Saturday, March 19, 2005

Roger Ailes, The Musical

And you thought watching CNN reporting on blogs was painful. Check this out:

Melding two chic cultural forms, the documentary drama and the blog, the Six Figures Theater Company has turned the online writings of Riverbend, the pseudonym of a 25-year-old Baghdad woman who has become something of an Internet celebrity, into a dramatically awkward series of readings....

While Riverbend has a fascinating voice, this production, adapted by Kimberly I. Kefgen and Loren Ingrid Noveck, never makes the case for her blog as a piece of drama. What is lost is the sense of one singular, idiosyncratic personality, which, of course, is exactly what emerges so vividly from the blog. Instead of building a character, the show includes readings of her words from three women and one man, which adds to the muddled feel.

When not speaking, the actors pace in a triangle or perform synchronized gestures that make them look like backup singers to a 1960's pop band.

No, it's not from The Onion.

Unfortunately, the photograph accompanying the article, depicting the cast standing around gaping at a glowing laptop screen, is not online.

I hope riverbend's getting a cut, although I can't imagine the production is making money.

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