Scene4 Magazine | the readers blog

I couldn't help but notice that the August issue of Scene4 contains three eloquent eulogies to artists from varying discliplines who could have not been more different, except for the consistent excellence of their work. I refer to Arthur Meiselman's article on Ingmar Bergman, Karren Alenier's on Beverly Sills, and Kathi Wolfe's on Doug Marlette. I was glad for those articles, because they paid just tribute to three great artists, and because they reminded us just how much great art improves and enriches our lives.

Miles Moore

I went on over to Cafe Press and looked Ray Charles Istre up and followed the trail. Skipping around in his list of news articles opened my eyes some more. Being one that avoids news like an ostrich with my head in the sand trying to stay in a false sense of peace, that was a trip. I feel this book of his is timely. The facade of beautiful people, perfect lives, etc., etc., needs to be peeled away and the reality revealed. So what if Jesus was not beautiful on the outside, he was where it counted. Just as so many of the cast-aside people of this world are. Bravo to you Ray Charles Istre! I wish you well with your book! Bravo to you Les for once again bringing two very interesting people to us to keep us thinking and learning.
Michele
read Les Marcott's article

You can add Kid Rock's Rock and Roll Jesus, the website Hollywood Jesus, and the film Wrong Eyed Jesus. All the same a very interesting article. If life were fair, Ugly Jesus would be a best seller and Scene4 would be on news stands and magazine racks everywhere.
T.J. McIntosh
read Les Marcott's article

Actually, Ray Istre comes late to the notion of a less-than-photogenic Jesus. The BBC did a piece five years or so ago wherein they reconstructed a possible Jesus from many different visual sources and came up with a short, solid, swarthy man. It raised much uproar about the "proper" way to depict Jesus -- offenses and umbrage were taken. Take a look yourself: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/1243339.stm
Michael Bettencourt
read Les Marcott's article

Delightful writing makes for delightful reading and that is what Kathi Wolfe does. It is too bad and too sad that reading, and writing for that matter, is disappearing in the blizzard of email and text messaging. Is anyone even talking to anyone anymore?
Michelle
read Kathi Wolfe's article

I'm not a lawyer, not even an expert in the area of mystery and detective novel literature, though I am fond of A. Christie's remarkable writing and her unique characters such as Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot. I too wonder what she might make out of this case of the missing copyright enforcement and wonder what Thai readers themselves, not to mention a few concerned authors from their motherland, might think of this "mystery". It seems more unravelled though, from Ms. Yasovant's account, than concealed. At least it would appear, beyond the confines of the judicial system, to be so. Or is this yet another case to be solved?

Shane McElroy

read Janine Yasovant's article

Love has no tangible definition, elucidated meaning or solid recognition. It is an inescapable feeling that can cause a series of emotions, be it unsought, in one's life. Modern day love cannot compare to Love in the past. Today, unfortunately, people have grown to be selfish, inconsiderate, and at many times oblivious to reality. "True Love" stays candid and ingenuous through hardships, misunderstandings, distance and time. Characteristics that we lack and all of which are rare in today's society. Society in whole has decreased their expectations in order to be able to adapt to what they think love is. We find ourselves settling for someone second best and having to compromise and disregard things that should not have to be dealt with in that manner. Additionally, many are just in love with being in love and have no true emotional connection to their "significant other." So how do we distinguish love from lust and infatuation?

Mariya

read Eric Eberwein's play

It was an inspiring observation. The electronic screen is intruding in all human activities; that of performing arts, friendships, relationships especially family relations. The more we are conscious of this intrusion of technology, the better this globe for inhabitancy. Thanks for the article. I could read at this corner of the world, thanks to the devil of technology!!
Harikumar Padmanabhakurup

read Arthur Meiselman's article

A "Lofty" article, Ned.
Chuck Cobb
read Ned Bobkoff's article

I wonder if also that there were some who didn't want to have this indictment of the prison system at that time. I know that there have been a number of movies that were hard-hitting on the subject but I wonder if yours was just too hard. It sounds like the play-story is just too overwhelming and as you say too unrelieved. I hope we get to see it some day.
rjs
read Arthur Meiselman's article

Arthur Meiselman carefully elicits the dilemnas a playwright goes through when he or she tries to get beyond the tried and true, or the acceptable "experimental play". How the playwright "sees" the world of his or her creation is essential to the truth and power of a work on stage. I also agree that dramaturgs, literary managers and the rest of the mess are calibrating, to some extent, what goes on in the regional theatre. Operation MFA is in full swing. As to whether these arbiters of what works have enough life experience under their belt is another story altogether. Being inside a theatre in an office all day long is frequently gratuitous to head on, knuckle down and do it experience. A pox on these mouse traps!
Ned Bobkoff
read Arthur Meiselman's article

It's a pleasure to read this engrossing work. Mr. Challis' style is subtle and charming. I like serialized books very much. I wonder if, perhaps, it wouldn't be possible to post a chapter every week instead of taunting us with a month between "what will happen next"?

Anee S. Waterson

read Martin Challis' book

I always wondered what happened to him. You're baaad Les.

Sleepy John

read Les Marcott's article

Thanks for an entertaining twist on this old story. It's funny, sad and true.

TL

read Les Marcott's article