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Thursday, December 14. 2017

A Christmas present idea, if you are anywhere around NYC

Tickets for a performance of Shadowlands at the Acorn Theater.


We saw it last night with friends. The acting is top-notch. Many of us know the story of CS Lewis' late-age romance with a younger brash NYC Jewish woman Joy Davidman, the story of her subsequent death from cancer, and, especially, the story of how Joy led Lewis from the safe, emotionally-cloistered cocoon life of a timid Oxford don, and unleashed his soul and spirit.


BTW, we are fans of the West Bank Cafe down there on the west end of the theater district. Comfortable, decent food.

Posted by Bird Dog at 13:19 | Comments (6) | Trackbacks (0)

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The popular opinion among Lewis fans, and the script of "Shadowlands" oversells the picture of Lewis as part of an all-male environment with little contact with females until Joy broke upon the scene. He lived for decades with Mrs. Moore and her daughter Maureen, first in something of a romantic, matrimonial relationship, which gradually changed into more of a mother-son (and not happy) relationship. An odd relationship, certainly, but not isolated from women.

The emphasis on Lewis as a bachelor was something he encouraged, as the relationship was largely secret. It is also brought out now as a disqualifier for anything he says about women which is not in accordance with current fashion. It is convenient for moderns to pretend he knew nothing about women and was writing in ignorance.
#1 Assistant Village Idiot (Link) on 2017-12-14 15:07 (Reply)
Yes, I think so. Still, the theme of the story remains, I think.
#1.1 Bird Dog on 2017-12-14 15:45 (Reply)
What it lacks in biographical fidelity it makes up for in dramatic impact. I love the Anthony Hopkins movie version. Years ago I saw a TV version with Claire Bloom, also very fine.
#1.2 Texan99 on 2017-12-15 14:31 (Reply)
"how Joy led Lewis from the safe, emotionally-cloistered cocoon life of a timid Oxford don, and unleashed his soul and spirit"

What absolute nonsense. True, that is the theme of Shadowlands, but it is false and a defamatory infantilizing of Lewis designed to undermine his life and work. The adult, Christian Lewis was never timid (his debate opponents would tell you otherwise), knew heartache, pain and anguish long before he met Joy (e.g., death of his mother at age 9, death of his close friend and half his generation in WWI), had turned that pain into joy (read his autobiography--the "Joy" in the title does NOT refer to his wife), and who had already written his best apologetics and most of his fiction by the time he met her. Anyone who sees Shadowlands as a sympathetic or honest look at Lewis doesn't know his story. The only reason Shadowlands is not a complete abomination is that Lewis, despite the author's best effort, transcends the hit job.
#2 Lee Steven on 2017-12-14 16:27 (Reply)
Smacked down twice.

All I can say now is that it is a darn good play with superb actors.
#2.1 Bird Dog on 2017-12-14 16:36 (Reply)
It might be. And might be valuable. I think it is an oversell, not a falsehood.
#3 Assistant Village Idiot (Link) on 2017-12-14 17:00 (Reply)

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