Comments on: The Glory Of Living http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/29/the-glory-of-living/ DC's Liveliest Theatre Website Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:30:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: ronnie http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/29/the-glory-of-living/#comment-225 ronnie Thu, 08 Jun 2006 16:58:40 +0000 http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/29/the-glory-of-living/#comment-225 <p>I think mood-life experience can definitely effect how one feels about a show.  We are human and complex creatures.  it is very hard for me not to let these things color a review. A comedy is a good example.  I am tired, been to 2 shows on two consecutive nights. Maybe things do not seem so funny but I notice the crowd is howling. I have to then think about why it is funny for everyone but me :-) </p> <p>In a drama it is harder but I try to look to the things that make up a good show. If I jot down my thoughts at the time and revisit them the next day I usually can see where a show went south for me or I may actually see where my thoughts at the time were unreasonable. I always try to give the show the benefit of the doubt.</p> <p>Some topics I think are hot for different people.  Something that happened in your life could cause this for sure.  I am a sucker for an "underdog" story. I usually can identify with such characters but they must have depth and I need to see why they behave as they do.</p> I think mood-life experience can definitely effect how one feels about a show.  We are human and complex creatures.  it is very hard for me not to let these things color a review. A comedy is a good example.  I am tired, been to 2 shows on two consecutive nights. Maybe things do not seem so funny but I notice the crowd is howling. I have to then think about why it is funny for everyone but me :-) 

In a drama it is harder but I try to look to the things that make up a good show. If I jot down my thoughts at the time and revisit them the next day I usually can see where a show went south for me or I may actually see where my thoughts at the time were unreasonable. I always try to give the show the benefit of the doubt.

Some topics I think are hot for different people.  Something that happened in your life could cause this for sure.  I am a sucker for an "underdog" story. I usually can identify with such characters but they must have depth and I need to see why they behave as they do.

]]> By: Janet http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/29/the-glory-of-living/#comment-224 Janet Thu, 08 Jun 2006 15:41:02 +0000 http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/29/the-glory-of-living/#comment-224 Ronnie,  I would like to suggest a topic for discuss about how one's life experience and/or mood at the time of attendence affect how much one enjoy's a show.    For example, last night a small group of us went to see Charlie Victor Romeo.  I loved it,  but everyone else hated it.  .. Ronnie,  I would like to suggest a topic for discuss about how one’s life experience and/or mood at the time of attendence affect how much one enjoy’s a show.    For example, last night a small group of us went to see Charlie Victor Romeo.  I loved it,  but everyone else hated it.  ..

]]> By: ronnie http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/29/the-glory-of-living/#comment-223 ronnie Thu, 01 Jun 2006 21:38:41 +0000 http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/29/the-glory-of-living/#comment-223 <p>BTW, thanks for the comments folks!  This is the kind of conversation I think is really constructive.</p> BTW, thanks for the comments folks!  This is the kind of conversation I think is really constructive.

]]> By: ronnie http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/29/the-glory-of-living/#comment-222 ronnie Thu, 01 Jun 2006 21:26:56 +0000 http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/29/the-glory-of-living/#comment-222 <p>In a drama I am expecting the dialog and the acting to be telling me something to further the story. So.. for me dragging is not used to mean speed but just wasted time, where I am not getting information to process. I am wanting desperately to identify with or care about someone in this story but I am not getting enough information to do so. I also thought there was misplaced humor. There was laughter when Lisa referred to one of the victims as a "retard".</p> <p>I as well noticed the "age" issue and that is why the police officers did not come across as believable for me. Detectives who are assigned serial killer cases are usually seasoned police officers. </p> <p>All that said I think both of Didactic's last two productions had a better grasp of the material. I do not think the shortcomings of this show for me had anything to do with the acting performances.</p> In a drama I am expecting the dialog and the acting to be telling me something to further the story. So.. for me dragging is not used to mean speed but just wasted time, where I am not getting information to process. I am wanting desperately to identify with or care about someone in this story but I am not getting enough information to do so. I also thought there was misplaced humor. There was laughter when Lisa referred to one of the victims as a "retard".

I as well noticed the "age" issue and that is why the police officers did not come across as believable for me. Detectives who are assigned serial killer cases are usually seasoned police officers. 

All that said I think both of Didactic’s last two productions had a better grasp of the material. I do not think the shortcomings of this show for me had anything to do with the acting performances.

]]> By: cheryl http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/29/the-glory-of-living/#comment-221 cheryl Thu, 01 Jun 2006 20:40:35 +0000 http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/29/the-glory-of-living/#comment-221 I also saw the play last night (with Janet and our friend Barbara) and enjoyed the production and like Janet didn't feel that it dragged. I do agree with Ronnie in that Lisa's character needed to be better developed...there just wasn't enough information provided to allow the viewer to understand what motivated her. The other thing that I found a bit troubling was that almost all of the actors appeared to be about the same age. Lisa was supposed to be 15-18 years of age while Clint and the mother were supposed to be much older. Yet on stage they all looked to be the same age. In my opinion it made the characters that these actors were portraying to be less creditable.  Either a better job should have been done in making the actors portraying Clint and the mother look older or older actors should have been casted. Cheryl I also saw the play last night (with Janet and our friend Barbara) and enjoyed the production and like Janet didn’t feel that it dragged. I do agree with Ronnie in that Lisa’s character needed to be better developed…there just wasn’t enough information provided to allow the viewer to understand what motivated her. The other thing that I found a bit troubling was that almost all of the actors appeared to be about the same age. Lisa was supposed to be 15-18 years of age while Clint and the mother were supposed to be much older. Yet on stage they all looked to be the same age. In my opinion it made the characters that these actors were portraying to be less creditable.  Either a better job should have been done in making the actors portraying Clint and the mother look older or older actors should have been casted. Cheryl

]]> By: ronnie http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/29/the-glory-of-living/#comment-219 ronnie Thu, 01 Jun 2006 11:33:17 +0000 http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/29/the-glory-of-living/#comment-219 <p>Didactic is a <strong>great</strong> small theatre company, this is just a difficult play that requires a lot of attention from many areas to pull it off. I just could not get past being at the middle of  the second act with little or no knowledge of what is in Lisa's head. Yes, we know her mother serviced  johns in her presence. Does that make someone into a serial killer? Why are all these women dead? Who was the like-able/interesting character? The only interesting thing about Lisa is that we know nothing of her thoughts or reasons for her crimes, we know she feels remorse but that is it. Yes Clint is a "spot on" abusive man.. but again why?  how did he get that way? For me a drama drags if nothing meaningful happens to give me information about what is going on inside the characters -- their thoughts and feelings are essential  to plot development. A wonderful example of getting into the mind of the killer is being staged at Theater Alliance with The Monument.</p> <p>A great little read on character development is <u><strong><a href="http://www.robinkelly.btinternet.co.uk/char.htm">here</a></strong></u> </p> <p>One can do much worse than this or any play from Didactic, I was hoping this was to be their step to a next level. They will get there in my opinion, keep an eye on them.  </p> Didactic is a great small theatre company, this is just a difficult play that requires a lot of attention from many areas to pull it off. I just could not get past being at the middle of  the second act with little or no knowledge of what is in Lisa’s head. Yes, we know her mother serviced  johns in her presence. Does that make someone into a serial killer? Why are all these women dead? Who was the like-able/interesting character? The only interesting thing about Lisa is that we know nothing of her thoughts or reasons for her crimes, we know she feels remorse but that is it. Yes Clint is a "spot on" abusive man.. but again why?  how did he get that way? For me a drama drags if nothing meaningful happens to give me information about what is going on inside the characters — their thoughts and feelings are essential  to plot development. A wonderful example of getting into the mind of the killer is being staged at Theater Alliance with The Monument.

A great little read on character development is here 

One can do much worse than this or any play from Didactic, I was hoping this was to be their step to a next level. They will get there in my opinion, keep an eye on them.  

]]> By: Janet Yandik http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/29/the-glory-of-living/#comment-220 Janet Yandik Thu, 01 Jun 2006 09:36:26 +0000 http://dctheatrescene.com/2006/05/29/the-glory-of-living/#comment-220 I saw the play last night and never felt it dragged at any point.  In fact I was mesmerized the whole time.  The portrayal and look of Clint was spot on.   I've known guys that act just like him.     I would recommend this show to anyone who loves gritty dramas and doesn't mind seeing full monty.  I saw the play last night and never felt it dragged at any point.  In fact I was mesmerized the whole time.  The portrayal and look of Clint was spot on.   I’ve known guys that act just like him.     I would recommend this show to anyone who loves gritty dramas and doesn’t mind seeing full monty. 

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