CosCreative

Today I got to go to the NY1 studios to film a segment for the Parenting Report with Shelly Goldburg, for the Mysterious Miss Squito. I had to dress up as LD Bugg and run around the studio looking for the killer of Honey Bee. TV things are always so tiring. I had to drag all the costumes, plus bug props for Shelly to use for her hosting segment, a giant Honey Bee, Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches, and Bess Beetles to the studio, to do what will probably be a 4 second shot of me and Melanie running around studio accusing complacent looking news workers of killing Honey Bee. What was funny, was that there was no direction. The segment producer just said- ok- if you could just dance with the bee maybe... while looking in different directions... Do some crazy poses or something...

My friend Lisa is currently in a stunning play called Her Majesty the King. I loved it- Great direction, acting, sets, costumes. When I asked Lisa how it had been reviewed, she said that female reviewers liked it, but male reviewers were put off by the strong female characters. Now I've heard a lot of actors use this as an excuse to defray negative coments- so I checked one of the reviews. Here is the NY Theatre Review. I've highlighted some key phrases. See what you think, but my prognosis is that the reviewer was not to keen on women in general.

Comments about females are in RED
Comments/Descriptors about males are in BLUE

I only highlighted things that I felt swayed some sort of impression on the reader. This is only one review, but I may research some more.

nytheatre.com review

Martin Denton · June 19, 2006

Her Majesty the King, a new (and first) play by Sarah Overman, takes one of the supporting characters from Shakespeare's War of the Roses plays and places her front and center, where the facts of history suggest she belongs. The character is Queen Margaret, the consort of King Henry VI—the French-born wife of Britain's weakest monarch who found herself at the center of a cycle of intrigue and wars and eventually led an army to try to save her husband's throne.

Overman, it should be noted, is not the first to have the idea of shining the spotlight on Margaret; the now (sadly) defunct Revolving Shakespeare Company condensed the Henry VI plays and Richard III to create a piece called Queen Margaret about five years ago that covers the same ground in the Bard's own words. Overman relies on the same source material to create a completely original play, though one whose historical accuracy is only as reliable as Shakespeare's (she suggests, for example, that the future Richard III murdered Henry VI, something that most historians would disagree with).

It's a ripping tale, though: Margaret arrives from France to become the wife of King Henry, who ascended to the throne while still a baby (his father, the famous Henry V, died young). Henry has neither the will nor the means to govern; he's concerned only with his religious studies, which here appear to be beyond fanatical. He also has no interest in consummating his marriage. The net result of all of this is that Margaret must look elsewhere for love/satisfaction (the handsome Duke of Suffolk is her choice for this), and also for the power she craves and to which she feels entitled.

The king's ineffectiveness—manifested most noticeably in the loss of all remaining British possessions in France save Calais—provides an opportunity to Henry's cousin Richard of York, who leads a bloodless coup against his monarch. He accuses Margaret of adultery (not outright, of course, but the implication is clear: he questions publicly whether the baby Prince of Wales is really Henry's son, and we, privy to the details of their sex life, know he is not). Richard proposes that he be appointed regent, with his own son Edward made Henry's heir. This outrages Margaret, and the war begins. Henry is quickly imprisoned, but Margaret raises an army and embarks on a doomed battle to save her crown and to win her son his doomed inheritance.

Overman uses a variety of theatrical styles to tell this exciting story, including Shakespearean-feeling verse passages, stylized adventure/fight sequences, and somewhat more contemporary-sounding expositional scenes. She creates a host of vivid supporting characters, such as the foppish and downright mean King Louis of France; the ambitious Elizabeth Woodville, who journeys from Margaret's closest confidante to her enemy during the course of the play; Margaret's grandmother Yolande of Aragon, here seen only as a ghost haunting the determined young queen; and, especially, Henry VI himself, who is portrayed here by Michael Keyloun (in the play's finest performance) as a man too simple and too good to live—mentally off-kilter but not the simpleton or lunatic that some have postulated.

What's missing, though, is the strong, fully-fleshed out Queen Margaret that this play really wants at its center. Overman's focus on storytelling—admirable in a play of this size—eventually tells on her: we never really get under Margaret's skin to find out what's behind her seduction of Suffolk and her arrogant desire for battle; she remains the witchy, creepy woman we remember from Shakespeare (Margaret's the scary old crone who curses everybody in Richard III). Some of the responsibility lies with director Patrick McNulty and the t throughout. Their Margaret is a wo actresses who play Margaret at different ages, Lisa McCormick (young Margaret) and Diana LaMar (the more mature Queen), who have elected to portray the character at top-speedbitter shrew who yells and carries on all the time; more nuance and shading might have helped us better understand who this woman really is.

McNulty's staging, otherwise, is quite wonderful. The sets, by Luke Cantarella, are fluid and spare and shift quickly and easily, as the play's panoramic quality requires. Costumes by Katherine Hampton Noland are vividly realized, and the lighting (Thomas Dunn) and sound and music (Jason Atkinson and Josh Farrar, respectively) help set the various violent moods effectively. Jeremy Robins has contributed some cool video effects that are used when old Yolande's ghost appears.

Mimi Cozzens is terrific as the old ghostly apparition and also as Margaret's ally Mary of Gelderland. Justin Adams is impressive as the young King Edward IV.

Her Majesty the King heralds a talent to watch in playwright Overman, and is, despite its weaknesses, a thoroughly engaging entertainment.

Saw a really cool reading called Heretic Love:
Written by Mike Dressel, Amanda Ifrah, and Julia Granacki. Directed by Sabina Vajraca.
What I really liked about it was that I could really imagine what the sets would look like. It had crazy locations, and bended time and space. I would like to set design something like this.

The show went up today without a hitch. Phil and Mel were terrific! And the Kids LOVED them!!! I love exclamation points!!!!!!

I spent my Friday night making a Ladybug tie, and attaching antennae to a Fedora.

The Mysterious Miss Squito opens tomorrow at the New York Hall of Science!!!

I direct about five science theatre plays a year, and I'm starting to develop a few problems. The major one, is that I find it hard to be fresh. In the case of the Mysterious Miss Squito, From 1997-2000 I performed this particular show over 300 times, watched it an additional 200 times, directed it again in 2004, and am now directing it for this summer. It is a delightful show, but I think I'm done with it. I had to completely reblock the show, just so that I would pay attention. I know all the lines and blocking, so I have to really concentrate to see if the actors are really doing well, or I'm just hearing it in my head correctly. It's not a poor reflection on the actors- they're great- I think I have to start really pushing the envelope with the science theatre. No more standard 2 person plays with no set. This is the last of the Boo Boo shows.

She has 2 days until her stage debut! She still needs bright eyes.

... but she can be fixed- with lots of felt, glitter, tool, wire, and glue.

This is an email conversation I had with Vinyl Edition today:

Vinyl Edition:
Do we dare?

CosCreative:
Hey VE,
Thanks for the offer, but I have to make a giant dead bumble bee.

Vinyle Edition:
HA ha ha ha ha h aha ha ha!

CosCreative eats like a child. This is what CosCreative buys at the grocery market. These are the only groceries he has. Lined up they are a shimmeryshinyglossy spectacular.

Ok- So I'm not reccomending this for everyone, but the folks at Vinyl Edition and I tried this one out (Especially you crazy kids out there). Put a CD in the microwave, and in about 5 seconds you will see the most amazing display of Tron like circuit fire. Thousands of little electrod-y looking things powering all over the place. It happens really fast, so as soon as it's done stop the microwave, or you'll have one smelly kitchen.

The end result was really cool- both sides had a great texture. I wonder what else does cool things in a microwave. I know what happens to Gremlins. Here are both sides of the CD.

I had an incredibly creative dinner on Friday Evening at 718 Restaurant in Astoria. Everything about the night was incredible. The food was incredible. You can read more about it at Michellephant!

The highlight of the evening was a belly dancer. I think having live entertainment with your meal always makes it more enjoyable, especially when the live entertainment dances about the room with a large sword on her head. Boy, did Janna have some creative moves- and belly dancing is not easy- Yes, thats right- I tried it out on an excercise-on-demand program (channel 1025 Time Warner). You can see her every friday night at 9:30 & 10:30. Interacting with a Belly dancer is a little awkward though. She was really working hard for tips- but she wasn't a stripper. If I were a belly dancer, I would think tips were beneath me.

Tonight I went to see country music star Gretchen Wilson in concert at Radio City Music Hall. Gretchen Wilson, of I'm Here for the Party, and Redneck Woman Fame. Hear some of her music if you click the link (Don't worry V.E.- I'm not movin' in on your turf). I especially like California Girls & All Jacked Up. What's so creative about going to a Gretchen Wilson Concert?

Well:

1. In 6 years of living in NY, I've never been to Radio City Music Hall- it was amazing. I felt like every childhood movie I watched where some orphan who got to see a special show at RCMH came to life.

2. We sang: A LOT. Country stars like to make the audience sing every other verse of songs. Good think I know lyrics like, "Don't want no Purple Hooter Shooter, just want some Jack on the Rocks."

3. The set and lights were amazing. So many pyrotechnics- I thought that I was at an Epcot show.

4. Gretchen Wilson was incredibly creative. Aside from her standard set, she sang Billie Holiday's Goodmorning Heartache (all acoustic), Heat's Baracuda, and Black Dog by Led Zeplin. She has an amazing voice, and did all those songs proud.

5. Mullets do exist in NY- and are not just found being worn by Williamsburg Hipsters. Real people still think they're cool. And all 235 were at the Gretchen Wilson Concert.

6. Gretchen Wilson, much like Kareoke, is incredibly fun after a jack and coke, and 3 beers. Without the jack and coke and 3 beers- I don't know.

So the folks at JacObservations have been creating a lot of blogger cartoon characters. There's a great one of CosCreative. I thought I'd return the favor. Jake trains people to use new computer programs by sucking the information directly from a line in India, and exporting it via thumb needles. He's been to India so many times that Jake can easily float over the heads of all his dimwitted trainees. Little do they know, he's really inputting them with sexxxy spam.

I was served quite the meal the other night. So good, I had to render it to remember it. Compliments to the chef!

This was Jumbo Shrimp served over an edamame and corn salad. It had a ginger/ soy dressing.






Beef plate: Fillet/ Short Ribs/Asparagus (2types) & mini squash.

So a while back I did some renderings for the Mysterious Miss Squito. We had a photo shoot today, and here is the first pic of the completed costume. Melanie Wehrmacher did a terrific job with construction! This is a sample test for the lighting/set.

This was an incredibly hard photo to take and touch up. I like it, because I can do a scientific illustration of a group of Tilapia in water. I've eaten plenty of them, but I had never seen them in a family swimming around.

This is probable the most creative thing I've done so far. Who feeds a giraffe? I do.

From the Brevard Zoo in Melbourne Florida.

Michellephant, Vinyl Edition, and CosCreative are teaming up to do a special project about Album covers. You'll be able to read about it at Vinyl Edition, and I'll link daily. We poured over thousands of album covers tonight. Some interesting conclusions were made- like a lot album covers in the 70's lacked originality, much like the first hip hop/ r&b album covers of the late 80's and early 90's. We'll keep you posted!

I'm working on an illustration lesson that children will do at the museum. Today my team and I spent some time illustrating insects, and when I went home, I just couldn't stop. I don't have praying manti at my house, so I had to use visual reference from the department of Entomology at the University of Illinois (Great reference site). I will have about 100 praying manti hatching in about a week. Right now they are in tiny little egg sacks. Once they hatch, you have to separate them, or they will eat each other. I did this illustration in pen.

I had to add fixative- which took out a lot of the messy shading. Now I can go in and a lot of highlights will really pop. More to come.

It's a rare thing to catch.

This Flag was the focal point of the JFK Presidential Library in Boston. The building was designed by I.M. Pei.

Trip to Boston made for some creative photographs! Especially when I can produce the word ART Magically from my hands.

More charcol work- especially on the clothes. I'm going to have to get some better charcol penicls- always a good excuse to go to the art store.

So here is a little process. I did some more marker work to finish the foundational work. Taking some the technique I learned from the surfer, I decided to use a multi toned sunset.













I then added charcol to smooth out the sunset and ground. Charcol and I have mixed relationship. I get really sloppy with it, so I'm going to take some time with this. I've used this technique (marker to charcol) before on costume designs, so we'll see how this goes. This requires layer after layer after layer- but I'm up for it.