Great night at the theater
Just in case you don't know, which you probably do, but just in case, because some of the people I've asked to go with me stared at me blankly, which is cool, not everyone is down with NPR, "This American Life" is a show on public radio hosted by Ira Glass. It features stories each week on a certain theme. They range from funny to weird to sad to inspirational. The stories and the contributers basically run the gamut from awesome to awesomer. (Ira Glass = awesomest.)
The show decided to do something unusual by airing a 90-minute show LIVE in movie theaters across the nation last week. (Normally it's just a radio show, though it has recently done a TV version on Showtime that's really good.) Because many theaters sold out, they are re-showing it as an encore on Thursday, May 7.
Part of the coolness was just watching a radio show be done on the big screen and how Ira Glass works the little buttons on a table in front of him on a stage to turn on music, recordings, etc. I thought that was really neat. In addition to the wonderful Ira Glass as host, it features essay readings by several other people that were all really good -- funny, silly, and sad. One man read an essay about a car wreck he was in with a drunk driver and how it affected his views on marriage. One woman did an essay about going to an intense therapy program to deal with her childhood issues (accompanied by illustrations on post-it notes that were really funny). There was a report told cartoon style about a town in Florida where thieves have to march in front of stores holding giant signs saying "I stole from this store" (this is a real law there). This cartoon was by Chris Ware (Jimmy Corrigan), so that excited me. All of these were funny and very good. They also showed a clip of one of their TV episodes where they follow 7 people named John Smith, from a newborn to an old man, that was only 4 minutes long and made me cry. There was even a segment on Dr. Horrible, which of course thrilled me.
There is one essay in particular read by Dan Savage, who as you probably know has long authored a national sex advice column. He and his partner have been together 14 years and adopted a son who is now 11 and he has also written a lot about that. Though extremely outspoken politically, he doesn't really talk about politics overtly in this show -- his essay is all about his mother and growing up Catholic in Chicago and life and death and it was really moving. (He was wearing a St. Ignatius t-shirt during the performance.) This should come as a surprise to no one who's read this site for more than a day, but I was openly weeping in the theater; however, I was not the only one. There is something about watching a grown man with gorgeous, sculpted guns (oops, did I say that) fight back tears with all his might while talking about his mother live on stage that just made the tears flow like a river. All I could hear were people sniffling and crying around me; otherwise, the crowd was still and silent and riveted. He talks a lot about his conflicting emotions about the church and all about his really devout mom and what his feelings are on the church today. Even though Dan Savage and I are unlike in obvious ways, I could relate to so much of what he said about family and heaven and tradition. And even if what he says is something you don't agree with, overall, it was a really honest account and ultimately very life-affirming and beautiful. (To me, anyway.)
This is all just to say that if there's any way you can go on May 7, I think you should. The tickets are expensive for 90 minutes in a movie theater, granted, but it's worth it if you can swing it. At least I think so. If you can't make it to the theater, there's (of course) a radio version airing this weekend. You might have to check your local public radio listings for that. The theme of the show is "return to the scene of the crime." I think you should check it out.
In other news, I have spent way too much time lately thinking what a useless addition Kelly has been to The Real Housewives of New York.
The show decided to do something unusual by airing a 90-minute show LIVE in movie theaters across the nation last week. (Normally it's just a radio show, though it has recently done a TV version on Showtime that's really good.) Because many theaters sold out, they are re-showing it as an encore on Thursday, May 7.
Part of the coolness was just watching a radio show be done on the big screen and how Ira Glass works the little buttons on a table in front of him on a stage to turn on music, recordings, etc. I thought that was really neat. In addition to the wonderful Ira Glass as host, it features essay readings by several other people that were all really good -- funny, silly, and sad. One man read an essay about a car wreck he was in with a drunk driver and how it affected his views on marriage. One woman did an essay about going to an intense therapy program to deal with her childhood issues (accompanied by illustrations on post-it notes that were really funny). There was a report told cartoon style about a town in Florida where thieves have to march in front of stores holding giant signs saying "I stole from this store" (this is a real law there). This cartoon was by Chris Ware (Jimmy Corrigan), so that excited me. All of these were funny and very good. They also showed a clip of one of their TV episodes where they follow 7 people named John Smith, from a newborn to an old man, that was only 4 minutes long and made me cry. There was even a segment on Dr. Horrible, which of course thrilled me.
There is one essay in particular read by Dan Savage, who as you probably know has long authored a national sex advice column. He and his partner have been together 14 years and adopted a son who is now 11 and he has also written a lot about that. Though extremely outspoken politically, he doesn't really talk about politics overtly in this show -- his essay is all about his mother and growing up Catholic in Chicago and life and death and it was really moving. (He was wearing a St. Ignatius t-shirt during the performance.) This should come as a surprise to no one who's read this site for more than a day, but I was openly weeping in the theater; however, I was not the only one. There is something about watching a grown man with gorgeous, sculpted guns (oops, did I say that) fight back tears with all his might while talking about his mother live on stage that just made the tears flow like a river. All I could hear were people sniffling and crying around me; otherwise, the crowd was still and silent and riveted. He talks a lot about his conflicting emotions about the church and all about his really devout mom and what his feelings are on the church today. Even though Dan Savage and I are unlike in obvious ways, I could relate to so much of what he said about family and heaven and tradition. And even if what he says is something you don't agree with, overall, it was a really honest account and ultimately very life-affirming and beautiful. (To me, anyway.)
This is all just to say that if there's any way you can go on May 7, I think you should. The tickets are expensive for 90 minutes in a movie theater, granted, but it's worth it if you can swing it. At least I think so. If you can't make it to the theater, there's (of course) a radio version airing this weekend. You might have to check your local public radio listings for that. The theme of the show is "return to the scene of the crime." I think you should check it out.
In other news, I have spent way too much time lately thinking what a useless addition Kelly has been to The Real Housewives of New York.
Labels: theater
posted by eliza @ 6:28 PM
8 Comments:
Totally just skimmed the whole post, because I'm planning on seeing on next week. Very excited@
They did the "Radio broadcast on the big screen" last year as well and it was fabulous. The tix are expensive but some of the $ goes to support his show on PRI (*not* NPR, as they will proudly tell you). :-)
ladyloo: you will love it!
charlabob: I didn't realize they did it last year, too! I get that PRI and NPR are not the same thing, but it airs on our local NPR affiliate, so I always associate it with NPR. Thanks for the clarification! Hope you were able to catch it this year or last or both. So fun!
Dan Savage's mom used to live across the street from us. Isn't that weird?? But then she died. Andy always wanted to go over there and become her friend.
Hi! It's been too long! I saw the broadcast last year; it was awesome. Netfix the TV show - You will be amazed at what an incredible job they've done. And start on season 1!!
Amy -- wow. I did not know that. Savage's part of the show is all about his mom's death. It's really beautiful and heartbreaking.
Herpreet -- I have the box set for season 1, and I agree, it's great!I can't wait to see season 2; it's saved in my Netflix queue for whenever it gets released.
that sounds awesome. I love Ira Glass.
Speaking of tv-on-dvd, I saw this article about Thirtysomething and thought of you. let the countdown begin!
Cate: I know! I am SO excited and will probably pre-order it soon. Hooray!
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