Across The Universe

Opinion/Review by John Dimes

Director Julie Taymor (Frida, Titus, Oedipus, Broadway’s The Lion King) takes a page from Baz Luhrmann’s book (Strictly Ballroom, Romeo Juliet, Moulin Rouge) and presents a visually eclectic, visually stunning musical tribute to the songs of the Beatles in Across The Universe.

The premise is simple: Jude, a “McCartneyesque” boy from Liverpool, meets Lucy, a pretty middle class girl from America. As their story unfolds we get a remarkable glimpse of the Vietnam era, with all the protest marches, and the hippie culture as a whole. We even see the riots that occur directly after the death of Martin Luther King. To see it all makes you remember how mentally, and emotionally charged the 60's actually were. You also realize how richly diverse the music was during that time as well. How the music of The Beatles evolved, and deftly insinuated itself within the prevailing climate of American culture.

With the cleverly reworked, or stripped down songs featured in Across The Universe, one actually gets a greater appreciation of the song writing talents of Lennon/McCartney & Company. Of course, you get to hear stuff like “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”, and “Hey Jude”, but one encounters the unexpected in terms of some of the musical arrangements. There is the somber reinterpretation of “I Wanna Hold Your Hand”, and the gospel inspired, Patti LaBelle-ish “Let It Be” that really stood out for me. Which is not to say that the rest of the arrangements or song choices aren’t good! For the other songs it’s not so much the arrangements but the performances. You’ve got the awesome Joe Cocker as a homeless guy, and a pimp, singing “Come Together”, and Bono singing “I Am The Walrus”. Great stuff that!

And as I mentioned, we are presented with a wondrous, psychedelic pallet by way of Taymor’s grand imagination. The scene where her cleverness truly shines is during the moments when a would--be draft dodger relents and heads for his army physical/interview, where posters of Uncle Sam frighteningly come to life everywhere so as to monstrously leer, and clutch at all the hapless recruits.

Across The Universe: Great singing from everybody concerned. Visually accurate in terms of all the pretty, gooey colors that stoners tend to see. Inventive interpretations of Beatles songs. A must see for fans of Taymor’s use of puppetry, sculpture and overall imagery.

Across The Universe: I give it the #4. TRULY DELIGHTED

DIMES’ RATING SYSTEM:

1. I RESPECT WHAT YOU TRIED TO DO, BUT. . . .

2. ENTERTAINED, REGARDLESS

3. MY DISBELIEF WAS EFFECTIVELY SUSPENDED

4. TRULY DELIGHTED

5. WILL LOVE IT FOREVER

Oedipus Rex

Opinion/Review by John Dimes

If you want to see Julie Taymor at her most genius, then you should definitely rent (or PURCHASE) her adaptation of Stravinsky’s Oedipus Rex! It stars the remarkable Jessye Norman as Jocasta, momma to Oedipus. But, of course, she doesn’t know she’s Oedipus’s mom until. . . .wait!

THE PLOT: Oedipus is the classic Greek tragedy of King who unwittingly diddles his mom, and unknowingly kills his dad. It’s all the God’s doing, of course, that he should have such a fate, but boy , Taymor makes it all look good. Taymor, who is known for her puppetry, creates distinctive iconic costume designs for each character. All of the masks, headdresses, and other such articles of costumes, appear to be made from stone, which lends everyone that monumental quality. Like ancient, moldering statues come to life.

The genius of the production is, while the performers are singing, there are puppets, or other such masked performers, playing out key scenes within the story simultaneously, which enriches the moments on a additional, or parallel level. These scenes are startling in their visual and interpretational innovation . TThough the production is subtitled and sung in Latin (and Japanese! Trust me on this!), one can glean the meanings for most of what occurs during several instances during the production simply because of the inspired pantomimes as conveyed by the performers through their often sensually articulated gestures, or because of certain required tasks of the sculptural costumes and masks. By the end of the production, I promise you you’ll never want to see an opera performed in any other way.

Stravinsky’ Oedipus Rex: A work of genius with a vividly realized world of its own, and a truly stunning performance by Jessye Norman. I give it the #5. WILL LOVE IT FOREVER

DIMES’ RATING SYSTEM:

1. I RESPECT WHAT YOU TRIED TO DO, BUT. . . .

2. ENTERTAINED, REGARDLESS

3. MY DISBELIEF WAS EFFECTIVELY SUSPENDED

4. TRULY DELIGHTED

5. WILL LOVE IT FOREVER