Author: Douglas McLennan

CYBER-ACTING

  • The technology is here to allow producers to use digital actors instead of live ones. Does that mean real actors will be out of work? “Producers and directors who think virtual actors will be easier to work with than their human counterparts are also deluding themselves. The truth is that instead of one creative temperament or sensibility to deal with, you have 50. It’s simply better and cheaper to use a real actor.” – Backstage

ODE TO PIERRE BOULEZ

“To those who whine, who doubt his importance to our times and to the future – a warning. To Boulez we owe the most influential musical changes of our lifetime – as a conductor, composer, educator, programme planner and superior being, he has embraced an international state of artistic achievement, and wrestled, built and triumphed on all our behalfs. He has educated a whole generation of musicians – and happily, ecstatically even, it was mine – evangelising for rhythm and form over mere miasma of sound or texture, and has been bold for all who would be creative, insisting on rigour in intellect, opinion, art and its practice.” – The Scotsman

DRESS CODES FOR FAT FIDDLERS

Leonard Slatkin spoke up this weekend about the proper attire for women violinists in his orchestra: “I tend to favour covered arms, especially among the violinists. You don’t want to see too much flapping about. Then there’s the problem of women in trousers. If you’re slightly heavy in the rear end department, it does not look too good. Of course, not everyone acknowledges that and no one’s going to tell them, which is why we need an across-the-board rule.” – The Times (UK)

WRITERLY RETIREMENT

Dancers, athletes and musicians retire. But what about writers? “Computer keyboards are not retired. Career best-seller records do not lead to teary stadium send-offs. The creative force that drives writing may still burn, but the energy to promote a book fades like the pitching arm of a middle-aged hurler. In some ways, mulling a writerly finale seems a bit morbid.  – New York Times

NO DANCING IN NY

New York’s cabaret law bans dancing in nightclubs that lack a cabaret license. “The law was originally designed to crack down on Prohibition-era speakeasies and Harlem jazz clubs, but had lain dormant for over 70 years. That was until Giuliani’s administration dusted it off about four years ago and began enforcing it against legal nightclubs.” – Village Voice

LIVE-IN.THIS

  • The Dot-commies are making it so expensive to live in San Francisco that artists can’t afford it any more. Thousands have lost their work/live spaces and arts organizations are being prices out of the city. But protesting won’t change things – time to act and use some of the city’s policies to alleviate the squeeze. – SF Weekly

KENNEDY CENTER AWARDS —

— are announced: dance Mikhail Baryshnikov, tenor Plácido Domingo, actress Angela Lansbury, rock ‘n’ roller Chuck Berry, and the actor/director Clint Eastwood. – New York Times 08/23/00 

  • POPULAR CHOICE: “Though the Kennedy Center has been questioned for giving people a legendary status when their careers were brief or obscure, or saluting artists with highbrow appeal but little in the way of broad popular impact, this year’s honorees have had long, influential careers. In many cases, even their clunkers have been hailed as bold experiments.” – Washington Post 08/23/00