Poor, Poor Lear
This last weekend, I had the most fun I've ever had in a theater in my life.
Finnish comedienne Nina Sallinen has crafted an incredible show that is as interactive as it is forceful, and all the while creating such an indelible sense of character as to be appropriately called an actor's powerhouse.
On the phone with my friend Aaron, I called it Blue Man Group for smart people. In truth, it's even better.
When Nina tells you to come up on stage and have some cookies, she means it. When she tells you it's intermission, what she means is that if you can't find the bathroom, she'll show you where it is and how the lightswitch works. Audience members comforted her when she was hurt. It was incredible!
If you can't bear to watch this old woman move furniture across the stage, I suggest you get up and help her. This is what I always wanted theater to be!
Overall, the show is a performance of King Lear that dear Nina, now 90, puts on for her two daughters. Those who know Lear smell something afoot. The daughters never show.
What we wind up with is a delightful evening with a woman too worn out to perform, but way too vital to just let you leave. It reminded me of the Jethro Tull song "Too old to rock and roll, too young to die" - except I wasn't hearing about this woman as part of a story. I was drinking her coffee and letting her perform the oddest Lear I've ever seen, bespeckled with the precious observations of life one makes in personal conversation.
Maybe for the first time, a performer is delivering on all the promises theater started making, and promptly started breaking, when film became a popular entertainment. You have one more weekend to see this show! Don't miss this!
www.poorpoorlear.com
Finnish comedienne Nina Sallinen has crafted an incredible show that is as interactive as it is forceful, and all the while creating such an indelible sense of character as to be appropriately called an actor's powerhouse.
On the phone with my friend Aaron, I called it Blue Man Group for smart people. In truth, it's even better.
When Nina tells you to come up on stage and have some cookies, she means it. When she tells you it's intermission, what she means is that if you can't find the bathroom, she'll show you where it is and how the lightswitch works. Audience members comforted her when she was hurt. It was incredible!
If you can't bear to watch this old woman move furniture across the stage, I suggest you get up and help her. This is what I always wanted theater to be!
Overall, the show is a performance of King Lear that dear Nina, now 90, puts on for her two daughters. Those who know Lear smell something afoot. The daughters never show.
What we wind up with is a delightful evening with a woman too worn out to perform, but way too vital to just let you leave. It reminded me of the Jethro Tull song "Too old to rock and roll, too young to die" - except I wasn't hearing about this woman as part of a story. I was drinking her coffee and letting her perform the oddest Lear I've ever seen, bespeckled with the precious observations of life one makes in personal conversation.
Maybe for the first time, a performer is delivering on all the promises theater started making, and promptly started breaking, when film became a popular entertainment. You have one more weekend to see this show! Don't miss this!
www.poorpoorlear.com
It is so nice to hear such great interesting incidents from you. You, Tennyson have always been a great inspiration for all of us. Your articles really are the reason why I loved blogging. I think its fair enough to say that I am a great blogger because of you. This Lear thing is certainly attention catching and makes us remember there are also people who make a living out of this. Great article, Tennyson! And thanks!
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