Best discussion ever. Everyone is just so intelligent. We all go to different schools and we all come from different area codes but every other Saturday we get to go to the Goodman to discuss and write. It’s fantastic. One of our mentors asked us what we think our discussions would be like if boys were in the program. We all looked at each other with these scared, blank expressions. The mentors laughed so hard.
I’m hoping to get into this — Wait. I left to eat dinner, came back, and checked my email and the start of my previous sentence is now false. Redo:
I’m going to this workshop about Race on Saturday. I can’t wait. I’m also taking my ACT on Saturday; I swear, if it doesn’t end before three then I guess I’m just going to have to put my pencil down and leave. There’s going to be a Q & A with the cast and a “surprise activity.” I get to write a review of it. One that people are actually going to read. I’m almost done with my piece on Race, my mentor liked it but it doesn’t seem strong enough. I can’t figure out the right way to put the intensity of the play into an article.
The next show is The Iceman Cometh with Nathan Lane and Brian Dennehy, so our “homework” is to watch The Birdcage.
Oh, and here’s the link from the email. My only problem with is that women can be rapists to and men can be victims. Sure it’s less common, but, I don’t know.
CBYC
Say what you will about the “L,” sure, it’s not as clean and complex as the Tube, it’s not as interesting and full of life as New York’s subway, but in my book, it’s pretty freaking awesome.
Today I got lost on State Street. It was fun. I came up from underground right in front of the Chicago Theater and thought “Booyah, theater district, I’m in right area.” Then I got lost. I couldn’t find Dearborn for the life of me. I used up the entire fifteen minutes I gave myself to spare. I ran past the Ford Oriental, I shot by Macy’s, who, by the way, already has their X-Mas decorations up, absurd, I helped as lady find her bus route, and I failed at asking for directions. Finally, I rounded a corner and saw the Goodman’s beautiful, can’t-miss-it-if-you-tried(I don’t know how the hell I did) marque.
I was three minutes late for class. I had planed everything so perfectly and I was late. Huffing and puffing I went to the elevator, pressed flour 4 and then got lost in the part of the theater that theater goers don’t see: the offices. I followed the sound of laughter to the Conference Room and sat down relieved that more then half of the class was more late then I was.
We met our mentors, read our poems, and learned a little about criticism through a short history of Chicago theater.
Then they told us the good news. Next class we have to be there a half an hour early. Why is that good news, one might ask, because we are getting a “behind the scenes” tour of the production of “A Christmas Carol.” I read it in seventh grade, I saw the Goodman’s production of it in the seventh grade, and I’m not gonna lie, not my favorite, I mean, I’m a fan of Dickens and all but, it just doesn’t strike a cord with me. But! We get to see everything that goes on off the stage, we might even get to meet with some of the actors. We get to see how the glorious scenery works, and I don’t even know what else.
Getting accepted into this program is one of the best things that has ever happened to me.
This morning was good. I got lost downtown, I got lost in the Goodman, and I got lost in the information. Our first review will be on “Ask Aunt Susan.” Two weeks needs to hurry up.
When Two Theater Critics Get in a Fight:
- Librarian: Williams just decided to write up exactly what it was about. It was like he was saying 'No! You're all interpreting it wrong!'
- First Critic: Very Mamet of him.
- Second Critic: Tony Kushner... Kushner would.
- FC: Mamet.
- SC: Kushner.
- FC: Mamet.
- SC: Kushner.
- Other: Kamet?
- Me: Mamush? Tennessee Mamush?
- Librarian: I'd see that.
