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Lots more stuff!
Oct. 3rd, 2004 03:26 pm( More Books Read )
I saw Arthur Miller's new play, Finishing the Picture. It's about the problems on the set of The Misfits. It's okay, but not great. The first act is all the characters talking about Kitty (the Marilyn Monroe figure), and the second act is all of them talking to her, trying to get her out of her funk and onto the set. Kitty has no lines. To use another film term, from another director, she's the McGuffin, the thing that drives the plot and the action (though this play is mostly talk, and little action).
MIler is absolutely vicious to the Strasbergs, and the character who is himself is something of a cipher. We never really understand why Kitty freaks when he's around, he seems so blah. The most interesting relationship is that of the studio head and Kitty's secretary/personal assistant, perhaps because in the midst of a group of people who are relating only to Kitty, they manage to relate to each other.
There's an interesting design choice in the second act. As the characters each speak to Kitty, their images are projected onto a scrim, so that it seems that you are watching a movie and the play at the same time. Which do you look at? The actor or his image? Hmmm?
Friday night, I got togged up and went to the Park West for the Obama fundraiser, with Ramsey Lewis, Robin Williams, and Stevie Wonder. The joint was rockin'! I somehow ended up with a $500 ticket! On the main floor, in a booth at the center. Great seat. I was talking to the other people at the table, and it turned out that one of them is friends with a woman I used to work with. Small world.
I had volunteered to be a trial advisor for the University of Chicago Mandel Legal Clinic trial advocacy program, which basically means helping a trial team with advice and showing up for the mock trial, which was yesterday. Both teams did a good job generally (the artificiality of the situation is always tough), but you can tell them and tell them that it doesn't work, but they always want to start out cross-examination by going for the jugular. The clinic popped for pizza, etc. at a nearby bar afterwards.
Chick's getting an award from the National Lawyers' Guild (Chicago chapter) tonight, so I have to get togged up again. (I don't know why I say "have to"; I like getting dressed up!) I found a really nice pink silk jacket piped in black on sale at T.J. Maxx that I'm probably just going to sling over my sleeveless little black dress.
How I Know Summer's Gone
1. I got my fur out of storage yesterday.
2. The furnace kicked in.
3. We're supposed to have a hard frost tomorrow night, so I brought some plants inside.
4. I took the screen window off the back door and put in the storm window.
I saw Arthur Miller's new play, Finishing the Picture. It's about the problems on the set of The Misfits. It's okay, but not great. The first act is all the characters talking about Kitty (the Marilyn Monroe figure), and the second act is all of them talking to her, trying to get her out of her funk and onto the set. Kitty has no lines. To use another film term, from another director, she's the McGuffin, the thing that drives the plot and the action (though this play is mostly talk, and little action).
MIler is absolutely vicious to the Strasbergs, and the character who is himself is something of a cipher. We never really understand why Kitty freaks when he's around, he seems so blah. The most interesting relationship is that of the studio head and Kitty's secretary/personal assistant, perhaps because in the midst of a group of people who are relating only to Kitty, they manage to relate to each other.
There's an interesting design choice in the second act. As the characters each speak to Kitty, their images are projected onto a scrim, so that it seems that you are watching a movie and the play at the same time. Which do you look at? The actor or his image? Hmmm?
Friday night, I got togged up and went to the Park West for the Obama fundraiser, with Ramsey Lewis, Robin Williams, and Stevie Wonder. The joint was rockin'! I somehow ended up with a $500 ticket! On the main floor, in a booth at the center. Great seat. I was talking to the other people at the table, and it turned out that one of them is friends with a woman I used to work with. Small world.
I had volunteered to be a trial advisor for the University of Chicago Mandel Legal Clinic trial advocacy program, which basically means helping a trial team with advice and showing up for the mock trial, which was yesterday. Both teams did a good job generally (the artificiality of the situation is always tough), but you can tell them and tell them that it doesn't work, but they always want to start out cross-examination by going for the jugular. The clinic popped for pizza, etc. at a nearby bar afterwards.
Chick's getting an award from the National Lawyers' Guild (Chicago chapter) tonight, so I have to get togged up again. (I don't know why I say "have to"; I like getting dressed up!) I found a really nice pink silk jacket piped in black on sale at T.J. Maxx that I'm probably just going to sling over my sleeveless little black dress.
How I Know Summer's Gone
1. I got my fur out of storage yesterday.
2. The furnace kicked in.
3. We're supposed to have a hard frost tomorrow night, so I brought some plants inside.
4. I took the screen window off the back door and put in the storm window.
