I am a left-wing, former beatnik (that's pre-hippie) who wrote poetry and read philosophies. I am a peace loving, ban the bomb marching, environmentalist who is constantly disappointed in the failure of my generation to solve or resolve all of the ills of our society. This is my background, so the fact that I own several houses, travel the world and, despite paper
losses, am somewhat unfazed by the recent stock market melt-down, belies my foundations. Unlike Jerry Rubin who became a stock broker on Wall street and died rich in Brentwood Ca., I joined the system believing that as a teacher of theatre arts I hadn't quite "sold out." It's called equivocation.
It's all about the music. We shall Overcome, The Times are-a-changing, Freedom, Draft Dodger Rag are the anthems of my day.
I can't get into todays music. I don't understand it, despite the fact that my son is a well-known music critic and I try to read his writings and listen to his selections. I feel the anger and the power. I believe that the angst of today is more worthy that the s -bop-sh-bop doowadidie bubble gum music of my teens. I just can't comprehend it. Just as my parents couldn't get beyond Sinatra and Dino. I lie. My father liked Pat Boone. Every time his dulcet baritone was on the radio dial, he would say, "Now that's a singer!" As for me, I can't get much beyond Dylan, Ian and Sylvia, Arlo, the Beatles and the Doors. I have seen, among others, Pete Seeger, The Eagles, the Stones, Buffy, and Dylan( 6 times). The Moody Blues and Jim Fogarty played outdoor concerts in Deer Lake park near my home. I saw Hendrix, the Mamas and the Papas and Jefferson Airplane in Golden gate park in San Francisco. I sat under a tree at the Boston Common thirty years or so ago and James Taylor casually sat down, took out his guitar and began to play as a small crowd gathered. Enough.
On the thirtieth of March, amazingly youthful despite her seventy years, Judy Collins sang with the Vancouver symphony Orchestra. I smiled throughout the entire concert. I loved that she opened with Both Sides Now and followed it with Someday Soon and Suzanne. After the intermission she did Chelsea Morning. I even liked her tribute to John Denver. I knew all the words to almost every song she sang.
I wonder how many of you feel the same... mired in your generation and unable to cope with the totems of today. Talk to me.
H
I intend to use this site to register my thoughts about theatre and the world in general.
Come on along.
