BARE cast- Page 70

[Trisky]

Posted: 8/25/04 at 2:16pm

Congratulations AG, whenever you do read this. Can't wait to hear about your day!

Oh, and I totally get a boxers vibe off of Peter. Besides, I need John to be the only one in briefs on stage. Heart cannot take both boys in them.

Though I'm sure you wouldn't mind both boys out of them!

BlueWizard, read another 60 pages at lunch, of course I have to stop *just* at the point where I could tear through the remaining 130 pages in about 10 minutes flat, Doyler's smile at the shop. Will say no more for those who have yet to read the book. I'm totally engrossed in this book, unbelievable.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/25/04 at 2:21pm

the 5 secons before the rave doesn't do it.

[That Groovy Guy]

Posted: 8/25/04 at 2:38pm

I see what you guys are saying about the love song, and wishing there were one...but I think that's the point...Peter himself is not satisfied with the relationship...Jason's not giving him what he wants/needs...so why should 'we' be satisfied and get what 'we' want (a love song)? I'm not at all saying that Jason's feelings are shallow...just the opposite...the play wouldn't have ended the way it did if they were. Even though his feelings may run deep, I think Jason has given Peter all that he can (or will allow himself to) because he's too busy living a lie and pleasing everyone else. As I see it, I just think it would be totally out of character for Jason to express any kind of sentiment than he already has, even in private, even momentarily.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 8/25/04 at 2:42pm

I am not approaching it as something I want.. i am approaching it as what would be good in the show and deepen the story some...

[Trisky]

Posted: 8/25/04 at 3:04pm

Even though his feelings may run deep, I think Jason has given Peter all that he can (or will allow himself to) because he's too busy living a lie and pleasing everyone else. As I see it, I just think it would be totally out of character for Jason to express any kind of sentiment than he already has, even in private, even momentarily.

I actually think it's the exact opposite. In public Jason has given Peter everything he can, but it seems to me from the text of the play that Jason is light years different in private and that's what keeps Peter hanging on. "We whisper words when we're alone at night", the reference to Jason telling Peter he's his soulmate, etc. I get the feeling Jason is easy with the promises and sentimentality in private and what bothers Peter is that he can't be the same in public. So it would make sense to me if they had a moment in private where Jason let his guard down.

[WhatDoINeedWithLove?]

Posted: 8/25/04 at 4:11pm

I dont care if it is needed or not I just wanna see a sex scene!!! :)



Jk



Well, half JK....

[starlyricist]

Posted: 8/25/04 at 4:43pm

Down boy!

[2day4u9704301]

Posted: 8/25/04 at 5:37pm

I totally think another scene in the dorm room is needed. Is the scene before the rave the only scene in it?? Sex scene would be nice....:-P

Heart cannot take both boys in them.

you knooooow you wanna see Michael in briefs

[MadeofGold]

Posted: 8/25/04 at 5:55pm

I actually think having a love song between Peter and Jason would add to the tension of the story. I've always felt that the reason Peter is so invested in Jason is because of how much love he's shown him in private. We get tons of scenes of closeted Jason but rarely see the side he shows only to Peter. I think that would add to the tragedy.

you knooooow you wanna see Michael in briefs

LOL! All right. I admit I do but seriously, have oxygen at the side of the stage for me. For serious.

[2day4u9704301]

Posted: 8/25/04 at 6:44pm

I think that every seat in Dodger Stages Theater 1 should come equipped with an oxygen mask! :-P

[Trisky]

Posted: 8/25/04 at 8:29pm

BlueWizard, I finished the book. Oh god. I'll say nothing more than that, actually don't think I could even if I wanted to. Oh god...

*smiles at the thought of a Peter/Jason love song to distract me from the bawling*

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 8/25/04 at 8:37pm

Congratulations on finishing the book. Wow, you ARE a fast reader! Did you find the last few chapters as devestating as I did?

The book left me in a state of melancholy and depression for weeks (a good depression, though - the kind you get after experiencing a haunting work of art). I was also at a loss of words. O'Neill is such a wordsmith, such a poet, that he can evoke the subtlest emotions and responses from you through the delicacy his language. Such emotion I was not able to express, but the book does so eloquently.

We should wait for a few more people to finish the book, but I definitely want to start an off-topic thread and talk about that last chapter (the epilogue), which I thought was so perfectly-written, and yet so heartbreakingly sad, too. It also has a lot of ambiguity, because everything is explained indirectly. Anyway, we should talk about it!

Updated On: 8/25/04 at 08:37 PM

[Trisky]

Posted: 8/25/04 at 8:47pm

The imagery O'Neill uses is unbelievably haunting. The last chapter seemed much like an allegory for the entire book, pax quaeritur bello. Using the Easter Uprising as a metaphor for the historical/psychological landscape of change within two gay men was brilliant, truly.

I could go on, but I'll wait until more people have read the book and we can start an OT thread on the subject.

I'm not sure what left me more wrecked, this book or Bare. I wonder if Damon/Jon have read it, because it would seem right up their alley.

Updated On: 8/25/04 at 08:47 PM

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 8/25/04 at 9:53pm

Using the Easter Uprising as a metaphor for the historical/psychological landscape of change within two gay men was brilliant, truly.

I completely agree. In interviews, Jamie O'Neill said that he wanted to write a book about what it means to be gay; yet he couldn't seperate that from his own Irish identity. So for him, what it means to be gay is also what it means to be Irish. That was the starting point of the book for him (which he then took 10 years to see it through), and he wanted to parallel that same sense of pride and sense of historical continuance of loving one's country with loving another man.

Speaking of the Easter Uprising (and here a BARE-related topic comes in), why is Michael Arden's song cycle called EASTER RISING? Has anyone heard him explain the title? I don't know enough about the piece to make any guesses.

[Crazy4MattMorrison52]

Posted: 8/25/04 at 10:02pm

if michael arden was in his boxers i would pass out

[Trisky]

Posted: 8/25/04 at 10:07pm

he wanted to parallel that same sense of pride and sense of historical continuance of loving one's country with loving another man.

It's so apparent what a labor of love this book was for him, and how deeply tied he was to the themes presented in it. It was in every single word he wrote.

Speaking of the Easter Uprising (and here a BARE-related topic comes in), why is Michael Arden's song cycle called EASTER RISING? Has anyone heard him explain the title? I don't know enough about the piece to make any guesses.

Funny you should say that, as I just asked the same thing on my LJ. In fact, I had to edit my previous post because I kept calling it Easter Rising instead of Easter Uprising. I wouldn't be surprised if there was some influence from the book though the stories are not the same. From Michael's explanation and piecing together the songs he sang from it, the story of Easter Rising seems to be about two young boys who love one another in their youth (I'm not sure what age, but it seemed maybe late teens/early college years). One of them goes on to become a flight attendant and the other goes on to marry and have a son. Over the years they write letters back and forth and I would gather Andrew, the one who married, comes to terms with his choices at some point, after sneaking around behind his wife (April's) back. Caleb, the flight attendant, finds out he's dying of cancer and Andrew brings his wife and son to Caleb's side, presumably for some reconciliation/peace. Each number is set during the night, except the final number which is set at sunrise (hence Easter Rising) and it seems to span the course of about 20 years or so.

On the surface it may not seem strikingly like the book, but the themes seem similar.

[MadeofGold]

Posted: 8/25/04 at 10:11pm

Now I really do want to read this book except I'm not much with the speed reading and it'll probably really be Easter before I finish it. O_O

And I'm still completely devestated by the music of Easter Rising. I just want to know if this will ever be workshopped or produced or something. Anything! It deserves to be heard by the masses. I don't know what song is more hearbreaking: the song that opens the show or the song that ends it.

That Michael Arden. I guess he's sort of moderately brilliant or something.

[Trisky]

Posted: 8/25/04 at 10:16pm

I've a growing fondness for "The Road", or maybe just the "and the sex, well it was ****ing amazing" part of the song. Hee!

But First Letter is just... ugh... a perfect compliment to the despair this book left in me. Poor Michael, having to be burdened with so much prodigal genius. It must give him headaches.

[MadeofGold]

Posted: 8/25/04 at 10:20pm

But First Letter is just... ugh... a perfect compliment to the despair this book left in me.

Yeah, First Letter for sure was heartbreaking. It was definitely the way Michael sang it too.

Poor Michael, having to be burdened with so much prodigal genius. It must give him headaches.

Yeah, and it's so sad that he doesn't have his looks to fall back on or anything.

[2day4u9704301]

Posted: 8/25/04 at 10:23pm

the song that opens the show or the song that ends it

which songs are these? road and first letter? or others?

[MadeofGold]

Posted: 8/25/04 at 10:27pm

Yeah, "First Letter" opens the show I believe and "The Road" ends it. I think. I'm pretty sure. :)

[Trisky]

Posted: 8/25/04 at 10:35pm

Actually "When You Fly" ends the show ("This Is Your Life" is the penultimate song). I'm not sure when The Road, or the other songs besides First Letter take place in the show.

The other thing I just thought of with regards to the possible influence of At Swim, Two Boys on Easter Rising are the references to the beach in the songs from Easter Rising, particularly "another letter from the boy out on the bay" from The Road.

Updated On: 8/25/04 at 10:35 PM

[MadeofGold]

Posted: 8/25/04 at 10:39pm

Ay carumba. I knew I would mess those song titles up. :P

[2day4u9704301]

Posted: 8/25/04 at 10:44pm

Yeah, I was like.....what about The PROLOGUE?!?! Lol...Then I realized it's from his other show....wow....too many Michael shows that I wanna see NOW!!

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 8/25/04 at 11:13pm

Actually, from the description "Easter Rising" reminds me of Michael Cunningham's "A Home at the End of the World" (now a movie with hunky hunky Colin Farrell!).

By the way, Michael Arden's song for "As You Like It" is GORGEOUS! I wonder if he finds it funny that it's sung in the forest of Arden.

Updated On: 8/25/04 at 11:13 PM