Spontaneous Theatre
Apr. 9th, 2009 11:13 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bluegargantuaHey,
So, as mentioned yesterday, I got discount tickets to go see the Huntington Theatre Company's production of The Miracle at Maples by David Grimm.
First off, the show wasn't at the Huntington but at the Boston Center for the Arts (home of the Cyclorama). I've never been and the theatre space was really nice. Not terribly large, but modern and comfy. It was a nice space.
The play itself was good. I'm a sucker for plays involving Commedia so note my bias, but they did a good job. There wasn't a huge amount of "As You Know, Bob" exposition to explain commedia, they were just introduced as a traveling band of actors who played a particular role (the program book had more detailed notes).
As the website notes, the play is rather naughty with foul language and lots of talk about sex. It could've slid off the rails, but they were generally quite clever with there innuendo and double entendre and while it wasn't the whole substance of the play.
In a nutshell, a Commedia company arrives in Naples to perform, but are thwarted because a yearly religious miracle has been delayed. The troupe and its interactions with the local people form the basis of the show and mirror a lot of standard Commedia outlines with lovers and mistaken identity and slapstick. What's interesting is some modern re-imaginings of some stock Commedia plotlines. That sounds like a recipe for disaster, but only if you really follow Commedia and when you see how it's been altered you'll think "duh, that actually make sense".
I can certainly recommend this as something sexy/funny to go see if you're looking for something fun.
later
Tom
So, as mentioned yesterday, I got discount tickets to go see the Huntington Theatre Company's production of The Miracle at Maples by David Grimm.
First off, the show wasn't at the Huntington but at the Boston Center for the Arts (home of the Cyclorama). I've never been and the theatre space was really nice. Not terribly large, but modern and comfy. It was a nice space.
The play itself was good. I'm a sucker for plays involving Commedia so note my bias, but they did a good job. There wasn't a huge amount of "As You Know, Bob" exposition to explain commedia, they were just introduced as a traveling band of actors who played a particular role (the program book had more detailed notes).
As the website notes, the play is rather naughty with foul language and lots of talk about sex. It could've slid off the rails, but they were generally quite clever with there innuendo and double entendre and while it wasn't the whole substance of the play.
In a nutshell, a Commedia company arrives in Naples to perform, but are thwarted because a yearly religious miracle has been delayed. The troupe and its interactions with the local people form the basis of the show and mirror a lot of standard Commedia outlines with lovers and mistaken identity and slapstick. What's interesting is some modern re-imaginings of some stock Commedia plotlines. That sounds like a recipe for disaster, but only if you really follow Commedia and when you see how it's been altered you'll think "duh, that actually make sense".
I can certainly recommend this as something sexy/funny to go see if you're looking for something fun.
later
Tom
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Date: 2009-04-09 03:50 pm (UTC)The Miracle at Naples
Date: 2009-04-09 06:07 pm (UTC)The Huntington Theatre Company performs at the Boston University Theatre, 264 Huntington Ave, and at the Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA, 527 Tremont St.
Glad you enjoyed the show, and the Commedia, and thanks for sharing your experience. I think the show is great fun! Where did you get your discount tickets?
Best,
Todd Williams
blog.huntingtontheatre.org