FRANKENSTEIN
Sun, 11 Aug 2002, 12:22 amWalter Plinge19 posts in thread
FRANKENSTEIN
Sun, 11 Aug 2002, 12:22 amI'm hoping I get this on the web before midnight 10/08/02, the opening night of this play, presented by Vagabond Theatre at The Rechabites Hall, Northbridge. I know how good it feelsas a cast/crew member after an opening night celebration to wait for the notices to come in.
The choice of story seems surprising, given that it is a romantic/gothic classic, if ever there was such a thing. Nevertheless, the various themes and morals of the story are good to reflect on in these post-post-modern times of ours, with stem-cell research, genetic manipulation and performance-enhancing elite sports very much on the agenda.
The acting performances were all very slick. I found all the characters very well drawn and plenty of energy coming from the stage. I particularly admired the multi-roling by the younger members of the cast. Patrick's Monster evoked the right levels of sympathy and fear, while Grant's Victor held it all together very capably. My only complaint is that Grant is a bit too young and pretty to be really covincing as a mad scientist.
Finally, I loved the the audiovisual, light and sound design, cheerful front of house and bar staff. However, as much as I liked the multi-level stage draped in underlay, I'm sure there are ways a designer could utilise the lofty architecture of the Rechabites to better effect.
Congratulations and have a great season.
The choice of story seems surprising, given that it is a romantic/gothic classic, if ever there was such a thing. Nevertheless, the various themes and morals of the story are good to reflect on in these post-post-modern times of ours, with stem-cell research, genetic manipulation and performance-enhancing elite sports very much on the agenda.
The acting performances were all very slick. I found all the characters very well drawn and plenty of energy coming from the stage. I particularly admired the multi-roling by the younger members of the cast. Patrick's Monster evoked the right levels of sympathy and fear, while Grant's Victor held it all together very capably. My only complaint is that Grant is a bit too young and pretty to be really covincing as a mad scientist.
Finally, I loved the the audiovisual, light and sound design, cheerful front of house and bar staff. However, as much as I liked the multi-level stage draped in underlay, I'm sure there are ways a designer could utilise the lofty architecture of the Rechabites to better effect.
Congratulations and have a great season.
Re: Frankenstein Advertising
Sat, 17 Aug 2002, 05:36 pmHi Greg -
Thanks for responding in a concise and reasonable fashion - I have been bracing myself for the mud-slinging that can sometimes follow what I have to say. I would like to respond on a couple of points.
Greg Ross wrote:
> In the case of the Dr Gibbs review, it was important not to
> lift a portion of a quote, otherwise it could have been seen
> as being out of context.
> The quote utilised, was a complete one sentence paragraph.
>
That's fair enough - but the one sentence paragraph was in direct relation to the negative paragraphs around it, and you literally took the only positive sounding section from the review (excepting commendations on corporate support) and made it sound as though that was the entire gist of Gibbs' review. Personally, I had to re-read that part of the review a couple of times to figure out the context Geoff was referring to, but having looked at it again, am convinced that it is a paragraph lamenting what might have been, rather than an actual statement of fact. That said, Vagabond are not the first company to use such a technique - it can be quite common. It doesn't change the fact that I think it is really dodgy.
> You also question the use of an internet based quote.
> An interesting and valid point, however younger people tend
> to utilise electronic media, far more than print media and
> therefore such reviews have relevance.
Nah. If you were quoting Arthur Miller from www.newyorktimes.com or Michael Billington from www.guardian.co.uk you might have a point. A pseudonym from what is not actually credited as www.theatre.asn.au but Theatre Australia - a correct title but who in the GP knows that that is a website and not a reputable theatre journal? Even if it had quoted Stinger and included www.theatre.asn.au it would have been almost okay. The format of the quote in its current form is deceptive and does not even come close to having relevance for 'younger people'.
> Personally, I found The West Australian review very
> instructive and helpful.
Great to hear it. People like Geoff Gibbs tend to have too much power over actors' perceptions of themselves and a negative review can be devastating. Glad to see that you were able to take something from the negatives and work towards replicating more of the positives.
> Finally Justin, never lose sight of that wonderful Australian
> tradition … “Taking The Piss.”
I'm not sure how this applies to me - are you suggesting that Vagabond used this quotation to wryly comment on their own stoicism in the face of a bad review, so much that they are able to quote from it? Rubbish. There was no taking the piss here - it's a matter of deceptively recontextualising a valid statement to sell tickets. And I hear ticket sales have picked up. Congratulations. But I don't agree with your tactics.
jh
**************
[%sig%]
Thanks for responding in a concise and reasonable fashion - I have been bracing myself for the mud-slinging that can sometimes follow what I have to say. I would like to respond on a couple of points.
Greg Ross wrote:
> In the case of the Dr Gibbs review, it was important not to
> lift a portion of a quote, otherwise it could have been seen
> as being out of context.
> The quote utilised, was a complete one sentence paragraph.
>
That's fair enough - but the one sentence paragraph was in direct relation to the negative paragraphs around it, and you literally took the only positive sounding section from the review (excepting commendations on corporate support) and made it sound as though that was the entire gist of Gibbs' review. Personally, I had to re-read that part of the review a couple of times to figure out the context Geoff was referring to, but having looked at it again, am convinced that it is a paragraph lamenting what might have been, rather than an actual statement of fact. That said, Vagabond are not the first company to use such a technique - it can be quite common. It doesn't change the fact that I think it is really dodgy.
> You also question the use of an internet based quote.
> An interesting and valid point, however younger people tend
> to utilise electronic media, far more than print media and
> therefore such reviews have relevance.
Nah. If you were quoting Arthur Miller from www.newyorktimes.com or Michael Billington from www.guardian.co.uk you might have a point. A pseudonym from what is not actually credited as www.theatre.asn.au but Theatre Australia - a correct title but who in the GP knows that that is a website and not a reputable theatre journal? Even if it had quoted Stinger and included www.theatre.asn.au it would have been almost okay. The format of the quote in its current form is deceptive and does not even come close to having relevance for 'younger people'.
> Personally, I found The West Australian review very
> instructive and helpful.
Great to hear it. People like Geoff Gibbs tend to have too much power over actors' perceptions of themselves and a negative review can be devastating. Glad to see that you were able to take something from the negatives and work towards replicating more of the positives.
> Finally Justin, never lose sight of that wonderful Australian
> tradition … “Taking The Piss.”
I'm not sure how this applies to me - are you suggesting that Vagabond used this quotation to wryly comment on their own stoicism in the face of a bad review, so much that they are able to quote from it? Rubbish. There was no taking the piss here - it's a matter of deceptively recontextualising a valid statement to sell tickets. And I hear ticket sales have picked up. Congratulations. But I don't agree with your tactics.
jh
**************
[%sig%]
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