Monday, July 9, 2012

War Horse and Church on Sunday

This past winter the film “War Horse” was in movie theaters.  Before it premiered, everyone was talking about it and the stage version of it playing in London and New York City.  Even though I’ve never been much of a fan of epic type films, I did go see the movie over Christmas and fell in love with it and cried like a baby through most of it

So when tickets went on sale at the Ahmanson Theater in downtown LA, I just had to get them.  For a belated Mother’s Day gift, my mom (who just got into town a couple of days ago), our friend Sheila, and I went to a matinee this afternoon.

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Even though Sunday is a fairly light traffic day, we took the train out of North Hollywood into downtown.  It was a warm but clear day.

stuff 095 stuff 096 stuff The Ahmanson Theater is part of the Los Angeles Music Center and is located on Grand Ave. and Temple St.
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All the reviews I’ve read about this production have been fantastic.  The surprise being how in the heck do they put on a stage play using horses.  I was aware ahead of time that the horses were giant puppets, but I wasn’t expecting them to be as truly amazing as they were. 

(L to R) Catherine Gowl, Laurabeth Breya, Nick LaMedica and Andrew Veenstra in the national tour of the National Theatre of Great Britain production of “War Horse,” which has its West Coast premiere at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre, June 14 through July 29, 2012.  (Opens June 29.)  “War Horse,” the winner of five Tony Awards, is based on a novel by Michael Morpurgo, adapted by Nick Stafford and presented in association with Handspring Puppet Company. For tickets and information, call (213) 972-4400 or go to www.CenterTheatreGroup.org.                          Contact: CTG Media and Communications (213) 972-7376/CTGMedia@CenterTheatreGroup.org                                    Photo by Brinkhoff/Mögenburg

(L to R) Andrew Veenstra and Jon Riddleberger in the national tour of the National Theatre of Great Britain production of “War Horse,” which has its West Coast premiere at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre, June 14 through July 29, 2012.  (Opens June 29.)  “War Horse,” the winner of five Tony Awards, is based on a novel by Michael Morpurgo, adapted by Nick Stafford and presented in association with Handspring Puppet Company. For tickets and information, call (213) 972-4400 or go to www.CenterTheatreGroup.org.                                                                                                              Contact: CTG Media and Communications (213) 972-7376/CTGMedia@CenterTheatreGroup.org                                     Photo by Brinkhoff/Mögenburg

Horse Puppeteers L to R: Jessica Krueger, Patrick Osteen and Jon Riddleberger

The cast of the national tour of the National Theatre of Great Britain production of “War Horse,” which has its West Coast premiere at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre, June 14 through July 29, 2012.  (Opens June 29.)  “War Horse,” the winner of five Tony Awards, is based on a novel by Michael Morpurgo, adapted by Nick Stafford and presented in association with Handspring Puppet Company. For tickets and information, call (213) 972-4400 or go to www.CenterTheatreGroup.org.                                                                                                                                                                      Contact: CTG Media and Communications (213) 972-7376/CTGMedia@CenterTheatreGroup.org                                     Photo by Brinkhoff/Mögenburg (L to R obscured) Christopher Mai, Derek Stratton and Rob Laqui in the national tour of the National Theatre of Great Britain production of “War Horse,” which has its West Coast premiere at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre, June 14 through July 29, 2012.  (Opens June 29.) “War Horse,” the winner of five Tony Awards, is based on a novel by Michael Morpurgo, adapted by Nick Stafford and presented in association with Handspring Puppet Company. For tickets and information, call (213) 972-4400 or go to www.CenterTheatreGroup.org.                                                       Contact: CTG Media and Communications (213) 972-7376/CTGMedia@CenterTheatreGroup.org                                     Photo by Brinkhoff/Mögenburg(the play photos all come from the Ahmanson’s website as cameras are not allowed inside the theater)
Each horse had 3 or more puppeteers in control.  After a few minutes of getting used to their presence, I didn’t really even notice them once the play got going.  The horses movements are so realistic, even the small movements like a tail swish or a head tilt, there are times you forget you’re not watching real horses. 

The staging was very sparse but also very well done.  The movie, of course, was much more intense because of the number of real horses involved and the benefit of location, but the play was still very emotional – I cried twice.  If you get a chance, it’s a must see for sure.

After the play, we headed back towards the train station.
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We made a stop across the street to see the Los Angeles Cathedral (Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels) which is rather new, just opening in 2002.  The Los Angeles Archdiocese had been without a cathedral since 1994 when Saint Vibiana was badly damaged in the Northridge earthquake.  

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The cathedral is quite modern and so very different than the norm.  It was also pricey to build which was the basis for much criticism. stuff 117 stuff 118 stuff 123 stuff 124

The tapestries were painted by Southern California native John Nava specifically for the cathedral.  He used “regular people” as models for the holy men and women.

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The cathedral will be celebrating its 10th anniversary this September.

21 comments:

  1. I've heard it's the best play in ten years.


    A building is notoriously difficult to assess. This is true for any building. We need time to dwell on it. Let it stew. Then we've a feel of our emotion to the thing. That it is a new-ish design doesn't matter much.
    When we think Cathedral in the main is Chartres. But there was an earlier version which was circular in plan.
    This one needs to be lit differently. Those extended fittings need removal and the openness of the space exposed. And nowadays they can get those hi-lumen LED that would enfold that space in a simulated daylight/soft candlelight/Marian glow. Whatever the mood or the High Holiday demands. But with none of that stuff festooned and slicing the area like cheese-wire.
    I don't like the organ loft. I don't like corners for the sake of corners. Since here the designer didn't have to fit the instrument into a space as an afterthought. Myself, I'd remove the tapestries. Their note is off when included to the main ensemble. But at least lower them to floor level so they are co-equal to the congregation. Especially since that's what they are to symbolize anyway.

    Why are you being so exact about the SoCal genesis of the artist. Would you be saying something else if he was from Crescent City or Redding.

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    1. P.S. Any of the Celtic saints, eg Columba, Gall, Columbanus.

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    2. The tapestries are very beautiful, but I too found them quite off/high in the scheme of it all. I was barely able to read the names that were printed on the tops from where I stood because of how far up they were. Other than St. Patrick and a couple of English Saints (Thomas More and John Fisher), I don't remember any others that you mentioned.
      Here's a link to all of them
      http://www.olacathedral.org/cathedral/art/tapestries.html
      As for mentioning the artist being native to So Cal - I just found it interesting that a local artist was involved in a local project - so much of our population is transplanted from elsewhere so it's kind of rare.
      The organ IS massive - two things to note about it...it does include parts of St. Vibiana's organ and had to be built to our earthquake requirements. I don't know if that has anything to do with the design?

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    3. Earthquake proof/Smerquake proof, it's an ugly thing. Perhaps the ugliest one I've ever seen. It looks like part of the utilities that they didn't encase with walling. You'd think nothing of hearing a flush gurgle it's way down one of the bigger ones from the upstairs flat.

      I found that www yesterday, but thank you for your thoughtfulness. It's a bit more technical than artistic.
      Oh btw, Patrick wasn't Irish :-D.

      Last night I had a look on the street view -handy thing that-. It's a very blocky design from the outside. Not at all in keeping with the current curvy-ness or spikiness that we've seen since Bilbao.

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    4. Another P.S. I meant to say that those photos are very good. Very very good indeed.

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  2. I am so envious, I started to see the advertizing just before we left California. I hope it makes it back here on tour. I'd drive to Kansas City or St Louis to see it.

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    1. It was really wonderful. I think I did see something in the program about it coming to St. Louis next spring.

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  3. Those puppet horses are CRAZY cool! I think I'd rather see the play than the movie after seeing those photos.
    And although that Cathedral isn't very cute on the outside, the inside is amazing. And I'm digging those tapestries. I should have that guy do some for me. I'm sure he'll work with my budget, right?
    m.

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    1. Those puppets are incredible. It was difficult to wrap my mind around how they worked and how they could move like a live animal. You should see both! :)

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  4. Yeah, but will it be as good as Book of Mormon? ;) Did you eat tacos at Olvera Street?

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    1. THAT is a good question. I'm sure we will have tons of fun at B of M. They are completely different genres,so the fun will just be different. :) No tacos this time.

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  5. I love seeing Broadway plays, but haven't gone in years. I am so glad you had a wonderful day with you mother. I will have to remember to do something like that for my mom!

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  6. Shut up! You went inside a church? On Sunday? Did your mom drag you kicking and screaming? Did lightning strike?

    Just messin' with ya. You could say the all the same about me.

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    1. I know right?!?! I was afraid I might burst into flames when I walked through the doors. :) Funny story...I was sending some texts on the walk over that I finished once inside. When I told the person I had to stop because I was in church, the reply was, "Why are you in church?!?"

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  7. Off topic totally. And to do with google.
    I'm getting spam into my mailbox that's being missed by your filters. When I click the 'follow on comments' on a post of yours all subsequent are forwarded to my mailbox. And while you or your filters are catching them before they get into your place(Blog) they can create havoc with me. Where they mine through my a/c.
    I've hit the 'report spam' button in the gmail so you might get a message from mountain view.
    You may or may not know about this, for mostly these are but bouncers on a system where they may leave little or no trace. But this is totally their fault. Google's that is. They've known about it for years, but they play the shocked card and attempt to foist things where it doesn't belong.
    If you know about this ignore this. But I believe if we don't police those providers they will be policing us. Hay hoos.

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    1. Oh no! I do get them in my email too, but blogger has recognized most of them as spam so they don't attach to the posts, instead they drop into blogger's spam which I report and clear out every so often. I did not realize they'd be emailed to followers...I'm sorry, what a nuisance. I took off word verification awhile back because it got really difficult to fill in. I'll go into my settings and see what I can do. If I need to put it back on I will. Thanks for letting me know.

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  8. I bet this place is gorgeous at Christmas.

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    1. Maybe it is. I know they do several concerts there, so I'm sure go all out for Christmas.

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  9. First time visiting/commenting on your blog; wow, what a production with War Horse; I didn't realize it was a play in addition to a movie. That would be fascinating to see as a play, especially the horse puppets!

    hope you have a great Wednesday!

    betty

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