MERYL STREEP, WHAT A WITCH

Because the lady's going to don the witch's hat soon
By Joanna Syiek (Director/Producer/Blogger)

News hit that Meryl will officially be playing the Witch in the upcoming film adaptation of Into the Woods. And the world is freakin' out with excitement. With good reason - the lady can pull off a role or two.  

Upon hearing the news, the hunt began for clips of her singing that weren't from Mamma Mia (no other musical roles were springing to mind). I had forgotten that she had a history with Lapine and had previously worked with him in 1977 on "Happy End." And it seems like she cozied up with Brecht even more after that as well. Her performance as Mother Courage (clip below) looks like the kind that make you wish time machines existed so you could jump back and watch the performance as many times as possible. 

 

Don’t you love when material that is decades old still holds up, and rings as true as the day it was first introduced to the world? This little moment comes from the Delacourte Theater’s production of Mother Courage and Her Children in 2006. The show was one of nine plays that Brecht wrote in an attempt to counter the rise of Fascism and Nazism.  Mother Courage is considered to be one of the greatest anti-war plays of all time and its message remains incredibly relevant today. 

The song is Jeanine Tesori’s reworking of Bretcht’s words. She worked with each of the actors and composed for them specifically with their voices and performance styles in mind.

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This week in ASK ALAN CUMMING:

Dear Alan Cumming,

My girlfriend and I have been dating for a while now and she recently decided she would like me to meet her two young kids from a previous marriage. I'm not good with children and am getting a little nervous about how to act. I always do fine with folks my own age, but little ones catch me off guard. Any advice for what I can say to them?

Not for Ages 8 and Under

Dear Not for Ages,

Kids are more genuine. When they come up and want to talk to you, they don't have an agenda. It's more endearing and less piercing to your aura. It really is all going to be okay. Right now you have the happiest family anyone could wish for. Enjoy it.  

JOANNA SYIEK is a Los Angeles-based music junkie with a penchant for long road trips, original theatre work, clean graphic design, and really good Indian food. She directs around the City of Angels and writes about nourishing creativity, Broadway favorites, and talent obsessions over on her blogging home. www.thoughtsontheatre.wordpress.com
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