christine ebersole at the harris theater

Back to the Harris for the second show in the Broadway Lumniaries series - An Evening with Christine Ebersole. I had seen Christine (twice!) in Grey Gardens on Broadway (this is just turning into a list of things I have to thank Sarah for, isn't it?) and I loved her in it, but aside from that, I had not heard her do anything else. So I went into the evening not knowing what to expect (aside, of course, from the weird neon lights, padded walls and stark institutional looking Harris Theater, and no I'm never going to stop grumbling about how awful that place looks. If they keep doing awesome things there, then I will go, but I don't have to love the place.).

When we walked in to the house last night, two things happened - I noticed that they were playing music - not Christine, but broadway music. I think it was probably the Playbill station. I was clued in to this mainly because we had just sat down and started leafing thru the program when a familiar voice exclaimed "Here she is, boys!! Here she is, world! Here's ROSE!" with an evil sounding cackle. Yes, Patti started belting Rose's Turn over the theater's sound system. Then a friendly guy named Shane came over and told us that he had champagne and wine in his little red cooler bag and we could buy it whenever we wanted. The wine, I am not joking here, was in a little box. Like a little boozy juice box. They even gave patrons a straw with it. I am happy to report that the woman who was next to us for the Sondheim conversation (the one taking noisy pictures, remember her?) was not there. The seat next to our 2 was empty. Although there was a thing in the row behind us, this lady went up to the couple on the end and said something like, "I'm just going to sit in that seat there and hope nobody comes!" the gentleman would not budge and told her to go and talk to the usher if she wanted to change seats. If you're going to try and be sneaky, don't be so obvious about it!!! Whatever.

Then - the band came out and so did Christine. She was all in black (and looked fab!) and started singing away. She told us that hers was a cabaret with songs that could not be sung in polite society. Songs about sex, love, politics, and the most controversial subject of all - at least in Chicago, anyway - the weather.

In between songs, she told little stories that led into the next song, a few times punctuated with quotes from Little Edie. She was charming, hilarious, and ohmygosh, can she ever SING. I don't know all of what she sang, except she sang 42nd Street, Stormy Weather (which blew the roof off of that place!), the Last Rose of Summer (I think that's what it is called), a song about Chicago (cuz she's from here! She is from Winnetka which she told us is a Native American word meaning 'affluent gentile' although she claims to have come from the 'other side of the tracks.' Is there an other side of the tracks in Winnetka, even? And at the end, she channeled Eartha Kitt (I am going to take her word on that one, b/c I am not really well versed in Eartha. Or even if that's how you spell "Eartha").

It all seemed to go by too quickly - I could listen to her sing for hours. Come back to us soon, Christine, because it was a lovely evening.

da-da-da-da-DUM

Christine Ebersole at the Harris tonight!!

the electroshock eleven

...As in almost all of them needed a good electroshock up on the big Idol stage last night. Seriously. Out of the million jillion people who auditioned, this lot was the best they could come up with??? It was pretty much a snore fest last night as the top 11 sang Billboard #1 hits. That's a lot of songs, yes? So why did almost no one sing anything current? Katie sang a Fergie song and Aaron sang Aerosmith but everybody else was back in the 60s and 70s. Miley Cyrus was the "mentor" this week, and she was fine. I mean, whatever. She's more relevant than some of the mentors they've had in past seasons - at least she's actually in the music business as opposed to Tarantino where it was like WTF? Can you tell them about a singing competition??

Anyway. Crystal is a star, she's in a league of her own, they should just give it to her now and spare us all 10 more weeks of this crap. The others are nowhere near her, not even Chiffon (sorry Siohban? Or is it Siobhan?) who is getting more and more annoying as weeks go by. I was not in love with her Stones song last week, and I didn't really care for her song this week and is there really a huge need to shriek through every single song? That is not performing. That's just shouting. (The American judge here was cranky last night, can you tell?)

So yes. My picks for the bottom three - Paige (!!), Tim, Andrew and Lee is on the bubble. By the time they rolled the recaps of the evening I was like, oh yeah, I forgot about you. I was right last week in my picks for bottom dwellers. Let's see if it happens again. My choice for leaving would be Paige, obviously, and then Andrew. Straight Up.

++ Update: And we were RIGHT AGAIN! My bottom 3 was a little off, Andrew was mysteriously safe, while Katie ended up on the Stools of Death for maybe 10 seconds before she went off to join the top 10. Paige went home, praise the Lord and pass the mashed potatoes! Next week is RB/soul with the mentoring assistance of Usher. Um. Yeah. I guess we'll see how the Top 10 (which could be the alliterative Terrific Ten or, more likely Terrible Ten. Torrid Ten?) fares with that.

i am lion, hear me roar...

I don't know what's putting me in the spirit of pramfulls of puppies and cuddly wuddly baby lions, but here's some cute for your Friday morning. This cub is 2 days old and is living in SIBERIA - in Krasnoyarsk!! This reminds me of Marian Keyes' wonderful new book - "The Brightest Star in the Sky" where a character uses cities that end in "sk" as sort of new curse words. I really think she is onto something with this. One of the best ones she used was "Irkutsk!" There is a lot of power in yelling that. It just sounds so fiery. Especially when you are in the car. "MINSK!" is also a good one. Very satisfying. No, seriously, try it. She also uses "Gdansk" but that's more of a happy one. Like, "Gdansk, have a nice day!" "Krasnoyarsk!" sounds like another winner to me. When I saw the caption of this photo online and saw the city, it made me smile. And so did the widdle baby lion.

Now please go and read Marian's book. It's really wonderful, charming and funny and sad too. You won't regret it. G'dansk!!

Patti Lu 101

A few weeks ago, I brought a colleague to see Patti & Mandy. She's heard all (and I mean all) of my stories, heard me blather away about how wonderful they both are, and she agreed (bravely) to spend the Friday evening before her 60th birthday with me in Mandypattiville (as Mr. P himself calls it) - I mean, what better present could one get, right??

But then I started getting nervous. It was her first time seeing them, although she knew of them and liked them both by reputation. She was, for all intents and purposes, a PatMan virgin (and that reminds me of the first time I saw Sweeney Todd, when Sarah literally introduced me to Patti. She told her "Patti, I've brought you some virgins" and Patti looked curious and eager and answered "Virgins?? Where??" So, I have loads more to thank you for, Ms. Sarah.).

And it's hard, you know, to bring someone into something you love so much because what if they hate it?? I went on and on forever about how great the show was, but I know that these two are not everyone's cup of tea. I know it and I accept it (even if you are all WRONG. No, just kidding.) So, yeah, I was nervous.

Does anybody remember the Patti who showed up to the first night of Gypsy at Ravinia? Well, she showed up again on Friday night at the Caddy. She seemed a bit subdued, actually, generally all right, but not as "on" as I've seen her. My lovely colleague sort of agreed with me there (I REALLY wish she had been there on Sunday afternoon, because that was the best performance I saw.). As we were leaving, she asked me the best performance I had ever seen Patti do. And you know, I was really stumped. I've seen a lot of great things from her, and they're all tied up in misty water colored memories so it's kind of hard for me to choose.

So I decided to do a little blog highlight reel in Maggie's honor, a proper introduction to the Diva - not only stuff I've seen live and in person, but historical Pattiness, because there is a whole lot of awesome on youtube...

Today's choice, is, naturally, Being Alive.... probably my favorite version of this song by anyone, anywhere. Ms. Patti is in full diva sass mode here.

what's cuter than a pram full of puppies???

Nothing, is the answer you're looking for. These guys are on their way to the Crufts Dog Show in Birmingham, England. (Thanks, reuters!)

a love-hate relationship

So, Idol fans, the top 12 sang last night. It was not the top 12 I would have picked (LILLY!!! but since I didn't vote, I suppose I can't grumble too much) and as much as I threaten to stop watching, I keep going back week after week after week. It's soothing, you know, lounging around w/a box of thin mints, watching these guys warble away at - wait for it - Rolling Stones songs. If they are the most "iconic band on the planet" (really??) why don't I know more of their songs??? Most of the time I was like oh, okay. I didn't know that was a Stones song, etc. I recognized a handful of them. But not all of them, and in fact, I had no idea what Tim Urban's song "Under my thumb" gone reggae was actually supposed to sound like. Randy was all like "Yoyoyo, what did you do to that song, dawg?" and Simon even said that Rolling Stones fans would be turning their tvs off at that point (but really? are real Stones fans likely to even be watching American Idol anyway??) and I was like oh, does it not really go like that? I thought it was okay. Kind of boring, but okay.

Actually that about sums up the whole show last night and this season as a whole: kind of boring but okay. Hypnotic, actually. But the show was on for two hours last night and it just dragged on. I don't think any of them have real star power so it will be interesting to see who wins.

And I hope that my faves, Crystal and Siobhan stick around.

My bottom 2 predictions: Paige and Lacey

++Update: Look who was right about the bottom 2! I shoulda had money on that one... although I would have picked Paige to get booted, as I don't get her AT ALL. And I think it was mean to have poor Lacey sing like there was any chance of the judges using the save on her. There's no way they would have used it this week, on either of those two.

the winner takes it all!

You didn't think I'd let this go, did you? No ABBA Tuesday after the awesome foursome was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame?? That's just silly. Just two members of the group were on hand to receive their honor (Benny and Frieda - so "AB", or technically "FB") so no big reunion piece there (boo).



And we WILL be back at Ravinia, come summertime, to pay homage to the group with our jelly rings and glitter lanterns, Swedish Fish (and EELS too!), with Arrival of Sweden in July (the day before the big Sondheim gala concert. Maybe I should just pitch a tent on the lawn??)

Get your disco on, people! Happy Tuesday!

525,600 minutes...

How to measure the Niles North production of Rent? Despite my earlier comments about its possible inappropriateness, it has to be probably the coolest school musical choice possibly ever. If I was a young Viking in Niles North's thespian troupe, I would have been (wait for it...) over the moon.

And the kids did a good job with the show. Some really great voices there, actually. Although the posters proclaimed it to be the "high school version" there weren't a lot of drastic cuts to the material. Language, mostly - so the Tango: Maureen had the following lines:

"This is weird."
"It's weird."
"Very weird."
"Really weird."

And in La Vie Boheme, Joanne informed them:
"Benny called the cops."
To which Maureen replied "That jerk!"

Some other stuff in La Vie was also cut/edited, but not as much as we thought, surprisingly. The Act 2 orgy scene (whatever it's really called, I'm sure y'all know which one I mean) was cut (no surprises there.). It was a teeny tiny bit uncomfortable watching the young Mimi shimmying around to "Out Tonight" (which is a huge, huge song. Those "Ooowwww-Oooooouttt Tonight"s are fairly hard to sing, and range-y as all heck. She was all right.) Plus, the poor girl was traipsing around on this crazy scaffolded set in sky high heeled hot pink boots. I kept watching her and hoping she wasn't going to fall over. I wouldn't even be able to stand still on those boots, let alone prance around the stage and climb around etc. Brava.

So anyway. It must be a challenge to put on a school musical - finding something relevant, and interesting so that the kids want to be in it but also so that people want to come and see it. I would think that you would also want to find something so that a lot of people could be in it (although this Rent did not have a huge ensemble, there were still roles for a good number of kids). It was pretty ambitious, doing Rent, but I think they did a good job with it. And they made me cry at the end. It's too bad, isn't it, that Jonathan Larson never got to see the huge success of this show, and how it is still influencing and inspiring a new generation of theater goers.

They did the pitch for Seasons of Concern (which I think is part of BC/EFA but don't quote me there) and I really really hate when the actors break your post-show bubble by standing on stage and talking at you, but I am not made of stone, and so I gave them a little $$ on the way out.

I left pretty impressed with Niles North and its theater department - their Spring play will be "The Merry Wives of Windsor" -- Shakespeare. We never did no Shakespeare at Niles West!

this weekend: Rent... at Niles North High School

So tomorrow afternoon I am going to see a high school production of Rent. Does that strike anyone else as being strange and kind of inappropriate for high school kids? Am I just really old? I remember when I was in high school (all the way back in the -gasp! 1990s!) and they did Chicago - there were all kinds of cuts made to the production. As I recall, they could not say "undies" on stage and had to say "panties" instead (or I could be mixing those up). So no on the undies, but totally okay with Rent and its thematic elements? How times have changed. It just surprises me what parents in the district complain about and what they ignore... What's next? Spring Awakening??

I've been told that there is a cleaned up high school version that they will be performing, but then will it be like 15 minutes long or what? I guess we will just have to see. I'm going because I am so insanely curious about it. Plus, I've been to some other North stuff and I know they will do a great job. Even if they just sing "Seasons of Love" and... Done.

Expect a full report here.

March in Chicago...

But April in Fairbanks...*


Everytime I start rolling around in my office chair, I think of this and it makes me smile.

*Note, this is NOT my footage, I am not suicidal!**
** But thank you, intrepid soul who DID film this and put it on YouTube. Tis a wonderful thing, these internets.

i have a thing for coats...

I love coats. This is probably because I hate being cold. But also, they add just the right amount of awesome to an outfit. I get email from London Fog, which is probably pretty dangerous because they deal in my particular passion - trench coats. I bought a coat from them last year, which is very Lady with the Torch:

And now I get email from them all the time, with all kinds of gorgeous coats, like THIS ONE.

What's a girl to do??

it's Friday!!

It's Happy Hour somewhere, right?? Time Out New York has a fun interview with Kristin Chenoweth and Sean Hayes - go and read it
here. I'd love to see them in Promises Promises - I do love New York in springtime...

Ravinia '10 lineup swings from strings to Sting :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Music

Ravinia '10 lineup swings from strings to Sting :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Music

How do I love Ravinia? Let me count the ways... No, okay, I won't, really, but the season announcement made me so incredibly happy. First the weather is getting nicer every day (yesterday people were walking around without coats!!! That's such a Chicago thing though, it gets in the 40s and we're all like WOOHOO! HEAT WAVE, baby! And break out the shorts and bbqs.) Can summer be far behind???

I'm breaking out my jelly rings and glitter lanterns and will get tickets for Renee Fleming's Four Last Songs (because nothing says classy opera recital like jelly rings!), the Sondheim Gala concert, possibly for the return of Arrival from Sweden, Carrie Underwood and naturally, Patti in Annie Get Your Gun.

Can I just say one thing about how wonderfully treated I've been as a first time donor at Ravinia? Seriously. I got a letter telling me that the season announcement would be sent in March and as a donor I could buy advance tickets (!). Then I got another letter telling me, really really, I should expect to see the season announcement on March 8, and could I verify my address, because if I wasn't going to be at that address, they would send the packet wherever I wanted it to go. They'd overnight it to me, even. I received my packet and am poised and ready to commit commerce.

So people get ready: there's a party on the lawn, y'all, and everyone's invited. I'll bring the (delicious) parmesan french fries and the jelly rings.

NYCB and... Patti?

Yes, it's true, according to The New York Times... the 7 Deadlies will be performed with both singer and dancer...I wasn't wild about the 7 Deadly Sins at Ravinia, but I am curious about the dancing element, so I might just be heading back to New York next season...

LuPone to Appear With City Ballet
By JULIE BLOOM
She’s done Broadway, now it’s on to the ballet. On Monday, New York City Ballet announced that Patti LuPone will make her New York City Ballet debut in a new production of “The Seven Deadly Sins” as part of the company’s 2011 spring season. The Tony-nominated director and choreographer Lynne Taylor-Corbett, who has previously choreographed two works for the company, “Mercury” in 1992 and “Chiaroscuro” in 1994, will create the new production. “The Seven Deadly Sins,” a sung ballet in seven scenes, was composed by Kurt Weill to a German libretto by Bertolt Brecht in 1933 and was first performed in Paris and produced, directed and choreographed by George Balanchine. The ballet features a character portrayed by both a singer and dancer. Ms. LuPone will play the singer; a dancer has yet to be announced. The original production featuring Lotte Lenya as the singer, and Tilly Losch as the dancer. Balanchine revived the work in 1958 with Allegra Kent in the role of the dancer. The schedule of performances and the rest of the 2011 spring season will be announced at a later date.

conductor hair!

Saturday night - the show was at 8:00 and I did everything I could think of to make myself leave late-ish so as to avoid my usual getting to the theater hugely early and then standing around in the lobby by myself. I left at 6:20, allowing for Saturday night traffic on the expressway.

And I still got downtown before 7:00. I mean, really. So. I found a spot in the parking garage, and hailed the elevator. There was a group of people in there already, on their way to Lyric for the evening's performance (at 7:30). One group included a little boy - I'm so bad at guessing ages, but I'd say maybe 10? Younger? One lady asked him if he was going to the opera and he nodded shyly. She told him it would be wonderful etc (I'm guessing it was Figaro? Four hours worth of wonderful, poor kid.). Then the doors opened and in stepped Sir Andrew Davis, looking cheerful and conductorly (no, I didn't notice the famed "conductor hair"). He greeted the group at large. I don't know if anyone else recognized him - I did, so I am guessing any other subscriber or Lyric fan would recognize his face (which is, after all, on the side of the building and on all of their materials!) but a reverential hush fell over the group and we finished the elevator ride in silence.

everybody says don't..

From "Anyone Can Whistle"

Everybody says don't,
Everybody says don't,
Everybody says don't-
It isn't right,
Don't-it isn't nice!
Everybody says don't,
Everybody says don't,
Everybody says don't walk on the grass,
Don't disturb the peace,
Don't skate on the ice.
Well, I say DO,
I say,walk on the grass, it was meant to feel!
I say sail!
Tilt at the windmill,
And if you fail, you fail.
Everybody says don't,
Everybody says don't,
Everybody says don't get out of line.
When they say that, then
Lady that's a sign:
Nine times out of ten,
Lady, you are doing just fine!

Make just a ripple.
Come on be brave.
This time a ripple,
Next time a wave
Sometimes you have to start small,
Climbing the tiniest wall,
Maybe you're going to fall-
But it is better than not starting at all!
Everybody says no,
Everybody says stop.
Everybody says mustn't rock the boat,
Mustn't touch a thing!
Everybody says don't,
Everybody says wait,
Everybody says can't fight city hall,
Can't upset the cart,
Can't laugh at the king!
Well, I say try!
I Say laugh at the kings or they'll make you cry.
Lose Your Poise!
Fall if you have to,
But lady, make a noise!
Everybody says don't,
Everybody says can't,
Everybody says wait around for miracles,
That's the way the world is made!
I insist on Miracles, if you do them,
Miracles - nothing to them!
I say don't,
Don't be afraid!

some enchanted... weekend

"What's to discuss, old friend?

Here's to us — who's like us?

Damn few!"

-Stephen Sondheim, Merrily We Roll Along

** Note: this show in Chicago has been discussed in thoughtful, pithy ways by the likes of Hedy Weiss and Chris Jones. If you want to read something good and unbiased and reviewerly, please check those out, in the Tribune and Sun Times, as what follows here, while thoughtful, is completely biased and overwhelmed with fan-girl enthusiasm. Cool? Don't say I didn't warn you.

There are damn few people on this planet like Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin. Their joint show, which made a stop in Chicago this past week (Fangirl says "Squee! A whole week!!! Down the street from the office, even??") differed from their individual shows in that there were no jokes or cheerful patter. This show was, rather, the story of two people on a journey - the ups and downs of a relationship - as told through scenes from different musicals. They did not pause to insert narrative, jokes, take our photos, sing in Yiddish (wouldn't you have loved to see Patti do that??) or grumble about unruly microphones. They played the scenes, they sang their faces off. Some of the music was familiar - South Pacific, Carousel, other pieces were not as well-known - Evening Primrose, Merrily We Roll Along, Flora the Red Menace.

I went to the show three times this weekend (Fangirl says: shut yer face, you're just jealous!): Friday night with a colleague, a LuPoTinkin virgin, as it were, Saturday night just for fun, and this afternoon with mom. Let's just talk about today - as it is the freshest in my mind. Patti and Mandy are Performers. Yes, they deserve the capital letter. The two of them are just so plugged into their performance, the music flows right through them, straight from the heart and into the (extremely enthusiastic) audience. You know I first saw them do this show last year in St. Louis. After a reallyreallyreally long & panicked train ride, I bolted dinner and took myself off to the (Fabulous) Fox Theatre. I was in the front row - the two of them appeared on stage, launched into "Another Hundred People" and all was right with the world.

And so it was again. Both of them are such HUGE presences on stage, but blend together effortlessly. For the entire time, they look as though they are having a blast, with each other and with the audience. My mom said of Patti: "She's so cute!" And she is!! Tough and strong and sweet and funny and ohmygod, that voice. My mom again, this time of Mandy "That man can really WAIL!" And he can! He is solid and consistent and powerful in every part of his range. My heart melted when he sang "Some Enchanted Evening" and I laughed a lot during "The God-Why-Don't-You-Love-Me-Blues" and of course, at the rolling chair choreography in "April in Fairbanks." Hammy and over the top? Well, yes. Occasionally. But who the hell cares?? I loved it! What these two got, you can't teach. They have that mythical IT factor. It was a pleasure to spend time under the same roof as these two old friends this weekend.

Today's performance was the best of the three for me. The audience was warm and receptive (and LOUD) . One burning question for me though, was why the heck "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" was listed in the playbill but had gone unsung Friday and Saturday nights (I am not sure if it was sung at the other performances, either, but I seem to remember one of the reviewers commenting on its rather conspicuous absence at one of the opening performances.). I mean, whatever. It didn't bother me that it was omitted, for whatever reason, I was just curious. But this afternoon! Oh! The second act started as usual with "Old Folks" and went on as listed, until they reached "The way that it was." Mandy went to the front of the stage and started talking which made me sit up a bit straighter in my seat (had to. Man with HUGE head in front of me!) going Huhhuhhuhhuhuh?? What's this?? He said that in in1979 he and Patti met during a show about "a little lady from Argentina", and how they'd made their first, and lasting, connection with each other.

And THEN he busted out with "Oh What A Circus" - TALK about the nerdgirl in my soul turning cartwheels!!! Patti turned up then, the music played and, well, you must know where this is going. She sang "Don't Cry for Me Argentina," iconic pose and all, and it was awesome. The heretofore quiet looking gentlemen to my left lept from their seats, cheering and bellowing "LuuuuuPoooonnneee!" Damn, I loved those guys. Whoever you are, you rock. The show moved on from there to "Somewhere That's Green" and "In Buddy's Eyes" leaving out "Franklin Shepard Inc" but although I enjoy watching Mandy do that song, I didn't mind (and in fact, didn't even notice until just now) having it shuffled aside for a brief appearance from Eva and Che.

Awesome. Epic. Legends. They made me laugh, they made me cry, (DOHHHH! "You'll Never Walk Alone" gets me Every.Time.) they allowed me to snatch a few moments of rest and happiness.

I could have sat there forever, watching them sing, laugh, and be together. It was a rainy cold Sunday in the Loop with Patti and Mandy, but oh, so worth it. If you have a chance to see this show, do. I'll go with you.

"Stephen Sondheim: A Life in the Theater"

Last night, upon entering the Harris Theater, there were signs asking "Do you have a question for Stephen Sondheim?" and we were handed little blue cards, upon which we could inscribe questions for Mr. Sondheim in the alleged Q&A section (more on this later). Of course there are a million questions that one could ask this man, the Master of the Musical, but I couldn't think of a good one to ask, so the blue card is still in my jacket pocket. But c'est la vie (la vie!) I went there to enjoy, to listen to this man speak of his career and his music, to bask in the warm glow of his presence and that was enough for me.

Anyway. We had seats in Row Z which were actually pretty good. The woman next to me had some kind of old school camera and kept clicking pictures on it (loudly) the entire time he spoke. Annoying! I wanted to like glare at her or tell her to knock it off, but she was SCARY. I was afraid she would beat me with her camera or something, so I stayed quiet.

The stage was bare except for a grand piano, two comfy looking chairs, a table with glasses of water, and microphones. Mr. Sondheim was greeted by a standing ovation. At last, at last, I found a group of people who understood what it meant to be sitting in that theater! For a while, there was hearty applause after every.word.he.said. Especially if he mentioned Chicago - which he did several times, confessing that if he could live anywhere else aside from NYC where he was born, it would be Chicago. He likes our vibe, man. That comment got the usual ecstatic "YAY!! Chicago!! That's us!!! He LIKES US!!! WHEEE!" applause. I was worried that if we went on like that much longer, the man would not be able to get a word in edgewise.

Fortunately, everyone settled down after that. The conversation was guided by director Gary Griffin who was a capable, if not very insightful, interviewer. He seemed as awestruck as I felt, honestly, which I suppose is natural. Still. Mr. Sondheim was intelligent and funny - what a fascinating man. He spoke of his collaborations with theater legends like Oscar Hammerstein, Jerome Robbins (whom he referred to as a genius), Hal Prince, Ethel Merman, Zero Mostel and tons of others. I think the word "wow" just about sums it up.

I could have listened to him telling theater stories all night. The theater geek nerd girl in my soul was turning happy cartwheels. The "Q&A" section, with audience questions was at the end, and only maybe 2 of those blue cards were brought out for Mr. Griffin to ask Mr. Sondheim. I am not sure why that was - if we were running out of time or if the questions were either too lame or had already been answered or what. For the record the questions that got asked were: "Are you working on anything new?" (Mr. Sondheim is finishing his books of his lyrical analysis along with anecdotes and essays about everything he's ever written - aside from that, he said he has been "nibbling" on a few new ideas...) and also something like "Which of your musicals that have not been made in to movies would you like to see made into movies?" (answer - "Follies" and "Into the Woods" and he noted that there had been a concept for "Into the Woods" that included a collaboration with Jim Henson. When Mr. Henson died, unfortunately the idea went with him. Too bad!) There were a few cell phone-style interruptions. Both times, Mr. Sondheim heard the rings and identified the pitch of the tones. "E flat - don't do that!" It was over way too soon. I could have sat there for many hours more.

The Harris Theater is never ever going to be my favorite place. That lobby is so cold and ugly, it was like a bucket of cold water onto the warm glow of my mood. There is a hallway leading to a set of bathrooms with PADDED WALL HANGINGS. Ugh. Just ugh. Moving on... As we returned into the night (dizzy from the height...), we ran into a group of Niles West English teachers who were as happy to be there as I was. "We had wondered," said one of them, "Which of our colleagues would understand what it meant to be here?" echoing my thoughts exactly. I am a newcomer to the works of Mr. Sondheim - the first show of his I ever saw (I am not counting West Side Story, here) was Sweeney Todd in 2006. So thank you, Sarah, for taking me there and introducing me to this man (and creating this monster!) - since then I've seen and heard many many more of his works and they have meant so much.

Thank you, thank you, Mr. Sondheim.

maybe next time...

A few nights ago, I had a very long, strange and detailed dream. I was with some work friends and we were going through some kind of teambuilding ropes course. It involved a lot of running up and down stairs and vaulting over railings etc. At one point, I had to leave my trusty backpack behind. At another point, me and a few of my colleagues ditched the course all together and went shopping. There was a store selling $25 disposable digital cameras (I told you it was vivid!) and suddenly we were on the Las Vegas strip. After a little bit of wandering around in the desert, and going to a water park, we decide to head back. I realized my backpack was missing and went running around to find it. Finally found it - my wallet etc was all still inside, but the two text books that had also been in there were missing. Off to see if someone had turned them in - and while I was walking, I ran into a handsome, charming man of my acquaintance (he used to be my boss, in fact) who gave me a hug in greeting then told me, rather earnestly, that I should really think about highlighting my hair.

And then I woke up.

Fast forward to yesterday, on my evening walk to the train from the office. I decided to skulk by the Cadillac Palace Theater (like you do... what? It was on the way!) and as I walked down Wells Street, a guy veered into my path. I stepped one direction, he mirrored me, not letting me pass. What the -?? Then, he reached out and grabbed my arm - terror! But it was, in fact, the aforementioned handsome charming man of my acquaintance! I totally did not recognize him and he scared the pudding out of me! He did give me a greeting hug, but did not get around to mentioning my hair... this is the second time that he has popped up in a dream one night and then actually appeared - POOF! the very next day. Like magic. I have never been able to do anything else like that from dreams... too much Tylenol PM?

And, I just had a brainwave - maybe I can dream about a big bag of money and then - POOF! Like magic, the money will appear?

sondheim tonight!

Tonight, it is off to the airport hangar - whoops, I mean the Harris Theater - to see Mr. Sondheim. I am looking forward to it! And yes, I realize that the picture above is for a totally different show - but I like it and so here we are. Full report to come!

harmony has been restored

All is well on Randolph Street, and not a moment too soon!

i think somebody is going to be fired...

Misspelling the Diva's name on her own marquee? Heads are gonna roll for this one...

creative force...

"What about the creative state? In it a man is taken out of himself. He lets it down as it were a bucket into his subconscious, and draws up something which is normally beyond his reach. He mixes this thing with his normal experiences, and out of the mixture he makes a work of art... And when the process is over, when the picture or symphony or lyric or novel (or whatever it is) is complete, the artist, looking back on it, will wonder how on earth he did it. And indeed, he did not do it on earth."

- E.M. Forester, The Raison d'Etre of Criticism in the Arts

coming up...

Busy busy busy for the next couple of weeks, here's where I'll be, if you should be looking for me, or would like to join me for dinner and a show (and a dirty martini?? Haha, just kidding!) But don't call me while I am at the theater, particularly on March 5,6,7. Keep reading, you will see why. I have good seats and don't want The Wrath unleashed.

2/26 Cinderella at ATRU - working at the donor table, come say hi!
2/27 Cinderella at ATRU (matinee)- working again, stop and buy raffle tickets!
2/28 Cinderella at ATRU - in the audience this time!
3/4 Stephen Sondheim at the Harris Theater - a word on this one. I was at Physical Therapy yesterday and chatting with my therapist about the good, stress relieving things in my future, and I mentioned, happily, that I was going to see Sondheim speaking at the Harris. She smiled cheerfully and said "Who's that?" Soul crushing. Maybe working in a performing environment and having show geeks as friends, I just naturally assume that everyone's heard of him? I don't think I've ever run across anyone who's never at least heard the name Sondheim (even in the lyrics of Rent?). Ah well. I'm excited to see him, anyway, even if I HATE the danged Harris Theater with a fiery passion.
3/5, 6, 7 Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin's Rainbow Tour. Okay, fine, they're not actually calling it that, but they should! And yes, I am going three times. Don't judge me. I'm taking some people each of those nights (and meeting up with some of mom's North Shore co-workers who squealed like schoolgirls at the chance of seeing Mandy. Last time he was in Skokie, he sang in Yiddish a little and had all of these ladies eating out of the palm of his hand.) I love watching both of them together and am very very very excited. Something to look forward to, and after the week I've had, I NEED IT.

End of the month, I'm heading back to the airport hangar known as the Harris Theater for Christine Ebersole. Whew!!!!

Olympic men's curling semifinal: Norway 7 Switzerland 5 final.

Olympic men's curling semifinal: Norway 7 Switzerland 5 final.

I have become a fan of "The Norwegian Olympic Curling Team's Pants" on Facebook. Go pants, go!

thinking caps on, dolls...

Today on Patti Lu's website:

"Dolls, I've been busy writing the story of my theatrical life and need your help to find a suitable and fabulous title. If your entry is selected you'll win an autographed copy of the book, two tickets to my next Broadway show (or major show in a city near you), and I'll congratulate you personally at the theatre. Contest ends March 30, 2010"

Go to the website to submit suggestions

the diva's Dark Hope

Below is an article from the LA Times about Renée Fleming's new album, Dark Hope, to be released this spring/summer. I am so very excited about this - I love Renée's voice when she sings more contemporary and jazz pieces (my absolute favorites of hers are "All the Wasted Time" from Parade, and her entire "Haunted Heart" album). She is such a multi-faceted artist, and I appreciate her willingness to explore and take risks to expand her own horizons as an artist. So bring it on, Renée. I have already pre-ordered my copy.

From the LA Times:
When not performing in opera houses around the world, soprano Renée Fleming has been known to dip a manicured toe into the waters of jazz, Broadway tunes, holiday music and film soundtracks ("The Lord of the Rings").

In what may be a first for the ubiquitous Grammy-winning opera star, Fleming is traveling way downtown in her new album, "Dark Hope," in which she performs pieces by indie-rock bands including Muse, Arcade Fire, Band of Horses and Death Cab For Cutie.

The album also includes songs by Peter Gabriel, Tears for Fears, The Mars Volta, Jefferson Airplane and Leonard Cohen.

"Dark Hope," which is being released by Decca, is scheduled to go on sale this spring. Amazon lists the release date as June 8.

Fleming worked with producer David Kahne on the project, but the idea for the album came from Peter Mensch and Cliff Burnstein (from the talent agency Q-Prime Management), who persuaded the opera star to take on the challenge.

Fleming has said that she tried to find a "stylistically authentic" way of performing the songs and that "singing in the lowest part of my voice was key to making this work."

The singer described making the album as "a wonderful learning curve, one reminiscent of my early days studying Mozart as a Juilliard student."

She also said her two daughters and sister performed as back-up singers on the album.

"Dark Hope" contains 11 tracks...
Endlessly (Muse)
No One's Gonna Love You (Band of Horses)
Oxygen (Willy Mason)
Today (Jefferson Airplane)
Intervention (Arcade Fire)
With Twilight as My Guide (The Mars Volta)
Mad World (Tears for Fears)
In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel)
Stepping Stone (Duffy)
Soul Meets Body (Death Cab For Cutie)
Hallelujah (Leonard Cohen)

i won't send roses...

There is so much to love about this clip - another beautiful T&D moment and Robert Preston singing "I won't send roses" from Mack & Mabel...

the gold standard

This, my friends, is ice dancing. None of these required side by side wotsits, just pure artistry on ice.

aren't they a gem?? i'll drink to them!

In honor of our fancy shmancy event today - I'd like to propose a toast:

backstage at Cinderella!

 

WGN was backstage with us last night as Cinderella opened! Come and see it!

why i am cheering for team norway's curlers

These pants alone? Worth the cost of admission. Go, Norway, go.

Cinderella!

The Joffrey's Cinderella begins this week!

the final word on "American Buffalo"

This was part of an ad on the back cover of the playbill. Made me laugh out loud.

This... is AMERICAN Buffalo!

I'd been wanting to see American Buffalo at Steppenwolf for a while and decided, naturally, that it would be a really awesome idea to see it on Valentine's Day. What says Valentine's Day more than a David Mamet play??

So. I dragged Heidi (my fellow fabulously single friend!) off to the 'Wolf - wait, I must digress here. In Chris Jones's rather gushy review of August: Osage County, he referred to it as "the 'Wolf" - and I have never ever ever ever ever ever ever (ever!) heard it referred to that way. So I need to ask - is this a thing? Is this what all the cool kids are saying? Like, if I ever met Gary Sinise or John Malkovich somewhere (and could scrape together enough brain power to say anything coherent to them) would I ask them if they still get a chance to do much at "the 'Wolf"? Did Mr. Jones just make that up to sound cool? Or do people actually say that? I am serious here. I really want to know.

Back to the show. It was my first David Mamet experience. American Buffalo is described by "the 'Wolf" (I promise I will stop calling it that, unless you really want me to, Mr. Sinise) in the following way "In a cluttered, run-down Chicago junk shop, three small time crooks plot to steal a valuable Buffalo nickel. As the heist unravels, the men's frustration and paranoia intensify. Ensemble member Amy Morton directs this ground-breaking American play that weaves humor and menace throughout an emotionally charged struggle for identity and dominance." Ensemble members Tracy Letts, Francis Guinan and Patrick Andrews were our small town crooks. The dialogue was rapid fire Chicago-ese and was off like a runaway el train. The first act went by SO FAST, I could not even believe it. I got up out of our (really good, row B) seats and went about my intermission business.

As I was waiting to grab a snack, I heard this woman behind me, sounding like she'd just sucked an entire tankful of helium, telling her (world-suffering) husband, rather accusingly "This is NOTHING like Legally Blonde." Well, um, no. It's not. Were you expecting it to be? Although this was my first Mamet play, I had gone into it with some expectations and let me tell you, if I was going to compare it to something else that I thought might be similar, Legally Blonde would not have been at the top of that list. It would actually not have been on the list at all. Hello? She then said something about how the cadence of the dialogue made her want to fall asleep which I thought was really really odd, because they were talking really fast. Which I am used to, you know, because I'm a Chicagoan and we, like, talkreallyfast. Her husband then said that all of the (and I quote) "playhouses" were not really open today, and the only things they could have seen were this and "Osage County" - which his wife thought would have been much better to see (maybe she thought it would be more like Legally Blonde?) and I am really glad they were not sitting by me because I probably would have hit her if I'd had to listen to her voice for another single minute. As it was, I grabbed my bar of bacon chocolate and fled.

I liked the show. It was dark, it was funny (in a dark way, ya know?) it was deeper than three crooks in a junk shop. Letts, Guinan and Andrews were great in their roles. There were two interruptions by telephone, both in rather critical second act moments. These great actors did not skip a beat, they soldiered on (even though, in their place, I would have roared "What the FUCK is that??" they kept their cool.)

On their closing night, the 'Wolf did not disappoint (couldn't help myself). After the show, Heidi and I sat in her car and ate our bacon chocolate and had the following things to say regarding this Vosges confection:

Heidi: This is weird.

Me: It's weird.

Heidi: Very weird.

Me: Fucking weird!!!

Very appropriate, yes? Showing off our facility for quotation (anybody?) and with a Mamet spirit to boot. Happy Valentine's Day.

Happy Birthday, Renee!

A very happy birthday to Renée Fleming - Queen of Hearts, Our Favorite Soprano (OFS).
What's the best way to celebrate this smart, successful, gracious, amazingly talented lady? Pop in your favorite of our Diva's cds, whip up some of her signature dessert (La Diva Renée - on second thought, better leave that to the professionals!) or, better yet, go somewhere and listen to her sing.

Happy, happy birthday, Renée!

let the games begin!

Top 10 moments/ discoveries from last night's Opening Ceremonies:

1. Shaun White has better hair than me (NO FAIR!)

2. Stupid NBC commentators either have no clue about winter sports or no clue how to talk to female athletes. During one interview with three girl half-pipers, all the interviewer could think to ask them was if they would all still be friends if one beat the others. Really? There's nothing more interesting to ask women snowboarders than if there is going to be a catfight if one wins gold? What do is the best answer to that, anyway? Would the girls say "Yeah, I'd hate that bitch forever if she beat me. I am WAY better than she is?" Of course not. What is the point of a question like that??? They'd never, ever ask a bunch of guys that. Ever.

3. I know how this sounds but - dude. Canada has a Prime Minister? I knew they must, but I've never heard him mentioned. I couldn't tell you his name even now. Also learned a bit of Canadian geography. By the way, doesn't "George Vancouver" sound like something a parent would make up to tell their kids? "Yes, honey, this place was discovered by - uhhhh - George Vancouver!" I didn't know he was real.

4. I love how during the parade of nations, there was a helpful little map to show you where all the countries were - in relation to the US. So they'd say, for instance "Belarus" and in the corner, they'd show a map of the US ("here's us") and then show the location of "Belarus" ("and here's where THAT is in relation to the US.") I know we can be a bunch of dum-dums sometimes (see number 3) but really? They didn't even show where the country was in relation to Vancouver - they showed it in relation to the US. Because, of course, it is all about us.

5. Why weren't the girls carrying the nation signs wearing any pants with their parkas? As a founding member of the Coalition of Wearing Pants, I strongly opposed their outfits.

5.5 Other sartorial standouts were Ireland's bright green pants, Germany, Finland's gross jackets, and our polo pony country club gear. Cable knit sweaters AND down jackets? The ceremony was INDOORS. The Bermuda contingent walked in in red shorts. Also I don't recall what country it was who wore those pants with the crazy colored designs, but they need to be burned. Coalition orders.

6. New version of "We Are the World" was played (shameless filler) - I recognized a few of the people but otherwise - who WERE they all??

7. Much, much better commercials than the Super Bowl

8. Too many previews for "Parenthood" and "The Marriage Ref." Bad taste points for making Alec Baldwin giving ANYONE marriage advice. Also, Ron Howard, you are wrong. There are many many many many things funnier than your show Parenthood. Gross.

9. Lighting of the torch was WAY anticlimactic - it is supposed to be the culmination of the ceremony and instead it got weighed down by a technical glitch AND the fact that hello? The ceremony was INSIDE and the torch has to be OUTSIDE. So they had to send Gretzky off in a car to go light the actual cauldron. Can you imagine if it had gone out and Wayne had to go back in to the BC center, head hanging, going "Anybody gotta light?"

10. Playing the famous game "Hey! I didn't know (fill in the blank) was Canadian!" Some of those for me were: Donald Sutherland, Nelly Furtado, Joni Mitchell, Sarah McLachlan and almost all of the people in the Come to Vancouver commercial (Michael J. Fox, Kim Cattrall (maybe?))

another awesome alternative

Single and fabulous?? Planning a fun day with friends and chocolate because you are not part of a couple? For years, my friends and I have celebrated "Arizona Statehood Day" on February 14th, but last night, my life icon, Liz Lemon, introduced me to yet another reason to celebrate on February 14 - it is the birthdate of Anna Howard Shaw, American Suffragette. Go here to see Liz buying some cookies from Pete's daughter in celebration of Anna!

It is also the birthday of the Queen of Hearts, American Soprano Extraordinary, Renée Fleming!! We could get some cookies in honor of Renée, too.

So this Sunday, celebrate Girl Power, Sisterhood, Renée Fleming, and the Great State of Arizona. They have given us the Grand Canyon, and the Cardinals, and a place for Spring Training, and I am sure many many other things.

i don't usually agree with critics, but....

I told you all that "Valentine's Day" looked like a train wreck, and I was not wrong...

From The New York Times, which calls it "Dire" and "neither romantic nor remotely comedic"

The absence of performers who hold the screen with beauty and the mystery of their personality partly accounts for why “Valentine’s Day” comes across like bad television, specifically an extended (and interwined) episode of “Love, American Style,” the anthology show (1969-74) that paved the way for the ensemble likes of “The Love Boat.” “Valentine’s Day” might have a more recognizable cast than an average episode of “Love, American Style,” but it’s grim grim grim. This might not be the Titanic of romantic comedies (it’s tugboat size), but it’s a disaster: cynically made, barely directed, terribly written. But quick: there’s still time to escape!

From Roger Ebert:
The form of the movie may remind you wistfully of a much better one, "Love, Actually," which created characters we cared a great deal about. None of the characters here ever get beyond the "Look --There's (Name of Star)" Threshold. You know, when your mind says, Look -- there's Patrick Dempsey! Look -- there's Anne Hathaway! Look -- there's Topher Grace! Wow -- that's Jessica Biel!

"Valentine's Day" is being marketed as a Date Movie. I think it's more of a First-Date Movie. If your date likes it, do not date that person again. And if you like it, there may not be a second date.


I think that my problem with this movie (only by watching the preview, because I have not and will not be spending money on this) is simply that there are too many people in it, as Roger states above. What can you possibly do in two hours to connect all these people in any meaningful way? I know that plot and character development are not a necessity in a romantic comedy, that it's not Serious Cinema and no one will probably be getting nominated for an Oscar, but COME ON. There are so many films that do wonderful things with a small and not even hugely famous casts and that are incredibly funny and romantic. I don't know. Maybe you can't listen to me about Valentine's Day related anything, since I am going to see American Buffalo that day and not any kind of fluffy happy romantic movie...

snowmaggedon - it's coming...

a field trip - on the other side

A few weeks ago, I got an email from Heidi, suggesting that I play hooky from work and come chaperone a field trip with her for a slew of high school students. I was shocked (shocked!) that she suggest such a thing... but then I thought, what the hell? I tend to hoard my PTO days, thinking I will need them for some greater purpose. Then by the time June rolls around, I have a million days that I have to use or lose by the end of the month (we can't carry them over). I have plenty of days, and we are about to kick into high gear for opening next week anyway, so I figured a day off would be nice. So I agreed to join her and some other Niles North teachers at the Field Museum with the AP Biology kids.

Today was the day. I remember going on field trips when I was a kid. We'd sing (loudly) those old chestnuts like "WHO stole the cookie from the cookie jar." Our chaperones yelled at us to be quiet and in some cases to "listen for sirens." I have no idea why. That's just what he said. These kids, juniors and seniors were so quiet I thought they were all asleep. We visited the Evolving Earth exhibit and the kids had a packet to complete. Honestly, I think that's the only way people actually read all the stuff in those exhibits. I usually wander through, read the highlights, admire the fossils or whatever and off I go. I learned a lot today, actually - I was looking at the packet, wondering what they had to complete. I took 3 years of science, and none of them included AP biology. The last time I had biology was sophomore year. A LONG time ago. So thank goodness they didn't ask ME anything. All we had to do was, you know, watch them. The museum has a rule that there has to be one chaperone for every 10 kids. There were six chaperones in our group, for about 60 students. They were good kids on the whole - we herded them downstairs to McDonald's for lunch, herded them back upstairs and only lost 3 in our count at the buses. Don't worry! We found them! All of the kids had their phones, of course, and they went to work calling the missing ones and they magically appeared at the buses.

All in all, it was an interesting experience.

ooh la la!

Pictures of my divine crepe lunch from Via Gelato before the movie today. I picked the amarena cherry, kind of a sour cherry, but I followed every mouthful of cherry with a spoonful of the whipped cream and all was well. To avoid sitting around and staring into space for a really long time (like I did pre-Young Victoria), I brought along Have His Carcase. The masterminds at Via Gelato also do a crepe with Nutella and fresh fruit... maybe next time. It would be a wonderful thing to sit with a book and a crepe and read the afternoon away. I don't know if they would like that too much at Via Gelato though....

an education

I took myself off to see "An Education" this afternoon - back to the Glen for a quick lunch (an amarena cherry crepe from Via Gelato) and this time, to avoid ridiculous early-ness like last week, I brought Lord Peter and Harriet along for company. I still ended up sitting in the theater watching the sneak peek thing that they put before the previews. Another group of noisy old people (possibly the same group as last week, who knows?) barged in just as the movie was starting, clamored up the stairs, complained (loudly) that they couldn't see the seats in the dark, and stood directly behind me, grumbling and rattling. If you had maybe come about 10 minutes earlier, the lights would have been ON and you could have seen where you were going, okay? Enough about them. On to the film.

It is another one that lived sort of in the back of my consciousness - I'd heard of it, that it was a younger girl meets older guy kind of thing, and then put it out of my head. Then I'd heard that the screenplay had been written by Nick Hornby and had been nominated for an Academy Award. I had just finished reading Hornby's novel, Juliet, Naked (read it, no, devoured it, in one day) and so I figured that "An Education" was worth looking in to. There are going to be some spoilers below, I'm afraid, so if you don't want to know, stop reading here. But go, go, go see this movie. I'm telling you.

It is post-WWII England - I want to say 1961, but it might have been 1951, I don't remember exactly. A 16 year old girl, Jenny, is attending school and preparing for her A-levels. She is under much pressure from her strict parents to do well at school so that she can go to Oxford and read English. She does her homework, plays cello in a youth orchestra (as her special interest) and all that stuff, like a dutiful daughter. But she really wants to go off and be French - wear black, listen to jazz and groovy French music, speak French (she drops it casually into conversation whenever she can - tres chic!). Then one day, walking home in the rain from a youth orchestra rehearsal, she meets David. He's in a car and rolls down the window to call to her. He offers to drive her cello home (understanding, of course, that it would be very funny indeed for her to accept a ride from a total stranger, and an older man, on top of that) while she walks alongside the car. Well, you see how that would work out, so eventually she gets into the car.

She begins a relationship with David - he represents everything that is the complete opposite from her world - beauty and fun and excitement. Music, fancy restaurants, good food. She is charmed and besotted - and surprisingly, so are her parents. He talks them into letting him take her to Oxford (to visit his "english professor" Clive S. Lewis. No, they didn't punt.) and even to celebrate her birthday in Paris. What girl could say no to that?? She begins to question her education - if going to school (and eventually University) is "hard and boring" why ever would a girl choose that when she could have all of the things that are thrilling and exciting and fun?? Why indeed?? Anyway, Jenny and David are happy, happy, happy and he proposes, she accepts, leaves school (much to the distress of her stern headmisteress) and then.... well, I'm not going to totally give it all away. There's a bit of a twist and then something happens. If you want to know, go and see it. If you go to the Glen to do so, stop by and have a crepe first.

The cast is wonderful - especially Jenny, played by Carey Mulligan and David (Peter Sarsgaard) and there was a little cameo from Emma Thompson (as the headmistress). There was humor, there was drama (I cried. No surprise there.)

So here's Best Picture Nominee #2. I guess it's on, Academy.

up in the air

I know, I know. I am WAY behind in my movie viewing. This is another one I've wanted to see for a long long time and it was not until today, when I had a free morning, that I was finally able to do it. And it was well worth the wait. Oh, that George Clooney. He's always been kind of lurking around in the back of my mind - undeniably a good looking man, very smooth, our generation's answer to Cary Grant, perhaps? But oh, oh, he was great. I am a George fan now (and what have I been doing while he's been making movies??)

The Oscar race is on again, and this is the first of the best picture nominees I've seen. Tomorrow, I'm thinking of getting An Education before rooting my Colts on to Super Bowl victory. Then, who knows? Now that they have increased the nominees to number 10, it makes it even more impossible for a person to try and see all of them (although naturally, I suppose if I was really that good, I'd have been seeing them all along). It's usually the case though, that there are films I'm just not that interested in - like Avatar (ugh) or District 9 (double ugh) or the Hurt Locker (which I had not even heard of until last week).

Oh dear...

Listen up, politicos: this is the last time I vote for any of you based on the memorabilty of your tv ads!!!

Cohen: 'I will not resign' :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: News

valentine's advice... from Martha Stewart

I've gotten hooked on Dove's dark chocolate promise hearts - there is a bag of them in my snack drawer at the office (very very very very dangerous). Anyway, these particular hearts have Martha Stewart advice in the little foil wrapper, tips for a happy and creative Valentine's Day (it's a good thing!). Anyway, most of the advice in the wrapper is just kind of whatever - like, I had one that advised me to keep valentine chocolates in a cool place so they'd keep longer, or to wrap a chocolate bar in a doily and tie it with ribbon, or arrange bud vases in the shape of a heart. Yesterday, I was sitting at my desk, eating some chocolate hearts and got this message:

"Swirl in raspberry jam to make a perfect valentine cheesecake"
This one confused me a little bit. Swirl raspberry jam into what, exactly? Am I making this cheesecake? Won't I need a little more guidance than that, in this case? If I'm buying the cheesecake, where do I swirl in this jam? And if I'm buying the cheesecake in any case, can't I just buy a flavored one?

Then I ate another chocolate (what? it was a stressful day and sometimes these little hearts are the only things that keep me going) and this one said:

"Acknowledge Cupid on V-day with toast cut into hearts and arrows"
Just don't put any raspberry jam on the arrows, because then you'd be giving off a whole other message.
Heh.

you! cake or....

I had a dream last night where the girls and I were at an Eddie Izzard show. For some reason, the house was practically empty and we kept moving down so we could get better seats. During a bit, Eddie came up to me, put his thumb on my forehead and tried to read my mind. Then he did it to Heidi too, and he tried to get us both to read each other's minds... I don't know what on earth that means.

Speaking of Eddie, though, I ran across this article in (where else?) Time Out New York. My free subscription runs out sometime next month I think, and I will miss it bunches and bunches.

The prolific absurdist Eddie Izzard is accustomed to breaking new ground. On Saturday 16­—hot on the heels of running 43 marathons in 51 days (to benefit the charity Sport Relief) and the premiere on both sides of the pond of the new documentary Believe: The Eddie Izzard Story—he becomes the first British comic to play the arena at Madison Square Garden.

You ran 43 marathons in 51 days?!?
The first three weeks were hell. It was chafing my feet, they were all blistered up and the pain was very intense, but then the weirdest thing was that my feet started healing as I was running. They actually become really hard. Then it’s just endurance and stamina.

What sort of frame of mind does it take to keep going?
You can’t entertain the idea that you can stop at any point, apart from serious injury. Having a TV crew there also helped because it would be very embarrassing after ten days to say, “Well, I can’t do this. I’m sorry, everyone. Pack up and go home.”

You’re used to cameras; were you pleased with Believe?
There’s a thing where certain people will go, “That guy’s a transvestite; I’m not going to go watch his stuff,” and it will get blocked off to that audience. So I thought a documentary could explain things more, dig around and show the stuff going on in my head, who I am and where I come from.

Was watching yourself through other people’s eyes cathartic?
That bit at the end where it explains what seems to be my motivation—that it’s my mother? That came as a shock to me, because I didn’t realize it. It was good to say that and get that out there and know that myself.

You mentioned the transvestism. I saw you get heckled in Vegas at the Comedy Festival.
Right; they were asking, “Why aren’t you wearing a dress?,” which is slightly different. You expect a lot of, “I hear you’re a transvestite. I don’t like that.” But I tend to get, these days, “Why aren’t you wearing a dress?” So I do try and explain that I will go in boy mode and girl mode, and at the moment I’ve been in boy mode. You want to have the freedom that women have of being able to wear whatever they want whenever they want.

team USA

I found a website this week showing off Team USA's official Olympic gear, designed by Ralph Lauren. Here's a peek at what they will be wearing in the Opening Ceremonies next week:

What do we think of this??? Anybody? I don't know. It's cute, I guess. But - white pants after Labor Day? No, just kidding. RL's large polo pony logo is a little odd - I know it's his logo but it is also the WINTER Olympics, yes? No polo happening unless there's like a new X-Game sport called snow polo or something like that. I think this country club look would be better suited to the summer games in London in 2012. White pants and all.

"I'm just off for a spot of curling, what?"

Nothing beats the adorable Roots beret worn during the 2002 Salt Lake City games. I still have mine and wear it all the time. People stop me on the street/train and ask me about it. And only sometimes do I pretend that I was on the US Women's luge/curling/bobsleigh team.

If you love all this RL gear, it is available for purchase, naturally, so that if you really want one of those hats or maybe that sweater, it can be yours!

some Victoria questions - answered!

Ah, the wisdom of Wiki! Right after I blogged my early confusion in The Young Victoria, I found most of the answers sought in Queen V's own Wikipedia page. Amazing, isn't it?

Things I Learned from WIKI...

"The young Princess Victoria was the only legitimate child of the fourth son of George III, the Duke of Kent, who died in 1820. As such, she became heiress presumptive after the death of George IV in 1830.The law at the time made no special provision for a child monarch. Therefore, a Regent needed to be appointed if Victoria were to succeed to the throne before the age of eighteen. Parliament passed the Regency Act 1830, which provided that Victoria's mother, the Duchess of Kent, would act as Regent during the Queen's minority, if she acceded to the throne while still a minor. Parliament did not create a council to limit the powers of the Regent. King William disliked the Duchess and, on at least one occasion, stated that he wanted to live until Victoria's 18th birthday, so that a regency could be avoided..."

"Victoria later described her childhood as "rather melancholy." Victoria's mother was extremely protective of the princess, who was raised in near isolation under the so called "Kensington System", an elaborate set of rules and protocols devised by The Duchess and her comptroller and supposed lover, Sir John Conroy, to prevent the princess from ever meeting people whom they deemed undesirable, and to render her weak and utterly dependent upon them. She was not allowed to interact with other children. Her main companion was her King Charles spaniel, Dash, and she was required to share a bedroom with her mother every night until she became queen.As a teenager, Victoria resisted their threats and rejected their attempts to make Conroy her personal secretary. Once queen, she immediately banned Conroy from her quarters (though she could not remove him from her mother's household) and consigned her mother to a distant corner of the palace, often refusing to see her."

Other things that became clear:
Our Lord Paul Bettany was really Whig Prime Minister Lord Melbourne
Albert & Victoria's first child, mentioned in the film, was a girl also named Victoria.

I still don't get all that stuff about the formation of governments and all that, so that will require some further research...

Monarch of "The Glen"

So "The Glen" is the posh shopping center they've built on the Great Lakes Naval Air Station land in Glenview. I was there yesterday, seeing The Young Victoria. As is my habit, I got there entirely too early. I didn't think it would be a problem since the Glen is chockablock with stores and stuff like that and I love to shop.

Let me tell you - it was a disappointment. All the best stores have closed - the Ann Taylor Loft is gone, the bookstore is gone, the Artisan Shop is gone (that must have happened recently, I bought something there in November). I spent a little time in Ulta, but even I can't kill more than 20 minutes looking at cosmetics. I went to Von Maur and watched the tumbleweeds blow down the aisles of overpriced merchandise. I wandered up to their plush ladies' lounge - which had one of those wall mounted buckets to deposit used hypodermic needles. Why? Why would you need one of those in a ladies' lounge? I kind of thought it might be for insulin injections or something, but I have never seen one of those in a department store before.

I even went to Dick's Sporting Goods store (gasp! horrors!) and looked at mountains of (expensive) sports gear and equipment. And over priced exercise clothing. There was a cute yoga outfit and the pants alone were $40 (on sale). Doesn't it go against the zen of yoga to go kitting yourself out in really expensive gear? Isn't the point of yoga to achieve inner peace and whatever? Do you really need coordinating seperates to do it?

I went to lunch at Via Gelato, but I couldn't spin a solitary meal of panini and bottle of water into longer than half an hour either. There were lots of other chi-chi stores, a kids clothing store called "Justice" (huh??) and finally, I wandered around in Claire's just for something to do. There were several north shore kids in there, gushing how "adorable" everything was (I have a feeling they just learned that word). Back out into the cold and over to the theater. I was about 20 minutes early for the show, but there was honestly nothing else to do. Everything else in the Glen is a restaurant.

So what's the remedy (or, like, my POINT?)? I suggest a bookstore in the Glen - stat. Or, entirely for my own purposes, a store that I could spend loads of time in, dithering around in the fitting room. Or, well, I suppose I could just stop being so gosh darned early to things (but then, who would I be?)

more on Emily Blunt

Emily Blunt in Time Out New York's "Hot Seat"

Let’s see—whom do we hate more? Emily Blunt, who is rocking a career that puts her onscreen next to Meryl Streep, Amy Adams and Bill Nighy, and is engaged to The Office’s John “Jim Halpert” Krasinski? Or England’s Queen Victoria, who inherited an empire at age 18, lived in a palace and, according to Blunt’s portrayal in The Young Victoria, had a delicious shag in husband Prince Albert (Rupert Friend)? Frankly, we’re horribly jealous of both of them. At least Blunt had the good grace to invite us into her wedding party (“We don’t know when it is, but come along. Maid of honor, you can be it!”) and entertain us with tales of Her Majesty’s randy proclivities. Now that’s some solid English breeding.

Do Americans have a different view of Queen Victoria than the Brits?
I don’t even know how expansive our knowledge of her is. I knew that she had lots of kids, and I knew that she was widowed very young. I had the image of her as the old lady in black with the hankie on her head looking really miserable.

So when they offered you the part…
I was like, Really, guys? Really? Overweight old lady. Nothing screams “Emily Blunt” like Queen Victoria! But I started reading about her when she was younger, and it was sort of the polar opposite. She was so vivacious and had such a zealous approach to life. She was kind of rebellious.

And you get to have steamy sex scenes with Prince Albert.
Yeah, I think the repressed image we have of her comes from when she’d been widowed, but she happily had, and I quote, “fun in bed.” In her diaries she was very highly sexed, it seems. She probably exhausted poor Albert.

So did you worry about audiences nitpicking the facts?
I didn’t worry about it. It was probably naive of me to think that because everyone has an opinion. Certainly everyone in England is a fucking historian. I’ve done some Q&As where people have said, “Well, the reason that Victoria had so many children was because typhoid was very prevalent in that time,” and I’m like, “Or, she loved sex! Either one!” If you want to do a fact-off with me, we can go right now.

You’ve played a princess, a queen, a fashionista in The Devil Wears Prada, and are now filming a movie in which you play a ballerina.
A really girly run I’ve got going on right now.

Are you going through all of Barbie’s careers?
Exactly! I have all the different outfits. I think next I’m gonna be on, like, a volleyball team. I’m gonna aim for, like, a surfer girl.

How are you going to look as a blond?
Oh my God. It was a sad sight when I was in my teenage years. I did dye it a kind of slightly orange-tinted blond.

You’ve worked with some real acting greats: Tom Hanks, Anthony Hopkins, Meryl Streep. Can you do an impression of any of them?
I can do Benicio [Del Toro]. He’d be like, “You know what? You gotta walk in here and be like… And I was like… I don’t know. She was like, maybe buuuut, you know? Let me tell you…what was going on.” I literally couldn’t understanding what he was saying. It was great.

If people did impressions of you, what would they say?
They’d use classically British phrases. When my American friends impersonate me, they talk a bit like, “Look a’ the state of ’er! Look a’ the state of that!” Shit like that.

Why is it that Brits always sound classier than we Americans?
It must be that we’re related to Shakespeare in some way, so we’ve got to swank it up. We’ve had so many kings and queens; there’s got to be some way that I’m related to one of them.

What definition of the word blunt best describes you? “Abrupt,” “not sharp,” or “cigar filled with marijuana”?
[Laughs] Or someone who smokes pot. It’s so weird because when I do an interview, they usually do some play on blunt. I think I’ve heard every single one. “Emily Blunt: Sharp tool.” “To be blunt,” “Bluntly speaking.” I’ll go with number one. I don’t think I’ll broadcast the fact that I’m a pot smoker. Not true!

The Young Victoria

I had wanted to see this movie after I'd read a few interviews with Emily Blunt - it was only at Evanston for a while, and then when I looked again at their listings it was GONE and I cursed my own laziness for not going to Evanston sooner. Then, however, I noticed that it had gone into (slightly) wider release and was playing at the Glen, which is not nearly as much of a pain in the ass to get to as Evanston is. Anyway. I took myself to see the film yesterday afternoon and enjoyed it very much - despite the gaggle of geezers sitting behind me. I was in about the 4th row in the theater and had to climb some steps to get there. For some reason, the leader of this geezer pack decided to bring his posse (one of whom was on crutches or a cane or something) up the stairs. It was slow going, it was dark, the previews were starting, and when he tried to guide the poor little lady, she exclaimed "Don't pull on me! I'll slip and fall and that will be the end of me!" Naturally, oh yes, they sat behind me, and made little exclamations throughout the film. The gentleman would typically murmur "MMMHMMM" at various plot points and they'd sometimes ask each other what had just happened (don't know why, really, since they were probably around during Queen Victoria's coronation!)

Whatever. The film was beautiful and concentrated on - you may have guessed - Queen Victoria, when she was, you know, young. Some of the stuff at the beginning was a little hard for me to follow - all that stuff about a Regency and why she was holed up in the castle she lived in (up to HERE with f**ing castles!!) and why she needed people to hold her hand and stuff. I had to turn the history geek within off for a while (I fed her some cookies) - the film essentially told me all I needed to know, but naturally, I can't help wondering. I also wondered stuff like who her firstborn was, and what would have happened if she had gotten killed in the assassination attempt - who would have taken over then? Albert? Leopold? And I always wonder a little about the Parliamentary system. I was in a British history class once in college and the book would say things like "the government dissolved" or something and I was always like "Oh no!" but it never explained what that meant. So when Lord Paul Bettany (don't remember the character's name - Lord M?) lost the Prime Ministership to that other guy (Sir Robert?) but then Sir Bob said that he couldn't form a government when the Queen had no confidence in him - what happened? The other party gets back into power? They choose a new leader? Such things are fascinating to me.

The cast was outstanding - Emily Blunt was fantastico as Victoria and Rupert Friend was dashing and divine as Albert. I liked seeing their love story unfolding. I wonder if there's going to be a film "Victoria" now, like there was "Elizabeth" and "Elizabeth II" or whatever that second one was called. Anyway. Now I have an urge to see "Mrs. Brown" again....

year of the tiger

I love tigers!!!! I wonder who put the little jacket on him?

a little "Sense"

So - I didn't want you all to think that I have amazingly crap taste in movies OR that I only watch films for the merits of hunky Scottish variety eye candy. Not the case at all, tulips. Case in point, I recently found one of my all time favorite films, Sense & Sensibility in the $7.99 bin at Borders. Words do not even come close to describing how much I love this film - Emma Thompson's screenplay, the amazing cast (pretty much all my favorite people in one film! Does it get any better??? To quote Alan Rickman's Col. Brandon, "I think not."), the music, the story, the everything. I saw it many many times in the theaters (I was in high school then. Many many moons ago.) and I was happy to be popping it into my dvd player...The DVD extras are slim pickings, sadly. Two deleted scenes (one of which is called, I hope erroneously "Mrs. Dashwood converts Elinor" Really? To what?) some commentary, and Emma's very very funny "Golden Spheres" acceptance speech.

Check out that cast!!! Future Hogwarts faculty members Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman and Imelda Staunton, the young charming Kate Winslet, Greg Wise as the cad and blackgaurd (I love that word) Willoughby (speaking of Mr. Wise, where has he BEEN lately??) and Hugh Grant at his most charming, romantic, blinky, befuddled and floppy haired - the scene below never fails to melt my heart. (If you've never seen the film, or read the book, the below is a HUGE SPOILER!)

Sigh. Tears. Where was I? Oh, right. The show is nearly stolen by some of the supporting players -HUGO HORTON (AKA James Fleet AKA the spineless John Dashwood), the delicious Harriet Walter as Fanny Dashwood (I can still hear her saying the line "...upon whom penniless women can prey" in those icy tones, colder than Chicago in winter, and I oughta know!). My favorite of her scenes is the part where Lucy Steele decides to confide in Fanny that she's been secretly engaged to her brother Edward. I've looked and looked and I can't find the clip on Youtube, but if you come over, you can watch it with me! And of course, my other Favorite Hugh, Hugh Laurie as Mr. Palmer...