Individual Reading. Summary №6

Mrs. Tiare Johnson, the proprietress of the local hotel tells the narrator a story of how she helped Strickland to marry a native woman Ata. After the marriage they settled down in Ata’s house and the three following years became the happiest in Strickland’s life. Ata took care of him and their children while Charles continued drawing. Several years later the man got leprosy, however, the disease didn’t break him for Charles continued to paint even more passionately. On the walls of his house he drew a masterpiece representing the hidden depth of nature, but after Charles’ death Ata burnt down the house as her husband’s dying wish.

The narrator returns to London where he meets Mrs. Strickland again. He tells her everything he knows about her husband not mentioning however Ata and her son. Mrs. Strickland is very proud to be the wife of a genius and shows the narrator the copies of Charles’ pictures.

Individual Reading. Summary №5

Strickland shows his paintings to the narrator, but the latter cannot appreciate them for they seem to him gaudy and strange. The narrator doesn’t buy anything of which he eventually regrets. This is their last meeting, for after that Strickland moves to Marseilles and the narrator never sees him. Nevertheless, several years later after Strickland’s death he decides to write a book about him. Having arrived in Tahiti where Strickland spent the last years of his life, the narrator meets Captain Nichols, who was with Charles when the latter was jobless and penniless. Nichols describes their life in Marseilles and adds that by chance and with the help of false documents Strickland managed to go to Tahiti. There he continued to paint and worked as an overseer on a plantation. After Strickland’s death everybody understood his talent and his paintings became very expensive, making lots of people who knew him during his life to regret the missed opportunity of buying Charles’ paintings for a song.

Rendering №7

The article published on the website of the newspaper “The New York Times” on March 8, 2013 is headlined “Curtains, and Hope for Renewal, Going Up”. The article reports at length that this month, after more than 25 years, the Suffolk Theater at 118 East Main Street is again open for business, transformed into a performing arts center that some see as the anchor for a downtown revival.

Speaking of this situation it is necessary to point out that the theater’s executive director, Mr. Spiotto recently showed a visitor around the theater days before it reopened last weekend with a gala party. In this respect it is worthwhile mentioning the fact that the theater’s five-year overhaul included the restoration of original woodwork, wall sconces, fluted pilasters and stained-glass chandeliers. Besides, the old, moldy seats have been replaced, for now, with cabaret-style tables and chairs that can accommodate about 500 people. Moreover, according to Mr. Spiotto permanent theater-style seating was rejected to have flexible space.

Analyzing the situation, it is necessary to note that the theater’s refurbishing has been the project of Bob Castaldi, a contractor who specializes in historical restorations, who along with his wife, Dianne, bought the property from the town in 2005 for $707,000. It’s a well-known fact that the restoration began, but then stalled for years, partly because of litigation that was resolved in 2010; work resumed two and a half years ago according to Mr. Castaldi.

Giving appraisal to the situation, it is necessary to emphasize that now it is up to Mr. Spiotto to create programming that will bring in the crowds. In this connection it is necessary to mention that the March lineup indicates a broad mix of entertainment, including additional tribute shows to figures like Lawrence Welk, James Taylor and Nat King Cole, different concerts and other events with the tickets cost from $10 to $50. There is a general feeling to believe that the theater will be the centerpiece of a newly energized downtown business district. Moreover, there are signs that the Suffolk Theater is the destination which can revitalize Main Street to open new restaurants and shops.

The article concludes by saying that the theater has already influenced the street to revive with the opening of the Blue Duck Bakery Cafe. It’s an open secret that with locations in Southampton and Southold, the artisanal bakery recently opened a Riverhead branch at 309 East Main Street, with an eye toward the theater nearby. Besides, it was revealed that the new store even features “an Art Deco type of décor,” according to the owner the company Nancy Kouris, who wanted to connect them to the theater. As for me, I think that it is great that this theater is open again for the public. More and more people will become familiar with art and theatrical performances. In addition, the theater will also be the centerpiece of a newly energized downtown business district, helping to develop the town’s infrastructure.

Rendering №6

The article published on the website of the newspaper “The New York Times” on March 12, 2013 is headlined “Showbiz Chimp on the Edge of Despair”. The article takes a critical view of the new play ‘Trevor’ at the Theater for the New City. Speaking of the production it is necessary to point out that “Trevor,” Nick Jones’s witty, sly play is inspired by the story of a Connecticut woman assaulted by a pet chimpanzee. In resolute terms the author of the article makes it clear that this oddly suspenseful play, staged by Moritz Von Stuelpnagel with a deadpan naturalism, has as its core the tight bond between Trevor and his owner, Sandra, played with steel and a glint of madness by Colleen Werthmann.

Analyzing the situation it is necessary to point out that a dominant theme of the play is the challenge of communication. The humans can’t understand what Trevor is saying, so they constantly misunderstand what he is thinking, leading to hostility. It’s an open secret that such crossed signals are the source of both the mounting tension and the comedy, since Trevor mistakes Animal Control for a television producer.

Giving appraisal to the situation it is necessary to emphasize that what makes this taut play at the Theater for the New City so impressive is not that it makes us understand and even like a dangerous ape, but that it does so while imagining him as an obnoxious jerk. In resolute terms the author of the article expresses the view that Steven Boyer, who wears overalls, walks with a long-armed bounce and speaks in normal English, plays the simian Trevor like a moody, self-regarding and deluded actor, but to be fair, though he did star in a commercial with Morgan Fairchild, but like many creatures of show business, he overestimates his own clout in the industry.

The author concludes by saying that Mr. Boyer delivers a charismatic, physically subtle performance that initially underplays the savage danger of his character. Besides, there is every reason to believe that it’s a risky choice because the play absolutely depends on the audience grasping the potential threat of a wild animal on the loose in our world. Nevertheless, there are signs that  by inviting us to see Trevor as more recognizably human, as opposed to a theatrical trick, he allows us to gain access to more universal fears. As for me, I agree with the author that when animals attack, we’re horrified, scared and also, let’s face it, fascinated. But at the same time it is rather intriguing to see the play which invites us to feel something else: empathy for the violent animal. So it’s a pity that I cannot watch “Trevor”.

Rendering №5

The article published on the website of the newspaper “The Telegraph” on March 1, 2013 is headlined “Testing children on Shakespeare can give them 'demons', Mark Rylance says”. The article denounces the view of Mark Rylance, a former artistic director of the Globe Theatre that schoolchildren should not be given rigid tests on Shakespeare, as he fears struggling with the Bard leaves pupils feeling culturally inferior and with “demons”.

Speaking of the article it is necessary to note that, as part of a new documentary about why people are “so scared of Shakespeare”, Rylance joined a host of British actors including Dame Judi Dench, Sir Ian McKellen, and Ralph Fiennes to speak up for the poet. It’s an open secret that the programme, to be broadcast on BBC Four this autumn and provisionally titled Muse of Fire, shows two young actors travelling the globe with video cameras to find out what people really think of Shakespeare. It was revealed that one way children met Shakespeare was through was “what is called the “forced march to an exam test” – GCSE or SAT questions about what’s right and wrong”.

Analyzing the situation it is necessary to note that the documentary, which will also be exhibited at festivals from next month, features interviews with Romeo + Juliet director Baz Luhrman, Ewan Mcgregor, Zoe Wanamaker, James Earl Jones, Ben Kingsley and John Hurt. In this connection it is worthwhile mentioning the fact that Dame Judi Dench said there was “some kind of glory” in performing Shakespeare, as she spoke of teaching people his work was nothing to be “frightened of”. Moreover, actor Jude Law added that the Bard was the “centre of all that we do as actors” but remained “intimidating to so many people”.

The article draws a conclusion that the programme, Muse of Fire, was announced as part of the coming season of arts programming on BBC Four and, moreover, there is also a lot of comment on the creation of the documentary by Dan Poole and Giles Terera. As for me I think that it is quite an interesting and unusual idea to create a programme like this one. It is very curious that the author took such trouble to put the expressions of human nature, and the nature of the universe, into a playful, sensual, emotional, story form; as remarkably as Shakespeare. So , I’m looking forward to see this programme.