I’m leaving town for a couple months.  In the mean time, I’ve taken in some of the best that DC has to offer, and I hope you won’t miss out.

I recently saw a play and a film that hit me, and there’s one more coming up.  So even though I don’t usually write about this, I want to share—fyi, DC only for now.

Looped

A few weeks ago I went to the opening for Looped at The Lincoln Theatre (put on by Arena Stage).  It was a ridiculously funny play that tackled some tough topics.  From the show description:

Human nature always continues to fascinate me. Why do so many of us instinctively attempt to sabotage ourselves, causing conflict and chaos when all is seemingly moving in positive directions? Do we think we are unworthy or undeserving of success? Or do we need to infuse self-inflicted drama in order to make ourselves feel more alive in our everyday living?

I’ve been curious about Tallulah Bankhead since her stunning performance in Hitchcock’s Lifeboat.  If you’re a fan of Streetcar Named Desire, you’ll also particularly appreciate this (I recommend watching it before you go to this to get some of the references—fortunately it’s on free Instant Download on Netflix).  Disclosure: I did receive complimentary tickets (not sure why!), but I wouldn’t write about anything if I didn’t feel it was worthy of your time.  And this was.  In town until June 28th: tickets.

The Philosopher Kings

Every year I look forward to Silver Docs, the weeklong documentary film festival at AFI Silver, which is one of the best cinemas in the country.  I saw the world premier of Philosopher Kings tonight and it got to me.  It told the story of eight janitors who have so much perspective, and appreciate the world in ways that perhaps we all ought to consider.  From their website:

Socrates would often ask his fellow citizens, "What is the good life?" In America, more than fifteen hundred years later, a third of the population is clinically depressed, the suicide rate is at an all-time high, and kids are shooting their classmates. Moreover, it seems that much of the current destruction and misdirection in the world is being caused by our best-educated and most "qualified" citizens. Who do we turn to for guidance during these trying times? What is the answer to Socrates’ age-old question "what is the good life?" and is anyone even asking anymore?

I can’t say too much more.  At tonight’s opening, I was particularly touched because the cast was there to share even more.  A few of them will return on Sunday.  And it’s your last chance to see it in the DC area for at least a year.  Don’t miss this: tickets for Sunday’s show. (this will sell out way before, fyi)

We Live In Public

I’ll be seeing this late Saturday evening at Silver Docs in Silver Spring; I’ve been kicking myself for missing the opening to We Live in Public at SXSW Film this year.  This film touches a bit closer to home as it explores what it’s like to live on the web…or what it was like back in 2000:

Rigging his loft with 32 motion-controlled cameras, [Internet Pioneer Josh] Harris convinced his girlfriend to allow him to record streaming video of every moment of their lives from the toilet to the bedroom. The project backfired, his relationship imploded, and Harris went broke. Mentally unhinged, he fled to an apple farm in upstate New York. Sundance award winner Ondi Timoner chronicled Harris for a decade, culling through thousands of hours of Harris’s own footage and coupling it with rousing vérité of her own. The result is a fascinating, sexy, yet cautionary, tale where we all become Big Brother.

I’ve heard many strong opinions on this, and being a citizen of the web I feel it’s necessary to see this sooner than later.  After BarCamp Baltimore and a friend’s dinner I’m driving 50 minutes back for an 11:45pm showing in Silver Spring.  I don’t want to wait another year for its release.  I hope you’ll join me: tickets for Friday’s and Saturday’s showings here.

Back to the Regular Scheduled Programming

Sorry to veer off a little from the productivity stuff, but we all have to live through some others’ from time to time.  And this is what I’ve been living.  Hope to see you Saturday…and feel free to share anything that’s touched you on the screen lately.

Filed under: Happiness

You should really subscribe to Technotheory via email or rss.

---

---