WHEN the Wild Things Are...

If you’re not aware, Maurice Sendak’s classic Where the Wild Things Are is hitting the big screen. Like you, I would assume, I loved this book as a kid. And like you, I would also assume, I bemoaned this fate of one of the most treasured and beloved books. It’s not exactly a cinema-sustainable plotline. But the more I heard and saw, the more I swayed. They’ve been trying to produce one for a decade or more… and I swear I saw a CGI Max chasing the cat around the house with a meat cleaver. (Good grief!) The one I speak of, however, is live action directed by Spike Jonze. Jim Henson Productions is creating the Wild Things. For there is nothing quite as “real” as a tangible creature. However, CGI can bring forth much that animatronic puppetry cannot. Thus, it seems best to utilize all the avenues to create the best effect. Precisely what they are doing. I became skeptical again, however, once I learned that the rough cut of it had been asked to be retooled and re-cut/shot so as to meet studio requirements or some such red tape. An interview with Jonze just came out wherein he explains much - and I am once again aboard. Still a bit leery by nature, perhaps, but hopeful and excited. You see, much of the retooling apparently came from the kid test audiences. Also, Sendak actually shared a historical anecdote about the book to Jonze and had given him advice on how to proceed. Can’t argue with those incidents!


You can decide for yourself by reading the interview and checking out the below images.
We can see the movie on October 16, 2009.

Take a Holiday...

What do the teachings, mythology and cultural icons of Native Americans have to do with traditional ‘Christian’ Christmas? “Incongruous!” you may bark. But if that is your answer, then you have not seen Vitalist Theatre’s new masterpiece, Anung’s First American Christmas.

I’ll admit that when Laughter first showed me the model of the set and explained the premise of the show, I could not help but be skeptical. As I say in the Foreword of Peter Pan’s NeverWorld, I have acquired a great respect and admiration for Native American culture and beliefs. Thus, mixing their sacredness up into all that has come about from the Xmas holiday did not quite sit right with me. But as Laughter explained more of what would develop within the story of Anung, the clouds began to disperse.

I don’t want to say I doubted, for I knew the caliber of those producing the play. I mean after all, it is written by Sparrow, the man who honed the craft of writing in me. Blend these two incongruous clashing cultures? Sure, I knew he’d manage it. But I should have realized the degree to which he could resonate their similarities. During the premiere’s after party Bart (speaking of a particular “cross reference”) told me, “Sparrow is a genius.” Bravo, Sparrow!

It’s a show full of, well, vitality. It speaks to the heart (without the sense of “cheese” that this idea conjures), plays on fears, stimulates the intellect, ignites wonder and generates laughter as well.

Everything I’ve said up until the point of actually viewing it (posts here and here) can be doubled in magnitude. The shadow work, puppetry, costumes, sound design, set manipulation and lighting are not to be missed. A portion of the Dreamtime is truly invoked onto the stage. Anung’s journey races forward and yet pleasantly lingers… just as in a dream.

Everyone is to be congratulated, but the show just would not work as well as it does without the delightful performance of Eden Newmark, who portrays Anung on the quest. She commands the stage, the embodiment of a rambunctious, eager and nervous young boy. Brava! (Gee, what other brave little boy do we know who has been played by talented women?) And allow me to give an additional “Bravo!” to the whole cast.

Children were in attendance as well. How wonderful to see their reactions. Whether it be cowering at the dreadful Weendigo or chuckling at the silly-but-scintillating Turtle, they seemed just as caught up in the dream as anyone.

Anung’s First American Christmas shows that the spirit of one story can take many forms, can be disguised and repackaged until it becomes difficult to see where one version ends and another begins. To give you some idea of what I mean: At one point, shepherds argue whether their visitor had been a bird or an angel. But when the visitor’s message is clear … does it really matter?

At the after party, I literally found myself munching a cracker to the rhythm of the dreams (ok... I meant to type drums... but both work!) at the finale.

It’s a magical work.


If you are in the Chicago area, I urge you:
Take a trip across Space and Time to sink into the SpaceTime Continuum and transmute your old knowledge with (k)new, to gain a better understanding of the mystical world around you.

Bravo Vitalist Theatre!


You can find information about the show here.

The image I used in this post came from the Vitalist Theatre website. The image is © Lori Reed.
Please allow its usage to promote the show and Reed Studios.

But Is It "News"

Since I'll be attending the premiere of
Anung's First American Christmas
tonight and I really want to get some writing done on the current novel, I thought I'd introduce you to a new favorite website.

It's relatively the same as "Headlines" by Jay Leno, if you're familiar with that. I'm not usually one to watch nighttime talk shows, so I can get my fix of wacky stupidity here. It also reminds me of "News of the Weird" in the Chicago Reader.

It's called Criggo. Click here to go.

Be warned. It's addictive. You might find it all too easy to waste time by going backward through the posts.

Weekend Wonders

Sorry... didn't mean to leave you in a lurch all weekend with nothing to read of my rants.

Although we didn’t do much (and certainly not all we planned) Bart and I had a filled weekend. Granted, some of that “fill” had to do with being lazy, too. Specifically, catching up on sleep (though not “sleeping in”) and also on episodes of Ellen. They piled up as I could not keep up with them this week. We also had a lovely brunch on Sunday with Laughter, who regretted not being able to go with Bart, Cassidy and me last Sunday. Yes, Laughter come back and had still been hanging about. He needed to take pictures of and for the Vitalist Theatre show Anung’s First American Christmas that he (we’ve) been working on for quite a while now.

One of the things we did accomplish (as if it counts as a feat!) is purchase the Robert Sabuda P0P-uP book of Peter Pan. It’s a delight. But is that any wonder? You might remember I’d been excited to see the crocodile. It turns out she is one of the side panels that opens up. A tad disappointing, as I had hoped to have gigantic massive jaws snapping down at me. The other mild let down is that there really isn’t a great “flying over London” page. Again, it exits in the flaps on the side. And it’s neat, yes. But not as grand as the moment seems to demand.

Don’t take any of the above comments as dislike. It’s an amazing piece of work just like his other books. Who can sneeze at a full scale pirate ship suddenly appearing before the eyes? One of the more fun pop-ups is Captain Hook sliding down the hollow tree. It’s unexpected and a great effect. Another tiny pleasure derives from the window shade going on at the Darling home as we see the Mr. and Mrs. in silhouette (calling back the shadow of the story) lamenting their loss. And how fun to see the Neverland sprawl out of nowhere!

Bravo Sabuda! (Again!)

Tomorrow is the opening/premiere of Anung’s First American Christmas. Laughter says it did indeed turn out to be a great show… visually stunning with all the puppetry and lighting and costumes. I’ll be sure to let you know what I thought. Though I've no doubt it will be fantastic.

A Little "Munster Cheese"

Hollywood strikes again. (No, really?)
The Wayans brothers are bringing us The Munsters movie. Read about it here.
I could go either way on this one.
It depends how it’s done.
We get a little taste of what they’re thinking from the article I linked.
I’d like to share what I’m thinking would behoove the big screen version of The Munsters. I’ll admit a fondness for the show. I’d watch during the afternoons while home sick. So for retooling it, I developed a couple ideas.

First, the black and white issue. Should the film be in black and white? The show appeared on the cusp of the rise of color television. But is it solely b/w by circumstance? The show continued on for 70 episodes in b/w. Surely production costs factored in, but then, I can’t help but think of the grayscale as an homage to the parodied 1930’s monster movies. Which leads us back to the query: Should the film be in black and white? My solution: Only in the interior of their home. Visitors who enter are not colorized within it. They, too, are in b/w. However, in the world outside we’d see Herman Munster’s green complexion. It would be jarring for us, to be sure, as we are used to seeing the characters in b/w. My rationale: For the other characters, seeing the Munsters is jarring, even more so. But we’ve come to find them endearing. We need to be shaken up. Yet their home would still be…familiar.

Brad Garrett must be Herman Munster. In my opinion, it’s a no brainer. He's known for his imitations. Perhaps you’ve been treated to his impeccable impression before. There’s no reason not to give him the part. No one else can do Fred Gwynne justice.

Do you agree with my ideas?

Some more Munsters fun:

Official Website


VH1 had a program Totally Obsessed hosted by Fred Willard which visited monomaniacs across the country. On one episode is the story of Sandra and Charles McKee who diligently recreated the Munster Mansion. Unfortunately I cannot find video of the segment. They do have a web presence, however.
Visit them here.
BRAVO!

Incidentally, The Munsters Theme is the only thing I can successfully play on the piano.

P.S. - Can you find the 'hidden' reference to the show in this post?
Hint: It requires a little puzzle-solving...take your time.

Nightmares, Too

I came across this description on the ‘net:

There is a place called Neverland – filled with children amidst innocence and laughter.

Does that sound right to you?
Technically, it shouldn't.

One of the misconceptions of the Neverland is that it’s a bright, happy place full of dreams, laughter and cheery adventures.

I don’t wish to take that notion away from people, nor do I mean to say that it is absolutely incorrect. It can be, certainly.

However, we must not ignore the fact that there are just as many nightmares as there are dreams!

Think about it. Peter Pan touts it as a wonderful place to be - a happy-go-lucky escape from the doldrums of adulthood. He entices us. But when you arrive, you quickly learn the truth.
Nearly everything in the Neverland is out to get you. To kill you.

Sure, what child doesn’t dream of sparing with pirates and hunting with “Indians.” Who would refuse a lagoon filled with mermaids and forests fluttering with fairies? Yes, such delights do exist there, no denying it. But by the same token, those pirates aren’t a fantasy. They’re bloodthirsty villains bent on attack. Before Pan saved Tiger Lily and befriended them, the Redskins were (and still can be) just as likely to strike. And those mermaids? Let’s have a look at what Barrie says:

The most haunting time at which to see them is at the turn of the moon, when they utter strange wailing cries; but the lagoon is dangerous for mortals then …

While she stitched a change came to the lagoon. Little shivers ran over it, and the sun went away and shadows stole across the water, turning it cold. Wendy could no longer see to thread her needle, and when she looked up, the lagoon that had always hitherto been such a laughing place seemed formidable and unfriendly.

It was not, she knew, that night had come, but something as dark as night had come. No, worse than that. It had not come, but it had sent that shiver through the sea to say that it was coming. What was it?

It is, of course, the pirates coming. Didn't I just warn you about them? And for the record, even the pirates can be scared on the island.

Smee and Starkey clung to each other in terror. (In reference to thinking spirits are near.)

And let us not forget that the mermaids try to drown Wendy.

Wild animals abound…wolves, coyotes, bears...oh my.

Barrie’s fairies will just as soon “mischief” you as dance to Peter’s pipes.

And I haven’t even mentioned the massive crocodile. Granted, it’s after the Captain, but I wouldn’t want to meet up with it…would you?

Just putting in my two cents as a reminder. It's become a bit of a pet peeve of mine, this belief that the island is only bright, beauteous and magical.

The Neverland is indeed a fanciful place... but not all peaches and cream. It’s savage and brutal and you must always keep on your toes…and hope that Peter Pan is in the mood to save you when you’re in danger.

Does this Wax Work?

The obsession with the fairy who plots the murder of an innocent young girl continues... in wax this time.

The latest and smallest addition at Madame Tussauds London can be read about here.








Here are the dimensions:

Height : 5.5 inches
Width of eyes : 2mm
Length of eyelashes : 1mm
Length of fingers : 4mm
Size of fingernails : 1/2mm
Waist size : 1.5cm

At least the height is correct, as per Barrie. However, the same cannot be said of her waist.
Barrie says that Tinker Bell is embonpoint. Take THAT, Hollywood and media! (As in the current damaging portrayal of beauty!)

Though I understand why, it's a bit of a shame that Disney's depiction is used for this dubious honor. Especially since it's in London.