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Rating: 
Summary: The Play (is still) The Thing
Review: In June I had a play at the Spokane Civic Theatre. (The Playwrights Forum Festival 2000). The same night, "Dixie Chicks" were playing at the Spokane Arena. (The arena parking lot was directly across from the theatre.) Needless to say, thousands came to see the "Dixie Chicks" and about 99 souls came to see the festival plays. (99 is considered a full house in a small theatre.)Now make no mistake, I'm not taking anything away from high-energy showmanship of The "Dixie Chicks" I only bring it up because I think the incident shows us where our premiums are. I believe that most people expect to be entertained on a grand scale. When they see a show, they want special effects, dazzling lights, eye-popping costumes, and beautiful people. They want to be distracted and consumed by what they see on stage, not left intact and `thinking.' In short, they want to lose themselves rather than find themselves. The Best Women's Stage Monologues of 1997 by Jocelyn A. Beard is a collection of monologues by women, who by the force of their talent make us think about ourselves and our place in society. With the `special effects' of words working, the plays make up a rich mosaic of moods that brings the characters alive before our very eyes. It makes us want to read the entire play from which the excerpts are taken. "Bad Grrrls" by Linda Eisenstein made me want to know more about the relationship of Meg and Dana. How did they meet and where are they going with their lives? Caitlin Hick's "Singing The Bones" is a powerful monologue about a woman's relationship with her preacher father and what happened the last time she saw him. "In Search of the Red River Dog" by Sandra Perlman is about a woman who has just been raped by her husband. I would defy any woman (or man either for that matter) to read the monologue without being moved to anger or tears. Joycelyn A. Beard is responsible for bringing these monologues to the reading public Every year or so they bloom like flowers in their yellow and orange colors as they fill in the tiny monologue collections in Barnes and Noble drama section. Ms. Beard works indefatigably bringing these books to life. It is Joycelyn Beard (and those like her) who keep theatre alive in a time of shrinking budgets and general apathy toward stage productions. "The Best Women's Stage Monologues of 1997" is a must read for anyone who loves going the theatre and who want to be entertained without being obliterated.
Rating:
Summary: The Play (is still) The Thing
Review: In June I had a play at the Spokane Civic Theatre. (The Playwrights Forum Festival 2000). The same night, "Dixie Chicks" were playing at the Spokane Arena. (The arena parking lot was directly across from the theatre.) Needless to say, thousands came to see the "Dixie Chicks" and about 99 souls came to see the festival plays. (99 is considered a full house in a small theatre.) Now make no mistake, I'm not taking anything away from high-energy showmanship of The "Dixie Chicks" I only bring it up because I think the incident shows us where our premiums are. I believe that most people expect to be entertained on a grand scale. When they see a show, they want special effects, dazzling lights, eye-popping costumes, and beautiful people. They want to be distracted and consumed by what they see on stage, not left intact and 'thinking.' In short, they want to lose themselves rather than find themselves. The Best Women's Stage Monologues of 1997 by Jocelyn A. Beard is a collection of monologues by women, who by the force of their talent make us think about ourselves and our place in society. With the 'special effects' of words working, the plays make up a rich mosaic of moods that brings the characters alive before our very eyes. It makes us want to read the entire play from which the excerpts are taken. "Bad Grrrls" by Linda Eisenstein made me want to know more about the relationship of Meg and Dana. How did they meet and where are they going with their lives? Caitlin Hick's "Singing The Bones" is a powerful monologue about a woman's relationship with her preacher father and what happened the last time she saw him. "In Search of the Red River Dog" by Sandra Perlman is about a woman who has just been raped by her husband. I would defy any woman (or man either for that matter) to read the monologue without being moved to anger or tears. Joycelyn A. Beard is responsible for bringing these monologues to the reading public Every year or so they bloom like flowers in their yellow and orange colors as they fill in the tiny monologue collections in Barnes and Noble drama section. Ms. Beard works indefatigably bringing these books to life. It is Joycelyn Beard (and those like her) who keep theatre alive in a time of shrinking budgets and general apathy toward stage productions. "The Best Women's Stage Monologues of 1997" is a must read for anyone who loves going the theatre and who want to be entertained without being obliterated.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: Not only is this book a window into a dozen or more wonderful plays, it's also a must-have for any actress dying for something substantial and challenging to perform. It often seems so hard to find a decent female role that hasn't already been played a thousand times..but Ms. Beard proves that there are many lesser-known playwrights out there writing tremendous stuff, and she makes them all readily accessible. I've found great pieces in several books of this yearly series, but this one is by far my favorite.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: Not only is this book a window into a dozen or more wonderful plays, it's also a must-have for any actress dying for something substantial and challenging to perform. It often seems so hard to find a decent female role that hasn't already been played a thousand times..but Ms. Beard proves that there are many lesser-known playwrights out there writing tremendous stuff, and she makes them all readily accessible. I've found great pieces in several books of this yearly series, but this one is by far my favorite.
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