The Curse of Lono is a nonfiction book written by Hunter S. Thompson, an American journalist and author. The book was initially published in 1983 and it recounts Thompson's experiences covering the 1980 running of the Honolulu Marathon in Hawaii. Thompson, who is known for his unconventional writing style and Gonzo journalism, approaches the marathon as a journalist and participant, immersing himself in the event and its accompanying festivities. Throughout the book, he intertwines his personal experiences with Hawaiian history and mythology, exploring themes of luck, fate, and the darker side of paradise. The title of the book, "The Curse of Lono," refers to the ancient Hawaiian god of peace, fertility, and music.
In yet another of her tour-de-force performances (that seems to be the only kind Ms. Redgrave can give), we inch forward so as not to miss one word or gesture. We are sucked into Didion's emotional vortex, and our own memories as well, mesmerized by Ms. Redgrave�s stunning presence.
In dramatic transitions that parallel Kubler-Ross s stages of grief, flimsy backdrops fall to the floor revealing layer upon layer of depth and understanding, never covering her emotions for even one second, as she bares all for the audience. Their lives are as different as two women s lives can be one, a stay-at-home farm wife, the other, an erudite, urban authoress; one a Steinbeck, one a TS Eliot.
The title of the book, "The Curse of Lono," refers to the ancient Hawaiian god of peace, fertility, and music. Lono was believed to bring abundance and good fortune to the islands, but Thompson adopts a more cynical perspective, suggesting that Lono's presence also carried a curse. Thompson's narrative not only captures the chaos and excess of the marathon but also delves into the complexities of Hawaiian culture, tourism, and the impact of Western influence.
The Year of Magical Thinking
In this dramatic adaptation of her award-winning, bestselling memoir (which The New York Times called “an indelible portrait of loss and grief…a haunting portrait of a four-decade-long marriage”), Joan Didion transforms the story of the sudden and unexpected loss of her husband and their only daughter into a stunning and powerful one-woman play.
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Cast & Creative Team
Cast
2019-07-01T16:26:39-07:00Suzanne Bouchard
Suzanne Bouchard (Joan Didion)
Creative Team
Victor Pappas, Director
Catherine Cornell, Scenic Designer
Constanza Romero, Costume Designer
Robert Aguilar, Lighting Designer
Erin Bednarz, Sound Designer
Ruth Eitemiller, Stage Manager
Tori Thompson, Production Assistant
Special Events
July 23 | 6:00 pm | Buster’s
Behind the Scenes with Classical King FM
Get closer to the artists with Classical KING FM’s Sean MacLean as he interviews the show’s director, Victor Pappas.
July 25 | 6:45 pm
Red Carpet Opening Night
Enjoy a complimentary glass of champagne and be a part of the excitement on Opening Night!
July 28 (evening) and August 6 | Post Show Dialogue
July 28 – Featuring Special Guest, Nora Menkin, Executive Director, People’s Memorial Association
Nora Menkin was working as a stage manager in Seattle when The Co-op Funeral Home of People’s Memorial was forming in 2007. She jumped at the chance to be involved with such a wonderful organization. She began as an intern and worked her way up to being named the Managing Funeral Director in 2013, and now Executive Director of People’s Memorial Association and The Co-op Funeral Home. With a background in home funerals, Jewish traditions, and a passion for natural burial and modern funeral practices, Nora strives to make sure every family can make their arrangements according to their needs and wishes. Nora lives in Burien with her husband Nick and son, Sam.
People’s Memorial Association (PMA) was founded in 1939 in Seattle to ensure that everyone had information about and access to death care options that fit with their own values and resources. This year is our 80th Anniversary and we have over 72,000 living members in Washington State. While all of our education and resources are free for everyone, members receive access to discounted rates at partnering funeral homes across the state. Members are also part owners of The Co-op Funeral Home, one of the only not-for-profit cooperative funeral homes in the country, right here in Seattle. PMA was integral this year in legalizing human composting (recomposition) and aquamation (water cremation/ alkaline hydrolysis) in Washington State. PMA believes that everyone should be able to choose whichever death care option works best for their family and community.
August 6– Founder of Death over Dinner, Michael Hebb will be the guest responder.
For the past 20 years Michael has been working to understand the secrets of human connection. His projects have turned into international movements and impacted millions. His second book “Let’s Talk About Death” published by Hachette/Da Capo will be available in the U.S., U.K., and Australia in October of 2018 and Russia, China, Indonesia, Poland and Romania in the fall of 2019.
Michael is a partner at RoundGlass and the Founder of Deathoverdinner.org, Drugsoverdinner.org, EarthtoDinner.org, WomenTeachMen.org and The Living Wake. He currently serves as a Board Advisor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts; and in the recent past as Senior Advisor to Summit Series, Theo Chocolate, Learnist, Caffe Vita, CreativeLive, Architecture For Humanity, ONETASTE and Mosaic Voices Foundation .
In 1997 Hebb co-founded City Repair and Communitecture with architect Mark Lakeman, winning the AIA People’s Choice Award for the Intersection Repair Project. In 1999 Michael and Naomi Pomeroy co-founded Family Supper in Portland, a supper club that is credited with starting the pop-up restaurant movement. In the years following they opened the restaurants clarklewis and Gotham Bldg Tavern, garnering international acclaim.
After leaving Portland, Hebb built Convivium/One Pot, a creative agency that specialized in the ability to shift culture through the use of thoughtful food and discourse based gatherings. Convivium’s client list includes: The Obama Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, TEDMED, The World Economic Forum, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Clinton Global Initiative, X Prize Foundation, The Nature Conservancy.
Michael is the founding Creative Director of The City Arts Festival, the founder of Night School @ The Sorrento Hotel, the founder of www.seder.today and the founding Creative Director at the Cloud Room. He served as a Teaching Fellow at the Graduate School of Communication at University of Washington. His writings have appeared in USA TODAY, GQ, Food and Wine and numerous other publications. Michael can often be found speaking at universities and conferences, here is his TEDMED talk.
Death Over Dinner was launched in 2013, tracking over 500 dinners in 20 countries. Since then there have been over a hundred thousand #deathdinners around the globe. This adventure began when we learned that 75% of Americans want to die at home, yet only 25% of them do. When we learned that how we end our lives is the most important and costly conversation America is not having. And when we realized that a conversation among loved ones, friends, and even strangers could begin to change these numbers, and bring the conversation about death back into mainstream culture.
This project was created as a gift, an invitation and a simple set of tools to help families and friends address the basic human fact that we are all, at some point, going to die. We suffer more when we don’t communicate our wishes, we suffer less when we know how to honor the wishes of our loved ones. As we build greater comfort and literacy around this important topic, every single one of us wins.
August 1 (evening) | 6:45 pm | Deep Dive | Buster’s
Join us for a deeper look at the play.
ACT Theatre’s Literary Manager Samie Detzer will discuss Joan Didion’s theatrical adaptation of her 2005 memoir about death and grief. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn more about this iconic writer and her work.
This pre-show event is not ticketed and free for anyone to attend.
July 30, August 4 (evening), and 10 (matinee) | after the show
Cast Chat*
Join us for an intimate conversation with Suzanne Bouchard after the performance.
(*Subject to change)
August 1 (evening) | 6:45 pm | Deep Dive | Buster’s
Join us for a deeper look at the play.
ACT Theatre’s Literary Manager Samie Detzer will discuss Joan Didion’s theatrical adaptation of her 2005 memoir about death and grief. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn more about this iconic writer and her work.
He explores the tensions between the local Hawaiian population and the influx of tourists and developers, highlighting the loss of traditional culture and the commodification of Hawaiian identity. With his signature wit and satirical tone, Thompson provides a unique and often humorous perspective on the marathon and its participants. He spares no criticism, mocking the self-importance and absurd behavior of the runners and those involved in the event. "The Curse of Lono" is not just a mere recounting of a marathon; it goes beyond the surface to explore deeper themes of life, death, and the clash between native traditions and modern Western culture. Thompson's vivid descriptions, humorous anecdotes, and insightful commentary make this book a captivating and thought-provoking read..
Reviews for "The Curse of Lono: Exploring the Psychological Impact on Believers"
1. Jane Doe - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Curse of Lono" as it was recommended to me by a friend. However, I found the book to be quite disappointing. The story lacked depth and meaning, and the characters were poorly developed. The pacing was slow, making it difficult for me to stay engaged. Overall, I was expecting much more from this book and was left feeling unsatisfied.
2. John Smith - 1 star - "Curse of Lono" was one of the worst books I have ever read. The writing style was confusing and hard to follow, with unnecessary tangents that added nothing to the story. The plot meandered and felt disjointed, making it difficult to connect with any of the characters or care about what was happening. I found myself skimming through paragraphs and skipping ahead just to get through this tedious read. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
3. Sarah Thompson - 2 stars - I struggled to get through "Curse of Lono" as it failed to capture my interest. The humor felt forced and overdone, which made it difficult for me to connect with the story. Additionally, the excessive use of profanity was unnecessary and distracting. Overall, I felt like this book was trying too hard to be edgy and funny, but it fell flat for me. I wouldn't recommend it to others unless they have a specific taste for this type of humor.