Waiting for Godot (2001, full movie) is worth watching for anyone that hasn't seen it or read the play. cc: @F13 I actually performed as Estragon in a production of it in high-school. It's a fun...
I actually performed as Vladimir Estragon in a production of it in high-school. It's a fun play to watch, but an absolute blast to perform since there are so many interesting and funny ways to interpret it. Our drama teacher, Gerry Campbell (Neve Campbell's dad) was also amazing and encouraged us to go all out on our performances and the production, which we did. I was in full hobo gear, with mismatched boots, and a top-hat with the top punched out of it and flapping around. And I got a ton of laughs by repeatedly taking off one of my boot, giving it a whiff, and pretending to nearly pass out from the smell. Fun times. :P
Heh, thanks, but it was still a high-school performance... so not exactly the pinnacle of high quality theater. :P Out of curiosity, why don't you usually like theater? I absolutely adore it, and...
Heh, thanks, but it was still a high-school performance... so not exactly the pinnacle of high quality theater. :P
Out of curiosity, why don't you usually like theater?
I absolutely adore it, and always have. I can understand some people not liking musicals in particular, since they're kinda corny by nature, and require more suspension of disbelief than normal. But plays can be so broad in topic and style that I think there truly is something for everyone. So whenever someone says they don't enjoy theater, I have to wonder if they just haven't encountered the kind of play they might actually like yet. :P
E.g. Since you enjoyed Waiting for Godot, you should maybe try checking out some other absurdist, existential tragicomedies, like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead... Although a familiarity with Hamlet and a grasp on Shakespearean language is sort of required to properly enjoy it. The 1990 movie version with Gary Oldman and Tim Roth was pretty dang good, IMO.
Or maybe just comedies in general might be more your thing, in which case you might enjoy Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, which has had a bunch of movie versions made of it over the years (1952, 1992 (all black cast), 2002).
I live in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Our theater is not as commercial as it is in other places. Many of the plays I watched in my hometown are a form of public psychotherapy for the performers, and...
Out of curiosity, why don't you usually like theater?
I live in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Our theater is not as commercial as it is in other places. Many of the plays I watched in my hometown are a form of public psychotherapy for the performers, and in very crude ways that I find hard to engage with. It's masturbation. That is perhaps because many plays are not really based on a text, since the text arises "organically" through the rehearsing process. And when they do adapt a preexisting text, they will change it until it is unrecognizable, removing a lot of the things that made it good in the first place. It doesn't help that, a lot of times, the ones "adapting" those texts are not really professional theater-people, but rather a collection of amateurs from different walks of life. I do believe an amateur company can do great things, but perhaps they could use a dose of humility and just do Romeo and Juliet instead of throwing Shakespeare in a blender and staging the amorphous blob that comes out in the end.
There is also an almost complete lack of negative feedback: theater people will always praise each other's works regardless of their quality, anyone on social media will praise everything (because they are likely friends of the authors and performers), the press is uninterested in writing real reviews, and if they wrote them, no one would read. Regular audiences are satisfied with the feeling of cultural superiority they get from going to the theater. It doesn't have to be good.
Our artists are, essentially, survivors, and making something is seemingly enough. On the one hand, I am sympathetic with their struggle. On the other, I can't help but wish for plays to be good. Theater tickets are not cheap.
Some plays are political and sociological drivel with trivial concepts hidden under a mountain of obscurity. People "like" those because they feel like it makes them smart. They praise those plays not because they believe they are good, but rather because praising them is the right thing to do.
We also have a tradition of over-the-top comedies, with ridiculous costumes, a lot of shouting and exaggerated movements. That is not necessarily bad, but I used to watch those 25 years ago and they are essentially the same.
There is another thing going on: Brazilians are just incredibly warm and welcoming, and many are perfectly fine being in the role of emotional support for the artists. So they will make a big effort to respond with enthusiasm just because it's a person out there. That is obviously wonderful and sweet, but it contributes to an environment in which every play is equally praised at all times.
In short, most plays available to me are incredibly bad. There's no other way to put it.
To top it all, my wife is a "theater person", which means that if I go to a play I am not only forced to stay till the end, I am also expected to applaud while sitting, stand up, and applaud standing up. Regardless of my opinion of the play. The last husband that did not applaud a play was called "autistic" behind their back. There may also be a continuation where we will go to a restaurant with a couple of other theater people. In that circumstance, I often must remain silent (which is super boring) about what I just watched while everyone is allowed to state their positive opinions. I must also provide ample demonstrations that I enjoyed the play. Fuck that. It's too much for me, I will gladly stay home watching Star Trek by myself.
The situation is likely much different in Rio and São Paulo, which have a vibrant commercial scene with much greater variety. There, you will find plenty of musicals and otherwise enjoyable plays for the common folk, as well as quality cerebral experiences if you're into it.
Oof, that is a lot to unpack and all sounds rather personal. Sorry if asking about it brought up any negative emotions for you. I didn't intend for that to happen! But thanks for sharing your...
Oof, that is a lot to unpack and all sounds rather personal. Sorry if asking about it brought up any negative emotions for you. I didn't intend for that to happen! But thanks for sharing your experiences despite that.
I totally understand where you're coming from though. Just like high school theatre, community theatre can be pretty hit or miss too, and absolutely does tend towards the masturbatory and self-congratulatory side of things. So I get why that would be frustrating, especially when your SO is involved in it, so you're kind of expected to always be especially positive about things, even when you didn't necessarily enjoy them. :P
I guess I kinda forgot how fortunate I have been living so close to Toronto and Stratford for most of my life, which has some truly amazing theaters, and on-par with Broadway quality productions. I've also been lucky enough to see quite a few productions in NYC (on actual Broadway), and several in Las Vegas as well. And even when I was living in the UK I was in London, which also had a great theater scene. So I've gotten to see some truly truly incredible actors and singers performing lots of incredibly high quality productions over the years. E.g. See my super long comment about my favorite musicals.
I can see how not having experienced anything like that, and only having access to somewhat questionable quality community theater, might turn some people off from theater entirely. :/
Don't worry friend, I am perfectly fine ;) I just have plenty of things to say that are more or less ready in my mind, requiring little elaboration. It's just a matter of putting the words out. I...
Oof, that is a lot to unpack and all sounds rather personal. Sorry if asking about it brought up any negative emotions for you. I didn't intend for that to happen! But thanks for sharing your experiences despite that.
Don't worry friend, I am perfectly fine ;) I just have plenty of things to say that are more or less ready in my mind, requiring little elaboration. It's just a matter of putting the words out. I have an indefinite number of semi-complete texts in my head that I will write when the circumstances arise. My brain is pretty weird, but that is something I can use sometimes if I wanna look smart (because people will assume I thought of everything on the spot lol).
So it's not like I experienced those emotions right now. These events were processed long ago ;)
EDIT: I am also a film major who worked as a critic, so of course I have plenty of nasty things to say about theater :P
Gogo!!!! Didi!!!!! My husband and I got to see Sir Patrick Stewart (Didi) and Sir Ian McClellan (Gogo) in London, one year :) they were fantastic. We were just poor kids who got day-of tickets...
Gogo!!!! Didi!!!!!
My husband and I got to see Sir Patrick Stewart (Didi) and Sir Ian McClellan (Gogo) in London, one year :) they were fantastic. We were just poor kids who got day-of tickets that were still way out of our affordability, so we didn't buy any merch. Great memories though.
Day-of tickets in London are so full of win for the low budget/younger (same thing?) traveler. Did this 25 years ago! They're also a game-changer for Broadway, as well!
Day-of tickets in London are so full of win for the low budget/younger (same thing?) traveler. Did this 25 years ago!
They're also a game-changer for Broadway, as well!
access to anything live theatre is about the only reason I have left for living in a city. I've never been to Broadway but to see a show would definitely on my top of to do list. In Vancouver,...
access to anything live theatre is about the only reason I have left for living in a city. I've never been to Broadway but to see a show would definitely on my top of to do list. In Vancouver, they have Bard On The Beach which is pretty great as well. Even improv or open mic stand up. Just wonderful.
People should let their kids take a theatre class or two, imho.
I saw that play live in Brazilian Portuguese. I'm not a big fan of odd narratives, postmodernism, or theater. I thoroughly enjoyed that play. Fun fact: Beckett wrote largely in French, so his...
I saw that play live in Brazilian Portuguese. I'm not a big fan of odd narratives, postmodernism, or theater. I thoroughly enjoyed that play.
Fun fact: Beckett wrote largely in French, so his major works in English are technically translations made by himself.
(Like him, I also find it easier writing in another language. It is liberating. I try to fight it, but the English language is such a force in my psyche...)
spoiler
Unlike the game engine, this Godot never shows up.
My childhood dog was called Godot. He was named that as he was rather late being dropped off, meaning we almost missed the start of the play that evening. Which was of course waiting for Godot. A...
My childhood dog was called Godot. He was named that as he was rather late being dropped off, meaning we almost missed the start of the play that evening. Which was of course waiting for Godot.
A good name although perhaps not ideal if you ever had to shout for him.
Waiting for Godot (2001, full movie) is worth watching for anyone that hasn't seen it or read the play. cc: @F13
I actually performed as
VladimirEstragon in a production of it in high-school. It's a fun play to watch, but an absolute blast to perform since there are so many interesting and funny ways to interpret it. Our drama teacher, Gerry Campbell (Neve Campbell's dad) was also amazing and encouraged us to go all out on our performances and the production, which we did. I was in full hobo gear, with mismatched boots, and a top-hat with the top punched out of it and flapping around. And I got a ton of laughs by repeatedly taking off one of my boot, giving it a whiff, and pretending to nearly pass out from the smell. Fun times. :PI would have liked to see you perform. Sounds fun. I loved that play and I usually don't like theater.
Heh, thanks, but it was still a high-school performance... so not exactly the pinnacle of high quality theater. :P
Out of curiosity, why don't you usually like theater?
I absolutely adore it, and always have. I can understand some people not liking musicals in particular, since they're kinda corny by nature, and require more suspension of disbelief than normal. But plays can be so broad in topic and style that I think there truly is something for everyone. So whenever someone says they don't enjoy theater, I have to wonder if they just haven't encountered the kind of play they might actually like yet. :P
E.g. Since you enjoyed Waiting for Godot, you should maybe try checking out some other absurdist, existential tragicomedies, like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead... Although a familiarity with Hamlet and a grasp on Shakespearean language is sort of required to properly enjoy it. The 1990 movie version with Gary Oldman and Tim Roth was pretty dang good, IMO.
Or maybe just comedies in general might be more your thing, in which case you might enjoy Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, which has had a bunch of movie versions made of it over the years (1952, 1992 (all black cast), 2002).
I live in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Our theater is not as commercial as it is in other places. Many of the plays I watched in my hometown are a form of public psychotherapy for the performers, and in very crude ways that I find hard to engage with. It's masturbation. That is perhaps because many plays are not really based on a text, since the text arises "organically" through the rehearsing process. And when they do adapt a preexisting text, they will change it until it is unrecognizable, removing a lot of the things that made it good in the first place. It doesn't help that, a lot of times, the ones "adapting" those texts are not really professional theater-people, but rather a collection of amateurs from different walks of life. I do believe an amateur company can do great things, but perhaps they could use a dose of humility and just do Romeo and Juliet instead of throwing Shakespeare in a blender and staging the amorphous blob that comes out in the end.
There is also an almost complete lack of negative feedback: theater people will always praise each other's works regardless of their quality, anyone on social media will praise everything (because they are likely friends of the authors and performers), the press is uninterested in writing real reviews, and if they wrote them, no one would read. Regular audiences are satisfied with the feeling of cultural superiority they get from going to the theater. It doesn't have to be good.
Our artists are, essentially, survivors, and making something is seemingly enough. On the one hand, I am sympathetic with their struggle. On the other, I can't help but wish for plays to be good. Theater tickets are not cheap.
Some plays are political and sociological drivel with trivial concepts hidden under a mountain of obscurity. People "like" those because they feel like it makes them smart. They praise those plays not because they believe they are good, but rather because praising them is the right thing to do.
We also have a tradition of over-the-top comedies, with ridiculous costumes, a lot of shouting and exaggerated movements. That is not necessarily bad, but I used to watch those 25 years ago and they are essentially the same.
There is another thing going on: Brazilians are just incredibly warm and welcoming, and many are perfectly fine being in the role of emotional support for the artists. So they will make a big effort to respond with enthusiasm just because it's a person out there. That is obviously wonderful and sweet, but it contributes to an environment in which every play is equally praised at all times.
In short, most plays available to me are incredibly bad. There's no other way to put it.
To top it all, my wife is a "theater person", which means that if I go to a play I am not only forced to stay till the end, I am also expected to applaud while sitting, stand up, and applaud standing up. Regardless of my opinion of the play. The last husband that did not applaud a play was called "autistic" behind their back. There may also be a continuation where we will go to a restaurant with a couple of other theater people. In that circumstance, I often must remain silent (which is super boring) about what I just watched while everyone is allowed to state their positive opinions. I must also provide ample demonstrations that I enjoyed the play. Fuck that. It's too much for me, I will gladly stay home watching Star Trek by myself.
The situation is likely much different in Rio and São Paulo, which have a vibrant commercial scene with much greater variety. There, you will find plenty of musicals and otherwise enjoyable plays for the common folk, as well as quality cerebral experiences if you're into it.
Oof, that is a lot to unpack and all sounds rather personal. Sorry if asking about it brought up any negative emotions for you. I didn't intend for that to happen! But thanks for sharing your experiences despite that.
I totally understand where you're coming from though. Just like high school theatre, community theatre can be pretty hit or miss too, and absolutely does tend towards the masturbatory and self-congratulatory side of things. So I get why that would be frustrating, especially when your SO is involved in it, so you're kind of expected to always be especially positive about things, even when you didn't necessarily enjoy them. :P
I guess I kinda forgot how fortunate I have been living so close to Toronto and Stratford for most of my life, which has some truly amazing theaters, and on-par with Broadway quality productions. I've also been lucky enough to see quite a few productions in NYC (on actual Broadway), and several in Las Vegas as well. And even when I was living in the UK I was in London, which also had a great theater scene. So I've gotten to see some truly truly incredible actors and singers performing lots of incredibly high quality productions over the years. E.g. See my super long comment about my favorite musicals.
I can see how not having experienced anything like that, and only having access to somewhat questionable quality community theater, might turn some people off from theater entirely. :/
Don't worry friend, I am perfectly fine ;) I just have plenty of things to say that are more or less ready in my mind, requiring little elaboration. It's just a matter of putting the words out. I have an indefinite number of semi-complete texts in my head that I will write when the circumstances arise. My brain is pretty weird, but that is something I can use sometimes if I wanna look smart (because people will assume I thought of everything on the spot lol).
So it's not like I experienced those emotions right now. These events were processed long ago ;)
EDIT: I am also a film major who worked as a critic, so of course I have plenty of nasty things to say about theater :P
Hah, and suddenly it all makes sense! :P
If you're in a hurry you can always watch the Sesame Street version
https://youtu.be/ksL_7WrhWOc?feature=shared
Even though it's making fun of a play I love, that was still pretty funny. Never seen it before either. Thanks for sharing! :)
I had to share this. Yes, I have an odd sense of humor.
I'm afraid I don't get it.
Waiting for God(ot)?
Winner winner (vegan) chicken dinner!
Gogo!!!! Didi!!!!!
My husband and I got to see Sir Patrick Stewart (Didi) and Sir Ian McClellan (Gogo) in London, one year :) they were fantastic. We were just poor kids who got day-of tickets that were still way out of our affordability, so we didn't buy any merch. Great memories though.
Day-of tickets in London are so full of win for the low budget/younger (same thing?) traveler. Did this 25 years ago!
They're also a game-changer for Broadway, as well!
access to anything live theatre is about the only reason I have left for living in a city. I've never been to Broadway but to see a show would definitely on my top of to do list. In Vancouver, they have Bard On The Beach which is pretty great as well. Even improv or open mic stand up. Just wonderful.
People should let their kids take a theatre class or two, imho.
Subliminal Beckett reference
I saw that play live in Brazilian Portuguese. I'm not a big fan of odd narratives, postmodernism, or theater. I thoroughly enjoyed that play.
Fun fact: Beckett wrote largely in French, so his major works in English are technically translations made by himself.
(Like him, I also find it easier writing in another language. It is liberating. I try to fight it, but the English language is such a force in my psyche...)
spoiler
Unlike the game engine, this Godot never shows up.
My childhood dog was called Godot. He was named that as he was rather late being dropped off, meaning we almost missed the start of the play that evening. Which was of course waiting for Godot.
A good name although perhaps not ideal if you ever had to shout for him.