January Reflections
Doing
Ringing in the New Year
Was I already exhausted an hour into the New Year? Yes, I was and it clearly showed. I rang in the new year with my two best friends in a very understated way. We did take the opportunity to write down our New Year’s Resolutions and manifestations, and a big one for the three of us was setting boundaries! Personally and professionally, boundaries will be on our 2023 bingo.
Finally paid off my student loans!!!
F*ck you Sallie Mae
Getting a new tattoo
I was itching for a new tattoo, and of course it had to have a link to astrology and my zodiac chart. This tattoo represents my moon in Virgo - the constellation is running through the bouquet of buttercups. Buttercups are one of the plants associated with Virgo and they are also my favorite kind of flower! I got this one on my ribs which seemed incredibly daunting at first
Reading
À la carabine /Cheveux d’été by Pauline Peyrade
The shock factor is there but honestly there is so little action I cannot imagine watching this in a theater. A lot of this work seems contemplative and not expressive. I didn’t hate the storylines and appreciated the construction of the texts, there’s no coming close to the French there, but overall this doesn’t work.
Sirènes by Pauline Bureau
This, in contrast, works very well. The form is top tier and the story that weaves people together is actually quite incredible. The fact that these three people are linked in such a clear way (It’s generational trauma and common mental illnesses, obvi) and what you think is going to be a tired story (a father leaving his wife and kid for someone else) turns out to be an exciting narrative.
And Yet by Kate Baer
This book of poetry was gifted to me for my birthday (thank you Cora) and I devoured it within days. Kate Baer’s poetry is lyrical, honest and soul-piercing. I have many poems marked that I love but here is my favorite line of them all - “How powerless to be a woman written by a man” (l 7, Written Affair). This is something I often think when reading plays written by men.
Seeing
Inspired by True Events
While this was a reading and not a full production, it may as well have been. Ryan Spahn wrote this brilliant play and Michael Urie directed the reading. I was cackling the entire time - this gory, dark comedy play had the whole audience incredibly reactive the entire time, and I guarantee no one was falling asleep. I don’t want to give too much away before this play heads to a theater but it is definitely one to watch out for.
Cunk on Earth
Diane Morgan is my new favorite comedian- she had me in stitches throughout the entire season of Cunk on Earth and her deadpan interviews are spreading like wildfire throughout the internet as people can relate to the hilarious cluelessness she brings to the screen. Philomena Cunk is such a well-crafted character and the commitment Diane put in not to corpse must have been monumental.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
I caved and finally started watching this cult classic. I am a sucker for fan favorites, which is how I got sucked in to Gilmore Girls, The Vampire Diaries and Gossip Girl. So far I have thoroughly enjoyed it- the storyline doesn’t take forever to build and jumps straight in to the thick of the action. It just goes to show that there’s no need for three episodes of exposition, viewers aren’t unintelligent and can keep up with the plot without it being dragged out.