Upper Middlebrow

Dec 02 2024 75 ep. 66 mins 9
Upper Middlebrow Podcast artwork

A podcast in which we discuss high-craft works of popular culture

  Arts  Fiction  Comedy
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Episode 69: “A Surfeit of Injustice,” or Raymond Chandler’s The Long Goodbye, Part I

Dec 02 2024 64 mins  
The lads kick off this series of Chris' called "Relativistic Noir" with Raymond Chandler's remarkable 1959 The Long Goodbye. Both Chris and Jesse are rendered somewhat slack-jawed at the sheer audacity—and skill—of the prose and of Chandler's ability to build a world so stylized while still remaining plausible. They wonder, though, if maybe there aren't just a few too many simi

Episode 68: “From Fiends to Friends,” or Gary Shteyngart’s Our Country Friends, Part II

Nov 21 2024 81 mins  
Gary Shteyngart’s overtly Chekhovian novel ends in a distinctly non–Chekhovian manner, with hope. However, the hope is dearly earned, as one of the country friends sadly does not survive the second half of the book. The lads wonder if Act Four is a bit padded, and sort out the layers of satire in which Shteyngart wraps what is at heart, a tender story of love, friendship, and f

Episode 67: Revenge of the Jock-Nerds (Season 3 DRAFT)

Nov 04 2024 58 mins  
With a small but loyal Zoom audience, Dukes and Bagg propose TWELVE new series, and pick five, including a LISTENER'S CHOICE series. Throughout, they kibbitz, lobby, and respond to chatted questions from the audience. (For people who don't like drama, you can find the list of future works here.) Also, be sure to check out the lads' guest appearance on Big Campaign Stories.

Episode 66: “Russia With Love (Nesting Dolls),” or Gary Shteyngart’s Our Country Friends Part I

Oct 31 2024 66 mins  
Gary Schteyngart’s 2021 pandemic novel is overtly Chekhovian, and the lads love it. A group of friends and family gather in the Hudson valley during the 2020 pandemic leading to betrayals, love triangles, secrets, lies, but also some joy and camaraderie. We discuss how Schteyngart’s precise portrayal of his characters’ inner lives, and marvel at moments of satirically brillia

Episode 65: “Our Play with Louis,” or Louis Malle’s Vanya on 42nd Street

Oct 21 2024 74 mins  
Bagg and Dukes watch Louis Malle's wild 1994 film that takes, as its subject, a rehearsal of Andre Gregory's..."performance" of Anton Chekhov's Uncle Vanya. If that sounds convoluted, it is. Gregory and an amazing cast (Julianne Moore, Wallace Shawn, Larry Pine and more) rehearsed the play in a dilapidated theater, inviting a few guests each night to watch what they were working on

Episode 64: “A Cloud on a String,” or Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya

Oct 07 2024 70 mins  
Anton Chekhov's 1897 play is in many ways even more minimalistic and sad than The Cherry Orchard. Dukes once again struggles to imagine the three dimensions of the story, while recognizing the almost documentary realism of the drama. Bagg finds the pathos of characters struggling for transcendence in the wrong direction heartbreakingly real.

Uncle Baggya Previews the Live Draft

Sep 30 2024 3 mins  
UMB Theater presents Dr. Dukesimov and his old friend Baggya, commiserating about dreary life, and looking forward to the Upper Middlebrow LIVE Draft. That's coming October 10th, at 5pm PDT, and there will be door prizes and a chance to vote on a new Upper Middlebrow series. Watch this space!

Episode 63: “Cherries, Anyone?” or The National Theatre’s Production of Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard

Sep 23 2024 77 mins  
The National Theatre production glimmers with an excellent cast, including Zoe Wanamaker and Conleth Hill. Dukes finds that the performances and the direction/translation choices help raise the stakes and steepen the conflict. He wonders if there’s a kind of “oral history” or collective theatrical knowledge of Chekhov that aids live productions, and Bagg suggests that Chekhov

Episode 62: “To Sell or Not to Sell…Is That Really the Question?” or Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, Part I

Sep 09 2024 77 mins  
The UMBers sit down with a play that Bagg has read a million times and that Dukes is visiting for the first time. The lads discuss what this work is like for a first-timer and then put on their acting shoes to read some dialogue. Dukes wonders if this script is something that only works when the play is staged, and we get some help from a more contemporary pair of scriptwriters.

Episode 61: “Mathematical” Courage or Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner Part II

Sep 02 2024 79 mins  
After Dukes summarizes the plot of Beverly Hills Cop for Bagg, the UMBs get down to business. The second half of The Kite Runner fulfills its promises. Everything is excellent, but again, the lads feel that things are a bit too perfect, and still prefer the rare moments that upset the balance.