Hate to be sour about the ERAS tour too (and I thought it was the EROS tour) but way too long for how little diversity there is in her songs. Still she gives you a lot of costumes, sets, dancing so it's really my fault for thinking I was her target audience. My audience, on a TH pm, unlike George's, was two. I am sure a larger audience would have helped out enjoyment.
LOVE ANNIKA. And what I initially thought I would dislike (she talks to the audience) is my favorite thing because she says such clever and insightful things.Nicola Walker is an amazing actress. No one quite like her in the U.S. She is so terrific in RIVER especially.
Also watching BECKHAM (Netflix), LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY, THE PIGEON TUNNEL.
Reading UNCLE PAUL, Celia Fremlin. Just reissued by Faber. The beach described in the book is not nearly as nice as the one on the cover. Very amusing, observant, but also scary.
What about you?
PS Off to medical appt. Will return later
From Jeff
No, you - and we - are NOT Taylor's target audience. George, maybe.
Yes, ANNIKA is worth watching for her, as the mystery plots have
been painfully obvious so far this year. We've seen her in so many
things - an early JONATHAN CREEK (SPOILER - she was the killer), MI-5
(aka SPOOKS), where she came in the second series and stayed to the end,
RIVER of course (so good), THE SPLIT. The one we gave up on was
MARRIAGE with her and Sean Bean. Of course, also LAST TANGO IN HALIFAX
and UNFORGOTTEN (which was not the same this season without her).
Went to see Shaw's ARMS AND THE MAN off-Broadway on Saturday, and
the first act put me to sleep. The second was much better, so maybe it
was me (but Jackie felt the same). It was his fourth play (after MRS.
WARREN's PROFESSION), and "inspired" by something I'd never heard about,
the Bulgarian War of 1885. According to the notes by the director, when
Maurice Evans put it on, Shaw advised him to do it like an operetta and
have the cast speak directly to the audience and introduce their
characters. It did work well here, but I thought it was slight, and the
ingenue daughter was extremely tedious. Still... Oh, and we did wear
masks in the small theater, as did a lot of the other (mainly senior)
theatergoers.
I went back and checked and this was the 16th performance of a Shaw
play we've seen, of ten different titles, not to mention a couple of MY
FAIR LADY productions. In order of writing, we've seen:
Mrs. Warren's Profession (twice, once with the bizarrely cast Ruth
Gordon, with Lynn Redgrave as her daughter, and once with Cherry Jones)
Arms and the Man
Candida (twice, once in London in the '70s, with Deborah Kerr, and once in Canada with Phil & Patti Abbott)
You Never Can Tell (one of several Shaws that starred Philip Bosco, who was wonderful)
The Devil's Disciple (three times, once in London with John Wood)
Captain Brassbound's Conversion (early '70s in London; Ingrid Bergman was in it)
Major Barbara (twice; Philip Bosco again)
Pygmalion (twice, once in London with Alex McCowen and Diana Rigg)
Heartbreak House (Rex Harrison, Amy Irving, Philip Bosco)
Saint Joan (Lynn Redgrave)
Arms and the Man
Candida (twice, once in London in the '70s, with Deborah Kerr, and once in Canada with Phil & Patti Abbott)
You Never Can Tell (one of several Shaws that starred Philip Bosco, who was wonderful)
The Devil's Disciple (three times, once in London with John Wood)
Captain Brassbound's Conversion (early '70s in London; Ingrid Bergman was in it)
Major Barbara (twice; Philip Bosco again)
Pygmalion (twice, once in London with Alex McCowen and Diana Rigg)
Heartbreak House (Rex Harrison, Amy Irving, Philip Bosco)
Saint Joan (Lynn Redgrave)
This week we have Lucinda Williams in concert on Friday. We saw her
last summer after her stroke, opening for Bonnie Raitt. Tomorrow is our
Anniversary and we'll be staying over in the city Friday night.
Plenty of television, can't remember it all. Finished (finally) I
KNOW THIS MUCH IS TRUE (happy ending after six hours of misery) and the
Italian DON'T LEAVE ME. Besides ANNIKA, started the British BODIES
(which you have to watch closely as there are four timelines), LITTLE
BIRD (which I am finding very disturbing; can't believe this crap went
on in Canada) and BOSCH: LEGACY (series two, Freevee), which is also
disturbing to me. First of all, the woman is a cop for crying out loud!
She is investigating a serial rapist who gets into young women's
apartments by cutting the screen on their otherwise open windows. Yet,
she has no alarm, no security, and LEAVES HER WINDOWS WIDE OPEN so the
rapist can get in and take her. Honestly, she is too stupid to live
IMHO. As if her father didn't warn her often enough. And when she comes
home, she doesn't check the apartment at all. Plus, the whole idea of
someone buried alive in a coffin is nearly impossible for me to watch.
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23 comments:
A weird week and somewhat scary, and not because of Halloween.
As I've mentioned before, Jack is eleven, and all eleven-year-old boys are inherently dumb. Jack, however, is also completely trusting, innocent, and friendly to everyone. Somehow, a stranger began a texting relationship with Jack on his phone. This man told Jack not to tell his parents they were "phone friends." Then he said he wanted to meet Jack, and suggested that Jack hitchhike to Pensacola to meet him. So Jack walked (barefoot and shirtless) to a nearby convenience store and began asking people to give him a ride to Pensacola. The store employees were noticibly upset and called the police. The police called Christina. The man who was texting with Jack was known to the police and an investigation is underway, with an arrest probable. This whole situation could have gone horribly wrong and we were very lucky. Jack no longer has a phone.
Despite a gazillion talks over the years about stranger danger, Jack has remain to trusting. Through hisshort life, he has had to overcome a number of issues -- physical and otherwise; he was a rarck baby who spent his first six weeks of life de-toxing at Washington Chilredn's Hospital before Christina and Walt began fostering him; ti was two years before Jack's birth mother gave up her rights to him so Christina and Walt could adopt him. Jack has had many challenges and has slowly conquered many of them with the help and patience of Christina, Walt, Mark, and Erin. He's a smart, talented, likable kid who is still working on the challenges he has remaining. We all love him to death and want him to succeed. Jack's falling prey to a sicko in Pensacola is not part of our plan.
As I said, a scary week. It's also been a contemplative week for me. Phil's birthday this week also marks the eleventh anniversary of my sister's death. Linda was a bright, friendly, caring person who oozed empathy and got along with everybody. (She loved to talk. Once, as a joke, I pretended to be mute, with the explaination that, being raised with Linda, I never got a chance to learn how to talk; several people who knew Linda believed it.) Some people -- no matter who old they are when they die -- are gone too soon. And breathe easy, Patti, the fact that she died on Phil's birthday had nothing to do with her passing.
Also this week, I did some stuff, watched some stuff, and read sonme stuff.
Have a great week, Patti. Stay safe, and count your many blessings.
You know, you have a point, Patti, about the Sherlock Holmes stories. There really wasn't a lot that was funny in them, and yet a lot of the pastiches, etc., tend to be. I wonder why that is... As for the Eras tour, my daughter and granddaughter saw Taylor Swift in L.A., and really liked the concert. I guess it does depend on taste?
That is terrifying, Jerry. I can easily see how an eleven year old would just not be suspicious when all of the adults around him have been such helpful, loving people. Kevin had a phone by 11 and he's that sort of kid too. Now I am wondering if I should tell his parents this story as a warning.
I am sure I would have liked it more with an audience full of fans although I guess some people are saying that the kids are too over the top at some theaters.
Diane and I went to see Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin perform. The audience burst out laughing when they starting singing "I Want It That Way," a cover of the Backstreet Boys' hit. Of course, we were the only ones wearing N95 masks. Diane got her Moderna Covid shot and I'm scheduled for mine next week. Diane's arm hurt for a day or two but otherwise no side effects.
Today I'll be helping Diane take in the deck furniture. The weather in Western NY is chilly right now. This morning's temp was 35 degrees. Not Deck weather anymore. Next, we'll be bringing in the hoses. No more watering the lawn in what's left of this year.
Diane booked our flights to New York City for Thanksgiving. Katie has booked us for @JULIET and MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG. NYC at Thanksgiving is magical! Stay safe!
I would so love to see MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG. I have to get up my nerve about staying in a hotel alone.
No one wore a mask at the theater Saturday night. I am wearing one to the DSO on Sunday though.
A couple more things:
LITTLE BIRD is on PBS, but I think the documentary about the true story and the making of the series, LITTLE BIRD: COMING HOME, was on Netflix, but don't quote me. All of the people working on the show tell who they are, where they grew up, and if they (or their parents) were among those taken from their families. You can tell they really wanted to tell the story right.
I finished THE BOYS IN THE BOAT, which was excellent, and I ordered the PBS American Experience documentary, THE BOYS OF '36, from the library. I'm currently reading the late Jonathan Raban's memoir, FATHER AND SON, which begins with his stroke in 2011.
There is actual footage from their race somewhere-maybe on the PBS doc. Also I think there is footage on the Nazi documentarian's films of the 36 Olympics.
Have to watch LITTLE BIRD.
Convenience store employees to the rescue. Glad to hear Jack did not get far on his planned travel.
I've been listening to musician Liz Phair's memoirs, HORROR STORIES, and have been very impressed. Phair narrates as well and does a great job. I was expecting a run-of-the-mill tell-all with rock and roll stories of excess and nuttiness. Nope. The is a good deal of humor and most of the stories have very little to do with her career. Recent chapter was about a scuzzy guy Ryan Adams who was producing an album of hers until public revelations of his behavior. Phair had trouble with guy as well and then details about a few other creeps.
I've been rewatching some shows on TV. I did see that the 3rd season of Amazon's UPLOAD and started that. Likeable character and actors in the show. Resumed some of the last season of ARCHER as well.
Started recent production of ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT last week and have yet to finish it.
Jeff, that is indeed a hell of frightening potential disaster...I hope that Jack has learned that not everyone is worthy of trust. (I just had to pause C-SPAN coverage of your current governor lying his ass off in his arrogant way about his Achievements and how much he'd like to remake the world in his own image. I think Meatball Ron would make a fine example for a discussion with Jack about how not everyone is worthy of the benefit of the doubt. (11yos aren't inherently more dumb...sadly perhaps but not entirely, some of us at 11 weren't even unaware of the dangers that lurk in our pathways.) And condolence to you as well as Patti on anniversaries that stir some mixed emotions.
Was very happy last night to see Jackie Kashian and Maria Bamford perform at the Philadelphia branch of the Helium Comedy Club chain, and to chat briefly with Jackie afterward ("I haven't seen you in years," she noted...and I realized it was true, as she hasn't come through Philly proper for years...). Essentially no one masked...I was running late on my way out the door, and managed to leave mine behind...but FWIW I was seated in the back drectly under an A/C vent, so most microorganisms from fellow clubgoers, as opposed to those that might be cultivated in the AC ducts and filters. (Helium has a 2-drink minimum, but the cautious who doesn't wish to simply throw that money away can take home 2 unopened bottles of Perrier...as I was living dangerously, I drank my diet Pepsi in a glass and my bottle with the lemon wedges.)
Just saw the film version of TOYS IN THE ATTIC for the first time, it having sat on the dvr for about a year or so...Lillian Hellman's play, directed by George Roy Hill...tries to slowly build to its Southern Gothic dysfunction a bit Too Much, but I'm not sorry I've finally seen it. Interesting the degree to which Dean Martin would tend to take an acting gig more seriously more readily than his fellow 'Packers.
Other notable A/V in the last week or so has included Nadine Strossen's American Public Television series FREE TO SPEAK (fed out in marathons on the World Channel broadcast network), Rhiannon Giddens's PBS ARTS interview and jam with Elvis Costello, and indeed the return of ANNIKA on PBS, and my catching up with the continuing feed of ASTRID, also on PBS. And the NETA-syndicaTed doc BEHIND THE STRINGS, about the Shanghai String Quartet and their lives in exile (at least the founding members') after the Cultural Revolution made it difficult to continue to live in China.
And, hey, I might even get last week's SSW done this week.
Even BASKERVILLES does have some humorous elements, such as the opening chapter before the client meets up with Our Heroe, and Holmes has a bit of fun with Watson about the client's walking stick.
I listened to the Jackie and Laurie podcast a few times. I was mainly listening for an Wisconsin content but after a few episodes I never got back to it. Podcasts have rarely clicked with me.
Well, for Wisconsin content, listen to Jackie's THE DORK FOREST episodes with her family members, and there's where it comes in the bucketload. Or any episode with Maria Bamford, who was a Minnesota kid (so not so very far removed). J&L is mostly about their lives and careers as comedians (among other things, as Laurie Kilmartin is also a writer of prose and has been a writer for CONAN (O'Brien's last chat/comedy show so far) and other tv series, and Jackie has been trying her hand, not to her own satisfaction, at writing a romance novel. Podcasts, like talk=radio shows (I mostly listen to public radio for these), tend to have a certain rhythm unlike drama or recorded readings...
THE DORK FOREST is one of the oldest comedian podcasts extant, so there's no lack of backlog...mostly Jackie has on other comedians, but not exclusively, and everyone is there to discuss their cultural passions, ranging from certain periods in history to tv series of their childhoods. https://tdf.jackiekashian.com/
Jeff--Canada was the Tory North America. I hope that helps to explain Why such things might have been sustained in the former Dominion till entirely too recently. Or as Lenny Bruce noted about 60+ years ago, close paraphrase, "When I'm in Minnesota, they keep telling me how there's very little anti-black prejudice there. That's mostly because there aren't too many black people there. But they beat the hell out of their Indians."
Jerry, sorry for the distraction that had me misaddress my comment to you (and condolence, and relief it wasn't worse).
Went to see Killers of the Flower Moon. The best film I have seen this year. Oppenheimer is a close second.
Watched the first 4 episodes of Bosch: Legacy. I wish they would focus less on the daughter.
Also rewatching Breaking Bad.
I have vtried listenting to Taylor Swift. It all seems a bit samey to me. Right now I am listening to mnew cd's by The Pretenders, Wilco and The Rolling Stones (Funny good).
Reading an assortment of short stories and a new bio of Lou Reed.
Less said about the Detrot Lions thhe better.
This was nothing but comedy-which makes you not care about the mystery. There are several playwrights out there that mine Holmes for this and I have rarely found them very funny or compelling. I do think comedy is the hardest thing to write. Sometimes especially in a play where an actor can use their face less effectively.
I came out of a funeral to that halftime score.
Megan agrees with you re: Killers. His daughter has always been a mistake-both the actress and the character beats. Very samey.
ALL IS QUIET was terrific.
I started UPLOAD but haven't kept up. I was impressed at the time but it was mid-Covid and I plain forgot about it.
Late again today. We went out to pick up prescription food for our cat. Then breakfast at a place we haven't been to in several years. Then we went to buy me a pair of shoes and inserts for another pair. A rare event for me since most shoes don't fit my bad feet.
Then we went to Chaucer's, our local independent bookstore in the same shopping area. I bought a signed copy of EVERGREEN by Naomi Hirahara. And THE GOODBYE CAT by Hiro Arikawa, translated by Philip Gabriel. Seven short stories about one cat, I think. Glen bought CHEAP OLD HOUSES by Elizabeth and Ethan Finkelstein and a short story book (with a gorgeous cover), GET IN TROUBLE by Kelly Link.
We did give MOONLIGHTING a try. We watched the pilot and enjoyed it so we will watch more of it. I did not realize that Bruce Willis had made Die Hard while he was in Moonlighting. We also have been watching POKER FACE, CSI, LONDON KILLS, LEVERAGE. We watched the first Perry Mason TV movie, PERRY MASON RETURNS and liked that too.
In the last week I read VERA WONG'S UNSOLICITED ADVICE FOR MURDERS. A cozy mystery with an older female protagonist that I enjoyed a lot. The mystery was OK but the story was lots of fun. I liked the diversity of the characters, the description of food and the wonderful teas that Vera Wong made.
Now I am reading THE 7 1/2 DEATHS OF EVELYN HARDCASTLE by Stuart Turton. I have only read 60 pages out of 450 so not sure what I think so far. It is a country house mystery, and it has elements of fantasy or the supernatural.
Glen has been reading strange, weird stories in this book: THREE MEN IN THE DARK: TALES OF TERROR by Jerome K. Jerome, Barry Pain and Robert Barr. He has read 10 out of 25 stories and he says they are a mixed bag so far.
Jerry, so sorry you and Jack and the rest of your family had to go through all of that. Jack certainly is trusting. And daring and ingenious, to plan a trip to Pensacola alone. How far away is that?
Forgot to mention that mystery writer Joshua Moehling spoke at the WI Book Festival on Friday and I drove over for that. When we started he said, "And we can all go out for drinks after." Since that was my EXACT plan I asked him as much when he was signing books and invited myself along. Fortunately, I clued myself and realized I was imposing. I thanked him from driving over for the Festival and left.
Unfortunately I could not find a decent place to get a drink. Everything in the immediate area was either a fancy-schmancy looking restaurant or a college-age beer joint. I did listen a bit to some teenage buskers that were a full-on rock band with drum kit and amps and playing to a teenage crowd. They even had a shirtless and shoeless drunk trying to start fights. He would do some Tai-Chi style movements and air-kicks at the teens. The drunk was pushed or knocked down at least twice.
Vera Wong sounds great. Really hard to find comfortable shoes. I have two dozen pairs and wear about three of them. Of course, some are from the eighties.
I am downloading books every week after reading your (all of you) posts.
He should not have said that if he didn't mean everyone (Moehling)
7 1/2 DEATHS was pretty decent once I realized the transition from manor house mystery to a sort-off SciFi. I subsequently read DEVIL AND THE DARK WATER and that was pretty decent as well.
Horrified by what happened to Jack, Jerry, and very glad that it was stopped as soon as it was. He certainly has been through a lot.
Saw the cardiologist last Thursday and it looks like I will be around a bit longer. He thinks things are stable and plans a slew of tests next year.
Big fan of ANNIKA.
Current read is DREAM TOWN by Lee Goldberg. The new book in the Eve Ronin series drops in January and I have it via NetGalley.
If you happen to be in Dallas on Sunday, November 5th, I and a bunch of other fine folks will be reading at Noir at the Bar Dallas at THE WILD DETECTIVES. It is a very cool bookstore and bar and a great venue for these deals.
KRT in Big D
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