Robin Eldridge (Lucy Manette) and David Rothauser (Dr. Manette).
Bill Mootos (Sydney Carton) and Paul Melendy (Charles Darnay).
Thursday, October 29, 2009
A TALE OF TWO CITIES - history lesson
Jean-Jacques Rosseau (1712-1778), philosopher, writer, and composer of the eighteenth-century Enlightenment, whose political philosophy influenced the French Revolution and the development of modern political and educational thought. This "Age of Sensibility" featured an increased focus on subjectivity and introspection. He believed in a social utopia, of humans returning to natural harmony, being made free of vices and sharing a natural equality and a general will.
These ideas appealed to many people, including some of the people instrumental in the events leading to the French Revolution. In a country where a wealthy minority indulged their selves while hundreds of thousands suffered from severe poverty and inflation, people yearned for a basic equality, natural or government ordained. Later the idea of a utopian government changed to “the will of the people”. Maximillien Robespierre, who played an important part in the middle to later events in the Revolution and was one of the architects of the Terror, was deeply influenced by Rousseau's writings.
Maximilien François Marie Isidore de Robespierre (1758 –1794) is one of the best-known and most influential figures of the French Revolution. He was instrumental in the period of the Revolution commonly known as the Reign of Terror, which ended with his arrest and execution in 1794.
The Reign Of Terror (1793 –1794), also known as The Terror was a period of violence that occurred four years and two months after the onset of the French Revolution, incited by conflict between rival political factions, the Girondins and the Jacobins, and marked by mass executions of "enemies of the revolution." Estimates vary widely as to how many were killed, with numbers ranging from 16,000 to 40,000; in many cases, records were not kept, or if they were, they are considered likely to be inaccurate. Most were killed by the use of the guillotine.
Charles Dickens (1812-1870) is the author of short stories, plays, novellas, novels, both nonfiction and fiction, and a great lover of the theatre. During his lifetime Dickens became known the world over for his remarkable characters, his mastery of prose in the telling of their lives, and his depictions of the social classes. Some considered him the spokesman for the poor, his stories creating an awareness of the oppressed and the have-nots. In 1836, he married Catherine Hogarth, daughter of the editor of the Evening Chronicle. They had ten children and were separated in 1858.
Much of his work first appeared in periodicals and magazines in serialized form. The practice lent his stories a particular rhythm, punctuated by one cliffhanger after another to keep the public eager for the next installment: Bleak House (1852–53), Hard Times (1854) and Little Dorrit (1857).
In 1858, Dickens undertook a series of public readings. Major works, A Tale of Two Cities (1859); and Great Expectations (1861) soon followed and would prove resounding successes with both his critics and his fans. During this time he was also the publisher, editor, and contributor to the journals Household Words (1850–1859) and All the Year Round (1858–1870). Between 1868 and 1869, Dickens gave a series of "farewell readings" in England, Scotland, and Ireland, until he collapsed. After further provincial readings were cancelled, he began work on his final novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood. On June 8, 1870, Dickens suffered a stroke at his home, and he died on June 9.
These ideas appealed to many people, including some of the people instrumental in the events leading to the French Revolution. In a country where a wealthy minority indulged their selves while hundreds of thousands suffered from severe poverty and inflation, people yearned for a basic equality, natural or government ordained. Later the idea of a utopian government changed to “the will of the people”. Maximillien Robespierre, who played an important part in the middle to later events in the Revolution and was one of the architects of the Terror, was deeply influenced by Rousseau's writings.
Maximilien François Marie Isidore de Robespierre (1758 –1794) is one of the best-known and most influential figures of the French Revolution. He was instrumental in the period of the Revolution commonly known as the Reign of Terror, which ended with his arrest and execution in 1794.
The Reign Of Terror (1793 –1794), also known as The Terror was a period of violence that occurred four years and two months after the onset of the French Revolution, incited by conflict between rival political factions, the Girondins and the Jacobins, and marked by mass executions of "enemies of the revolution." Estimates vary widely as to how many were killed, with numbers ranging from 16,000 to 40,000; in many cases, records were not kept, or if they were, they are considered likely to be inaccurate. Most were killed by the use of the guillotine.
Charles Dickens (1812-1870) is the author of short stories, plays, novellas, novels, both nonfiction and fiction, and a great lover of the theatre. During his lifetime Dickens became known the world over for his remarkable characters, his mastery of prose in the telling of their lives, and his depictions of the social classes. Some considered him the spokesman for the poor, his stories creating an awareness of the oppressed and the have-nots. In 1836, he married Catherine Hogarth, daughter of the editor of the Evening Chronicle. They had ten children and were separated in 1858.
Much of his work first appeared in periodicals and magazines in serialized form. The practice lent his stories a particular rhythm, punctuated by one cliffhanger after another to keep the public eager for the next installment: Bleak House (1852–53), Hard Times (1854) and Little Dorrit (1857).
In 1858, Dickens undertook a series of public readings. Major works, A Tale of Two Cities (1859); and Great Expectations (1861) soon followed and would prove resounding successes with both his critics and his fans. During this time he was also the publisher, editor, and contributor to the journals Household Words (1850–1859) and All the Year Round (1858–1870). Between 1868 and 1869, Dickens gave a series of "farewell readings" in England, Scotland, and Ireland, until he collapsed. After further provincial readings were cancelled, he began work on his final novel, The Mystery of Edwin Drood. On June 8, 1870, Dickens suffered a stroke at his home, and he died on June 9.
Best of Times, Worst of Times
A Selective Timeline:
1760 George III becomes King of England. Colonial population 1.6 million
1763 Treaty of Paris; borders of United States established
1764 Mozart writes his first symphony, at age eight
1767 Daniel Boone crosses Appalachians, keeps heading west
1768 New York Chamber of Commerce established
1773 Boston Tea Party. 342 chests of tea go into the drink December 16
1774 First Continental Congress convenes, in Philadelphia, Sept 5
1775 Patrick Henry says "Give me liberty or give me death!"
1776 Common Sense written by Thomas Paine
1776 Declaration of Independence drafted by Thomas Jefferson, with John Adams
1778 France declares war on England, becomes ally of America
1783 First daily newspaper is Pennsylvania Evening Post
1788 First settlement in Ohio is Marietta, named for Marie Antoinette
1789 French Revolution. Bastille falls Jul 14. Declaration of Rights Aug 26th
1789 Mutiny on the H.M.S. Bounty; survivors establish Pitcairn Island Colony
1790 Supreme Court meets for the first time; John Jay is Chief Justice
1791 USA Federal capital to be established in swamplands on the Potomac
1791 First ten Amendments are Bill of Rights that go into effect this year
1792 New York Stock Exchange organized by brokers meeting under a tree located on what is now Wall Street.
1793 War between England and France. U.S.A. declares neutrality
1793 Reign of Terror in France; 1st republican constitution in France adopted
1794 Maximilien Robespierre was guillotined in Paris without a trial
1795 Washington poses for Stuart's portrait, which is now on USA dollar bill
1796 Washington's Farewell Address
1760 George III becomes King of England. Colonial population 1.6 million
1763 Treaty of Paris; borders of United States established
1764 Mozart writes his first symphony, at age eight
1767 Daniel Boone crosses Appalachians, keeps heading west
1768 New York Chamber of Commerce established
1773 Boston Tea Party. 342 chests of tea go into the drink December 16
1774 First Continental Congress convenes, in Philadelphia, Sept 5
1775 Patrick Henry says "Give me liberty or give me death!"
1776 Common Sense written by Thomas Paine
1776 Declaration of Independence drafted by Thomas Jefferson, with John Adams
1778 France declares war on England, becomes ally of America
1783 First daily newspaper is Pennsylvania Evening Post
1788 First settlement in Ohio is Marietta, named for Marie Antoinette
1789 French Revolution. Bastille falls Jul 14. Declaration of Rights Aug 26th
1789 Mutiny on the H.M.S. Bounty; survivors establish Pitcairn Island Colony
1790 Supreme Court meets for the first time; John Jay is Chief Justice
1791 USA Federal capital to be established in swamplands on the Potomac
1791 First ten Amendments are Bill of Rights that go into effect this year
1792 New York Stock Exchange organized by brokers meeting under a tree located on what is now Wall Street.
1793 War between England and France. U.S.A. declares neutrality
1793 Reign of Terror in France; 1st republican constitution in France adopted
1794 Maximilien Robespierre was guillotined in Paris without a trial
1795 Washington poses for Stuart's portrait, which is now on USA dollar bill
1796 Washington's Farewell Address
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
The Social Network
photo: Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, and Josh.
Directed by David Fincher (Se7en, Fight Club, Benjamin Button) with Jesse Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg, Justin Timberlake as Sean Parker, and Andrew Garfield as Eduardo Saverin. The movie is produced by (among others) Aaron Sorkin and Kevin Spacey.
And 3 days of prep, shooting, and clean up for a 1.5 minute scene. It's only money folks!
Fincher at Wheelock
There's filming on the Wheelock College campus today - a movie [the social network] is turning Wheelock's CCSR and quad into a slice of harvard - during the winter. Trying to walk through with a camera was a definate no-no and I wasn't able to snap pictures of David Fincher or Jesse Eisenberg (and I am sure Mr. Timberlake is around here somewhere). These few fotos show production trucks lining the streets and one with snow covering half the quad.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Backstage at WFT's TALE #2
We sure could use more room backstage. The 14 players in A Tale of Two Cities play a number of roles, so there are many costumes and many quick changes. As these two photographs illustrate, WFT takes up a lot of space and we are currently spilling into the hallway.
Backstage at WFT's TALE
A cold Saturday but the theatre is buzzing with activity. Took a few shots backstage of the wardrobe crew (that's Marge working in one of the costume bays surrounded by scraps of material) and some of Lisa Simpson's costume designs (Madame Defarge LOOKS innocent enough...).
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Archival Shot
Wheelock Family Theatre has a long standing relationship with the Harwich Junior Theatre - founded by Wheelock graduate, Betty Bobp: enriching the lives of children and families through the shared experience of theatre performance and education!
An Adult Actor Remembers
In college and afterward, I have felt so distinctly the influence of my "Wheelock upbringing" on my experiences doing and watching theatre.
Teddy Crecelius
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