Dessa Rose???- Page 2

[EffieWhite]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 10:11am

Well its good to see that THE ENCHANTED HUNTER (known as ScottSimms on the other board) is spreading his hateful, ignorant venom here as well!!!!!

[TheEnchantedHunter]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 10:19am

"It was staged too literally." That's absurd. The stage was the size of a postage stamp with virtually no setpieces but for the sunken area stage center. Which means the staging had to suggest all manner of locales and settings. In fact, the staging, with its group compositions, was one of the more imaginative aspects of that misbegotten production. The choice of the ladies to play age was the least of it. No, the problem is the writing, period. Not only was the story probably a poor choice for lyrical treament (typical of A&F), the authors mishandle the narrative responsibilities from the get-go. For example, after the peripatetic opening, it's the first opportunity for the show to settle and let the audience invest in its central character. But the song she is given (I forget the particulars of it, not unsurprisingly) makes no impression and gives neither the character (nor the actress) something to grab on to. The material given is functional and no more. This is a continual problem with A&F. Musical theatre storytelling is not just about advancing the plot and connecting the dots but giving the audience moments of transport and transcendence. But A&F's material never connects.


Melinda Tentrees
Brighton, England



Updated On: 1/11/06 at 10:19 AM

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 10:28am

Hey, there, Plum,

Long time no chat. Always glad to read your posts.

I have a question for you - and others, too - about the whole idea of using narration on stage. Is it a device that you dislike, per se, or do you feel it simply doesn't work in DESSA ROSE? The reason I ask is that I have seen a number of plays that use it, and sometimes I like it, other times I don't. It all depends on how it is integrated within the material and how it is staged.

Here are some examples I'd love you to comment on:

Our Town, Spoon River Anthology, Big River, The Glass Menagerie, Talking With, Working, Take Me Out.

Thoughts?

LC

[TheEnchantedHunter]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 10:38am

"Well its good to see that THE ENCHANTED HUNTER (known as ScottSimms on the other board) is spreading his hateful, ignorant venom here as well!!!!!"

Oh, EffieWhite, if countering ridiculous, over-the-top assessments like Suskin's with a dose of reality is being hateful, I can live with that.

Vivian Darkbloom
Ramsdale, New Engalnd
Updated On: 1/11/06 at 10:38 AM

[EffieWhite]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 1:55pm

"But A&F's material never connects. "
"Oh, EffieWhite, if countering ridiculous, over-the-top assessments like Suskin's with a dose of reality is being hateful, I can live with that."

Anyone who thinks that A&F's material never connects (ONCE ON THIS ISLAND never connects?!?!?!?) can obviously live with anything!

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 9:36pm

I don't see how it didn't work in Souvenir. It was a memory play generally and with only 2 people I think it worked perfectly. I personally like it if it helps in the storytelling. I think it's also important to know WHEN to do it. I generally like it or rather I haven't been bothered by it.

As far as Suskin's comments go, they're hardly rediculous or over-the-top, even if I disagree with what he said. What is rediculous,over-the-top, and frankly arrogantly foolish is someone stating that he/she is going to correct another's opinion with their own Omnipotent variety of reality. Disagree? Ok fine, good,don't pretend to be the all knowing authority on the subject, esp when posting anonymously. It automatically makes for a loss of credibility on his or her part.

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 11:31pm

Thanks for the replies, Plum and Jazzy. Narration bothers me when playwrights seem to choose it out of laziness - when they perhaps can't come up with action oriented dialog. It also bothers me when it doesn't seem to fit the material, as in TAKE ME OUT. I just couldn't see baseball players in a locker room relying on the kinds of speeches Greenberg gave them. After all, baseball tends to be populated with athletes who are more comfortable in the physical realm than the verbal. I was okay with the Dennis O'Hare character, but the three main ballplayers (Kippy, the star who comes out, and his best friend who gets killed) were just too sterile for my taste. The relief pitcher seemed the most smartly drawn - and oddly sympathetic - out of all the characters. But then, I didn't see the Mantello production. I saw it in Boston, and I had problems with the entire staging. The narration just stuck out as a sore thumb for me with that script.

Now, in DESSA ROSE (as I have stated before), the narration did work for me. I very easily accepted it as a natural means of telling the story. Perhaps the excellence of the performances made that possible for me. I can see if it had not not been handled well, it could have been deadly. But it seemed to flow very easily and actually gave greater depth to the two women.

I haven't seen SOUVENIR, so I can't comment. But I'll look for your review, Plum.

Thanks again.

LC

[TheEnchantedHunter]

Posted: 1/11/06 at 11:35pm

"Anyone who thinks that A&F's material never connects (ONCE ON THIS ISLAND never connects?!?!?!?) can obviously live with anything!"

If "pleasant" and "generic" are your idea of connecting (thank you, Variety), EffieWhite, than obviously it's you who can live with anything! Knock yourself out, girlfriend!

Melinda Tentrees
Brighton, England