Chasing the Moment is a revamped recent addition to the Arcola Theatre and Time Out 4 star play. It takes two distinct halves - the before and after of an East London jazz gig performed during the intermission by 4 members of an un-named (I think) band.
We've a middle-aged nihilist pianist, modish opinionated young saxophonist, drunkard Yorkshire Double-bassist (think Compo from last of the summer wine) and level headed easy going young drummer. Oh, he's also black - not that it matters these days, we're over that.
Or maybe we're not... as shortly into the second half we plummet into a shouting match between him and the pianist about the authenticity of jazz and it's black vs white origins. It's executed with emotional discomfort but that's soon drowned out with a physically uncomfortable screaming exchange.
Throw in a useless ex-girlfriend, unseen venue-owner on critical life-support in St Thomas', his drunk in-denial wife and after it runs out of breath, steam and predictability the only tension left is how long it will take for them all to leave us alone.
Showing posts with label sound. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sound. Show all posts
Wednesday
Saturday
Sight: Lucha Libre
Every friday, thousands of Mexicans flock to a seedy part of town and into L'Arena stadium to see the Luchadors wrestle.
Outside the stadium is teeming with fans, peddlers, stalls, trucks, food, animals. Everybody and their donkey has come to see tonight's series of fights in the squared circle. Five thousand people are climging over each other to see their favorites go head to head. Luckily the throng is in high spirits and we westerners are welcomed with broad smiles and a £3.50 ticket.
Mexico adopted the US form of Kayfabe entertainment in the 1940's. They added identity hiding masks and replaced heavyweight power-moves with high flying acrobatics. The main wrestlers are treated as heroes. "he was an orphan child, cleaning the locker room - sparring for fun with the big guys, now he's the best in the world" one ecstatic fan told me when I asked why everybody goes bananas when Mystico entered the arena.
The wrestling is of amazing quality. We're led through a series of bouts - each character struts out to themed music, fireworks and a trademark pose. Hilarious.
Action is hard-hitting and although we all know they setting up (or selling) each other the moves their abilities are hugely impressive - we're all yelling and chanting along with the full house.
Before long out pops our Hero, Mystico, for the final match. After a sequence of twists and turns including broken chairs, knocked out referees, 8 foot dives and bloody chests its 1-2-3 and victory to the champion and happy faces all round.
Brilliant fun and not to be missed on a Friday night. This was the Mexico DF highlight.
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre:
http://www.cmll.com/
Outside the stadium is teeming with fans, peddlers, stalls, trucks, food, animals. Everybody and their donkey has come to see tonight's series of fights in the squared circle. Five thousand people are climging over each other to see their favorites go head to head. Luckily the throng is in high spirits and we westerners are welcomed with broad smiles and a £3.50 ticket.
Mexico adopted the US form of Kayfabe entertainment in the 1940's. They added identity hiding masks and replaced heavyweight power-moves with high flying acrobatics. The main wrestlers are treated as heroes. "he was an orphan child, cleaning the locker room - sparring for fun with the big guys, now he's the best in the world" one ecstatic fan told me when I asked why everybody goes bananas when Mystico entered the arena.
The wrestling is of amazing quality. We're led through a series of bouts - each character struts out to themed music, fireworks and a trademark pose. Hilarious.
Action is hard-hitting and although we all know they setting up (or selling) each other the moves their abilities are hugely impressive - we're all yelling and chanting along with the full house.
Before long out pops our Hero, Mystico, for the final match. After a sequence of twists and turns including broken chairs, knocked out referees, 8 foot dives and bloody chests its 1-2-3 and victory to the champion and happy faces all round.
Brilliant fun and not to be missed on a Friday night. This was the Mexico DF highlight.
 |
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre:
http://www.cmll.com/
Sunday
Sound: Carbon Footprint
Off the track here although worthy of mention is this article Six Steps to a smaller carbon footprint on the Scotsman.com. It starts with a well-intentioned guide to reducing the amount of planet earth we use on a daily basis... but is then completely dwarfed by the often scathing comments of a multitude of well spoken Scots, most of whom, like me, resent the horror-movie the media has made of the subject.
- best comment so far: #25:
Give us all night vision glasses then we can all be in our houses at night in the dark. Also no TV available after midnight. And of course no holidays that involve any form of traveling. Problem solved. Leave normal living to the Chinese etc.
- best comment so far: #25:
Give us all night vision glasses then we can all be in our houses at night in the dark. Also no TV available after midnight. And of course no holidays that involve any form of traveling. Problem solved. Leave normal living to the Chinese etc.
Wednesday
Sight: Michael Palin
About his new book "Diaries 1967-1979: The Python Years" Michael Palin chatted to an observer interviewer in front of a full 700 seater auditorium, Logan Hall, UCL.
We were lucky ticket holders and go there early for good seats - not quite as good as John Cleese (front row) who eventually dismissed a gathering crowd of fans - but good enough.
Michael answered the questions in his own endearing way and we all smiled back the whole time. The focus was on Monty Python although the questions were aptly paced to cover a range of subjecs. We learnt how the diaries came about (firstly a self-chastised waste of time to start, then after two years, a humongous waste of time if stopped), how they explained his difficult times with the movies and onwards to the ongoing legacy of Python and reflecting on where it has brought him
I'm on the cusp of being too young for Monty Python and really, The Michael Palin I know and admire is the traveler (80 days, Pole to Pole, Full Circle etc). Fortunately, amongst the typical USA Q&As; what's you favorite scene (fish slapping dance), character (Crucifixion Coordinator), sound effect("Ni")? were some interesting points about his trips, how nothing is embellished as you'd expect and his desire to have stayed in touch with some characters without whom the journeys would've come crashing down.
Wishing for more the evening came to an end... well except for 4 hours of book-signing we decided to sidestep.
We were lucky ticket holders and go there early for good seats - not quite as good as John Cleese (front row) who eventually dismissed a gathering crowd of fans - but good enough.
Michael answered the questions in his own endearing way and we all smiled back the whole time. The focus was on Monty Python although the questions were aptly paced to cover a range of subjecs. We learnt how the diaries came about (firstly a self-chastised waste of time to start, then after two years, a humongous waste of time if stopped), how they explained his difficult times with the movies and onwards to the ongoing legacy of Python and reflecting on where it has brought him
I'm on the cusp of being too young for Monty Python and really, The Michael Palin I know and admire is the traveler (80 days, Pole to Pole, Full Circle etc). Fortunately, amongst the typical USA Q&As; what's you favorite scene (fish slapping dance), character (Crucifixion Coordinator), sound effect("Ni")? were some interesting points about his trips, how nothing is embellished as you'd expect and his desire to have stayed in touch with some characters without whom the journeys would've come crashing down.
Wishing for more the evening came to an end... well except for 4 hours of book-signing we decided to sidestep.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)