Comedy of Errors

I attended the Wednesday, April 20th production of Comedy of Errors.  I was unfamiliar with the play or the writing upon which this production was based so I didn't really know what to expect.  Thankfully, the production team had anticipated this to be the case for some members of the audience...the middle pages of the playbill contained a creatively drawn cartoon strip that detailed the backstory of the play so that we would know what was going on when the curtain went up.  Very helpful as the play, written in the late 1500's by William Shakespeare, is a complicated story.  It begins with a happy couple expecting a baby which results in the birth of twins who were both named Antipholus.  In addition to these new additions to the family, the father purchases two newborn twin boys from a destitute couple and brings them into his family as slaves for his own sons.  These twin boys are named Dromio.  Returning from a journey to their home, there is a terrible storm at sea...one Antipholus and one Dromio are separated from the father and the other Antipholus and the other Dromio.  One Antipholus and Dromio grow up alongside their father but, once they are grown, journey off to find their lost brothers, the other Antipholus and Dromio.  The father soon follows in an attempt to locate all four boys again.  What ensues after this point is literally a "comedy of errors" as the four young men move around the city of Ephesus without knowledge that the other pair is present.  Mistaken identities and mass confusion follow until ultimately the truth is unfolded and the boys are reunited with each other and their father.  As I said, very complicated and hard to explain in a short paragraph!!

The USC production of this Shakespeare play was very creatively done.  Upon entering the theatre and viewing the set onstage, I could tell immediately that this was going to be presented in a "non-traditional" way.  The set was very creative and smack in the middle was what appeared to be a giant, brightly colored puppet stage...a dead giveaway that this would not be a traditional Shakespearean presentation based on my own limited knowledge of Shakespeare.  This creativity continued to be evident as the show began and actors began to appear onstage.  Actors were clad in very brightly colored costumes with cartoonish wigs that went perfectly with the slapstick comedy and sense of humor and fun that pervaded the show.  The set was creatively built to reflect the town of Ephesus and its storefronts and homes.  Actors could climb ladders behind the sets to be seen in 2nd floor windows inside these storefronts and homes which was a creative touch and allowed for more interest on the stage. 

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the show.  I was nervous and intimidated at first by the Shakespearean language used to present the play but that quickly evaporated.  The director did a fantastic job of making the plot and the language accessible through the actors movements and antics.  It was presented with a huge dose of humor which kept me laughing through the entire show.  Would love to see it again! 

Art Film Event

 

I had been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to view this film so I was glad to see it as an option for this blog posting.  I was unable to see it at the Nickelodeon due to scheduling but, luckily, it came out on DVD in time!  Thanks for Dr. Heid for giving me some extra time...served many purposes but also gave me the chance to see this amazing film!

The King's Speech falls into the drama genre of movies as it depicts realistic events and characters dealing with realistic issues - in this case, the Duke of York and the speech issues that he had to overcome.  

The establishing shot of this film sets the stage for us that there is an extremely large event occurring in an extremely large venue in England.  The opening shots continue to introduce us to the Duke of York who is preparing to give a speech before this large audience.  The shots focus on what appear to be nerves on the part of the Duke and those close to him (his wife, etc) as well as the preparations for the speech from a technology standpoint.  The shots lead up to the moment where the Duke takes to the microphone and attempts to deliver his speech.  It is at this moment that it is revealed that the Duke suffers from a speech issue - it is this revelation that solidifies the opening shots and why so much emphasis was placed on trying to let the audience see the magnitude of the venue and audience as well as the anxiety of the Duke when it comes to speaking which sets the stage for the story to unfold.

One of the camera angles that was used that caught my attention was that used during interactions between the Duke ("Bertie") and his speech therapist/friend, Lionel.  In the early part of the movie where the two are establishing their relationship, the camera angle is wide.  The two are most often seen in Lionel's office which is large and sparsely furnished as seen in the below photo.  Though the two men are in relatively close proximity to each other, the sparseness and size of the room enforces a feeling of separation.

However, this is a movie about not just speech issues but about relationships and the friendship forged between these two men.  As the story unfolds and the relationship between the two forms and strengthens, tighter camera angles are used as well as more intimate settings.  I noticed this throughout the film and thought it an interesting approach. 

As I mentioned, this is a story of how Lionel Logue, an untrained speech therapist, helps the Duke of York (Albert / Bertie) overcome his speech issue which is stammering.  However, it is about so much more than just a speech issue.  It is about the relationship between Lionel and Bertie as well as the steadfast love and support of Bertie's wife; it is about the royal family and the inner demons from this family that drive many of Bertie's outward issues; it is about triumphing over adversity and overcoming obstacles with the support and guidance of a trusted friend.  It is a fascinating and deeply moving film, in my opinion.  The actors, Colin Firth as Bertie and Geoffrey Rush as Lionel, were superb as was Helena Bonham Carter as Bertie's wife.  Colin Firth did an amazing job of creating a character with a speech impediment - he was remarkably convincing.  The interaction between the actors captured the relationship, the drama, the weight of the story and made it hard to turn away.  

When it comes to music in the film, I have to be honest and say I have absolutely no recollection of the music used in the film.  I was so completely engrossed in the actors and the story that I was completely oblivious to any background music being used. 

Assignment #7 - Theatre

There are several differences between a thrust stage and a proscenium stage.  First and foremost is the appearance.  A proscenium stage is framed by a large arch and the audience sits only in front of this arched frame and stage.  With a thrust stage, the stage juts out into the audience and the stage is surrounded on three sides by the audience.  Perhaps a better illustration is to think of the audience in a proscenium theater as the fourth wall of the stage.  The illustrations below will provide a visual representation of the two types of stages.  

Thrust Stage

Proscenium Stage

The fly gallery (or fly space) in a theater is the area above the stage that is used to store and utilize additional lighting, stage or curtain elements used in the production.  Stage personnel access the fly gallery via a catwalk as well as an area on the side of the stage that stores the ropes and pulleys that are used to manipulate the lighting, etc in the fly gallery.  

A scrim is a thin fabric screen used onstage in many theatrical productions.  Lighting is utilized in conjunction with the scrim to create a multitude of effects.  Images and lighting can be projected onto the scrim from the front and when this is done, everything behind the scrim is obscured.  To the contrary, if lighting is projected from behind the scrim, the audience can see everything behind the scrim very clearly.  Examples are presented below...

Scrim utilized with back lighting

Scrim utilized with front lighting

 

Museum Event

I fully enjoyed the visit to the Columbia Museum of Art.  I have never been to the museum before so it was interesting to explore the collections, both temporary and permanent.  

There were many photos in the "Who Shot Rock and Roll?" collection that captured my attention but one in particular stood out to me and it was the photo taken of U2 that was used for the cover of their "Joshua Tree" album.  I am probably showing my age, but this was one of my favorite albums when I was a teenager.  (I believe it was released in 1987, so I was almost 14...)  I was a huge U2 fan and I remember hanging a poster of this photo on the wall in my bedroom.  Though I still enjoy the music, I haven't thought of this photo since I was much younger so it was interesting to see it hanging somewhere other than over my bed - in this case, on the wall in an art gallery!  

The photograph was taken in late 1986 by Anton Corbijn who did quite a lot of photography work for U2.  It was taken in the Mojave Desert in California over the course of a several day photo shoot.  It is a black and white shot taken with a panoramic camera to capture the desert landscape of the area they were in.  I did a little research on the photo after my museum visit and it was interesting to learn that Corbijn had little to no experience with a panoramic camera before taking this photo so he didn't know  how to focus it.  As a result of this inexperience and the natural lighting used, the result was a photo in which the band is slightly out of focus while the landscape is clearly focused.  I love the way the photo places the band in the rugged terrain of the desert.  It is like they are part of their surroundings while being a million miles away at the same time.  The positioning of the band members, their clothing, their expressions, etc all mirror the rough, harsh element that is present in the terrain itself.  All in all, a classic U2 photo...in my opinion. 

Dance Art Event - Shag Music & The Big Apple

Having grown up in New York, shag music and the dance style that accompanies it were completely foreign to me until I moved to South Carolina about 15 years ago.  It was only upon my relocation and marriage into a very Southern family that I became familiar with this particular type of dance.  My in-laws love to shag and we all attend an annual party where the highlight is the shag music and the dancing.  It took awhile to get my Northern body used to this Southern dance but I eventually figured it out and it is now something that I really do enjoy. 

Shag dancing has its roots here in South Carolina where it became popular in small clubs along the coast, particularly in the Myrtle Beach area and, as such, it is the official dance of the state of South Carolina.  The original shag dance took shape in the 1930s while the form of shag dance that is currently popular is more of a combination of that original shag dance and another type of dance known as the jitterbug.  Though in its early days, the shag was performed to a variety of types of music, these days the shag is performed primarily to beach music. 

The basic shag count is "1-and-2, 3-and-4, 5, 6” for a total of eight counts even though it is done with 4 count music.  The dancer's feet move at each part of the count (including the "and").  The video below clearly demonstrates the count used by the dancers...particularly at about minute 3 of the video!

The Big Apple was originally known as the "House of Peace" synagogue and was a place of worship in its original location on Park Street.  In the mid 1930's, the congregation of the synagogue needed more space so they sold the building to purchasors who turned the building into the Big Apple Night Club.  It became a place for young people to come and dance the night away.  It was here that the "Big Apple Dance" was created by young people from USC in 1937.  The dance became a national craze and was performed all over the country.  The club, however, closed just a short time later in 1938 and the property was sold.  In the late 1970's, the building was moved to its current location and in the mid-1990's was acquired by the Columbia Historic Foundation for preservation. 

  This picture shows the entrance to the Big Apple with it's arched, stained glass windows.

  This photo shows the second floor balcony that was originally used as a viewing area for the night club.

  A picture of the original Big Apple Night Club.

Assignment #6 - Dance

 

The baroque period of dance occurred between the years 1600 and 1750.  The period was heavily influenced by King Louis XIV and his intense love of dance.  According to our class lecture on the subject of dance, the dance of this period is characterized by "dynamic movement, overt emotion and self-confident rhetoric".  In addition, the movements are full of "grandeur, richness, drama and vitality".  The dance of this period wasn't very subtle but instead very intense.  Additionally, there was a tendency during this period of dance to "blur the distinctions between various arts".  This was most evident to me in the re-enactment videos we watched of King Louis XIV's dance performances.  These performances were not characterized solely by dance movements but also contained many theatrical elements as well.

As dance has evolved over the years, many different styles and approaches to the art form have developed.  Some are more traditional in nature while others push the envelope a bit.  One of those that, in my opinion, pushes the envelope a bit is the experimental form of Japanese dance known as Butoh.  Butoh originated, obviously, in Japan in the late 1950's.  It is known as the "dance of the dark soul".  It is extremely emotionally intense and at times can be perceived as quite disturbing.  I am including a video clip of a Butoh performance.  I was struck while watching this that though it does feel very dark and, at times, depressing, it is quite impressive in its grace at the same time. 

In my experience, I have found dance to be one art form that the majority of individuals enjoy.  It is diverse in its forms and can be presented and experienced in so many different ways that there really is something for everyone when it comes to dance.  People dance for many, many reasons.  As discussed in class, many people dance for the purpose of personal expression.  Words don't necessarily come easily to everyone and they physical movement of dance can give individuals an outlet of expression that they otherwise may not have.  People dance for simpler reasons sometimes; to stay in shape, to spend time with a loved one or friends or to celebrate an occasion of one type or another, or simply to have fun.  In writing this, I took a minute to think about the times I have danced in recent months and found that I myself have danced for a variety of reasons.  I took a few shag lessons with my husband just as an opportunity for us to enjoy each other's company and have a few laughs, I attended the wedding of a close friend and celebrated the good times by dancing into the early morning hours and I went to a concert with several girlfriends where we never even sat in our seats because we were too busy dancing.  Each of these experiences involved dance but each for a unique purpose and experience.  I recall these experiences and it is interesting that even though they all involved dance, the emotions I felt were different with each one.  Perhaps that is part of the appeal of dance to so many...it can make us feel so many different things and let us express the same.

Assignment #5 - Music

Jazz

Jazz is a musical genre rooted in improvisation and interpretation.  Performers use rhythms, melodies and sounds to express themselves individually based on their emotions, the way the music is making them feel and even interactions with other musicians.  The genre combines both African and European influences to create a unique sound.  With the help of a handy little website, www.apassion4jazz.net, I was able to gather a little more background information about jazz music, its origins and its importance to the American culture.  It appears that jazz originated in the New Orleans area in the early 1900's but was rapidly taking hold in other urban areas of the country, particularly in the Southern states.  It is unique and holds a special place in American culture because it originated here and is considered to be one of the most important cultural contributions that Americans have made to the world on a large scale. 

Jazz music continues to flourish today.  Class greats such as Jelly Roll Morton and Louis Armstrong are still extremely popular while contemporary artists continue to push the envelope and make their own impact on the genre.  I have included a few clips of contemporary jazz artists that I enjoy. 

This first clip is Diane Krall performing "I Love Being Here With You". 

The second clip is a relatively new jazz artist named Esperanza Spalding performing "I Know You Know".

Peter and the Wolf

The composer of this work, Sergei Prokofiev, uses instruments to represent the characters of the story.  Peter is represented by the string section including the violin, viola, cello and bass.  The duck and the bird are represented by the oboe and the flute, respectively.  The wolf is brought to life by a member of the brass family, the french horn.  Peter's grandfather is given voice by the bassoon while the Hunters are portrayed by the woodwind family.  Gunshots from the Hunters are made using the timpani and the bass drum.

Classical Music

According our classroom discussions, classical music is noted for its clarity of form and logical development.  Classical music developed early in the history of music (estimates place its development around 500 A.D.) and has continued to evolve over time.  Some of the most famous composers of all time such as Beethoven and Mozart are considered to be classical musicians.  I have included a few clips of work from these composers.