On Writing Too

On Friday, I read at an open mic at Le Poisson Rouge on Bleeker Street.  Usually I announce beforehand so I can get folks to come support but I wasn’t sure if I was going to get on the roster that night. I went up first which was a good thing.  We were in the gallery space beneath the music venue so while I was up it was nice and quiet.  There is something so amazing that happens when I am up there in front of a new audience and the room turns perfectly still.  I feel myself expand and reading from my work allows my wings to stretch out a bit.  Usually, I am trying hard to tamp myself and my personality down because it doesn’t fit into the culture of my day job.  So I contract in order to be able to just get the work done.  But when I’m doing my work, my writing, reading from my book of poems, I feel the power of that moment.  It radiates up through my feet, makes my legs tremble, moves up to my belly where the butterflies are aflutter, through my lungs where breath and voice connect and out comes the words in these flowing waves and I more present then at any other moment in my life.  * happy sigh * I managed to sell a book which is always a pleasure. It was a great night of eclectic writers. There was one cat called D-Bird that cracked me up with his poetry.  Funny and so well-worth the price of admission.

Then I went to see Disgraced on Saturday night.  I’ve written up a separate entry on that experience.

Then on Sunday afternoon it was Writing Group time.  My short story Clara Betta went over really well. I was honestly surprised at how well it was received…it made me blush. So now it’s time to make some final revisions, one more look see with WG and then send it out to see if some magazine will publish it.  Hmm.  So much to consider.  Where to send it?  First I’ll make the final tweaks and then see what might be a few possibilities. 

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2014 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

Disgraced by Ayad Akhtar

On Saturday night, I went to see Ayad Akhtar’s play “Disgraced” (2013 Pulitzer Prize winner for drama) at Lyceum Theater.  This play centers around Amir, a New York corporate lawyer who finds himself reckoning with his heritage –born in Pakistan, raised Muslim – in a series of conversations and confrontations.  Amir, played by the magnificent Hari Dhillon, begins to devolve after a lifetime of tamping down his background.  Mr. Dhillon is nuanced and subtle in his portrayal as each layer is peeled away. When Amir’s desperation and displaced anger lashes out in the crescendo scene, every moment has been earned. His performance gave me goosebumps it was so raw and powerful. 

Emily, Amir’s wife, played by Gretchen Mol is a wonderful counterpoint.  Emily is an artistic idealist who tries to push Amir to embrace his heritage only to slowly discover how deeply he’s buried that part of himself.  At times, there is a naiveté that Ms. Mol brings to the role that works without being disingenuous.  Josh Radnor playing Isaac and Karen Pittman as Jory share a memorable dinner with Amir and Emily.  Jory had some of the best one-liners and Ms. Pittman delivered them beautifully. 

There is one scene with Amir’s young cousin Abe played by Danny Ashok at the end of the play that is heartbreaking.  After the aftermath of the previous scenes, it felt like adding salt to the wounds but so well done nonetheless.  This play is directed by Kimberly Senior. 

 “Disgraced” began preview performances on Sept. 27 and opens on Oct. 23.

All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2014 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.

A Most Wanted Man

I know I'm late on the upswing on this movie, it's been out for months and months but I finally saw A Most Wanted Man last weekend.  What an amazing film!  Phillip Seymour Hoffman is subtle and nuanced in this role and Robin Wright as the American counterpart is flawless.  It's filled with tense political intrigue and the ending made me gasp out loud. Truly. There is something about these spy movies that have always captivated me. I wouldn't have the stones to be in that life.  Who could you trust?  The world is such a dark and twisted place full of enemies of the state and national security is always at stake, how could anyone sleep at night? Ever?

Of course, this makes me think about how Power needs to create an "other"/ an enemy in order to justify torture, murder, rape all in the name of nationalist or religious rhetoric.  Wow!  How did I get here on this one?  You get my drift though, political structures and tactics created for the sake of power.  Maintaining that power.  Ends justifying the means.  We create this fear and FEAR is contagious.  I've gone down the rabbit hole. I won't go on tho'.  That's for a different entry on another blog.  :-)

Peace, L~


All artwork, photos, and text © Copyright 2008-2014 Liliana Almendarez unless indicated otherwise. All Rights Reserved. Any downloading, copying or use of images on this website is strictly prohibited without express written consent by Liliana Almendarez.