On Saturday night I went to the Colossal Spectacle: Boister performing an original score to D W Griffith’s 1916 film masterpiece, Intolerance. Though the silent era epic clocks in at 197 minutes (plus there was a 20 minute intermission, with oysters), it felt a lot shorter than The King’s Speech. The film alone is enough to inspire wonder, but Anne Watts and Boister provided a hip and hypnotic live musical experience that made magic in MICA’S Falvey Hall (I’ve had so many great experiences in Falvey this year I’m thinking I’ll make it my church). One wishes there could be an encore performance. There are, however, other components of MICA’s “THE NARCISSISM of MINOR DIFFERENCES” exhibition, on view through March 13. So go.
Boister orchestrated over three hours of material to pull this off, employing original work and interpretive covers from sources as varied as Bach and the Beatles, The Clash, Led Zepplin, and Rogers & Hammerstein. It was thrilling, often counterintuitive, and always inventive. Occasional vocals were provided by Ms. Watts, including a bold-stroke Gram Parsons ballad, and Posie Lewis, whose voice wrought emotion fitting for Griffith’s Little Dear One. A couple of do-right women, yeah.
Speaking of intolerance, get down to the Miller Senate Building in Annapolis and let them know you want Senate Bill 672 and House Bill 1148 to PASS! That is, if you care about film production and film jobs in Maryland. These are tax credit for film production bills that could help bring Maryland into competition with other states and generate badly needed work for local craftspeople and film techies, not to mention businesses small and large. The SB 672 hearing is on March 10 at 1pm, and the HB 1148 hearing is on March 17 at 1 pm, at the Miller Senate Building and the House Office Building respectively, both on Bladen Street in Annapolis. You can write letters and emails too. Check out the Maryland Film Industry Coalition at www.mdfilm.com for details.
And speaking of local film people, a lot of them turned out Friday night for the Baltimore premiere of PUTTY HILL. A strong sense of Made-in-Baltimore community and creativity permeated the event at the Charles. The after-party at Metro Gallery was icing on the cake. Go see the movie.
David Warfield
