give 'em the old razzle dazzle and shine!

Saturday afternoon, I took mom to see Billy Elliot. I was pretty sure she would love it, and I was not wrong. We had good seats (orchestra row J cuz that's how I roll!) and I brought a lot of kleenex, because the past two times I've seen the show, I've been a blubbing mess (more on this later).

We saw Tommy Batchelor as Billy - and he was great!! What a talented dancer and singer he is. He captured the essential "Billy-ness" for me, I don't know why. The rest of the cast was also outstanding - and I am now completely OBSESSED with Emily Skinner's voice (even though, full disclosure, I still didn't understand a whole lot of "Shine" - we were really close to the speakers though, so maybe it was just loud? I went home and listened to the OCR and I was like 'She said that? Really?')

And, yes, I cried (again). It started early this time, too. I would say I'm pretty emotional, but I don't cry easily at theater or movies. But this just really grabs me, maybe because of the struggles we are having now, economically, or maybe because I identify with the plight of the working man? (YEAH! SOLIDARITY, BABY!) I was only 6 years old in 1984, so I don't remember Margaret Thatcher (I was barely aware of our own president and politics!) so I don't know much about the situation in reality, but it all just seems so strange to me to shut down working mines and import coal from somewhere else just because you can, and put hundreds of thousands of your own people out of work. What did they do for a living after all this happened? I get especially misty when Mr. Elliot goes and BECOMES A SCAB to try and provide a better life, an opportunity, for Billy. It's just gutwrenching.

"Solidarity" remains my favorite number, it's really really well done, combining the clash of the miners and the riot police (we were so close, we could see the expressions of the police during the opening music to this number, and one of them was picking his nose. Hilarious.) and setting it against the innocence of the kids in their dance class. Life goes on, even amidst strikes and chaos. The show is also timed very well, just when there's a lot of sadness and angst, something funny happens - another powerful scene is when Billy receives his letter from the Royal Ballet School (Spolier Alert!!) The buildup to his opening the letter is pretty funny, but the celebration is cut short by the announcement that the strike has ended and the union has lost. He watches the miners go back down the shaft before he leaves for school, knowing when he comes back to town, everything he has known will be different, gone.

SUCH a good show. Go and see it, if you haven't already. And go before October, so you can see Emily Skinner as Mrs. Wilkinson. It is SO worth it...

broadway in chicago 2011 lineup

We've got lots of exciting things in store!

Here’s the full lineup (from today's Chicago Sun Times)

—“Les Miserables” (Feb. 2-27, 2011 at the Cadillac Palace Theatre): The “new” 25th anniversary production of this Boubil and Schonberg classic. (Classic it may be, but I will forever hear Patti's voice in my head exclaiming, "SHUT UPPPPP!! Work it OUT!!! Quit your WHINING!" I've seen it twice, and have no real desire to see it again, so "pull me a pint, mate, I've got a revolution to sit out!")

—“Working” (Feb. 15-May 8, 2011 at the Broadway Playhouse, Water Tower Place): A reworked version of the Stephen Schwartz musical inspired by Studs Terkel’s oral history, with new songs, including one by Tony Award-winner Lin-Manuel Miranda of “In the Heights” fame. (How funny is this, by the way, a friend of mine LOVES this show and was recently wondering if it would come back around.)

—“Hair” (March 8-20, 2011 at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts/Oriental Theatre): The landmark peace-and-love rock musical of the 1960s is back. (YAY!!! Hippies at the Ford Center - peace and love, man! Can't wait for this one!)

—“Merchant of Venice” (March 15-27, 2011 at the Bank of America Theatre): Shakespeare at his most daring, with F. Murray Abraham taking on the role of Shylock (now being played on Broadway by Al Pacino).

—“Wishful Thinking” (April 5-17, 2011 at the Bank of America Theatre): Carrie Fisher performs her autobiographical solo show that deals with her famous parents, her role in “Star Wars” and her battles with the bottle and depression. (I thought this was called "Wishful Drinking"??)

—“Next to Normal” (April 26-May 8, 2011 at the Bank of America Theatre): More mental illness in this 2010 Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, with Broadway’s Alice Ripley reprising her starring role. (SO excited to see this!!!)

Off-Season Specials:

—“Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles” ((Feb. 8-13, 2011): The “clones” of the Fab Four will return to sing all the greatest hits.

—“Spring Awakening” (May 3-8, 2011): The Tony Award-winning Duncan Sheik-Steven Sater musical about 19th century teens on the brink of calamity makes a return visit. (Am SO going to see this again - for the song "Totally Fucked" - maybe seats on the stage this time??)

—Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast” (June 28-July 10, 2011): Love the beast you’re near and he might just turn into a prince.

fall... already?

Where has the summer gone? Every year, I sit around kind of waiting for the signal that summer has started - there is no official summer vacation for the working stiff, and so by the time I started thinking summer's finally here, it is practically over. At least we have some fall things to look forward to: honey crisp apples and sweater and yes, darlings, boots!
J. Crew shows us how to get it done, and has some help from Katie Holmes and Josh Duhamel.

I love me some J. Crew - I got the catalogue yesterday. My favorite part, aside from the pix of Josh, Katie, and the cast of their movie The Romantics, was the ad on the back cover that said "Boot Up!" because fall is also the time where we can start wearing our boots! I also love me some boots (and that should come as no surprise).

So, yeah. J. Crew and Bono have decreed it to be so: Boot Up, Bitches.

the viking rumble...

Eric is getting ready to rumble... can't wait for this week's True Blood!

Justin Guarini Joins Broadway's Women on the Verge; Casting Complete - Playbill.com

This news made me gasp and giggle... LuPone and... Guarini? She is gonna have that boy for lunch!

Justin Guarini Joins Broadway's Women on the Verge; Casting Complete - Playbill.com

Thanks, Rolling Stone!

The September 2 issue of Rolling Stone will feature three True Blood cast members disporting in the altogether... since two of those three are Eric (Alexander Skarsgard) and Bill (Stephen Moyer) - who's complaining??? NOT ME.

(This is a pic from the article, I am guessing, but you get the idea, yes?)

I am officially all caught up on my TB Season 3 watching - last night, Heidi, Jane and I watched the episodes we had left to watch. Now we're up to speed on all of the batshit antics of our favorite vampiers, shifters and weres (oh my!) in Bon Temps. This is some crazy shit. But I LOVE it. Word on the street is that they are casting the witch Hallow for next season - can an arc with Amnesiac Eric be far behind?? I hope yes!

yes she can, yes she can!!

Whew, what a weekend! This was my big geekapalooza weekend, with back to back shows of Annie Get Your Gun at Ravinia. I'd never seen AGYG before, but I knew much of the music, and honestly, I would go listen to Patti LuPone sing the phone book, or rap, or do pretty much whatever the hell she wanted to do. I will be there.

AGYG is a sweet, old-school musical, with delightful music (even the sad songs sound kinda bouncy, like when Frank is breezily assuring the girls to stay away from him because he's a "bad, bad man" with a huge grin on his face, loveable cad that he is!) The cast was pretty delightful, too, aside from (the) Patti, we got Patrick Cassidy (even my mom was commenting about how cute he looked in those jeans!) and George Hearn. I didn't have any trouble believing in Patti as a pistol packin' mama (I read a quote somewhere from Lonny Price that said something to the effect of Patti's so good, you just kind of believe whatever she believes - and it's true. Patti says she's Annie, well, damn straight, she is!) The plot is also fairly old school - with the central conflict of the plot involving the best way to get (and keep) a man. Annie is pretty sure that you can't get one with a gun - and when she tries to impress Frank with a fancy new trick, he goes all crazy because (gasp!) she's a better shot than him! Oh no, I can't marry you now, you're a better shot than me! I just wanted to shake him - hello? Does it fit in her character at all that she would double cross you? No. If he hung around her long enough he'd notice that simple girl thing was not an act. And if she was double crossing you, why would she be all, 'Oooh, Frank, did you see that? Did you like it?' Frank and his wounded pride. Because god forbid a girl be better than you, right? Nah, it's just dumb luck. Sigh. And also, he would just have to get over his "A doll that I'll carry is the girl that I'll marry thing" because, dude, please. See what I mean? Old school.

Some of my favorite things from the weekend:
- On Saturday night, about 4 people with those sequined light up cowboy hats came into the pavilion and parked themselves in the front row, with the hats blinking perkily. I can't be sure of this, but I think that someone went down there and told them to turn them off during the show, lest someone catch a glimpse of merrily blinking cowboy hats and commence to lose her shit. Or maybe she would have liked them, hard to tell with her, sometimes. It would have come as a surprise, anyway, to come out on stage and see blinking cowboy hats.

- As further evidence that I am a magnet for strangeness, Sunday evening, I arrived at Ravinia, and parked myself on a bench with a book until it was time to go into the pavilion. A nice older couple approached and asked if they could share the bench and I said, of course. So they were talking amongst themselves, and the lady apologized to me for distracting me from my reading, but I didn't really mind, and I said as much. Then they started talking to me, and had apparently been in a nasty car crash on the toll way on their way to Ravinia. I asked if anyone had been hurt or anything like that, and where they had come from, etc. No one was hurt. Their car was banged up but driveable. The girl who crashed into them was not hurt but her car was wrecked. An unpleasant way to start a lovely Sunday evening, and we got to chatting some more - turns out the gentleman was a fan of theater and opera and liked to travel to New York, so we talked about that for a while. I am apparently nice and approachable, but why, why, why, why am I never approached by young, hot, available MEN?? I ask you.

- Sunday night, I was early to my seat and noticed Patti in the wings, checking out the audience.

- Sunday again, I had seats in row K in the center section. That is the closest I've been in a long while (the absolute closest I've been was row D left side for Gypsy. That was total luck, and I've never been that close since). I didn't take any curtain call pictures since I was so darned close because Patti would be sure to see me (and hey, she had a gun, okay? and I don't have a death wish).

- Patti rocked all of her big songs, but probably my very favorite moment was during "You Can't Get a Man with a Gun" (no, but you could shoot them, which might come in handy when they're prattling on about being a doll they can carry.) and she blasted out "with a GuuuUUUUUnnnn!!! With a guuuuUUUnnn! No you can't get a man with a gun..." Oy, those notes! That voice! Enough to give me goosebumps.

- She was also super cute (I know that most people probably wouldn't call her cute, but she WAS, so there) in "Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better" and after the "Any note you can sing, I can sing higher" bit, she kind of screeched out a note, looked a little surprised at what had issued forth from her mouth, and burst into laughter. Also, was there ever any doubt over who could sing longer? Patti all the way, although I was worried she was going to fall backwards while she was sustaining the "IIIIIIIIII..... CAAAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNNNNNNN!" bit.

- A whole seperate shout out is needed for Mr. Cassidy and, as I mentioned, his jeans. He was plenty cute, also.


- A sidebar here, the Ravinia magazine was identical to the one from a few weeks ago - different cover, but same stories. Same profile of Nathan Gunn (which, whatever, he's lovely and delightful, and I will happily read his interviews. In fact, in the future, I offer to GIVE these dinner with... interviews. How bout it, Ravinia?) Same story about the Merm, same exact content except for the program details in the back. This is the first time I have encountered that, and I wonder if it was a mistake or what.

- There was a signing on Saturday night, but I didn't stay. It was HOT, and I hadn't brought anything worth Patti signing, and I can never scrape enough brain cells together in her presence to say anything meaningful. Even though I've been curious to ask her if she's still doing the blood type diet thing, (because if yes, it is working for her!) and tell her that a colleague of mine makes smoothies using kale, so she could try that, if she was in need of creative ideas. Do you think I could actually say these things though?? No. So I didn't wait. And I didn't wait last night, either, because it was late and Sunday and I had to get up early for work this morning.

- I also think I saw Mandy Patinkin lurking around in the audience. I was waiting to leave on Sunday - one of the bad things about sitting close is that it took just about forever to leave. I was looking around, like you do, and peered down an aisle (for easier exit access) and I spotted someone who looked familiar. First I just saw him in profile, so I wasn't sure, so I kept (subtly) looking and he turned around... I am pretty sure it was him. If I'd had anyone with me, I would have done what Heidi did to me in NYC when she saw Constantine Maroulis hailing a cab, AKA, she grabbed me and went "Isn't that... somebody?? American Idol dude?" (It was. We were down the street from Rock of Ages at the time.) So that is unsubstantiated, but there you go. I never spot ANYBODY, so points for me there.

Ummm. I think that's all. For a while I had considered going to Lolla a few weeks ago, but really, it's not my scene. Give me a beautiful summer night at Ravinia, and amazing singers doing a charming musical and I will be happy.

start your friday off with a bite

This? Right here? Is why I parked my butt in front of the tv all of last weekend, watching True Blood. Fangtastic, yes? Real vampires don't sparkle!! Incidentally, I emailed this photo to a co-worker late yesterday afternoon, because who doesn't like to get pictures of hunks to get you through that last hour of the work day? Her response? "DAMN! OH MY. OH MY."

Pretty much.

patti, we loves ya back!

Patti and Peter singing "An Old Fashioned Wedding" from Annie Get Your Gun, which, happily I will be seeing many times this weekend. (Note to self: bring bug spray!)

Ow!!!!

Multi-tasking is the devil and all!!! I sat through a training session this morning and wanted to get some fresh air. I went to the Noodles & Co. on Michigan Avenue to get some lunch, reached for the door (that I thought was there) and walked into a big old glass panel - with the right side of my face. OW. What a klutzy dumbass I am sometimes.

There IS a door there, for the record, but it is to exit, not enter, and so I crashed into a glass window, knocked my glasses askew - had to run across the street - thankfully there is a Lens Crafters there and they fixed the damage pretty quickly. Went back to pick up my food and am sitting here with a bag of ice on my face. It hurts, too, I hope I didn't give myself a black eye!!

what? you want to see the paparazzi video?

Well, all right, if you all insist... the Man with the Eyepatch shows up towards the end of the video. Aside from that, this is a great song... I almost would have gone to see Lady Gaga at Lolla this past weekend but you know... I felt a little old for the rock and roll lifestyle.

time out ny: alexander skarsgard on the hot seat!

This is an oldie (from September) but a goodie brought to us by Time Out New York ...


True Blood fanatics insist that Alexander Skarsgård could floss his teeth with Robert Pattinson. As Eric Northman on HBO’s hit series, the actor spends most of his screen time brooding, biting and just barely concealing his dreamily undead bod. He’s come a long way since his small part in the 2001 flick Zoolander (“orange mocha Frappuccinos!”): He carried HBO’s critically acclaimed miniseries Generation Kill, scored a part in theforthcoming Lars von Trier film Melancholia and is set to tantalize True Blood fanatics everywhere when the show’s third season premieres on Sunday 13. We sat down with the smokin’ Swede to talk vampire fetishes and fraternal mix-ups.

Let’s start with a confession: Certain TONY staffers—and we’ll avoid using names here—are total fang bangers.
What’s that?

Oh, you know, people who want to make vampire babies.
That’s always good to know when you’re doing an interview.

Sadly, we haven’t happened across many fangs to bang.
You haven’t run into any vampires lately?

Do you think being a fang banger is edgier than being a Twihard?
What’s that?

A Twihard. Like a Twilight obsessive. Don’t you know what a Twihard is?
Uh, no.

We’re actually impressed. Speaking of deadly things—how did you end up playing Lady Gaga’s murderous, eye-patch-wearing boyfriend in her “Paparazzi” video?
The director, Jonas Åkerlund, is a friend and fellow Swede. He told me, “You push Lady Gaga off a balcony and try to kill her, then she comes back and poisons you.” It sounded like fun. With Jonas, you know it’s going to be edgy— it won’t be walking down the beach holding hands.

Which is the better accessory: an eye patch or retractable fangs?
I really dug the eye patch—I felt like a pirate. An updated version of Captain Hook.

The last season of True Blood asked a lot of Eric. In one episode you eviscerate a human prisoner; in another you’re wistful after the loss of your maker, Godric. Quite the range for a heartless vampire.
Yes. When we started the first season, people thought Eric was this businessman with zero feelings. It was nice during season two that—without losing Eric, without making him too soft—I could at least show that there’s another side to him.

It was also a very sexy season, full of vamp-on-human hookups. But while Eric was very flirtatious with Sookie—Anna Paquin’s character—he didn’t get much action.
Eric’s got plenty of time. No rush there. He’s, you know, enjoying the progress.

But the season-three previews show you topless and talking with Sookie. Please tell us they finally…fang bang.
There is a lot going on in season three. The attraction to Sookie will not subside—it’s strong and growing stronger. But of course I can’t tell you. That’d be a huge spoiler, wouldn’t it?

C’mon, just a little hint about what’s coming?
It’s about revenge for Eric. You find out that he lost a group of people 1,000 years ago that were very, very dear to him. Suddenly he’s presented with an opportunity to avenge them, and that’s something he’s been awaiting for a very long time.

We’ve seen some clips with werewolves, too. What was it like working with wolves?
Pretty amazing. When you’re up close, they’re so majestic and beautiful and powerful.

Any scary moments on set?
There were a lot of scary moments, but none involving wolves…

Intriguing. Now that True Blood is the most watched HBO show since The Sopranos, you probably get recognized a lot.
Yeah, a lot of people think I’m Peter Sarsgaard’s brother.

How do you feel about that?
He’s an amazing actor. So I always say, “Yes, we’re brothers.”

oh, sookie...

I spent this weekend in an air conditioned "hidey-hole" catching up on True Blood - Season 2. Yes, Season 2. I am a little behind. But now, I am pleased to say, I am caught up there - time to get up to speed on Season 3. So bring it, Bon Temps.

So - in a tip of the hat to the weekend - this video is hilarious. But might I suggest an "Oh, Eric..." With the refrain, "Ohhhh, Eric! Lemme get in your head, ohhhhhhhh Eric - who cares if you're dead??"

Niles West students to perform in Edinburgh :: News :: PIONEER PRESS :: Morton Grove Champion

Good job, Niles West Thespians! I hope your chaperones on this trip are a lot more conscientious than the ones I had when I traveled to London with a school group... although our parents were promised constant supervision, the chaperones pretty much buggered off and left us alone. Which, you know, cool. I got ditched by my group in Windsor (I found them and I don't think they even realized I was missing.) and also spent a day by myself, shopping and poking around Oxford Street. We were supposed to be in small (chaperoned) groups, but we all kind of split up and did our own thing. We met up for high tea. I was never worried about it, really, I had a tube card and I knew where the hotel was. If I ever got lost, I figured I'd go back to the hotel and start over again. Still, I don't think my parents would have taken the same view.

The evening bed check went something like this:

knock, knock, knock
My roommate: Yeah?
Chaperone (I'll call him "Mr. Johnson"): Are you all in there?
Roommate: Yeah!
Mr. Johnson: Okay, goodnight!

And he left. He never asked us to open the door, or verify that all of us were in the room, it was just "Yeah" and off he went. I am sure I have told this story before. One of my classmates snuck off and saw Sunset Boulevard (Patti was gone by then, this was with Betty Buckley) - he got his own ticket and when the time came, he took himself off to the theater.

Compare this with the choir trip I took as a senior. We went to Minnesota, of all places, to sing at the Mall of America. Not only were doors opened and heads counted at evening bed check, our choir director taped our doors shut so nocturnal wanderings to visit classmates would not occur. In the morning, she checked the tape to make sure it had not been broken.

Anyway, break a leg, Westies!!

Niles West students to perform in Edinburgh :: News :: PIONEER PRESS :: Morton Grove Champion

friday-friday-friday

I have the Friday warm-fuzzies - and what is warmer and fuzzier and happier and fridayer (?) than an adorable bulldog or two playing in the snow... splashing in a pool... eating watermelon... playing ball? I found these videos here. If you need a smile, go and check these guys out...

time to cool off!

Time for some cute. Lookit this big guy....

No apology from Ravinia after Sondheim show :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Music

Ooohhh, Ravinia. You've landed in the soup this time. Facebook is practically exploding with ticked off people. They are mad not just about the length of this concert, but the fact that you all started kicking people off the lawn. And this ticket offer does not help those of us who already have our tickets to see Annie Get Your Gun (and who have had them, in fact, for quite some time already).

Personally? I don't want my money back. To some extent, I knew what I was in for. But not everyone works in a non-profit and understands the way these gala things work. Point? YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD EVERYONE THAT IT WAS GOING TO BE A SHORT SHOW. Then they could have decided for themselves if it was worth spending the money. Or done two concerts - had the gala evening and then done a seperate one for us riff-raff.

No apology from Ravinia after Sondheim show :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Music

come and see your good friend Sweeney...

I know I said move on, but I lied. Here's a video from Saturday night's performance. No, I didn't take it, but god bless you, You Tube.

Ravinia Review - Chicago Tribune

Sondheim%20at%20Ravinia%3A%20Anger%20on%20the%20North%20Shore%20at%20truncated%20birthday%20celebration

Well, ouch, Chris Jones. "Debacle on the north shore" is a bit strongly worded. I totally agree with you on the timing of this concert - what should have been a celebration of Sondheim by four remarkable interpreters of his music was timed, as you say, in a bit of a bone-headed way. I paid my money and didn't get to nob with the nobs afterwards either, but I went into it with the understanding that a gala concert is usually short - I had guessed an hour to an hour and a half. Maybe the tickets should come with a caveat? It would probably have been better if this concert had not been selected for the Gala event, so that we all could have basked in the celebration of Sondheim...

Moving on...

a little sondheim music

Last night, the stars aligned at Ravinia for a dazzling (yet brief) celebration of Stephen Sondheim's 80th birthday. Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald, Michael Cerveris and George Hearn, singing Sondheim, with the CSO conducted by Paul Gemignani?? Yes, please! It also happened to be the Ravinia Women's Board's annual gala, so the people watching was even more excellent than usual. But on with the show - our seats were Center, LL, way the heck in the back of the pavilion, right next to the sound booth (or maybe it was the light booth? Not sure. Something technical was happening back there, at any rate). After the Star Spangled Banner, and some 'rah-rah, go us' speeches, our fabulous four stars made their first appearance, singing "Together Wherever We Go" - a little lyric shuffling was in order, since there were four of them, thus there was no "a duo" following "Whatever the boat I row, you row" and no "a trio" following "Whatever the row I hoe, you hoe" - although Patti spiritedly interjected "Who are you callin' a ho?"

The four of them took turns at a little podium, introducing the songs and taking us on a little trip down memory lane as they sang highlights from the Sondheim musicals that had graced the stage at Ravinia over the past several years. They promised surprises - Audra gushed that she'd finally get to sing something she'd always wanted to perform - "Epiphany" from Sweeney Todd. She'd thought since Michael and George were both there, deciding who would play Sweeney would be awkward. No, sez Patti, we've figured it out. Audra then asked who would be singing Sweeney - and both gentlemen raised their hands. Riiiight, she said, glad you've worked that all out, then. Looked like she'd have to save Epiphany for another evening...

Sunday in the Park with George was up first, with Michael singing "Finishing the Hat" joined by Audra for "Move On". What a gorgeous voice she has. I mean, seriously gorgeous. And she looked stunning, all in white, like a Greek goddess or something. It was nice to see Michael again, too, I don't think I've seen him in anything since Sweeney Todd.

Next up: A Little Night Music, with Patti introducing the first song - she and George as Desiree and Frederick, in her dressing room, for "You Must Meet My Wife" -- hilarity ensued later on as Patti went back over the script at the podium - something had been bugging her about the intro she'd read for that song, and it turned out the dressing room phrase had been put in there more than once. So naturally she told us about it and how it had been bothering her and it was best, really, just to get these things out. Hee hee. Hopefully, she was feeling festive and no heads rolled for that typo... I did however, want a head to roll a few rows ahead of me where a guy was READING A NEWSPAPER. During the concert. Really??? Really!??!?! Patti, over here!!! He's the one who called you a ho! Help me tell him where he can put his freaking newspaper!!!

Where was I? Oh, right, ALNM. Additional selections included "Everyday a Little Death" (Patti & Audra), "Glamorous Life" (Audra), "Send in the Clowns" (Patti), "It Would Have Been Wonderful" (Michael & George).

Patti sang "Everything's Coming Up Roses" from Gypsy (yay!) which received a long and thunderous ovation. That took me on my own journey down memory lane - Gypsy nights at Ravinia with a group of great friends, Gypsy nights at City Center with some of those same friends, Gypsy nights on Broadway, including the performance right after that second Tony win... "What can you do after that?" wondered George as he introduced selections from Passion: "Happiness" (Audra & Michael) and "I Wish I Could Forget You" (Patti). That one is notable for having one of my favorite Sondheim lines in it "a love as pure as breath, as permanent as death, implacable as stone" - stunning, poetic.

I digress. Merrilly, we rolled along (ha!) with Anyone Can Whistle - a false start from Michael on "Everybody Says Don't" - he started over, noting "Everybody says don't... start a song like THAT." and then a sweet sounding "Anyone Can Whistle" from Audra.

The two Sweeneys took the stage as Sweeney and the judge for "Pretty Women" and then the two Sweeneys took turns with Patti as Mrs. Lovett for "A Little Priest". Well, oh my giddy god. I'd been dying for them to do that after I'd heard they'd sung it that way in New York for one of the big official Sondheim birthday concerts. Worth the price of admission, right there.

After the song was over, Audra was all like "Yeah, well, that was good, guys, but I still think I should have done Epiphany." Those four should have been the gala's masters of ceremony, I think that would have made the event really really lively! Although, I didn't get to go to the party, so for all I know, they may have!

They wrapped up with "Side by Side" from Company. And then it was over - after only an hour and fifteen minutes. I had thought it would be a fairly short concert, since most of the audience was there for the party, sort of gypping those of us who were there for the MUSIC, because I could have listened to those amazing voices singing Sondheim all night long. Come back soon, guys!

summer night city...

Ready to disco?? On Friday night, despite my horrific cold, Heidi and I were off to Summer Night City (AKA Ravinia - is that not perfect? ) for the music of ABBA, courtesy of our friends Arrival from Sweden. I love me some ABBA, and I guess lots of other people do, as well, because they were ALL jam packed into the parking lot and sprawled on the lawn at Ravinia that evening! Because really? This is perfect summer music - light and happy, singable, danceable and just plain clap your hands to the beat fun. The gift shop also got into the spirit of the event, displaying completely awesome sequined cowboy hats that had lights on their brims, in addition to jelly rings, bracelets and other assorted light up accessories.

We had seats in the pavilion, but I would wager that the real disco dance party was on the lawn. Everyone in the pavilion were strangely sedate, like aliens had descended into Highland Park and replaced all of the concert-goers with pod people - I mean, have you EVER been to a pop or rock music concert where everyone politely stays in their seats for the entire thing? At the U2 concert, as soon as the band hit the stage we were on our feet and we stayed there for the entire show.

Here, everyone sat calmly. The familiar strains of Mamma Mia got everyone going a little bit, and towards the end of the show, the crowd got up and danced to Take a Chance on Me (And I mean, everyone in the crowd which was like, huh? I didn't know that this song was that huge. I like it a lot, but I thought for sure some of the other songs would have been more of the crowd pleasers) and also Dancing Queen. But the rest of the time - everyone stayed in their seats. I don't usually attend pop music events at Ravinia, are they always like that?? Is it because donors snap up the tickets first and they tend to be older (and richer, with disposable income?) ? Is it because the original ABBA audience from back in the day is also considerably older now and less inclined to get up and boogie? Or what? Last year, they had a dance floor right in front of the stage, but they didn't do that this year (too bad!). Don't get me wrong, the audience was appreciative and all, it was just a little startling that everyone just sat there, stock still. I was dancing in my seat and clapping and singing along (as best I could. I'm losing my voice, thanks to my cold!) and I would totally have gotten up if everyone else had been doing that. Are people worried they will block the view of people behind them? That wouldn't be a problem if everybody was up and dancing! This isn't a Tony Bennett concert here, people!

Okay, sorry. Arrival from Sweden are lots of fun. There are four of them, playing Benny, Bjorn, Agnetha and Frieda (So really, they should be ABBF or maybe FABB) and they wear costumes identical to the ones ABBA really wore in their concerts. So naturally, they are completely awesome in a hilarious, 1970s kind of way. The group even sounds a lot like ABBA, and they filled their two hour concert with all of the group's greatest hits.

(This picture unfortunately does not do justice to the costumes, especially the crazy boots that everyone was wearing! Our "Benny" was sitting at the piano wearing high heeled sparkly boots! And the girls had on, at one point, above the knee white go-go boots - call me a boot bitch if you must, but they were adorable!) I have to say, I was devastated that I was not able to sing along with all of my favorites, but it was still a great night for this aging and rapidly decaying dancing queen. Just wait until next year...