Dollars and Cell Phones

I am fascinated by the aspects of human nature discussed in the current show
Stage/Studio: Space Transformed. This exhibition is up until April 3rd and I encourage everyone to come see it. As part of a class taught by Professor Maureen Ryan graduate students from OSU's College of the Arts investigated the uses of site specificity as a tool in the development of original theater works.

There are two works that have caught my eye: one centered on giving and receiving, the other focused on cell phones.

The latter has various componenets: a cell phone twister game, with some intense instructions,
a table with the question: "If you were about to die and could only make one phone call, who would you call and what would you say?" and paper and pens to write responses,and an old-fashioned play telephone (two cans connected with string). There are also quotes from various sources discussing the use of cell phones as they relate to: bringing people together, moving people further apart, being devices of rudeness and having the ability to make us look completely stupid (I like the discussion of the "cell phone service dance" the best). Many people take having a cell phone for granted but as the piece states:

"Cell phones represent the 20th Century's esccalation of imaginary need. We didn't need cell phones until we had them"
~Mary Schmich

The other piece deals with making people look at themselves and decide if they are givers or takers. The piece has $1 bills throughout it and the only rule of the piece is that once you enter that space you have to participate by either leaving a dollar or taking a dollar. This piece is great. It speaks to people's natural state and then the inner struggle that may ensue based on societal norms and values. I'm not going to lie, I was thinking about getting a coffee with one of those dollars, but then thought about how it would make me look. So you leave a dollar if someone is looking you take one (and get coffee) if you think no one is looking. I know not everyone thinks that way (some people prefer tea) but in it's simplest form that's the nuts and bolts of it. Seeing as how I just took a Public Finance final last night I could wax poetic about society's need to take dollars even when you don't need them to achieve some social ideal of amassing wealth but that class is over and therefore so is my obligation to think about the concept, terms and whatnots that went with it. I could also go on and on about how we should be giving dollars when we have them and don't need them (for coffee or tea) to others who do not have them, but then I'd be labeled a socialist, which someone will mistake for communist and then I'll spend the rest of my days "on the run" writing pamphlets under a pseudonym and eating beans out of a can. Since I don't like beans you all are saved from hearing me get on my soap box.

Back to the task at hand. My only problem with the show is that there are no names by the specific pieces. I do not know if each piece was made by a group or an individual and I would love the opportunity to give credit where it is due. It is finals week and anyone that can make me think and make me enjoy thinking deserves a gold star at the very least.

Behinds the Scenes is just as good as the Scenes Themselves

When you feel sad. . .
. . or under a curse
Your life is bad,
your prospects are worse

These words apply to a great many people these days. But what are the odds of finding someone singing these words to catchy, upbeat music complete with show tune movements (that's right people: jazz hands, winks and saucy smiles)? Pretty good if you are in the mood for some theater.

Godspell, a musical loosely based on the gospel according to St. Matthew, is the tale of Jesus, in technicolor (like the dreamcoat) with flair.

Mandy Fox, Assistant Professor in the OSU Theater Department came in to the Space to discuss the upcoming production (check out the Theater Department website for more info) and to do a quick preview; which happened to include my favorite number "All for the Best." This number has the best line: "Your robe and mood, are both a deep blue, you bet that Job, had nothing on you." Which, again is pretty accurate considering that these days Job definitely wouldn't be able to get a job. Crummy economy jokes aside, this show is great: it combines religious sentiment with snippets of dark humor (my favorite kind) and great one liners. You know it's a good show if it has to do with religion as isn't suffering the religious 3Bs: boycott, banning and burning.

This event is a tie into what's going on in the upper gallery: OSU Department of Theater cool-ness (yes that is the official name. . .no it's not). This show has set design models on display.

Tony Straiges
Set Design for The Great Magoo
Hartford Stage Company
1982

Seeing that much detail in such a small space is pretty amazing (cut the feeling of seeing a ship built in a coke bottle and paste it right HERE).

In addition to set designs we have the horse heads from the play Equus. I want to provide you with a copious amount of information on the playwrite, Peter Schaffer, but I cannot think straight because I am in a school-girl twitter over the mental picture of Harry Potter (real name not needed) in the play. If your imagination is not as vivid as mine, here's a little gift from me to you (not because I have a crush on him, but because I watched him grow up and feel and older sister-like obligation to tell him to put his clothes on).

All The Time in the World / August 7th

If I had all the time in the world to spend downtown at art events in the next few days this is the stuff I would do. (Columbus, Ohio)

Tonight, Thursday August 7th.
8pm
The Shelf Gallery, at 57 E Gay Street, is hosting an acoustic music event that is going to be perfect. All these bands can be found on myspace, but trust me, I think you'll really like it.

Friday, August 8th
12 pm
VOX - Columbus Gay Men's Chorus this just seems awesome. If someone can actually make it to this, please let me know what you think.

7pm
Horton Hears a Who is showing at Genoa Park on the Riverfront behind Cosi, 303 W. Broad St.
I will be at this. The film starts at 9ish and will surely give you alot to think about.

Saturday, August 9th
Mad Theatre presents Stripped Away.
"Carol is burning the candle at both ends. By day she is a sociology professor. By night, as part of her latest sociological study, she is a waitress at The Itchy Kitty, the tri-state's #4 gentleman's club. On top of that, her relationship with her boyfriend is crumbling, her sister wants to date the club DJ, her boss wants to fire her, and she'll do about anything to keep it together." Check out the trailer. This is gonna be super zany.