The Pensive Gargoyle

. . . the exhibit, The Mirror and the Mask: Portraiture in the age of Picasso, at the Kimbell in Fort Worth.  While there are some Picassos featured, the exhibit is more about the evolution of the portrait as a genre, and not so much about Picasso.  I wonder if the curators threw in the name Picasso to conjure up interest from the masses, much they often throw in “Impressionism,” or “The Big ‘I’” as my artsy friend Jennifer calls it, to draw a crowd.  Though it would seem to be an elementary concept, I had never really thought about the idea of a portrait reflecting the likeness of the artist more than the subject.

. . . Little Women: The Musical at the Black Box Theater in Dallas, which from what I can gather was a “final exam” of sorts for the students in a local acting conservatory.  The main character, Jo, was played by my mom’s colleague’s daughter, who was quite talented.  Several of the other actors, however, were not-so-impressive, which actually made me admire them more; it takes a lot of guts to pursue your dream with reckless abandon, especially when you’re short on talent.  Or maybe I’m mistaking grit and fortitude for stupidity and lack of foresight. . . . In any case, I’ve always been in awe of people who attempt to make a living in theater, or music, or acting, much less of those who actually succeed in doing so.  But, like the portrait reflecting the artist as much as the subject, this admiration reflects my shortcomings and fears as much as it the gumption of any starving actor.

. . . the film Molière at the Innwood.  I wasn’t expecting much from the film because the NY Times’ review was less than glowing, but I really enjoyed it.  What some might call “bastardization of history,” I call a nice diversion.  The film mélanges fiction and reality to concoct a story about several unaccounted months of the playwright’s life in 1644, and the result is a witty, charming, and laugh-out-loud costume extravaganza.

. . .the new theatrical adaptation of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice at the Dallas Theater Center.  I read the book a long, long time ago, before Austen-mania had taken over, and, remembering that the novel had a slew of characters and numerous subplots, I wondered how the novel would translate to the stage.  Fairly well, I would say.  There was palpable chemistry between the Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett, and the actors playing Mrs. Bennett and Mr. Collins were especially entertaining.  Although it was unexpected for a character to address the audience directly, Elizabeth Bennett’s narration helps the plot along.  One of the most impressive and clever aspects of the play was the set design which consisted of large turntables, allowing scene changes in seconds.  Overall, it was an enjoyable evening.  Now, I think I’ll go see Becoming Jane.