Otherworld Theatre's A PRINCESS OF MARS - Review

(Special thanks to Otherworld Theater for providing a complimentary ticket for review purposes).

Right now, many people feel the need to escape, to lose themselves in another world. With an impending move and maternal health issues, I was desperately needing to mainline some straightforward pulp thrills.....

....and Otherworld Theatre's production of A Princess of Mars fits the bill precisely. With creative staging, atmospheric lighting, and a smart script, this is one theatrical production you don't want to miss.

Adapted by Nick Izzo and Tiffany Kean Schaefer from the pulp-era Edgar Rice Burroughs novel,  Otherworld Theatre's A Princess Of Mars deftly manages to balance many plot threads, integrating some of the best aspects of the novel while integrating some more contemporary concerns. This is a play that has it all: action, romance, and a smart message that lifts the material. Think of it as the exact opposite of John Carter, choosing to emphasize character and circumstance over special effects.

(And let's be clear - I liked John Carter).

With minimal staging and a high level of atmospherics and costuming, A Princess of Mars manages to drive home several themes: the need for a personal mission, the drawback of being a "chosen one", and the need to act towards the greater good.

It's also incredibly fun, with very well-staged fight scenes. (And a bit of a trigger warning: even though I knew that most of the action was being blocked, it still felt real at times. This isn't a complaint - it's a compliment. Because this is being done by an all-volunteer troupe, and that's definitely worth kudos).

Plus, the cast really makes this a great experience. Elliott Sowards' John Carter isn't the traditional action-hero of many of my contemporaries, but a man truly out of step and thrust into a very unusual world. (And I'm late to the John Carter bandwagon, only having read A Princess of Mars five years ago). Mary-Kate Arnold crafts a very real Dejah Thoris driven by scientific curiosity and a deep passion for her home world.  With a large cast (including Bennett Decker Bottero, Elizabeth MacDougald, Tim Larson, Michael Bullaro, Nathan R. Miller, Julia Rigby and Shaun Hayden) that has some members playing multiple roles, Otherworld Theatre's A Princess of Mars really hits home in many ways, and is a great example of small, local theater done right.

With a greater emphasis on pulp-era literature and characters being developed for the big screen, it's really pleasurable to see smaller, more intimate takes on the material. One of the joys of Otherworld Theatre's A Princess of Mars is how it takes an early 20th century work and gives it a contemporary immediacy.

Simply put, go see Otherworld Theatre's A Princess of Mars. It's being run for a limited time, and you'll fall in love with this production.

Needing Help Again With Mom

Short form - Mom's in structured rehab due to an infection in her foot. Nearly avoided amputation, but she's got a long road back.

I've been trying to play catch-up on rent - thanks to some donors, I can do part of it, but may end up losing apartment.

If you can help, please visit my YouCaring page, and if you can't donate....at least share via social media.

Thanks.

What Do These People Have In Common?

And more importantly, what do they have in common with me?

The Joys of Being A Caregiver

Last week, I called Mom - after all, I was planning to visit and wanted to give her a heads-up. After one call went to voice mail, I waited and called again...no response. After calling a neighbor to ask her to check in on Mom, I made my way....and Mom was in bed.

Short form: Mom had fallen from the toilet and spent the night on the bathroom floor. And that's not a joke.

After arriving and finding Mom in bed, I talked her into heading into the hospital. We tried to get her to the bathroom via office chair...and she fell. Again.

So last Sunday I got to ride in an ambulance and stayed with Mom until the late hours. She's been in the hospital the past week, and she has an infection in her foot.

The toughest part about all of this - dealing with others' reactions. Fueled by adrenalin and worry, it takes longer to rebuild emotional boundaries. So little things like unsolicited advice become major hassles. Questions become interrogations. Relatives and acquaintances get blocked on Facebook.

(I'm not kidding on that later part)

That's part of the reason why my blogging's been close to nonexistent - it's hard to keep up writing when life gets in the way. It's also the one thing that so many people who want to help....end up failing miserably.

First, if you know someone like me, before you offer advice...ask first. Earlier this afternoon, I was discussing my mother's treatment with a colleague who then entered into a half lecture/half rant about what I should do in order to help my mother. If I ask for advice, I can listen; if I don't, all you're really doing is being obnoxious. And that's not cool.

I've been asked why I don't simply "move in" with Mom to care for her full time. Ironically, if I were to do so, they would complain as to why I don't move out and get "real work". But the simple truth is that Mom and I don't want to live together, and that Mom has care needs that I am unqualified to provide. (This is not offered as an excuse....but as truth).

And of course, there's the natural tendency to offer a sentiment like "God never puts anything on your shoulders that you can't handle." First, I'm not quite sure God is a chess master who manipulates human beings. (That's coming from a man who raised Catholic and educated by Jesuits). But it also makes it sound like this is easy....

...and that's further from the truth.

So I'm writing this post because....well, maybe it's because I get frustrated at being unable to articulate these feelings. If you're a friend of mine who feels surprised and shocked that I never said this before, let me finish with this thought:

When I talk about caregiving, I don't expect you to brainstorm solutions or ask me what I've tried.

If I want advice, I'll ask for it. If I don't ask for it, don't give it.

And most of all, the most I will ever ask is that you hear me. Because being a caregiver can be terribly isolating, and I just need to connect with another human being.

Enough of the emo - back to blogging shenanigans.