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Mary Alice
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Posted: Mon Jul 14th, 2008 12:21 am |
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"Do you?"
A Critique of Edward Crosby Wells' The Wake
The Wake can be read at http://www.edwardcrosbywells.com/
"Do you?"
The Wake is a challenge. In structure reminiscent of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, in which we see a town through monologues delivered by it’s residents, The Wake reveals the life of a poet through the eyes of people who in some way related to him. People as close as a sibling and as distant as the florist.
"Do you?"
The Wake is a challenge. In the cast list we are told only the relationship of the character to the poet: THE SISTER, THE PETRIFIED FLORIST, THE UNDERTAKER, THE FIRST WIFE. Each monologue is unique, revealing the individual, revealing relationship, revealing the poet.
The text is rich and witty, poignant and humorous. The seams are smooth and there is just one line I found jarring in a way that seems disruptive to the piece. This is, "FIRST WIFE: I have to get my hands on a gun." Not the quietly resigned character I saw exposed, perhaps she is curious as to the whereabouts of his gun?
"Do you?"
The Wake is a challenge. The play’s universality challenges each of us to consider the big, old words. The ones we use to define ourselves. The ones we’re so willing to fight for. In fact it challenges us to do something more than consider. But, for the most part, we don’t. "UNDER-TAKER: All knew they would cease to be. But nobody believed it." For the most part we, "sip instead our glass of tea." (Clifford Odets, Awake and Sing)
To return to Wells and The Wake on this subject, "THE OTHER POET: The world stops and we take a chair and a blanket and a soft pillow and we sit. Patiently. Two old souls. Asses gone lazy. Mules refusing to budge. Watching. Waiting for the world to rouse itself from sleep. "
"Do you?"
The Wake is a challenge in a personal sense, because I consider myself a writer. I spend time using words to create and describe and consider. Many questions arise around writing. At least four of the characters are writers. Are we selfish, self centered, self obsessed? Do we produce anything of value? I ask myself the question posed by NOT SO VERY REVEREND "Was your poetry worth the price you paid?" And the question asked much later in the play-
"-Do you?"
Yes! I do.
I do, In part because there is a play entitled The Wake, by a man named Edward Crosby Wells, which defies easy answers, challenges dying institutions, reveals wasted efforts and shuns sloppy metaphors.
"Please, Sir, I want more." (Dickens)
Love, Peace and Silliness!
Mary Alice
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Edd
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Posted: Mon Jul 14th, 2008 02:37 pm |
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Wow, Mary Alice. Thank you.
Last edited on Tue Jul 22nd, 2008 04:34 pm by Edd
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Mary Alice
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Posted: Mon Jul 14th, 2008 05:30 pm |
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Edd,
You have done something that hasn't been done in a good long while! You have shocked me! "Having no formal education!?" Denial kicks in-. You are amazing!
Take care of yourself. What you are doing matters to a lot of us.
Silly relates to "soulful" through Old High German somehow. This tells us something about the old Germans. Silly or not, I will help in any way I can.
Love, Peace and SIlliness,
Mary Alice
Last edited on Mon Jul 14th, 2008 05:34 pm by Mary Alice
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Edd
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Posted: Mon Jul 14th, 2008 05:56 pm |
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Last edited on Tue Jul 22nd, 2008 04:35 pm by Edd
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in media res
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Posted: Wed Jul 16th, 2008 05:10 am |
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edd,
I only read "The Wake" in its infancy maybe about a year ago and loved what you were doing. I have yet to read it in it's present state.
But your "The Moon Away" is a gorgeous and painful play. I look forward to reading the new "The Wake."
As far as your comments on formal education: MFA is what my friends and I termed thirty years ago as "M*ther F*ckin' Asshole." It allows one to teach at some colleges and universities. I know enough of them. Some are very dedicated teachers. A few are good actors. Some got their job through good old boy or good old girl networking. But, ALWAYS REMEMBER THIS: an MFA does not make one a writer, actor or director. So much for degrees in the Arts. It takes drive, guts, ability to withstand and even love and learn from pain and disappointment. it takes a love - and sometimes hate - of your work. No none...No one...can teach you that. They can asssit you, but they can not teach you that.
Most professionals in theatre and other media that I know - if they have an MFA - never put it in their bios. Basically because no one cares. I have never worked with a good actor where having a degree or not, ever made any difference on the stage or in any other performing medium. In 32 years no one hiring me ever asked where I went to school or whether I ever went to school.
Recently I was at a party and an MFA teacher was talking to me and I said, "I thought the point of being in the theatre was at least attempting to make a living at it." She turned away in a huff. So, this is a message to all: If you have or can afford to have a degree, that is fantastic. You can learn a lot and cherish every dollar you spent on that degree. You earned it. But whether you have one or not, to heck with the degrees, and go out and work and produce and act and write. I love education. I study as much as I can on my own and with others.
I can only advise: Continue to do your work at whatever level you are at and at whatever age you are at. Make it exciting work. Love your work. Respect your work. Respect yourself. Respect your audience. Fail or succeed, but continue to work, work, work.
That is what this forum is all about.
I just read in the NY Times, Estelle Parson at 80 years of age, is performing the lead in "August, Osage County" on Broadway 8 times a week. See above about drive, guts, etc. And I forgot to mention sheer stamina.
Bless us all.
in media resLast edited on Wed Jul 16th, 2008 02:33 pm by in media res
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