Review of The Primrose Path at The Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis

Quote of the Day:  It is the character who is willing to bare it all, to risk going against the norms of society, who has the best chance of a happy ending. Summary of what I observed from watching The Primrose Path at The Guthrie Theater, and from the discussion with the actors after the show.

Image from The Guthrie Theater, photo by T. Charles Erickson. Jim Stanek as Mikhalevich, Christian Bardin as A Maid from Mtsensk

Music is a central theme of The Primrose Path, a new play by Crispin Whittell. The composer, Wayne Barker, wrote the music for this show, which is moving and captivating, with sad undertones, and at times, humorous. Tom Bloom, who portrays the private music instructor Christoph Lemm, plays much of the music live on stage, giving us (the audience) a feeling of being in the parlor with the family and their guests. Music is an emotional creative outlet, a vehicle for finding one's voice, literally and figuratively, as some of the characters in this play are trying to do.

The Primrose Path is a play based on the Russian novel Home of the Gentry by Ivan Turgenev, published in 1859. The playwright, Crispin Whittell, is British and wrote this play for The Guthrie Theater, an American stage with national standing. Does this play have an identity crisis? Maybe. Some of the language and much of the setting give you the feeling of a distant time and place. The costumes are incredible, very much period dressings.

Sally Wingert as Maria, Suzy Kohane as Elizaveta in

The Primrose Path, photo by T. Charles Erickson

"It's a poofy dress kind of play," I told my sister as we were driving into the city. "I love poofy dress plays," she responded. 

It's also a play that digs into what is truly important in life, a timeless theme. Some of the language and actions seem very modern. What was Maria doing with a plastic bubble blower in 1845 Russia? And, what of the music that had a classic feel although it was written specifically for this play here in the year 2013? Maybe what Whittell and the director Roger Rees are trying to do is show us (the audience) that we are connected to the past. While fashions change, the need to control our environments (and sometimes each other) doesn't. From the time the first humans were born on this earth, they have been searching for the best way to live out this, relatively, short life, to love freely, to pursue one's deepest desires, and to make a splash that gets people's attention.

Or, maybe, it's just fun to spend Mother's Day with my sister watching a "poofy dress" show, listening to new music that feels familiar, and dream of what could happen if we dared.

The Primrose Path is playing on The Guthrie's Wurtele Thrust Stage through June 15. Go to The Guthrie for show times and tickets!

(Here's what I really wanted to write for my review.) It's pretty good. I think you should go, and see for yourself what works, what doesn't, and what you'd dare to do given the right circumstances. Anyway, that's what Millie and Willie Cottonpoly (sock puppets) would say. I heard Millie sigh when it was over. That's always a sign of a good play.

Go. Create. Inspire!

Journaling Prompt:  What would make you bare it all and jump into life with arms wide open?

Open a Post on Open

Quote of the Month: Open the window in the center of your chest and let the spirits fly in and out. Rumi
(My theme for this year's A to Z Challenge is Open.)

Millie and Willie Cottonpoly, a sock puppet creation, are here to tell you their story during the April A to Z Blogging Challenge.  

Millie and Willie having a cup of coffee.

Millie:  Willie, did you see this post from our friends who make mosaics? I want to share it in our A to Z Challenge.

Willie:  Too bad we already passed M.

Millie:  It's from Nutmeg Designs. They are so talented.

Willie:  Too bad we already passed N.

Millie:  They made a beautiful O which stands for Open and wrote all about it.

Willie:  Too bad we already passed O.

Millie:  (slapping her forehead and giving Willie a look) We can use it today. It's P day.

Willie:  There's no P in mosaic, Margaret, Startoz, Nutmeg Designs, O.

Millie: Post, Willie. I'll link to their post on Stratoz' blog. Post starts with the letter P.

Willie:  So does pizza. I'm hungry.

Millie:  I hear Stratoz makes a mean pizza.

Willie:  Maybe he'll invite us over some day.

Millie:  We should be so lucky.

Willie:  Party, party starts with p, and we could serve popovers, peanuts, pancakes.

Millie:  Willie, you're getting distracted again. I think we should start by inviting Margaret and Stratoz over for coffee.

Willie:  And, pastries.

Millie:  Oh, for heaven's sake.

Willie:  I could teach them my favorite song. (Willie starts singing, I've been working on the railroad.)

*********************

 

Go. Create. Inspire!

 

Journaling Prompt:  Please visit Strat's blog on Open. What have you been open to in the last year?

I've been open to meeting new people, trying new things, producing a play, jumping on a bike (Harley), taking a wild west vacation, and many more wonderful things.

Open v. Closed

Quote of the Day:  Whenever one door closes, another one opens.
Or, as Maria says it in The Sound of Music, When God closes a door, somewhere He opens a window.

 

This image comes from the store called The Olde Open Window.

 

My word for the year is OPEN. Roxane, blogger at Peace Garden Writer, discussed the word for the year with me. She said that sometimes you also experience it's opposite. For me, that would be close, closed, maybe even closing.

 

Sometimes, something has to close in order for another to open. Sometimes, we're open to that change. Sometimes, we resist it. I attended a decluttering workshop once where the instructor gave me an image. If we hold tightly to our old ways and our old things we are closed up, fists clenched, pulled into ourselves. But, if we open our hands, fling wide our arms, we are now open for something new and better. 

 

So, I'm starting out my year of the word OPEN, with a closing. My church, which was a start-up Lutheran church in our area, is closing. We weren't able to grow enough in the past six year to sustain a viable existence. This smaller faith community was just what I needed. They embraced me, healed me, and lifted me up. I felt like I belonged in this smaller parish. They seemed more authentic and close-knit compared to larger congregations, and everyone's efforts were appreciated. Rejoice Lutheran was there for me when I needed it. It's a place where I let my musical talents shine. I will miss the community.

 

So, now what?  I don't know. Maybe I'm meant to be more global in my spirituality? Maybe it's time to step back and be open to other possibilities.

 

What will open up from this closing?

 

Go. Create. Inspire!

 

Journaling Prompt:  Has January sparked some change in your life? Any closings? Anything new opening for you?

 

 

IWSG January 2013 and the Word for the Year

Quote of the Day:  Now is no time to think of what you do not have, think of what you can do with what there is. Ernest Hemingway

It is the first Wednesday of the month, and the first Wednesday of the year. I participate in the Insecure Writer's Support Group, hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Go to his site for more details and a link to others who participate. It's a great way to build community in our writer world.

Interesting shaped package

 

K.C. had the most interesting shaped package "under" the tree this year. Everyone who looked at it had a guess. A "For Sale" sign, a picket sign, a sign that announces your business, directions, a huge shovel, an extra large pancake flipper? The only way to discover the answer is to OPEN the gift.

 

Once you've opened the gift, you have a certain expectation of how to use it. You get a little nervous and think, but who am I to use such a fine gift? Aren't there others out there with more advanced gifts that mine? Am I really worthy of it?

 

This year, I've decided to throw my name in the lotto for the Minnesota Fringe Fest. It's a week long festival of theater productions for anyone who dares to participate, about 165 different types of performances. They have everything from kids writing their own shows to very adult themed and professional troups, dance performances, and one person stand-up. Anything goes. The only way to get into the festival is to register your name, get a number, and be chosen. I went to the informational meeting on it at our local community college. Two of the organizers came up to promote it and answer our questions. I got excited. I told myself I'd go right home and sign up. Then, I looked at the website, and got scared. Look at all those fabulous photos, amazing productions, talented actors and crew, creative thinkers. The negative committee sat down in my head and ordered pizza. They almost talked me out of applying. But, I have to do it.

 

My word for the year is OPEN. The message I'm hearing from it is, you are open. Your gifts have been opened, now go out and use them to...

 

Go. Create. Inspire!

 

I'll be applying for Fringe Fest today. Wish me luck!

 

Journaling Prompt:  What's your word for the year? What fabulous gifts have you opened that are beckoning you to use?

 

It's a spear used for ice fishing, hand made by my nephew.