Should a critic express grave concern over the state of Canadian theatre when the poorly funded non-profits embrace facile populism and the commercial sector shrinks to a shadow of its former self? Or do all those dynamic little shows popping up here and there indicate irrepressible creativity and renewed health?” – The Globe & Mail (Canada)
Tag: 12.25.00
RECREATING SHAKESPEARE
A Massachusetts theatre company Shakespeare & Co. is trying to re-create the intimate atmosphere of the theatres in which Shakespeare first played Lenox, Mass. “The group plans to build the world’s only replica of the Rose Theatre, the London home of the Bard’s early plays.” – Washington Post (AP)
WHERE IS YOUR MOSES NOW?
Cameron Mackintosh once said a musical takes seven years from inception to a fully staged production. Australian Peter Johnston is now into his fifth year working on “Moses” “He’s got an orchestrated score, concert versions in London and New York and another semi-staged production with orchestra in London behind him. There is also a recording planned in London next year with an international cast.” – The Age (Melbourne)
LANCASTER’S MIRACLE
“It’s a musical theater extravaganza of truly biblical proportions that will play to more than 200,000 people before the run ends in two weeks here in Lancaster County. And those people will gaze upon the power and the glory of the highest production values, and they will rejoice.” – Washington Post
CAN MACHINES IMPROVISE JAZZ?
“Even more than most creative endeavors, jazz is surrounded by a rhetoric of intuition and inspiration, especially with regard to the central role of improvisation. Yet now another endeavor once thought to be our own exclusive cognitive province has, it would appear, been colonized by faster, smarter, ever more complex computing systems.” – Feed
TOP POET?
Canada considers naming a poet laureate. – CBC
WORLDWIDE ART THEFT
The list of stolen art work is constantly growing. Estimates worldwide of art theft run from $2 billion to $6 billion annually. “And the possibility of getting your prized possession back is slim to none. Recent UNESCO statistics show that only five to 10 per cent of stolen cultural goods are ever recovered.” – CBC
GREAT DANE DIES
Danish pianist/clown Victor Borge died in his sleep this weekend. He was 91. – The Age (Melbourne)
PHONETICALLY FUNNY: “Mr. Borge always preferred to write his own material. Many of his best lines began as ad-libs that he then worked into his act.” – New York Times