The show is visually pleasing and intriguing. However, unless one is familiar with the writings of the two subjects, it is difficult to make sense of what is going on. In terms of following the story, "Leonora and Alejandro" does not match Stein's prior production in Montclair, "The Grand Parade (of the 20th Century)," which I had found exceptional.
Art doesn't always make sense, at first glance. One has to take it all in--the colors, the sounds, the feelings, the mood. I'm glad the critic gave me a heads up to avoid seeking out a narrative thread. But I can't wait to see this! Thank you Montclair State University.
Cranks of the world, unite!
And I'm a crank. Sorry.
I was in graduate school long ago. During the 1970's. One year, a certain Spanish poet was given the Nobel prize for literature. And Cornell's Department of Comp. Lit. (comparative literature) thoughtfully provided us with English translations of Senor ____________'s poetry. These I found lying around on a table in the Classics office. So I bent over to read one.
One of my professors--a Brit--saw what I was doing. So he walked over.
"Don't you. . . .just HATE this kind of writing?" he asked me. It was super-symbolical, super-obscure, super-unreadable. I looked up at him. Yes. Yes, I'm afraid I did.
This play sounds very much like Senor ___________'s poetry. Weird. Mystifying. Ultimately unsatisfying.
We live our lives DOING things. LOVING things--and people. Making PLANS. Setting GOALS. GOING somewhere. Things seem to make no sense sometimes--but we're not them. We try and make SENSE of our own lives.
The people in this play don't seem to live this way at all. HOW they live, WHY they live I have no idea. They just go on and on. Doing things--saying things that are inexplicable. Arbitrary. Things that make no sense.
But then--I have no idea why anyone should WRITE a play like this. If people who have watched it find it moving--satisfying--fulfilling--well and good. I am glad. I wish them joy of it.
I have no plans to see it myself.
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Why in the world would you write something this long about a play you don't intend to see - WOW
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This performance well deserves this recognition, as does the Double Edge company in general. Truly unlike anything else being produced, and created through a process that fulfills the artists and audience. Thank you Leonora Carrington for the endless inspiration.
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