Slings and Arrows was a Canadian series which ran on Sundance here from 2003-06. It deals with three seasons of plays and the players at a Shakespearean Festival (New Burbage standing in for Stratford, Ontario). Each season's main production's central quandary is mirrored by the actors in real life. Season One did the Scottish play; Season two, Hamlet and Three, King Lear. Humor is the main ingredient and a spot-on look at the acting life also. And the economics of putting on a show.
I saved the third season as long as I could because the actor playing Lear was an actor we saw play Lear some years ago (William Hutt). Sometimes holding onto something is good. Same reason I still have the last season of Deadwood to watch. Anyone else do that?
For more forgotten movies, check out Todd Mason.
18 comments:
There are a number of things we've not gotten around to erasing on our DVR, such as KILLSHOT, the orphaned Elmore Leonard adaptation with Diane Lane, Thomas Jane and Mickey Rourke, among others.
Among the witty aspects of this fine series: when Rachel MacAdams left the series after the first season to go do films in Hollwood...her character, rather deftly, did the same from the troupe.
This one's on DVD.
Slings and Arrows is a treasure... and gave me an even greater appreciation of Stratford.
As for holding onto things. The Acrobats stood for years as the only Mordecai Richler novel I hadn't touched. Why? Because I expected something substandard. Richler thought it a failure and kept it out of print for the last three decades of his life. When finally read, I thought it... well, substandard; it was much as I imagined. A self-fulfilling prophecy, perhaps.
You won't be disappointed by Slings and Arrows or Deadwood
Such a treat to see William Hutt again too. He is amazing in closeup. Only saw him on the stage until now.
Patti - Sounds like a series really worth holding on to! I have to admit I don't do that with television and films, but I sometimes do that with books.
I've never held onto something because I thought it might be good. The Beloved Spouse and I binge watch some shows on DVD (THE WIRE, DEADWOOD) then watch them again. We're about due for another DEADWOOD go round.
This is a "Never knew about" for me. Never even heard of it.
BTW, thanks so much for your review of "Days of Beer" on Amazon. I appreciate it much!
We don't do that but sometimes I'm sorry we don't. One of Jackie's favorite quirky Canadian shows, SEEING THINGS, is just not available. They are just now showing two different seasons (4 and 6) of DaVINCI'S INQUEST here locally so she is going to buy the DVD of series 1 and start from the beginning.
Jeff M.
I was just thinking about this show the other day ... wasn't Rachel McAdams on it for a minute?
She was in it for the first season. Sarah Polley is in the third.
I'm still rationing my Anthony Trollope novels so they last for a few more years. With TV and movies, I tend to consume them right away.
I've never heard of this series, Patti. It does sound like something I'd like.
I save old shows, sure. I still have BRIDESHEAD REVISITED - the original with Jeremy Irons - on video. Taped with my first ever recording device. Even if I no longer have a video player.
I'm embarrassed to say that I saved the Luke and Laura saga on the daytime soap General Hospital for years until I finally lost track of it. :)
I recall seeing an episode of this series. To be honest, films and shows about the theatre hit too near home for me. A close member of my family (I won't say how close, to protect the innocent) performed on stage for many years, and I know too much about all the backstage stuff. For me, NOISES OFF aptly captured the craziness of that particular world.
this is a bit like NOISES OFF, in fact. It is not about backstage life in any meaningful way.
And now you have driven me crazy trying to identify that family member.
Patti--I still have yet to watch season 3 of DEADWOOD. I loved the first two seasons, but I'm hesitant to delve into the third for fear of the same disappointment I experienced after the final season of THE SOPRANOS.
And with THE WIRE, Mike.
I have all my video tapes, music cassettes, and one eight track I bought in the '70s. Yeah, I hang on to things. if my upstairs was any worse I could be on HOARDERS.
Also a big fan of this show.
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