I used to go to the theatre a lot when I was younger – when I had more time on my hands – but haven’t been for a while, so jumped at the chance when I was invited to go and see Rain Man.
It is the first time that I had seen a play adapted from a film and I know many scoff at the theory that a play will be any good where there is already a film in existence, but I had no preconceptions...I mean, what if we didn’t get the all the films that have been adapted from books in the first place? Exactly – we’d have nowhere to go and enjoy over-priced popcorn!
Actually, I was more curious than anything else...about what the set would be like and whether a Hollywood star would handle the stage.
Though I’m certainly no expert film or theatre, I’m well aware that they are very different disciplines and I was interested to see how Josh Hartnett would get on.
It mostly seems to be pretty standard for any actor making the leap from screen to stage to get vilified for it, but now I can’t help but wonder whether the critics are merely a bunch of bitter, failed actors who vent their jealousy by criticising others.
Josh Hartnett did himself proud and was wholly convincing in the role of Charlie Babbitt; however, it was Adam Godley in the role of autistic savant Raymond Babbitt who absolutely stole the show. The man is a talent who has been on both the small and large screen as well as the stage, but I’ve never heard of him being criticised in the same manner.
Hmm, maybe it’s just those that have reached a certain level of fame that attract the bile.
In my opinion, the two men had a brilliant rapport and worked well together, as wel as with the rest of the cast, to make for a moving play that kept the audience enthralled...and there certainly was an audience.
The theatre was packed with people, many of whom I’m sure are not theatre regulars; but that is the pull of Josh Hartnett, a man who – along with Adam Godley – earned himself a standing ovation for his brilliant performance.
Its difficult to imagine an actor being concerned with the opinion of any critics when there is a scrum at the back door at the end of the performance and (mostly) women are screaming for your attention!
The whole cast should be proud of their performance in a great play that was thoroughly enjoyable, and would still be even if a person hadn’t seen the original film.
The moral of the story is that it may be prudent to take the opinions of critics with a pinch of salt at times; much better to form your own opinion or listen to the true audience. The same applies if you’re a writer too!
I recently read an article that caused a bit of déjà vu because they tend to be as regular as clockwork.
It might be wise to brace yourself as the details may shock and amaze you...the amount spent on men’s grooming products has increased. (Extended pause) Dum, dum, dahhhhhh!
Of course, I’m being dramatic, my actual reaction was ‘so what?’
I’ve noticed these articles more and more of late, as if they are providing information that is so outlandish that it warrants being deemed ‘news’.
The days of women staying home and looking pretty while their men folk bring home the bacon whilst looking as much like a Neanderthal as possible are long gone; as we’ve (apparently) reached a point where women are seen as equal to men in the workplace, why can’t men be seen as equal to women in the beauty stakes?
It isn’t news when the amount women spend on cosmetics and grooming increases, but then we’re expected to look good at all times, so the expenditure is inevitable rather than extraordinary.
Why is it that women are objectified every day – judged and vilified if we don’t meet society’s standards – whereas men can look as haggard as nature decides and no one bats an eyelid?
Bloody double standards!
I can’t think of any period of time where men have been subject to nearly as much scrutiny as women, so why shouldn’t men spruce themselves up and let us women do the ogling for a change?
It’s only fair.
I’m sure that many people feel like a man who grooms himself well is too in touch with his feminine side, but who said that looking presentable is a feminine trait? Having a bit of pride in your appearance makes you feel good and, in turn, increases your confidence.
Men deserve that as much as women do.
However, even if we did get to a point where the cosmetic needs of men are not given a second thought, I bet the double standard would still exist.
Hollywood is a perfect example: consider how differently actors and actresses are treated as they get older. Not only do women get offered less roles, but they only get ones playing sedate older women; but men get to carry on leaping about, fighting crime and crushing the bad guys well into their sixties.
Hmm, broken hip, anyone?
Anyway, I digress. The point is for years women have been spending much time and money on their appearance, and men are just beginning to catch up – what’s wrong with that?
Besides, women need eye candy too!
I’ve never been the type to put much stock in Old Wives Tales and stereotypes and I certainly never believed the old adage that ‘nice guys finish last’. I mean, how could they possibly finish last? No woman in her right mind put pick an arrogant, brash sort over a kind, chivalrous gent, would she?
It stands to reason that we would all want to be around nice people so why would we then be more likely to give horrible ones the time of day? Ladies?
Common sense dictates that only a woman with self-esteem issues would seek out a bad boy instead of a man who would treat her well, but then, how many of us can boast that we always use our common sense? Show of hands? Thought so – admittedly, even my own hands remain at my sides.
Despite all this, I was still rather surprised when, a few days ago, I read a newspaper article that basically said that bad boys do generally tend to be the front-runners in the relationship stakes: they attract ladies with ease and have more sex than their more mild-mannered counterparts.
How can this be?
Don’t we all want a lovely man to treat us like a queen? Well, not if we look at the types of men that many female celebrities go for or if we listen to fantastic Fantasia’s Uneligble: “....way too nice, where can a girl get a thug?”
According to the article, it has been scientifically proven (there was no word as to whether these were the same scientists who compiled an equation for the perfect cheese sandwich) that men afflicted with a ‘dark triad’ of personality traits are the ones that prove irresistible to us of the fairer sex.
Irresistible?
Bear in mind that these personality traits are narcissism, impulsive behaviour (like that of a psychopath) and deceit! Seriously? Can this really be what we women are aiming for - narcissistic, lying psychopaths? Hmm, I’m not sure that I believe that.
But then I thought about some of the characters I’ve created as well as those I’ve discovered in others works of fiction and, I have to say, they have not all been the nicest of men. In fact, many readers tend to lap up the bad boy characters as much as the author relishes writing about them.
However, all this can be explained away as mere fantasy. That’s the point of writing fiction, right? Drawing people into the fantasy world that the writer has created? Yes, of course.
But don’t many of us get so immersed in a story because, on some level, we cast ourselves in it and desire some element of it in our own lives. Do we love stories so much because we want that fictional bad boy as our very own bit of rough?
Hmm. Don’t get me wrong, I like a man who knows how to stand up for himself but I wouldn’t say that makes him a bad boy. He’d have to be a nice guy the rest of the time – obviously. Why on earth would any woman want a man who is likely to treat her badly? She wouldn’t.
My theory is that women go for bad boys because they are the only ones available: the nice guys are all spoken for. Eagerly snapped up by all the sensible women out there.
Of course, it is wonderful to lose yourself in a dream world once in a while, to imagine what it would be like to be powerful and enticing enough to keep a bad boy under manners and coming back for more. But, in real life, a decent man who treats you with respect will do nicely, thank you very much!
So, to all you nice fellas, don’t be disheartened by ridiculous newspaper articles; in fact, please stand up so that we can all see you properly...
