A Surprisingly Violent Musical

Last night I went to the Muny again with my mom and we saw Little Shop of Horrors.  This musical, as you may or may not remember from the best documentary ever, was written and originally directed by Howard Ashman.  But let me tell you, this ain't no Little Mermaid.

The premise is itself kind of violent and unconventional:  Seymour (our hero... ?) works at a florist shop on poor Skid Row and has an interest in unusual plants.  One he can't find in his botany books and names it Audrey II (after the lovely but battered Audrey who works in the shop with him).  He puts Audrey II in the window and business immediately picks up.  But the plant is still wilting.  Seymour has tried everything to revive the plant, but the solution comes when he accidentally cuts his finger, and a drop of his blood slips into the plant.  The plant licks its lips (it resembles a venus fly trap), clearly wanting more blood.  How much more?  As the plant grows, the body count grows as well to make for a surprisingly violent musical.

I had never seen the play before or the movie, so  I had no idea what to expect.  It was certainly enjoyable, and the lyrics were clever as Ashman's always are, but the story was taken to a surprising level of grittiness.  Audrey has an abusive and sadistic boyfriend, who calls her a slut and even hits her onstage.  I was definitely not expecting that.  Oh, and the boyfriend's song (about how he loves causing pain) starts with him saying how as a kid he liked shooting dogs with his bb gun.  Wow.  It ends up being a funny song, about how his mom saw this behavior and said, hey I know what you can become with that clearly sociopathic issue.... a dentist!  Anyway, it sounds pretty awful, but it was kinda funny.

The other songs were pretty good.  My favorite was the first one they sang, "The Little Shop of Horrors".  For some of the songs, there was this barbershop trio of women who spiced up the numbers. Although their parts were relatively small, I really liked the three of them.  

I have to say I was not expecting the ending.  I won't spoil it, but it was also rather dark for a musical.  I will say this: don't feed the plants.

Clinic

Okay guys this is my first crack at poetry. Do not be alarmed at my mental state, but I am really mad at a piece of legislation and the closing down of crisis clinics in my area. Here it is "Clinic":

I am cut open like a trout
Feast upon the entrails
Consume the bloody mass

Picking the lillies by the day
War became an open day
Sometimes I believe in god

Sometimes not

Willow, willow
I was eviscerated by the tree
They feast upon my lillies

They gut me like a trout
I watch as they slowly let me die
I watch as the monsters eat my entrails

Sometimes I believe in god
Mostly not

There is a knight who should save me
Sometimes a fairy comes my way
Both do not cut off my head,
But leave the scourge to eat my entrails

There is war
I pick lillies as the soldiers go by
No coat hangers to rid the baby inside

They gut me like a trout
Entrails soaking the lillies
The unwanted child allowed to die
Sometimes I believe in god

Forever not

Cool Interview

Hey guys,

Because I'm having a little trouble letting go of Harry Potter (don't judge me!) I happened upon this article where they interview Jason Isaacs (aka Lucius) about his time in Harry Potter. And Cylon, I know you're not a Harry Potter fan, but I think you'll still find it interesting. He talks about playing what is basically a white supremacist even though he's Jewish, and even talks about how they didn't want him to have blonde hair originally, but he insisted because he wanted to have fun dressing up as a wizard. It's really interesting to hear his perspective on the character. Check it out here!

Also, I miss you guys constantly. <3

Vlogbrothers Video

This video is from two nerdy brothers that I follow on youtube. He talks a little about bullying and some other stuff. I'd thought I share it with you guys because it's people like this that give me hope for the world. Seriously, I love these guys.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmEmvKaKt5A&feature=feedu

Not a Bang, but a Whimper

The ad agency I was interning at closed yesterday.

Just folded like a five-dollar suitcase.  No warning.  I walked into work yesterday, the owner and hr lady brought me into her office and said "We're closing."  Oh, and "Let everyone know to come see me when they walk in."  What a happy job that was.

I didn't turn on the music in the lobby.
I didn't think this needed a soundtrack.

The past few weeks I had noticed some money problems and I wasn't expecting a job offer from the company at the close of the internship anymore, but I was expecting another month of looking for a real job.  My dad says this is almost better, now I can focus all my energies on me and stuff I need to do to get a job, instead of doing it in between shipping things or answering phones.  Which is true.

It was so strange to be there at the close though.  People who had worked there for years and had so much shit accumulated in their offices were cleaning them out.  Taking loads out to their cars.  Like they were suddenly evicted.

These experienced, older people are now in the same boat I'm in: unemployed.  They all wished me luck, it's a small town maybe I'll see you, handshakes.  The production guy, who was easily my closest friend there, said keep in touch, if I come across any writing jobs I'll let you know.  I don't say goodbye. Good luck.  The account guy said, oh I'll be fine, you stay in touch with the creative director.  The creative director said, yes send your stuff to me and I'd be happy to take a look at it.  (Was is my imagination -did he also say, I think you're a talented writer- )  And, sure I can give you a reference.

The mood is harder to recreate.

Even though I had my issues with that place and the work I was (wasn't) doing, I was still emotionally affected by the proceedings.  The expressions exchanged: surprise, resignation... fear.  The phrase, "Well, what are you doing tomorrow?"  I had little invested here, but I was still anxious and even kinda sad.  I had points of contention with the place, but I didn't want it to go under.

They had been in business for 30 years.

Many made phone calls to loved ones, spouses, parents,,, prospective employers.  My mom called me in the morning.  In hushed tones:  they're closing.  Today.  I'll be home early.

As I got off the elevator for the last time, I thought it resembled a star in the process of dying.  But not a supernova, the other way, whatever that is.  Not an explosion, not angry, not a bang.  But a fizzle, a disintegration, a whimper.

Death of Literature

This is totally real.
Literature is officially dead.

http://www.penguinbooksindia.com/section/PENGUIN_CLASSICS/Black_Classics/Little_Women_9780143105015.aspx

Mashup

Okay, so I know this is a bit few years late, but this trailer is amazing and shows how similar two films could be.

http://vimeo.com/9389738

Also, all my comments have been disappearing and I don't know why.