Review:Yank, Evolution Theatre Company

Evolution Theatre Company’s production of “Yank” cannot seem to make up its mind about what it wants to be. 

   The overall disjointedness of this piece stems from a schizophrenic script.  The scenarios from author/lyricist David Zellnik flit back and forth among committed homosexuals who are trying to be good soldiers, folks who can’t decide whether they are gay or straight, over-the-top flaming queen caricatures who hang out in the typing pool pretending to be characters from “Gone With The Wind”, bi-sexuals who exploit whatever situation they are in, everyday non-descript heterosexuals who may or may not be willing and able to put personal prejudices aside to soldier on and do the right thing in combat.  

   The  author adds to the confusion by including wrinkles of WW II era societal mores opposing homosexuality. Military regulations punishing homosexual behavior lift the chaos over the top. 

   I might have tolerated this better had the author excluded the hackneyed, cliche, flaming queen bits.  Perhaps these were intended to be portrayed as dream sequences in the central character's imagination.  If that was the case, it failed due to poor staging and ineffective lighting design.  

   The script contains elements for a good story about how gay soldiers who were sincere in their love tried to juggle their relationships in a world that did not understand them and refused to support them even though they were just as dedicated to serving the military and their fellow soldiers as their heterosexual brothers.  But the essence and sincerity of that story drowns in all the extraneous garbage.

   There are three or four pleasant songs in Joseph Zellnik’s score, but I found most of the tunes boring. The off-pitch, un-tuned stylings from the band didn’t help.  

   In my opinion, the skills and abilities of excellent actors such as Nick Hardin (Stu), Will Macke (Mitch), Jeb Bigelow (Sarge/Scarlett, etc.), Jessica Siler Lehner (Louise/HelenRay/ Denah, etc.), Doug Joseph (Melanie, Dame, MP) and Brent Fabian (Artie) are wasted on this script. 

   My research indicates that this show got good reviews and award nominations when it first played in New York.  It premiered in 2010 at a time when politicians and the press were debating and repealing the military’s “Don’t Ask; Don’t Tell” legislation.  Some critics compared the music to “Rogers and Hammerstein”.     (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/25/theater/reviews/25yank.html?_r=0). 

     The performance I saw was a preview.  Energy, ensemble cohesiveness and music tuning will probably improve as this show moves into regular performance, but it won't change my opinion about the unworthiness of this script.  It has too much gratuitous, idiotic, unrealistic, gay activist non-sense.  This serves Evolution Theatre’s mission to bring gay themes to the stage.  Many folks will see the show because of the reputations and popularity of cast members. The Gay community will probably embrace it.  Personally, I think it is offensive and demeaning to gays.  I certainly don’t recommend it.

Instant Ordination

  I just discovered an Internet organization that will provide a certificate of ordination and clergy credentials that authorize people to perform marriages and baptisms.  All this for less than $85. If you apply on line you can receive all the necessary documents in less than an hour. 

     Could this be part of the reason why so many folks in our current culture don't take Christianity seriously?

Charitable Giving

 Last week I received a “commissioner’s certificate” from one of my favorite organizations. 

   It was a very officious looking document with high-sounding words printed on heavy parchment paper.  It featured attractively scripted large lettering, a beautiful color watermark and a raised seal, much like a diploma.

    The organization was allegedly extending this recognition to me because of my continued support.  The certificate came with a letter containing more high-sounding words and a request for an additional donation.  In other words, it was just another clever ploy to solicit more money.

      I feel certain that many people framed the beautiful certificates and then sent  $25 to $200, flattered by the recognition of this mass mailing.  After all we are in the season of graduations, and everybody wants to feel special with their own personal diploma. 

      I scanned the certificate and the cover letter to my digital scrapbook then shredded them along with the solicitation.

     I understand this is how marketing works.  Organizations use whatever means they can think of to get faithful friends like me to send more money.  

        It is my privilege to support a number of organizations and causes because I believe in the work they do or the services and benefits they provide.  But I offer support on my terms, not theirs. No matter how much I give, it will never be enough as far as they are concerned.

    If I were to give in to all the manipulative, clever marketing and emotional blackmail donation requests that I receive, my credit cards would be maxed out, my bank accounts would be drained, I would probably be living on the street and I would still owe taxes to the government which wastes money on things that I don’t believe in.  

 

The Age of Adeline

  My husband and I decided we wanted a break from live theater this evening and we chose to go to a movie instead.  Picking a movie was not an easy task.  I have no interest in all the action-adventure flicks that dominate feature film market these days.  Nor do I care for cartoons.  Give me a good old-fashioned feel-good love story.  “The Age Of Adaline” certainly fits the bill nicely.  It’s a real “chick flick”.   The concept of  continuing to look 29 when one is over 100 years old is not new.  Folks have been making up these kinds of fantasies for decades – and making money on them.  The exposition at the beginning of the show is a bit tedious, but once the background information was established, I thought that the unfolding of Adaline’s relationships and interactions was interesting.  It’s pure fiction but it is a good story that is well-told.  The cinematography is excellent.  Blake Lively is beautiful, poised and convincing in the title role.  There are some nice moments from Harrison Ford, Ellen Burstyn, Kathy Baker and Michiel Huisman.  The moral of this trite little story is that the reality of immortality isn’t as joy-filled and glamorous as our fantasies and wish life tell us that it ought to be.

Weaning Myself Away From Social Media

   I just created a web site for myself.  I am told by the experts that I should have a presence on the web aside from social media, if I expect people to take my writing seriously.

    I need to stop wasting so much time and energy wondering if my 400-plus Facebook friends will notice or care about my latest rantings.  I am a conservative. Most of my Facebook friends are liberals.  I "friended" them or they "friended" me based on our mutual enjoyment of theater, music and other such things.