But Wait, The Rumor IS Real!
October 28, 2006
Just when I thought we were all clear, Hell House actually did get protested last night. Generation Q (as in Queer from Queens) stood outside St. Ann's last night and handed out flyers promoting their views, which I believe are similar to our own. Obviously we all agree that the "message" contained in the show is horribly offensive and insulting to many people. I also believe that we would all agree that the public needs to be educated about this aspect of American culture. We are attempting to spread the word ABOUT, not OF, this religious fundamentalism. It may not be a clear distinction, but it is an important one. We are actors, not pastors. People will see what they want in this show, but at least they will see it and have some understanding of its implications. To be honest, I respect the protesters and feel like their display was mutually beneficial for both parties. We are fighting the same battle for justice, equality and goodness.
And by the way, David Bowie came on Friday night.
Tonight is the final show. It has been an amazing experience and I will be sad when it is no longer part of my daily routine, although it will always be a part of my life. Theatre is beautifully ephemeral like that; it happens and then it's gone, left to exist only in memories. I have the pleasure in the show of encountering every audience member face to face and being the focus of their life for three or four seconds. I would like them to gain a deeper understanding of humanity and consciousness in that brief time. That's the point of art, right? Great art opens your eyes and connects your mind.
The Used Rack
I found The New Deal's "Gone Gone Gone" CD unopened for 1.99 in Other Music's used CD rack. I had heard of the New Deal for years (this album came out in 2002), but had never heard the music. Live instruments playing electronic music was all I knew, and after hearing the album, I can't wait to see them live. Really exciting and propulsive music, mostly instrumental, but when the beautiful female vocals kick in 25 minutes into the album, it hits a peak. Awesome. Also in the used rack, I scored the first Junior Boys album (of which I was holding a double-priced new copy) which has also been in steady rotation in my ears, the Arctic Monkeys explosive debut, M.I.A.'s beat-banging dancetacular "Arular", and a $5 DVD documentary on Cuban hip-hop, which is almost entirely in indecipherable Spanish but contains some amazing music. I have always loved the used rack for its bargains. I don't mind paying for a hard copy of music, but like any consumer, I prefer to pay as little as possible. I am also more willing to be adventurous and take risks with my music consumption when I pay less. I just wouldn't have payed $15.99 for The New Deal, but at $1.99, I took a chance and was heavily rewarded. Imagine if I had been offered that in 2002? I might have gone to see them five times by now... What if recorded and infinitely copiable music were free? Imagine the kind of musicscape we would live in: one dictated solely by our own taste, without commercial and financial influence. The money would be spent on the ephemeral live experience, which has limited quantity and therefore real economic value. Free music belongs to the people, but live music belongs only to the present audience members.
A Rumor and A Reminder
October 21, 2006
I just want to make a correction. I had suggested earlier that an NYU gay rights group was going to protest Hell House on Opening night. They didn't and it seems unlikely that they will (because why?). The internet is such an orgy of speculation and rumor and I want this site to be a bastion of truth, so here is my apology to you. I will continue to report the truth and nothing but the truth, so help me Good, or may I burn eternally in the fires of Hell.
Also, a reminder: The United States Military is still holding Iraq hostage. Let me say that I advocate a complete and immediate withdrawl of all forces from that country. This war is brutal, unjust and illegal. I refuse to believe that leaving now would be worse for humanity being than staying to fight one more day. How can they even use that argument? War will never make Peace. These Power Villians that run our country are putting the world at risk and creating FEAR in order to tighten their vice of control. I am aware that some people would read this and believe that I am delusional because it contradicts their own beliefs, but as I mentioned before, I am committed to reporting the truth. There are many justifications and different ways to analyze this war, but I believe the essential truth is what I have just written. We the People have been cheated by our elected rulers.
When all see this, we will rise up and take back the power that is rightfully ours.
And when I am elected president, my inaugural address will be this:
Thank you citizens, for electing me to serve you as president. There is no honor greater than being democratically chosen to lead one's country. As I can not forsee the future, I can only make one promise to you: That every decision I make will be in accordance with The Good Law. No person will be made to suffer for any choice I make. You will all be completely free to live your lives as you see fit, so long as you never infringe on another's freedom. Be a part of this Good community, and we will all enjoy unprecedented happiness and prosperity. Long Live Love!
New York Times Hell House Review
October 14, 2006
Wow. Hell House just received an amazing review from The New York Times. Read it here. Mr. Ben Brantley himself was the expert author, writing a perfect overview of all aspects involved in this production. Bravo Ben Brantley! A particularly loud and obnoxious audience member in his tour was dismissed from Heaven into Purgatory on the balcony by Satan... Also, you definitely need to check out "Satan's Playground", an NYT slideshow with photos set to audio of a walk through Hell. Guess which voice is mine...
GOOD LAW
October 10, 2006
I propose a universal law for all of humanity. In fact, it is the only real law we will ever need:
Live and Let Live.
or
Be and Let Others Be Free.
or
Do whatever makes you happy but at no one else's expense.
I believe that if we all abide by this simple premise, we will live in peace and harmony. It is important to do what makes you fulfilled, but not if it actually costs someone else something, like money or freedom or love or life. In a fair exchange, all parties profit.
True Good Means No Bad.
I would also like to say happy birthday to my brother, Andrew, who turns 26 today. He is an amazing culinary artist and I am deeply proud to call him bro. He also turned me onto a new magazine that his friend Ben Goldhirsch started called Good magazine (www.goodmagazine.com), which is all about living the good life, strictly in accordance with the universal law. I urge you all to subscribe (100% of your fee goes to the charity of your choice!) so we might educate ourselves to make a difference. Please check out my friend Ben Jervey's article in issue 1 called "Chasing Zero" about reducing his ecological footprint to zero carbon emmissions in New York City. Guess what: it doesn't even seem that hard. Imagine what a difference we can make if we all make informed choices that adversely affect no one...
Be Good.
Darfur, anyone?
October 9, 2006
Have you heard the one about millions of people being killed by a ruthless goverment? A fairly common occurrence in human history, but there is (at least) one such example now in the Darfur region of Sudan, where the politically reigning Arab Islamists in the North have been slaughtering the black African Christians and Muslims for the past 50 years, killing 4 million and displacing more than 10 million (visit http://www.sudanactivism.com/overview.html for more info). This seems totally incomprehensible to me. We the citizens of the world have passively watched for over 50 years and allowed this genocide to continue? How absurd.
Am I advocating more war to end war? Absolutely not, but we certainly need to focus more attention on the human tragedy being performed in Sudan. Let's all step back for a moment and take a collective breath from the poisonous and contagious air of war and reassess the value of human life. Not your life or my life, but our life.
HELL HOUSE REVIEW
October 3, 2006
Hell House, the Christian Evangelical Haunted House, began previews on Sunday at St. Ann's Warehouse and is set to cause a major stir in the Downtown Theatre world. Staged not by a religious group, but by the clever Les Freres Corbusier company, the show exposes this fundamentalist phenomenon to a wider and more discerning audience. The tour is led by a menacing Demon Tour Guide and visits several scenes depicting sinners as partiers, abotionees, heavy-metal fans and gays, and escorts them to their final destination in Hell. Taken straight, the script would bristle most theatre-goers with its right-wing intolerance and absurd cause-effect relationships. This group, however, is not unaware of their audience and although the lines spoken are identical to those spoken in churches around the country, the actors are decidedly acting and do not actually endorse the positions taken by the author, Pastor Keenan Roberts, in perfect Socratic irony.
Or not? The Pastor himself toured the house earlier this week and found it much to his liking. Is this company doing the church's dirty work? Roberts believes that his message is strong enough to make an impact on people no matter who might be presenting it. Is it possible that this show will result in conversions? Indeed, they have already alienated some of their potential audience: An NYU gay rights group has promised to protest opening night. Is that ironic irony?
How will it play out? What sort of alchemy will this broad mix of political ingredients produce? Will they make converts or preach to the converted? The only way to know is to find out for yourself...
Get your tickets here: www.nychellhouse.com
The Theme Song: Hell House!.mp3
Speaking of irony...
Yesterday congress passed legislation making internet gambling illegal. This was actually just a line on an unrelated port security bill, but will probably have a much broader impact on American citizens. How could any congressman vote against making ports safer? And obviously it's perfectly appropriate to incorporate a brand new law on a completely independent topic that requires no specific discussion in and of itself. (More Socratic irony). I personally do not use the internet for this purpose, but I have friends who earn a very good income gambling on the internet and will probably be forced to move elsewhere (and take all their perfectly taxed income with them) to a place like Australia that permits this behavior (and doesn't tax it). However, this bill does, of course, allow internet gambling to continue in the areas of lottery and horse racing run by the state. Why does government constantly contradict itself like this? What are they trying to say? Gambling is immoral and destructive to our society? But only when they don't profit from it? Otherwise it's fine to steal money from its citizens in games that are fixed so that the dealer never loses? The article in The New York Times today (page C3) about market values of online casinos losing billions of dollars on international stock markets yesterday is preceeded on the same page by an article about private equity firms buying the world's largest casino owner, Harrah's for $15 billion. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. As long as the money is won in the U.S., these "moral crusaders" could care less how many billions are lost by the people. I naively used to believe that these laws were written to protect the people from themselves, but I realize now they are written to steal money from the people.
Not to mention that they are effectively making laws for the entire world without representation from anyone not bearing a U.S. Passport. Sound familiar? It's all a big money game and the U.S. is the dealer, bank and bouncer.
On a superGOOD note, I would like to direct your attention to my brother-in-law, Kevin Buckland's web site. He is a fantastic artist and conscientious citizen who loves to live. His web site is a beautiful work of art and I consider myself incredibly honored to be included therein. Do yourself a favor and take the time to read the manifesto at the bottom of the page. It is truly uplifting. Way to go, little bro!