'Breathe' at the Blue Room
Wed, 9 Mar 2005, 09:07 amdi day2 posts in thread
'Breathe' at the Blue Room
Wed, 9 Mar 2005, 09:07 amThe Studio at the Blue Room is so tiny that unless the acting is very, very good, it comes across as sheer ham. The current show, 'Breathe' is very, very, very good, well acted and superbly directed.
In 15 scenes we are shown the rape of 'exotic dancer' Jenna, her decision to carry the foetus to term, her abandonment by her partner, the desire of the rapist to accept his paternal duties and finally, after the birth, Jenna's hatred of the child and the man who fathered it.
Heavy stuff, but the procession of consequences allows the audience freedom to accept or reject the actions of the protagonists.
And I think 'Breathe' is primarily about consequences. Rape is never justified but sometimes it can be understood. In the case of a woman who earns her living sexually stimulating without satisfying? And where were the counsellors - a mob which varies in standard as widely as mothers - who should have been pointing out to Jenna what the consequences of her bearing an unwanted child into a substandard life would be? I felt sorry for the mother who was saying all the right things in the very wrong-est of ways, the partner who was, to my mind, quite justified in walking out of the whole awful mess. Finally it comes down to what right a woman has to make a decision for another human being when she's in no state to do so. Unfortunately that's another of the little 'too-hard' problems that we leave to someone else to Do Something About.
'Breathe' is an excellent work to put on at this political time when the Family First and Right to Life movements are attacking legal abortion. I wish that everyone who feels strongly about the issue would go to the Blue Room and actually put some thought into the matter. Faint hope.
Throughout the show there was live guitar which underlined the scenes and subtly enhanced the moods. I think the scenes might have seemed a little disjoined without it.
The image of a little girl is projected at the end of the play and that's finally what it's all about.
This is a little gem of a show and a superb production. It starts at 6 pm, runs about 55 rivetting minutes. Don't miss it. The issues it raises will be with you long after you've walked away.
Di Day
In 15 scenes we are shown the rape of 'exotic dancer' Jenna, her decision to carry the foetus to term, her abandonment by her partner, the desire of the rapist to accept his paternal duties and finally, after the birth, Jenna's hatred of the child and the man who fathered it.
Heavy stuff, but the procession of consequences allows the audience freedom to accept or reject the actions of the protagonists.
And I think 'Breathe' is primarily about consequences. Rape is never justified but sometimes it can be understood. In the case of a woman who earns her living sexually stimulating without satisfying? And where were the counsellors - a mob which varies in standard as widely as mothers - who should have been pointing out to Jenna what the consequences of her bearing an unwanted child into a substandard life would be? I felt sorry for the mother who was saying all the right things in the very wrong-est of ways, the partner who was, to my mind, quite justified in walking out of the whole awful mess. Finally it comes down to what right a woman has to make a decision for another human being when she's in no state to do so. Unfortunately that's another of the little 'too-hard' problems that we leave to someone else to Do Something About.
'Breathe' is an excellent work to put on at this political time when the Family First and Right to Life movements are attacking legal abortion. I wish that everyone who feels strongly about the issue would go to the Blue Room and actually put some thought into the matter. Faint hope.
Throughout the show there was live guitar which underlined the scenes and subtly enhanced the moods. I think the scenes might have seemed a little disjoined without it.
The image of a little girl is projected at the end of the play and that's finally what it's all about.
This is a little gem of a show and a superb production. It starts at 6 pm, runs about 55 rivetting minutes. Don't miss it. The issues it raises will be with you long after you've walked away.
Di Day
di dayWed, 9 Mar 2005, 09:07 am
The Studio at the Blue Room is so tiny that unless the acting is very, very good, it comes across as sheer ham. The current show, 'Breathe' is very, very, very good, well acted and superbly directed.
In 15 scenes we are shown the rape of 'exotic dancer' Jenna, her decision to carry the foetus to term, her abandonment by her partner, the desire of the rapist to accept his paternal duties and finally, after the birth, Jenna's hatred of the child and the man who fathered it.
Heavy stuff, but the procession of consequences allows the audience freedom to accept or reject the actions of the protagonists.
And I think 'Breathe' is primarily about consequences. Rape is never justified but sometimes it can be understood. In the case of a woman who earns her living sexually stimulating without satisfying? And where were the counsellors - a mob which varies in standard as widely as mothers - who should have been pointing out to Jenna what the consequences of her bearing an unwanted child into a substandard life would be? I felt sorry for the mother who was saying all the right things in the very wrong-est of ways, the partner who was, to my mind, quite justified in walking out of the whole awful mess. Finally it comes down to what right a woman has to make a decision for another human being when she's in no state to do so. Unfortunately that's another of the little 'too-hard' problems that we leave to someone else to Do Something About.
'Breathe' is an excellent work to put on at this political time when the Family First and Right to Life movements are attacking legal abortion. I wish that everyone who feels strongly about the issue would go to the Blue Room and actually put some thought into the matter. Faint hope.
Throughout the show there was live guitar which underlined the scenes and subtly enhanced the moods. I think the scenes might have seemed a little disjoined without it.
The image of a little girl is projected at the end of the play and that's finally what it's all about.
This is a little gem of a show and a superb production. It starts at 6 pm, runs about 55 rivetting minutes. Don't miss it. The issues it raises will be with you long after you've walked away.
Di Day
In 15 scenes we are shown the rape of 'exotic dancer' Jenna, her decision to carry the foetus to term, her abandonment by her partner, the desire of the rapist to accept his paternal duties and finally, after the birth, Jenna's hatred of the child and the man who fathered it.
Heavy stuff, but the procession of consequences allows the audience freedom to accept or reject the actions of the protagonists.
And I think 'Breathe' is primarily about consequences. Rape is never justified but sometimes it can be understood. In the case of a woman who earns her living sexually stimulating without satisfying? And where were the counsellors - a mob which varies in standard as widely as mothers - who should have been pointing out to Jenna what the consequences of her bearing an unwanted child into a substandard life would be? I felt sorry for the mother who was saying all the right things in the very wrong-est of ways, the partner who was, to my mind, quite justified in walking out of the whole awful mess. Finally it comes down to what right a woman has to make a decision for another human being when she's in no state to do so. Unfortunately that's another of the little 'too-hard' problems that we leave to someone else to Do Something About.
'Breathe' is an excellent work to put on at this political time when the Family First and Right to Life movements are attacking legal abortion. I wish that everyone who feels strongly about the issue would go to the Blue Room and actually put some thought into the matter. Faint hope.
Throughout the show there was live guitar which underlined the scenes and subtly enhanced the moods. I think the scenes might have seemed a little disjoined without it.
The image of a little girl is projected at the end of the play and that's finally what it's all about.
This is a little gem of a show and a superb production. It starts at 6 pm, runs about 55 rivetting minutes. Don't miss it. The issues it raises will be with you long after you've walked away.
Di Day
Walter PlingeThu, 24 Mar 2005, 07:28 am
Re: 'Breathe' at the Blue Room
Hey di
How are you? Long time, no speak!
just a quickie - Who wrote 'Breathe'?
cheers
dave
How are you? Long time, no speak!
just a quickie - Who wrote 'Breathe'?
cheers
dave