”Just in time for the holidays comes this weird new classic. From Twisted Christmas Live in Santa Rosa, California, Reed Martin reads David Templeton’s dark holiday tale The Most Dangerous Christmas. Featuring an excerpt from The Reduced Shakespeare Company Christmas and rain on the rooftop! (MP3. Length 18:58)
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Playwright Sara Gmitter (In the Garden: A Darwinian Love Story) returns to Chicago's Tony-winning Lookingglass Theatre for the world premiere of her adaptation of Charlotte Brontë's novel Villette – and returns to the Podcast to discuss how the production came to be and why the novel isn't as famous as Brontë's other work, Jane Eyre. Sara talks about the challenge of channeling Brontë’s voice (in both language and staging); who to credit (or blame) for this adaptation; the joy of working with characters that demand to be brought to life; gratitude to directors and designers who help visualize the story; how the relationship between the protagonist and audience mirrors the one between an author and reader; the undeniable fact that Charlotte Brontë is funny; and the unassailable right of an unreliable narrator to keep some things to herself. (Length 20:35) (PICTURED: Debo Balogun, Mi Kang, Ronald Román-Melendez in the Lookingglass Theatre production of Villette, written by Sara Gmitter, directed by Tracy Walsh. Photo by Sandro Miller.)
Our 'London Entertainment Correspondent' (!) Elizabeth Dennehy reviews the transformative Almeida Theatre production of Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire, directed by Rebecca Frecknall and starring Paul Mescal and Patsy Ferran (above). Elizabeth discusses how the direction and performances made it feel as if she was hearing Streetcar for the very first time, and how they scrape off the barnacles of affectation from previous productions; redefine the tragedy of Blanche DuBois; how her feelings are perfectly expressed in David Benedict’s review in Variety; how the magic of theatre is not an illusion and more effective when it doesn’t try to be; and the fundamental importance of trusting the words, trusting the actors, and most of all, trusting the audience. (Length 20:54)
Part speakeasy bar, part magic theater, the Chicago Magic Lounge presents live magic shows seven nights a week in its two performance spaces, its bar, and at your own table. It's incredible immersive theater and the brainchild of Joey Cranford, the founder, co-owner, and CML CEO. Joey talks about his Magic Lounge's inspiration and how its roots are firmly embedded in Chicago history; the relationship of Chicago’s magic community to its improv community; the art of building anticipation and developing a speakeasy aesthetic; the fun of making a clubhouse; and the revelation that (to paraphrase Soylent Green) “Magic is people!” (Length 21:20)
4 Comments
Hailey B. · December 25, 2010 at 2:58 pm
Can’t wait for next year’s twisted christmas story!!!!!
austin · December 22, 2010 at 5:25 pm
(PS – Here’s what she said before her spoilers: “I had a fit of giggles while listening to this podcast!”)
austin · December 22, 2010 at 4:49 pm
Emily, I’m not going to Approve your (highly complimentary) comment, but only because you give away two major plot points! Glad you liked it, though.
Emily · December 22, 2010 at 4:31 pm
I had a fit of giggles while listening to this podcast!
“Everyone understands the rules? After the creature has been allowed a three minute head start…there are NO MORE RULES.”
“Santa Claus, gazing directly into the crosshairs of the Baron’s rifle sight, calmly removed his large red hat, smiled knowingly, and pointed a finger…at the Sasquatch.”