This is the dawning of the age of...

The following is a textbook definition of the single most important aspect of, among many things, reading a book, enjoying poetry, or attending a theatre production.

“Suspension of disbelief or "willing suspension of disbelief" is a formula named as such in English by the poet and aesthetic philosopher Samuel Taylor Coleridge to justify the use of fantastic or non-realistic elements in literature. Coleridge suggested that if a writer could infuse a "human interest and a semblance of truth" into a fantastic tale, the reader would suspend judgment concerning the implausibility of the narrative.

“The phrase "suspension of disbelief" came to be used more loosely in the later 20th century, often used to imply that the onus was on the reader, rather than the writer, to achieve it. It might be used to refer to the willingness of the audience to overlook the limitations of a medium, so that these do not interfere with the acceptance of those premises. According to the theory, suspension of disbelief is a quid pro quo: the audience tacitly agrees to provisionally suspend their judgment in exchange for the promise of entertainment. These fictional premises may also lend to the engagement of the mind and perhaps proposition of thoughts, ideas, art and theories.”

Now, if you’re still reading I applaud you. More than one of my readers has said to me, “Eh….I saw that it was long and wordy so I didn’t read it.” Honestly, I don’t care. I blog for me.

I recently attended a revival production of the critically acclaimed 1967 Tribal Love-Rock musical Hair. I could not have been more surprised at how much I loved it! The only things I knew about the show were what I had heard from those who saw the first run (my parents age) and what I saw at the Tony’s last year. I didn’t think that Hair had anything that would appeal to my mostly (but not entirely) gilded-proscenium love affair with stuffy, golden aged, mid-western and South Pacific set, and overly dramatic musicals.

From the opening song I was emotionally involved. No, I do not have any sort of attachment to Aquarius, but I could not help the fact that I cried. Just a little. Don’t judge. This happens to me all the time. I think it has something to do with seeing another human put their entire being into a few short hours of quality entertainment. I would give anything to be able to do that every day. I think that will always be one of those missed opportunities sitting way back in the “what if” section of my mind.

As long as you have a strong suspension of disbelief it is impossible to be bored, harder to judge, and much easier to love anything that you are reading or watching. We are certainly not living in the turbulent time of the 1960’s, but it did make for an interesting, if not allegorical, juxtaposition. The show is the first Broadway musical in some time to have the authentic voice of today rather than the day before yesterday.

Pure Imagination

The Olney Central College stage has once again provided for a spring musical showcasing local talent, meeting public appeal, and allowing for some sweet sensationalism. If you know me, or follow thing blog at all you will know that I am a bit of a musical nerd. This year’s production of Willy Wonka has mixed two of my very favorite things; Children’s Literature and musical theatre. (I bet you didn’t know I was a children’s lit fan.)

I will begin by stating that I was not looking forward to this year’s choice. I have seen Willy Wonka on stage twice and I found it rather abysmal. But in the spirit of supporting the arts I reconciled my feelings with any theatre nerd’s mantra, “Well, at least it’ll sell tickets.” My two previous experiences were middle school productions, the second being an exclusively 5^th grade cast. I’m not about to criticize the young performers for their interpretation, or lack there of, but I left each production feeling cheated of the experience I had set myself up for. Sure it was pretty and colorful, and I guess that is all the grandparents in the audience expected. If you are considering doing Willy Wonka for your own youth musical please allow me to quote Wonka himself, “No. Stop. Don’t.” This show requires adults who have the ability to express satire and sarcasm.

In anticipation of Olney’s production of Willy Wonka I was already setting the bar quite low. But why? After all, if Broadway extravaganzas can be made of "The Lion King" and "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," then surely it could be done with "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory," the slightly sinister and borderline psychedelic 1964 book/1971 movie about the misadventures of rude kids touring the wildest candy-making plant ever devised. Right?

Of course, right. I guess all it took was a mature cast to understand that Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory had absolutely nothing to do with chocolate at all. Author Roald Dahl provided a classic good vs. evil story that used children as the villains. This was a highly criticized concept at the time of the books publication. A children’s book with children portraying the less than desirable qualities of life and morality…genius. There are also subtle overtones of predestination, “The meek shall inherit the earth,” and of course the power of positive thinking.

To our local cast I say, “Well done.” If I were to sum up our local production in one word it would be endearing. Nathan, Will, Neita, Keegan, Ivy, Austin, Bill and every member of the cast step on to the stage and disappear from their own lives and for just a few hours help create a better outlook on life. After all, there is no life I know to compare with pure imagination.

Wordless Wednesday: Scrumdiddlyumptious

Ours

Theirs

Come and see the Olney Central College production of Roald Dahl's
Willy Wonka!

March 25-28
Call 618-395-7777 for tickets

They Fly!!!

Wordless Wednesday: Doopadee Doo

Ours

Theirs

Come and see the Olney Central College production of Roald Dahl's
Willy Wonka!

March 19-21 & 25-28

They Fly!!!

How Beautifully Blue the Sky

My job has provided for varied learning experiences. There are two topics that I never expected to learn so much about. The first topic would be anything related to agriculture. As people come and go from the building I find myself saying things like, “yes the corn does look good,” or “You’re kidding! His beans are still out!” The second topic is the weather. I hate talking about the weather. But on days like today it is certainly unavoidable. So…since I have done it all day I shall now blog about the weather:

How beautifully blue the sky,
The glass is rising very high,
Continue fine I hope it may,
And yet it rained but yesterday.
Tomorrow it may pour again
(I hear the country wants some rain),
Yet people say, I know not why,
That we shall have a warm July.
Tomorrow it may pour again
(I hear the country wants some rain),
Yet people say, I know not why,
That we shall have a warm July.
Tomorrow it may pour again....

"It was a horse!"

You have no idea how excited I am for Thursday night!!! I will be traveling to Chicago with three dear friends to see the performance of a lifetime!

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, The Tony Award winning musical that has captured the hearts of people all over the world with its universal appeal, is coming to Chicago!

In what is a huge theatrical feat, audiences will have a once in a lifetime opportunity to see Chaim Topol, star of the original motion picture, in his farewell performance of the award winning role that made him legendary in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF.

Fiddler was the first show in which I was cast in a leading role. It has always been close to my heart, and will remain to be a sentimental favorite. The chance to see a legend of the stage and screen is an incredible opportunity.