This week, Jared Bowen reviews Ethan Hawke’s new film “Blaze” and reviews the latest theater in Boston.
“Hamnet,” presented by ArtsEmerson and Dead Centre at the Paramount Center through October 7
No, it’s not a typo, “Hamnet” is making its U.S. premiere at Arts Emerson. Co-created by Bush Moukarzel and Ben Kidd, “Hamnet” tells the tale of Shakespeare’s only son, who died at age 11. With almost no historical record of the young man’s life, “Hamnet” is set in a surreal and contemporary environment, where the titular character ruminates on his intractable existence in a parallel world. “Coming across the fact that [Shakesepeare] had a son, and the name being so close to the famous name of the fictional character was intriguing,” says Moukarzel. “That opens the door into this fact that Hamnet had lived. But a fact with not much else to back it up… the son was born and died 11 years later. So that was an intriguing jumping off point.” Hamnet is “A captivating turn from 14-year-old Ollie West,” says Jared. “Watching him, one has the sense of seeing a very starry actor in the making.”
“Blaze,” in theaters now
Based on the book “Living In The Woods In A Tree: Remembering Blaze Foley” by Sybil Rosen, “Blaze” is a film about American singer-songwriter and country musician Blaze Foley. Often described as a pioneer of Texas outlaw music, which spawned the careers of musicians like Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson, Blaze Foley was a gifted yet self-destructive musician who struggled with alcohol and worked in relative obscurity until he was shot dead in Austin at age 39. “At the end of his career, at the end of his life. He'd play these gigs for 13 people, and 11 of them would be songwriters, and the other two would be pouring beer,” says director and co-creator Ethan Hawke. “He had basically ruined a relationship with an audience by getting too drunk.” Jared describes “Blaze” as “a beautiful, lyrical film that excavates an exceptional talent.”
“Straight White Men,” presented by New Repertory Theatre through September 30
Playing at New Repertory Theatre, this regional premiere of “Straight White Men” is a play that examines white privilege through an almost anthropological study filled with humor and wit. In this play by Young Jean Lee, Ed and his three sons Drew, Jake, and Matt discuss their perceived privileges as they gather for a Christmas party. Jared describes “Straight White Men” as “A very amusing entrée into the escalating conversation of the redefined place of the straight white man. I just wish the questions it poses were only sharper.”
Know any artistic American outlaws? Have a new play you’re dying to talk about? Tell Jared about it on Facebook or Twitter!
