I’m wondering, I’m not sure this can be done, but Richard III and Hank III here’s the trick, in the same coverage?
“Shakespeare’s greatest originality in Richard III, which redeems an otherwise cumbersome and overwritten drama, is not so much Richard himself as it is the hero-villain’s startling intimate relationship with the audience.” (Bloom, Harold. Shakespeare: Invention of the Human, page 70)
Hank III’s latest, Straight to Hell.
(Rhetorical) “Is it possible to record a live performance?”
LoFi?
Spartan production values:
Each of the two items in the list reflect spartan production values. That doesn’t mean that either productions, ASF’s Richard III or Hank III’s Straight to Hell is lacking in production quality, that’s most certainly not the case. It’s the “less is more” school of thought.
As duly noted, one of the intriguing aspects of the history of the bottled spider, the hunchbacked toad, and Shakespeare’s history play about his rise and subsequent fall, “My horse, my horse, my kingdom for a horse…” is the concept that Richard III, eventually King Richard (III) speaks close to a third of the lines in the play. Usually, in my limited experience, the success of the play is borne entirely on the (hunched) back of the player in that role. Putting himself in the role, sort of makes it all that much more difficult for Guy Roberts, playing Richard III. However, he does succeed.
To suggested I’m the not a fan of Guy Roberts’ work in the last few years is not true, and to the contrary, I’ve found his work of a surprising quality, even in a little provincial town like Austin.
The success of ASF’s production, in my wee and narrow mind is dependent – it all hinges on just two characters, Richard III and Buckingham.
Props, the set itself, spartan isn’t even the word. Couple of cell phone, a sword, a dagger, some costuming that could be from just about any time, and sound track that was partially post-modern, yeah, that was all okay. The players themselves, and in my mind, it was two in particular, Richard (III) and Buckingham who didn’t just carry show the but made the show for what it was.
What’s stunning about this Richard, is it was easy to hear, simple to understand, every single word he spoke, gritted, grimaced, or hammed it up. The emotion and the diction fit like a glove.
At one point, there are three queens on stage, or queen mothers or whatever, and one of the queens lets loose with a little cursing. That one scene made me think about a scene of three witches in the Scottish play, too, but that could be me.
Excellent version, very well executed, and the ASF should be proud. In rep now. See link for details.
Just like the minimalist version of Richard III is borne by one character, as much as anything, so is the new Hank III double-CD set. Like a typical Hank III show, I get the feeling that the double CD set is similar.
Hank III, grandson of Hank Williams (Sr.) Looks like his granddad with a ponytail and a Misfits t-shirt. Can sound like his lineal forefather, too. I’ve written about this before, the inherent duality of Hank III’s music, the bootlegs that are available everywhere, and this latest CD seems lot like one of the bootlegs. But I’m guessing it’s not.
I’ve only glanced a the liner notes, and there’s a bit of an explanation, as to the source and roots of that second CD in the album, it’s only two tracks, one of which is 45 minutes or so, songs, sounds, ramblings, rumblings, sort of an audio trip taped together with music.
There’s a “parental warning” on the album, too, and it’s there for a good reason. The music itself is roots, or americana, or hillbilly, or whatever you want to call it, from a celtic-moountain-pioneer stock. But there’s also a sprinkling of harsh, thrasher-sentiments, too.
“This is not your parents’ country music,” that’s for sure. But it a well-executed voice that needs to be heard. Rebel yell, indeed. In deed.
Hank III, Shelton, call him what you want, he’s talented. Although the songs are about drugs and drinking, and a life of sin, there’s something, ultimately redeeming in the music.
Whether is Austin’s Shakespeare Festival or Hank III in Austin, or buying the Hank III CD @ Waterloo Records, it’s that 2/3 time.
I’m also wondering, if what Bloom says about Richard III, can that be said about Hank III, too?
At the Penn Field (something) playhouse, Austin Shakespeare Festival’s Richard III
Hank III, at Antone’s in Austin, see tour listing.
2 quick ones
Top ten power ballads?
What am I missing in this list? Or does this list not really complete enough to offend people?
Astrologer Dawn:
She’s been spamming me for several months. That, unsolicited e-mail, in and of itself, is unethical. Consider that it only goes downhill from that point onward. If the deal starts out badly, then it can only get worse. Careful about scammers with no ethics.
