tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672367743193333056.comments2011-09-08T11:50:11.719-04:00Barb's Pop Culture Obsession of the MomentBarbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13131816863066652184noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672367743193333056.post-88858020809849227972011-09-08T11:50:11.719-04:002011-09-08T11:50:11.719-04:00I'm sure that did as well. But I think his tur...I'm sure that did as well. But I think his turn as Snape is what pushed him over the mountain of Mr. Darcy votes.Barbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13131816863066652184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672367743193333056.post-69080563947969366922011-09-08T01:26:26.439-04:002011-09-08T01:26:26.439-04:00I think you might be discounting Rickman's tur...I think you might be discounting Rickman's turn as Hans in "Die Hard" - I suspect that earned him a bunch of votes.M-Dhttp://m-dnovember.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672367743193333056.post-62041460253338594572011-08-17T09:41:00.056-04:002011-08-17T09:41:00.056-04:00Hee. It is. I will be seeing it approximately 800 ...Hee. It is. I will be seeing it approximately 800 times. It has a 2-month run, so I imagine you'll be around for it at some point.Barbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13131816863066652184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672367743193333056.post-18188663944464465962011-08-17T00:58:57.045-04:002011-08-17T00:58:57.045-04:00Ford's is doing "1776" next season? ...Ford's is doing "1776" next season? <b><i>And you're just telling me about this NOW?!?</i></b>M-Dhttp://m-dnovember.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672367743193333056.post-59338898492953778482011-06-16T09:43:20.880-04:002011-06-16T09:43:20.880-04:00The original "1776" (replacing the tape ...The original "1776" (replacing the tape that I had--that I got before that revival, which I saw!).<br /><br />And yep, I snagged "Book of Mormon" on Sunday.Barbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13131816863066652184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672367743193333056.post-40423707376001434232011-06-16T01:16:34.764-04:002011-06-16T01:16:34.764-04:00Which version of "1776" - the original c...Which version of "1776" - the original cast or the 90's revival with Brent Spiner. Don't scoff - they're both good. (Yes, I own both. Although I appear to have misplaced my OCR.)<br /><br />And I hope while you were on this spree that you grabbed "Book of Mormon" from Amazon while it was on sale for $2...M-Dhttp://m-dnovember.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672367743193333056.post-32362899703846258742010-10-02T12:05:22.544-04:002010-10-02T12:05:22.544-04:00I like how your commnt is about as long as my post...I like how your commnt is about as long as my post. ;)<br /><br />It was interesting watching the show as someone who vaguely knew its history and the music. The audience around me, who didn't seem to know either, absolutely LOVED the show. <br /><br />As I stated, I didn't have huge problems with the book; assuming the London version was similar to the concept recording (which I don't know for sure, and don't feel like heading to Wikipedia to check), it seems equally odd. I like that Anatoly and Freddie only play each other; the addition of a third player seems unnecessary. Plus, it seems like the story works with Freddie (SPOILER!) winning in the end.<br /><br />My main problem is Walter's motivation in the second act and his dealings with Anatoly. I just don't understand why he does what he does. Other versions are more explicit, it seems, which would've been nice. I did like the ending; well, I liked that they didn't totally kill Florence, which seems to be typical in other productions. <br /><br />Also, I can pretend that in 5 years, when the Soviet Union falls, she and Anatoly can get together!<br /><br />(I suggested this to Eleasha Gamble, who played Svetlana. She told me that once she gets Anatoly, he stays had. She was charming and funny and a joy to talk to.)<br /><br />And yes, I do know that it's Barbara Dickson on the album. I also have her as Peron's Mistress in a version of Evita, so I also regard that song as mine. Despite my inability to sing. She was also the mother in Blood Brothers, which is another show I love.Barbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13131816863066652184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672367743193333056.post-87579991714215048462010-10-02T02:34:07.932-04:002010-10-02T02:34:07.932-04:00One of the great things about "Chess", d...One of the great things about "Chess", despite the flaws of both the NY & London books (the Sig production was mostly based on NY, with some additional changes), is that even though the characters play a very black & white game, their morality is definitely gray - EVERYONE'S motives are suspect. Even the Arbiter, whose song was imported for the Sig version from the London score*, acknowledges that he's beholden to both the game AND the tournament sponsors.<br /><br />The NY book...well, it's generally regarded as being weak. (OK, that's an understatement. It's generally regarded as being crap.) A number of fairly significant changes were made to to the story, in part to adjust for 'American tastes' (the London version was more of an operetta & Florence wasn't American), in part to make it shorter (although my acting teacher at the time reported sitting through a 3 1/2 hour preview), and in part to bring in younger principals. <br /><br />The conversion into a traditional book musical probably created more issues than it solved. Moving the action from the late 70s to 1988 was supposed to make the story more contemporary, but by default also makes Florence 10 years older, as she's supposed to be very young (7-8ish) when she escaped Hungary in 1956...and yet Elaine Paige, who was born in 1948 and would have matched up almost perfectly with NY-Florence on age, was considered too old to play the role in NY, making way for Judy Kuhn, who was born 2 years after the fall of Budapest and, therefore, was about 8-10 years too young to play NY-Florence, but would have matched well with London-Florence.<br /><br />Updating also watered down some of the juicier Cold War-era storytelling; Walter's role, for instance, is expanded in the NY version, but it's also made less ambiguous compared to the London plot, thanks to a weaker cover story - NY-Walter is Freddie's 'manager' - not to be confused with a chess second - rather than a presenter for Global Television. Being Freddie's manager may give him closer access to the Molokovs of the world, but the TV presenter cover allows far greater freedom of movement and far less scrutiny; the TV presenter cover would have also been more appropriate for 1988, with the rise of CNN and ESPN only years earlier. This also puts him directly in the middle of the Florence/Freddy relationship, whereas in the London version he and Molokov serve more as puppeteers than direct actors.<br /><br />There's also the little matter of the ending, but I could write a whole blog post just on that.<br /><br />(Oh, and one more thing: The woman who sang Svetlana on the London concept recording? <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Dickson" rel="nofollow">Barbara Dickson</a>.)<br /><br />Regarding the ensemble's costumes: my thought at intermission was "Wow. Someone travelled in time to 1988 and raided every Chess King in a 50mi radius of the theater to dress this show." I didn't mind it so much, although a more neutral costume would have worked just as well (and would have been easier to accessorize for the various roles played by the ensemble members).<br /><br />*According to the Samuel French acting edition of the NY book, a version of the Arbiter's Song was originally written to open Act 2 and serve as a bridge between the Bangkok and Budapest settings; in the cut scene, which takes place approx. 8 weeks after the end of Act 1, the Arbiter is at JFK waiting for a Pan Am (!) flight to Budapest, answering questions about the match, Freddie's antics and Anatoly's defection to the west - the first verse was rewritten to fit this context.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15492163581466957485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672367743193333056.post-43844884724752432482010-05-13T01:55:23.434-04:002010-05-13T01:55:23.434-04:00My name is Ricky Cassell I was browsing internet a...My name is Ricky Cassell I was browsing internet and found your blog. The author did a great job. I will subscribe to your RSS feeds. Thank you for your contribution. I am a web designer myself. And here some examples of the websites that I designed for <a href="http://www.unclepaydayloan.com" rel="nofollow">loans</a> <a href="http://www.unclepaydayloan.com/payday-loans.shtml" rel="nofollow">payday loans</a> company.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672367743193333056.post-57728528621410599262010-03-30T15:13:10.236-04:002010-03-30T15:13:10.236-04:00I like books. Give me books!I like books. Give me books!Stevenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672367743193333056.post-6055752962018396342010-03-30T12:28:55.588-04:002010-03-30T12:28:55.588-04:00Me, too--and I promise to donate it to my local li...Me, too--and I promise to donate it to my local library afterward.FinnHaddiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14920677341510311782noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672367743193333056.post-44567306804673635702010-03-29T21:51:04.131-04:002010-03-29T21:51:04.131-04:00Oooh! I would like to read it, please.Oooh! I would like to read it, please.Rebeccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07478461881626832382noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672367743193333056.post-69549350264938682662010-01-18T22:36:52.048-05:002010-01-18T22:36:52.048-05:00Don't be ashamed. I've caught more than m...Don't be ashamed. I've caught more than my fair share of the episodes too. <br /><br />I once spent a bunch of time explaining to my friends why the Backstreet Boys were the new New Kids on the Block.Xinhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03501092550620255199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672367743193333056.post-87246058179375311332010-01-17T00:16:30.169-05:002010-01-17T00:16:30.169-05:00Edited. Though that would be an interesting movie....Edited. Though that would be an interesting movie.Barbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13131816863066652184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672367743193333056.post-39218016295382455122010-01-16T17:27:00.117-05:002010-01-16T17:27:00.117-05:00Confessions of a Shopaholic Watchmen? I think I m...Confessions of a Shopaholic Watchmen? I think I missed that one...Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15492163581466957485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672367743193333056.post-49067568901717730912009-12-13T00:56:48.663-05:002009-12-13T00:56:48.663-05:00How did I not know this was based on a book? Parti...How did I not know this was based on a book? Particularly one set in the UK? I should check it out. Thanks!Barbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13131816863066652184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672367743193333056.post-56140783700334828252009-12-12T13:43:04.254-05:002009-12-12T13:43:04.254-05:00Yes, Delaware and its traffic and tolls can suck i...Yes, Delaware and its traffic and tolls can suck it!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13549117386652987779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672367743193333056.post-62596967396650727612009-12-06T08:43:04.980-05:002009-12-06T08:43:04.980-05:00You should read the book "12 men..." is ...You should read the book "12 men..." is based on, Decent Exposure. It's set in the UK, so moving to a small town in the mountains means you could still commute to the capital every day for business if you want to. You don't have to give up everything you're used to in the same way.Athenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07792495610209362494noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672367743193333056.post-51054004322348085702009-11-12T00:04:48.309-05:002009-11-12T00:04:48.309-05:00Oh, I think you know EXACTLY what the sign means.Oh, I think you know EXACTLY what the sign means.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15492163581466957485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672367743193333056.post-85572372009190982152009-10-15T23:12:39.579-04:002009-10-15T23:12:39.579-04:00A freakin' MEN.
I had this exchange with my m...A freakin' MEN.<br /><br />I had this exchange with my mother (a real estate agent) a few weeks ago:<br /><br />She: I need your help.<br />Me: I already explained how to check your printer's IP address.<br />She: No. I need your help. I need to be on Facebook and Twitter.<br />Me: NO. No you don't.<br />She: Yes I do. I'm 'behind'.<br />Me: No, you're not. You sell houses. Anything you'd post to Twitter would be a solicitation. True Twitter users don't follow people who post nothing but solicitations. [Note: I'm obviously excluding @woot and similar bots]<br />She: No?<br />Me: No. I'll help you set up a business page on Facebook, if you REALLY think you need it, but you DON'T need to be on Twitter.<br /><br />I'm still trying to convince her. Oy.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15492163581466957485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672367743193333056.post-56828938241665518152009-10-05T23:30:59.887-04:002009-10-05T23:30:59.887-04:00*sigh* I always get a little misty during that fin...*sigh* I always get a little misty during that final scene.<br /><br />It's really remarkable how rich a world Ricky Gervais created in just 13 episodes, and how we as viewers came to care about the Tim/Dawn relationship. Which makes it even more remarkable that the American version managed to replicate the chemistry with Jim/Pam, then take it and make it entirely their own.<br /><br />Also, as much as I adore Jenna Fischer, I've had a crush on Lucy Davis for the better part of a decade. I was thrilled when I saw they added her to the cast of "Studio 60"...and that much more pissed when it got cancelled. Stupid NBC.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15492163581466957485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672367743193333056.post-13113104925083186432009-09-10T23:54:51.062-04:002009-09-10T23:54:51.062-04:00There's also a 'no fail' mode so you c...There's also a 'no fail' mode so you can try the higher difficulty levels without failing out. The only caveat is that your score won't count.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15492163581466957485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672367743193333056.post-26830430655002205842009-09-09T22:17:19.361-04:002009-09-09T22:17:19.361-04:00Your last sentence could just as easily apply to m...Your last sentence could just as easily apply to me, though the obsessions are different. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672367743193333056.post-50962573074118501602009-09-03T20:41:24.338-04:002009-09-03T20:41:24.338-04:00I know some friends down here are getting, which r...I know some friends down here are getting, which really is most logical way. But I want my own copy! Maybe I should just spend my money on the remastered CDs...Barbhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13131816863066652184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8672367743193333056.post-70974525755044383412009-09-03T19:50:37.177-04:002009-09-03T19:50:37.177-04:00Can't help with the Anthology, but I can prett...Can't help with the Anthology, but I can pretty much guarantee that you'll be able to play The Beatles: Rock Band the next time you visit NJ.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15492163581466957485noreply@blogger.com