... and even if the livin' ain't "easy", it's certainly a slower pace than it has been for quite some time. Posting may also be slower this month as "vacation mentality" starts to take over!
Recently occupying much of our time has been the fantastic (and fantastically under-broadcast) Canadian TV series Slings and Arrows.
For anybody involved with the theater at any level, it should be required watching.
And for any non-theatrically-connected readers who see it and think it's merely a clever and affectionate caricature of theatrical eccentricity, I am here to tell you that it is one of the most truthful depictions of the performing life I've ever seen and (give or take the occasional ghost...) far closer to documentary than drama!
It's also quite, quite brilliant. A genuinely funny and engaging script, interesting characters, stunning performances and blazing insight about "the craft of the art" - and the problems that go with reconciling art-as-life and life-as-art (and the challenges of being the artist trying to do both) - combine to tell an amusing and frequently deeply moving story.
All three seaons are a must-see. (And special thanks to L and A for turning us on to this brilliant work!)
Recently occupying much of our time has been the fantastic (and fantastically under-broadcast) Canadian TV series Slings and Arrows.
For anybody involved with the theater at any level, it should be required watching.And for any non-theatrically-connected readers who see it and think it's merely a clever and affectionate caricature of theatrical eccentricity, I am here to tell you that it is one of the most truthful depictions of the performing life I've ever seen and (give or take the occasional ghost...) far closer to documentary than drama!
It's also quite, quite brilliant. A genuinely funny and engaging script, interesting characters, stunning performances and blazing insight about "the craft of the art" - and the problems that go with reconciling art-as-life and life-as-art (and the challenges of being the artist trying to do both) - combine to tell an amusing and frequently deeply moving story.
All three seaons are a must-see. (And special thanks to L and A for turning us on to this brilliant work!)
Comments
It's even more funny to Canadian audiences because it is a thinly disguised version of the Stratford Theatre Company in Stratford, Ontario, one of North America's largest performing arts organisations, and the centre of Canada's theatre universe (at least they think so).
Have a great summer!
You must watch the other two series - I think series 1 is the strongest by a nose, but the other two are fine indeed and rife with plenty of between-the-eyes quotes to collect... Our family conversations are now peppered with many of them!
I can't begin to express how much we have enjoyed this, and at so many different levels. Yes, it's funny simply because the situations are well-crafted comedy, yes it's toe-curlingly truthful, yes it's satirical but, more importantly, it also inspires, and somehow reminds one to keep hold of the JOY no matter what else is going on.
Truly wonderful.