King Lear-Can A Old Man Get A Break

I attended the Dallas Theatre Center's production of King Lear last night at the Wyly.

The Shakespearean masterpiece was directed by Kevin Moriarty and has obviously been a life's passion for the director to produce.
He does a fine job of revealing Shakespeare to 'first timers' and longtime fans of the Bard's work alike.
Making Shakespeare a little more streamlined and easier to follow is a good thing.
Let's face it, it's a great thing in today's modern age...

It's well known that Shakespeare and his cronies performed for hours, days, sometimes weeks at a time to riveted, packed houses, audiences who were happy to be entertained at length.
Life was hard. Shakespeare's plays took up the time and made it easier.
Oh, if that were only the case today.
Today, we cut 3 Acts worth of dialogue out of Shakespeare's work to keep people from falling asleep in the theatre or worse!
We squirm in our seats after 2 hours, add another 45 minutes, and you've got people leaving at intermission. Needless to say, our attention spans are lacking when it comes to long plays, and even long films, especially if it's Shakespeare. 

Here's where this production succeeds. It takes you through the filler and the the banter that was so revered by our elders, and gets to the meat of the story. Quick, concise, succinct.
I admire that.
Unfortunately, it's what the world needs now.
It's far from a 'cliff notes' version to be sure, as the meat in Lear is gritty gritty good.

I enjoyed the 'Gordon Gecko' boardroom setting, straight from the 1980's 'Wall Street' motif.
The costumes were equally enjoyable, as at times, I felt myself watching a Michael Jackson music video more than Shakespeare.
The music was menacing and foreboding, the effects, brilliant.

Well cast and performed, the actors had all the tools to bring this King's tragedy home to Dallas.
They delivered.
Especially Lear, whom I didn't see as an "Alzheimer's patient", but rather a PROUD OLD KING who makes mistakes, serious familial missteps which lead to despair by all. Then finally, he is made to suffer the ultimate tragedy.
If anything, I related the King's mannerisms, voice and actions to that of any aging parent facing "the end".
I've seen firsthand how fast, how far a man can fall after he's given up and given in...
Especially an AGING King concerned with his legacy and half mad with aches and pains that come with the lingering thoughts of his own mortality. No. This Lear starts strong and in control. Old, but still in control. Shiny crown on his head, he descends into madness slowly, as any man would who's best friend is a fool.
Lear's message is for all to heed, I believe every man who has a daughter should most definitely see it.

Abbey Siegworth, Steven Walters, Brian Mceleney and Stephen Berenson in King Lear. Photo by Karen Almond.

So many good dramatic decisions here, they outweigh any negative criticism one would care to dream up.

Beware of nudity, violence, treachery, and gun play.
Although, the gun play did seem befitting for a production performed in Texas.

Another triumph for Dallas Theatre and local talent.

BRAVO!

Top Sales In Texass

After two straight months of soaring, assault rifle sales, Texasses are setting their sights on a new product:

It's been said that more AR-15's were sold in Texass last month than Rib-Eye steaks.

Deer Antler Spray.

Better hurry before Obama bans it!!!

Chinese sweatshops are stepping up production as fast as their little hands can make.

Her little ol' arm gets so tard, Daddy.

Damn!

Texasses sure keep them Orientals busy...

Faces Of Texass

Lance Armstrong:

Because he's been revered as a God, he will pay the ultimate price for his crimes and deception. Texas businessmen and women who commit the same crimes will go unnoticed...

He embodies everything the Texass persona has become. The ideology of "ME" is paramount. Success is all about making as many dollars stack up as possible. No matter what the cost to society, business partners, and even loved ones. Lies become truths, truths become lies in this gray and dark sociopathic state.
There's no shame in telling a lie, cheating, or committing a crime for profit.
In Texass-- just like it's native son Armstrong-- it's a way of life.


The 83rd Texas Legislature:

Want to know why they're all smiling? Because the joke's on you, Texass!

AKA The Tea Party, has been sewing a web of deceit to trap Texas voters for decades now.
Under the guise of a fast growing economy and no state tax, the lawmakers in Austin have been sticking it to Texas taxpayers in the form of outlandish property taxes and huge budget cuts to every social program, especially education. Our fruitful state has added jobs, GOVERNMENT JOBS. So let's review: The Teabaggers in Austin are expanding government while telling us they're actually shrinking it. Raising taxes while telling us they're lowering them. Bashing Obama for federal spending, and threatening secession from the union... but Texass is the first in line with it's hand out when there's a disaster. Did I mention Texass is number one in air pollution, facing a water crisis and is destroying it's bedrock with fracking practices in the name of green energy.

Our US Senators and Representatives:

Lies, and the lying liars who tell them.

You'll never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy than the people who represent Texass in Washington DC.. They're nothing more than obstructionist budegthawks and spineless blue dems who sell out their own parties and constituents for monetary gain. Worthless to the core, these tyrants work for their masters in the name of corporate welfare and white-collar crime. And they do it all for God.

They are the bottom of the barrel.

Governor Rick Perry:

Dear Heavenly Father, PLEASE remove this asshole from Texass? Amen!

Outside of Texass he is a global joke. A dirty stain on the underwear of the Texass people. A criminal who's crimes against Texass and it's taxpayers are starting to come to light. He and his cronies have been funneling monies to their friends -and each other- through a Cancer Charity called CPRIT. State Auditors have found dozens of infractions from CPRIT, here's a few:  $25 million grant awarded to a company that didn't even exist at the time of the award, $6,8 million advanced to same company even though grant was for reimbursement of actual expenses, COO hired by CPRIT oversight board whose members include the Attorney General and Comptroller.

Lets see if you find this story on your local news?

Looks like Texass will always be a laughing stock, a shitty stain on the fabric of America.

As long as these yahoo's are the power and persona, Texass is gonna stink.

Weekly Wrangle

The Texas Progressive Alliance is ready for the Super Bowl -- and a ruling in the school finance lawsuit -- as it brings you this week's roundup.

Off the Kuff notes the scandalous failure of the state's replacement Women's Health Program.

Rick Perry and Greg Abbott threatened hugged each other at the big Anti-Woman Rally in Austin this past weekend. There is obviously a lot more on each man's agenda than ending womens' reproductive freedom in Texas. PDiddie at Brains and Eggs thinks they're circling each other like a couple of rabid dogs.

Despite the announcement this week of Battleground Texas, WCNews at Eye on Williamson makes clear that hard work is the only thing that will insure future Democratic success in Texas.

Over at TexasKaos lightseeker spells out what is at stake in Dan Patrick's attack on public education, or as he calls it, his free choice voucher initiative. Check it out: Charter Schools - Making Inequality a Permanent Feature of Texas Education.

The Washington Post endorses the completion of Keystone XL and McBlogger, predictably, gets upset.  

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme wants everyone to know Texas Republicans are continuing their war on women and their war on sanity. No surprises here.

Neil at Texas Liberal wrote that scientists have discovered that binary star systems would in fact be suitable for life, but would have an odd climate and a strangely shaped habitable zone. This seems not much unlike everyday life here on Earth and in America.

Funnies

“President Obama’s inaugural parade (featured) eight floats, including a Hawaii float to honor his birthplace, an Illinois float to honor the first lady’s home state, and a Kenyan float just to mess with Republicans.”

-- Jimmy Fallon

"Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant on Wednesday asked state legislatures to declare President Obama's new gun control proposals 'illegal.' Though I'm not sure if the Mississippi state legislature has that kind of power since it's just thirty hissing possums in a barn." 

-- Seth Meyers

Speaking of torture...

"Yes, lip-gate. Beyonce-gate. The crisis in Lip-ya. Beyonc-gazi ... If Beyonce lip-synced at Obama's inaugural, do you know what that means? If so, please write in because I'd love to know why I'm so angry!"

-- Stephen Colbert

"Rick Perry said Obama's suggestions for gun control disgust him. He said the real answer to this problem isn't laws, it's prayer. I know you're not supposed to say this about elected officials, but I would pay to see Rick Perry defend himself against a school shooter with prayer." 

-- Bill Maher

 "I guess that's just a crazy fantasy, Rick Perry in a school." 

-- Bill Maher

10 Things To Think About This Week

1. It's 80 degrees in Dallas. TX on January 24th. Good thing Global Warming is a hoax or I'd be a tad bit concerned...

2. The Catholic Church made news declaring that a fetus is "not a human being."
No shit, assholes.

3. Rand, Ron and every other Paul must put on their dark Nike sneakers, climb into their bunk beds, and blast off to the mother ship.

4. Week 3 and The Texas Legislature is still busy shaking hands, swearing in, attending cocktail hours, and figuring out just what exactly the procedure is for making laws. I don't think anybody down there really knows.

5. The victims of super storm Sandy had to wait 70 days for the Tea Congress to pass funding for financial aid. Apparently the devastation and suffering was seen as 'PORK' by house repugs like Jeb Hensnarling. These are the lunatics representing Texas to the rest of the country.

6. 1300 Americans have been killed by gun violence since the New Town tragedy happened in December. Texas responds appropriately...NOT!

Governor Oops is ready to shoot him some more coyotes!

7.  An ultra-conservative friend of mine admitted to me this week that "he kinda liked Obama..."
Well what true conservative wouldn't? Obama's 'model' of governing is EXACTLY the conservative 'model' of smaller government, lower taxes, and strong military. Don't forget 'Fiscal Responsibility'...

8. If you have a gnat buzzing in your ear, swat it! Don't let lunatics-- some you don't even know-- talk smack on YOUR Facebook wall.  I tell u what: The unfriend button is just a mouse-click away. USE IT!

9.  In Texas, half the children live below the poverty line. Yet our 'betters' in Austin have passed funding for TXDOT,  Toll Roads to nowhere, and countless other Urban Sprawl projects.
I mean come on, say what you want about Texas, our roads are cherry good because that's where the money goes. To "The Road Barons".

Food, medicine, and a decent education for Texas kids however, not so much...
In fact, the legislature is too busy fighting for English to be the official language of the state, and other types of teabagger nonsense, instead of focusing on Texas' real problems.
This is where your tax dollars are going, folks. To a bunch of tea party knuckle-heads who's asses are jealous of the shit that's coming out of their mouths. Their wallets however, are fine.
They're working overtime to ensure that.

10.  If a panel of screw heads wants to drill Hillary Clinton about her job, I say BRING IT!
If you're outraged about the Ben Ghazi attacks and any so-called, 'misinformation', then I have 6 words for you:

WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION INSIDE IRAQ

Dr. J out-

MLK and Inauguration Day Wrangle

The Texas Progressive Alliance wishes President Obama all the best at the start of his second term as it brings you this week's roundup.

Off the Kuff looks at the January finance reports for SD06 candidates.

Out of fairness alone, the areas that had to sacrifice during the bad times should be taken care of first, once good times return. But as WCNews at Eye on Williamson points out, that's unlikely to change without a lot of public pressure: The budget, fear, and ideology.  

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme wants you to know that Blake Farenthold and his fellow Congressional Republicans voted against hurricane Sandy relief. Do hurricanes or tornadoes ever hit Texas? Too bad for us.

The Asshats on Parade, sponsored by PDiddie's Brains and Eggs, included Lance Armstrong, Dick Cheney, Manti Te'o, and Ed Emmett.  

BossKitty at TruthHugger almost decided to skip writing an article this week, but the number of exploiters in high places is just too overwhelming: America’s Disappointing Role Models.

Secession fun for everyone this week at McBlogger!

Neil at Texas Liberal posted his 6th annual updated Martin Luther King Reading & Reference List. It is the best such resource on the web. 

*A special note of thanks to my blogging mentor, PDiddy. Without his blog, Brains And Eggs, this and many other posts, thoughts and pictures would not be possible. I THANK YOU AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!*