Lost in Yonkers

    Neil Simon's 'Lost in Yonkers' was recently performed at the theatre that I work in and as Front of House (an usher), I got to watch it about seven times. Normally, watching the same show over and over again can be a tedious part to the job but it was different for this particular play as I found it very interesting. Lost in Yonkers is set in 1942 and it is the story of two Jewish boys, Arty and Jay Kurnitz, who have to live with their intimidating, German immigrant grandmother for a year, so that their father can work to pay off the debts he incurred with their dead mother's hospital bills. As well as their scary grandmother, the boys also have to deal with their mentally challenged Aunt Bella, who is sweet but childlike in behaviour and their Uncle Louie, who is a 'bag man' for the mob. The play opened in 1990 and was very successful, winning the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for Drama as well as a few Tony Awards.

   I lived with my own grandma for while when I was little, so I could relate to the two protagonists but thankfully, my grandma was not as mean as Grandma Kurnitz. Simon's play is brilliant in the way that not a single word of dialogue is wasted; every word means something and adds to the story. The build up to Grandma Kurnitz's first entrance is superb and one of the best that I've ever seen as the two brothers are comically terrified of her: 'I once drew a picture of her, called it 'Frankenstein Grandma'.

  Beneath the play's comedic aspect, the subtext is painfully touching. Grandma Kurnitz is a character who has been hardened by loss and a harsh childhood and is ruled by the idea that one has to be 'like steel' in order to survive, which is why she does not stand for any sign of 'weakness' within her family. It seems that being like steel is a part of Germanic culture as the character of Marta in Francine Rivers' 'Her Mother's Hope' too is harsh on her children to harden them and make them 'strong'. Yes, it is vital that children are raised as strong individuals but this can be done in a loving manner. This is the main message in Lost in Yonkers because all of Grandma's children grow up to be flawed in a way and immensely scared of her, due to the coldness that they have endured at her hands. Aunt Bella's vulnerability is especially believable and heart breaking; she is a challenged thirty-five year old woman that is still living with her mother but dreams of marriage and her own family.

  Despite being set in the 1940s, the play is not dated at all and the sole setting of Grandma's apartment is never dull either as multiple sets would distract and move focus from the importance of the dialogue. The play is mainly from the perspectives of fifteeen year old Jay and thirteen year old Arty and as they are children, it is interesting to see their takes on the complex relationships. One minute flaw is that the first half is a tad too slow and long but the main character development occurs in the second half, where Jay and Arty mature and begin to understand their grandmother better.

  Lost in Yonkers is a great play and it is very thought provoking. Thank you very much, Mr Simon, for making work enjoyable for ushers such as myself.

Rating 4/5 ****

http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Yonkers-Drama-Plume-Simon/dp/0452268834

Guest poem: My teacher

My brother, AD, recently wrote a poem for a competition and I think it is great and I want to share it. I may not say it all the time but I'm really proud of my brother; he is an amazing artist, so good that he's doing his Graphics GCSE two years early! Here is some of his art work and his poem which is called 'My Teacher'. Nice one, bro! A review of Neil Simon's 'Lost in Yonkers' will be up soon.

My teacher

First day of class,
As I am excited for maths
I am eager to learn
Hoping that this teacher isn’t stern
He hands out a paper
Like 10 seconds later
I fill it out,
With no reason to doubt
So many things to say,
Then it is taken away
Later on a shock, from what my teacher has said,
In his exact words "what’s going on in your head?”
My mind spins,
As he continues and cheerfully grins
And looks at me as if I have sinned
What have I done?
That he hates me a ton
I took extra classes to make my work load lighter
I don’t want to be a writer or a cage fighter
I just want to be a little bit brighter
Nagging me saying I am doing wrong
Well it is you sir who doesn't respond
You hear my continuous cries for help
But yet you decide to go help someone else
At first I ignored and forgot it,
But know I have decided something needs to be done about it
The time to listen
Or create an un-biased system
It’s not fair
Knowing that your own teacher doesn't care
Because sir if you don’t care about our education
Then what is going to happened to our generation?

Things Fall Apart (the centre cannot hold...)

  Right, my university applications have been sent off (eek!), I am marginally less stressed and I can finally give my two cents on Chinua Achebe's 'Things Fall Apart'. This novel means a lot to me and even though I only read it recently, I've come across it many times.  First of all, the title derives from William Butler Yeats' 'The Second Coming', a poem that I studied for AS English Literature and can still quote:

Turning and turning in the widening gyre,
The falcon cannot hear the falconer
Things fall apart;  the centre cannot hold,
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world...

Ah, Yeats.

   Achebe clearly likes his poetry and in fact, I studied one of his poems, 'Vultures' for GCSE. He is arguably Nigeria's most prolific author and Things Fall Apart was one of the first African novels to receive global and critical acclaim. So, as a Nigerian, this novel is part of my literary heritage and in my opinion, it is one of the best books ever for understanding colonisation from the native's perspective, (I am totally unbiased, of course). The novel shows how British colonialism affected Nigerian culture and society,  both for the better and for the worse.  Things Fall Apart is seen by many as Achebe's response to Joseph Conrad's 'Heart of Darkness', which depicted Africa as a primitive black hole of uncivilised natives who lacked reasonable customs and Achebe disproves this. His novel is set in the late nineteenth century amongst the Igbo people in the fictional village of Umoufia, one of the nine villages of Nigeria. It follows the life of Okonkwo, who is a reverred warrior, leader and wrestler in the village. The character is ruled by his fear of being seen as a 'weakling' like his father was and his determination to be the complete opposite of his father leads to conflict as British Christian missionaries descend on the village.

   Although the novel is written in English, Achebe is brilliant in the way that he uses various parables and tales to show the richness and nuances of the Igbo language, sometimes incorporating Igbo words into sentences, with the glossary of words at the back of the novel aiding with comprehending. Some critics state that the novel is difficult for non-Nigerians to understand because some of the names are too complicated (Nwoye, Ikemefuna and Unoka for instance), but these names are essential to understanding the novel as they have meanings and elucidate the characteristics of the various characters. Also, Achebe choosing to write the novel in English could be seen as a further example of the power of colonisation.

  Things Fall Apart presents both the good and bad side of colonialism. On one hand, Christianity was good for the people Umofia in the way that it saved the lives of many. Prime example are the many innocent twin babies that used to be seen as evil abnormalities in Nigerian culture. As a twin, I am particulary touched by this. On the other hand, Achebe also shows how a huge change such as Christianity (the Igbo were immensely spiritual and reliant on wooden gods pre-colonisaton) can completely eradicate and change a culture and have negative effects on people like Okonkwo that refuse to submit to it.  The novel is one with many layers, interpretations and themes that range from gender, society, success and failure to the aforementioned theme of colonialism  vs the native and tradition.

   Things Fall Apart is an absolutely brilliant novel that I would recommend to everyone regardless of ethnicity or colour. I loved it so much that it is the book that I have chosen to discuss alongside Maya Angelou's poetry and Wilkie Collins' 'The Moonstone' for my A2 English Literature coursework. The book will also give you a glance into an aspect of Nigerian history, and it was interesting for me to learn about this aspect because I am from the Yoruba tribe, not Igbo, so before reading the novel, I was not too familiar with their customs. In regard to the novel, I would like to end on this question: Can colonialism ever be justified though?

Chinua Achebe, you make me very proud to be a Nigerian.

Rating 5/5 *****

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Things-Apart-Pocket-Penguin-Classics/dp/0141023384

Busy bee

An opportunity to use the snazzy app (Windows Phone, hollaaa)! I haven't been here in a while and I miss it but I've been immensely busy. UCAs has pretty much taken over my life and you'd think that three A Levels wouldn't be stressful for someone that did five AS subjects last year! A review of 'Things Fall Apart' will come soon, as well as a review of Neil Simon's 'Lost In Yonkers', I promise!

Guest blog: September

My twin sister, Tai, is an avid reader like me. She could totally have handled A Level English Literature but she has a strong aversion to essays and was boring and went down the Sciences route. I'm kidding. She's not boring; she'll be a great pediatric doctor one day. Anyway, she's interested in blogging but too lazy to make her own blog (her words, not mine!). So, we found a solution to this and decided that she'll guest blog for me from time to time. I'll be reviewing Chinua Achebe's 'Things Fall Apart' soon but this is Tai's 'September'. Enjoy.

    September. This is the month many young people dread most. No more late nights, no more summer holidays because with school starting again, surely the idea of ‘fun’ must no longer exist. Personally, I wish the holidays lasted longer because I’m not particularly keen to start school again. I’m sure adults reading this must be internally rolling their eyes, probably thinking that I should stop complaining as compared to the grown up world of working, having six weeks off is a luxury. With that in mind, it’s greedy to want more time off school, but that’s not why I’m hesitant to resume.

   This school year will be my final one before university and without a doubt the most important of my life so far. I guess you could say I’m a bit nervous to be thrust into the grown up world because it is in this school year that I will turn 18, and legally be an adult. Sometimes I do get scared and worry about what the future will bring, which I’m sure we’ve all done at some point. It may not be regarding school like me, but everyone has areas in their lives that cause them stress. What keep me going are two scriptures that are very close to my heart. The first is 2 Timothy 1:7- “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

    My mum used to read this to me all the time when I was younger, and it’s stuck with me since. So if God hasn’t given us a fearful spirit, why fear or worry about situations? God is looking out for us, so things will definitely turn out right. The second verse is Jeremiah 29:11- “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

   God has big plans for us. For each and every one of our lives, actually. So there’s no point in worrying about the future because God’s got it all sorted! Just continue to trust in Him, and things will look work out in the end.

  Finally, to everyone going back to school this month, endeavour to make this year the best one yet. Try not to get stressed or feel overwhelmed. Remember God has plans for you. I personally know I’ll be keeping hold to that this year!

Racism hurts

  On my way to work the other day, I had a bit of a 'mare. I was listening to music through my headphones when suddenly, a drunk man came out of an alleyway and stood right in front of me. He then proceeded to call me a 'f*cking black c*nt' as well as many other colourful things. I was petrified because there was nobody close by and I thought he was going to attack me. He circled me for a few seconds, called me the derogatory term for 'coward' repeatedly, a word that rhymes with 'wussy'.

 Thankfully, I was right outside my workplace so I quickly ran in. I was so scared and shaken that I had to go to the toilets to calm myself. I've never personally encountered such racism and it was a harrowing experience. I should have defended myself instead of just running away. I should have done something...anything!

 I think back to the 1960s and the prejudice that African Americans faced. I also think back to the Civil Rights Movement and peaceful protest. If I had retaliated and sworn back, then I would have been no better than him. I can't even say that I'll never experience something like that again because the world is full of mean people. Racism hurts but I thank God that I didn't get hurt. Well, at least not physically.

I love you, Mr Darcy

   During the summer holidays (ah, I miss them already!) on a random whim, my sister and I decided to watch the 2005 adaption of 'Pride and Prejudice', the one with Kiera Knightley and Matthew Macfayden. I'd never seen the film before, but I had read the book and seen the Bollywood version, 'Bride and Prejudice' when I was about ten years old and loved both. The novel mostly follows the Bennet family, the witty second born Elizabeth especially and deals with the importance of a 'good marriage' for the less wealthy as well as other issues such as the class system, the role of women and education in the Georgian era.

  Pride and Prejudice is loved by many and it has been adapted numerous times, the popular 1995 TV series and Bridget Jones' Diary being examples, both starring Colin Firth as 'Mr Darcy'. Ah, the popular 1995 TV series...I must admit that my teenage eyes have not yet grasped the appeal of Colin Firth in 'the lake scene', which is ranked in many polls as one of the most memorable scenes in British television but I'm sure that the appeal will come in due time. I really enjoyed the 2005 film because it brought so much life and youth into Austen's best loved classic, whilst still adhering to the novel. Its beautiful swooping shots also made me, a firm city dweller, appreciate the English countryside more. Kiera Knightley's performance as Elizabeth was well deserving of the Oscar nomination, her on-screen sisterly relationship with Rosamund Pike's 'Jane' being believable and quite sweet. As a sucker for romance and handsome men, I fell for Matthew Macfayden's Mr Darcy and even sought out the alternate American ending which was heavily romantic and swoon worthy. Although English critics despised it, I personally loved it as I have a cheesy heart and I'm a fan of the cliched 'Hollywood kiss'.

  The film rekindled my forgotten love for Pride and Prejudice and I took the novel with me to read again in Paris. I'm kind of an Austen keeno- she has an unparalled way with words, evidenced with Elizabeth Bennet's wit and vivacious conversations with Mr Darcy. In my opinion, gentle declarations of love such as the ones that Austen uses in her works outdo the smuttiness of some of the so called 'literature' of today. (Fifty Shades of Grey, anyone?) It could be said that Elizabeth is an early feminist role model; she defends herself and her family on occasion, never allowing herself to be belittled by those who see themselves as superior to her and she refuses to conform to the norms of the patriarchal society.

  Pride and Prejudice gives insight into the world of the Georgian era, when marriage was essential for fear of  poverty, in the case of the Bennet family or becoming an 'old maid'. This is why women often fell into loveless marriages in order to prevent this, exampled by Charlotte Lucas' (Elizabeth's best friend) marriage to the odious Mr Collins. The novel's title gives away the novel's two main themes- it is Darcy's pride that initially prevents him from viewing Elizabeth and her family as his equals and this pride results in him insulting Elizabeth's vanity by saying she is 'not handsome enough' to tempt him. The words cause Elizabeth to be prejudiced towards him for the majority of the novel, as she refuses to see any good in him - 'vanity, not love has been my folly'.

  As I re-read, I found myself wishing that men of today were more like Bingley and Darcy, with pleasant, loving words and more. Someday, I want my own Mr Darcy, someone who will love me enough to go the extra mile for me, inconveniencing himself as well as willing to to participate in a few verbal spars with me from time to time! (I can be quite adamant to my own opinion sometimes, hence why this blog exists).

   Right, enough of me dreaming up my perfect husband. Pride and Prejudice is a really good story that is timeless and a story that one can read over and over again. If you haven't read it, you must!

Rating- 5/5 *****

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pride-Prejudice-Jane-Austen/dp/184317569X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1347287103&sr=1-1