One of my favorite parts of the week, though, was something somewhat unrelated to my actual job. It was the independence of living in a different city, in an apartment and not at home with my parents or even in a dorm. I went to work, then went out and did whatever I wanted for a while before going back to the apartment. I didn't really answer to anyone, and I kind of got to make my own rules and be the only one responsible for me. And it was nice. I mean, I love my folks and all, but I'm ready to be out from under their roof. I'm ready to make my own way. It's gonna be good, I can tell.
And how was living with Sara's boyfriend for a week, you might wonder? Well, definitely more fun and less awkward than I would've imagined. He introduced me to some...interesting...tv shows, we had private conversations that Sara will never know about (hahahahha), and we got along very well (except for when he compared Enjolras to Hitler, and then I revoked my approval of his relationship with Sara and his very existence, really). It was a good time, and I'm grateful that he was kind enough to let me stay...despite some of his ridiculous opinions. :P
The day I got back from Louisville, I began rehearsals for The Giver, and it's been a lot of fun so far. The kids in the play are really adorable, and they're better actors than I am, probably. By the way, you should all come see the performance. It'll be the 21st and 22nd of October.
Ooh, and speaking of children, I got to hang out with British children (and their parents) this evening! Our friends Suzanne and Daniel, along with their three awesome sons, are visiting from England, and they're pretty much the most fun people ever. Jill and I have both decided that they're our role models, and for good reason! They're energetic, fun, and godly people. They have jobs; they have kids; and they make plenty of time to travel. They kind of have it all going for them. :)
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So, it's been a pretty good month so far: movies, theatre, British people...really all the best things in life. But life wouldn't be complete without binge-watching something on the internet, so now I'm going to ramble about my most recent entertainment kick: webseries adaptations of classic literature! We all know and love The Lizzie Bennet Diaries, and chances are you guys have also seen Pemberley Digital's other Jane Austen adaptations, Welcome to Sanditon and Emma Approved (which I still need to finish). But I'm not sure how familiar you are with other webseries adaptations. I certainly had no idea there were so many until I dived into them this week.
One I already knew about and have watched some of is The Autobiography of Jane Eyre. I haven't caught up with it yet, but since Jane Eyre is one of my all-time favorite books, I intend to continue watching the webseries. The overall look and production value doesn't quite measure up to the aesthetic of LBD, but it's still interesting to see a modern take on the story. And there are other adaptations that offer even more surprising takes on classic works. Sure, Austen and Bronte can be modernized and vlogged, but Shelley? Yep, Frankenstein M.D. is Pemberley Digital's newest creation, and for me, the verdict is still out on whether this series will be a monster or a masterpiece. The thought of Frankenstein as a vlog would be quite odd, and I guess Pemberley execs agreed, seeing as this series moves away from the traditional vlog style toward the realm of educational videos. It's a style that seems to work fairly well for now, and time will tell whether it all holds up once things take a turn for the undead.
Another unconventional series is The New Adventures of Peter and Wendy, based on J.M. Barrie's Peter Pan. It depicts the beloved characters as late-twenty-somethings who are still trying to figure out life, love, and growing up. From what I've seen so far, it's quirky and fun, and a bit nonsensical at times. The look is great, very professional, and there are some recognizable faces in the cast, like Kyle Walters, who you'll recognize if you watched Welcome to Sanditon, and Brennan Murray, who you'll swear you know from somewhere but won't be able to place.
The next two on my list are tales from the Bard himself. That's right! College students have been adapting some Shakespeare! If you're a fan of Much Ado About Nothing, you'll want to check out Nothing Much to Do, a vlog series complete with the fun of New Zealand accents! I haven't started binge-watching this one yet, but the fact that it was made by Kiwis can only help, right? The one I have watched (straight through in one night) is Jules and Monty, a college adaptation of Romeo and Juliet which replaces feuding families with feuding fraternities. And I know what you're thinking: Romeo and Juliet were stupid teenagers and no one really cares about their so-called love story. I know. Romeo and Juliet is the one everyone's read, but it's no one's favorite, and none of the adaptations I've seen--from the one with the Zac Efron look-alike to the newest movie with the True Grit girl--have made me actually care about the story that much. But this one did. A low-budget webseries produced completely by students at Tufts University captured my attention, and maybe it'll capture yours, too. It's not perfect, but it's absorbing, and it's interesting when they throw in whole passages from the original text alongside the modern dialogue. And honestly, this is what encourages me: university students creating something unique, fun, and smart; taking the trend set by professionals like Pemberley Digital and making something similar while at the same time making it their own. I'd say it's worth a watch.
Okay, just one more for good measure: A Tell Tale Vlog by Shipwrecked. It's less of a direct adaptation, but if you want to see what would happen if Edgar Allan Poe were a vlogger, go check it out. He's awkward, it's funny, and Shipwrecked is a cool channel that could use more recognition.
So what about you guys? Have you seen any of these adaptations? If so, what did you think? If not, which ones do you think you might check out? Are there any I've missed that I need to add to my list? And what classic books or plays do you think would make great webseries adaptations? Let me know in the comments!
--ABG