Haines His Way

And one for Ory-gun!

Geography is not my strongest suit.  

Ireland it is for me, then.

I thought the Philistines were all at the Temple of Dagon to see Samson today.

Is his band back together?  I love their version of "Delilah."

As long as there are no roaches where I live.

Hi, All - It's taken me a while to get here today, because first I had to see R&r off for their first day of summer school at UC, then here at work had to teach a 3-hour grantseeking basics workshop.  Is it naptime yet?

Loved the Portland pictures!  DR's George and MBarnum look nothing like the wallflowers they both claimed to be.  Add me to the list of those who'd like to be there.

TOD - I'll take Manhattan...

Actually, DH Richard and I have seriously discussed trying to spend some extended periods of time in NYC once we both retire.  Someday, I might call upon elmore, Ben, Rodzinski, Jose and anybody else who might know of sublets, housesitting, etc.  Probably not for 3-5 years, though.

My second choice would be a major university community like Ann Arbor (of course).  Or the houseboat Tom Hanks' character lived in in Sleepless in Seattle.

Most days, sitting behind the wheel, I'd just like to live closer to my workplace.  And I don't want another house, with a lawn and gutters and all that - give me a condo (preferably high-rise) any day.

DR JMK - Thanks for the artist info.  I thought they were musically inclined, so to speak.  And most likely substance inclined too.



They actually reminded me of Liszt's manuscript for his Piano Sonata in B-Minor.  Henle publises a wonderful reprint/reproduction of it.  Lots of different colors in it to delineate the themes,leitmotifs, and "structure".

DR Dan (the Man) - Now that I think of it, every production of Evita I've seen has more or less uses/borrowed/aped/stolen Hal Prince's staging and Larry Fuller's choreography.

And the whole "Originally directed by Hal Prince" line is required per the licensing agreement with R&H (formerly Tams-Witmark).

But I don't think I've seen the same byline for Larry Fuller.  However, Larry Fuller seems to "supervise" each major production and tour that goes out - including the one currently on the road.

Speaking of coming into megamillions, does anyone here play the lottery?

We don't have the lottery in North Carolina (though it looks like the legislature may finally vote to allow it), but South Carolina has it, and we live close enough to the border for lots of people to go there and buy tickets. I don't go to the trouble of driving there to get tickets, but if it were just a matter of popping down to the convenience store a block from my house, I probably would play each week.

 I don't go out of my way to play the lottery  but if I happen to be in a store that sells them 9a 7 -Elven, stationary store etc, and I have a loose dollar in my change I will usually pick one up.  ,My biggest win so far was  $100 on a scratchoff game,  and that was years ago!  

Hello, DR VIXMOM!
Sorry, but I have no idea what kind of the show "Sukara" is.
Tell me some about it. I'm curious.

Its about a young woman of Japanese ancestory who was raised in Hawaii, whio is now attending living with a  family in Japan (I believe they are related in some way, cousins, or aunt & uncle)  while studying Japanese culture. It is the story of  her adventures there.    

I watch it in Japanese with English subtitle although occassionally she will run into another American and then start speaking English and suddenly Japenese subtitles pop up

OH!

It turns out my parents, headed up to Atlantic City for the weekend.

And, yes, my Mom did rather well at the poker tables.  She actually doesn't play, but she was betting on the players at the Carribean Poker table - whatever that is.  Apparently, you bet on who's going to win, and then there's some sort of jackpot listing, and your person wins...

She didn't win a lot, but she came out in the black.

I didn't hear how my father fared.

And the phone indicator probably read: NO INFORMATION

Is his band back together?  I love their version of "Delilah."

LOL DR ELMORE - I hear they brought the house down!  

As for Mr. Mantello...

I think a major part of the issue was/is whether or not a "local" audience would be able to tell if a director's staging and choices were solely his own or if they were borrowed from someone else's staging.  -And, consequently, whether the critical praise - or brickbats - would be bestowed upon the "local" director for his innovation - or lack thereof.

Yes, actors will always "make" a different show - even in "original" productions when there's a cast change - or even when an understudy or stand-by goes in.  But when a director just ends up copying someone else's direction... Is it really directing?  Or does it become staging at that point?  Recreating?

In the opera world, there is a lot of "Original Production by...  This production restaged by...." going on.  They acknowledge the original director, and also acknowledge the current "director" - the staging director.  Heck, even stage managers even end up recreating the original director's staging regularly.

Yes, "direction" is essentially ephemera.  The printed word is not.  But how would you feel sitting in a theatre watching a show, and realizing, "Hey, I could have done this!.... WAIT!!  I did do this!"

*And... I really should try to look up the exact details of the Mantello case...  I believe the staging of L!V!C! even had some of the same scene changes duplicated - including the lighting cues.

**On a very personal note - There's a sort of prominent director that I've worked with a few times over the past couple of years.  His work has gotten praised for his "innovation", "resourcefulness", "craftiness", and "originality".  However, there has been more than one instance where his "originality" has been praised to high heaven, and I find myself saying to myself - or even screaming to myself - "Didn't you see the production in London last season?  Didn't you see the production off-Broadway two years ago?  They did the same thing!?!?!?"

And others I know have been saying the same thing.  It reminds me of NBC's catch-phrase for their summer reruns, "It's New To You!"



Praise is good.  But I also believe it should be it should also be due to whom it is really due.