way we weren't.
If you read this, if your eyes are passing over this right now, (even if we don't speak often) please post a comment with a COMPLETELY MADE UP AND FICTIONAL memory of you and me. It can be anything you want - good or bad - BUT IT HAS TO BE FAKE.
When you're finished, post this little paragraph on your blog and be surprised (or mortified) about what people DON'T ACTUALLY remember about you. |
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Dec. 2nd, 2005 @ 12:11 am
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Five Questions from ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) neilmonk:
But first:
The rules.
1. Leave a comment, saying you want to be interviewed.
2. I will respond; I'll ask you five questions.
3. You'll update your journal with my five questions, and your five answers.
4. You'll include this explanation.
5. You'll ask other people five questions when they want to be interviewed.
( See the devilish questions and the mediocre answers here!!! )plugged into: A Million Ways - OK Go |
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I suppose it makes sense. It's all I drank all day today. It still sort of weirds me out, though. My armpits shouldn't smell like freshly ground coffee. They just shouldn't. Has this ever happened to anybody else? Probably. But who would notice it? Only someone who compulsively smells his own armpits when he notices that they are somewhat moist.
Now you know my dirty little secret.
Hmmm. Strange. It's really only the right one. The left smells more... standard? More like it usually does. More... like me. Is that strange? I mean, are the two really such separate entities that they get to smell like different things?
Apparently, yes.
My feet smell like fresh bread and chlorine. (not separately... together.)i'm slightly: contemplative plugged into: I Was A Landscape In Your Dream - Of Montreal |
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haiku
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Nov. 16th, 2005 @ 01:27 am
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Haiku generated
automatic, insightful
read and enjoy... bitch.
plugged into: The Chimbley Sweep - The Decemberists |
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| Your Seduction Style: Au Natural | 
You rank up there with your seduction skills, though you might not know it.
That's because you're a natural at seduction. You don't realize your power!
The root of your natural seduction power: your innocence and optimism.
You're the type of person who happily plays around and creates a unique little world.
Little do you know that your personal paradise is so appealing that it sucks people in.
You find joy in everything - so is it any surprise that people find joy in you?
You bring back the inner child in everyone you meet with your sincere and spontaneous ways.
Your childlike (but not childish) behavior also inspires others to care for you.
As a result, those who you befriend and date tend to be incredibly loyal to you. |
plugged into: PDA - Interpol |
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K. found a notebook on a bench in the park. There was no one around but him. He knew it wasn't his but picked it up anyway.
Flipping through the pages, he found that it most likely belonged to a high school student. Doodles, algebra, Hamlet, French definitions. A lot of blank pages. Towards the back, in the midst of a sea of blank pages, he found a single sentence:
Destiny is just good timing.
Being of late a little interested in matters of timing, K. tore the page out, folded it into quarters and pocketed it.
* * * * * * * * * *
Sitting at his computer. K. can't help but think about that sentence. If it is true, what does it mean for him and his bad timing?
* * * * * * * * * *
Destiny is good timing. SO...
Destiny = Good Timing. So.
Good timing = Destiny
Bad timing = ?...the opposite of destiny? What's that?
If destiny is a predetermined course of events, then K. supposes that the opposite would then be...what...
an undetermined course of events... undetermined... mutable... flexible... open... unplanned... spontaneous... fun... good times...so then
Bad timing is just a good time.
K. couldn't agree more. He turns back to his computer...back to his work.
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Stan looks at what he has written and smiles. Having these fictional selves sure is a nice way to work through some things. He keeps thinking about Laurel. He feels like everyone must know. She has found her way into all of his stories in one guise or another.
I'm afraid, though, that I've gotten a little ahead of myself. I haven't even properly introduced Stan.
Stan.
Stan does...stuff. He writes stories of a terribly modern variety. Not a lot happens in his stories. (Not a lot has happened with his stories either.) They are pretty little things, sparse, narrow. At times funny. Usually oblique. Stan's supporters like his minimalism. His detractors feel that something is missing. Stan remains ambivalent towards his stories.
Stan is a moderate failure. Which is also to say that he is a slight success. He isn't sure which viewpoint irritates him more. He hates that anything about him could be considered minor. He wants to be major...even if he's a major loser. He feels that if he has to fail, he should at least do so spectacularly. All in all, Stan is disappointed in himself...and disappointed that he isn't a larger disappointment. Such a man is Stan.
Now, back to Stan's concerns.
As often as Laurel pops unexpectedly into his thoughts, she appears in his stories.
She is the girl on the train that Jeremiah can't help noticing; she is Catherine sitting near the Chairs of God; she is Professor Pool; girl at the cafe; she is Joan, Jill, Laura, Red, D.; even Rex, Steve, Tom and Mike.
Damn.plugged into: Obstacle 1 - Interpol |
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Everyone wants to write the Great American Novel. This ubiquitous notion has saturated our culture. The aspiring writer, as a stock minor character, toils on sitcoms and dramadies in just such a quest. Even the writer characters in American novels (of varying quality) are determined to do so.
It may, then, surprise you (depending on your propensity for surprise) that our very own Stan, aspiring writer that he is, most decidedly does not wish to write the Great American Novel. He feels that with 200+ years of American fiction, it must already have been achieved. He's not sure, (he is seldom certain of anything) but he thinks Hemingway may have written it. The fact that Hemingway is his current literary flavor du jour may or may not have something to with his assertion.
What Stan wishes to write (in true contrarian fashion) is the negation of the Great American Novel. Stan wishes to write the exact opposite, quite literally. His free time, such as it is, finds him occupied with a rather ambitious, if almost certainly misguided, project: a word by word, line for line, rewriting of A Moveable Feast, each word replaced with its opposite.
There are, of course, several logistical problems inherent in this venture. Chiefly, how does Stan hope to maintain a cohesive plotline? Is this even important to him? What about multiple negatives? "You are bad." becomes "I am not good." That's hardly the opposite of its antecedent. And some things have no clear antonym. What's the opposite of Gertrude Stein? She was a butch woman writer... so the opposite would be a n effeminate male reader? An effete literary critic? Is this even an accurate portrayal of his method?
I don't know. He won't show me (or anyone else) his work. When, seeing him hunched over his notebook and his tattered Hemingway, I instinctively glanced at the open page, he threw himself on it; as if he were sacrificing himself to save me from his little literary grenade.
Stan is becoming, I fear, somewhat paranoid. His little books never leave his person. Even, so I hear, when he's in bed. To make matters worse, he's totally consumed with this endeavor. He's abandoned completely his "K" stories. No Jeremiah Sinclair vignettes. For his sake, I hope he finishes soon. I have my doubts though. Last I saw him, I'm pretty sure the Hemingway was open to page 14. It looks like a long road ahead... if he makes it at all. We all know of his tendency to leave projects half-done. (one thing we share, which is probably why thisplugged into: circle sky - the monkees |
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 | You scored as My Boyfriend Tom Charney. Roguish,quick-witted, and incredibly yummy, MBTC is a swell guy who sometimes ends up being a hero, against his better judgement. MBTC looks out for falling rocks, but he can be counted on (usually) to do the watusi. He has an incredibly persuasive tongue, a mind that borders on genius or insanity, and an incredible talent for getting into tiny pants and getting out of them. Maybe its brains, maybe its genius, or maybe its just plain luck. Or maybe a mixture of all three.
My Boyfriend Tom Charney | | 71% | The Amazing Netscape Fishcam | | 58% | James Watt, Electricity Guy | | 42% | Max Power | | 42% | Theodore Roosevelt | | 42% | El Greco | | 42% | Ned Nederlander | | 42% | Lara Flynn Boyle | | 38% | Indigestion | | 38% | Bat Masterson | | 38% | Andrew Jordan | | 33% | </td>
Which Action Hero Would You Be? v. 2.0
created with QuizFarm.com |
i'm slightly:  bored |
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The Adept
You scored 46 competence and 68 insight! | | You have both the knowledge and the spirit to appreciate mathematics in all its subtle glory. Yet, somehow you imagine that NeilMonk has a greater appreciation of the musicality of mathemetics... you just think the number 7 is pretty. | | |
My test tracked 2 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: | You scored higher than 57% on competence | | You scored higher than 68% on insight |
| i'm slightly: amused plugged into: Lady Malaria - Shrug |
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| Your Birthdate: March 26 | 
Your birth on the 26th day of the month (8 energy) modifies your life by increasing your capability to function and succeed in the business world.
In this environment you have the skills to work very well with others thanks to the 2 and 6 energies combining in this date.
There is a marked increase in organizational, managerial, and administrative abilities.
THAT SOUNDS LIKE ME, RIGHT? ALL THAT FUNCTIONING AND MANAGING?
You are efficient and handle money very well.
You're ambitious and energetic, while generally remaining cooperative and adaptable.
You are conscientious and not afraid of responsibility.
Generally sociable and diplomatic, you tend to use persuasion rather than force.
You have a wonderful combination of being good at both the broad strokes and the fine detail; good at starting and continuing. This birthday is practical and realistic, often seeking material satisfaction.
AHHHH, MATERIAL SATISFACTION...
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