Literature | The Hanslick Girls

January 1, 2018

Keeping The Flame: Book-It Repertory’s “Howl’s Moving Castle, A New Musical”

Meet the Hanslick Girls: Gwen, Eleanor and Dania. Created by writer Zach Barr, they are a trio of friends who are always out experiencing the best of entertainment. Be it plays, films, concerts, exhibits, or games, they’ve learned that the arts are best when experienced together. They may not have the same opinions, but their conversations tend to make for an entertaining read. This week, the Hanslick Girls discuss a new musical adaptation of a children’s book, and attempt not to mention the other adaptation of it. Let’s hear what they had to say…

Eleanor stood first, before the crowd did. She was accustomed to the Seattle trend – standing ovations were more common here than in Chicago. The applause rattled the dark walls of the Center Theatre, the wide-thrust space where Book-It Rep made their home. Dania and Gwen clapped politely, eventually joining Eleanor at their feet when the rising crowd began to block their view of the actors.

“I feel like I need to go read the book now,” Dania said, grabbing her coat. “There was a lot I didn’t remember before.” Continue Reading

December 4, 2017

On Color Backgrounds: Ezra Jack Keats’ “The Snowy Day”

Meet the Hanslick Girls: Gwen, Eleanor and Dania. Created by writer Zach Barr, they are a trio of friends who are always out experiencing the best of entertainment. Be it plays, films, concerts, exhibits, or games, they’ve learned that the arts are best when experienced together. They may not have the same opinions, but their conversations tend to make for an entertaining read. To kick off the Christmas Season, the girls discuss a children’s book from 1962, as well as a recent adaptation of it. Let’s hear what they had to say…

It was finally December, and Dania was curled up in the corner of the couch – her blanket tucked under her feet and a book open across her lap. She glanced up at the window, hoping to see snow falling. Nothing yet, she thought, but there were still thirty days until the New Year.

She turned the page. A blue wedge of sky cut through the pinkish snow, drawing attention to the two figures, in red and brown, walking together towards the horizon. All around the paper-cutout illustrations, snowflakes had been stamped over the scene – blue and peach, distinct against the background. She read the final line, though she could have recited it: “…and they went out together into the deep, deep snow.”

November 27, 2017

Growing Without Reserve: Louise Erdrich’s “The Round House”

Meet the Hanslick Girls: Gwen, Eleanor and Dania. Created by writer Zach Barr, they are a trio of friends who are always out experiencing the best of entertainment. Be it plays, films, concerts, exhibits, or games, they’ve learned that the arts are best when experienced together. They may not have the same opinions, but their conversations tend to make for an entertaining read. As the Thanksgiving season fades away, the Girls discuss a Native American story of revenge and maturity. Let’s listen in on their conversation…

“Thanks for the recommendation.”

“Huh?”

Eleanor looked up. Gwen stood, holding out a dog-eared copy of The Round House.

“Oh!” Eleanor said, sitting up. “You read it!”

October 2, 2017

Take My Word: “LeVar Burton Reads”

Meet the Hanslick Girls: Gwen, Eleanor and Dania. Created by writer Zach Barr, they are a trio of friends who are always out experiencing the best of entertainment. Be it plays, films, concerts, exhibits, or games, they’ve learned that the arts are best when experienced together. They may not have the same opinions, but their conversations tend to make for an entertaining read. Recently, the Girls rediscovered the magic of LeVar Burton’s voice, returning from his Reading Rainbow days, on a brand new podcast. Let’s listen in on their conversation…

Gwen liked to listen to music while she cooked. Usually, it was slow, casual music, the kind that she could describe as “floating” through the air, complementing the scent of the food. Musicals, she often said, were ideal.

So she was initially dismissive when Eleanor and Dania both, independently, suggested she listen to a podcast instead. Gwen loved podcasts, certainly, but preferred to cook to music that she could acknowledge distantly. Podcasts required your attention to be undivided – or, at least, less divided than she could give while cooking. But both her flatmates insisted that LeVar Burton Reads was still ideal.

Category / Literature