Posts from — November 2008
Irena’s Vow: Nervous laughs and glimpses of a dark and disturbing reality
http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2008/09/26/theater/26vow.ready.html
Irena’s Vow, presented at Baruch’s Performing Arts Center, tells the story of Irena Gut Opdyke during the German occupation of western Poland in World War II.
After being raped, abused, tortured, and beaten by Russian troops, Irena was forced to work in a munitions factory in Poland. Overwhelmed with tough work and long hours, Irena faints and is confronted with Major Rugemer. Luckily, she is transferred and given lighter duties, and now also supervises the Jews who work in the laundry. When Major Rugemer gets re-assigned, he makes Irena his housekeeper. After overhearing that all the Jews will be sent to death camp, Irena risks her life by hiding twelve Jews in the Rugemer’s villa. With each passing day Irena and her twelve Jewish friends must combat the tension and adversity they are faced with. After all, the fates of both Irena and the Jews are in jeopardy. [Read more →]
November 9, 2008 Comments Off on Irena’s Vow: Nervous laughs and glimpses of a dark and disturbing reality
South Pacific: Dites-moi, pourquoi le spectacle a été magnifique
Adapted from James Michener’s Tales of the South Pacific, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific showcased at the Vivian Beaumont at Lincoln Center on August 21, 2008 was nothing short of extravagant.
Set in World War II on an island in the South Pacific, we meet Nellie Forbush, a young naïve nurse from Arkansas, who falls deeply in love with Emile de Becque, a French plantation owner. As the play progresses several revelations unfold about Emile’s mysterious past, and Nellie must battle an internal struggle, stuck at the crossroads to follow her heart, or her head. Meanwhile, Lt. Joseph Cable, a handsome Princeton grad, lands on the island with a secret mission. However, Luther Billis, a seabee, convinces Cable to travel to the exotic and forbidden island of Bali Ha’i. There he encounters Bloody Mary, a Tonkinese woman the equivalent of a modern day hustler. Soon after, Lt. Cable unexpectedly falls head over heels for Bloody Mary’s innocent young daughter Liat. Like Nellie, Lt. Cable must also combat his own biases despite his deep love.
November 9, 2008 Comments Off on South Pacific: Dites-moi, pourquoi le spectacle a été magnifique
About Face
Last summer, I had the opportunity to participate in the Merrill Lynch Atlantic Fellowship. Selecting ten students from the US, and ten from the UK, the Atlantic Fellowship offered a comprehensive overview of the financial markets, while also enriching us with the cultural aspects of both London, and New York City. Although I knew there would be several cultural differences in England, I would soon be surprised at the type of encounters I had.
On the first day we traveled to Merrill Lynch’s headquarters in London. As we entered the building, I went to quickly quench my thirst at a nearby water fountain. The group continued along, and since I knew we had to go to the sixth floor, I didn’t think there would be any issues getting there. However, I soon found out that I was very wrong. I asked one of the passing gentleman where the elevators were, and he drew a blank and confused face. I assumed he didn’t hear me clearly, I repeated, “can you tell me where the elevators are please?” His eyes pierced back with a dismayed and scornful look. He glanced at his watch and seemed to calculate that he wasted five precious seconds trying to decipher what I said. He snarled and I heard him say under his breath, “stupid American.” [Read more →]
November 9, 2008 2 Comments
Author Categories
Hi Class! I am adding each of you as a category that you need to select when you publish a post. This will allow Professor Bernstein to pull up all your work and grade you. If it is not categorized by your name, you can’t get credit!
If you don’t see your name on the list to the right, it is because you have not edited how your name displays. Please do so, and I will add your category. If you are having trouble changing how your screen name appears, just let me know and I’ll help you.
After you do this, you need to let me know, and then I will add your category. Then you need to edit your previous posts and select your name from the category list. For those of you who changed your display name, I got you started by categorizing one of your posts. Please do the others!
November 6, 2008 1 Comment
Clay
Hi class, I enjoyed getting to go see Clay with all of you tonight. I found a myspace page for the show that I wanted to pass on. It has some of the songs from the show and some photos from other productions. I look forward to reading your reactions and thoughts!
November 6, 2008 Comments Off on Clay
Waltz With Bashir
We have all seen the horrific events that take place at the front lines during times of war. They have been depicted in countless films and documentaries about World War II and the holocaust, Vietnam, the Iraq War. No amount of movie productions can ever let us relive every story of every bloody conflict that our own human race has caused. Nonetheless, stories of war allow us to learn of our past mistakes as a people and show us the true flaws of mankind. In his new animated film, Waltz With Bashir, Ari Folman documents his experiences in the first Lebanese War and the 1982 massacre at Sabra and Shatila. Through artfully unique animation, intense research, and beautiful music, Folman creates a tragic and emotionally intense film. [Read more →]
November 3, 2008 Comments Off on Waltz With Bashir
