Post by Chicago Jake on Jul 9, 2009 0:29:39 GMT -6
We saw a show in Chicago tonight called "Blackbird," starring native-son William "CSI" Petersen.
This was one of those Mamet-esque plays that focus on angst and misery, and attempt to make you feel the pain of the characters. In that attempt, it pretty much worked. I doubt I would recommend it to many people, but I enjoyed it.
Petersen plays a middle-aged schlub who was once convicted and incarcerated for having a sexual relationship with a twelve year old girl. Now he's out of jail and is trying to rebuild his life. Suddenly, his former mini-squeeze, now pushing 30, shows up to confront him.
What does she want? Why is she there? This is never really resolved, but the two of them do re-hash their feelings and motivations, before, during, and after their time together. I think the point of the play was to make you feel what they might have felt, the good and the bad, and to see both of their points of view. Not just about the depraved actions, but about how you deal with life after the fact. I *think* we were meant to see and feel the ambiguity of the situation, how each of them were both victim and predator, and I did see it.
While it didn't move me as much as it probably wanted to, I thought it did a good job of presenting a lot of interesting points of view.
Other point of interest: this play was performed at the Biograph Theater on Lincoln Avenue in Chicago. Yes, the very same theater where Dillinger spent his final night above ground on Earth. And we just saw the Michael Mann/Johnny Depp movie last week! So of course it was on my mind. As we exited the theater, a few blocks down the road on the walk home, I saw a Chicago Police car blocking off the road! Fortunately, I kept my cool and maintained a nonchalant composure, and managed to avoid any lethal entanglements.
This was one of those Mamet-esque plays that focus on angst and misery, and attempt to make you feel the pain of the characters. In that attempt, it pretty much worked. I doubt I would recommend it to many people, but I enjoyed it.
Petersen plays a middle-aged schlub who was once convicted and incarcerated for having a sexual relationship with a twelve year old girl. Now he's out of jail and is trying to rebuild his life. Suddenly, his former mini-squeeze, now pushing 30, shows up to confront him.
What does she want? Why is she there? This is never really resolved, but the two of them do re-hash their feelings and motivations, before, during, and after their time together. I think the point of the play was to make you feel what they might have felt, the good and the bad, and to see both of their points of view. Not just about the depraved actions, but about how you deal with life after the fact. I *think* we were meant to see and feel the ambiguity of the situation, how each of them were both victim and predator, and I did see it.
While it didn't move me as much as it probably wanted to, I thought it did a good job of presenting a lot of interesting points of view.
Other point of interest: this play was performed at the Biograph Theater on Lincoln Avenue in Chicago. Yes, the very same theater where Dillinger spent his final night above ground on Earth. And we just saw the Michael Mann/Johnny Depp movie last week! So of course it was on my mind. As we exited the theater, a few blocks down the road on the walk home, I saw a Chicago Police car blocking off the road! Fortunately, I kept my cool and maintained a nonchalant composure, and managed to avoid any lethal entanglements.