tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38853222135407758232011-04-21T14:41:45.495-07:00chris millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09575033275184403015noreply@blogger.comBlogger11100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3885322213540775823.post-82835035422367039782009-03-23T07:41:00.000-07:002009-03-23T08:18:32.671-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u_KW4nuKg9k/ScegRHny_-I/AAAAAAAAJ9E/FBLW4LKuvgM/s1600-h/magnolia.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 165px; height: 237px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_u_KW4nuKg9k/ScegRHny_-I/AAAAAAAAJ9E/FBLW4LKuvgM/s320/magnolia.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316394101098348514" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Most of what I have to say about this production is negative, and yet, it never occurred to me to walk out -- so I guess it kept me entertained. The sets, costumes, music, actors -- all of it was attractive and compelling. (even if we were sitting about half a mile from the stage)<br /><br />It's just that the story and characters were so shallow.<br /><br />It was as if the playwright, Regina Taylor had cut and pasted some squeaky clean black characters out of Television sitcoms (like "A Different World") -- and then lifted some decadent/depraved Southern White characters out of Tennessee Williams.<br /><br />And then -- she didn't know what to do with them.<br /><br />Colorful and entertaining ? Maybe.<br /><br />Profound? No.<br /><br />And one of the characters, "Cain", Miss Lily's dark complexioned traveling companion, was just too bizarre to be credible. Was he supposed to be a gigolo ?<br /><br />Is there a conflict here that's worth following ?<br /><br />Are there any poignant speeches with rich, poetic language ?<br /><br />Were there any memorable moments ?<br /><br />Maybe it would have worked better as a musical.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3885322213540775823-8283503542236703978?l=occasionaltheatre.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>chris millerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09575033275184403015noreply@blogger.com0