tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452732101544377991.post1204300265768203333..comments2023-05-29T06:12:59.272-05:00Comments on Disjointed Observations: Reading List: April 2008Jonathan Polkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01629784845492490477noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452732101544377991.post-42743904974606372992008-05-02T15:06:00.000-05:002008-05-02T15:06:00.000-05:00The projection screen wasn't even used in the orig...The projection screen wasn't even used in the original production, which Williams admitted was the correct choice, but since it was in his initial script he included it in the published one too. <BR/><BR/>His whole idea for the projection screen comes from Brecht, but in his plays it wasn't so intrusive as it was only used at the beginning of scenes. In my opinion, it's kind of a hokey device.Jonathan Polkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01629784845492490477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452732101544377991.post-121111129922372562008-05-02T12:49:00.000-05:002008-05-02T12:49:00.000-05:00The version of "The Glass Menagerie" I saw used th...The version of "The Glass Menagerie" I saw used the projector screen; I had assumed it was some gimmick of that production. Perhaps I should actually read these Williams plays of which I have seen adaptations...Brendan Moodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18029384135423483043noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452732101544377991.post-54395046474545450912008-05-02T11:26:00.000-05:002008-05-02T11:26:00.000-05:00I remember really liking The Glass Menagerie, but ...I remember really liking <I>The Glass Menagerie</I>, but it was many years ago that I read it. The device of the projector screen has always fascinated me, but apparently it's not used much in actual productions. (I know it wasn't in the film.) The class I read it in was a good example of how not to teach something-- what earthly purpose does drawing the layout of the set as described in the stage directions serve? How is that going to get your students interested in the play?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7452732101544377991.post-34927442443033437512008-05-01T19:09:00.000-05:002008-05-01T19:09:00.000-05:00I look forward to your comments on The Shakespeare...I look forward to your comments on <I>The Shakespeare Wars</I>. When I read it last year, I enjoyed parts of it and found other parts rather dull-- I skimmed most of the last few chapters, as I recall.<BR/><BR/>My mom collects the Best American Short Stories anthologies, and I'm pretty sure I read all the 2002 stories, though only some of them are ringing bells at this late date. I thought the Chabon was effective in terms of its rather limited ambitions, adored the Doctorow (wish I could get into his novels), and also quite liked the Sharma, though I no longer remember why.<BR/><BR/>"The Problem of Susan" works best if you come to it with a knowledge of the problem in question, I think, and even then it's not really one of Gaiman's best.<BR/><BR/>I haven't read "The Glass Menagerie," but I did see a local version of it a few years ago. The audience kept laughing at lines that weren't jokes- especially the references to going to the movies. Irony and cynicism are everywhere, I guess.Brendan Moodyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18029384135423483043noreply@blogger.com