Most Recent
-
Noir-ish razzle-dazzle in Moore’s ‘Razzmatazz’
Read more...
Full disclosure: I’m in the bag for Christopher Moore.
From the first time I read one of his books – my entry point was, as it was for so many others, the exquisite 2002 novel “Lamb” – I knew that this was an author who would resonate with me. Wildly funny, incredibly smart and unapologetically crass, Moore’s work clicked with me in a way that few authors ever had or ever would.
Seriously – think about how rare it is for a book to make you genuinely laugh out loud multiple times in the course of reading it. Moore does that for me EVERY TIME. His work is funny and weird with an at-times shockingly sharp satiric edge.
The tradition continues with “Razzmatazz” (William Morrow, $28.99), a sequel to 2018’s “Noir.” These books both celebrate and deconstruct the trope of the hard-boiled detective, starring a gentleman who consistently finds himself stumbling into situations that are both far beyond his ken and yet somehow suited to his particular set of skills.
It’s a madcap romp through post-WWII San Francisco, a comedic adventure wherein Moore explores the fundamental absurdities of the human condition. The real(ish) and surreal are practically interchangeable here, with ridiculous characters dealing with both the actions of their fellow man and influences that are far beyond mere humanity.
It gets weird, is what I’m saying.
Oh, and mixed in with all the lunacy is a surprising depth of detail regarding that particular time and place. Moore takes plenty of liberties, but the fundamental truth is there. They say you have to learn the rules to break them; well, Moore learned the landscape so he could alter it.
-
Bohjalian’s ‘The Lioness’ offers rip-roaring historical fiction
Read more...
Chris Bohjalian can write just about anything.
There are relatively few writers in the realm of popular fiction who possess the range that Bohjalian has brought to his oeuvre over the past few decades. His depth of research results in books that, no matter their subject, make for compelling and propulsive reads.
His latest is “The Lioness” (Doubleday, $28), a midcentury story revolving around a Hollywood movie star who embarks on an African safari for her honeymoon, bringing friends and professional associates along for the ride. However, when the adventure takes a deadly turn, the group is left facing dangers both animal and human … and not everyone will escape with their life.
Told via a constantly shifting perspective, with each chapter moving to the point of view of a different character, “The Lioness” uses the vagaries of Hollywood culture and the brutal beauty of the Serengeti to explore the meaning of perception – how we are viewed by others and, crucially, how we view ourselves.
-
Let’s talk about sex … and so much more – ‘Becoming Dr. Ruth’
Read more...
BANGOR – Sex sells. Even when the person discussing it might not be who you’d expect.
Penobscot Theatre Company’s latest production is “Becoming Dr. Ruth,” a one-person show celebrating the life and times of renowned sex therapist and pop cultural icon Dr. Ruth Westheimer. Starring Jen Shepard and directed by Julie Lisnet, the piece – written by Mark St. Germain – is running at the Bangor Opera House through May 22. For tickets or more information, visit the PTC website at www.penobscottheatre.org or call the box office at 942-3333.
The piece – which is set entirely within Dr. Ruth’s New York City apartment – takes place on a June day in 1997. It is a freewheeling tale of one woman’s incredible journey, one that took her all over the world and influenced her in ways large and small – all related to us by the woman herself. The vast majority of us think we know Dr. Ruth – the tiny smiling woman offering sex advice via radio and television – but that aspect of her life, while important, is just one part of her incredible story.
-
Comedian Steven Rogers talks ‘Before He Was Super,’ battling anxiety with laughs
Read more...
You may have seen comedian Steven Rogers on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” or as a frequent opening comic for Brian Regan. His debut comedy album “Before He Was Super” just arrived on streaming services, representing (as the title implies) his best material to date. The entire special, filmed live at the National Comedy Center, is streaming free on YouTube.
Rogers’ comedy is clean but unless you’re specifically listening for F-bombs, you might be laughing too hard to notice. During an interview with The Maine Edge, Rogers says he fell in love with comedy while watching stand-up comics on “The Late Show with David Letterman” and he’s spent the last decade forging his self-deprecating comedy style which comes from a very real and, for many in his audience, a very relatable place.
Rogers deals with anxiety and panic attacks, conditions that could be potentially debilitating, but he beats it by making fun of it.
On “Before He Was Super,” Rogers shares stories about dating strong women, growing up in a slightly unusual household with cool parents, lying about being a smoker to avoid socializing at parties and how his male friends become most unhelpful during a panic attack.
-
On portraying an icon: Jen Shepard talks PTC’s “Becoming Dr. Ruth”
Read more...
BANGOR – What does it mean to take to the stage and portray a real person? How does one capture the essence of a cultural figure while still making the performance one’s own? And what if there’s no one up on that stage to help you find your way?
This is the dilemma facing Jen Shepard as she prepares to take the stage for Penobscot Theatre Company’s production of the one-woman show “Becoming Dr. Ruth,” written by Mark St. Germain and directed by Julie Lisnet. The show goes into previews on May 5, with opening night set for May 7; it runs through May 22 at the Bangor Opera House.
It’s the life story of Dr. Ruth Westheimer, who many of us probably remember as one of the first sex-positive television personalities out there. Her diminutive stature and engaging accent made her a popular figure in pop culture – particularly in her heyday – but there’s so much more to the woman than the smiling sex therapist so many of us remember. Dr. Ruth’s is a life richly lived – one more than worthy of being brought to light onstage.
As you might imagine, a character like this – and a show like this – presents a number of interesting challenges for a performer. Shepard sat down with me to discuss those challenges, as well as what drew her to the role and what the process has been like in bringing this show to life.
Advertisements
The Maine Edge. All rights reserved. Privacy policy. Terms & Conditions.
Website CMS and Development by Links Online Marketing, LLC, Bangor Maine