Of Things Heavenly and Material

I've been spending a lot more time online than I ever cared to since I started this blog. If someone will ask me why, when I'm not even getting money from writing about stuff that probably nobody else cares about, the only answer I can give is that it makes my life, if not my pocket, richer. We hear people talk about works of passion. If you have found where yours lies, then you understand what I am saying.

Passion gives geniuses' works heart. I've written about this musical called The Last Five Years. I must admit I didn't quite get it the first time I listened to the entire piece, but when I really listened, I was completely blown away by the brilliance of its creator, Jason Robert Brown. This is one work so personal, so filled with emotions you feel you can almost touch them. Go on, research the guy if you like music and the theater.

One of his earlier works, written when he was but 25 years old, is a musical revue [a patchwork of songs often based on a theme, but without a strong story line: Source] called Songs for a New World. One particular song that I liked is Stars and the Moon (lyrics). It's about this girl who passed up opportunities to be with men who offer her stars and the moon because she was aiming for more earthbound treasures. It was not until she finally got what she thought she dreamed of that it dawned on her that, sometimes, we look too far and spread ourselves too thin to chase things which in the end would prove meaningless.

Here's a video of a performance by Audra McDonald, a four-time Tony Award winner, featuring JRB himself on the piano.