Keep On, Keep On, Keep On Movin'

It's been a busy time lately! I'll likely make up for lack of blogging by inundating you with random things that have been floating through my mind lately.

Work is going well. There are likely going to be some changes, but in a positive direction. I'm happy with how things are progressing. Yes, I'm being purposely evasive as nothing is final.

I've seen some theater and film lately, naturally. I think I covered some of it already, so I'll go with untouched highlights:

"The Seafarer" (Broadway)-- Brilliant. Admittedly, the story itself started out pretty slow, but the hook is in the first act. The two friends with me pretty much hated it. "Boring!" and "I just didn't get it" were the comments. Granted, for one of them, it's not unusual for us to be split, but the other and I often agree. Or, when it comes to straight plays, usually I'm the one who won't necessarily appreciate something he does.

It's a conflict, however, that I can see a piece I know is brilliant, and be absolutely glued to my seat in a portion of the play, yet still not have an overall enjoyable experience. I think some of it perhaps hit a little too close to home. One of the characters sounded so close to a relative of mine who was just an awful, horrible person in every possible way. If I'd have closed my eyes, I'd have been terrified. And some of the earlier scenes, especially, were so very close to a family function that, until I let out a very audible gasp as someone was potentially going to be hit with an object-- something others saw as slapstick and comical, I didn't even realize how on edge I was. I was clutching the arms of my seat, pretty much white-knuckling. I went back and forth between amused, terrified and sad. By in large, I think it was supposed to be more of a black comedy than anything. Still, since I think art is meant to evoke emotion, it did its job quite well.

I definitely can see how it wouldn't be for everyone. Much of the beauty of the play is in the subtleties-- the fact that they're drinking a crazy, illegal jug of poitin, mentioning areas I've been, mannerisms passed down through generations, some of the language used, picturing neighborhoods mentioned... and missing some jokes would make for more dull moments.


"Sweeney Todd" (film): I anticipated not being too bowled over, I was wrong. It's wonderful. And, as one who avoids looking at bloody scenes, I can tell you the foley was equally as good (my stomach didn't recover for hours, haha). I didn't need to see to know exactly what was going on. And, yes, I know the blood looked more like red paint (purposely) than the real thing, I'm a bit too imaginative to prevent myself from thinking too far.

Ooooh, and we saw it at the Ziegfeld, which always feels a little extra special.

The only negative, and it's an extremely small one, was that I wasn't crazy about Johanna's voice for the part. I thought everyone else was great. I especially expected to dislike Helena Bonham Carter. She and Depp were perfect together. And the acting was dead on. And, of course, the excellence that is Alan Rickman... need I say more?

If you're expecting to see a filmed stage version, stay home. It's apples and oranges (both fruits I happen to like, when good quality). If you want to go see a very good piece of film, go.