CUMMING IS IMPRESSIVE IN BROADWAYS MACBETH
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THE GLORIOUS CORNER
By: G. H. Harding
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THE GLORIOUS CORNER
By: G. H. Harding
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Alan Cumming In Macbeth
CUMMING UNDONE --- Last week we caught the always awesome Alan Cumming is his one-man show, for the most part, of Macbeth. We've marveled at this man’s work; from TV’s The Good Wife, to his movies work on such projects as X-Men, Titus, and The Tempest, and most recently, Travis Fine’s Any Day Now. The show is very much a contemporary view on the classic play; as Cumming’s character now is confined to a hospital room. The three witches that pry very inconveniently, have now been re-worked to three cameras. Very 1984 indeed for sure. The play runs without an intermission, and that effect does work towards the heightening the play’s effect. Cumming is downright impressive, funny and compelling. I loved it.
MAD MEN FINALE --- After what I feel to have been a pretty strong season, Mad Men ended their current season the other night, with a re-boot of sorts. I won't reveal any secrets here, other than to say, that several key characters, including Don Draper (Jon Hamm), are set for a major overhaul. It wasn't the stellar wrap-up I was hoping for (last week’s The Quality Of Mercy, was an instant classic MM-episode), but it was revelatory on several levels. Creator-Matthew Weiner is a modern-day Shakespeare for sure.
BURN THIS --- After a pretty stellar five seasons, USA’s Burn Notice wraps up its run with their current sixth season. This is the show which features the terrific-Jeffrey Donovan as a burned spy; one that has all his previous contacts and details redacted. Yet, he’s done undercover work for five seasons, with almost always positive results. The conceit of this show is that if he’s so good … why was he burned in the first place!
The writing has been very strong throughout, although in the last two seasons, the quality has suffered somewhat. With two shows down so far this season, the level has been ratcheted up and the acting just terrific. In the episode “Forget Me Not,” all the actor’s performances were just terrific, with Donovan's just stellar; and, he directed the episode as well. These days, most shows announce an end date well in advance; is that to get the writing quality up to a higher level? Maybe … but, things have sure changed. 20 years ago, a show was usually guaranteed 22 episodes. Now, if they get 8 … that’s a big deal. In this fast forward society, time rushes by in the wink of an eye. Donovan’s just a terrific presence; having been in several high caliber movies, including J Edgar and Clint Eastwood’s The Changeling. This was a good showcase for him; but, time to move on. Bruce Campbell and Gabrielle Anwar, also in the series, were just stellar too. It'll be interesting to see how they wrap this show up; it’s been a good ride.
GLEN’S PASSAGES --- It has now been two years since Glen Campbell first revealed to the world that he was suffering from Alzheimer's Disease. Since that time, he has released a new album (Ghost on the Canvas) and gone on a final tour with yet another album coming soon, but the disease is starting to take its toll.
Campbell's family, including his wife Kim and daughter Ashley, and his producer, Julian Raymond, have all revealed that the disease is progressing with Campbell suffering side effects such as anxiety and depression. Glen's wife Kim told the Country Weekly Magazine, "One time, he couldn't use the television remote. He knew what it was but couldn’t figure out how to use it. And he got so agitated that he threw the remote at the television." Daughter Ashley, who played with Campbell as part of his touring band, said "It’s heartbreaking to see this disease robbing him of what he does best."
Campbell's new album, See You There, was recorded at the same time as Ghost on the Canvas and contains new versions of many of his hits. It is out on August 13 on Surfing Records.
KAUFMAN APPROVED --- We've been reading author James K. Kaufman’s The Collectibles (Downstream Publishing) and have been loving it; a multi-generational tale of a family finding their own secrets and revelations. The former judge’s writing style is totally compelling and wonderful. His publishing team, Michael Sloser and Peter Berinstein, have already told us of the follow up work, called The Concealers. We can't wait.
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