Animal Farm

Animal Farm

By George Orwell

Folio Society

This is a lovely slip covered edition of Animal Farm, with lovely pen and wash illustrations inside and out.

It has been way too long since I have read Animal Farm. Probably not since I was a teen. It appealed to my young know-it-all teenaged sensibilities. Only then, we were poking fun at the commies – the Russkies and the Red Chinese. Which makes some sense, since this was an allegory on the Russian Revolution.

Oh, how times have changed. Today, I read it, and I feel more of a chill because it is a dire warning about our own government. We are led by a government that is changing the rules as it goes along. It dangles the boogeyman of Osama Bin Laden to try and frighten us into following whatever it says. It feels it is beholden only unto itself.

Is Animal Farm that relevant? You be the judge.

This is the story of Manor Farm, which is taken over by the animals, led by the pigs. The pigs teach a song, “Beasts of England” and develop the Seven Principles of Animalism – the seven commandments, or the animal bill of rights (so to speak).

So far, so good, eh?

When Napoleon Pig and Snowball disagree over building a windmill to benefit everyone with light and energy, they decide to have a civil debate. Snowball is eloquent and seems to convince the crowd. Napoleon makes a lame retort, and then has his soldiers – the dogs – chase Snowball. Napoleon then says he is in control, for the good of all the animals, and there will be no more meetings.

Later, whenever anything goes wrong, it is the fault of Snowball, who has snuck in and done the dastardly deed, no matter how improbable. Napoleon uses the fear of Snowball’s treachery to strengthen his stranglehold on the animals.

This seems destined to go on forever, but Napoleon’s hubris soon shows the other animals his true colors. It is all about him and the other pigs.

Reading this novel (very short) gave me the chills.

Orwell was warning us about dictatorships, but it seems like he is warning us about our own government.

Read this book, and then decide for yourself.

The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

This is a classic bio and a wonderful insight to one of our most popular founding fathers. Rather than viewing Ben Franklin as a stuffy guy in a powdered wig, we see Mr Franklin as a flesh and blood person - trying to build a career, falling in love (or just taking the company of women of ill-repute), making friends and eventually becoming family man.

Mr. Franklin was a true humanitarian and lover of the colonies. The number of public benefits that he created, developed or improved - hospitals, schools, libraries, post offices, street lamps, and of course the iconic Franklin stove - is staggering. The reasons why he did it are simple, he wanted to improve the life of all men as well as improve himself.

There are humorous vignettes of him at the dinner table discovering that his wife had bought pewter table settings without his consent to "keep up with the Joneses."He devotes quite a few pages to his personal beliefs and philosophy that are more insightful than almost any other Franklin bio you will read. Plus his attempt to keep his own 13 commandments had me trying to keep from waking my wife because of my laughing.

Although the end of the book drags a bit the last 30 pages or so, the whole thing is incredibly worthwhile to gain insight into the life of this favorite forefather (after Washington, typically polling #2 in popularity) and life in the early colonies.

A delightful read, and also a wonderful leather volume from the Easton Press.

Insights on my Natick Nutcracker Odyssey

Folks have been asking me what I learned seeing all the Nutcrackers that I saw. Well, I have a few insights that I'd like to share.

There's something for everyone

What was most striking about seeing all the Nutcrackers was how different they all were. Each had it's own personality based on the emphasis of the school and the types of students they enrolled. For example, schools with young dancers had to have a more loosie-goosey Nutcracker which incorporates the youngest dancers as mice and soldiers and angels, etc.

That said, there's a performance for every taste.

So here's the skinny on the performances:

1. Walnut Hill School for the Arts - this is a performing arts school with middle school and high school students. No little ones. This is a very polished and traditional Nutcracker. Perfect if you want that "Downtown Nutcracker" experience. My visit to the Walnut Hill Nutcracker.
2. Mass Ballet Dance School - this is a big school with students ranging from High school to pre-K. Lots of little mice and angels and polinchinelles running around. Good choice if you have children who want to see other little kids performing or if you want to inspire your little dancer to join a school. This is a BIG CAST performance and well done. My visit to the Mass Ballet Nutcracker.
3. Broadway Bound - this is a medium dance school that apparently emphasizes competitions. Although the program looks like it follows the standard Nutcracker story, the dances are not all ballet, but rather incorporate jazzy numbers, tap and even modern choreography. This is a very entertaining and high energy performance, but not really a traditional Nutcracker. Think more Rockettes and less Balanchine. Great option for children who might be turned off by "classical music" - although I encourage exposure to many types of music. My visit to the Broadway Bound Nutcracker.
4. Greater Boston School of Dance (GBSD) - this is a small dance school of which I knew nothing. However, this was the performance that surprised and enchanted me the most. Since this school doesn't have any male dancers, they had a female Nutcracker in a red soldier tutu, and even had the Mouse King (queen?) in a striking black and white tutu. Clara also danced more in this one than in most. Except for the aforementioned changes, this was a fairly traditional story. A good choice for someone who wants to see a traditional Nutcracker with a twist. My visit to the Greater Boston School of Dance Nutcracker.

This was an enjoyable exercise and a good opportunity to support our Natick youth in their efforts off the playing field. I'm not sure if I'm going to do this again next year, as it's a not-insignificant expenditure at Christmas-time, but I'm glad I did it.

If any organization wants to comp me tickets to their performances, I'd be glad to write about them.

Keep these recommendations in mind, and you're sure to find the Nutcracker that's right for you next year.

Until then, Ho-ho-ho!

Natick Nutcrackers, Day 4: Greater Boston School of Dance

Introduction

Last day. I definitely have visions of sugarplums dancing in my head now. I went to the Greater Boston School of Dance Nutcracker in the interest of being thorough, as I neither knew anyone who danced there, nor knew anything about the school. It's new to Natick - I think it was initially in a VFW in Wellesley, as most of the students were from Wellesley and Weston.

Authenticity

This Nutcracker hewed pretty closely to the traditional Nutcracker plot. However they did something that I've not seen before but worked phenomenally. They embraced the fact that like most ballet schools they lack male dancers. Rather than import some male dancers, or have stand-in Nutcrackers and cavaliers who don't really dance, they used a female in full ballet tutu as the Nutcracker. She wore a lovely red and white tutu with vaguely military details and proper nutcracker red circles on her cheeks. It worked really well, as she danced in parallel with Clara and with the other fairies. The rest of the show was all Nutcracker as you remember it, including one of my favorites - Mother Ginger. I'm going to dock them a point for shortening some of the dances, most egregiously - the Marzipan.
Score: 9/10 - minus 1 point for shortening the dances

Staging and Costumes

This was a lovely Nutcracker. The costumes were superb - I can't imagine how much money they sink into these (maybe they rent some?). The most interesting costume was the Nutcracker tutu, but I've already gushed about it enough. This was the first time I've seen the Mouse Queen in a tutu as well, but she was splendidly malevolent in a dramatic black tutu. They were far from home, so the props were a bit spartan, but it was nicely done. The Dedham Middle School is a modern facility and the acoustics were nice and the lighting was well done. There were a few track issues, but the performers handled the little hiccups professionally - bravo to the instructors for teaching them not to panic!
Score: 8/10

Christmas Tree Growth

I was eager to see the Christmas tree grow to a spectacular height, but again, I was disappointed. It stood there in it's stand, hoping that we'd be distracted by the dancers. However, it looked like a real tree, so that might have been difficult to do much "magical" with it.
Score: 5/10 (for using a real tree)

Lacrosse Bonus Points

Sadly, no lacrosse players that I knew, and no one listed lacrosse as an interest in the program. However, I am awarding them 2 bonus points for the innovative Nutcracker role and costuming and another bonus for the Mouse Queen in a tutu.
Bonus points: +3

Final Comments

Don't be dissuaded by the score. This is an excellent Nutcracker. The performances were very enjoyable. It's a small, but growing school, and the performances and young dancers show incredible talent. This Nutcracker will be one to watch as it grows and incorporates more Natick dancers. They just need to get a venue closer to Natick. Also, they need more lacrosse players if they expect to scoop up some more bonus points!
Recommended - especially for the female Nutcracker (don't change it, even if you get some male dancers)

Total Score: 22/30 +3 bonus points -1 point docked, for 24
(a note on scoring - don't take these numbers seriously. Everyone wants to rank things nowadays, but really now, points for lacrosse players? Points for the tree? Bonus points for 80's music?)

Natick Nutcrackers, Day 3: Broadway Bound

Introduction

Broadway Bound calls their performance "Nuts and Bolts," preparing you for the fact that this is not a traditional Nutcracker. It wasn't. In fact, I wouldn't even call it a Nutcracker performance, It's more of a holiday spectacular. I described it to my wife as, "More Rockettes, less Boston Ballet."

That said, it was very good - very high energy.

Authenticity

As I said before, this wasn't really a Nutcracker. The program listed the usual parts of the Nutcracker, Party Scene, Trepak, Snow Scene, etc. But if you were looking at it, most of the time you didn't see this on stage. My daughter says BB is more of a competition school, and it looked it. Lots of spangly costumes, lots of troupe dancing, lots of loud music. It opened up with, "It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing!" and continued throughout with jazzy, up-tempo and big band pieces as well as a few traditional and non-traditional arrangements of the Tchaikovsky Nutcracker.

But they went for it and did it well.

Score: 8/10 for effort and a bonus point for not doing any hip-hop (I detest hip-hop) +1

Staging and Costumes

The costumes were appropriate for the pieces. As I mentioned before, lots of sparkly and spangly costumes and very Rockettes-like. The staging was a little sparse, but they did have appropriate backdrops. This was presented at Natick High School, which is brand new, and it shows. The acoustics were excellent, the lighting was excellent, and the seating was excellent. Our tax dollars look well spent.

Score: 8/10

Christmas Tree Growth

They had a Christmas tree, bu it didn't do anything special. During the time when it should have been growing and the Nutcracker should have been coming out, it just stood there looking all "O Tannenbaum-ish." A missed opportunity.
Score: 4/10 (ouch!)

Lacrosse Bonus Points

I did see one of my former lacrosse players dancing, but she said she was the only one, and none of her team-mates were there to cheer her on (for shame!). So only one point for that. However, I am awarding an additional bonus point for using jazzy, swing numbers and an additional point for using Bow-wow-wow's "I Want Candy" for the candy cane dance and having the Arabian dance to A. R Rahman's Jai ho in a vaguely Bollywood style.

Hey! It's my blog. If you disagree with the bonus points, get yer own blog!

Bonus points: +3

Final Comments

Like I said before, this is not a typical Nutcracker, but rather a Holiday Spectacular. But once I got over my surprise, I enjoyed it and the dancers looked like they were having fun. This isn't the performance if you're looking for a traditional Nutcracker, but if you're looking for a high-energy, loud and sparkly holiday performance, this is one to consider. The kiddies would love it. My only recommendation would be more 80s music.
Recommended.

Total Score: 20/30 +1 for no hip hop, +3 for lacrosse and music for 24 points (they got bonked on the tree!)
(a note on scoring - don't take these numbers seriously. Everyone wants to rank things nowadays, but really now, points for lacrosse players? Points for the tree? Bonus points for 80's music?)

Natick Nutcrackers, Day 2: Mass Ballet

(technically, Mass Ballet is in Framingham, but many dancers from Natick attend there, including my daughter. My daughter starred as the Mouse Queen, among other roles, and my wife was Grand-mama.)

Authenticity

Mass Ballet is a full ballet and dance school, starting with a pre-K program and going through high school. Their program is populated with tiny dancers costumed as little mice, little soldiers and, of course, polinchinelles. Mass Ballet's Nutcracker, follows the traditional Nutcracker plot, with minor variations - most strikingly with red-coated (British) mice, and blue-coated (colonial) soldiers. Mass Ballet's Nutcracker is an excellent example of a full age-group Nutcracker.
Score: 9/10

Staging and Costumes

Mass Ballet stages a traditional Nutcracker with traditional costuming. The fairies are plumed with full, sparkly dresses and all the the principals wear gorgeous tutus. Mass Ballet uses Framingham High school, but trucks over a full complement of props and backdrops. The sound and lighting at Framingham High School are exemplary.
Score: 10/10

Christmas Tree Growth

Of course, one of the big scenes is when the Christmas Tree grows tall. This was was well done. Mass Ballet uses a full tree that grows to an admirable height and is very dramatic. No bonus points for a dramatic exit of the props at the end of the scene (see Walnut Hill posting for their extra point explanation).
Score: 9/10

Lacrosse Bonus Points

Mass Ballet gets 2 bonus points for having 2 girls who play lacrosse (although not for Natick, so no double points), plus an extra point for my daughter who formerly played lacrosse, and an extra just because my wife is in it as well and I want to sleep in my own bed tonight.
Total Bonus: +4

Final Comments

This is a fun Nutcracker. If you want to see a Nutcracker with little mice, soldiers, angels and of course polinchinelles, then you've come to the right place. Solid casting, but with a distinct lack of male dancers (probably the same story at most ballet schools). Incredible costumes and Framingham High School is an excellent venue.
Recommended, especially if you want to inspire a small child to be a dancer.

Total Score

28/30 + 4 bonus points for 32 points.

Mass Ballet was hurt by not having lacrosse players in principal roles, despite having my wife and daughter in the cast. Otherwise, a solid presentation.
(a note on scoring - don't take these numbers seriously. Everyone wants to rank things nowadays, but really now, points for lacrosse players? Points for the tree? Bonus points for 80's music?)

Natick Nutcrackers, Day 1: Walnut Hill

I started my resolution to see all the Nutcrackers in Natick. First night, Walnut Hill School for the Arts. Note: I am not going to review the performances. These local Nutcrackers are an opportunity for all the students to get on stage and for mom and dad and grandparents (and coaches) to see them perform.

Authenticity

Anyone who has seen the Nutcracker on TV should be familiar with the Walnut Hill's Nutcracker. It sticks to the script.
Score: 10/10

Staging & Costumes

This is the Walnut Hill stage, so they have the advantage of being on "home turf." It's a lovely theatre with nice backdrops, a nice screen and SNOW! The costumes were traditional and very pretty. The sound was excellent. The lighting was well done. One advantage of being in the gimpy-boy nose-bleed area is that you are almost directly in line with the speakers, so you get excellent sound.
Score: 10/10

Christmas Tree Growth

Of course, one of the big scenes is when the Christmas Tree grows tall. This was was well done, although due to the small stage, the tree didn't get outlandishly large. A bonus was when Herr Drosselmeyer clears the stage for the trip to The Land of Sweets by waving his cape and the tree flies up in the air, off the stage.
Score: 8/10

Lacrosse Bonus Points

Walnut Hill gets bonus points for having 2 of my former players from Natick Girls Lacrosse in the cast, and an extra 2 points for having them as Clara. Also 2 more bonus points for my seeing two of my former players in the audience.
Total Bonus points: +6

Final Comments

This is a fun Nutcracker. Very straightforward. If you're looking for something to match what you've seen on TV or Boston, and don't want to go into Boston, this is a good choice, if you can get tickets. They don't incorporate too many little kids since this isn't a ballet school that starts with pre-ballet classes and they don't have to march them on (as mice of soldiers) for parents and grandparents. They have some tiny soldiers that I guess must come from other schools.
Recommended.

Total Score

28/30, and 6 bonus lacrosse points for 34 points. This will be hard to beat!
(a note on scoring - don't take these numbers seriously. Everyone wants to rank things nowadays, but really now, points for lacrosse players? Points for the tree? Bonus points for 80's music?)