The Big Read

"Success to crime!"

Perhaps I should back up a bit. You know, start from the beginning. I don't hope any actual success to any actual crime.

"The Big Read" is a program run by the National Endowment for the Arts to revitalize the role of literature in American culture. Nearly 400 communities have hosted "Big Read" events, which include with components such as panel discussions, lectures, and theatre/film screenings. "The Big Read" has featured books from "Farenheight 451" to "The Joy Luck Club", and "The Maltese Falcon" to "Their Eyes Were Watching God."

November was declared "Los Angeles Big Read Month" by the L.A. city council, and the book of honor was The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett. I was able to attend the Kick-Off celebration for The Maltese Falcon at the Barnsdall Theatre in Los Angeles. The Department of Cultural Affairs brought together period cars, an actual falcon, a jazz quartet, celebrity narrators, the Long Beach Shakespeare Company, and even the mayor of Los Angeles!

Back in 2005, the Long Beach Shakespeare Company produced the first authorized stage production of The Maltese Falcon! I grew up around The Maltese Falcon, and it was quite fun to be at the premiere of the play! At the "Big Read" kick-off, the Long Beach Shakespeare Company did an excerpted version of the play, with a number of narrators between scenes. One of the narrators was my mom (looking lovely, I might add!):

All the kids, and especially the girls, loooved Austen Parros!

The cast did a wonderful job performing this excerpted version of The Maltese Falcon.
"'You're a damned good man, sister,' he said and went out."
And the Maltese Falcon, you might ask? It's "the stuff that dreams are made of."

Enjoy! =)