Piercing Analysis from Random Facebook Apps, Vol. 6

Which President Are You?

Calvin Coolidge

You are shy and quiet. You are very funny, but not at all the clown. If it would mean you not being in it, you would like to watch a conversation go smoothly. Though sometimes oblivious to what is happening, people look up to you. You are compatible with Ronald Reagan.

(John says.... Reagan? Seriously?)

Piercing Analysis from Random Facebook Apps, Vol.... uh, 5?

What Shakespearean Character Are You?
(A different quiz from last year)

Jacques

You have a tremendous sense of humor, but sometimes you go a little too far with it. You veer into cynicism too frequently. A popular person, you know how to please crowds, but they don't ever seem to please you.

Which Punk Rock Star Are You?

Joe Strummer (The Clash)

You seem really involved in politics or social problems and you want to do a lot about. Charity concerts or other actions - that's your way to fix the world. You show, that punk rock exist beyond sex, drugs and alcohol. But you still know how to rock. Good for you.

LOLCat du Jour

Been Busy

So, yeah, I've been away a while. All is well.

Just wrapped "The Cherry Orchard" at WSC; billed as the last performance at Clark St, it more than likely won't be. The bank that was financing the redevelopment of the area went bust, and the Arlington Arts Council's budget was slashed. The vote is coming soon on the proposed renovation of the empty former Newseum space in Rosslyn which would potentially be WSC's new home. WSC's Board is resolute and our fingers are crossed, but I fear at least one more sweltering summer and frosty winter in the warehouse.

Since April '07 I've done seven productions, of which six were at Clark Street, and I feel like the directions from my house to there is now encoded in my midbrain. I accepted a role in American Century's "Native Son," and I hope I don't forget not to drive out to Crystal City.

Early in the Cherry Orchard rehearsal process, the cast and crew went up to NYC to see the "The Seagull" on Broadway. I doubt I'll see a better production of a Chekhov play in my lifetime. It was also my first time back in the Big Apple since I moved out in May '04, and I forgot what an energizing experience it is. I'm beginning to hear the siren call, and it's tempting. I'm going back March 2-8 with Al, to see more shows. I'm dragging him to Uncle Vanya (directed by Austin Pendleton, my old acting teacher), and he's dragging me to see Billy Elliott. He'll be working the Chelsea Art Fair while I go off to see the Bridge Project's production of The Cherry Orchard at BAM Harvey (NYC apparently has gone Chekhov crazy).

Oh yeah, Al. Did I mention Al? (sigh)

Went to Leagues. Used my standard monologue, from Pinter's "Silence." I do it well. Arena Stage called, inviting me to participate in their 10-minute student playwriting thing; a potential foot in the door, but my NYC trip made that impossible, alas. Got an upcoming audition for Rorschach's summer season next week. Fingers crossed.

Field Report: A Delicate Balance, Arena Stage

(Still alive and blogging.)

Saw Edward Albee's "A Delicate Balance" at Arena last night on a comp ticket. Not sorry I went. But like most productions from DC's Big Two (Arena and Shakespeare Theatre Co), they tend to mute down the emotional intensity as not to upset the (largely geriatric) audience, while amping up the production values so donors and subscribers would know how their money was spent. I commend the cast for not being thrown by the din of dropped change (you'd think everybody paid with pennies), snoring, coughing fits and listening device feedback.

As matriarch Agnes, Kathleen Chalfant, the big name in the cast, was even-keeled to a fault. The pointed barbs at milquetoasty husband Tobias, alcoholic sister Claire and quadruple divorcee daughter Julia were largely devoid of sting, almost as if she was marking it through; clearly and distinctly spoken, but flatlined. Of course, maybe it was a bad night. Still, being a Broadway star and all, pencil in her Helen Hayes nom next year. (I'm hardly objective but Audrey Adams who played my Agnes in the community production I directed 10 years ago was more effective.) Terry Beaver, though, does deliver as Tobias, particularly his Act 3 explosion, and the rest of the cast do just fine.

Like recognizing like, the audience had no trouble identifying with Toby and Agnes, giving harumphs of recognition at the minutae of the upper-class life that Albee was adopted into, but came away a bit befuddled by it all. What did it mean? "What is this 'terror' of which they speak," they mutter while their mutual funds and 401-K's evaporate. I found it utterly ironic that the most timely line in the play, when Julia demands that Agnes explain her displacement at the hands of Harry and Edna, was cut: "Don't they have a house anymore? Did the market go bust without my knowing it?" Ah, we can't upset the delicate sensibilities of our patrons, for whom art is not a mirror of the soul but something tasteful to hang over the setee. Another cognac? Why yes please.

My $0.02 on Marriage, Gay and Straight.

Thought I'd chime in with my views on gay marriage. In short, I'm all for it. But in order to elaborate, I must draw a sharp distinction between the religious and civil aspects of a marriage.

A marriage ceremony performed in a church or by a representative of a church should thus be considered a religious ceremony. In that sense, a church has the right to approve or forbid same-sex marriage between members of their flock based on that church's particular dogma. Under the Separation of Church and State, Congress cannot pass any laws - nor can any proposition be voted upon - to grant or deny any rights or restrictions on a religious ceremony, nor is any religious union between two people legally binding in the secular world.

One isn't granted any civil protections or legal rights from a Baptism, Confirmation, Bris, Bar or Bat Mitvah, so why should (church) marriage be any different? The granting of any such entitlements on the basis of a religious ceremony - joint filing of tax returns, property/inheritance rights, medical insurance or any of the thousands of earthly benefits traditionally connected with marriage - is constitutionally indefensible.

On the other hand...

A marriage ceremony performed by a Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, Ship Captain, or any such layperson with the power vested in them by a civil authority, is a legally binding civil union and as such - be they M/F, M/M, or F/F - ought to be entitled to all the same legal rights, privileges and protections historically reserved for M/F couples. It is up to lawmakers (not the voting public, incidentally) to decide how these issues are to be legislated.

Couples with religious beliefs would then have two ceremonies, one in which their immortal souls are united in the eyes of God, and another where their mortal bodies are united in the eyes of civil institutions.

People opposed to same-sex (civil) marriage need to remove their religious dogmas from the equation. Traditional family values are not being threatened. The gays are not coming to bust up your marriage. To suggest otherwise is to suggest that the only reason that your husband married you instead of his fishing buddy is either fear of the wrath of God or the limit of the law.

What A Way To Run A Railroad

So last night and this morning only one escalator (out of three) was working at the Foggy Bottom Metro stop, meaning apart from the elevator, thousands of commuters had no other option but to walk in/out single-file. This meant a massive line several blocks long waiting to get in last night, and a giant crowd between the turnstiles and the escalators this morning waiting to get out (gawd help us if an emergency occurred). Last night, I took one look at the lines and decided to go to the next stop at Farragut North.

The three escalators at Foggy Bottom have been slowly (and I do mean slowly) refurbished over a period of several months. Ideally, one escalator would be replaced while two would function (one moving in peak direction, the other kept non-moving). But on several occasions the one escalator would be moving in the opposite direction, or both would be stopped, or the traffic on the two escalators would be so increased that we had a situation like today, where one of the two would break down. The worst case happened a few months ago, when all three escalators were broken and the station had to be temporarily closed.

If only the original system planners had foreseen that Foggy Bottom would be one of the most busy downtown stations that isn't a transfer point; with the various government organizations, non-profits, and GWU in the area, the designers could've added a second entrance on 22nd and I. With the giant construction project across from the hospital underway, I wonder how difficult/costly it would be to construct a new entrance as part of the building.

In the meantime, I'll go to Dupont Circle instead. Not much longer of a walk.

Ugh. Still, marginally less costly/troublesome than driving. For now.

The title of John's upcoming children's book.

Sign Outside Beijing's Annual Surrealist Convention

Musings on Election Day

I marvel at America sometimes.

A lawyer from Illinois, imbued with radiant personal charm and natural charisma but virtually no political experience (save two years in Washington) and only a short time in the national spotlight, gets elected to the highest office in the land (defeating a powerful senator with two other unsuccessful presidential bids under his belt) during one of the most turbulent eras in our nation's history.

But enough about Abraham Lincoln... =)