Just Between You and Me
I must admit I have recently fallen under a spell sweeping the nation, one I tried to avoid because I felt like it must suck if so many people love it-
Downton Abby. The premise of working class/wealthy class during the reign of George V at first enticed me; a show that must be all stuffy costumes, beautiful sounding accents, sweeping garden shots, tea… and then more tea- this time with muffins, and of course the occasional bothersome murder during a dinner party . Yet the attachment to Masterpiece Theatre made my brain ache with the fear of dullness and my shoulders shrug whenever it was recommended.
To my surprise, I found the show infused with high energy scenes saturated with juicy secrets leaving me tingling for more. What would happen to the estate? Will the new guy last? What’s up with the little sister’s attitude with the world? Male cousin who? When will I see more Maggie Smith?
By the end of the first episode…I was hooked.
Downton Abby had incorporated all of our modern obsessions with social hierarchy into one estate with enough drama to fill Facebook, Twitter and TMZ for a year. It was current- but Masterpiece Theatre. It was period- but still daring. It was history- but still creative. It was fiction-but based on a true story.
It blended the line of reality and fantasy in the way the Fringe promises to mix our ideas of classic theatre with the scary downtown edgy work tourists rarely make it to.
Connie Chung and YouTube
I love all aspects of history. I can read, watch, or visit places that have entered our consciences for various reasons- but bring us together for a shared moment. I am not only interested by the big bangs but the small moments you might not remember like R. Budd Dwyer, Susan Smith, Jodi Huisentruit, or my favorite the Connie Chung/ Newt Gringrich’s mom interview in
1995. Social media has made history multi-dimensional and YouTube is my best friend when need a quick time machine. YouTube and the Fringe provide me with the same possibility of uncovering something great and the thrill of sharing it with everyone.
I am super excited about the shows this year that are tackling history with crazy spins and refreshing humor.
The Accidental Hero presented by The Midlife Vick promises a World War II piece with “Forest Gump, General Patton and Luke Skywalker.”
Salem produced by Top Hat Theatre looks like an exciting new musical about the famous 1600 Witch Trials.
Carol and Cotton by Partizan Theater investigates St Paul’s famous 1963 murder case. And for the Tarantino fans out there
The Base by Hey Rube productions presents a 1988 Soviet play about the capture of an Afghan resistance leader a la
Inglorious Bastards. These and many more productions have the potential to expand our relationship with history and push the conventional modes of storytelling. I look forward to all the new the old has to offer the Fringe this year.
Let the shows begin.
(In the spirit of Connie Chung's 1995 moment I will include a little “Just Between You and Me” ending section to each of my blog entries. This is a moment where I will be completely candid with you and I trust you to keep it that way.)
Just Between You and Me:I can never watch a full episode of
Downton Abby on Netflix without interrupting it with
Workaholics at the half-hour mark.
