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Bowie General > What's Lazarus (the play) all about...

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steve23yhPosted at 2016-01-16 18:15:16(484 wks ago) (Bowie General / What's Lazarus (the play) all about...)
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OK, so when I did my mini review after seeing the play, and then subsequently when I upped the audio, I was quite up front in saying that it was brilliant to see, well acted, well sung and the band were tight - but that it was incomprehensible.  Well having listened again and reflected back, I think I'm there (but it's only my opinion)...

Let's start in a different place, as I think the basic tenet of the play is Bowie doing what Bowie does.  Back in 2006-07 the BBC broadcast the detective series Life On Mars, which was followed up in 2008-10 by three series of the sequel Ashes To Ashes.  The basic premise was that the lead characters (played by John Sim and Keeley Hawes respectively) had had catastrophic trauma, which left them fighting for their lives - and while in, presumably, a coma, they joined a detection team headed by Gene Hunt - rough diamond, old-school, but impeccably honest and interested in justice.

In the final series, a counter-character to Hunt, Jim Keats (played by Daniel Mays) was introduced.  Keats, always dressed in black, represented the dark side of temptation, suspicion and corruption - and was always trying to seduce Hawes's character away from Hunt's protection.  Ultimately (can't be a spoiler alert after this much time) the final episode brilliantly revealed that the leading and support characters in the series were, effectively, all in purgatory waiting to be lead to a peaceful eternity - and that Hunt was the power of good, trying to lead them to this state (the pub) while Keats was a malevolent spirit, if not Satan himself, who wanted to keep chaos as the endless state.

So both series took their titles from Bowie songs - what could Bowie possibly do in tribute?  What he always did - abduct.

Lazarus is set "some time" after TMWFTE, and it's clear that Newton is a wreck - permanently boozed up and yearning for peace.  He's never going to get back to save his planet and, as is pointed out to him at one stage (I think by The Girl) his family will presumably all be dead by now.  Newton is in complete despair, as he can't even die in the human sense.  Map Newton across to the John Sims and Keeley Hawes characters.

The Girl (clearly not visibly) is Gene Hunt's good angel.  She too is waiting for peace, having been killed by her father (Alan Cummings) but her spirit can't rest because she's been appointed to lead Newton to peace.  Newton only sees her in his spaced-out dream state.  Just to make it obvious, she's always dressed in white!

Valentine is the equivalent to the Jim Keats character (including always being dressed in black).  Somehow he manages to inhabit both Newton's dream state and reality.  He stands for chaos and unrest, and as soon as Newton has a character upon whom he can rely (Michael, Zach) he kills them.

The Ben and Elly thread is simply a sub-plot, going diagonally across the main plot, with Elly being pulled in by Newton's charisma (perhaps just to emphasise that he is a charismatic character still) and adding a bit of colour.

The Girl realises that she has the power to save Newton - not to get him back to his planet, but to give him peace - but this can only be done if he also gives her her peace, by killing her in the alternative reality.  When he does (and the stage is covered in milk to rub in that it's a good outcome) both are saved, and Newton is propelled to heaven is his masking tape rocket.

If you view it thus, there's a real bonus.  The interpretation of a song that's been slated by the critics is Heroes for being a pale shadow of the powerful song that it is.  In the context, however, of two vulnerable souls being saved from torment and freed to peaceful eternity, it's a perfect treatment that ends the play with exactly the right tone.

So ever the ultimate jackdaw, taking good ideas and making them his own and stronger in the process, David has pinched the underlying premise of the TV series that bear the names of his own songs, to provide the shape of Lazarus - and loses nothing in the process.

I feel that this is the right explanation of what I saw and have subsequently listened to - perhaps others who have seen it can say what they think.

Last edited by steve23yh on 2016-01-16 18:17:17



Don't blame me, I didn't do it!
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toneblokePosted at 2016-01-17 01:42:55(484 wks ago) (Bowie General / What's Lazarus (the play) all about...)
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Well..........that's an expanded synopsis from your eyes and mind.

I've not seen Lazarus but I hope it makes it south of the equator. I've not seen the video of the song either, mainly 'cause I can't bring myself to do so - yet. I've also not listened to Blackstar yet, for the same reason. It's too soon for me. David's passing really took the wind out of my sails, to be honest even more so than the passing of both my parents.

I remember watching both those two TV shows when they aired but being one who doesn't really take in the "deep and meaningful" stuff I never try to get inside the characters. I'd have to watch it over bearing in mind what you've written.


"Look up here, I’m in heaven
I’ve got scars that can’t be seen"
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spyprettygirlPosted at 2016-01-17 01:42:56(484 wks ago) (Bowie General / What's Lazarus (the play) all about...)
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Wow, Steve23, thank you, brilliant analysis and, it sounds, to me, spot on.

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jonesnatalyPosted at 2016-01-17 04:33:35(484 wks ago) (Bowie General / What's Lazarus (the play) all about...)


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Tony, Blackstar was available for download (I bought it, officially, from iTunes - all is legal  :D ) on Jan 7th here (for some reason before Jan 8th), and I've listened to it right away! It was great. People who listened to the leaked version kept saying how marvelous the record is - and I waited for the official version to see that they are right. It is fantastic. In my personal taste, better than The Next Day (although it's pretty good, too).
And of course, before the night of Jan 11th I was listening to it with a happy smile on my face. After that - I couldn't stop listening to if for 3 days, but now with tears in my eyes. And after these 3 days - I can't make myself to play it again. I actually started going through his studio albums in chronological order, I'm still at the 60s currently.

The last album is wonderful. But desperately sad sometimes. When you are ready - you will love it. O:-D

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jonesnatalyPosted at 2016-01-17 04:35:46(484 wks ago) (Bowie General / What's Lazarus (the play) all about...)


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Steve, it is a fantastic analysis! You might even be right  ;)
If the play really goes to London, you have a chance to see it again and check your theory...

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MBFPosted at 2016-01-17 10:27:55(484 wks ago) (Bowie General / What's Lazarus (the play) all about...)


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Great analysis Steve but now "my head hurts a lot"!!!!  :-)

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toneblokePosted at 2016-01-17 11:09:49(484 wks ago) (Bowie General / What's Lazarus (the play) all about...)
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jonesnataly wrote:

Tony, Blackstar was available for download (I bought it, officially, from iTunes - all is legal  :D ) on Jan 7th here (for some reason before Jan 8th)

I didn't grab any of the leaked audio 'cause I wanted the CD to be a surprise.
I had the CD on order and received it on the Saturday. Still haven't opened it.


"Look up here, I’m in heaven
I’ve got scars that can’t be seen"
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MBFPosted at 2016-01-17 17:41:21(484 wks ago) (Bowie General / What's Lazarus (the play) all about...)


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tonebloke wrote:

I didn't grab any of the leaked audio 'cause I wanted the CD to be a surprise.
I had the CD on order and received it on the Saturday. Still haven't opened it.

Agree bro... I waited until last Friday when everyone was out before I opened and listened to it. It was worth the wait. However, the 2 videos I watched on YouTube were something else as I found them good but hard to watch.

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jonesnatalyPosted at 2016-01-18 05:47:20(484 wks ago) (Bowie General / What's Lazarus (the play) all about...)


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tonebloke wrote:

I didn't grab any of the leaked audio 'cause I wanted the CD to be a surprise.
I had the CD on order and received it on the Saturday. Still haven't opened it.

I am not that patient :/


My *little* brother finally listened to Blackstar, and when I asked him what does he think, the only response was - it's a very sad album.

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jonesnatalyPosted at 2016-01-18 05:50:16(484 wks ago) (Bowie General / What's Lazarus (the play) all about...)


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MBF wrote:

However, the 2 videos I watched on YouTube were something else as I found them good but hard to watch.

Agree! Very heavy and difficult to watch.



Among his recent ones I am inlove with The Stars (Are Out Tonight) and Valentine's Day  :love
(He even had such nice cheeks in the latter one  :-) )

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MainManPosted at 2016-01-21 18:04:55(484 wks ago) (Bowie General / What's Lazarus (the play) all about...)


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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpl7To8ZV6c&list=PLvZEQfQYnG8tQgntfXPOhL_Pz7mKXSnuz

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jonesnatalyPosted at 2016-01-21 18:36:15(484 wks ago) (Bowie General / What's Lazarus (the play) all about...)


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Thanks!  8)

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