summer theater 2005

1. kid camp. low turn-out (population base: 788). Articles in fillmore county journal, river valley reader, and republican leader this Thursday and Monday as last attempts to draw kids. Final decision by Friday am. Gracious, generous, appreciated student assistant offer may not be realized.

2. melodrama. fun show. even more streamlined than last year. full production staff lined up and looking good. auditions -- far more important than the production -- on Wednesday, July 20th, at 7pm in the Lanesboro Community Center. Quick, fun, summer, outdoor theater.

3. M.A. in Theatre Directing, Roosevelt Univesity. In Chicago at the Chicago College of Performing Arts right on S. Michigan Avenue, checking out the campus last week. Not a M. Ed (bullshit in my opinion) or the M.A. English I started 7 years ago, but my passion. Work for my family (who will mow or tell my kids to respect their mother?) but fun for me.

4. Musicals (on dvd) viewed this summer include: La Boheme, Cirque du Soleil (three so far), and Downhill from Here. While I'm here, some must see movies: Big Night (last shot all in one take!!!), Jean de Florette, Brazil, Daytrippers (or anything with Parker Posey, that 90s darling),.

p.s. The days are getting shorter.
p.p.s. who is R.A.B.?

Half-Blood Prince

Just finished Harry Potter #6. After the third check of the mailbox by Maggie, by dear devoted daughter, there it was!

Oi! What a book! Clearly setting the stage for #7, the pace is already quickening, which is exciting that she sees and is leading us toward such a finale. I suppose we all know how the story ends, but the real story is how we get there, and how we get there promises to be riveting, busy (how can she do it in under a 1000 pages?), and fast. Momentum is building and I’m thrilled at her plot skill.

Writing style: Sorry J.K., but flagging mid-book. Have you forgotten that we are close readers who pay attention to details? I would prefer a bit more subtlety throughout the entire 2/3 middle of the book. Obligatory references to obvious key events are overdone. You have advanced the maturity of the characters, plot, and themes, but not the writing style. Que Lastima! However. Best first chapter since “The Boy Who Lived” in the first book. Outstanding. Tightest development of a clear central story line, just too much fluff around the edges. Aren’t there more emotions/turmoil possible than male/female boyfriend/girlfriend relationships? Am I that far away at 34 to see it as a bit to dominating? Or does she take too quick of a view of teenage angst to not see the complexity of ideality vs. reality, of justice vs. control, and of independence vs. community, which was a fair part of what I saw at 16/17. . .

At book two, I mentioned to Diane Wegner (bookkeeper at KM for those looking for sourcing), “Hey, you know how all those names mean so much in the books? Like the spells or the character names or the buildings? Isn’t “Dumble-dore” also “Dumb Ledore” (pronounced dumb leader)? I can’t see it now, but maybe he makes some bad choices. . . “ Hmm.

Enough for now. . .book seven has me excited and pre-ordered (is that possible yet?)

Comments or sites discussing such welcome.