Brother Blue, a Cambridge icon, dies at 88 - Local News Updates - The Boston Globe
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Thursday, November 5, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
October is for Storytelling!
If you love storytelling, than October is your month! As the leaves turn colors, pumpkins start turning up on people's front doors, and the dark starts creeping in earlier, we all get that itch to hear spooky, scary tales. Here is a listing of some exciting Storytelling events - brought to you by the local storytelling group massmouth - coming to the greater Boston area over the next couple of weeks for you to enjoy!Monday October 12 (Columbus Day): Three Apples Storytelling at Shelburne Farm in Stow, from 1-3pm. The Three Apples Storytelling Festival and massmouth have been invited by this wonderful local "Pick-Your-Own" Apple Orchard to come and entertain prospective apple-pickers with stories! You'll find us right by the front entrance, look for the Three Apples banner. Featuring Cindy Rivka Marshall, Nicolette Heavey, Laura Packer, Kevin Brooks and myself, Doria Hughes!
Sunday October 25: Boston-based Baroque Music ensemble Musica Nuova and I will be presenting a collaborative concert at the Taylor House Bed and Breakfast in Jamaica Plain, at 4pm. We will be presenting "The Masque of Bess of Bedlam", the imaginary late 17th century-style tale of one woman's journey from milkmaid to madwoman, using a combination of storytelling and the music of Purcell, Eccles and other Baroque composers.
Monday October 26: Reuniting two old friends that everybody loves, and which go together extremely well - Storytelling and Beer - massmouth is proud to present our very first StorySlam, at Kennedy's midtown in Boston, starting at 7pm. Based on a poetry slam format and similar to American Idol, a story slam is a contest of wit, words and in this case, Story, by known and undiscovered talent. This month's theme is "scared to death ". We are looking for real stories of fear, terror and dread, which may be supernatural or plain as mud. Each of the ten 5 minute stories is judged on how well it is told, how well it is constructed and how well it honors the time limit and relates to the theme. The three highest-scoring tellers are awarded prizes and an opportunity to perform at "the big MouthOff", venue and date TBA. Prizes will be awarded at each slam. There is a $5.00 cover and a one drink minimum. Find out more at massmouth!
Tuesday October 27: "The Masque of Bess of Bedlam" will be repeated at Bates College in Maine at noon.
Thursday October 29: MouthOff at the Haley House Cafe in Roxbury, starting at 7pm. The Haley House Cafe presents massmouth tellers Norah Dooley and Andrea Lovett, telling ghost stories to chill the bones! A mini workshop to follow, open mic at 8pm.
Friday October 30: Hallowe'en Storytelling and Costume Party at the Porter Square Bookstore in Cambridge, starting at 4pm. I (Doria) will be telling spooky stories to celebrate my favorite holiday!
These are just a few of the exciting and varied Storytelling events going on in the Bay State this month. For even more, check out the massmouth events page!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Marvelous MouthOff Monday by massmouth
1) Doria (me) went first, with "Mrs Puccini", the tale of my journey into my new identity/hat as Opera Composer's Wife. My husband, Curtis Hughes, is in the midst of birthing his opera "Say It Aint So Joe" about Sarah Palin and the 2008 Vice Presidential debate. There is a mini media circus brewing, which is rather wild for us! For more info on this remarkable work, check out http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7181860398&ref=ts or just google Sarah Palin opera and enjoy the right wing comments.
2) Libby Franck told "Cars and Guys" and took us down Memory Lane to the wilds of Westchester and new Rochelle, where fast cars and fast guys were no match for our Libby! She even crooned a couple of car serenades for us, tributes offered her by her 4-wheeled swains.
3) James McCoy told one of his original rhyming narratives, "Thompson was my only failure", about the life of Francis Thompson, a 19th century poet, Catholic and failed boot-maker. Poignant and sweet, as only James can be.
4) Marty Levin created an impromptu Improvisational work for us, based on three words spat out at him by the audience: "Caleidescope, Fluoridated, Incongruous". He took us on an incredible journey, demonstrating courage and agility along the way. Courage - since he didn't know where he was going any more than we did, but bravely plunged ahead - and a combination of mental and kinetic agility tht has to be seen to be believed. A tour de force!!
5) Kevin Brooks (who NEVER goes by Mr. Packer) told "Cars", a whimsical and hilarious ride through the various cars that have taken him along his life's path to date. That 1972 Volkswagen bus sure brought back memories..... We were all thrilled to hear that his current steed is approaching menopause, and looks to transform into something wonderful and strange in the near future - very abruptly! - which will mean that there will be a sequel to this tale!
6) Laura Packer decided to play, and riffed off of an old familiar tale (The Elves and the Shoemaker) in new and unfamiliar ways. At times frightening, at times sad, but finally hinting at something wondrous and strange and even transcendent, we followed her willingly down unknown paths. Laura doesn't always take us home, but we don't care; we just like to go where she leads. I named this telling "Booty Call".
7) Elsa Zuniga revealed depths of beauty, sadness, hope and love in her as-yet unnamed story about her Father's story. I think I understand why he only told his stories to her; she has a gift for creating stories that are like the sweetest onion you can possibly imagine: narrative layers unfold like rose petals to reveal new layers, and beyond/beneath them, even more. Beautiful, poignant, heart-breaking, yet strangely fulfilling and satisfying to hear.
8) The enigmatically named Marshall gave us a hysterically delightful new/old twist on an old Shelley Berman performance telling that he clearly loved as much as we did. "Hello, Davey!" was revealingly funny, current yet timeless. Rarely has a Storyteller incorporated a prop - in this case, a cellphone - so effectively and seamlessly into his telling. I laughed my ass off, but I did not lose my humanity (thank you Marshall!).
9) Maggie Bush generously closed this glorious evening with her retelling of Zora Neale Hurston's "Roy Makes A Car". Not to be outdone by the earlier and brilliantly told car-tales, this grand Lady of Storytelling told us a wonderful whopper about Roy and his Collision-Proof Car (yes, you read that right). Maggie explained that Ms. Hurston, in an effort to get really great stories from her southern informants, would ask them "Do you know any lies?" With this one, she hit pay dirt, and Maggie showed us exactly why "Roy" is a keeper!
Once again, I thank you all, with my heart filled with gratitude, for coming and telling these beautiful tales. Let's do this again, real soon, y'hear?
Happy Tales,
Doria
Sunday, August 23, 2009
BATV and Yankee Doodle on "Bowen on Billerica" - Billerica, MA - Billerica Minuteman
BATV and Yankee Doodle on "Bowen on Billerica" - Billerica, MA - Billerica Minuteman
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I'm going to be interviewed on a radio station tomorrow, a first for me! The show is called "Bowen on Billerica", and it is my chance to plug my upcoming performance at the Billerica Yankee Doodle Homecoming, alongside of my esteemed colleague and friend Jim LaChapelle. Tune in on WCAP 980 AM between noon and 1pm!
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
There Be Dragons!
Doria tells "The Four Dragons"
at the July 2009 MouthOff hosted by massmouth,
in Central Square, Cambridge, Mass.
I am on a Dragon-binge! Lately, I have been telling stories about dragons; I just can't get enough of them. And I'm beginning to think that here in the West, we have greatly misunderstood these mythic sky-flyers. I particularly love the Chinese legend of the Four Dragons, because the eponymous lizards not only show compassion for those less fortunate than themselves, they also stand up for us puny human underdogs - against a tyrannical Oppressor, no less - knowing that the consequences for themselves will be dire. (The embroidery to the left is from Embroidery Library Inc.)
The dragons in this story have the choice to either live a life of comfort and ease, ignoring human misery, or to make a tremendous personal sacrifice in order to make change. Acting out of compassion and selflessness, they come up against the callous Jade Emperor. The ultimate bureaucrat, this tyrant is totally indifferent to the sufferings of his people, and is roused to action only when he sees that the dragons have dared to exercise their powers to make up for his lack of initiative.
Like Prometheus, the four dragons are cruelly punished for having used their powers to help the human race. However, each leaves a lasting and benevolent mark on the very geography of our human world, so as to ensure our continued survival.
So what, besides dragons, is so compelling about this particular story, and why am I blogging about it? As so often, the villain of the tale is as fascinating as the hero(s). Just what is up with the Jade Emperoranyways? His character - capricious, vindictive, all-powerful, unforgiving, jealous - reminds me of others of his ilk:
The stories tell us that Sky Gods are remote and powerful, all-seeing and unforgiving. Short-fused and quick to anger - like most of his aerial brethren - the Jade Emperor will not tolerate any perceived threat to his authority, and he strikes back as quickly as lightning, with devastating cruelty. The patriarchal Sky Gods rule over their subjects with humorless might, brooking no defiance. And yet, from time to time, someone is brave enough to speak up and take action against these lofty thugs. And that's when great stories are made.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Girl Power
At Toscanini's on June 22, 2009,
telling "Tokoyo" for the MouthOff
The story of Tokoyo and the Sea Serpent is one of my special favorites. Set in the far flung Oki Islands, it describes the journey a young woman must take in order to be reunited with her father. It's sort of like "The Journey of Natty Gann", except for the medieval Japanese setting. And the sea serpent.
When her father is unjustly banished by the mysteriously ailing emperor, Tokoyo sets out alone to track him down and find him. Armed with nothing but her father's dagger and her training as an Ama, or pearl diver, the teenager eventually arrives at the forsaken Oki Islands, where inconvenient and unwanted nobles were traditionally sent to live out their days in exile. But before she has the chance to find her father, Tokoyo happens upon a scene of human sacrifice. Every year the islanders push a young girl into the ocean to be devoured by an underwater dragon, an attempt to placate the beast so that it would spare their fishing fleet and not condemn the local population to starvation. Tokoyo volunteers to go in the girl's place and dives into the roiling waves.
Luckily for Tokoyo, her training stands her in good stead, so the scene in the story where she faces off against the evil submarine flesh-eating serpent is very exciting (although it ends badly for the serpent). Tokoyo is hailed as a hero, finds her father, and inadvertently heals the sick emperor. The latter is so grateful that he recalls her father in exile, and the story ends happily for everyone, except for the sea serpent.
This story has inspired a great deal of dramatic art, enjoy!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
The Changeling
This video was made on May 18, 2009 at the newly opened Rhone Plaza in Central Square, Cambridge. The occasion was our monthly MouthOff, hosted by MassMouth, a Massachusetts-based Storytelling organization. Stu Mendelson, Norah Dooley and I came up with the theme of "Working Mothers" as a good theme for the month of May, in honor of Mothers Day and International Workers' Day.
I have long been drawn to the story of the Changeling: a counterfeit child left by the Faerie folk in exchange for a human baby who is stolen to replenish the dwindling ranks of that secret and magical race. The Celtic peoples in particular tell many tales in which small children - especially those who have not yet been named or baptized - are stolen away while their mothers are not looking, and replaced by a supernatural substitute. Such stories invariably end with the restoration of the "real" child, usually after the determined mother tricks the Changeling to betray its true nature and threatens it with physical harm. The threatened Faerie being gives back the child, who is none the worse for wear, and all is well.
(from "Labyrinth", my favorite Jim Henson flick)
Or is it?
Stories about healthy children who are spirited away and replaced by sickly inhuman monsters, draw upon a deep and elemental terror that lurks in the heart of nearly every parent: the fear of losing a child. But there is a subtext - and a sub-fear - to the story of the Changeling, which beneath its frightening surface narrative of kidnapping and restoration, presents us with the equally terrifying idea that a baby who seems normal and healthy can drastically and mysteriously change in some dreadful way, with little warning or explanation. Thus, the concept of the magical Changeling is rooted in a harsh human reality: a child who seems "normal" at first, but then shows signs of "inhuman" abnormality. Perhaps some parents - confronted by the sad truth that something was wrong with their child - were comforted by the notion that "this isn't really my child". And so the story of the Changeling was born.
Interestingly, but cruelly, these stories also imply that the terrible transformation/ailment of the Changeling is due to some form of negligence on the part of the mother: she left the child alone for a moment, she forgot to hang rowan berries over its cradle, she didn't baptize the child in the Christian faith, etc. The loss - or transformation - of her offspring is thus presented as a punishment for maternal misdeeds. It naturally follows that she must somehow redeem herself in the eyes of some supernatural authority before she is considered worthy to have her "true" (i.e. healthy) child restored to her. She must perform a mysterious nonsensical ritual, and then - in a parallel of the story of Abraham and Isaac - she must threaten her "child" with violence or even death. Only then will she be rewarded by the return of her little one.
The moral of this story? Be a good mother, or else.
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