Category: theatre

“Aspiring stand-up comedians often think that making people laugh requires a foul mouth. Could be, but most of them won’t earn a cent at it if they can’t clean up their acts.” So Jeff Lawrence – “a fortyish, gay Jewish comic who hasn’t quite sworn off swearing himself” – is running a school called Laughing Buddha to teach comedians how not to work blue.

“Most dramatists would kill to have a play revived every few years. One solution is to write an imperishable masterpiece; even better if it becomes a set text on the school or university syllabus. But a more reliable method is to choose a subject that excites cyclical interest – a tactic demonstrated by the late Gore Vidal.”

“As [director/adapter Yael] Farber and the cast explain, Strindberg’s tale of sexual emancipation and class warfare becomes a metaphor for the new South Africa, where bitter political disputes over race and land rights still rankle, two decades after the end of apartheid.”

“Upton’s appointment took theatre-watchers by surprise because he and Blanchett were due to step down from STC at the end of next year. … Upton will take the reins as artistic director from January 1 and Blanchett’s official role will taper off.”

The Disney/Julie Taymor/Elton John musical “has been playing for 14 years and nine months,” placing it fifth on the longevity list. “The Phantom of the Opera is the longest-running show in Broadway history at 22 years and counting. Cats, Les Miserables and Chicago round out the second-, third- and fourth-longest-running shows.”

“One is a tracksuit-wearing benefits cheat who will do anything to avoid work, while the other is a would-be Wag laden with credit card debts. Punch and Judy have been given a makeover in a revamped version of the classic puppet show which has been performed in Britain since 1662.”

A fight director says the illusion is actully better (plus, no danger of broken cheekbones for those pretty, pretty actors!).

“Bettis said that she often wrote from midnight to 5 a.m., and that certain common activities — like ‘pacing around in my underwear’ or picking up a violin to play her way through a bit of writer’s block — would not be on display.”

“It’s a scene that is as diverse as its residents: scrappy, dignified, irreverent, smart, infinitely creative and survivalist. It’s a scene that doesn’t care what its reputation is, doesn’t care what illusions others might have about its viability, and doesn’t stick to the conventions of how things ‘should’ be done.”

“Comedian Bob Slayer was asked by The Scotsman newspaper to write a piece about the way the Edinburgh Fringe is financed. One week ago, they told him it would be printed in today’s issue. Yesterday, they told him they had decided not to run it. This is the article they are not printing for whatever reason …”