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[Michael]

DVD: Marx Bros. Set

[Michael]

I don't think I could go on singing is anamorphic and if it isn't why isn't it.

[Michael]

Little Prince: What in hell was Stanley Donen trying to do? A terrible film. The editing was abrupt and the use of the fisheye lense was annoying. Also annoying was switching back and forth between location and soundstage. Saving graces were the performances of Kiley, Warner, Fosse and Wilderer and what was left of most of the songs. Strange that they cut Be Happy in half, but is used as a musical motif afterwards.

[Jrand74]

DRMS - ICGOS is slightly letterboxed - the same as the VHS, but it is NOT enhanced for widescreen televisions and has a few other problems I have posted about at THE DVD Place.

[Jrand74]

MR BK are  you going to Post Pollyanna thoughts tomorrow at the DVD PLACE?

Always thought it was some sort of statement that Walt Disney allowed the movie to start with an EXTREME CLOSEUP of a pre-adolescent boy's backside!

[Tomovoz]

 "Little Prince" deserved so much more
Thank goodness for the charming score
The actors worked so hard I'm sure
Bu the film's direction I abhore.

[Tomovoz]

Michael Shayne what are your plans
To LA or off to distant lands?
If the choice were left to me
I'd take a plane to see NZ.

[Ben]

As BK mentioned in the notes (wow, 36 posts since last night and we're already on page 2) Millie is closing. Here is a POL link. It will have played 32 previews and 904 regular performances since its March 2002 debut (making the run a tad over 2 years)

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/86150.html

Hunter Foster will begin in the role of Leo Bloom in The Producers in June. Brad Oscar will continue in the role of the morally challenged producer Max Bialystock. Mr. Joey Fantone will replace Foster in Little Shop, which, by the by (or by the sell) did not get a Tony nod for best revival. If Fantone doesn't boost business, which, according to the wags on Bway is not good right now, it will most likely close. Here is the POL link.

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/86136.html


Kathleen Marshall will direct and choreograph a new television production of Once Upon A Mattress starring Carol Burnett. Production and air dates have yet to be announced. "Marshall could not confirm to Playbill On-Line the casting of the central role of Princess Winnifred (which Burnett originated on stage and subsequently played in 1964 and 1972 TV films), but reports have placed Hairspray's Marissa Jaret Winokur in the role."
Here's the POL link.

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/86146.html

Also, Match, the Frank Langella piece will close on May 23rd. I'm seeing it next Friday (thank G*d for TDF) Hope it doesn't decide to close a little earlier than the 23rd.

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/86153.html

In the work CD player a Living Era/ASV disc called Breezin' Along with The Revelers a quartet of male singers from the 20s-30s doing songs like Dinah, Baby Face, Birth of the Blues, Dancing in the Dark and more, all recorded between 1925 and 1931.

Nothing in the VCR. Anthony is on the Island for a clown show and I have theatre all weekend. I'm seeing Hombody/Kabul tonight, Chinese Friends tomorrow and Frozen on Sunday. I still have to see Bombay Dreams before the Tonys. I also want to see Jumpers to see what all the buzz is about.

Signing off from the Great White Way, your humble reporter, Ben.

[Jrand74]

Thanks, DRBEN!

[Dan-in-Toronto]

These have been around for years, but they're still funny.

Jewish Haiku

Is one Nobel Prize
so much to ask from a child
after all I've done?

In the ice sculpture
reflected bar-mitzvah guests
nosh on chopped liver.

Yenta. Shmeer. Gevalt.
Shlemiel. Shlimazl. Tuchis.
Oy! To be fluent!

[Stuart]

Very funny DR D-I-T.

Media Watch:
CD (Work): Liz Callaway/On & Off Broadway
CD (Car):  Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public
VCR: Pretty sure it's empty
DVD: I am sure it's empty

Sorry to be E&T these past few days.  

[William E. Lurie]

I read elsewhere that Marissa has dropped out of the MATTRESS television version.  Maybe it conflicted with her new sitcom.  Knowing the way they cast made for television musicals, they'll probably forget the recent revisal and cast Sarah Jessica with Malcom as Dauntless.

*******

CD - BOUNCE again

DVD - Thank God the deluge of new releases is over; I'll close my eyes and pick one

VHS - The recent Dick Van Dyke and Carol Burnett reunions... the first time in I don't know how long I've watched 2 things from CBS in one week

******

Because I'm sure that half of the shows Ray and I go to are primarily because I want to see them I went last night to another concert by Ray's favorite music group: YES at Madison Square Garden.  An hour would have been fine; by three hours and ten minutes I was about to climb the walls.  I have two questions for people who go to rock concerts: do people always stand up for most of the concert despite the fact that you can see perfectly fine from the comfortable seats except for all the people standing in front of you?  And why is there so much action in the aisles... a steady stream of people running to and from the lobby.  Didn't they come to see and hear the concert?  Fortunately they only play New York about once every two years.

[elmore3003]

Good morning, all!  I slept late, but I'm amazed to see page 2 already!

TOD:  
DVD:  I have to drag out POLLYANNA today
CD:  a complete unreleased BABES IN TOYLAND I'm working on, playing with track sequences; also Liz Callaway THE BEAT GOES ON, Saint-Saens' CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS
VCR:  Nada, I'm waiting for a package from DR MBarnum


Fair Phoebe floats on clouds of white
Her happiness is something rare
She's found true love, her heart's delight
Her happiness my heart's despair

[Dan (the Man)]

In my CD player at home,
The cast recording of Bounce plays.
And like so much fish, it just lays.
I have for this one not much praise.
In my CD player at home.

In my CD player at work,
I've a burnt bootleg of new Candide.
This new Candide, it no succeed.
Lupone, Chenowith--they exceed.
In my CD player at work.

As for DVDs at the mo',
I got a set of Jonny Quest,
Fun and adventure--it's the best!
Five males who live in Key West.
That's for DVDs at the mo'.

In my VHS recorder,
Last night's great Fraiser finale.
This show's always been up my alley.
Kelsey G's a bit of a Sally.
In my VHS recorder.

[Jrand74]

DRWEL - I have stopped going to concerts for just the reasons you wrote about.  It must be a rule.

One night in late October
When I was far sober.
Returning with my load with manly pride.
My feet began to stutter
So I lay down in the gutter.
And a pig came up and lay down by my side.

A woman passing by was heard to say:
"You can tell a man who boozes
  By the company he chooses."
And the pig got up
And slowly walked away.

[Panni]

Good morning.  Late last night I figured out who the Pollyanna "girl on the right" is. Couldn't go to sleep without knowing. To confirm what I was thinking, I Googled the actress' name coupled with Pollyanna, etc... Found the strangest site -- for movie/TV fans who happen to be foot fetishists ("Foot-Lovers' Database") -- which lists scenes from movies/TV from the POV of feet, so to speak.
Here's the listing for POLLYANNA:
POLLYANNA. PG-rated, 1960. Rather charming story centred on the escapades of 13-year-old orphan Pollyanna (Hayley Mills) when she goes to live with a rich maiden aunt. At the 25-minute mark there is a commotion in the town square with a bunch of barefoot girls and boys paddling in water, but a very brief scene. Then, right near the end of the movie Pollyanna is carried from her bed to see a crowd of people. We get a reasonably good but middle-distant view of her bare feet; regrettably a very short one. At least she wasn't wearing sox in bed - so often seen in movies! Score: 2.

And here's another classic...

ROMAN HOLIDAY. G-rated, 1953. Audrey Hepburn plays a princess. At a big reception she is standing wearing a full-flowing dress and, obviously tiring of the formalities, under the dress pulls out a stockingued foot to ease it. Not bare under the circumstances but the stocking is sheer so her foot is seen reasonably well. She continues the action several times until she eventually loses the shoe. Soon after we see her briefly barefoot in her bedroom but only very briefly. Score: 2.

Chacun a son gout.

[Jrand74]

Isn't the internet wonderful?

[Dan (the Man)]

Barefoot boys and girls
Also appear in Picnic
Rates only a "4".

[Jennifer]

Well I turned on the Frasier finale at about 9:20pm.  The wedding stuff was very funny, as was the birth at the vet.  Then it got a bit slow.

I will say this, I totally didn't understand the ending.  I was like, "what the heck is in Chicago??"

I wasn't sure if that was where Lilith lived.  Or where Frasier's girlfriend was.  So it was sort of a downer for me.

Although I just read this story:
http://jam.canoe.ca/Television/may14_end-sun.html

So I think I'm okay now. Oy!

[Dan (the Man)]

To Ol' Chicago,
Fraiser followed his new love.
I'd prefer Lilith.

(Haiku just ain't haiku unless you italicize it.)

[Jennifer]

DR WEL: Yep for some reason people like to stand at rock concerts!

And speaking of concerts, it was just in the paper today that AI winner Ruben Studdard (along with Canadian Idol 4th place finisher Audrey) will be playing at a club here NEXT week.

Okay, let's see, Clay went on a tour and will be touring MAJORLY this summer and Ruben is playing clubs.  Wow.

[Jennifer]

Interesting theatre bits:

http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm?int_news_id=4712

[Jennifer]

Hmmm, I got the "too many users on HHW" thingie when I hit post.  THAT HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE.

[Jennifer]

Michael Riedel:

Interesting comments about Tony voters.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/05142004/entertainment/20847.htm

[Matt H.]

I will have to respectfully disagree with comments made about FRIENDS last night sagging in its middle seasons. I have the first seven seasons on DVD and find nothing saggy about any of them. COmedy, of course, is always a debatable medium, and what works for one doesn't for another, but I find every season consistently funny and inventive amazed that the writers could combine the six stars in so many different combinations, and the comedy just flowed wonderfully no matter who was with whom. And, of course, it won the Best Comedy Series Emmy during its 8th season.

As for FRASIER's last year, it's true Christopher Lloyd and Joe Keenan steadied a sinking ship and provided a couple of memorable episodes this year, but on the whole I didn't find the season that much stronger than the previous two or three that I did watch.

[TCB]

Yes, I, also, got the “too many users warning,” when I tried to go from Today’s Column to Today’s Post.  It said there were 58 current users.  And I laughed, and I laughed……….

I wish that I could be so witty
I wish my thoughts could rhyme,
But I’m afraid I’d be in trouble
I’m working on the taxpayers’ dime.

[JoseSPiano]

Good Morning!

Hmmm... I'm not in a rhyming mood - yet - today - nor am I in a haiku-ing mode yet.  So...  I shall not even attempt to "do" such a thing...

-Well, I guess if you considered this blank verse, then maybe...

-Oh, the cicadas have started their "buzzing" or whatever they call it outside.  Very interesting sound in this neighborhood.  With all the buildings around here, the echo of the "buzz" sounds almost metallic.

As for media check, just the CD player, and just some Bill Charlap Trio CDs, "Written in The Stars", "Stardust" and his newest one, "Cool: The Songs of Leonard Bernstein".  Great post-show wind down music.

Ok - I think I need to wake up more - or maybe even go back to bed... ... laters...

[Matt H.]

Friday Media Alert:

CD - BOUNCE (OCR)

DVD - the rest of FUN & FANCY FREE to be followed by SPY KIDS 3-D. I'm looking forward to seeing what 3-D looks like on a widescreen TV.

DVR - last night's FRASIER finale

[Noel]

http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=1875136

Stephen Schwartz on NPR gives fascinating insight into his process.  (We've much in common.)  Do yourself a favor and listen to it all.

[Noel]

From my murder-mystery musical, the lass who discovered the corpse of Larry Dapple sings.

JESSIE
A sight so gory
To tell the story
   Would certainly make you wince
The body lay there
In disarray there
   In various crimson tints.
His limbs and head
  Were all askew;
His arteries, red
  His veins were blue,
  And there was nothing I could do
  But give an account to you -

But I am much too ladylike
To utter words so shady, like
   The picture I must make clear
Yes, I am much too dignified
My noble stance is signified
  By my hestitation
  To give a narration
  To the situation
   Here

CHORUS: We thank you for your reticence
        For we don't care to get a sense
        Of the situation here.

JESSIE:
I saw his jawbone
Was just a raw bone
   Protruding out from his chin
He lost one eyeball.
I can't describe all
   The ugliness there within
His coated tongue
  His runny nose
His withered lung
  His shrivelled toes
  He didn't smell much like a rose
  When he started to decompose -

But I am much too feminine
To tell of the smell of lemon in
   The room where he lies in state
Yes, due to my gentility
I haven't the ability
  To evoke a story
  So horribly gory
  As Dapple's sorry
   Fate

CHORUS: The tale you tell is sad enough
        If you don't mind, we've had enough
        Of Dapple's sorry fate