Best Review Ever

A friend sent me this impromptu review of the Seattle Shakespeare Company.

We are now able to say that we saw the worst production (including costumes), direction, and acting of this play ever! Now, I realize that this is very high praise, considering the number of awful productions that are possible worldwide, but it is well deserved.

The only thing of note in the production was the codpiece of the male lead (I forget his name) which threatened to burst at various times during the performance, and was anxiously watched by most of the audience. We were disappointed there too. He was barefoot (no one was sure why - except that he had toes longer than my fingers, which added to the suspense of the codpiece.). Whisperings of "that has to be stuffed" and "no way!!!(accompanied by rolling eyes)" and other similar comments were directed at the codpiece's performance, which, I confess, was riveting.

Meanwhile, back here in paradise... Last night I experienced Dvorak's New World Symphony as I have never experienced it before. Itzhak Perlman was the conductor. This was my first time to see him perform, so guess who had no idea that he appears to have had polio as a young boy and has two almost useless limbs where we have legs. Just before he came onto stage, I casually mentioned to my out-of-town guest that San Francisco audiences can be rather provincial with stars and sometimes want to give them an audition just for coming on stage. By the time Mr. Perlman had made the 30 feet from the wing to his podium, I was so humbled that I did want to give him a standing ovation just for that simple accomplishment. By the time he finished the New World Symphony, I was on my feet screaming like I was at a rock concert. Wooo! Wooo! Wooo! (I never learned to whistle.)

My out-of-town guest is one of my former husbands--the one with whom I spent the summer in Vienna back in 1990. He's a Gay Mormon father, and they're meeting in San Francisco this week-end. (Yes, there's enough for them to have a club.) I haven't seen or spoken to him in about 8 years, so it was a pleasant surprise to hear that he was in town. I thought he was looking pretty good for his age (which is a month older than I), but I think the years have been nicer to me. I'm glad we have a relationship now, even if it's this casual. He's also the reason I love Mahler and Egon Shiele. I will always be indebted to him.

I have this week-end off. Today is a "just because" holiday. "Just because" I'm one of the last groups of Americans who get Columbus Day as a holiday (Monday), so by taking off today I get a 4-day week-end. Those are rich.

Tonight's the debate. My advice to John Kerry: Okay, here I go. Work with me here. I'm channeling Obe Wan Knobe. "Trust the force, Luke Skywalker, er I mean, John Kerry. Trust the force. Let it work through you. The hope of millions is entrusted to you as our representative warrior in this epic battle with the forces of darkness. Put your ego to rest and let the force work through you. Do so and you will kick that sorry loser's ass all over the fucking state of Missouri. "

Okay, I'm back as Houston. Wow, channeling gives me such a headache. I think I need to close and go thrift shopping. Ain't nothing like finding something for near next to nothing to make one feel optimistic about the future.

UPDATE:
The SF Chronicle's symphony Critic, Joshua Kosman, was not as impressed as I was.

Okay, so maybe I was rather "caught up in the moment" when I effused praise on Perlman for his conducting of the New World Symphony. However, it was an emotional experience for me and I enjoyed it THAT much.

Comments

[Steve Bates]

Dvorak does it every time. (Perlman does it every time, too, in my experience.) Once, back in 1998, my partner Stella and I were in Chicago, celebrating my 50th birthday. Stella (her nom de blog; she prefers pseudonymity) is enthusiastic but not knowledgeable about classical music. She was scanning the Tribune for the evening's performances, and said to me, "haven't I heard you mention Janos Starker? he's performing the Dvorak cello concerto in the park tonight." Indeed he did perform the Dvorak concerto, flawlessly, despite a rain that must have played havoc with his strings. What a memorable moment! I'm glad you had a similar experience.