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BEACON’S RECLINING DECLINE … plus … BURYING ‘CAESAR’

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BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY JUNE 19, 2017) — Cinebon to the new week, for which we give thanks and blessings. We also pass condolences to the family of the north county State Rep. Gail Cariddi, who died over the weekend.

THEY SHOOT TAXPAYERS, DON’T THEY? — Now that the Beacon Cinema has its new lounge seats, we can all relax. Taxpayers paid for the Lay-Z-Boyz but far fewer shall be able to enjoy them. The conversion from grown-up seating to immature PamperMe(R) butt, back, and body rests reduces the Beacon’s capacity from a little more than 800 to under 400. The fiction writers who have to work ever-more desperately to paint the false backdrop of a “bustling” downtown Pittsfield have to work a lot harder these days. Actually, THE PLANET has learned to genuine reason behind the move. The flick house’s owner cites competitive pressures. That’s only partially true. Our investigation tells a far different story. A well-placed source with inside connections to the Downtown Dollar tells us the switch in the upholstery resulted mainly from lack of business. Not enough customers have been entering those hallowed portals to buy overpriced tickets to garbage films. With the switch to recliners and fewer than half the capacity, the same number of customers will make it seem as if the Silver Screen flop house has undergone, you know, a “renaissance.” Two hundred in 800 seats is 25%. The same number in less than 400 loungers “boosts” attendance to nearly 50 percent. Stop us if you’ve heard that one before. Oh yeah, and to make the story even better, the new loungers were paid for with public money.

BURYING ‘CAESAR’ — Perhaps you’re familiar with the Public Theater‘s inflammatory staging of William Shakespeare‘s Julius Caesar. The play features Julius as a Donald Trump-like character. complete with trademark Alex Baldwin orange wig, long red tie, and dark suit. When the play reaches the Ides of March and Brutus (no, not Popeye‘s archenemy) leads the mob to assassinate the dictator, there’s no mistaking the call to violence. Kill the President. While it doesn’t reach a Secret Service investigatory threshold, the naked reference to killing the president has, like everything else today, furthered and fanned the pure, political hatred that has gripped America.

The story has taken a decided local angle. The stabbing death of the Trump-like character in Willy’s play has led to an outpouring of invective directed at the Public Theater but sent to Shakespeare troups across America. Leading the league in that qualified group is the pre-eminent Shakespeare & Company (S&Co) in Lenox. As of this past Friday, S&Co has been inundated with almost 50 messages (social media, e-mail, phone) including threats of death, rape, and the like. Allyn Burrows, S&Co.’s artistic director, says the theater has been accused of encouraging violence, including one message hoping all at S&Co. have “the worst possible life you could have and hope you all get sick and die.”

Not the only problem with this is that the Lenox theater isn’t the company putting on the play. Nonetheless, angry conservatives and liberals wishing to cause trouble, no doubt googling “Shakespeare theaters” or some other similar search term, see S&Co. at or near the top of the list and make no distinctions. One condemns all — never an intelligent approach. Of course, intelligence plays little part in what passes for contemporary political “dialogue” in America. There’s too much hatred, too much “us” vs. “them.”

No doubt the shooting of Republican congressman Steve Scalise (R-La.), the House’s third ranking Republican, has poured napalm on the bonfire. Scalise was gunned down while practicing for the congressional baseball game. Scalise has hundreds of bullet fragment’s in his body, and as of press time, is still fighting for his life.

Burrows says neither he nor anyone else in the group has ever seen anything like what’s happened.

“You have to understand,” he said, “we work primarily with a 400-year-old playwright. There’s been a lot of water over the dam. I don’t know that it’s ever been as acute. We’ve had people express severe incredulity, but we’re in an environment now where the verbal gloves are off.” That being said, Burrows said the group “stands shoulder to shoulder with Shakespeare in the Park and their right to make art.”

THE PLANET wonders if the support for artistic license would include a restaging of “Caesar” as a black man who, instead of being stabbed, gets lynched.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

“O pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth, that I am meek and gentle with these butchers.”William Shakespeare, from “Caesar”

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE”

LOVE TO ALL.

 

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Alaskan Bush Clowns
Alaskan Bush Clowns
6 years ago

There is one difference, a huge difference between Obama and Trump. Obama was always a gentleman and carried himself with class.
Trump,just a buffoon.

Wilson
Wilson
Reply to  Alaskan Bush Clowns
6 years ago

more like a stuffed suit, he was a pothead degenerate before he became an anti-Constitution professor, Trump has always been Trump

Ham Anex
Ham Anex
Reply to  Alaskan Bush Clowns
6 years ago

Chaiman Mao and Stalin had Impeccable manners too

Luce Ball
Luce Ball
6 years ago

Trump was caught twice doing coke at studio 54. And has a wife 24 years younger than his 73 year old big butt.

McDonald Trump
McDonald Trump
Reply to  Luce Ball
6 years ago

Who caught him? Is he breaking a law by having a younger wife?

CosbiesLadies
CosbiesLadies
Reply to  McDonald Trump
6 years ago

Has anyone here received a job since Trump has been President, annnnnnnnd did Trump contribute to that job….Let me answer that, for you. Hell NO.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Luce Ball
6 years ago

Many people were not happy with Obama, but people weren’t threatening violence in response to Obama being president. Big difference between then and now. It’s non-stop put downs of Trump on MSNBC and CNN all day long. That is sick and bad for the country.

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  Pat
6 years ago

The popularity of Trump was based in the attitude that Republicans are not going to take it anymore….Trump advocates violence please google.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  The school committee
6 years ago

Republicans and many Independents were referring to not having the government continue to destroy their finances. That’s what they were not going to take anymore. Liberals know this, but want to fuel it into some violence conspiracy. Liberals are the only ones who have resorted to violence because they didn’t get the result they wanted.

Mr. G
Mr. G
Reply to  Pat
6 years ago

Pat, the man is a bumbling idiot who has surrounded himself with syncophants. His “economic measures” meaning gigantic tax cuts for the super wealthy and corporations will prove disastrous. If the right is hanging its hat on economic betterment of the country it will ultimately be wildly disappointed…plus we’ll have had to put up with bellicose behavior and the operation of a criminal enterprise from the white house to boot. God help us all.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Pat
6 years ago

God help us all if HRC has been elected you mean. The country dodged a bullet when Trump was elected instead. We would have turned into France and London by now.

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Pat
6 years ago

Hillary would have been a much worse president. If only because she has a vagina. We all know women can’t resist spending mens’ money.

CosbiesLadies
CosbiesLadies
6 years ago

Trumps been known to say grab em by the ????? And can get away with it. Don’t think any President in the twentieth century ever talked like that.

McDonald Trump
McDonald Trump
Reply to  CosbiesLadies
6 years ago

Are you really that naive ?

Pat
Pat
Reply to  CosbiesLadies
6 years ago

His name was Bill Clinton and he was impeached for his actions rather than his words, but many liberals had no problem with Bill being back in the White House right along with co-dependent Hillary. Such hypocrisy.

The school committee
The school committee
Reply to  Pat
6 years ago

Clinton was impeached for lying during the investigation of an affair.

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
Reply to  The school committee
6 years ago

Actually he was being investigated for sexual harassment of Paula Jones.

acheshirecat
acheshirecat
Reply to  CosbiesLadies
6 years ago

No we just had a president who liked to stick his cigar….. well you know where, WHILE he was president!

LongGunMan
LongGunMan
Reply to  acheshirecat
6 years ago

He penetrated her in the P****; as opposed to claiming he grabbed it.

words hurt more than sexual abuse these days.

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  LongGunMan
6 years ago

They are both sexual assault.

LongGunMan
LongGunMan
Reply to  Shakes His Head
6 years ago

So if I speak to a friend in my back yard and say something to the extent of what I’d like to do sexually to a person it’s assault? despite the person not even being there?

You just created an entire demographic of rapists with that logic

Paul
Paul
6 years ago

Anyway, back on topic, I bet the grand downtown movie theater needs another tax break.

Ham Anex
Ham Anex
6 years ago

Are the Lazy Boy seats named for Krol or Cocomo?

P Hewton
P Hewton
6 years ago

Could we get a picture of these Loungers? Are they Lazy Boyz?

Jonathan Melle
Jonathan Melle
6 years ago

Richard Stanley’s Beacon Cinema Presents:
Theater One. The Lovely Linda Tyer stars in “Dire Straits”. A movie about a financially constrained municipality that relies on “free cash” to offset budget cuts or tax hikes.
Theater Two. “Smitty” Pignatelli stars in “The pay raise scandal”. A movie about a political hack, 8-term career pol who voted for two legislative pay raises in one month earlier this year.
Theater Three. Tricia Farley Bouvier stars in “When WHEN moved Pittsfield politics”. A movie about a group of local women who launched the political careers of Jimmy Ruberto, the lovely Linda, and Tricia.
Theater Four. John Flannery stars in “GE’s new CEO lobbies Scott Pruitt”. A movie about GE screwing Pittsfield, South Berkshire County, and Connecticut by holding up the infamous Consent Decree.
Theater Five. Richie Neal stars in “The no show Congressman”. A movie about Richard Neal serving 3 decades in U.S. Congress, while the people try in vain to meet with him.
Theater Six. Nuciforo stars in “Investing in medical marijuana dispensaries”. A movie about a washed up, third-rate political hack going around Massachusetts so people with medical conditions can buy weed.
– Jonathan Melle

Ham Anex
Ham Anex
Reply to  Jonathan Melle
6 years ago

I think Gerry Doyle should get a movie too.

P Hewton
P Hewton
Reply to  Ham Anex
6 years ago

He did, the Glass Menagerie.

Jonathan Melle
Jonathan Melle
Reply to  Ham Anex
6 years ago

Gerry Doyle is in the previews. “Have a drink with Gerry”

Pat
Pat
Reply to  Jonathan Melle
6 years ago

Everyone agrees that many politicians are truly terrible and not to be trusted and yet progressives want more and bigger government. Nobody has explained the reasoning behind this except that when progressives are in charge this gives them more power. Small government for all would be the best solution.

The school committee
The school committee
6 years ago

The chairs are being put in all theaters.

h
h
6 years ago

All theatres with tifs attached to them?

H
H
6 years ago

Will Trump address the Latest London terror attack and will he address the latest casualties at Sea and in Aftghanistan.

Pat
Pat
Reply to  H
6 years ago

It’s obvious that London politicians have created an atmosphere in which their citizens are terrified and the situation is not being addressed. Many refugees that were impossible to vet were allowed into the country. Since the people do not want their city to turn into a permanent police state some people are turning to revenge attacks which is wrong and will only make the situation much worse. ISIS wants to create instability in countries. Politicians in England need to do a better job of protecting their people to avoid chaos.

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Pat
6 years ago

Will Trump address the terror attack in Virginia?

Luce Ball
Luce Ball
6 years ago

Where is the Wall? Has Pittsfield seen any new jobs other than the Ilitary at Plastic Ave.

The school committee
The school committee
6 years ago

He won’t do anything until he gets his hands on lower middle class healthcare money.

Tricksie
Tricksie
6 years ago

Trump has just brought people’s true nature – we want to think we are civilized, but we are not – we are kidding ourselves and wasting our time…

Life in the Pitts
Life in the Pitts
6 years ago

Can someone explain how the public paid for the new seating at the Beacon? I have not heard that until reading it here.

Ham Anex
Ham Anex
Reply to  danvalenti
6 years ago

Self-sustaining like Pittsfield parking.

Life in the Pitts
Life in the Pitts
Reply to  danvalenti
6 years ago

Thanks, Dan. Are they still paying property taxes on the old value of the building? That is, are they at least paying something for property taxes?

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Life in the Pitts
6 years ago

Yes. It is an incremental difference, not a true abatement.

Trumped Up
Trumped Up
6 years ago

Call it Sitty Subsidy Seats. Or free Plowing on outer West or 500g for a Covanta Boiler.

Tricksie
Tricksie
Reply to  Trumped Up
6 years ago

best line..free plowing on outer West Street – signs should be hung at BBC, “Salisbury Estates is a public road – feel free to use it as a fly through” compliments of Krol – oh and door to door salesmen welcome to enter and bamboozle the seniors – again b/c it’s a public road –

Miss Vito
Miss Vito
6 years ago

Does the Health Department realize that the small Pond down at Wahconah Park could be a Mosquito laden breeding ground, let alone an eyesore or an unsightly venue that would be the single reason a family wouldn’t show up in that Parking lot to attend a game?

Ham Anex
Ham Anex
Reply to  Miss Vito
6 years ago

Get rid of the Mill St. dam and the problem goes away.

Dilly Dally
Dilly Dally
6 years ago

Off topic, but this is so ridiculous it ranks up there with a thriving downtown comment. Has anyone seen the commercial for sock slider? Well, if you have, I guess you know what I mean.

mi
mi
6 years ago

DD, if it’s buy one get one I’ll get you one.

Dilly Dally
Dilly Dally
6 years ago

120 degrees in Phonix tomorrow.

Dilly Dally
Dilly Dally
6 years ago

Phoenix.

Johnny2Shoes
Johnny2Shoes
6 years ago

Speaking of the Beacon hitting the lottery with taxpayers money.
Celtics trade away their 1st pick in the lottery draft.I hope It turns into something Red has pulled off many times, a championship down the road.

Nota
Nota
6 years ago

The player they take at three will be the player they wanted at one, that’s the report. Plus Johnny, they get great picks from Philly the next two years. Sounds like a Red deal. Celts are certainly on the upswing, Beacon not so much.

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  Nota
6 years ago

Celtic are bums.

Shakes His Head
Shakes His Head
Reply to  danvalenti
6 years ago

They are bums right now too 😀

Rocky Creed
Rocky Creed
6 years ago

The last time the Celts traded away the number one pick it was to Golden State. They got Robert Parrish from GS and took Kevin McCale with the 3rd pick. Worked out pretty good I think.

P Hewton
P Hewton
6 years ago

When is the Planet and G Shows on, they have some slobs on the kids programs right now.

h
h
6 years ago

Wonder how Len Bias would have turned out, real tragedy.

Life in the Pitts
Life in the Pitts
6 years ago
Akbar Fukwad
Akbar Fukwad
Reply to  Life in the Pitts
6 years ago

Doing the murders that Americans don’t want to do

Bull Durham
Bull Durham
6 years ago

This whole Julius Caesar ‘controversy’ is a tale full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. A few years ago the same group did a rendering of Macbeth, with a Lady Macbeth who resembled a certain presidential candidate who lost to Trump. Before that they did another Julius Caesar, with an African American as Caesar, during the Obama administration. The far right is outraged at the current version of the play… while during those other examples… as Don McLean sang… not a word was spoken, the church bells all were broken.

12 Gauge
12 Gauge
6 years ago

This just in…..The snowflakes​ loose again in Georgia