Category Archives: drama

The Grand Equalizer.

May 9, 2016classical music, commentary, drama, Encouraging Thunder Award, Good Food, health and wellness, human behavior, humor, political commentary, psychology, social behavior, social commentary, sociology, Uncategorizedair brushing, alternate realities, audio editing, autotune, bacon fat, broadcasting pundits, CNN panel discussions, Democratic Primary, distended colon, Dr. Walter Hartley, Dr. Walter S. Hartley (1927-2016), farting in public, gastronomy, media bias, political debates, probiotics, professional editingruth ann scanzillo

A couple nights ago, in the midst of post-Presidential Primary furor and cresting to the height of their vigorous political panel discussion, somebody on CNN farted.

Now, we’re not talking your fleeting emission. This was a massive gasso profundo, one that could only have come from a colon of awesome dimension, stretched to its ultimate limits of retainment. This was the Grand Prize Winner of all Wind.

I was so gobsmacked, I actually stuck around until the whole news segment revolved, just to see what the audio crew would do with this monstrosity.

Perched on the edge of my buttocks, I waited with poised anticipation for the slightest of scant, aberrating vibrations.

And, then……

Nothing. Absolutely no sign of the mortifying mortar – apart from a deftly inserted, if faint, moment of Muzak, just as the camera pulled back to display the defendants’ line up.

Yes, CNN was nothing, if not prepared. I knew, at that instant, should the planet suddenly find itself under siege by unrecognizable life forms, this giant of the news circuit would be ready to photo and audioshop anything anybody on earth was absolutely certain had been seen and heard. Alternate reality was already in da house.

Even when whatever a pundit had for dinner refused to submit to digestive enzymes, anybody could be rendered the picture of virgin, if probiotic, equilibrium. We live in an air brushed, auto-tuned world.

But, just what are these public personae consuming? Is there some kind of sphincter syndrome plaguing our pontificators? Or, have they all been overcome by a fetish for the fanny fortissimo?

In my day, farting out loud was the predominant domain of the 8 year old boy. Oh; and, his father, on some joint expedition to the great outdoors. I even had a college professor, whose genius expanded to include a profound appreciation for the full on function; Dr. Walter S. Hartley*, composer, multiple ASCAP award recipient, was known to cut one loose, stop, raise a pointed finger, grin mischievously, and declare: “I believe that was a B-flat.” then, lumber off, with the weighty gait of one whose cranium could barely contain its contents, leaving all to ponder the pitch potential of their own pooter.

Yes; uproariously hilarious to them all, we girls and various other civilized creatures just reserved ours for the appropriate time and place – being sure to strategically flush if guests were in proximity, of course.

But, this? Google “farting on Tv”, and you’ll be mildly alarmed. The women outnumber the men – and, most of them are either broadcasters or politicians.

One could speculate.

The media’s been catching a lot of flack, lately, regarding its veracity. Truth, in fair and balanced reporting. The profession used to be populated by the noble and impeccable, those who embodied what we all called “dignity.” Now, in the interests of appealing to a “wider demographic”, perhaps we’re settling for something that masquerades as the “human” element.

Either that, or the Euro-American diet finds itself at a crossroads. Consult your local gastronomist: health-conscious vegetable smoothies can’t be paired with bacon fat without explosive consequences.

Maybe we should be grateful for the technological touch ups that seem so essential, anymore, to our socio-professional survival. After all, we’re a cross cultural melting pot, now, and the models held up for our children are coming from the four corners of the earth.

And, that, if nothing else, puts a whole new spin on blooming where you’re planted!

***

In Memoriam

Dr. Walter S. Hartley

February 21, 1927 – June 30, 2016

littlebarefeetblog.com

Birthed.

April 15, 2016arts education, classical music, classical musicians, creative writing, drama, film reviews, musicians, performance, scenes, social commentary, sociology20th century musical theater, embittered mothers, mothers raising sons, musical theater, psychotherapy, reviews of musicals, Sondheim on Sondheim, Stephen Sondheim, theaterruth ann scanzillo

The American musical is ubiquitous. Sooner or later, all that is popular finds its way into the genre that delivers singing, dancing, singular sensation. Ever since opera buffa drew the local crowds to the town square, promising momentary diversion from war, pestilence, plague, and stench, humans have craved the escape of pure entertainment.

Enter Steven Sondheim.

A boy, born to a woman who loved a man who left her for another. Said child to learn at the feet of the greats – Oscar Hammerstein, Jimmy Hammerstein (Jimmy Hammerstein). Leonard Bernstein.

One would have thought that, bathed in such saturating influence, the young composer would have churned out second rate imitations of the icons who surrounded him. But, there was another factor at play, one that would be profoundly key to what would ultimately distinguish him as the social commentator of the age.

But, to reveal it would give away the heart of the story.

Steven Sondheim, for any musician from any genre, for any poet, for anyone who loves or has loved, for any student of the human condition…….people, you know when you come home from a session with your therapist, and all you can think about is how much money these people make for telling you to breathe deeply when you’re angry? Last weekend, I saw this man’s definitive autobiography, “Sondheim on Sondheim” at the Erie Playhouse. If you are privileged to see any production of this blended retrospective of his work, two full acts which he narrates on accompanying video, be sure to stay until the end. If you do, you will see into a mirror that will show you what you never before realized, feel things that you didn’t even know you needed to or could, and be floored by what is revealed.

As in his very life, the experience will tear you up and put you back together, like nothing else. It’ll be all the therapy you’ll ever need.

littlebarefeetblog.com

Just Do.

March 1, 2016classical music, classical musicians, dance, drama, Good Food, health and wellness, human behavior, performance, psychology, social behavior, social commentary, sociology, Uncategorizedaudience, Canellakis Brown Duo, creative fuel, Gary Viebranz, Music At Noon Penn State Behrend, selective attending, value of audience, Yodaruth ann scanzillo

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Last week, Gary Viebranz said something striking. Now, anybody who actually knows Gary will find that statement amusing; indeed, he says something memorable every time he exhales air. The man is a comic legend.

But, beyond that. We were walking out of the Reed Union concert space, Penn State/Behrend following a wonderful performance by the Canellakis Brown Duo at his acclaimed “Music At Noon” Series last week (I missed today’s guests), and he said something to this effect: ” It’s nice when audiences appreciate performers, and performers appreciate audiences.”

I, of course, let being struck by that nestle in my ruminating lobe.

It’s funny. Have been almost embarrassed, as a fairly recent public blogger (just over a year and a half, this month) to admit how little I read published authors. Of equally awkward admission, having spent the past thirty years as a professional musician, I listen to far fewer fellow musicians than my colleagues. This is likely quite anomalous among performing professionals and writers. I do support them, and try to attend, but admit to finding what I need elsewhere.

Yes, I am devoted audience to two other art forms: drama, and dance.

Great acting absolutely fascinates me. I live for the story. Dance, equally so. Why? Oh, I love to dance, and had a blast taking some swing and salsa lessons; but, this scoliotic body, with these feet? Come on. I was definitely born to be audience in their room. And, when I am, nearly every moving image populates my imagination thereafter.

As for acting, well, I do dream. Would love to take a stab at a bit character. But, the sheer volume of memorized utterance is flummoxing; how they do it escapes me. Yet, what they do informs both how I think and what I create. To every single second of their offering, I am completely committed.

So, let’s just all relax. Stop the infernal, internal judging. If there’s a show, and you are busy creating, then you are where you belong. Be audience to just exactly whatever it is that feeds your fuel center. Take in what you need; then, go, and do. Please, do. Make something beautiful.

But, when you are the audience, immerse yourself. And, remember to appreciate your fellows, earnestly, even if it is in recording after the show. Locals, if you’ve never caught “Music at Noon” over at Behrend Campus, the quality is unsurpassed. Yes; even though some were born to write rather than read, to play rather than attend, just keep looking and listening.

And, then, like Yoda said: Just do.

p.s. While we’re at it: Actors and dancers: check out live music, in a genre unfamiliar. You might get some unexpected nourishment!

littlebarefeetblog.com

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