tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5767816.post291845546609463233..comments2024-02-20T03:18:43.590-05:00Comments on Magnificent Octopus: A trick of the lightIsabella Khttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10735198478395875257noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5767816.post-78881920710625825922007-09-25T13:40:00.000-04:002007-09-25T13:40:00.000-04:00Yes, reading plays can afford many wonderful surpr...Yes, reading plays can afford many wonderful surprises, as it reduces the words to the bare essentials, without any distractions of costumes, sets, etc. Years ago I read all the plays of Oscar Wilde, and they are all brilliant. Of course, conversation is what Wilde was all about!<BR/><BR/>Another interesting little movie is the 1994 film Vanya On 42nd Street. Stage director, Andre Gregory held rehearsals for Chekhov's play, Uncle Vanya, in New York over a period of five years, without ever intending to actually put the play on. It was just an opportunity for actors to drop in and rehearse a great play. French film director, Louis Malle, decided to film one of the rehersals and the result is this film. We see the actors arriving at the theatre and talking among themselves and then we are not actually aware of the transition to the play, but suddenly we realize that it has started and how quickly we see the actors become embedded in their characters. It is amazing and gave me a whole new respect for actors and for Chekhov. The play comes across as surprisingly contemporary, considering that it was written a hundred years ago! Afterwards, I had to go out and buy and read Chekhov's plays.Sam Frederickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13246847354519062784noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5767816.post-82866492879961800712007-09-22T23:47:00.000-04:002007-09-22T23:47:00.000-04:00You've won me over. I must read Patrick Hamilton....You've won me over. I must read Patrick Hamilton. Which novel or play should I start with?Bybeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10061186489010154661noreply@blogger.com