Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Peter plays in a Brecht show!! Good Person of Thorkelson

For all you theater nerds out there, Peter is currently in a production of "Good Person of Setzuan" written by Bertolt Brecht (in 1943), adapted by Tony Kushner (who is that guy who wrote the movie "Lincoln" and "Angels in America").  He is playing the part of a guitarist in the pit, supporting a piece of musical theater.  I am almost 100% sure he is playing his own instrument (although maybe he did borrow it from someone else).

If you are ANYWHERE close to Boston, go check it out and report back!
http://bostoneventsinsider.com/2013/02/chick-shines-in-good-person-of.html

His brother Nick Thorkelson, noted cartoonist, artist and all around cool & creative person is the COMPOSER and Music Director on the production.  Composing for a Brecht piece puts him in the same company as Kurt Weill! They collaborated on a little musical show you might have heard about, "The Threepenny Opera" (1928).  (Which was based on "The Beggar's Opera" by John Gay, first performed in 1728)  And for you Louie Armstrong or Bobby Darin fans out there, it's where the song, "Mack the Knife" came from.

If you REALLY love both Bobby Darin and the Monkees, there just so happens to be another connection.  Steve Blauner.  (The guy that Micky names as the guy who drove the getaway car in #25, Alias Micky Dolenz) He just so happens to be the S in "BBS Productions", Bert and Bob's new venture to produce movies after Raybert.  In his hagiographical Wikipedia Entry, he was Darin's "manager and very close friend".

Personal note:  I am a HUGE fan of Brecht and I Stage Managed the premiere of the English translation of one of his more obscure plays, "Puntilla and His Servant Matti" (1948) in Soho in 1998 at the Ohio Theater.


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