the Light Show's Blog

My The Producers Experience

the Light Show — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 22:41:31 +0000

The Producers was good, but not great. There were many comical aspects of the whole production, which was the primary reason it was good. But the amount of “different” characters really made a blemish on the musical. As I say “different” I mean flaming homos – it was bad – they were everywhere! Eh, made me kinda sick really. I couldn’t help it but be distracted from all the fruit-loops. I felt like the Rocky Horror Picture Show was a viable escape. But all that set aside, and I mean way aside, it was still good. The actors really represented their characters well; the set was constructed in a way that seemed appropriate; the plot was well developed and was an interesting concept.

I was really impressed with the character Max. He was in nearly all the scenes and had been almost yelling the whole time he had any dialog. Talking with him afterward, he said that his voice had almost ran out on him in the last scene, but I couldn’t tell and that showed that he had been skilled in his profession. Leo had a difficult character I think and it showed, but he still had a great performance. He had to portray someone who had been almost cowardice and phobic of certain things. He wasn’t a “normal” person. The German character, Franz, was a blast; very funny and the actor played him well; probably my favorite out of the lot. I guess my opinion about The Producers is this: I liked it and had a good time, especially because of my friend that accompanied me, but I wouldn’t really pay to see it again, unless she’d want to go again…

The Theme of My Blog

the Light Show — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 21:46:08 +0000

To put it simple; my blog is really focused on Halo and other video games (I’ll be adding a section focused on Guitar Hero one of these days). Oh, and theater assignments on the side. Actually the only reason I have this thing is because of theater. Back when we were told that we had to create a blog, I got excited. I had wanted a reason to do something more and it really gave me that opportunity to start. Now I’ve been blogging for a little while now, I have noticed that I’ve enjoyed researching and writing, even if the topic is about theater. I’m not a big fan of theatrical productions but this has really given me more incite into the world of theater and how it effects the world outside of theater.

Oh, and um, this is kinda crazy… XD

A “World of Illusion”

the Light Show — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 21:09:55 +0000

When I went to go see The Producers, I had read up on it a bit. Not in the plot or story, but reviews and critiques of the musical. Many of the reviews were praising the whole production. I read very little opinions that were negative; because of this, I very anxious to see what all the hype was about. In addition to what I read, actually getting the chance to talk about it to one of the performers before seeing it amplified my anxiety.
After the musical started, I was really drawn in from the “in your face” humor and comical characters; although, I had been somewhat detoured from the amount of homosexual characters. The plot was quite entertaining for the reason that it was a musical about making a musical. But it really seemed “out of this world” because you know in the back of your mind that nothing that obscure would ever play out that way, which could give the musical that “illusioness” feature. The circumstances that aided the main characters, Max and Leo, could never had happened in real-life. I did feel some excitement throughout the whole performance because I was going to get a chance to meet a reader of my blog after the musical. So my overall opinion of The Producers is, simply outstanding.

The Tempest by William Shakespeare

the Light Show — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 20:28:57 +0000

I found this small summary of The Tempest by William Shakespeare at the Globe-Theatre’s website:

This drama is one of the great comedy plays by William Shakespeare. The themes illustrated in the play are freedom, friendship, repentance and forgiveness and feature different temperaments illustrating temperance and intemperance. The plot starts when King Alonso of Naples and his entourage sail home for Italy after attending his daughter’s wedding in Tunis, Africa. They encounter a violent storm, or Tempest. Everyone jumps overboard and are washed ashore on a strange island inhabited by the magician Prospero who has deliberately conjured up the storm. Prospero and Miranda live in a cave on the island which is also inhabited by Ariel, a sprite who carries out the bidding of Prospero, and the ugly, half human Caliban. Various plots against the main characters fail thanks to the magic of Prospero. The play ends with all the plotters repenting the Tempest is calmed.

This concept sounds simple enough; bunch of people get trapped on an island and crazy shit happens. I think I’ll just watch Castaway and Harry Potter at the same time and get the general idea of the story. I am interested in this Ariel character though. If she’s at all decent looking I’d try my hardest to get her number. A chick who’s used to being called a sprite and that will carry out my bidding would be freaking sweet!
There are a couple of connections that I am beginning to make between sources, readings, videos, etc.; the most obvious being they all have to do with the world of theater. Another would be the people we’re researching. They all have been big names and predominate leaders in theater.

Julie Taymor

the Light Show — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 18:36:29 +0000

It seems that Julie Taymor has had a significant impact on the world of theater. Taymor has been called a “magician”, because of her unique aspects and designs that she creates; lots of bright, colorful sets to amuse her brain-dead critics. Her work has also been named innovative and sometimes revolutionary, “Oh my God! Even more bright colors in different patterns!” Taymor was responsible for the designing the Broadway production of Disney’s The Lion King, in which she was praised by Time Magazine reviewer Richard Zoglin calling the musical “gorgeous, gasp-inducing spectacle,” a show that “appeals to our primal, childlike excitement in the power of theater to make us see things afresh”, which is something that might actually be pretty good to see. I grew up loving the movie and this musical could potentially hold my ever-shrinking attention span.
Taymor has been a prodigy since an early age; graduated high school at age 16 and moved to France to study mime with Jacques LeCoq. How do you say, “Get me out of this fucking box.” in French? On a tangent, this mime is freaking sweet. In Paris she studied and learned about the use of puppetry and masks which is used heavily in her work today (sounds like most of the women I know, not the learning it in Paris thing). In the 1980′s Taymor took what she had learned overseas and brought it to the United States in full force, lucky us. Taymor worked on The Haggadah for the New York Shakespeare Festival, The King Stag in 1984, and it was with her production of Juan Darien: A Carnival Mass where she would gain her reputation in the New York Theater scene, for her use of the brightest colors ever. She is linked with what we are studying in theater because she has directed a Tony Award and Olivier Award-winning musical, The Lion King and is known as the first female to win the Tony Award for director of a musical.

The Trinity Repertory Company

the Light Show — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:26:41 +0000

Apparently the Trinity Repertory Company is a theater to be recognized. It has a bunch of shows, has a huge budget and has trained masses of actors and directors. The Trinity Rep has an annual 160,000 audience members and mostly shows classic and contemporary plays. It has a long and drawn out history since 1963 with many prestigious accomplishments. Such as, it was the first American theater company to perform at the Edinburgh International Festival in Scotland, which I assume is a big deal. But hey, I love Scotland so I dig it. The company received the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theater Company, sounds like an awfully specific award to me. It was probably either them or the Cerebral Palsy Muppet Theater Company.
The Trinity Rep has also been renowned for their theatrical educational program. Every year, they indoctrinate 20,000 new students to brain wash and “live theater”. Well if theater is in fact everyday life, I guess they won’t be getting any tuition from me. They annually generated $24 million in economic activity and they also have an annual budget of $8.1 million. But the Trinity Rep has a Pay-What-You-Can performance for each production. Wait… what? How in the hell can they make that much dough of a Pay-What-You-Can income? Oh, yeah that’s right; they get 20,000 new rich students every year to leech off of. So I guess that’s where they get that “prestigious” title from, prestigious equals rich.
Oh and this picture really creeps me out…

Why is she so terrified and where is his other hand?

Martin McDonagh at Literary Encyclopedia

the Light Show — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:20:07 +0000

Martin McDonagh

Well this guy seems to be quite the nonconformist. His plays bring on controversial issues and have critics going ape-shit all over. But also on the flip-side, some absolutely love his work; which really isn’t a surprise to me. That’s the trend with these abstract writers, either you love them or you hate them.
In his play, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, the ending is quite controversial; the daughter ends up killing the mother, the end. Wow, this play has awesome sauce oozing out of its pours like a teen’s face going through puberty. I can just imagine that scene; daughter finds out her mom’s a bitch (big shocker), takes her revenge by murdering the mother with a poker. That would incredibly dreadful view from the audience. “Ouch, you stabbed me! Now I have to die…” Boring! She should have at least sliced her throat open, but being a play that would have been even more awful. I would have been absolutely disappointed that I would have had payed to see this sight. I’m glad I read it for free. I probably would have received more entertainment by watching a cat taking a dump on a cardboard cutout of the cool-aid man. Oh-yeah!

I Guess I Never Made It Official…

the Light Show — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 19:04:50 +0000

But check out all my glorious Halo 3 Hi-Res Screenshots! There’s a little link over there on you right. That’s where most of my Halo focus is right now. And I’ve been trying to actually play some ranked Team Slayer to finally get my birdie. That’s where I would like to stay, Brigadier General baby, the rarest of the rare. I’ll get there eventually maybe… until then, I’ll just have to drool on my keyboard while I stare at it.

I Want More!

the Light Show — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:48:17 +0000

Oh me oh my, oh me oh my… this guy kinda creeps me out and the video is a little lengthy, but he deserves recognition.

Now this guy has sweet skillz and I am jealous. So would you say that he likes to play with his six-incher? I would…

Oh, the Montages to be…

the Light Show — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:57:11 +0000

That’s right people, yours truly will be recording and editing his own montages (and some limited machinima). I just got my brand new capture card in the mail this week and as soon as I can get the cables I need, I’m gonna start recording (probably won’t really start until next week). So keep your ears and eyes open for greatness.

Here’s a montage that I get really pumped over.

I know it’s old skool, but I love it still…

And, keep an eye on my hi-res page, there’s more in store (probly be there early next week).