August 24, 2012
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1 On the second day of school, one of my best students from last year came in and told me that over the summer he downloaded a whole bunch of myriad classical music on his iPod. Some he had recognized from my playing the music when my students would have desk work, and others from playing random music when he was home.
2 He emphasized one song that had reminded him of me. It was Mendelssohn’s Wedding March from A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
3 We shared a laugh, as I asked him if it ever came on with other people around. When I first directed Midsummer years ago, I used to play the music over and over, and Wedding March always had a tendency to embarrass me a touch.
4 Don’t get me wrong; it’s a fine piece of music. Most people don’t enjoy the entire piece, but trust me, it moves, and is fun.
5 The experience of having it suddenly blare around a pool or something always brings a wiseguy comment from others.
6 I am a huge fan of Midsummer as most anyone knows. I personally consider it worlds-better than Romeo and Juliet. It is just better constructed, better arranged, and better delivered. The Pyramus and Thisbe scene rocks; the ending dances.
7 Yesterday during our morning bulletin it was announced that the drama kids are going to be staging Midsummer.
8 David Chavez our illustriously intense and beastly director decided to go with Midsummer.
9 He’s doing it as a Fall show, which is cool. I always associate Midsummer with a Spring/Summer sort of thing, but I’m pretty excited that we are staging this.
10 Will I participate?
11 I can’t see myself not, although if he offers out Theseus, I’m guessing I’ll decline, even though Theseus doesn’t sing.
12 To what extent could I help? I’m not sure, really. Last year I walked in and assisted a bit with Grease, and it was a complete and total blast.
13 We’ll see.
14 First musical, and now the first Shakespeare…
15 Hmmmmmm.
16 David and I talked about Midsummer last year, and I told him that it’s not only better constructed, arranged, and delivered, but pretty easy to direct.
17 You would think Shakespeare would be tough, but if we look at it, it has a major plot and TWO sub-plots, none of which really needs the other actors. The play can therefore be split into three sections all working on the same rehearsal day.
18 This cuts rehearsal down dramatically, if you’ll excuse the accidental play on words.
19 Students also memorize Shakespeare quicker because of the rhythms of his words. His plays are not only plays, but immense poems as well, with lovely language and rhythmical lines.
20 Am I excited about it?
21 Of course I am.
22 Do I have time for it?
23 Marginally. I couldn’t be in it, but I could sit in at rehearsals and grade papers.
24 Anyway, it’s another exciting time. I suggested to David last year that he should do Midsummer and Godspell. What a one/two punch!
25 So we’ll see.
26 Meanwhile, I’m excited for the entire school. Grease brought in the crowds; Shakespeare usually gets an extra-credit crowd.
27 And Godspell is simply wonderful. Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak wrote it. Schwartz is the same guy who wrote the music to Wicked.
28 Wicked is a show so dazzling that it lives up to its hype. The book is intelligent; the story meaningful, and the music simply out of this world.
29 I’ve seen hundreds of shows, and I have been disappointed with many of them. A whole bunch of them rarely lives up to their own hype, but Wicked is right up there with the best.
30 Moving on, Part One: I got off topic there for a second, if there ever was a topic. Bottom line is that David has chosen Midsummer. Pretty fun stuff. Wicked, I’m guessing, is unavailable right now. But Godspell is a gem. A combination of Midsummer and Godspell would place my two favorite shows side-by-side.
31 So I’m excited to see that Evergreen is doing its first Shakespeare play.
32 Tough to lay off that pitch.
33 Moving on, Part Two: Once again the Giants took a game way too deep, and once again I found myself up until 10:30 last night.
34 It’s starting to look like they’re the real deal. Zito pitched a gem, and I usually don’t give him much credit. He rocked it last night.
35 I’ve also been enjoying watching the A’s. They had a bit of a setback last night, but it’s been an adventure for A’s fans since before the All-Star break.
36 Moving on, Part Three: I would be remiss in my duties as a hack journalist if I didn’t send some props out to Petaluma. Yesterday Danny Marzo struck out 11 for this miracle team in a lopsided 11-1 victory over San Antonio. The team will play Goddlettsville, Tennessee on Saturday in their quest for the U.S. title.
37 <sidenote> I hope Marzo isn’t doping.
38 Oh no you dih-int!
39 Moving on, Part the Fourth: Sorry. I couldn’t hold off that pitch.
40 In the middle of the night last night I thought I heard that Stretch Armstrong was being stripped of all his medals for doping.
41 First off, I never knew he won any medals.42 Second, I always suspected the guy.
43 I know, right?44 Where will it lead?
45 Ah, not much we can do about it.
46 Just enjoy the moments.
47 Well, I find myself up against the clock once again.
48 That’s not altogether a bad thing.
49 My Giants are winning; the A’s are tied for first in the wild card, and football is right around the corner.
50 We just need to tie up that Novitzky guy and duct tape him.
51 I loves me some sports.
52 Anyway, I’m outta here.
53 You guys have a sportin’ day, and a sportin’ weekend.
54 See ya.
55 Peace.
~H~
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