Friday, March 20, 2009

Unconventional theatre

Unconventional Theatre

1. The Sugary House.

producer: Steinar Thorsen

premiered November 30, 2006

Actors: Siri A. Kristensen, Julie G. Howden, Andreas Holt, Camilla Svingen, Mauricio Taipe, Frøydis Flotve.

Script: Viktorija Rudytė, Steinar Thorsen

Posted picture caption. "Modern Puppet Theatre performance about youth and the drug addicts."

http://www.upt-forma.org/?show=1&ln=en

What makes this production unconventional is the use of the puppets, or masks. They are in my opinion really scary and i would not believe that this would be used to show children I do however like how they have used something out of the ordinary to show kids something. it is a way to keep their attention. a way to make them go home and talk about what they just witnessed.


2. Jollyship the Whiz bang

Producers: playwright Nick Jones and composer Raja Azar.

Played through summer 2008

Actors: Keith Fredrickson on lead guitar, Dan Kutcher on bass, Nick Jones on lead vocals, rhythm guitar, and puppets, Mr. Skeevy on keyboards, accordion, and puppets, Jesse Wallace on drums, Julie Lake and Steven Boyer on backing vocals and lead puppets, and Kris Anton doing video design and giving technical support.

Posted picture caption: The lead puppets with a guitarist.

http://www.thewhizbang.org/about.html


This is very unconventional to me because of the use of puppets as cast members. Unlike the last production where the actors were the puppets. These shows are not really serious, they are made more for the laugh, but come across well with the audience. The show also follows a storyline so it has 10 series, or mini shows that tell the story. where usually you would watch one full production of a show.





3. A nervous Smile. Theatre by the Blind


directed by Ike Schambelan



plays April 17th thru may 17th 2009

Cast: All Blind; GEORGE ASHIOTIS, MELANIE BOLAND, PAMELA SABAUGH,NICHOLAS VISELLI

Posted picture from a different production titled the middle ages. put on by this theatre company. "Marilee Talkington and George Ashiotis"

http://www.tbtb.org/archives.htm

This theatre company is very interesting to me. being that all of the actors are blind it intrigues me to know how rehearsals must go. I would definately be one to appreciate a show more when i found out that people that cannnot even see are putting these shows on. people that can see already have enough problems. I think it shows courage to do something like this. And this i would think that maybe people could be a little uncomfortable at first. but would soon realize the talent.



4. Thang long Water puppet theatre

directed by Nguyen Hoang Tuan

plays 165 performances
posted picture caption. The pupeteers.




This is unconventional to me because not only are they using puppets but they are in water. Water puppetry goes back a long way but i had never seen it beofre now. I would really like to see how difficult it is to maneuver the puppets through the water. this takes much dedication and skill.


5. Quartet. Agelink Theatre


by Ronald Harwood

actors: Starring Rosemary Barr, Edgar Metcalfe, Matthew O'Sullivan and Jenny McNae.

played in 2005

Posted photo caption. The starts of Quartet.


This is probably my favorite of the unconventional theatres. this is because in this theatre company the shows are performed by the elderly. It seems like this day and age we forget about older folks out there, we forget aboutt their passion and drive. This theatre lets them continue their legacies. It is unconventional because it does not cast the usual way most of the actors are over 50.


Sunday, March 8, 2009

Too hot to Handle

1. NYC Today

The Bus Stop

What: 1983 comedy by Gao Xingjian
Where: Theatre HAN
Who: Joe Alberta Lima, Ray Chao, Hank H. Kim.
When: April 1, 2009


This show was controverisal because it is real. It talks about real issues in life that some people would just rather ignore. People would love to just live in a simple place where bad things do not happen, but the reality is that, this just isnt so. This play lays it all out. and sadly some people just arent ready for that.

2. Naked Broadway

Equus

What: Tony award winning play by Peter Shaffer
Where: Broadhurst theatre
Who: Daniel Radcliffe, Kate Mulgrew, Anna Camp
When: December - february 2009

I think this play was controversial because of the nudity involved, but moreover because people just werent ready to see "Harry Potter" in another role. Not just any role but one so grown up. The play has a lot of adult themes, and could make a lot of people uncomfortable.
3. Gay Broadway

what: The full Monty
Where:Eugene O'neill Theatre
Who: John Ellison Conlee, Nicholas Cutro, Jason Danieley, Lisa Datz
When: oct 26, 2000- 2002
This show was too hot to handle because of the character that did end of being homosexual. People you would feel are more open to homosexuality but proved that they weren't when issues came about.
4. Racist Broadway


What: Uncle Tom's Cabin
Where: Alvin Theatre
Who: Fay Bainter, Thomas Chalmers
When: 1933


Uncle Toms cabin was controversial because it was written when everything about slavery was real and going on. It is all true. It is what white people did not want to see because they didnt want to own up to what was going on, and its also what black people did not want to see because it made it that much more real. It only had 24 performances but that was still enough to change some hearts and show some truth.

5. Raided or closed

What: Naked Boys Singing
Where: Milwaukee Gay rights center
Who: ACLU
When: 2005


Naked boys singing was controversial, because point blank people were not ready for this show. It was said that the show was raided because they did not have a permit but it was obvious that the show was about homosexuals and people did not like that. Which is why the lawsuit came about.

6. Arrested

What: Final Push
Where: Zimbabwe
Who:James Jemwa, actors Sylvanos Mudzvova and Anthony Tongani
When: September 23, 2007


“The arrests are a travesty of justice and an affront to freedom of expression. Our space for public debate and free expression is shrinking daily,”




This show was controversial because it depicted something that was not a plesant subject to be discussed. the seven year socio-economic political crisis that the country went through. The actors and a camera man were arrested during the perfomance. It just proves that when you want freedom of speech at times they will take your freedom to keep you quiet.

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9. College/University

What: Spinning Into Butter
Where: Layola's Marquette Theatre
Who: Loyola's Department of theatre and Dance
When: Nov. 7-9 2008


"This is a dangerous, searching, brilliant play, probing the self-inflicted wounds of a self-righteous civilization."





This show had been called one of the most controversial shows ever written. It deals with racial issues that some believe lie dormant in everyone. Some people did not want it shown because they didnt want black people to feel bad. But really i feel that some white people felt bad too. Of course the show went on to play.

10. Highschool


What: Rent
Where: Corona Del Mar High School
Who: high school students
When: february 19, 2009


"I'm just kind of surprised, to be honest with you, that there was any controversy."




I feel that this play was pulled from going into production because of one reason and one reason only. Gay subject matter. The principle was not comfortable with the content of the show. So she canned it, without considering the lives the show could have changed. Many productions of Rent in Highschool have been cancelled, or banned in the last year and its passed time that something be done about it.