Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Catching up

I've been absent too long--and I thank those kind folks who wrote to inquire after my health.

Given the economic times we are in, I am not going to complain about an abundance of work. Rather, I'll just say that it is that abundance which has kept me from here. I'm doing a lot of writing these days and have spent what little free time I've had with family.

But a couple of random theater things I would have loved to work up into full blog entries (and maybe still will--but no promises):
  • My favorite number in Fiddler on the Roof remains "Do You Love Me?". While the plot seems to revolve around the daughters and their marriages, it is the love story of Golde and Tevye that has always struck me as the central story. Perhaps it is because there are relatively few musicals that focus on longstanding, solid marriages. When I was in high school, someone asked me to define what I thought marital love would be. I referred to the song "Do You Love Me?" My friend took that to mean that I thought doing dishes and housework for someone was true love (in which case Richard would have reason to worry!). But that wasn't it. To me, the song captured the ideal that a couple doesn't "feel" in love, they choose to learn to love. Then they stick with it for the rest of their lives, experiencing the ups and downs together regardless of how they might feel at any given moment. When you choose to love, the next step is choosing to be happy. Both are an incredibly freeing thing--to realize that you have the choice and it isn't simply happenstance or coincidence.
  • Seeing "The Glass Menagerie" on Mother's Day was a real treat. I loved the subtleties in this production.
  • Dominic is in "The Rothschilds" at Riverwalk. It's not a musical I'd heard of before this year, but I've been having fun singing the songs with Dom at home. They're really quite catchy. I've also been impressed with Jane Falion and her ability to stay calm while surrounded by a huge cast.
  • I can't wait to see "Goodnight Desdemona, Good morning Juliet" again--this time from the audience. It is one of my favorite scripts of all time.
  • I had some fun interviews over the past week with three women who were from Lansing but who are now all three performing in various Broadway shows in New York. I'll post a link to that article when it runs.
  • For those who have asked--yes, there will be Thespie Awards this year. We're waiting until after everything in the regular season has opened.
See you at the theater!

5 comments:

Unknown said...

I totally agree with you about "Do You Love Me?" It's one of my favorite songs of all time.

Linda said...

Welcome back! It reminds me of my family. We do not say "I love you" - it's just not done, and actually feels very awkward. Yet there is never any question in any of our minds as to whether or not we are loved - it's just understood that we are and it doesn't need to be said. Also...about Fiddler - those darn songs keep running through my head! I keep singing them over and over and over again! The lady at JoAnn Fabrics thought I was nuts. :) Linda

Bridgette Redman said...

I've never quite understood the people who say musicals aren't "realistic." Are they trying to say they DON'T break spontaneously out into song and dance at random times in their life?

And Fiddler is great music to hum wherever you go. :D

Linda said...

Musicals can express joy or sorrow so powerfully through their music or choreography. For me, it can dig deep into the heart and soul and bring out feelings the spoken word could never do. Whenever I saw "Cats", "Memories" would always make me cry, no matter how many times I saw it. It was such a powerful song, I could feel her sadness, lonliness and her pain. It sure got it's point across much better than listening to a cat go on and on talking about their memories of the past and how sad and lonley they are :)

"Defying Gravity" from "Wicked" is very empowering - I could feel her strength growing until she could actually fly.

We can also take those songs with us when we need them. "Defying Gravity" always gives me great strength and the feeling I can do anything I put my mind to.

I am writing a play (turned to a musical now). A very touching and many times heart-breaking play. I decided it had to have songs to REALLY get the depth of some of the feelings across.

Ok, off my soap box. :)

Anyway, some times we need a break from "realistic". :) Linda

Bridgette Redman said...

Linda:
I agree with you on all points! There really is something about the way that music touches us that says so much more than a monologue or speech.

Perhaps it is because the music speaks to us physically as well--our toes tap, our heads sway, our blood flows differently.

Can't wait to see your musical!

Bridgette