Katie Roche: because the shrew must go on

Independent.ie

Emer O'Kelly finds that a post-modern approach to a classic can work well.

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Emer O'Kelly finds that a post-modern approach to a classic can work well.

Teresa Deevy's Katie Roche is an extraordinary play. Written in 1936, it posited in Catholic Ireland the theory that being "illegitimate" might have been the "fault" of your mother; certainly the "fault" of your father if he took off on hearing the news, but not at all the fault of the "illegitimate" child.

Nearly 30 years later, John B Keane wrote of a society in which an "illegitimate" girl, Sive, was told that being sold to a rapacious old man while in love with a young man was "more than she deserved". Nothing had changed; the child was still being stigmatised.

But while Katie Roche is threatened with the same fate as Sive, she is saved by a genuine if flawed love. Stanislaus Gregg has loved her since her early girlhood, but fled from her flawed pedigree. But his staid love was too strong, and he returns to his home to woo the young Katie, who has been working as housemaid for his maiden sister. The difference here is that Katie also loves him.

But she wants to love in her own way, wilfully and strong-mindedly, while living her youth to its full extent.

Maddened by the restraints and decorum that surround her, she defiantly flaunts a young neighbour (with whom she has long flirted) before the eyes of her husband.

Young Michael, though, is the classic "whited sepulchre" - it is he rather than the prosperous and gentle Stanislaus who thinks Katie is "no better than she should be". He would have been a very broken reed had she turned in truth to him.

The play becomes a Taming of the Shrew for rural Ireland in the years before World War II, full of the mocking cliches that Deevy saw all round her, and which she undertook to expose, both subversively and gently.

She got away without having her work banned, but her particular morality never exactly took off, despite the active encouragement and approval of both George Bernard Shaw and Denis Johnston. But then the Catholic Church didn't like them either.

It has long been my theory that Katie Roche survived the outraged eye of Mother Church because it is a comedy, albeit subtle and satirical. Shakespeare's shrew is tamed against her will; Deevy's adapts rather than submits, and thus saves her own independent soul. And of course, her love for the staid Stanislaus has never been in question.

The play was written in the era of expressionism, and Caroline Byrne's new production for the Abbey (truncated, but fairly expertly so) is delivered in that style, on an open stage designed in post-modern style by Joanna Satcher and lit by Paul Keogan; the opening mud and mire in which Katie is trapped adapts throughout to regulated panels of possible escape and freedom.

Caoilfhionn Dunne and Sean Campion head the cast as Katie and Stanislaus, and are touchingly and superbly matched. Good support comes from Kevin Creedon as the feckless Michael, Donal O'Kelly as Reuben, the wandering deus-ex-machina, and Siobhan McSweeney as the gentle, spinster-ish Amelia.

*******

Beryl (the Peril) and Eejit are sisters who live together in the house they presume was left to them by their vicious old mother. We know she was vicious because, although she's dead and gone, and had suffered from dementia, she was the one who nicknamed them from their given names of Pearl and Edith. And their late father was happy to be equally beastly.

Now Beryl, awaiting her pension, suffers from agoraphobia, while Eejit keeps the household going through writing romantic novels for Mills & Boon. Until their solicitor writes to tell them that the former gardener, Miguel from Spain, who was bedding more than the plants, is actually the legatee.

Cue a black comedy that's a cross between Arsenic and Old Lace and Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? And it's actually jolly funny when you skip over gaps in credibility.

Skipping those yawning gaps would be easier with both better acting and better, much slicker direction.

The latter, by Eamonn B Shanahan, is lumpish, while Helen Roche's Beryl is unconvincing as an ageing neurotic. Even comedy requires conviction.

Billie Traynor fares infinitely better as Eejit; presumably as the author of the piece, she is well under its skin.

Beryl and Eejit is a co-production between Poppin and DoItYerself, playing at Theatre Upstairs at Lanigan's Bar on Eden Quay in Dublin.

Sunday Indo Living

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Katie Roche: because the shrew must go on - Independent.ie

There were moments in Auckland Choral's Elijah when one could imagine the full Victorian splendour of Mendelssohn conducting his oratorio in 1846, with 396 musicians under his command.

With less than half that number, conductor Uwe Grodd still ignited an impressive conflagration of sound from his choristers, supported by Pipers Sinfonia and organist Michael Stoddart.

Four-square choral marches, just a few chords away from revivalist hymns, were sturdily effective, free from the blemishes of brass smudging and occasional loose ensemble elsewhere.

Martin Snell caught the humanity of his Old Testament hero, from the bass' stentorian launch of the evening to a particularly moving It is enough, with well-turned cello obbligato from Charles Brooks. Alison Jepson's oboe, weaving through Jennifer Barrington's first aria caught my ear too, as did Melody Lin's flute, shading in the lyrical composure of Helen Medlyn's O rest in the Lord.

Treble Jacob Siohane-Royle asserted an individual voice, advising Elijah and his people of imminent and welcome rain.

Tenor Martin Thomas Buckingham was unerring in his well-placed and paced recitatives, investing his first aria with a confidently heroic swing.

Elijah is a perplexing work, famously and wittily loathed by George Bernard Shaw; perhaps this performance, free of the Draconian cuts that marred its last town-hall appearance 10 years ago, suggests it is time for a reassessment.

What: Auckland ChoralWhere: Auckland Art GalleryWhen: SaturdayReviewer: William Dart

- NZ Herald

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Classical review: Auckland Choral - New Zealand Herald

By Jim Lowe | on August 31, 2017

Provided photoEric Tucker

MIDDLETOWN SPRINGS The Paramount Theatre will host the third residency of the acclaimed New York City theater company BedlamSept. 4-10.The residency will feature two workshop presentations of works-in-progress: George Bernard Shaws Saint Joan (a re-mount of Artistic Director Eric Tuckers signature production prior to a national tour) and a new play, Kind Man, Man Kind by Kimberly Pau.

In a new Paramount structure, these two presentations will take placeoff-siteat the Burnham Hollow Orchard Barn, 30 Orchard Road: Saint Joan at 7:30 p.m.Friday Sept. 8, and Kind Man, Man Kind at 4 p.m.Sunday Sept. 10.

In Kind Man, Man Kind, eight weekend warriors hike through an isolated Texas forest and are forced to confront the darkness within: a meditation on masculinity, privilege and surrendering dominance. Kimberly Pau wrote the play as a rallying cry to the many men who find toxic masculinity abhorrent but often find themselves in the role of the innocent bystander.

Eric Tucker and Andrus Nichols co-founded Bedlam in 2012, presenting Saint Joanon a shoestring budget with only four actors playing over 25 characters. The show received instant recognition and was extended four times. Terry Teachout ofThe Wall Street Journalwas an early admirer, describing it asThrilling! An unforgettable show! The most exciting George Bernard Shaw revival Ive ever seen, bar none.

Paramount Executive Director Bruce Bouchard, commented: It is both an honor and a rare treat that The Paramount is able to host this talented and enterprising theater company for the third time in Vermont.Since their first appearance four years ago in the summer of 2013 they have established themselves as one of the premiere companies in the country.They have mounted nine full productions in the past four years (with three coming in their next New York City season) and have played in numerous American venues, to universal acclaim.

As these presentations are no-frills works-in-process, admission will be pay what you will ($10 suggested donation). Seating is limited to 80. There is no Paramount Box Office available for these presentations.

More:
Bedlam theater returns | Rutland Herald - Rutland Herald

Position in the Company:Leisure Attendant

Number of years in the leisure industry:17 years

Working at Shannon Swimming & Leisure Centre since:2006

Qualifications:

Degrees:P.E. Master degree (2003, Lodz University, Poland)Diploma work topic: Steroids and supplements in amateur bodybuilding

P.E. Bachelor degree (2001, Lodz University, Poland)Diploma work topic: Steroids in amateur bodybuilding

Studies:Physical and Health

Position in the Company:Leisure Attendant

Number of years in the leisure industry:17 years

Working at Shannon Swimming & Leisure Centre since:2006

Qualifications:

Degrees:P.E. Master degree (2003, Lodz University, Poland)Diploma work topic: Steroids and supplements in amateur bodybuilding

P.E. Bachelor degree (2001, Lodz University, Poland)Diploma work topic: Steroids in amateur bodybuilding

Studies:Physical and Health Education higher education studies (1998-2003 Lodz University, Poland)

Courses :Pool and beach lifeguard (WOPR, Water Voluntary Emergency Ambulance Service, Zgierz, Poland,1997/1999)Teaching methodology of volleyball (1999-2000, University Lodz)Sports camp tutor (1999, Malinowka, Poland)Water Sports camp (1999, Malinowka, Poland)Kayaking, Canoeing, Swimming, WaterPolo etc.Teaching methodology of handball (2000-2001, University Lodz)Psychology (1999-2002, University Lodz)Teaching methodology of swimming (1999-2002, University Lodz)Traditional and modern dances (1999-2000, University Lodz)Teaching methodology of soccer (2000-2001, University Lodz)Motor Boat Helmsman (2000, Polish Motor-Boat and Water Ski Association, Lodz, Poland)Winter sports camp (2000, Krynica, Poland)-Ski, Ice-skiting etc.Teaching methodology of basketball (1999-2000, University Lodz)Human anatomy (2000, University Lodz)Teaching methodology of athletics (1999-2001, University Lodz)Fun and games (1999-2000, University Lodz)Teaching methodology of gymnastics (1999-2001, University Lodz)Human physiology (2002, University Lodz)Physiotherapy (2002, University Lodz)Aerobics (2002, University Lodz)Sports nutrition (2002, University Lodz)Gym weight and cardiovascular training (2003, University Lodz)First aid (1997 WOPR, Zgierz, 1999 WOPR, 2000, UL, 2011 Shannon, 2013 Shannon)Addiction prevention (2004, Teacher Development Centre, Lodz, Poland)Behaviour management agression (2004, Teacher Development Centre, Lodz, Poland)Hyperactivity of children (2005, Teacher Development Centre, Lodz, Poland)School quality measurement (2005, Teacher Development Centre, Lodz, Poland)Dyslexia symptoms and management (2005, Teacher Development Centre, Lodz, Poland)PADI Open Water Diver (2008, Stari Grad, Croatia)PADI Advanced Open Water Diver (2008, Stari Grad, Croatia)PADI Deep Diver Specialty (2008, Tenerife, Spain)IWS Pool Lifeguard (2010, Shannon Leisure Centre)PADI Nitrox Diver Specialty (2014, Abu Nuhas, Red Sea)PADI Wreck Diver Specialty (2014, Abu Nuhas, Red Sea)

Workshops:Strength development of younger children (2005, Teacher Development Centre, Lodz, Poland)Pilates-intelligent gymnastics for everyone (2005, Teacher Development Centre, Lodz, Poland)Teacher evaluation planning and results (2005, Teacher Development Centre, Lodz, Poland)Creating classes for elder people (2012, HES Ennis)Weightlifting (2014, KG Elite Performance, Dublin)

A little bit about me:I have been working in sports and education sector since 1997, mostly as pool lifeguard in outdoor and indoor swimming pools. For 5 years (2001-2006) I was working as a P.E. teacher and sports instructor. In 2006 I have moved to Ireland and started working for Shannon Leisure Centre as leisure attendant.

My interests are history, underwater archaeology, travels, books, sports and sports nutrition.

Read more here:

Gym - CLASSES - Shannon Leisure Centre

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is seen as a monster in most people's closets, sending them on a terrifying rage, suffering from joint pain and stiffness. Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes joint pain, stiffness, swelling and decreased movement of the joints. In some people, the condition can damage a number of body systems, including the skin, eyes, lungs, heart and blood vessels.

According to certified personal trainer Carol McPherson, getting lots of exercise is an important part of coping with rheumatoid arthritis.

"My job is physically demanding and RA has hindered me from doing certain aerobics routines and exercises." she told Flair. "I would have flare-ups experiencing pain, stiffness and swelling in my knee from walking or standing for long periods. After my diagnosis, I did intense research on RA and found that exercise can help to improve your health and fitness without hurting your joints," McPherson explained.

With the correct treatment programme, McPherson and psychotherapist Desmond Thompson stress that exercise can strengthen the muscles around the joints, helping to maintain bone strength and enhance the quality of life for those suffering from the disease.

Before engaging in any form of exercise, it is important to stretch to prepare your muscles and joints for the exercise routine. You should also stretch after your exercises to prevent stiffness. It is OK to rest a day between your workouts, and take an extra day or two if your joints are painful or swollen.

With the help of McPherson and Thompson, today Flair shares a few exercises that persons suffering from RA can indulge in and feel much better for it.

There are three sets of exercises you can kick off RA with: range of motion exercises such as cycling, elliptical workout, strengthening exercises like leg presses, hip extensions, and aerobics exercises such as walking, cycling and making use of the treadmill.

These exercises relieve stiffness and increase your ability to move your joints through their full range of motion. Aerobics exercises help with your overall fitness, and strengthening exercises help to build strong muscles that support and protect your joints.

kimberly.goodall@gleanerjm.com

Continue reading here:

Kicking rheumatoid arthritis - Jamaica Gleaner

While the improved returns for do-nothing investors don't sound like much, over time they can significantly boost your nest egg. You could improve your performance by 1 percentage point by adopting a static, low-cost portfolio and putting your contributions on autopilot.

Let's say you started out with $50,000, were earning a 6 percent return and contributing $500 a month. Your nest egg would hit $1 million by 2050. What if you boosted your return to 7 percent? You'd hit seven figures three years sooner. Of course, you'd do even better if you lowered fund expenses and saved more.

There's a fly in the ointment, though: To reap the higher returns, you may have to short-circuit your own brain and stop trying to guess whether the market is too high or too low. You'll need to adopt a "dollar-cost averaging" strategy that invests equal amounts every month.

That way, you're buying at a broad range of market prices and getting lower prices (and more shares) when the market dips. You can do this with any stock, mutual fund or retirement account.

This may sound counterintuitive, but if you keep your long-term investing cheap and simple, you'll be a lot richer down the road. Less is more when it comes to achieving better returns.

The rest is here:
Here are 3 ways to close the investment timing gap - CNBC.com - CNBC

This article is about the term in investing. For articles on other subjects having the same abbreviation, see ROI.

Return on Investment (ROI) is the benefit to an investor resulting from an investment of some resource. A high ROI means the investment's gains compare favorably to its cost. As a performance measure, ROI is used to evaluate the efficiency of an investment or to compare the efficiencies of several different investments.[1] In purely economic terms, it is one way of relating profits to capital invested.

In business, the purpose of the return on investment (ROI) metric is to measure, per period, rates of return on money invested in an economic entity in order to decide whether or not to undertake an investment. It is also used as an indicator to compare different investments within a portfolio. The investment with the largest ROI is usually prioritized, even though the spread of ROI over the time-period of an investment should also be taken into account. Recently, the concept has also been applied to scientific funding agencies (e.g., National Science Foundation) investments in research of open source hardware and subsequent returns for direct digital replication.[2]

ROI and related metrics provide a snapshot of profitability, adjusted for the size of the investment assets tied up in the enterprise. ROI is often compared to expected (or required) rates of return on money invested. ROI is not net present value-adjusted and most school books describe it with a "Year 0" investment and two to three years income.

Marketing decisions have obvious potential connection to the numerator of ROI (profits), but these same decisions often influence assets usage and capital requirements (for example, receivables and inventories). Marketers should understand the position of their company and the returns expected.[3]

In a survey of nearly 200 senior marketing managers, 77 percent responded that they found the "return on investment" metric very useful.[3]

Return on investment may be calculated in terms other than financial gain. For example, social return on investment (SROI) is a principles-based method for measuring extra-financial value (i.e., environmental and social value not currently reflected in conventional financial accounts) relative to resources invested. It can be used by any entity to evaluate impact on stakeholders, identify ways to improve performance, and enhance the performance of investments.

As a decision tool it is simple to understand. The simplicity of the formula allows to freely choose variables, e.g., length of the calculation time, if overhead cost should be included, or details such as what variables are used to calculate income or cost components. To use ROI as an indicator for prioritizing investment projects is risky, since usually little is defined together with the ROI figure that explains what is making up the figure.[citation needed]

For long-term investments, the need for a Net Present Value adjustment is great. Similar to Discounted Cash Flow, a Discounted ROI should be used instead.

For a single-period review, divide the return (net profit) by the resources that were committed (investment):[3]

or

or

Complications in calculating ROI can arise when real property is refinanced, or a second mortgage is taken out. Interest on a second, or refinanced, loan may increase, and loan fees may be charged, both of which can reduce the ROI, when the new numbers are used in the ROI equation. There may also be an increase in maintenance costs and property taxes, and an increase in utility rates if the owner of a residential rental or commercial property pays these expenses.

Complex calculations may also be required for property bought with an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) with a variable escalating rate charged annually through the duration of the loan.

Marketing not only influences net profits but also can affect investment levels too. New plants and equipment, inventories, and accounts receivable are three of the main categories of investments that can be affected by marketing decisions.[3]

RoA, RoNA, RoC, and RoIC, in particular, are similar measures with variations on how 'investment' is defined.[3]

Go here to see the original:
Return on investment - Wikipedia

KANSAS CITY, Mo. The owner of the Kansas City Chiefs is being accused in a lawsuit of improperly receiving hundreds of millions in state investment money through a kickback deal with New Mexico officials.

The Kansas City Star reported Sunday that the New Mexico State Investment Council filed the lawsuit late last month against Clark Hunt and HFV Asset Management over the politically-influenced investment deals.

Hunt didnt comment to the newspaper on the lawsuit Sunday morning. Hunts father, Lamar, founded the Chiefs franchise and is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The lawsuit says Hunt made a deal 12 years ago with two men with political connections who promised to steer New Mexico investment money to a hedge fund in exchange for payments. Hunt was a partner in the hedge fund.

New Mexico awarded $300 million to the hedge fund and paid millions in management fees. The lawsuit said one of the investment funds lost $13 million during the period.

Hunt sought to gain unfair advantage by paying for influence over the process, New Mexico officials said in the lawsuit.

The accusations are tied to the pay-to-play scandal that took place during administration of former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.

New Mexico has already negotiated more than $30 million in settlements related to the pay-to-play investment scandal.

Link:
Chiefs owner Clark Hunt being sued by New Mexico State Investment Council - FOXSports.com

This post first appeared on A Wealth of Common Sense.

A reader asks:

I wanted your advice about when do you recommend one sells holdings that have appreciated? I understand the concept of buying low but would appreciate your advice on when to sell. I understand reversion to the mean and have been guilty in the past of holding on too long, only to see all the gains melt away as the market corrected.

This is a topic that probably doesnt get enough time share for investors. All of investing is more of an art than a science but there are plenty of books and research papers written about what to buy but very few about when to sell.

Sure, there are plenty of aphorisms about when to sell. Buffett says his favorite holding period is forever. Then you have phrases like the following:

We sell the rips and buy the dips.

Let your winners run but cut your losers short.

No one ever went broke taking a profit.

Its one thing to be wrong, its another thing to stay wrong.

Were taking some gains off the table.

These are fun things to say but they dont provide much help in the moment when you see an investment rising or falling.

The true determinants of when to sell an investment can be boiled down to the following questions:What kind of investor are you? Whats your time horizon? Why did you buy in the first place?

The wonderful and terrifying thing about investing is that you have two opportunities to be right and two opportunities to be wrong on every trade or investment when you buy and when you sell.

An intelligent investor spends some time up front before the buy occurs to consider when or why they would sell a holding. If you dont have some pre-established rules, guidelines or systems in place to understand what your sell trigger will be youre really just guessing.

Theres no right or wrong answer on when to sell because investing is personal. There are plenty of terrible reasons to sell Im nervous; someone on financial television scared me out of the market; I saw some guy on Twitter post a GIF about the how reckless the Fed is; I feel like the market is due for a correction.

Here are what I consider to be some legitimate reasons to sell an investment:

Rebalancing. Rebalancing back to target allocation weights is the simplest way to sell a little of whats been working and buy a little of what hasnt. Rebalancing is a systematic form of value investing. You can never time these things perfectly but this is one of the simplest forms of risk management available to investors who have a defined risk profile for their portfolio. How or when you do it probably doesnt matter nearly as much as following through with whatever your pre-established guideline are.

There are better opportunities available. Some investors are constantly searching the investable landscape for new opportunities in comparison to their current holdings. I find it can be a useful exercise to think through whether you would buy your current holdings all over again if you started from scratch (taking into account things like transaction costs and taxes).

Targets have been met. Other investors have price or valuation targets. Figuring out the intrinsic value of a security or asset class is never easy but coming up with estimates for where you will buy and where you will sell is a good way to place constraints on yourself from allowing investments to get away from you.

Your rules tell you to sell. Quantitative investment strategies continue to gain in popularity. Im a huge proponent of a rules-based approach but have witnessed far too many people who profess to invest this way change their process when things arent going their way. It requires discipline to follow your rules even when it doesnt feel right (and most of the time the right move wont feel right at the time).

Circumstances have changed. This one is a little more squishy, but there are times when your original investment thesis doesnt play out. Or your risk profile has changed because of a life or work event. Many investors de-risk as they approach retirement age. Others need to sell because they actually need to spend the money theyve been investing. The whole reason we invest is to delay current consumption for future consumption. You risk profile can and should change as you approach your future consumption date(s).

Regret also plays a huge role in any investment decision so it can be helpful to determine which would make you more miserable holding and seeing your investment crater or selling and seeing it go much higher.

Further Reading:When Holding is the Hardest Part

Here is the original post:
When to sell your investments - Yahoo Finance

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The owner of the Kansas City Chiefs is being accused in a lawsuit of improperly receiving hundreds of millions in state investment money through a kickback deal with New Mexico officials.

The Kansas City Star reports Sunday the New Mexico State Investment Council filed the lawsuit late last month against Clark Hunt and HFV Asset Management over the politically influenced investment deals.

Hunt didn't comment to the newspaper on the lawsuit Sunday morning. Hunt's father, Lamar, founded the Chiefs franchise and is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The lawsuit says Hunt made a deal 12 years ago with two men with political connections who promised to steer New Mexico investment money to a hedge fund in exchange for payments. Hunt was a partner in the hedge fund.

New Mexico awarded $300 million to the hedge fund and paid millions in management fees. The lawsuit said one of the investment funds lost $13 million during the period.

"Hunt sought to gain unfair advantage by paying for influence over the process," New Mexico officials said in the lawsuit.

The accusations are tied to the pay-to-play scandal that took place during administration of former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.

New Mexico has already negotiated more than $30 million in settlements related to the pay-to-play investment scandal.

Read more:
Chiefs owner Clark Hunt sued over New Mexico investment deal - ESPN