tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912669500934497251.post6147948976533251600..comments2023-09-29T03:39:03.460-04:00Comments on Gratuitous Violins: RaceEstherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16076517542540421210noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912669500934497251.post-17852909932378863052009-12-17T15:38:48.510-05:002009-12-17T15:38:48.510-05:00Yes, I would have loved to have seen the show with...Yes, I would have loved to have seen the show with you. It is always fun to be able to discuss your immediate impressions of a play with others who have also witnessed the same performance.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912669500934497251.post-45828717462425108122009-12-17T14:47:01.564-05:002009-12-17T14:47:01.564-05:00Thanks so much for the comment, anonymous. I know ...Thanks so much for the comment, anonymous. I know Mamet has a lot of fans so like I said, maybe it's me. But I didn't go out of there feeling like I'd had a cathartic experience. <br /><br />You know, I worked at a place that had a very aggressive affirmative action policy, which caused a lot of hard feelings among some of my white coworkers and a lot of mixed feelings among some of my black coworkers. <br /><br />We discussed these issues a lot, so maybe I felt like I'd heard it all before - and in a much more personal context. <br /><br />But I'm glad you enjoyed the play. Wish I'd been there with you and we could have discussed it afterward!Estherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16076517542540421210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912669500934497251.post-529095253764716112009-12-17T13:57:59.293-05:002009-12-17T13:57:59.293-05:00I guess I am the contrarian here...I loved Mamet&#...I guess I am the contrarian here...I loved Mamet's RACE. Actually I have seen it 4 times. The last being yesterday. <br /><br />Mamet definitely writes ideas and not characters, so if you go in desiring a character driven play you will probably be left scratching your head and wondering why some people love it. His characters are not meant to say and do things that are within normal behavior. The joy of Mamet is the language and ideas. He normally does not deal in absolutes, but rather in ideas that are meant to give you pause to think. In RACE he does not add anything new to the subject, but rather just puts all we know or think we know out in the open. In a way it is sort of cathartic to hear things said so publicly that normally we only think or whisper.<br /><br />As far as the actors, Spader and Grier are excellent at delivering Mametian dialog. I am surprised that you had difficulty hearing the actors. I have sat in various spots in the audience (orchestra and rear mezzanine) and have heard every word. The only place I have not been is in the rear orchestra under the mezzanine. In some theatres there is a bit of a dead spot in this location...I don't know if this is the case in the Barrymore.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912669500934497251.post-29043602995379542422009-12-17T12:23:03.701-05:002009-12-17T12:23:03.701-05:00Awww, thanks so much! Yeah, I left thinking that I...Awww, thanks so much! Yeah, I left thinking that I've had more provocative, more realistic discussions about race over dinner with friends. And I didn't even mention the musty old law-office set, which said "wills and trusts" more than "criminal defense!" But like I said, maybe Mamet simply isn't for me.Estherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16076517542540421210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1912669500934497251.post-56969006178983028202009-12-17T09:40:43.607-05:002009-12-17T09:40:43.607-05:00Brilliant review, my friend. RACE was one of the ...Brilliant review, my friend. RACE was one of the most misguided pieces of playwriting I've seen in many a season. In an effort to be controversial, it puts characters and premises into play that are simply implausible and badly structured. Ugh.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com