Les 7 doigts de la main in Boston

I'm becoming a big fan of Quebecois circus. Just took my girls to see the Boston debut of Les 7 Doigts de la Main (the Seven Fingers) - a great show set partly in a psychiatrist's office. Each of the cast members has a problem - insomnia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, narcissism - and has to trapeze, juggle, or flip their way to a solution.

I've seen a few shows by different groups, in Montréal, France, and now Boston. I love the way Quebecois circus seems to combine innovative theatre, dance, and traditional circus arts in shows with a very strong concept. The concept is clearly executed through set design, costuming, writing, music, and of course the performance itself. Every detail matters, and it adds up to an impressive show.

Negotiation Role Plays

A project came my way that was outside my usual scope but very interesting nonetheless. Jim Golden, an attorney in Chattanooga, TN, asked me to produce two short role-play videos to demonstrate his signature negotiation method for early, humane, and reasonable settlement of accident and commercial disputes.

Jim calls his method the Negotiation Counsel Model®, and it involves in part opening up a second track of negotiation alongside the conventional litigation track. The hope is that the party that has been injured or offended can come to an agreement with the company early in the process – helping them save legal costs and move on with their lives, and helping the company avoid potentially years of depositions, document production, meetings, and/or a jury trial. When real empathy is involved – rather than threats, escalation, and manipulation – both sides’ humanity can be preserved and a mutually beneficial resolution reached.

Playing opposite Jim, as Claimant’s Counsel, was Tom Babson. When he introduced himself, I was sure he was an actual lawyer. Then I realized he was just a good actor, and fit the part – not to mention he played Sam Malone’s lawyer for six years on Cheers.

Dutch Sax Quartet Plays Indian-Influenced Music

I was in Amsterdam last week and went to a great concert of the Amstel Quartet with guest Niti-Ranjan Biswas on tablas. The theme of the evening was the inspiration of Indian music – ragas, Bollywood music, Satyajit Ray’s music. There was a great atmosphere in that beautiful, historic hall (Felix Meritis). It amazes me what a thriving audience there is in Holland for creative music.

The Amstel Quartet is a very rigorous saxophone quartet coming from a classical background but playing a range of musical styles. My husband Jorrit Dijkstra played along for Shruut (clip above), a piece they commissioned from him that includes a plastic Shruti box droning along with the live music.

We also enjoyed a couple of weeks of biking over the canals and through the charming streets of Amsterdam (a bit too often in the pouring rain, I must admit). How I wish more of America’s cities were so bike-friendly.

Salvation Army Day Care Center piece

The Cambridge Community of Realtors has just posted a video they asked me to make a couple of years ago about the Our Place Day Care Center for homeless children run by the Salvation Army in Cambridge. CCR supports Our Place in many ways. You can see the video here.