A Theatre Blog with an Attitude

One of the biggest parts of blogging, is reading other people's blogs. Since you all are so enthusiastically interested in my blog, I thought I would share with you another blogger who writes some pretty good stuff about theatre. In this blog called “Everything I Know I Learned From Musicals,” you would think the author would be a sassy gay man in his mid-thirties cracking jokes on every line about how good the lead Spiderman actor looked in his tight super hero costume. Instead, this blogger takes on a more distinguished tone, more informed if you will. The blogger who writes this blog is definitely a teacher, a serious academic who prides himself in knowing more about the Broadway scene than any other person in America. And while he is very knowledgeable and offers some pretty good insight into shows on the Great White Way, sometimes his tone is a little condescending towards theatre. Don't get me wrong, he has some interesting things to say; but hey, I love theatre so when anyone bashes it, I get a little hurt. Hooked yet? Keep on reading to see what I mean.

I think his condescension towards theatre comes from his great experience in the theatre industry. For instance, in is post titled “The Worst Musicals of 2010,” he repeatedly mentions how he is in numerous elite Theatre crowds. Example number one: “As a newly appointed member of the Outer Critics Circle,” and example number two: “This year, I’m a reader for the O’Neill’s Annual National Music Theatre Conference.” So obviously he knows a lot about Broadway and what is going on in the theatre community, and that means we should take him seriously right? I'm not really sure, but it does get a little harsh on some of the shows that are on the Great White Way right now.  

Maybe I’m not being fair, maybe I am now being a little too harsh, after all he is talking about the worst shows on Broadway in this post. But I just think that there are ways to review and critique musicals without being so negative about it. Am I right?

One of his most recent posts, a review of Baby it's You on Broadway, starts out so negatively, I didn't even want to continue reading; but of course I did, because I am feeling a little masochistic today. In this post about the musical, which is about the all-women soul group The Shirelles, He starts this post out with: "I can't be bothered to write a lead for this review. Perhaps if the authors had bothered to write a show, I might be so inclined." Ouch. Now to be fair, I have not seen this show, but according to Brian it "is a lazy, amateurish embarrassment of a production disguising itself as yet another cynical dose of jukebox." Double ouch. He calls it "Jersey Boys without estrogen. And without balls." Which I have to admit, is pretty freaking funny, but it's a little mean. As I kept reading, I kept hoping for a small light of good, but I found nothing. It honestly good be that this show was complete crap, and maybe I'm a little bit of an optimist, but there had to be SOMETHING that was worth applauding at least a little; I mean Brian did stay to watch the entire show so there had to be something that was keeping him in the seat.

If there was something, I don't know what it was, because he says that "the story doesn't build," "I got so bored with the second act, that I had to keep checking the Playbill to see how many songs were left," "the dialogue is of the uninspired sitcom variety," and "[the producers] should be sued for defamation of character." Wow, what a jolly good time that show must be. Now I don't know about you, maybe it's reverse psychology, but I kind of want to go see the show just to prove Brian wrong, just to find something about this show that is awesome. Who's with me?!

However his negativity continues from his post about Baby it's You and  “The Worst Musicals of 2010,” and spreads over to some of his other posts as well, go figure. In his post titled “Review: Fela “Live” From the National Theatre,” (a show which was nominated for Tony award for Best Musical as well as 10 others), he repeatedly talks about how bad he thinks it was and how he was so surprised that he actually got into it. He even recalls an annoyance he usually feels when attending shows with a rowdy crowd: “I started to get caught up in the proceedings, partly due to an African American woman behind me who regularly vocalized her opinions and approval. Normally that sort of thing would irk me to no end, but somehow the jubilant nature of her participation became infectious.” This guy seems like someone who needs to be infected with jubilation a little more often if you ask me.

He constantly uses words that show the reader how educated he is and how well versed he is in the vocabulary of the theatre world. Phrases like, “to help acclimate intrepid theatergoers,” “Musicals don’t get an ‘A’ for effort,” "it was just a 90-minute morass of undifferentiated people and meaningless dance,” and “admittedly ambitious but ultimately frustrating attempt at exploring and illumination the dynamic of art and war.” As I do agree with some of the comments he makes about the “bad” theatre shows happening on Broadway, there is no reason to completely demean the art of theatre. At the end of the day, the theatre-lover community is small, and we have got to stick together. I kind of wish that he would offer a few suggestions on how these shows could have been better, or what he would have changed. After all, what good is complaining if you don't have a resolution? You want your readers to love you and to keep coming back to your blog over and over again. That's why you're all here right, because you love my wit and charm. I fear that his dialogue and demeanor may be pushing some people away, and hey, I'm just trying to help the guy out!

With all of this being said, I am still going to continue reading his blog, maybe just because I want to inflict torture on myself by listening to the theatre genre be bullied by his writing or just see what sort of cynical quote will come out of his typing next. If you’re at all interested, I suggest you check him out, at the very least it will  make you want to go be nice to a homeless person or something. Until next time, go eat a cupcake, they're quite yummy nowadays.

Profile on a Fellow Blogger

Have you ever read something and thought, "Damn, that person is a genius"? Did it happen to you when you read my first post? Well, one blog that I have recently become interested in, not only because of his genius but his thoughts regardless, is blogger Ryan Dunn’s film review blog entitled Brian’s Film Review Blog (he is very original). Check it out here . A reason why I am drawn to this blog is that he doesn’t just write about up and coming movies, he also reviews movies that have come out in the past, such as Rosemary’s baby and other cult classics, with a couple reviews of documentaries thrown in.

He talks about films that wouldn’t have necessarily been in the public eye normally. Every few days you can find an in-depth analysis of the script and overall presentation of the film. Because he is older, he provides insight into the history of the movies and where they have come from, some necessary stuff when talking about film (except I don't talk about any of that usually, oops). One of the most interesting blog posts that Brian has put up recently is his review of True Grit. While he does give an overall view of True Grit, he makes an interesting analysis that it is nothing like the older movie, also un-coincidentally titled True Grit. This is true, due to the fact that the Coen Brothers version is based more closely on the book than the original movie, which didn’t have a strong likeness to the book.

Brian also offers up a rating system which he posts at the beginning of each post, making it easy for the reader to determine what he thought of each film right at the start of the post.

Brian reviews all different types of movies from genres across the board, giving his blog the ability to please a widespread audience. He reviews the movies like a pro and gives insight that different viewers might want to read before seeing any film. Unfortunately however, I don't think Brian gets many readers, because I couldn't find his rank on technorati.com (it's OK Brian, I'm still reading your blog.)

I am a little curious as to what Brian does for a day job; he doesn't mention being involved in the industry on his blog, but he may for all of the interesting insights that he ahas to offer.

My blog will be a little different than Brian’s; I plan to address the aesthetic elements in my reviews as well as the overall plot and acting performance of the characters in the films. The visual aspect of a film is so important and I think that it often goes unnoticed; I intend to bring light to this often cast aside aspect of the film industry. So much goes into lighting, costume and set design in the movie industry and I think that audiences should be more aware of it.

But, I fully intend to use Brian's blog as a reference to some older movies and just to see what his thoughts are on stuff that has just come out; it is my opinion that you can always use another opinion. His history and cultural aspects linked to the masterful aesthetic insight that I plan to contribute to the blogosphere will blow your mind, let's hope. In his post on Pinocchio, he comments on the advances made in animation and how Pinocchio still holds its ground as an iconic movie even though it was made in the 1940’s. Pretty crazy stuff if you ask me.

 Brian has reviewed hundreds of films in the past, so if there is something you are just dying to read about, bump over to his blog and check to see if he has some words on it. Until next time, go watch some trashy reality TV.

Sup world?

 Bradley Cooper, what a stud right?! I could literally probably just stare at him for hours, or talk about him for hours for that matter. But I won't, I mean if you really want me to, just post a comment and I'll give you some amazing insights; but until someone asks I'm going to talk about something entirely different. Well, kind of. Welcome to my blog peeps! This is definitely going to be the most intellectual and insightful look that you have ever read into the world of entertainment. For instance, did you know that Bradley Cooper is much more than a pretty boy? He graduated from Georgetown University, is fluent in French and is an excellent cook. Ok, so maybe it's not the most intellectual, but it is going to be pretty darn insightful. 

This blog, this creation of mine, is going to be about everything Entertainment, you name it, I'll be writing about it (but almost literally, if you name something that you want me to write about, I will write about it). Theatre, movies, television, award shows, you name it; if it is entertaining, I'm  open to talking about it. You may be thinking that I have no writing direction and that I am a babbling looney-toon, but I tell you that I am not! I have legitimate insightful things to say. For example, did you know that the majority of films these days are remakes or reworkings of original pieces that have been crafted from books or plays. (You actually may have known that) But I bet that you didn't know that Toto in the Wizard of Oz was paid a higher weekly wage than Judy Garland now did yah?!? Just a little fun fact. 

 OK, but in all seriousness, I'm not just going to be spitting out facts.  I really want to show to you all that the world of entertainment is more than just a superficial world that has no meaning in academic life. I am going to open your eyes to the genius things going on in the entertainment industry and try to change the popular opinion of what entertainment really is. Entertainment is not just a form of release for stress and a forum for an opportunity for fun, it is a venue for communication and education in our society. We learn so many things about ourselves, our community and each other but what we choose to watch and what is presented to us on TV, (see I'm totally smart.)

Because film and other media are so prevalent in our society, (I mean hey, you are reading a blog right now, the world is a changin’) I think it is really important for our views and opinions of the media to change. It is no longer just a mindless escape from our real lives, nor has it ever really been. Media is the one constant thing in our world that connects us all. It provides means for information of all sorts to be shared across continents, between doctors, lawyers, politicians and academics. Yet somehow, the world of entertainment is still looked down upon as something that isn’t serious (take Jersey Shore and Real Housewives of New Jersey for example- where did these people come from?!?). Our world today, our intellectual, academic, genius of a world, wouldn’t be possible without entertainment, including film.

By discussing and breaking down the aesthetic and other elements of films in our present culture, I will show you all that the film industry is a very complex and complicated industry that takes countless hours of diligent work to create the masterpieces that we see on screen. We as a culture, even as a world are so in touch with technology, media and entertainment. Because of this, we need to start thinking about it in a more intellectual way. The films and theatre shows that we see on a weekly, monthly, or whenever basis teach us so much about who we are as a culture and what our world is becoming.



So sit back, relax and grab a hot dog if you must. I promise this blog is going to be entertaining and one of the best pieces of literature that you have ever read (OK maybe not, but it’ll still be good).