Comments on: The Pendulum http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/the-pendulum/ Group authored publication covering theatre and the performing arts in London and beyond Sun, 05 Jul 2009 02:05:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Alexander Fiske-Harrison http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/the-pendulum/comment-page-1/#comment-971 Alexander Fiske-Harrison Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:22:22 +0000 http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/?p=371#comment-971 I thought if you liked the play at all, you might like my essay on bullfighting in the September issue of Prospect magazine - http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/article_details.php?id=10357. AF-H I thought if you liked the play at all, you might like my essay on bullfighting in the September issue of Prospect magazine - http://www.prospect-magazine.co.uk/article_details.php?id=10357.

AF-H

]]> By: TheatreGoer69 http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/the-pendulum/comment-page-1/#comment-608 TheatreGoer69 Sun, 29 Jun 2008 10:46:05 +0000 http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/?p=371#comment-608 Hi Jens, thanks for the clarification. I see what you mean now. Eyes Wide Shut is one of my favourite Kurbick films (even though he wasn't able to see it through). The orgy scene resonates on multiple levels and has become an iconic cinema moment. Significant cuts were made to the scene for the maintstream box office release, so from the outset it underwent a degree of 'masking'. Secrecy and revelation are two opposing forces at work in the film, but also in the 'social masks' we build and wear on a daily basis. The one cannot work without the other, but when used simultaneously (masked faces and naked bodies) become a source of tension. Hi Jens, thanks for the clarification. I see what you mean now.

Eyes Wide Shut is one of my favourite Kurbick films (even though he wasn’t able to see it through). The orgy scene resonates on multiple levels and has become an iconic cinema moment.

Significant cuts were made to the scene for the maintstream box office release, so from the outset it underwent a degree of ‘masking’.

Secrecy and revelation are two opposing forces at work in the film, but also in the ’social masks’ we build and wear on a daily basis. The one cannot work without the other, but when used simultaneously (masked faces and naked bodies) become a source of tension.

]]> By: Jens Peters http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/the-pendulum/comment-page-1/#comment-604 Jens Peters Sat, 28 Jun 2008 10:23:46 +0000 http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/?p=371#comment-604 I called the ménage-a-troi 'dangerous', but more on a psychological level. As I said, I was reminded of Eyes Wide Shut, and the masked dance with the exchange of partners in The Pendulum hinted at the dangers and complications that can arise in a complex social setting. That is von Leiben's main problem: he thinks he can live in his own world, alone with Elena, but has to find out that their actions and their past also influence his relation to his friends, the way he is seen publically, and so on. Hence, the 'danger' of the masked dance lies in its secret potentiality, in raising the audience's awareness of what could happen, and of the things happening underneath the veneer of the human face (which is itself a mask to society). Hope I made myself clear! I called the ménage-a-troi ‘dangerous’, but more on a psychological level. As I said, I was reminded of Eyes Wide Shut, and the masked dance with the exchange of partners in The Pendulum hinted at the dangers and complications that can arise in a complex social setting. That is von Leiben’s main problem: he thinks he can live in his own world, alone with Elena, but has to find out that their actions and their past also influence his relation to his friends, the way he is seen publically, and so on.
Hence, the ‘danger’ of the masked dance lies in its secret potentiality, in raising the audience’s awareness of what could happen, and of the things happening underneath the veneer of the human face (which is itself a mask to society).
Hope I made myself clear!

]]> By: TheatreGoer69 http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/the-pendulum/comment-page-1/#comment-600 TheatreGoer69 Sat, 28 Jun 2008 09:47:53 +0000 http://www.londontheatreblog.co.uk/?p=371#comment-600 First of all, I'd like to congratulate London Theatre Blog on the new design and then in response to Jens' review, I'd be interested to know why he describes the masked dance scene as 'dangerous'. What did it consist of? First of all, I’d like to congratulate London Theatre Blog on the new design and then in response to Jens’ review, I’d be interested to know why he describes the masked dance scene as ‘dangerous’. What did it consist of?

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