Written on Friday, April 21st, 2006 at 10:21am by Christopher Smith | 8 Comments

Mary's Night On The Town

Normally, I don’t post about theater or dance…I tend to stick with what I know best; politics, technology, sports, humor, satire, and general kvetching.

With that in mind, I read Mary Kunz Goldman’s review of “Movin’ Out” this morning and a little part of me died.

Why? Because they have allowed Mary to spread her seeds of ignorance in an arts column. The trite product of her writing efforts are like creeping ivy…you don’t really want it around your house and you spend a lot of time trying to kill it off. Somehow, it always returns in spite of your best efforts. I’m beginning to believe that the efforts of the Buffalo Blogosphere to rid our area of the Goldman journalistic parasite are sisyphean in nature.

What stunned me about this particular pile of idiotic drivel?

Tharp, as a dance teacher friend of mine points out, deals a lot in different levels. You’re up, then you’re down. Pick the ballerina up, lift her high, throw her on the floor, lift her up again, turn her around and around, upside down, right side up. Jump down, turn around. It’s incredibly challenging, and it never lets up. By the end of the night, these poor dancers have to be feeling beat up.

Sure, the show got a standing ovation. But along the way, applause was sparse and tepid. It’s a shame, because Joel and Tharp, at least on paper, make a good team. With a little more thought, this show probably could have been great. As it was, it was a simple good time along the lines of “Mamma Mia,” the hit tribute to Abba – except it was, I’m afraid, a bit more pretentious. Forgive me for saying so. Honesty is such a lonely word.

First of all, she doesn’t know shit about Twyla Tharp nor does she demonstrate any semblance of understanding about the finer points of theater and modern dance. Reading her review of an artistic event is akin to watching a monkey act as a judge in a wine tasting contest.

I’ll let Mrs. Geek, professional dancer, take it from here:

Art, specifically in the form of Dance, is not something that is given to an audience in a simplistic form. As a dancer and choreographer, I presume that the audience is intelligent and capable of comprehending the complexities of the movement I put before them.

I studied under Twyla Tharp and I can unequivocally say that she is a true pioneer in creating beautiful, challenging movement; not only for the dancer but for the viewer as well.

I just don’t believe that Mary Kunz Goldman has any comprehension of this art form and I am upset that The Buffalo News allows her ignorance to spread throughout our community like the plague.

The News should be challenging its readers to take in something different, innovative, exciting and truly remarkable. Perhaps this narrow focus on what makes “quality art” and the opinions of ignorant twits like MKG is why we see a steady stream of mass market musicals like “Annie” come our way rather than challenging dance compositions from modern masters.

Is that really all we are able to comprehend and appreciate on the stages of Buffalo?

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8 Comments

  1. RandomThoughts101 says:
    April 21, 2006 at 10:26 am

    Poor Mary Kunz Goldman. Ever since she got married, changed her name and got her own column in The News she’s been getting hammered left and right.

    And rightfully so. Her “stuff” in The News is of poor quality, at least in my opinion and in the minds of many other people I talk to who read The News.

  2. pauldub says:
    April 21, 2006 at 10:51 am

    “Honesty is such a lonely word” I HONESTLY can’t believe those clowns let her off the leash so she could spread her drivel in an arts column, like my dog spreads his shit all over the yard. Let her cover the Sesame street shows if they want. More her speed.

  3. Christina Abt says:
    April 21, 2006 at 10:57 am

    Think it’s time for Mrs. Geek to get her own blog…You go girl…

    Movin’ Out is one of the best theatrical experiences to come down the Broadway pike in many a year. And the fact that MKG could not appreciate that fact was disappointing to me personally, and definitely did not encourage anyone to share their hard earned dollars with Shea’s.

    What I find more disconcerting than this review is the fact that MKG has BECOME the Buffalo News. She writes a column, the Buz dribble and numerous arts/theater reviews. Seems to me as if the only thing left is sports and the personals. (please God, no!!!)

    For years I have suggested to the News that there are a wealth of writers in this town who would be terrific additions to their publication and would gladly scribe for them at a reasonable cost (read here: Yours truly) always to no avail.

    At least with Ms. Goldman they are featuring a local woman with local opinions and ideals, and that is progress over their most annoying tradition of running syndicated retreads.

    However, I do think the News would be well served to spread the work around a little more and allow some fresh blood onto their pages. I know there are union issues to consider, and of course the almighty bottom line. But what about the reputation of the paper? Doesn’t that count?

    Sign me pen in hand waiting for my big break…..

  4. pauldub says:
    April 21, 2006 at 11:15 am

    IF reputation meant something to them they would have canned her long ago

  5. BuffaloSalesman says:
    April 21, 2006 at 4:02 pm

    The efforts of both you and Pundit to destroy this woman never cease to amuse me. Don’t get me wrong, she’s an ignorant and annoying columnist but you guys are administering a year long beatdown on this poor bitch.

  6. BuffaloPundit says:
    April 21, 2006 at 9:18 pm

    She’s the “fresh young voice” of the News; the only paper in town. We deserve better quality commentary than hers.

    Her columns have the logic, insight and gravitas of most throwaway blog posts.

  7. Mark says:
    December 7, 2006 at 9:05 pm

    Back in the 80’s I knew Mary Kunz (Goldman) when she was a student at UB.
    Funny thing is (and maybe this is because I’m attempting to e-mail from a public library facility in American samoa), I tried to send her an e-mail via her listed Buffalo News e-mail address off the Buffalo News website, and it bouncced back at me.

 

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