Posts from — October 2007

Well, I am now writing over at Vermonters for Obama, first post dated 30 October. We have a strong crew here in Vermont, glad to be a part of it.

update 9 Jan 2008 - I have moved copies of these posts over here, from Vermonters for Obama.

[originally posted at VermontersforObama]

I’ve heard a lot of talk about “experience” in the media, and I often wonder exactly what this means.

Experience in elected office? When Hillary first ran for office, Barack had been working in the Illinois Senate for four years.

Experience in working with constituents? When Clinton began her “listening tours” to try and get in touch with voters in her newly adopted state as part of her U.S. Senate campaign, Barack had been working at the local level with the folks he would go on to represent for over a decade.

He represented a state in the U.S. Senate that was his home, while she was just unpacking her (no, we won’t say “carpet bag” … That would be too much like the Jack Mihoff case Mr. Baruth just mentioned) suitcase.

White House experience? I was married to a midwife once, lived with her for almost as long as Hillary lived with Bill in the White House. But you don’t want me delivering your child.

ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL

Nearly a week has passed since we took our final bows at FlynnSpace, and what a run we had! Nearly a thousand people saw our play, we were able to donate $1200 to The Burlington Schools Food Project, and (since many of you have asked) financially speaking, it looks as though we broke even! … Whew! A big sigh of relief at the Lantz household, that’s for sure!

A super-big THANK YOU to all of our sponsors, advertisers, volunteers and everybody who came to our show! We couldn’t have done it without you!

———————–

WHAT SOME PEOPLE ARE SAYING

One thing American Machine has done is get people talking. Lots of people liked our play - but some, not as much. From our mixed review in SevenDays by Erik Esckilsen who felt our characters were a bit cliche’, to other folks who thought our characters were, well, as Peter Freyne called them, “…a very depressing crew.” Of course, all views are welcome and we’re glad that
the play connected with some folks, and to the folks it didn’t, we still appreciate you coming and the attention you gave our efforts.

However, we were warmed with e-mails from folks like Margaret Gundersen who called our play, ‘…one of the finest pieces of acting and theatre we’ve seen in a long, long time.’

And from poet and playwright, David Budbill, who called our play, “Important, corageous and deep…” Mr. Budbill goes on to say that “American Machine is not an All-American, gooey, feel-good theatre piece; it is, rather, an honest look at the lives of six invisible, forgotten, ignored and neglected working class people who are the servants of All-American, self-indulgent privilege. The power of the writing and the acting pulled me deeply and irretrievably into the lives of these workers. Over the course of this 90-minute play, I came to love and identify with all six people. How many writers these days pay this kind of loving attention to the invisible and forgotten in our land?”

Thank you Mr. Budbill and Ms. Gundersen!

———————–

STATS FROM OUR SHOW

Number of cans of grease used on the machine: 4
Number of producer’s dress shirts that now have grease stains: 3
Pizzas devoured by cast and crew: 35
Vegetarian to meat ratio: 2 in 5
Number of show sponsors who sell or serve pizza: 6
Total number of shows: 14
Number in which former IBM’ers attended: 3
Number of performances that got standing ovations: 7
Number with an announcement to, ‘Please turn off all cell phones’: 14
Number of shows where somebody’s cell phone went off: 3
Number of those phones that used a song instead of a ring: 2
Day of show when GM workers were on strike citing ‘job security’: 1
Number of days later when Chrysler did the same thing: 15
Number of times that the word ‘Jeep’ is mentioned in the script: 4
Number of Jeeps previously owned by the playwright: 3

———————–

Well, that’s about it. Once again, thank you SO MUCH for your support. We
hope to see you next year with a new play.

Jim Lantz
Writer/Director, ‘American Machine’
Sept 25 - Oct 7, FlynnSpace, Burlington, VT

www.AmericanMachineThePlay.com

This post is from Dear Old Dad, who had no idea he was blogging when he was talking to me on the phone the other day.

I was watching the news the other night, and all these republicans were explaining why Bush had to veto the child healthcare bill. They all sat in a row and said “… but it would be Government health care …” and each time they did they would wrinkle up their noses to indicate disgust. And, I thought, when did the notion of government become such a bad thing? Look around at countries without governments … look at Myanmar, look at the Darfur, look at Iraq, where we went in and ripped out the government. They are not doing so well. Live is not so good there. It is not such a bad thing to have a functioning government.

Well, there you have it. There are a number of ways you could go with this. You could take the Bradshaw approach and wonder about those government politicians who think government is a bad thing. Just what are they doing in the job then? They must hate themselves, must have wicked self-esteem issues. And you know where that leads …

Or you could go look at the constitution, which says (I checked) that “We the people” established the constitution to “promote the general welfare”, among other things.

General Welfare … Public Good … Hey guys, however you say it, the purpose of the government is to look out for us, provide a collective mechanism to do things we need that we cannot do individually.

Maybe these republicans are wrinkling their collective noses because they realize they are unable or unwilling to serve the public any more. Or maybe they just find it distasteful. All those common, needly little people grubbing about in their ordinary little lives.

Or I could just leave it alone, cause Dear Old Dad usually puts it pretty well.

To Friends of American Machine:

———————–

TICKETS AVAILABLE!

MORE REVIEWS … “THE PLAY HAS AN IMMENSE HEART”

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR LOAD OUT

DON’T FORGET FRONT PORCH FORUM

MEET ACTRESS TERESA LORENCO

————————

SEVEN MORE SHOWS - TICKETS AVAILABLE!

That’s right, tickets are still available for our seven remaining shows!

So what’re you waiting for? Come see the show that’s been called “compelling” “powerful” and “poignant” by the local press. Some nights are filling up quickly - so give FlynnTix a call and support local indie theatre! Our remaining shows:

Wednesday 10/3 - 7:30pm
Thursday 10/4 - 7:30pm
Friday 10/5 - 7:30pm
Saturday 10/6 - 2:00pm
Saturday 10/6 - 7:30pm
Sunday 10/7 - 2:00pm
Sunday 10/7 - 6:30pm

————————

MORE REVIEWS!

SEVENDAYS: In this week’s issue of SevenDays Erik Esckilsen says of American Machine:

“… the play has an immense heart,” “… compelling working-class agitprop rama,” “… a mighty swing at a formidable topic.”

He goes on to say that Seth Jarvis’ portrayal of Ipsy is “touching” and one that shows us, “… that a single character, deeply explored and well-portrayed can speak movingly about the general ‘us’ by confronting the particularities of his individual condition.”

Read the full review in this week’s SevenDays.

VERMONT TIMES/SENTINEL: In an article about ‘American Machine’ actress Bridget Butler, Bill Wargo says she “… turn in a powerful performance as a Mrs-Robinson-like woman searching for love…” “Like Judi Dench and Susan Sarandon (two actresses whom she admires) Butler dominates the stage with her strong, direct attitude.”

Read the full article in The Vermont Times/Sentinel

————————

DON’T FORGET YOUR FRONT PORCH FORUM!

If you’ve seen our play, one way you can help our production is to place a free notice on your local Front Porch Forum telling your neighbors about our play. Be sure to include our web address: www.AmericanMachineThePlay.com

Not a member of your neighborhood Front Porch Forum? Go to www.FrontPorchForum.com, take a tour, and join. … It’s free!

————————

LOAD OUT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Now this is fun. Really. … Our show ends Sunday night, probably around 8:00pm. I SO need a group of super volunteers at FlynnSpace to help take our set apart, load it on a truck, and then put it in storage. … And that’s
it!

The last great effort of putting on a play is taking it all apart and making way for the next play. Can you imagine what would happen if the taking apart part didn’t happen? Why there’d be pieces of play all over the stage, all
the time, and wouldn’t that be a mess!?

So e-back and let me know if you can volunteer some hours of your time Sunday night - we could sure use your help!

Come on, it’ll be fun!

————————

MEET ACTRESS TERESA LORENCO

Some folks have asked me, ‘Who was that incredible actress in American Machine portraying a thirty-something single Latina mom?’ … Meet local actress Teresa Lorenco, a thirty-something single Latina mother of two who somehow finds time to sing, act, perform in Spielpalast Cabaret, record her own CD, and also be a mom to two great sons: Dylan and Forest (happy 10th birthday, Forest!) We were sure glad to find Teresa to portray ‘Lona’ in American Machine. … Welcome Teresa!

————————

Well, that’s all for now. E-back if you have any questions. As always thank you for your support - hope to see you at the show!

Jim Lantz
Writer/Director, ‘American Machine’
Sept 25 - Oct 7, FlynnSpace, Burlington, VT

www.AmericanMachineThePlay.com