The Black Rider (no, not a Nazgul...)

lizziebith · 05-23-2006, 12:25 PM

Whoo-hoo! For once I convinced hubby to go out AND remembered to buy tickets to something I wanted to see! We're going to see the Waits/Wilson/Burroughs production The Black Rider this Friday night at the Ahmanson!

Has anyone seen it yet?

Not Afraid · 05-23-2006, 12:31 PM

Not yet, but we have tickets to see it June 4th in the afternoon. I'm excited!

blueerica · 05-23-2006, 12:43 PM

That's awesome! I should go see that... Get me some culture!

Ghoulish Delight · 05-23-2006, 12:52 PM

We've got tickets for the 10th. So no spoilers!

SzczerbiakManiac · 05-23-2006, 12:53 PM

I'm going Wednesday (5/24) night.

I'll be honest, I'm concerned it may be a little to "out there" for my taste, but I am looking forward to seeing it.

mousepod · 05-24-2006, 08:50 AM

Saw it the first time around at BAM in 1992. What a cool show.

SzczerbiakManiac · 05-31-2006, 04:52 PM

It was definitely out there!

I can't say I liked it, but I wouldn't say I disliked it either. The fact that John Vickery was it it did help a lot though.

If you're going to see it, do yourself a big favor and read the synopsis in the program before the show starts! I can't imagine anyone being able to follow the story otherwise.

Not Afraid · 06-04-2006, 08:11 PM

We saw it this afernoon.

LOVED it. But, everything about it was rightup my alley. Great Expressionist sets, fantastic caberet-inspired music by the please-freeze-his-head-when-he's-gone Tom Waits and, of course, text by William Burroughs who never disappoints.

People walked out. We overheard someone say "Quelle Bizarre" at one point, and the people behind us were talking about the lack of linear storytelling.

I wasn't aware that all stories needed to be linear and I didn't know speaking faux French in a Los Angeles theaer was normal, but I'm pretty out there myself.

This was one of the most satisfying theater productions I've seen in a while - but I'm certainly not your run of the mill theater goer. I don't usually flock to "Broadway" style productions and tend to go for the more unusual pieces. Lots of disclaimers there, I know. I highly recommend it, but wouldn't recommend it for everyone. How's that for nothing?

€uroMeinke · 06-04-2006, 08:18 PM

This was definately a work where I was the target audience - Homages to German expressionist cinema like Caligari, or Metropolis, A faustian tale, cabaret staging with homages to Brecht & Weil. I smilled through the whole thing.

I particularly loved Robert Wilson's staging, his use of lighting, slow movements across the stage - I think this is the best production I've seen these devices used (though admittedly it's hard to see many Robert Wilson works in LA).

But yeah, I'd pick and choose who I'd recommend this one to - there are but a few people that share my quirks that were indulged in this one.

flippyshark · 06-04-2006, 09:07 PM

Well, I already have and enjoy the BLACK RIDER album from Waits, so I'm sure this would be my cup of tea as well. Who knows if I will ever have a chance to catch it...

05-23-2006, 12:25 PM	#1
lizziebith Wishing these titles could be longe Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Pearblossom CA Posts: 984	The Black Rider (no, not a Nazgul...) Whoo-hoo! For once I convinced hubby to go out AND remembered to buy tickets to something I wanted to see! We're going to see the Waits/Wilson/Burroughs production The Black Rider this Friday night at the Ahmanson! Has anyone seen it yet? __________________ $ DO \|\| !$ DO ; TRY TRY: COMMAND NOT FOUND
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05-23-2006, 12:31 PM	#2
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	Not yet, but we have tickets to see it June 4th in the afternoon. I'm excited!
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05-23-2006, 12:43 PM	#3
blueerica Nueve Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 6,497	That's awesome! I should go see that... Get me some culture! __________________ Tomorrow is the day for you and me
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05-23-2006, 12:52 PM	#4
Ghoulish Delight I Floop the Pig Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Alternative Swankstyle Posts: 19,348	We've got tickets for the 10th. So no spoilers! __________________ 'He who receives an idea from me, receives instruction himself without lessening mine; as he who lights his taper at mine, receives light without darkening me.' -TJ
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05-23-2006, 12:53 PM	#5
SzczerbiakManiac "ZER-bee-ak" Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,409	I'm going Wednesday (5/24) night. I'll be honest, I'm concerned it may be a little to "out there" for my taste, but I am looking forward to seeing it.
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05-24-2006, 08:50 AM	#6
mousepod You broke your Ramadar! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,635	Saw it the first time around at BAM in 1992. What a cool show. __________________ "Give the public everything you can give them, keep the place as clean as you can keep it, keep it friendly" - Walt Disney
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05-31-2006, 04:52 PM	#7
SzczerbiakManiac "ZER-bee-ak" Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 4,409	It was definitely out there! I can't say I liked it, but I wouldn't say I disliked it either. The fact that John Vickery was it it did help a lot though. If you're going to see it, do yourself a big favor and read the synopsis in the program before the show starts! I can't imagine anyone being able to follow the story otherwise.
	Submit to Quotes

06-04-2006, 08:11 PM	#8
Not Afraid HI! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 17,108	We saw it this afernoon. LOVED it. But, everything about it was rightup my alley. Great Expressionist sets, fantastic caberet-inspired music by the please-freeze-his-head-when-he's-gone Tom Waits and, of course, text by William Burroughs who never disappoints. People walked out. We overheard someone say "Quelle Bizarre" at one point, and the people behind us were talking about the lack of linear storytelling. I wasn't aware that all stories needed to be linear and I didn't know speaking faux French in a Los Angeles theaer was normal, but I'm pretty out there myself. This was one of the most satisfying theater productions I've seen in a while - but I'm certainly not your run of the mill theater goer. I don't usually flock to "Broadway" style productions and tend to go for the more unusual pieces. Lots of disclaimers there, I know. I highly recommend it, but wouldn't recommend it for everyone. How's that for nothing?
	Submit to Quotes

06-04-2006, 08:18 PM	#9
€uroMeinke L'Hédoniste Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: A.S.C.O.T. Posts: 8,671	This was definately a work where I was the target audience - Homages to German expressionist cinema like Caligari, or Metropolis, A faustian tale, cabaret staging with homages to Brecht & Weil. I smilled through the whole thing. I particularly loved Robert Wilson's staging, his use of lighting, slow movements across the stage - I think this is the best production I've seen these devices used (though admittedly it's hard to see many Robert Wilson works in LA). But yeah, I'd pick and choose who I'd recommend this one to - there are but a few people that share my quirks that were indulged in this one. __________________ I would believe only in a God that knows how to Dance. Friedrich Nietzsche
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06-04-2006, 09:07 PM	#10
flippyshark Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 2,852	Well, I already have and enjoy the BLACK RIDER album from Waits, so I'm sure this would be my cup of tea as well. Who knows if I will ever have a chance to catch it...
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