Chez Robert Giron

Eric Schaeffer's Company by Stephen Sondheim, book by George Furth, has pulled it off once again: It's a hit.

While no cast director is listed, probably Eric himself, I have to say that this is one of the crucial elements that makes for breaks a play / musical and the cast works in tandem and smoothly, all with super voices. In fact, the finale number: "Being Alive" brought tears to my eyes as Matthew Scott sang it last night. Equally as powerful were Carolyn Cole, who plays Marta "Another Hundred People", and Erin Weaver, who plays Amy "Getting Married Today."

The use of TV monitors on the upper level works quite nicely and adds to the production without overdoing it. The use of props, as always, moves seamlessly (scenic design, Daniel Conway). The lighting (Chris Lee), sound (Matt Rowe), the costumes (Frank Labovitz) worked exceptionally well during the hat routine (choreography, Matthew Gardiner).

There was nothing about this production that one could possibly point to and say: this is off. Just the opposite: It works "like butter." All which would make Sondheim proud.

So put this on your list of things to see this summer.

The Gival Press Novel Award contest which carries a prize of 3K and publication has a deadline of May 30th.

For complete details see Givalpress.com.

Winner of the 2013 Ventura Valdez English Poetry Award

THE LIMITED*

We boarded the shiny car under la Guera's
careful watch. The Limited lurched from the station,
passed hills that border East L.A., accelerating, slicing
the Mojave, blurred outlines of yuccas and tumbleweeds
near the tracks, home and the overcast sky far behind.
Tranquilized by constant heartbeat of iron upon iron,
the Limited rocked us to sleep. The train caught its
breath on short stops -- Yuma, Phoenix, Tucson, as it ran
with the night to encounter the sun. Guera awakened us
before red and orange mountains swallowed the train.
It strained, climbed, emerged from the cliffs like a
serpent -- the last cars visible on tenuous tracks winding
high above Ysleta and the Rio Grande. My sister and I
walked into a warm sun consoled and wrapped in the love
of our Mexican family. For 30 days we escaped the
painful, permanent void that awaited.


*The Southern Pacific Sunset Limited.

Copyright © 2013 by Joseph Baldi Acosta.

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Winner of the 2013 Ventura Valdez Spanish Poetry Award


Hambre…..


Hoy pienso……..

Hubo días en que pasé hambre
e intenté engañar al hambre durmiendo,
pensándote, soñándote. Tengo hambre de ti.

Hambre de tu boca, de tu voz,
de tu cabello, de tus ojos risueños,
de tu piel, de tu cuerpo.

¡Quiero comer el aura de tu hermosura!
tomarme el cóctel de tus labios,
la nariz soberana del arrogante rostro más tierno del mundo.
Quiero comer la sombra fugaz de tus pestañas. Tu mirada.

Hambriento estoy, vengo y voy olfateando
tu aroma, como un perro, siguiéndote el rastro.
Buscando tu corazón, anheloso,
como un puma acechando a su presa.
Aún no consigo un bocado de ti,
haciendo de mi vida un ayuno.


Copyright © 2013 by Arturo Garcia.