Deborah Greenhut - Dance documentarian and cultural studies writer.
Daniella and Naila Scripting - The Arts EffectPeer pressure. Eating disorders. Cutting—Skin or school? Sex, drugs, and music. Am I gay? Boys? Friends? OMG, welcome to the world of adolescent girls, as depicted by Facebook Me: The Play, an official selection of the 2011 New York International Fringe Festival. Parents can learn a lot from this autobiographical ensemble effort.
Everybody's Talking About MeIf you are out of the loop, what’s different about living your life out loud on Facebook (FB) is the immediacy of global exposure. That old hyperbole “everyone knows,” is no longer an exaggeration. Coercion and bullying are accomplished with a few keystrokes, and the moral compass has no true north. We’re all connected, but how do you know whom to trust?
Even if you are old enough to be avoiding FB, it may come as a surprise that the lives of teenaged girls haven't changed much since the time of FB creator Mark Zuckerberg's great great grandmother. In this play you hear from the smart girls; in fact, most of the cast and creators currently attend many of New York and Connecticut’s toniest prep schools. They get 97s on their science projects, but the older they get, the less certain they are about relationships even if they can afford the best, and most revealing clothes. The girls are smart enough to know that Zuckerberg’s idea for Facebook derived from his own catty system for rating girls’ hotness, but at the same time they are powerless against that same rating system as it humiliates them on Facebook.
Keep Your Friends Close--If You Can Figure Out Who They AreThe script of Facebook Me captures the poignant irony that the younger the girl, the more likely she is to want to preserve her individuality. As Sarah (played by Danielle Stefania) plans to post a profile picture wearing a rhinestone tiara, her geeky image is vetoed by a more experienced, er, friend, Stella (Eliza Price). Sarah questions the shallowness of Facebook “friending,” but Stella prevails. Parents exist only by implication in this play, phoning in to reassert curfews or other intrusive rules or, horrifyingly, to humiliate daughters like Penny (Fiona McSweeney-Glynn) by describing their daughters’ childish temper tantrums in their, um, status. Whatever happened to the boundaries?
High-End Production Values and Talented CastCompany Creators, teens Danielle Cohen, Rachel Covey, and Julia McDermott have rendered a world that forces the audience to think. The ten member cast also includes Winnifred Bonjean-Alpart, Alexa Caban, Vikku Eugenis, Sophie Hearn, Kendra Jain, Naila Perez-Stringari, and India Witkin, many of whom participated in last year’s Keep Your Eyes Open, also produced by Arts Effect, which won the 2008 FringeNYC Most Outstanding Ensemble Award.
Production values are high with many talented professionals contributing to the high-end mise-en-scene, which includes projections and film. The uniset depicts many conventional teen environments, and is ably Stage Managed by Danielle O’Dea. The team includes Jeremi Chenier (Graphic Designer), Starlet Jacobs (Set Designer), Gemma Kaneko (Lighting Designer), and Grant McDonals (Media Designer). TheArts Effect Directors, Katie Cappiello and Meg McInerney, were also assisted by Lauren Viola and Jamie Wolfe.
What I Did on My Summer VacationArt imitates life in some deliciously ironic ways in this play; of particular note is the meta-message of some girls deliberately texting from their phones offstage while waiting at the sides to make an entrance. It makes you nostalgic for a time when light ushered in the mellowest of feelings and positive connections instead of distracting us from where we are walking. One thing is for certain the All Girl Theater Company participants have a powerful something else going for them beyond the glow of LED screens. Their back-to-school essays won’t be boring after this stand-up effort at the New York City Fringe. What about the girls who aren’t so lucky to have these artistic alternatives?
Katie Cappiello and Meg McInerney, the adults behind The Arts Effect, have nurtured this dramatic creation through their organization, developing a 10-girl ensemble of the All-Girl Theater Company. The world of Cyndi Lauper’s winking anthem, “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” is a mere touch screen away from the advanced sexual fantasies of Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream.” Six million girls are vulnerable, and The Arts Effect has found a way to insist we consider their fates.
Buck the Trend: Think for Yourself if You CanHow did the audience respond? While waiting in line to enter the theater, mothers could be overheard coaching their daughters about how to judge the play: “You don’t have to like it. Daddy said he didn’t,” said one. Judging from the applause and the standing ovation at the end, that was like waving a red flag at a bull, if she meant “like” in the FB sense of the word. The play is anything but warm and fuzzy. It’s, like, much more “real,” and we should pay attention to where it nettles.
Parents cannot afford to ignore the consequences of their daughters' media exposure, and many would do well to think about the presentation of their own "faces" on the Internet. Girls--and boys--take away lessons from the way the adults behave. If you find yourself trying to reach your child and she fails to friend you, get worried. Unplug yourselves and communicate in person. There's no better antidote for cyber victimization.
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Related Articles Facebook Cyber-Bullying Alert System: Know Diss Empowers ParentsWilliam Reed - With a B.A. in Communications and an intense love of LEGO, Will journeys forth to share and educate others about LEGO.
The Batmobile and the Two-Face Chase, LEGO Super Heroes Set #6864 - Sarah ReedWhen people hear Batman and vehicle, the first thing in most people’s minds is the Batmobile. Therefore, it is only fitting that with the release of the LEGO DC Super Heroes sets that one should have this iconic car.
Long time fans may consider this set a re-issue from the past LEGO Batman line. Of course, fans who missed out will not care what long- time fans have to say. Either way, fans of all types will have a second chance at this great set.
Building The Batmobile and the Two-Face Chase, a LEGO Super Heroes SetThis set is divided up into three sections. The first section has you putting together the Batmobile and Batman. If you pay attention closely, you may notice you are not putting all the minifigures together in the very first pages of the instructions. Rather, you are only assembling the minifigure that fits with the appropriate structure. This makes it much easier to split the set up into separate pieces.
After assembling Batman and his car, you’ll move on to Two-Face and his two henchmen. They are driving around in a modified tow truck. It is colored to match the villain. In this case, half orange and the other half purple. Batman buffs will probably recognize this coloring of Two-Face as one of his less common color choices. His usual colors are black and white, but he has used these colors in the comics before.
The final structure is the bank that will be robbed. It has a guard with a safe and a little help desk for those who are legitimate customers. It is designed in the half build playset style LEGO uses on a variety of occasions.
From a stylistic point of view, all the lines of the vehicles and building are exquisitely done. The curves on the Batmobile match that car’s sophisticated body frame. The monstrous Two-Face vehicle has a remarkable attention to color usage in creating the vehicle without losing structural integrity. And lastly, the bank uses very simple piece choices to have strong features that tell you, in no uncertain terms, that it is a bank. All in all, this is some extraordinary model work.
Playing with The Batmobile and the Two-Face Chase, a LEGO Super Heroes SetTypically, when you have a high degree of detail you lose something on the play end. These design choices tend to not be able to stand up to the rigors of play. In this set, there is a major exception.
Each model is built solidly. In addition, they all feature play elements that look and feel exciting. Both vehicles have the ability to shoot missiles. The tow truck even has the ability to move the missiles and mini gun away from the body of the vehicle for better access to play while still looking good.
The Batmobile, on the other hand, has a fixed missile launcher, but you have some additional fun just putting Batman in the Batmobile. It’s always exciting when LEGO creates a cool cockpit on a vehicle.
The tow truck has a clear place to put two of the criminals. There is one driver’s seat and a place for someone to operate the crane in back. The third villain is left to either walk or perch somewhere on the vehicle. In practice, that third criminal is most likely helping the crane operator maneuver the fully articulating crane.
Once you get to the bank, you will be ready to use that extra hand. First, the dynamite can be connected to the side of the building or placed in front. Then turn the handle on the side of the building and the windows bust out. Finally, connect the crane’s hook to the top of the safe and drive away.
The safe itself is a marvelous design. The wheel and combination lock on the front door really turn. They don’t really lock though. The door is mounted to some hinges and when opened, reveals the stacks of cash. And what really takes the cake is you don’t even have to use the bank as an action scene. If you prefer, place it in the middle of a city landscape and it’ll fit right in.
Interesting Parts of The Batmobile and the Two-Face Chase, a LEGO Super Heroes SetThis set is packed with great pieces. The stickers give you a nice hood for the Batmobile, bolts on the safe, and money symbols on the windows just to name a few. This does not include the special shape wing pieces on the Batmobile or the numerous slopes that make up the Batmobile.
You continue the goodness with great orange and purple options in the Two-Face vehicle and the variety of hinges that make it function as well as it does. And this doesn’t even include the more mundane pieces.
When you finally get to the basic elements, you’ll find a long one-by-sixteen brick, a nice assortment of log bricks, gold cones, computer slopes, large flames, a sweet set of windows and door, and so much more. Take, for instance, the new Batarang or Two-Face’s coin that features an image of a LEGO lady and the year 1916.
Minifigures in The Batmobile and the Two-Face Chase, a LEGO Super Heroes SetThe nice part of this set is that it does not skimp on the minifigures. Many sets around the same price point will give you five only if it is not a licensed set. Since Super Heroes is a licensed set, it is a little surprising that you get as many as you do.
Batman will start things off. He has black hips and legs. His torso is also black with a yellow logo and yellow belt painted on. Both sides show lines of muscle as well. His head is dual-sided. Both sides feature a white band around his forehead so that white shows out the eyeholes of the mask he wears. One of his expressions is frowning while the other looks determined. He finishes the look off with his black mask and black cape. The cape is cloth and scalloped at the bottom to form five points.
Two-Face is in his orange and purple suit. This means his orange hips with an orange right leg and a dark purple left leg. He also has coat tails painted on the legs. His torso is a three button suit with a white shirt and tie. The tie and the coat are split into two colors. The right side is orange while the left is dark purple. The arms of the coat match the color of the coat they’re attached to. His face is split down the middle. One side is normal with a stern expression. The other side is purple and scarred with the lips gone from his teeth and no pupil in his eye. His hair piece is also split with his face. The normal black side looks slicked back while the other side is wild and white and does not match the normal side.
Two-Face’s henchmen fit around similar lines. They both have dark bluish gray hips and legs. Their torsos are split half orange on the right and dark purple on the left. The design is similar to Two-Face’s suit, but is zipped up the center and has zipper pockets. The one with a hoodie has stubble and a goatee facial hair and a scar on his left cheek while the one wearing a suit has hair around the mouth ending in a goatee and wearing purple sunglasses with silver lenses. Both wear black knit caps.
The guard for the bank has dark blue hips and legs. His torso is medium blue with a police officers shirt and gold badge. He also has a dark blue tie to match his pants. His head has a basic stern expression with eyebrows and a dimple for his chin. He wears a black police cap on his head.
Ratings for The Batmobile and the Two-Face Chase, a LEGO Super Heroes SetOriginality: 3 out of 5 Studs. When it comes down to it, this is more or less a copy of a previous Batmobile set with a few changes.
Play Value: 5 out of 5 Studs. Hopefully you can build the full set without stopping to play for hours with just parts of it.
Design: 5 out of 5 Studs. Being a re-issue style set, there is some obvious signs of thought in how this set looks and works and it shows.
Unique Parts: 5 out of 5 Studs. This set is packed with awesome elements that will entertain for a lifetime.
Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 Studs. Despite it being a re-issue, this set is something fans want in a LEGO set.
RecommendationsThe only recommendation that can be given at this point is to make sure you don’t over pay. Make sure to note the MSRP on the list below before hitting the stores. This is a really great set and for that reason, many retailers have been marking up the price. If you can’t find it locally, trying places like LEGO.com or where LEGO has an official presence is probably your best bet to get it at normal price.
List of LEGO Super Heroes SetsThe following list is ordered by set number and includes the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP). This does not reflect the chronological date the sets were released.
Batman, set #4526, MSRP $14.99The Joker, set #4527, MSRP $14.99Green Lantern, set #4528, MSRP $14.99The Dynamic Duo Funhouse Escape, set #6857, MSRP $39.99Catwoman Catcycle City Chase, set #6858, MSRP $12.99The Batcave, set #6860, MSRP $69.99Superman vs. Power Armor Lex, set #6862, MSRP $19.99Batwing Battle Over Gotham City, set #6863, MSRP $34.99The Batmobile and the Two-Face Chase, set #6864, MSRP $49.99Batman Jetski, set #30160, MSRP $? (Possibly $4.99)Mini Batmobile, set #30161, MSRP $? (Possibly $4.99)Special LEGO Super Heroes SetsIn 2011 two conventions were held in which minifigures were released to the public. These conventions were the Comic-Con events that take place in New York and San Diego.
San Diego Comic-Con:
Super Heroes Unite – BatmanSuper Heroes Unite – Green LanternNew York Comic-Con:
Super Heroes Unite – BatmanSuper Heroes Unite – Green LanternSuper Heroes Unite - Superman
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