Inkwell: Authors and Artists

    
Maddy's a theater critic!
  

    
Jeeze..I feel so weird, I *love* Turkish Delight! Then again, I'm just
a few blocks away from the heart of the Middle Eastern section of
Brooklyn where they make the stuff fresh everyday.  Sahadi's, a well
known spice emporium, and The Damascus Bakery (you probably eat their
pita bread) make the kind Neil described. Rosewater, apricot or mint
flavored jellies with or without nuts. The only other kind I've tried
is Cadbury's Turkish Delight chocolate bar, but it isn't the same. 

Happy Birthday $queak$!
  

    
Rocky -- my theory is Turkish Delight has to be freshly made to be
wonderful.
  

    
By the way, Alistair Cooke's LETTER FROM AMERICA is -- in audio, and
in transcription, -- on the BBC website. He's been reporting on and
explaining America to the world (particularly the bits of it to which
the BBC broadcasts) for well over 60 years, and he knows his stuff. He
gives a talk each week -- perfect little essays that (aprt from his
occasional hobbyhorses of golf and vitamin-pills-are-bad-for-you) are
reassuring, erudite, sensible and perfectly crafted.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/letter_from_america/default.stm
is the place to go and read or listen to it.
  

    
Rocky--

I haven't been to Sahadi's yet, but I have a bag of za'atar and a jar
of pomegranate molasses from the nearby "Oriental Food and Spices"
store (I think that's what it's called) that, I guess, defines Oriental
as middle-eastern.  They also have these cones of "yogurt soup powder"
that are both intriguing and fairly dubious looking-- ever tried them?
  

    
Neil--  I need advice.

I've got my cast assembled for Midsummer, and I'm pleased with them--
they can handle the language, and many of them have seen the recent
movie (which I wasn't crazy about, except for Kevin Kline) so they
understand the story.

My concern right now it keeping the magic alive in the play.  I've
seen so many productions of Midsummer that were leaden-- too cute, too
desperately whimsical.  I know I can avoid that, but it's not enough to
know what I don't like-- I want to create something really magical,
and I'm kind of floundering around right now.  I know what to do with
the lovers, I think, but the Fairie-- there I need some help.

I know you have a strong relationship with this play, and I can't
think of anyone whose advice I'd value more-- can you suggest any
constructive ways to think about bringing the Faerie component of
Midsummer to life?

Thanks.

btw-- I just got Norb in the mail yesterday, and I love it.  Takes a
while to adjust to the daily strip rhythm, but it's wonderful.
  

    
Len - Haven't tried za'tar or pomagranate molasses...but the latter
sounds yummy, what are you using it for?  And yes, I know the Oriental
Food store quite well..those guys are outrageous flirts.  A good friend
of mine prefers them to Sahadi's and since she speaks fluent Arabic
and a few other dialects, it's fun to go in there with her when she
shops in the area.  However, I have to carefully limit my visits to
these places for besides a serious jones for the fresh Turkish Delight
[a minute on the lips..years on the hips!], there's a real weakness for
the semolina honeycake called Basboosa. I think the Southern Yemenite
version is much better than the Lebanese...but don't tell them I said
so.  ;)

Neil - Alstair Cooke is *still* alive?!  Oh my, I remember him on BBC
Radio as a child before the advent of TV.  Haven't heard his name in
ages.  Guess we can consider him the Walter Cronkite of BBC..or maybe
vice versa. Thanks for the link, I can take a little trip down memory
lane and get a well informed perspective on how the whole election
snafu is playing abroad.  
  

    
Rocky--

Roasted Red Pepper Dip

4 large red bell peppers

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 teaspoons ground cumin
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses*
1 tablespoon robust-flavored (dark) molasses 
Pinch of cayenne pepper 

Char peppers over gas flame or in broiler until blackened on all
sides. Enclose in paper bag. Let stand 10 minutes. Peel, seed and
coarsely chop peppers. Transfer peppers to processor.

Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in heavy medium skillet over medium heat.
Add chopped onion and sauté until tender and golden, about 6 minutes.
Add ground cumin and minced garlic; stir 1 minute. 

Transfer onion mixture to processor with bell peppers. Add pomegranate
molasses, dark molasses and cayenne pepper. Using on/off turns,
process until coarse puree forms. Season red pepper dip to taste with
salt and pepper. Refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to 1 day to blend
flavors. 
  

    
re: Turkish Delight... maybe the problem was a combination of nuts and
it not being freshly made. If I ever get up to visiting Rocky, she'll
have to take me to get some. :) (great, planning trips to Australia for
Tim Tams and New York for Turkish Delight... and I'm not a chocolate
fan... *sigh)

-squeaks
who is possibly the guardian to the only mouse that has received b-day
wished from Neil - where does one learn about mouse years?
  

    
That was supposed to say *wishes* not *wished*... 

Any way, James (of the ever-changing hair colors) became irritated
with me for mentioning the mouse's b-day, but not his (which was
yesterday). I told him it's what he gets for not joining the club and
announcing it his own dang self, but I still felt guilty so here I am.

-squeaks, who just finished watching Princess Mononoke for the ?th
time and can't find her Wallace & Gromit anywhere...
  

    
Len -- depends on the cast, what they can do. One thing that has
always seemed like a so-simple-why-don't-they is playing up the animal
wildness of faerie: going in costuming for wildness (a little bit swamp
thing, a little bit rock 'n roll) and in action for animal behaviour,
pushing up the wildness of the forest: letting puck be a little
snake-like, Oberon Leonine etc.

Then again, I always wanted to do a modern-dress version where the
fairies were all in leather and lipstick.

Rocky -- Alastair Cooke remains alive, and commentating on America to
the world. Thank heavens.

Michelle -- well wish James of the hair and the magnetic Fields
t-shirt happy birthday from me. (They are doing a COMPLETE 69 Love
songs in Boston next weekend. Wish I could be there.)
  

    
Hrm, the idea of faeries in leather and lipstick first gave me ideas
of "Shakespeare at the Club", followed by imaginings of "Shakespeare in
the Castro". It appears I need to take a longer vacation from the SF
club scene... Oh, and message forwarded to James. 

-squeaks,
who has yet to actually *see* MF, tho' she's now been to two shows.
  

    
Neil--

Thanks for the excellent suggestion.  Not only is it appropriate to
the play itself, but it's a wonderful "way in" for a young actor to
develop his character.  I have 45 kids in this play, and was struggling
with how to vary their physicality onstage-- your advice will really
help me. It reminds me of the description of the goblins in Rossetti's
Goblin Market: ..."One like a wombat prowled obtuse and furry" (my fave
line.)

I knew you'd have a good idea.

You characterize Puck as serpent-like, and that reminds me-- your
depictions of Robin Goodfellow in Sandman show him with a substantial
streak of malice, even making him a leading antagonist in The Kindly
Ones.  Most performances I've seen have played Puck as being an
anarchic force, but ultimately a benevolent one(his closing monologue,
I think, supports that interpretation.) What leads you to your darker
take on the character?
  

    
I think Puck is completely self-willed, and enjoys mischief for
mischief's sake.

The snake idea is because of the various snake/serpent lines in the
text which seemed to refer to Puck....

....

I'm out working in the cabin currently on AMERICAN GODS -- the final
draft. Rereading, rewriting. Only coming home to eat. When i get bored
or desperatly need to do something else, I paint an angel bedside light
I bought the other day. She's getting more and more disturbing with
every coat of paint. Currently she has some facial bruising and blood
on her hands.
  

    
Len, I liked the idea that the Puck in real life (in Sandman) was
somewhat less the merry wanderer of the night and more a complete
danger. I'm not sure it's borne out by the play.
  

    
Okay, I'll throw this out for anyone who has any good ideas (or bad
ones... at this point, we can't be too picky).

This Friday night, the normally-goth-industrial club I work at is
turning into the Edward Gorey Ball. In keeping with the theme, the DJ
would like to avoid playing heavy industrial-ebm stuff, will probably
play lighter spooky music (Projekt labelish stuff) to appease the
goths, and has no idea what else would be good to play for the evening.

Any suggestions? Specific titles/artists would be especially helpful
(for Napster downloads, I imagine), but all ideas are welcome. Thank
you thank you thank you!

-squeaks
who simply must find a hat for her velvety ball-gown.
  

    
Going on my oh-so-wide knowledge of goffi musics, I would think some
Danny Elfman would be essential for that.  
And Rasputina. 
Maybe some of the calmer Einsturzende Nuebauten.  (I'm thinking Stella
Maris, some of the stuff from Tabula Rasa..).
Mmm.  How 'bout some Angels of Light?
And you should prolly fit some Edward Ka-Spel in there somwewhere.

There's my suggestions, from a chickadee who's proud to have never
seen in interior of a goth club.  : p
  

    
I love the idea of a Gorey ball, and I wish I could go!

I don't really have any good music suggestions, other than the already-
mentioned and obvious Danny Elfman.  I'd play the Ice Dance from "Edward
Scissorhands," as it's a waltz and there should be waltzes at a Gorey ball.
I'd also play a tango if you can find it; some of those twenties-esque Gorey
dresses were made to be tangoed in.
  

    

Leonard Cohen- Take This Waltz.
  

    
Neil...I was just thinking about your wonderful little X-mas card
story/poem about old St. Nick. Have you had a chance to write this
year's?
  

    
Oh, I forgot to mention Nick Cave for the Gorey ball.  I think I
should.

Yawn.
  

    
I second the suggestion of Rasputina-- they're the Gorey-iest of the
groups I know.  Chicks in corsets playing cellos-- very cool.

the cast album for Shockheaded Peter, by the Tiger Lilies, not only
sounds Gorey-ish, but tells Gorey-ish stories.

I used to have a tape of Tammy Grimes reading Gorey poetry; if you'd
like, I'll look for it. (no guarantees, though.)
  

    
Oh yeah-- anything by Diamanda Galas.
  

    
Neil-- if all Pucks were self-willed, hockey would be a very different
game indeed.
  

    
One more thing (sorry for driveling on.)  I just ran across a review
of that CTC Lion, Witch Wardrobe production.  It turns out that the
director, Tim Vasen, directed a reading of one of my shows.  Weird.