Silent Retreat

24 March, 2007, Moon in Gemini

Charcoal drawing
Poem written on drawing:

when the dark side of the moon
becomes two
they huddle together
and walk toward silence

Bent Not Broken - A Review

Here is my review as it appears in Lumiere Reader. However, I would like to provide my original review as written before the theatre editor changed it. Although I agreed to the changes, I now feel I would like to present the original review, as I wrote it because it represents what I saw at the theatre that night. In particular, I would like to put back in the last sentence of the opening paragraph (after: some children survive, some do not.) which was deleted: "Anyone who survives a mother who always had money for drink but not for food is a survivor."

Bent Not Broken
BATS Theatre, Wellington, New Zealand
March 13-16 | Reviewed by Diane Spodarek

Bent Not Broken is a solo performance, based on Lauren Roche’s autobiographical novel of same name. Lauren’s story is about growing up in New Zealand – and for a short time Australia – under extraordinary circumstances: an extreme environment of abuse by alcohol and drug addicted people. These included her own mother, father, friends of the family, relatives, strangers and later boyfriends, husbands and johns. The consequences of this environment are all too common. Some children survive, some do not. Read more: http://www.lumiere.net.nz/reader/item/874

Original review will be posted on my website when I finish the next lesson on how to make changes on my website:
www.dangerousdiane.com

In the Cellar of My Heart

photo by Marjorie McKee
Newtown Community Centre,
Wellington, New Zealand,
March 7, 2007

Skeleton Woman: A Review

Skeleton Woman. Fringe 07.
A performance collaboration. Performed by Helen Moran, Written by Kathleen Gallagher and Helen Moran, Directed by Jane Gilmer. Wellington Performing Arts Centre, 2-4 March 2007


Skeleton Woman is billed as a performance collaboration. The show is a solo performance by Helen Moran based on an Inuit myth as recounted by Clarissa Pinkola Estes’ in her book, Women Who Run with the Wolves.

Read More:

http://www.lumiere.net.nz/reader/item/855

Canned Shoots

Canned Shoots.
Killing animals. Pay to kill animals. Large exotic animals. Pay someone to kill an animal for a trophy. Pay money to kill. Enjoy killing. Enjoy hurting those who can’t speak for themselves.

Many of the animals are retired from zoos and circuses. Bred in captivity they often don’t run away when approached by a man or woman with a gun. Canned shoots exist everywhere, including my home state New York. There is a bill to offer tax incentives for canned shoots.

We must do our part to let our representatives know that we OPPOSE bill A. 5150.

This bill would provide tax exemptions for wealthy patrons of canned shoots. Personally I just can't follow the logic of this. Why would the state offer a tax deduction to kill animals?

Many humanitarians, and just ordinary folk like me, believe that the way we treat those who cannot speak is the foundation for how we treat all life, including human life.

If you are a New York resident please contact your representatives. Here they are for an easy reference. You can just click to send an instant email saying you oppose bill A.5150.

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver
NYS Assembly, L.O.B., Albany NY 12248
Ph.: 518-455-4911
Fax: 518-455-5459
Speaker@assembly.state.ny.us

Assembly Member Herman "Denny" Ferrell
NYS Assembly, L.O.B., Albany NY 12248
Ph.: 518-455-5491
Fax: 518-455-5776
Farrelh@assembly.state.ny.us

Thank you for reading this. There will be more information on my blogs on canned shoots to follow with specific information on where they exist in New York...and in New Zealand where I am living in the moment. Someone told me an "American" has set up canned shoots here. I'm hoping it's a rumour.