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fictionfromafar · 2 years

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Bad Kids by Zijin Chen

Bad Kids

By Zijin Chen

Translated by Michelle Deeter

Pushkin Vertigo

Publication Date: 4 August 2022

It may take some time for Chinese crime fiction to take a hold on readers in the way that authors from Japan have captivated many in the western world in recent years. Aside from Zhou Haohui who has had two novels from his Death Notice series and a standalone published in English, few have been translated, however this may change with Bad Kids by Zijin Chen. This intelligently written and multiple twisted story definitely deserves to receive the same attention. The story follows a key young character who becomes locked in a battle of wits with both a murderer he is blackmailing and the police. In 2020 a Chinese streaming television series televised adaption of the 2014 novel was premiered on iQiyi). Overseen by House of Cards screenwriter Joe Cacaci, it was immediately successful with The Beijing Times noting: how it raised “the standard of domestic suspense dramas” while director and actress Zhang Ziyi proclaimed "after watching American and British dramas for so many years, there is finally a "Chinese drama" whose quality can compete with them.” It also became a social media hit, in the first week it had garnered 1.12 billion topic posts on Weibo, and within 2 weeks of its release had trended on the site 50+ times.

From the outset of the novel there are indications that hint at why it captivated so many as we witness a young man Zhang take his elderly in-laws to a remote mountain location where he then pushes them offf a cliff in what he considers a perfect murder.

However the primary focus of the story is on Choayang, a teenager with a very modest lifestyle living in Ningbo, a small city not far from Shanghai. While he is a very able and studious pupil at his school who particularly relishes maths and reading, he finds there is little pleasure to be derived from the rest of his life. While he has a mother who loves him dearly, her work often takes him away from their family home for weeks at a time. By contrast to this he has a wealthy father, Zhu Yongping. Unfortunately for Choayang, he left his first wife early in his son’s life. Remarried Zhu Yongping is very much under the thumb of his new wife Wang Yao and rarely sees his son while doting on her younger half daughter Jingjing. Choayang like his mother is small in stature and we see him bullied by a girl in his school who is the daughter of police chief Yan. Indeed due to his academic success and apparent cold demeanour he only regularly speaks to one other member of his class. Naturally he gains the reader’s sympathy in the opening sequences of the book.

His life and indeed his character will unexpectedly change when visited by Ding Hao, a long lost friend from primary school and the boy’s female friend Pupu who arrive unannounced at his door. Having escaped from a children’s house in Beijing, the two are orphans who share troubled backgrounds. With his mother away, Choayang allows them to stay the night. Shortly afterwards the three teenagers are passing the time taking photos at a local beauty spot when they inadvertently capture Zhang’s actions. Later they decide rather than contacting the police the best outcome for them would be for them to contact the killer and request a large monetary amount from him. By lucky (or unlucky) coincidence he appears in Choayang’s neighbourhood and they approach him. Zhang is shocked that there is record of the crime he believed was perfect. He is clearly infuriated that these young people are attempting to blackmail him. While these premises would be enough for a cat and mouse game between Zhang and Choayang and his friends, there are further elements which weave a tight tapestry of suspense.

While Zhang has his own problems getting hold of money despite the death of his in-laws due to the suspicious of his wife, Choayang is emboldened with the support of his found friends. Unlike him, they have avoided being pushed around and when they hear about his unfair treatment from his father and hostility from his step mother and half-sister (whom they term big and little witch respectively). They convince him to look to put his half sibling in her place. This leads to an unexpected outcome for Choayang the implications of this both for him and his own development are crucial. Meanwhile Zhang has not finished plotting and it later becomes clear that Choayang and his friends could find other uses for him than simply blackmailing him for money.

There are so many unexpected events that develop in this story as police chief Yan is lead to work on two apparently separate cases. It’s only when the bodies continue to mount that some strange connections begin to emerge. Bad Girls is an absorbing and fascinating story for it’ portrayal of characters from different ages and social classes. Writing a story from the perspectives of younger characters can be a challenge yet I found the voices given to each was very convincing and I must also give great credit to translator Michelle Deeter. I believe this is the first novel I have written by Deeter who appears to focus more on business than literary translations but her work in this case certainly helped a story set in quite a different society feel quite familiar. Significantly the book also but it also superbly shows how attitudes to injustices and resulting behaviours can be passed and evolve from one person to another. While Ding Hao is initially cocky and Pupu uses her cunning, Choayang’s actions are inspired both as well as the deceptive behaviour of Zhang. This is taken in a direction that none of them would possibly imagine. The book is keen to mark the distinctions between the extremes that people will go to, their motivations demonstrating the differing morals and motivations of each. In Choayang’s case it does appear that he is far from the innocent and easily led school boy seen earlier in the story. Thus challenging the readers’ original opinions of him and by contrast the other characters.

Those who have enjoyed books by authors such Keigo Higashino, Un-Su Kim and the aforementioned Zhou Haohui should certainly be attracted to this story but I would state that Bad Kids deserves to receive the same adoration as publications by many of the other finest sleuth and mind-game writers from any era. While Bad Kids is clearly a standalone novel, I have discovered there was a previous novel by Chen called The Untouched Crime published by Amazon Crossing in 2016 which also received a serialisation on Chinese television. I will be certain to hunt this down soon and eagerly look forward to reading more future translations of Zijin Chen. Highly recommended.

#crime fiction #crimeintranslation #chinesecrimefiction

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thegreenroomstrive · 3 years

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Frank L Dattolo, a Queens, NYC native, is excited to collaborate with STRIVE! Frank’s theatre experiences, including multiple acting and directing roles with National Theatre of the Deaf, New York Deaf Theatre, and Interboro Repertory Theatre. As part of his work at NTD, he organized the World Wide Deaf Theatre Conference. In 2014, he portrayed Laurent Clerc in Carol Schneider’s NYC original production of MOVEMENT OF THE SOUL, along with Alexandria Wailes, and directed by Joe Cacaci. He is one of the founders of Senses Askew Company and A.C.O.R.N. Theatre Camp. Frank has also taped guided tours for Acoustiguide, available in museums along the East Coast: the National 9/11 Memorial Museum and Park, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, United Nations, Casa Loma in Toronto, and the National Gallery of Art in DC. He has served as ASL advisor to Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, and mentored students in theatrical interpreting with Julliard and the Theatre Development Fund, as well as for Hands On. Currently, Frank is High School Supervisor at Lexington School for the Deaf in Queens, NY and this year marks his 23rd year with the school. While at Lexington, he cut: couldn’t help himself but directed high school productions of MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, OUR TOWN, GLASS MENAGERIE, and an original parable pantomime play, titled QUEST. He was honored to conceive and direct RED, WHITE, and BLUE, a tribute to Ralph and Ricky Lauren. When his schedule allows him to work in theatre, he seizes the day!

Alexandria Wailes received a 2020 Obie Citation for Sustained Excellence as an Artist and Advocate. She received a Lucille Lortel nomination for Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play For Colored Girls at The Public. Broadway: Deaf West’s Spring Awakening, Big River (Tony Honoree for Ensemble). Off Broadway: Playwright Horizon’s I Was Most Alive with You, A Kind Of Alaska. Film: ‘The Hyperglot’; TV: ‘Law & Order: Criminal Intent’, ‘High Maintenance’, ‘Little America’, ‘Nurse Jackie’. As Director of Artistic Sign Language: the revival of Broadway’s Children Of A Lesser God and King Lear; TV/Film: This Close S. 1 & 2; Quantico S.3; A Quiet Place 1 & 2; Wonderstruck. Ms. Wailes advised ASL interpreted teams for Hands On and TDF on numerous Broadway shows. Works as an educator for The Jewish Museum, the Whitney & LES Tenement museum, conducting ASL tours. Alexandria Wailes was a company member of Heidi Latsky Dance and is now a member of Forest of Arden. She is also a co-founder of BHo5.org. Proud member of AEA, SAG-AFTRA and SDC. www.alexandriawailes.com

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tmnotizie · 7 years

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SAN BENEDETTO – Fine settimana da brivid a Roccaraso per i Campionati Italiani Federali di Pattinaggio Artistico a Rotelle della Categoria Allievi. Mentre a San Benedetto del Tronto si consumava il grande caldo all’interno del Palasport “G. Bolino” di Roccaraso, addobbato per i grandi eventi, numerose sono state le emozioni.

Sabato 24 giugno si inizia con lo short program delle Coppie Artistico in cui le difficoltà sono obbligate e l’esecuzione deve essere perfetta. Kevin Bovara (Diavoli Verde Rosa) e Matilde Matteucci (Conero Roller) sono gli ultimi a scendere in pista. Eseguono uno short impeccabile e chiudono la gara al primo posto. L’indomani ci sarà il Programma Lungo; le atre coppie sono agguerrite e vogliono recuperare.

Alle 19.45 è la volta dello Short Program della Categoria Allievi B Maschile. Kevin Bovara è il secondo a scendere in pista. Esegue un programma senza errori con le massime difficoltà consentite. Il punteggio è stratosferico sia nelle difficoltà che nello stile. E’ primo con un bel vantaggio sul secondo. Si chiude così la prima giornata.

Al mattino di domenica 25 giugno si svolgono i prova pista. Kevin e Matilde pattinano magistralmente sulle note del “Barbiere di Siviglia”; esecuzione impeccabile, punteggio più alto di tutti.. sono Campioni Italiani di Categoria. E’ la prima volta che la Diavoli Verde Rosa vince un titolo italiano di categoria in questa specialità. Infatti si è aggiudicata un titolo Europeo con la coppia formata da Alessandro Fratalocchi e Arianna Di Damiano nel 2011 nella categoria Seniores ma mai prima d’ora un titolo italiano.

Alle 20 è la volta del programma lungo della categoria Allievi B Maschile. Il programma di Kevin Bovara bellissimo e coinvolgente. Ottima la coreografia realizzata da Laura Marzocchini sulle note di Cotton Eye Joe. L’alfiere della Diavoli Verde Rosa vince così il suo secondo titolo della giornata e questa volta nel singolo (esercizi liberi), portando a casa anche l’argento nella combinata(dove si sommano i risultati degli esercizi obbligatori e dei liberi). “Che bottino. Era dagli anni della corsa (allora eravamo i Diavoli Rosso Blu) -esclama Rosa Bovara- che non facevamo una simile incetta di titoli con gli atleti storici Vesperini, Cacaci, Palestini.”

Alessandro Fratalocchi è ormai alla fine della sua carriera sportiva. Quest’anno pareciperà ai Campionati Italiani Federali della categoria Seniores con una nuova partner, Gaia Calisti, a Ponte di Legno con l’obiettivo di conseguire una convocazione in Nazionale ma sta passando il testimone a Kevin Bovara che, il prossimo anno sarà Cadetto e potrà partecipare a gare internazionali. Un plauso va al tecnico Ivan Bovara e a Laura Marzocchini, allenatrice della Conero Roller di Ancona nonché Pluricampionessa Mondiale di Coppia.

“La collaborazione tra società -commenta la presidente della Diavoli Verde Rosa Anna Maria Laghi- è essenziale soprattutto nelle coppie. Dietro a questo successo ovviamente ci sono due talentuosi atleti, tanto lavoro, e dei genitori disposti al sacrificio che hanno portato i loro figli agli allenamenti nei palazzetti di Campofilone e Osimo con costanza tutte le settimane da circa due anni confidando nella professionalità dei tecnici Ivan Bovara e Laura Marzocchini. Il sogno è quello di crescere ancora sotto il profilo tecnico e umano e rappresentare il prossimo anno l’Italia in una competizione internazionale”.

The post Parttinaggio Artistico: Kevin Bovara vince due titoli italiani a Roccaraso appeared first on TM notizie - ultime notizie di OGGI, cronaca, sport.

#Marche #TMNotizie

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berkshirefilm-blog · 12 years

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This past weekend Treat Williams visited the Berkshires to star in a short film entitled HALFTIME. This comedic production is about a basketball team, the Chickadees, whose coach gives a half-time pep-talk that goes seriously awry.

We want to thank John Whalan/Black Ice Entertainment and Joe Cacaci/Berkshire Playwrights Lab for producing and directing, and Richard Dresser for writing the story in just three days.

Learn more about the shoot in the Berkshire Eagle article: http://www.berkshireeagle.com/ci_22422243/berkshire-school-students-star-short-film-treat-williams

#Treat Williams #Halftime #Richard Dresser #John Whalan #Joe Cacaci #Berkshire Film and Media Commission #BFMC #Berkshire FIlm #Short Film

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larryland · 5 years

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Berkshire Voices Presents a Directed Reading of "I Am, You Are, We Were"

Berkshire Voices Presents a Directed Reading of “I Am, You Are, We Were”

A directed reading of a new full-length play I AM, YOU ARE, WE WERE

Written by Jane Denitz Smith Directed by Joe Cacaci

Sunday, January 26 7 pm

Saint James Place, 352 Main Street, Great Barrington, MA (Berkshire Voices/Berkshire Playwrights Lab)

Reservations recommended–space is limited!

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#Berkshire Playwrights Lab #Berkshire Voices #Great Barrington MA #I Am You Are We Were #Jane Denitz Smith #Joe Cacaci #Saint James Place

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larryland · 7 years

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by Macey Levin

Berkshire Playwrights Lab (BPL), based in Great Barrington, MA was founded ten years ago by theatre professionals Joe Cacaci, Jim Frangione, and Matthew Penn with the intent to nurture playwrights and their new works by presenting staged readings several times each summer. Originally based at the Mahaiwe Theatre, they are now in residence at the new performing arts center St. James Place. They have presented over 40 readings including James Anthony Tyler’s Some Old Black Man which is now receiving BPL’s first fully staged production. It is an auspicious beginning after a rocky rehearsal period.

Just before rehearsals began Tony Award winner (Joe Turner’s Come and Gone) Roger Robinson had to drop out because of his role in the TV series How to Commit a Murder was to start filming. He was replaced by Adolphus Ward who suffered severe heart issues three weeks ago and is still convalescing. Fortunately, Robinson’s schedule was changed and he was available to resume the role of Donald. It was announced at the opening performance that as a safety factor he may occasionally refer to a script. Though he did, it was not a disturbing element in this taut and insightful production.

Roger Robinson is Donald

Leon Addison Brown is Calvin.

Director Joe Cacaci.

Playwright James Anthony Tyler.

NYU professor Calvin Jones (Leon Addison Brown) has brought his 82-year-old father Donald (Robinson) from Greenwald, Mississippi, to his penthouse apartment in Harlem. What starts as a minor tiff over an old afghan the elderly man wants to drape over Calvin’s contemporary stylish sofa evolves into a battle of wills covering breakfast, photos on the piano and life-altering decisions. Father and son are very very different people with difficult personalities. Donald is cantankerous and prone to mercurial emotional changes while his son is precise, orderly and restrained. They never learned how to communicate. Each accuses the other of years of not listening and not being appreciated or respected. Not until Donald enters painful ground does Calvin reveal the hurt he has suffered at his father’s hands.

This comes out in the context of cross accusations reflecting old disagreements. When Calvin was a skinny six year old he was challenged by a strapping kid three years older. He ran away for which his father has often criticized him. Donald has taken it as a personal affront that his son didn’t follow in his footsteps and stayed in Mississippi doing manual labor as opposed to striving for a different, better, life. The greatest conflict arose when Calvin married Theresa, a white woman now deceased, with whom he had a son. Donald, a victim of Jim Crow and the unwritten prejudice of Mississippi’s social culture, felt betrayed and insulted by the marriage and has never forgiven his son.

Leon Addison Brown (Calvin) and Roger Robinson (Donald) in James Anthony Tyler’s “Some Old Black Man,” directed by Joe Cacaci, presented by Berkshire Playwrights Lab at St. James Place.

Though the play is about African-American culture, the same story could have been written about Indian or Jewish or Catholic families. The universality of the problems and conflicts inherent in familial relations personalizes the play. Given the fact that we are all involved in familial structures of one kind or another and that we are simply human beings is enough to involve ourselves in both conflict and devotion. Ethnicity has nothing to do with experiencing human reactions. This seems to be playwright Tyler’s firm statement.

Some Old Black Man is beautifully written; however, the first fifteen minutes or so are jammed with expository material. As the characters reveal the causes of their anguish we are drawn into the drama of their lives. The occasional unwilling tolerance of each other adds contrast and texture to the profound pain they feel. The contrasting speech patterns and vocabulary Tyler utilizes further displays the difference between the two men’s life experiences and place on the societal ladder.

The acting is both subtle and dynamic. Brown’s early self-control in face of his father’s contentious attitude belies the wrath he is repressing; even when it comes to the fore it is still measured but obviously issued from deep pain. Early on he tries to be gracious while withholding his testiness at Donald’s slights and criticisms. The old man is a character shaped by the indignities of his early years. Robinson makes him unsympathetic and charming at the same time he is berating Calvin or defending his combative remarks. He has a number of hilarious lines that ease the tension for the audience. Though he referred to the script the performance is convincing and solid.

Director Joe Cacaci keeps the pace of the show moving with little wasted time as his actors have created a relationship that is familiar in its verisimilitude. Carl Sprague’s multi-layered but simple set is realistic and suggests a fashionable upper middle class residence. Matthew Adelson’s lights enhance the emotional evolution of the relationship. The effectiveness of this production is that the audience was rapt as they watched this touching portrayal of two men in the throes of a love/hate existence.

Berkshire Playwrights Lab presents Some Old Black Man by James Anthony Tyler, Directed by Joe Cacaci. Cast: Leon Addison Brown (Calvin) Roger Robinson (Donald); Scene design: Carl Sprague; Costume design: Stella Giulietta Schwartz; Lighting design: Matthew Adelson; Stage Manager: Norman Anthony Small; Running Time: 90 minutes, no intermission; Saint James Place, 352 Main St., Great Barrington, MA; From 8/12/17 closing 8/27/17

Opening: August 12, 8:00pm, Performance and Reception ($55). August 13-27 ($30-35) – Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm; Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3 pm. Click HERE to buy tickets, or call (413) 528-2544.

REVIEW: “Some Old Black Man” at Berkshire Playwrights Lab by Macey Levin Berkshire Playwrights Lab (BPL), based in Great Barrington, MA was founded ten years ago by theatre professionals Joe Cacaci, Jim Frangione, and Matthew Penn with the intent to nurture playwrights and their new works by presenting staged readings several times each summer.

#Adolphus Ward #Berkshire Playwrights Lab #BPL #Carl Sprague #Great Barrington MA #James Anthony Tyler #Jim Frangione #Joe Cacaci #Leon Addison Brown #Macey Levin #Matthew Adelson #Matthew Penn #Norman Anthony Small #Roger Robinson #Some Old Black man #St. James Place #Stella Giulietta Schwartz

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