Secure Your Rights

Liberal Pragamtic, with horrible spelling. Discussion and venting on the arts, politics, and the future of America.

Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Didn't I already see this show?

There are a lot of things I like about theatre in opposition to Television or Film. First among them is the presence, of the actors and audience. It's cool in a movie theater to have a shared experience, but it is nothing like the shared experience of seeing a show with 30 to 150 people in a dark room where anything can happen. The biggest surprise in a movie theater is if someone is going to sush the due on his cell phone or it the film is going to break (as we move to all digital it will just be the sushing suspense.) TV, well I supose anything could happen, it's your house. Lots of spontaneous phone calls, neighbors stopping by to borrow sugar, a "domestic disturbance," or even romantic interludes. But it's not really the same thing is it?

Here in DC I like that we do shows, and let them go and that's part of the process. I know in New York the shows run for a decade, and a show that runs for 20 or so performances is considered a flop, but I contend that this is one of the ways we keep ourselves (collective as a community) fresh. Leave the ridiculous runs to Sheer Madness, that's what they are there for.

So this "Edgy" downtown theatre taking its hit of last year out to the sticks kind of irks me. I know a lot of the politics as well, but that's not what bothers me. It's that now we are suppose to accept that everyone gets to review it again - I admit several of the actors have changed, and if we are to take direction form Mr. Marks then even one cast change warrants a revisit. But come on. They have instituted a $10 policy as well, because a donor thought the show was so important? I don't know about you, but in my experience with the theatre business, you cut prices because you can't fill the house and your trying to make up money on volume. I'd have to say that that's what I believe is going on here.

The show is good, we all know that. And there in lies the problem. We all know it's good because we already saw it, and when we did we could take the metro or walk and didn't have to take out a loan to fill up the car to get out to the sticks. It's a big risk to do a remount; even the Shakespeare Theatre's yearly remount is free. You must have a demand from people who didn't get to see the show, and in this area a show does well when everyone who likes and is addicted to the theatre goes, but that is about it. We don't have the New York audience because, well, we don't have the population. Extensions are great, but even they don't always pan out. I'd much rather go see a show that was extended than one that was remounted.

Now that I've said that I'm sure I'll be offered a remount in the next two months. Awe Balls.

Thursday, May 25, 2006

Johnny Come Lately

Does any one else think the Republicans yelling and screaming about separation of powers is a bit amusing? Moreover; that they are doing so in defense of a Democrat guilty of bribery. I'm not even going to use the "allegedly" thing, they got Jefferson on tape - video tape, time stamped and everything, the guy is guilty - plus he's from Louisiana and, no offense to my LA friends, they are not known for the abundance of honest politicians that they cultivate.

So the Justice Department, which can't get the clearance to investigate the NSA wire tapping fiasco, has taken to searching the offices of congresspersons and confiscating documents. Hastert and Pelosi, in a rare display of two people no one wants running the country, have both cried fowl. They say it is a violation of the separation of powers, which I agree with; here's the thing, it probably isn't.

What they are looking at is, in all probability, one of the rare Bush Era examples of checks and balances. I really have no problem with the executive branch getting in and investigating congress when there is obvious corruption - cause we know congress isn't going to do it themselves. Here the problem is the blatant partisanship (not to mention that these guys can't do anything right), how many republicans are implicated in the Abramof scandal? How many have had their offices searched? And that is just what the republicans are afraid of, I mean what else could force them to stoop to such a level as to agree with democrats?

My real question is who is delusional? The president, for thinking that it would be a good idea to piss off the only allies he has left just before they all get voted out of office? House republicans for letting it go this far and now thinking that the president will listen to their demands? Or democrats for thinking they will win in the fall if they just don't do anything?

By the by, CNN took the first unfair, bs, hackish shot at Al Gore this morning. Miles "Could you just go back to doing Katrina reports" O'Brian asked the question - Al Gore's movie? Is is a ploy to get back into politics, or has he gone "Hollywood." I want this guy taken out and hit in the stomach with socks stuffed with soap. Code Red on these talking heads. Miles, didn't you get the memo? It's the republicans who have screwed everything up, they are the only ones who've been in charge - why don't you keep your dumbass opinions to yourself and just stick to facts. Those talking points from 2000, don't read so good anymore. Oh, and stop making the weatherman explain the Land Shark joke from the first season of SNL, he's a weatherman - leave him what little dignity he...oh right he's a weatherman. Anyway, if you see Miles O'Brian on the street...punch him in the face.

Monday, May 22, 2006

After a very long time...

I have hit one of the sweet spots. It is a rare time when an actor/theatre professional wants and needs a break and one is available. I've never been so excited about not doing theatre for several months. It's just when you get on one of those long rolls of shows, this one goes back a year and a half (not the longest, but as I get older they take a bigger toll,) you work yourself into a frenzy, and then collapse. Fortunatly I've gotten out of this spell with out an illness, so it should be just "me" time for at least a month.

Speaking of which, I recored a live studio session of Gomez on friday from KCRW"s Morning Becomes Eclectic. Of course since it's west coast it was more like 2:30 becomes eclectic, but I'm going to cut the session up this week and if you happen to see me about I would be happy to let you "listen to it," and listening does not require my presence. There is also about a 10 minute interview about the new label, and the new record.

Now I get to see so theatre and I am very excited to view the "hostage drama's" in the next couple of weeks. The Fringe Festival is coming up as well, and honestly I'm kind of sour on it. I need to see it, I am a loser for never being involved or seeing one before, but I question it's effectiveness in this community. So much of the theatre in DC is fringe. We have maybe ten theatres that are "big time" but the majority of work being done in this town is being done in churches, warehouses, converted resterants, and multipurpose black boxes - it's all fringe. We will see, and I wish the festival the best.

Friday, May 12, 2006

Are We Lost?

You know, in the 90's I really liked this guy on SportsCenter. He was funny, in a understated and true way. That man was Keith Oberman. So now I find myself watching him and saying the same thing, but the way the format works his show gives the news all the legitamacy of, well, SportsCenter. The only saving grace is that the Tucker-I'm way too old to be wearing a bow tie-Carlson's show is even more pathetically patterned after a sports show (he even has the ESPN boxing speciallist as a segment guest, please.)

So the point is this, I see in the post today a rather irresponcible head line. There is no data available for this new revalation about the NSA spying program. None, so they troll out the old data on spying on call made to and from overseas. Like that is the same thing. Something is rotten here, people should be filling the streets, instead we are sipping prozac and watch news like it's sports.

Doesn't anyone realize that this program began in 2001, and includes hundreds of MILLIONS of Americans, the the phone records of the DNC are in there somewhere. They could easily have been spying on John Kerry, Watergate anyone?

Am I worong on this? Is it not that serious?

Thursday, May 11, 2006

How many times...

Oh for christ sakes. He's guilty! How many times do we have to go through this dance. Reporters find out more information on the domestic spying program, and the President says he didn't do anything wrong. A quasi-bold Senator proposes censure, and the president and his party say he did nothing wrong. The President nominates the guy that oversaw the program to be the DCIA, and we're suppose to believe the President did nothing wrong?

The rule of denial is, the more you deny, the guiltier you are. It's pretty simple. Remember Clinton? "I did not have sexual relations with that woman," over and over, and he was guilty. That's how we knew he was guilty. Personally I didn't care, and if that was the problem here, I wouldn't care either. It doesn't have anything to do with my civil rights, or the day to day ability to perform the duties of the Presidency.

This is serious, it's a domestic threat to the American way of life, and I for one can not believe that the people and the press are going to just sit back and wait for something to happen. To me this is the single most obvious example of how al-Qaeda wins it's battles. Doesn't the President say they hate us for our "freedom." Well, what could they be happier with than an American President curtailing the individual freedoms of the American people, or more importantly, the American people willingly giving those right up.

The far right can bitch and moan all they like, but we are a nation of laws. It's what makes us different. We don't live by the God's law (we do if we chose, but it is a choice...and a valid one if that's you thing), we have our own set, and the law is clear on what you can and can't do in regards to data mining.

There is more: all of this corporate conglomeration, the undoing of regulation, and essentially the elimination of anti-trust law is coming to a head here. This is real, honest to God, fascism. The good old Italian kind. Our government has become so intertwined with business that the line between the two is gone. The phone companies are in violation of the privacy agreement that they make with us, and that we don't read. It is absurd.

We are losing the war on terror, and we are being defeated by our own government. I don't know if we can hold out until November. I don't mean to seem defeatist, but I have so much anger and fear - and I don't get scared - that I'm coming to the end of my rope. Where are our real leaders? I don't care if they are Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative, help! Help us, please! In the mean time, switch your service to Quest if you can.

And furthermore: How can a President with a 31% approval rating get away with this? He's two points from Nixon during Watergate!

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

June 2, 2006

I now know what I will be doing for my birthday. An Inconvenient Truth will open on June 2, 2006 in our area, the day after my birthday. There is nothing better for a thirties birthday than afilmed power point presentation given by the man who won the 2000 election, but is not called President. But as I have alluded in pervious posts, that may change.

No only are there rumors of Al considering a run on 2008, but he's got a fancy new movement name. Neo-Green. Man, you stick Neo infront of anything and your sure to get elected, right? No matter how radical your ideas are, right? We shall see.

And just as a side note. If you don't read the American Prospect, give it a try. I make it a little ritual to ride my bike to a Borders (I know, I know...it's the WalMart of Book Stores) and pick up a copy once a month. It is really great to read a political magazine that is full of hope, and not bitterness. This month: The Big Idea.

Monday, May 08, 2006

Get You Facts Straight

Something has been bothering me for a week or two now. It's great that we have a whole clan of budding Trey Graham's being born on the internet. More review perspective is great for theatre. The thing is, most of them don't know the rules regarding altering scripts.

I admit that this crossed my mind because several reviews for Bright Room suggested that the director didn't cut enough. Here's the thing, your not suppose to cut without the permission of the author. And once you've asked permission, and they say no, you really can't cut.

Most Washingtonian Theatre Folk will remember the "Kit Marlow" incident at Studio a few years back, that's the way it goes if you get caught. So this is just a friendly reminder that if you are going to review a play and you want to talk about how long and redundant it is, make sure it's a new work before you take that issue up with the director. Criticize the play write all you like, they do tend to be long winded, and weird...man they're weird.

Friday, May 05, 2006

My Trip to Court

So Monday I had jury duty. I was not so down on it, except that I had to be in Rockville by 8:30 am, which is about an hour and a half before I get to work. The summons encouraged using mass transit, and since the last time I filled my car up it cost $50.00, I took the metro.

The metro ride from Silver Spring to Rockville is wasteful and long, but better than driving. (Yes, I know there is a bus, but I have been boycotting buses since 1999.) And, as I found out, much better than having to park.

I went through security, and a strip of Claratin almost got me arrested - this is apparently the only place that metal detectors really work. I got up to the 4th floor Jury Lounge, and it was packed. I turned in my summons and stood at the back of the room.

The room holds up to 500, and there were over 600 called. So after a brief introduction by the commissoner, we were told to watch a orintatrion video. Which didn't work, so we got the long version - then took a 45 minute break.

After going through security again, this time my i-pod almost getting me arrested, I got back to the Jury Lounge to get my assignment. There was one 5 week trial on the docket, and they called jurors 2 through (and including) 405 for that trial. My number? 100. So over 300 people began filing down to the 3rd floor. (right 300, cause they don't use all the numbers, but for some reason they do do "a" of duplicate numbers?)

As I inched my way toward the court room, I looked down on a small table with a couple of laptops on it. There in the middle I saw a press packet that read:

MEDIA GUIDE
For the Mater of
The State of Maryland
v.
John Allen Mohammed

I looked at the ceiling and muttered to myself in that "I don't want to be heard, but I also can't be silent," way that I have become rather imfamous for, "Oh Shit." The older woman next to me was un-pleased. I got into the court room, and again they didn't have enough seats. After telling everyone to make more room in the gallery, Judge Ryan instructed those closest to the front to sit i the jury box. Guess what, thats where I sat.

From the jury box, I was no more that 10 feet from the "Sniper." The memories from 2002 rushed in. Running through parking lots in a zig zag pattern, realizing all the places I had been that people were killed, the police activity in Bethesda (I was working at Roundhouse Theatre,) and the traffic as the police searched for white vans.

I answered a series of "yes" and "no" questions, and then was released until 1pm. I was told to return for a interview at that time. So I did, and was turned away from the court room and told t0 return to the Jury Lounge. And there I remained until 7:30pm. I was never interviewed. In fact they only got to Juror 72 on Monday.

I was told to call in the following day after 5, I did and was told to call again after 5 on Wednesday. On Wednesday, I was told to report on Thursday. I did, and after a half and hour I was excused again without an interview. So now I'm free.

I hope he gets a fair trial, and goes to jail for be one of the worst domestic terrorist this country has ever seen.

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Happenings of the Week

I'm still on hold for my "civic duty." After spending a 11 hour day at the court house in Rockville on Monday, I'm still calling in to see if they want to talk to me more about my "objectivity." Once this is settled I'll fill it out, but lets just say this case is a "shot" in the arm.

So more interestingly, the New Gomez album How We Operate was released yesterday. I'm a bit mixed on it. It is more calm than perevious albums. I am particuarly fond of the title track, "Homoa Beach," and "Girlshapedlovedrug" (thats how they spell it.) Tickets are on sale for the 9:30 club show on June 22, as I was informed this morning at 9:30 interestingly enough. Mine are already purchased and I can't wait to see the worlds best live band come the Birthday month.

Pearl Jam (the band I used to obsess over) released a self titled album yesterday too, and this one is the best they've managed since Yield. "World Wide Suicide," "Unempolyable," "Life Wasted," and "Army Reserve" have that raw power of the early Pearl Jam, though they have decided not to return to the kind of studio polish that made Ten such a Uber-Album. "Parachutes" does harken back to the kind of composition they had on tunes like "Black" and "Betterman." For those who don't already have 100 live disks, this release does come with a bonus track. A live recording of Why Go form the Academy Theatre in NYC. The best live version of this tune is still from the early 90's Denmark tour when Eddie stops the song in the middle to tell people to stop crushing each other. Never the less, it's pretty good. Seems like Eddie and Co. have benifited musically from all the bad leadership we've had in our government, so I guess silver linings.