February 09, 2009
The Japan Society presented the North American debut tour of Five Days in March as part of the current season theme of Beyond Boundaries: Genre-Bending Mavericks. The play by Toshiki Okada has won the prestigious Kishida Kunio Drama Award.
In the days before the Iraq war in 2003, two Japanese hipsters meet at a concert and fall into a one-night stand that turns into five days of continuous sex. The story is told and re-told from different perspectives reminiscent of Tarantino. When the lights rose, the actors began talking…..and talking and talking some more; given the bare stage and little traditional movement, the play was entirely focused on the verbal narrative delivered in Japanese. The players do almost a director’s commentary as they step in and out of the story and tell the audience what part they are doing next. While both of these approaches were interesting, it did become a little tiresome covering the same ground multiple times yet without enough of a new perspective to make it engaging. Sometimes it was even difficult to tell who was who. This is something we are conditioned for when watching film—someone is always leaning over and asking their friend, “Hang on, who is that guy? I thought he was the Russian spy.” However, this is unusual in theatre. Also distracting was the exaggerated fidgeting that ran throughout the choreography. It was certainly an interesting interpretation of the sometimes awkward physicality of youth, but it went a little too far and at times just seemed odd without purpose.
Despite this it was an ambitious experience with humorous elements that pushed boundaries and successfully met the challenge of melding the delivery of Japanese with English subtitles projected behind the actors. The play also authentically captured the self-absorption and fixation on the inconsequential often characteristic of apathetic youth. The translation also very effectively captured the hyper-colloquial language writer/director Okada has become known for - quite a feat by translator Aya Ogawa.
Although Five Days in March has finished its current U.S run at Japan Society, do keep an eye out for upcoming works in the Beyond Borders season such as Awaji Puppet Theater Company and Hiroaki Umeda, a performance of solo dance, light, sound & video.
Tags:
beyond boundaries, chelfitsch, five days in march, japan society
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Posted on 2/9/2009
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February 06, 2009
The Story Of My Life is a musical that follows two childhood friends as they attempt to define themselves as individuals within the context of their close bond. One wavers in his commitment to the friendship while the other struggles to hold on as his friend slips further from his grasp.
While the show represents the Broadway debut of writing team Neil Bartram and Brian Hill, it is directed expertly by Tony Award-winner Richard Maltby Jr. (Ain't Misbehavin', Fosse, Ring of Fire). Will Chase and Malcolm Gets star in the only lead roles, playing ages six to thirty-five. Gets plays slightly odd and whimsical bookstore owner Alvin Kelby who remains in their home town; Chase is the career-focused best-selling author Thomas Weaver.
At times both actors veered towards an almost caricature-like interpretation that threatened to disengage the audience, sheltering and restraining a true look into the characters' private thoughts and moments. However, this was tempered with touching moments as the men attempt to demonstrate affection and closeness within the binding confines of a traditional masculine construct. The milieu of their relationship played strikingly against the production's set, and the symbolism woven through between the animate and inanimate was profound. The set's Spartan, monochromatic design was cleverly presented, counterbalancing the visual risks taken in such a simplistic setup with only two players.
When the friendship comes to a premature end, Tom struggles to come to terms with his role in its dissolution and how to handle the multi-faceted guilt he carries for having—in his estimation—sacrificed his personal relationships to achieve a sort of surface fame that Alvin, the more naturally gifted storyteller of the two, never attained. This realization shakes Tom to the core, and he becomes determined to prove that his fame is warranted, but, in the end, he finds he reconcile himself to the fact that Alvin had been his inspiration. Perhaps he had spent so much time writing their story that it was a surrogate for the real relationship
The play runs full circle, and, on the surface, neatly resolves itself. But the play leaves the audience with many unanswered questions and the stark realization that there is much in life that cannot be undone, no matter how many rewrites one attempts.
The Story Of My Life began its Broadway run on February 3 at the Booth Theatre and will open February 19.
Tags:
broadway, review, show, story of my life, theater, theatre
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Posted on 2/6/2009
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February 06, 2009
The Times Square Alliance presents a new piece of public art entitled "Valentine To Times Square" during this year's Valentine's Day celebration in the historic location. In addition to the "Love In Times Square" banners that will adorn Times Square throughout February, the Alliance is holding a "Profess Your Love" competition in conjunction with Zales. Five finalists will be selected to travel to New York for the unveiling of the "Valentine To Times Square," and one lucky couple will win a 2 carat Celebration Diamond engagement ring! Find all the lovely details right here.
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art, contest, diamond, engagement, love, marriage, proposal, times square, valentines day, wedding, zales
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Posted on 2/6/2009
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February 02, 2009
While the thought of being more than a few feet away from a Broadway Theater or a TV set on Superbowl Sunday would make many nervous, at NYC.com the call of the wild was just too strong. We took the Outdoor Bound Winter Horseback Ride & Wine Tasting day trip on a brisk but stunning blue sky day.
We were met bright and early by Thomas, an Engineer that moonlights as a tour guide on weekends. He was friendly and approachable without that over the top enthusiasm that can make some tours a bit trying. The city fell away quickly and we were suddenly amongst snowy rolling hills and pulling up at Echo Lake Stables.
Then I came face to nose with “Tico” and wondered whether I’d made an error in judgment describing myself as an intermediate rider. Our wrangler Aubrey kept a close eye on me and quickly rearranged the trail order after “Cinnabon” kept nipping “Tico” on the butt to assert his authority. Aubrey chatted through out the ride and filled us in on everything from the rigorous process the stables use to select their horses during buying trips to Mexico to how the career of a race horse is no more than 2 years!
Unfortunately, there was too much snow on the ground in the forest so we weren’t able to take the horses faster than a walk. I thought this was more than fair, have you ever tried running in snow? Two hours in the saddle was enough for our untrained haunches and made me incredulous of those who ride for days on end. Next up was lunch and wine tasting at Warwick Valley Winery and Distillery. It is located in the foothills of Mt. Eve and Mt. Adam in the Hudson Valley. My companion and I shared a very tasty fresh baked gourmet pizza from Pané Café and then followed this up with wine tasting. The staff were knowledgeable and accessible about it - there was no wine snobbery on show. They have a fantastic selection of ciders, spirits and wines that use locally grown organic fruit as much as possible. The apple cider is award winning and the Bourbon Barrel Aged Apple Liqueur has a great story. It is made by blending NY state apples with their own Eau de vie de Pomme and for those of you thinking that sounds like a Donna Karan perfume, it’s actually a fruit brandy that is produced by fermentation and double distillation. Together this is aged for a year in barrels previously used to age bourbon at Jim Beam and this gives it a unique, smoky bourbon undertone.
We came away with Riesling, Apple Cider, Harvest Moon white wine and Apple Liqueur and this was being extremely restrained. The prices were very reasonable and there was the added bonus of buying local products.
Beautiful weather, amazing fresh air, horse riding, wine tasting AND back in time for the Superbowl – it doesn’t get better than that!
Tags:
outdoor bound, winter horseback riding
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Posted on 2/2/2009
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