Tag Archives: Clifford Odets

“I didn’t think then, and I still don’t, that I was actually sick.” — Frances Farmer

“She’ll come back as fire To burn all the liars And leave a blanket of ash on the ground.” — Nirvana, “Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge on Seattle” It’s her birthday today. When Nirvana’s album In Utero came out … Continue reading

Posted in Actors, Movies, On This Day, Theatre | Tagged , , | 22 Comments

Meeting Elia Kazan

For Elia Kazan’s birthday I met Elia Kazan once. He showed up at a production of Clifford Odets’ Awake and Sing, which was being put on at the Actors Studio. I was involved in the production as a general Girl … Continue reading

Posted in Directors, On This Day, Personal | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

“The worst enemy of truth and freedom in our society is the compact majority.” — Henrik Ibsen

It’s his birthday today. Some posts from my archive: This is a doozy, an excerpt from an amazing book made up of transcribed lectures on Ibsen, Chekhov and Strindberg, by legendary actress and acting teacher Stella Adler. It’s a great … Continue reading

Posted in James Joyce, On This Day, Theatre, writers | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

July 2023 Viewing Diary

July was busy. I bought a new car. My old one basically disintegrated around me, so much so that the mechanic didn;t even want me to drive it home from his shop. I found a new apartment, and the market … Continue reading

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Sunday night, 8 pm ET: Movie Club discussion of The Big Knife

Every Sunday night, the Criterion Channel has been hosting “Movie Club” discussions on Twitter. Everyone watches the same movie and talks about it. They’ve been so much fun and a wonderful way to continue to create community. This Sunday night, … Continue reading

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2018 Books Read

2018 Books Read 1. Tamburlaine, Part 1, by Christopher Marlowe I finished 2017 with Paradise Lost, in the mood to continue with rigorous challenging poetry. I decided to read the complete plays of Christopher Marlowe (re-read in most cases). The … Continue reading

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Bookshelf Tour #6

More plays! First up: the essential two volumes of Paddy Chayefsky’s stuff (and there’s still more out there). The Stage Plays and The Collected Works of Paddy Chayefsky: The Television Plays. He’s so good for acting classes, both his plays, … Continue reading

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November 2015 Viewing Diary

Spotlight (2015; d. Tom McCarthy) Excellent newspaper movie. I reviewed for Rogerebert.com. Supernatural, Season 11, Episode 4, “Baby” (2015; d. Thomas J. Wright) Perfection, both formally and structurally as well as emotionally and spiritually. Truth (2015; d. James Vanderbilt) Another … Continue reading

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The Books: Real Life Drama: The Group Theatre and America 1931-1940, by Wendy Smith

Daily Book Excerpt: Theatre Next book on the acting/theatre shelf is Real Life Drama: The Group Theatre and America 1931-1940, by Wendy Smith The Group Theatre I suppose it is clear what my theatrical background is. I am always shocked … Continue reading

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The Books: The Fervent Years: The Group Theatre And The Thirties, by Harold Clurman

Daily Book Excerpt: Theatre Next book on the acting/theatre shelf is The Fervent Years: The Group Theatre And The Thirties, by Harold Clurman The Group Theatre, summer of 1931, summer workshop Harold Clurman was one of the founders of The … Continue reading

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