THE LAND OF PROMISE

THE LAND OF PROMISE

An evening, a celebration of the Scots-Irish, the original settlers to America.
The Migration started in 1717 and these Immigrants became the greatest pioneers,
patriots and originators of a great revolution and today they are in millions and still contributing
in every aspect of American life.

The evening celebrates their migration, their contribution, their innovation and their enormous skills in every sphere of American life and its culture with dance, music, song and story telling.

The evening is presented in association with The Ulster Scots agency and the Northern Ireland Bureau in partnership with Carnegie Hall and "Migrations Festival"

Written by  Turlough McCounnell
Directed by George C. Heslin

Both the writer and the director were able to tell this fascinationg true story withe help of a wonderful cast. The Narrators, Orlagh Cassidy and Colin Ryan were able to make it very clear how the Scot- Irish presence and influence starting from 1717 uptill now in America is woven deeply in America
and every aspect of its history.  So many settlers influencd the finance, politics and culture and one can see the results of prosperity.  Even the very first president, George Washington had scot-Irish
ancestors and the participation of many amazing cultural figures such as Margrete Mitchell, author of "Gone with the wind" , There was a woderful scene from the movie, Viven leigh and Thomas Mitchell talking about the importance of land and how one should hold on to it because the land is the only thing which matters, relevant to the settllers story who,  many of them, Scots- Irish from the South who cultivated  the land and participated in many other amazing achievements.

The scene from, "Gone with the Wind" Added an incredible charm for me because I was sitting next to my partner,  Kevin Mitchell Martin who is the grand nephew of Thomas Mitchell and that particular scene gave him immense pleasure, joy and Pride.

The whole cast which included singers. dancers, comedians, muscians were just amazing.
Niamh Hyland, singer and a song writer was very moving with a melodious voice
so was Garrett Coleman, a two time solo World Champion in Irish Dance and Caitlin Golding who started dancing at the age seven and is still dancing and is just enthralling. Who on this planet doesn't love Irish dancing? Irish dancing is just the best and I throughly enjoyed their dance.

The whole evening is lots of fun because it has so much variety, the words, the songs, the dance, the music and the most important is the story of Migration of the Scots-Irish to American soil and their amazing accomplishments and for me it is of great value because I never knew such details of the early settlers and their incredible positive influene in every field in American history.  I am for sure
much better informed after this wonderful experience.

- BINA SHARIF
artsinternational.blogspot.com
binashariff@gmail.com
Cell: 212-260-6207

Eat, Drink & Be Literary: Bam Cafe

Eat, Drink & Be Litrerary:Bam Cafe

It was a great privilege to have attended, Eat, Drink & Be Literary event which has been going on for 15 years at Bam Cafe with the partnership of National Book Foundation, the second time.
On March 20th I attended the event to experience in person one of the great American writer, John Edgar Wideman.  I was so excited by the Literary quality of the work, wonderful meal and an attentive crowd that I couldn't wait for the second part of this great literary series and on April 9 I had the joy to be present and Listen to Sloane Crosley, an essayist and a humor writer and my joy was doubled by her delightful,smart and warm wit. 

She is the author of bestselling essay collection, I Was Told There'd Be Cake, And How Did You Get This Number and the novel, The Clasp.  Her work has appeared in New York times, Vogue, The Guardian and many other magazines including New Yorker. Her most recent book of essays is Look Alive Out There.

"All writing is found in memory, no mater what kind."  Sloane Crosley tells us.
"Writing starts with a good memory.  This is often called, Observation. Humor
does come naturally."

Her words are so true.  Memory is the essential key to remeber all the tiny details one
has observed in everyday ordinary life, in the streets, in the subway, in a cafe, in a garden, watching flowers, watching the grass, hearing the singing of the birds, sitting on a bench where a person sits all alone looking despondent...and all these beautiful poignant details take your memory to another memory of the past and it goes on and on and you almost have a whole chapter of a book or an essay in your mind which you compose into a single Idea or a thought and that begins your hard work to glorious results.  Sloane Crosley has that ability which makes a great writer who is enormously enjoyable to watch and listen to.  She is not trying to be funny but she is.  She is funny because she doesn't try hard and why should she?  Its in her words, in her demeanor, in her joyful and warm presence but mostly in her keen observation of her detailed narrative.  Devil is not in her details, humor is. The writer who comes across as humorous and funny is usually very deep.  His or her words come from a raw core which is melodiously mixed with abstract touch of pain, sarcasam
and a sense of fun and Solane Crosely has that and effortlessly demonstrate that.

Even when she hasn't spoken a single word yet, her smile engulfs us and doesn't let us go till her last sentence.  Not every great writer has the ability to be a great reader.  Some are shy, some are self conscious, but not Ms. Crosley.  She is charming, confident, sure of her utterences and very enjoyable.

Her work reminded me of Nora Ephron. At the question answer session I asked her about what other writers and essayists influenced and inspired her and she said, Joan Didion.  I was a bit surprised
because Didion's novel, The Year Of Magical Thinking which I read the second time recently, is so very sad but then I thought about her essays which has the same kind of Simple, raw and personal feel like Ms Crosley and I was actually happy to have that answer because I adore Didion.

I have to confess my little regret of not attending these great literary events in the past at Bam Cafe.
The space is a dream with beautiful lights, the food is fresh, healthy and nourshing and people attending seems very much attuned to the upcoming writer to stand on that podium and share their
brilliant work with us and there is pindrop silence, no coughing, no unwrapping of the candies, just complete  concentration in the present moment of sharing and learning and listening to the melodiuos words.
Sad words, happy words, funny words, soul searching words...just words, words, words. Total bliss.
Can't wait for Min Jin Lee, the next writer on May 1.

MABOU MINES FAUST 2 . O

MABOU MINES FAUST 2 . O
AT 122CC, 150 First Ave
TILL, April 14, 2019

DIRECTED BY
SHARON ANN FOGATY

ADAPTED FROM GOETHE BY
MATTHEW MAGUIRE

Faust (Benton Greene) makes a deal with Mephistopheles (Paul Kandel).  He sells his soul for ever lasting wordly pleasures, desires, adventures and more desires. "My life is desire and satisfaction, and desire again." Faust declares his wishes to Mephistopheles who makes a proud bet with God
(Bill Raymond, on video) that he wil surely win Faust's soul.

This production in which Matthew Maguire adapts Faust into a second part where Faust meets Helen
of Troy and also have a child with her besides having many other adventures.

This production is divided into two parts.  Six live actors and almost 18 brilliant actors on video  screens and the effect is stunning visually and technically and is very cleverly done, but Mabou Mines is known for its mutimedia and very ambitious productions and Sharon Fogarty doesn't disappoint.

Video appearances includes many wonderful actors but Greg Mehrten as the Emperor is amazingly
powerful and every inch an Emperor. His presence even on a video screen some times steal the scene
from a live cast which is very good as well.  While I was watching the Emperor, I felt some heavenly energy.  I looked on my left and guess who was sitting next to me?  Greg Mehrten...
watching himself on the video with such concentration (hallmark of a great actor, the intense concentration) Here and there,  during the show I sneaked a look at him, couldn't help it...
I have always admired him a lot in the past as I have cherished, Great Karen Kandel who with her wild energy and hair and a melodious voice call herself, Care and mocks Faust and is scene stealer as well.

Another brilliant actor here is Paul Kandel, tall, lanky, dangerously agile, who plays the devil
Mephistopheles and is superb.

Maude Mitchell and Arthur French, an old couple who had been wrogned by Faust (On video)
are wonderful as well.

Video design by Jeff Sugg, Set & Lighting design by Jim Clayburgh is very cool and effective.

Sharon Ann Fogarty as a director has done a terrific job putting this highly complex show together.  Do not miss.

REVIEW
BY
BINA SHARIF
Editor/Publisher: artsinternational.blogspot.com
binashariff@gmail.com
Cell: 212-260-6207

THE TRAGEDY OF JUIUS CAESAR

                                                           



THE TRAGEDY OF JULIUS CAESAR
AT
THEATRE FOR A NEW AUDIENCE

Polonsky Shakespeare Center
DIRECTOR: Shana Cooper
LIGHTING DESIGN: Christopher Akerlind
CHOREGRAPHER: Erica Chong Shuch
SOUND: Paul James Prendergas

A vibrant and extremely energetic production of The Tragedy Of Julius Caesar at Theatre For a New Audience just opened. It's taking place in Rome but actually its make believe Rome because the production is staged as a contemporary and experimental version of Julius Caesar.  There are no togas.
All acttors are dressed in pants and Caesar in a suit, (dressed to be killed). In the very first scene of the play actors enter with thundering music (Actually very good music and sound effects) in masks and greyish skirts. They are  protesting against the tyranny of Caesar, (we are told that
Caesar is a populist and a tyrrant?) Many times I have not felt him to be so because maybe he dies too soon, rather killed too soon and its not because the actor playing Caesar doesn't do a good job, on the contrary, here Rocco Sisto playing the part is absolutely the best.  I have seen Rocco Sisto in many plays and he has never disappointed me.  He has a regal personality and a wonderful deep and theatrical voice. When I found out that he is playing Caesar I was saddened because I knew he isn't going to be on stage for long. Not that the rest of the production is not entertaining, actually its quite good looking visually, blood excluded. What I am trying to express here is that I actually enjoyed the play very much and I usually do not like Classics to be done in modern dress to represent the present.

Another thing I do not like or agree with is that some critics comparing recent productions of Julius Caesar with Trump era.
Trump and Caesar are Centuries apart and its a cheap comparison and wishful thinking that Trump  could be gotten rid of somehow just like Caesar. To watch a great play by Shakespeare and thinking about Trump at the same time is a pity to say the least but lets get back to Julius Caesar.

As I said earlier I love this play, actually I love Shespeare's tragic plays much more than his comedies,
Am I a morbid person? You can say that but I go for the language and the laguage here was pretty
well spoken so I forgot about the sheetrock walls cracking and plaster falling down, actually the cracks in the walls represented crumbling republic and its downfall.  The scenic design by Sibyl Wickersheimer was quite effective so was the sound by Paul James Prendergast but the best thing was the choreography by Erika Chong Shuch. Most of the time in theater as well as in the movies the battle scenes are a laugh but here it was amazing like a beautiful sculpture still moving slowly in a dim light.

So this is how the tragedy of Julius Caesar goes, (A bit late for me to tell the story but never mind)
Caesar's senators conspire one night to murder him before he is knighted as a king...rumor has it that he might bcome a king and then will have the power of a god. So Cassius makes a plan of murdering Caesar and provokes the other conspiratots including Brutus who in the beginning is reluctant but later on join the others and when Caesar appears in a relaxed and jovial manner gets brutally stabbed by all of them and the biggest surprise for Caesar is that Brutus is also involved.

Caesar's wife Calpurnia (Tiffany Rachelle Stewart) warns and beg Caesar not to go to the senate this morning because she had an awful dream about his statue being stabbed and blood coming out of of it like a fountain but alas he didn't listen to his wife, (men usually don't listen to their wives)  Brutus did the same.  His wife Portia wanted him to share with her his recent brooding mood and why was he behaving roubled but he shunned her off as well. The warning of danger was also given to Caesar by the soothsayer, "Beware the Ides of March" but was ignored and then the murder was done and even after Mark Antony's (Jordan Barour) passionate speech to turn the mob against the assasins, the Republic eventually falls apart and "Peace, freedom, liberty" is not reborn.

Jordan Barbour as Mark Antony was good but could have used more passion and fire in his speech,
All actors were believable and held our attention but what I liked the best beside listening to Shakespeare's great words was the visuals and the beautiful choreography and the lighting design.
This production of Julius Caesar is much more enjoyable than a few I have seen in the recent past.
Theater for a new audience and its productions have never disappointed me.

BINA SHARIF
Editor/Publisher: artsinternational.blogspot.com
binashariff@gmail.com
Cell: 212-260-6207
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Caesar's wife Calpurnia begs him not to attend the assembly because she had a dream that