For your enjoyment and edification.
BOOKS:
The Value of Nothing: Raj Patel’s new book argues that a fundamental problem with our economic system is a disconnect between prices and value, particularly as low-priced goods often inflict hidden costs on the public. He also says this: “There are two novels that can transform a bookish fourteen-year-old’s life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish daydream that can lead to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood in which large chunks of the day are spent inventing ways to make real life more like a fantasy novel. The other is a book about orcs.” Which is pretty funny.
The Privileges: Complementing The Value of Nothing, albeit unintentionally so, is Jonathan Dee’s great fictional account of one New York family’s rise to stratospheric wealth— sex, drugs, and insider trading.
THEATER:
boom—Theatre Vertigo recently added five new members to their ensemble, and two of them star in Vertigo’s current show, Peter Sinn Nachtrieb’s boom. boom‘s a strange little script, a sort of apocalyptic Odd Couple, with a clever metatheatrical framework and a very contemporary sense of humor. Verdict? The noobs aren’t quite up to the ensemble’s usual polished standards, and it takes a while for the show to hit its stride, but a fantastically offbeat performance from longtime company member Heather Rose Walters pulls things together quite well in the second half.
Design for Living—While I was watching the brisk, funny boom, which clocked in at 90 minutes with no intermission, Intern Jane was patiently enduring a three-and-a-half hour production at Artists Rep. Some day, she’s going to kill me and steal my job.
PLUS!:
Fontanelle Gallery announced this morning that they’re shutting down, with a closing party scheduled for Friday, Jan 22 at 7 pm. We should have more on that soon.
Are you aware that J.R. Wickman has been a member of the ensemble for two years?
Nope! Thought he was new, based on his website bio—”JR Wickman is very happy to be joining the Vertigo ranks”—and I guess I haven’t seen him in anything there recently (I did miss the first show of the season, which it looks like he was in).
Alison is correct. J.R. is a newer member of Theatre Vertigo (as of May-ish, I believe). I know this because I left Vertigo in September to pursue a bachelors degree.
Also, I believe Theatre Vertigo is holding a Monday showing of boom for those of us who cannot attend Thursday, Friday, or Saturday evening performances. Feb. 1, perhaps?
And I think they replaced their old seats.
But, seriously, not a member of the company anymore…
Nathan, will you fact check all of my blog posts?
I can confirm that the old seats have in fact been repalced; and there is indeed a show on Monday, Feb 1.