LONDON UPDATE

Last night we went to see the musical production of "Mary Poppins," which is quite different from the movie, and astonishingly good. If this show gets to New York, it will be huge, one of those shows that run forever.

The theater had been closed the night before because of the bombings, but last night the house was full. We stood for a minute of silence in honor of the bombing victims, and then the show, as shows must, went on.

The show goes on everywhere here: The underground is running again, and people are resuming their lives. I remain awed by how calmly Londoners have handled the terrorist attack. I believe that one reason for this is that the British TV news people have displayed less excitability and hysteria than American TV news people displayed in response to the Michael Jackson verdict. That's not an exaggeration: That's really how it appears.

Comments

[chilly dog]

first O_o

[igloo]

Dave,
You may come home now. Dennis is moving north and Miami remains.
I'm concerned that if you stay in England much longer you will start using words like "Jolly Good", "Care for a spot of tea", "I believe the engine is under the bonnet" and consider Fish and Chips a good meal.
So, come on home and reacquaint yourself with words like "booger" and phrases like NTTAWWT. Besides, too much BBC and you will no longer fill the need to provide us with juvenile fare we have come to appreciate soooo much!
We miss you. (Not that we have been shooting at you).

[Guin]

I think Dave and Mrs. Blog deserve a combined Pulitzer for their impressive and professional reporting during this crisis.

Who's in charge of the Pulitzer for Best Blogging?

[Dave]

Jeff -- I'm not talking about the British print media, which can, as you note, be ridiculously sensationalistic. I specified the TV reporters, who -- at least the ones I've been watching -- are very different.

[Maud]

They must put grown-ups on the TV news. So grown-up they don't even feel the need to share their falafel fantasies with their producers, maybe. Excellent idea; we should try it.

[Dave]

p.s. The girls had a fantastic time at the show. Afterward they got to go backstage, and they met the actress who plays Mary Poppins. (Who apologized to US for the bombings.)

[igloo]

Nice idea Maud. But if we follow the English method, who would watch the news? Our news is more of a spectator sport, than a current events exercise. In fact I'm gearing up for the "Melee in DC", more commonly known as the "Battle for the Bench." I am sure our telegenic telecasters will give it their all to demonize any and all contestants. It will be a process worthy of "Monty Python".

[igloo]

Great GOOGAMONGA! I almost simulposted with his Daveness! I shall never wash these hands again.
Oh, and Dave, was the actress really involved in the bombing. Did you report her? Were you scared? Has Mary Poppins gone over to the Dark Side?

[insomniac]

the American media tried to whip up some hysteria when the Homeland Security guy was mentioning the need for increased vigilance on public transportation (translation: we're going to look under the seats for bombs,every day whether it needs it or not) and the need to report anything out of the ordinary. If you didn't get on the bus 'cause there was someone 'weird' on there ,you'd never get on!
(I'm not exempting myself from the weirdness, either.)

Favorite historical stiff upper lip quote:
The earl of Uxbridge at Waterloo was hit by a cannon ball and said to Wellington nearby,"By God, sir, I've lost my leg!" to which Wellington replied, "By God, sir, so you have!"

[Jessica R.]

*then both Wellington and the earl had tea and crumpet and afterwards went looking for the missing leg.*

[Maud]

- the actress who plays Mary Poppins...apologized to US for the bombings -

That's funny, but sweet. Nothing if not well-mannered, those Brits (or actors - stage actors, of course, not that tacky Hollywood crowd.) "We do so hope you're enjoying your stay. Terribly sorry we've been bombed by terrorists while you were here. Just a spot of bother, but we'll tidy up and carry on. Spit-spot."

Igloo - I can't watch it. Thank God for the internets.

[Jessica R.]

We, in America, are news junkies. How else can you explain the glut of all-news-all-the-time channels on tv? So to keep us tuning in, the news gets more and more sensational. Not long ago there was an hour-and-a-half newscast every night and then life went on. Now the local news is that long,plus AM news, noon news and National news; all day news channels; court tv news; all day congressional news; all day sports news; all day entertainment news; AND Internet broadcast news! ARGH...I have to stop, my brain hurts.

[Bumble]

I hope Mary Poppins the musical will come to the U.S. I love a good musical. Les Mis and 1776 are my favorites. *sigh* I hope I'll get to go to Europe some day. Almost got to go to Germany when I was in High School, but I got cheated out of it because Comair went on strike.

[insomniac]

last boring historical info. of the day: Uxbridge's leg was found and buried outside of Waterloo, he lived for 39 more years and he is a great-great-great-great grandfather of Diana, Princess of Wales.

[Eleanor]

*zips in*

I feel like a better person this morning, having learned some history from insom - thank you.

bumble - if you want to see a great musical, try to catch Rent - I think it's on a road tour!

Dave - thank you for the updates from London - it really adds something to the story, and it's, if I may use the phrase, life-affirming to know that Sophie continues to have a good time!

[Bumble]

El- I saw Rent in New York a few years ago. Not really one of my favorites, but maybe I was too young to appreciate it (or too young not to be horrified by it) at the time. My most vivid memory of that experience came after the show. I was catching a cab with one of the adults on the trip (I was in high school) and we saw a transvestite (NTTAWWT) leaning against a lamppost. Mr. Miller leaned over to his son and me and said, "Look guys. It's the real live Angel." My innocent self was quite shocked at the time. My favorite show from that trip was Jekyll and Hyde. Have you ever seen it? It's phenomenal.

[bbescuela]

Dave, are you sure Ms. Poppins wasn't apologizing because she thought her show was a bomb?

[judi]

bumble: i was in london two septembers ago, and saw les miz there... it was incredible! got half-price tix in leicester square for the matinee, ended up in about the 20th row orchestra, perfect spot. truly amazing performances.

[queensbee]

our electronic media here hype up everthing. not that 9-11 wasnt a big deal, but we spend so mmuch time on runaway brides, and kids lost in the woods and all that. they should show more marx bros movies and a little bit less of wolf sh!tzer.

[Bumble]

judi- That's awesome! I'm jealous. I got to see it live once, too. My sister got us tickets for all of our respective birthdays and we all went and saw it together at a theater on a college campus somewhere when it was touring. I don't even remember where it was, but it was, as Anne of Green Gables would say an "epoch in my life." I have a soundtrack of the 10th Anniversary performance. First CD I ever bought. It's such powerful music. So touching.

[Eleanor]

bumble - did (or do) you know that the guy who played the original Angel in Rent is Jesse L. Martin, who is now on Law&Order and doesn't sing on the show - bummer:(

judi - I've seen Les Miz in L.A. - 3 times - nothing quite like it, IMO! Have you seen the PBS show, Live From Victoria and Albert Hall, the 10th anniversary of Lez Miz, where the cast is all in costume but just stand on the stage and come forward to sing their parts - outstanding! And at the end all the Jean Val Jean's who have played that part world-wide come marching down the aisle's singing and waving flags! I have the video and I highly recommend it - no pledge breaks!

[Bumble]

I had the opportunity to see it again in New York a few years later, but I missed out on it because I had gone to an improv workshop and show with the rest of the group. I found out later that some of the women who didn't go to the improv had gotten tickets to Les Mis after I left. They tried to catch me, but we had already left. I wished they hadn't told me that. The improv show was really neat though.

[Martinishark]

"The British TV news people have displayed less excitability and hysteria than American TV news people."

Meanwhile, last night here in SoFla we watched a phallanx of news crews take to the streets to report their first-hand accounts of the winds that were up to 45 MILES PER HOUR!!! It may have been more impressive if I had not just braved those same winds to run to Burger King for dinner.

But not everything went well. My "Fantastic 4" kids meal came with a Sue Storm actin figure--AND I ASKED FOR THE BEN GRIMM TOY!!!

Back to you in the studio Dave....

[Bumble]

El- I have that video and soundtrack, too. Awesome, isn't it?

[Maud]

I was a theatre student when Les Miz was fairly new. Every gay guy in the department (which naturally was a fair number) had instantly chosen "Bring Him Home" as his favorite audition ballad. It was understandable, as ballads for guys were still all about the girl in those days, and that's a song that let them express tenderness for another guy, though in a differnt context. But it was pretty funny seeing all these 19-year-olds singing from the perspective of the battle-hardened older man about the lad they want to be saved, "He is young; he's only a boy."

[Bumble]

El- No, didn't know that about Angel. Did you know that Jerry Orbach, formerly of Law and Order, was also a Broadway singer once? And also did the voice of Lumiere in Disney's Beauty and the Beast.

[Bumble]

Maud- I once heard a boy I was in Junior High with practicing "Bring Him Home" for contest. It was the most horrifying sacrilege ever to fall on my ears.

El- Don't you think the guy who plays Marius in the 10th Anniversary is cute? Mom thinks he's ugly, but my sister and I think he's adorable.

[Eleanor]

Bumble - I was unexpectedly terribly affected by Jerry Orbach's sudden death (RIP)and found the web site for The Fantasticks, wherein he played the lead when it first opened. If you let it run, after the "overture" he sings the first few bars!

Go here! and take a Kleenex!

[Eleanor]

*listening and sobbing*

[Eleanor]

That would be the first few bars of Try To Remember

Memo to self: try to finish a thought in one post.

[Bumble]

Ohhhhhh. Jerry Orbach was quite extraordinary. *sniffs, and hugs Eleanor* Thank you for that. I'd never heard him sing, except for Beauty and the Beast.

[Eleanor]

I love Michael Ball - After Andrew Lloyd Webber's 50th b-day party ( a great show), I bought one of his CD's - a little disappointing but maybe just because you couldn't see his pretty face! And as Marius he was the best! When he held what's her name in his arms and lied and told her he loved her as she was dying.... good thing she died though, or he would have dumped her for Cosette, so....:)

[M.C.]

Despite the fact that I recognize the seriousness and/or gravity of it all, having watched news accounts and read most everyone's comments here, I simultaneously realized that Dave is actually blogging on his blog.

Good show.

*goes back to flipping burgers*

*...or was that flicking boogers?*

[Bumble]

"I'm here." "That's all I need to know. And you will keep me safe, and you will keep me close..." *sigh* I am a paradox. I dream of true love but don't believe in it. Part cynic and pessimist, part romantic fool. Perhaps that's why I adore musicals and romantic comedies and Dave Barry. fyi, the sample to listen to Try to Remember on Amazon picks up where your link left off. There are also snippets of the other songs Jerry Orbach sang.

[Guin]

I saw Jerry Orbach on Broadway in a revival of 42nd Street, in perhaps 1979-1980. He was great. "Come and meet those dancing feet!"

Musical theatre is great.

[Eleanor]

I hate Amazon's Musical Samplers - I mean I love them but you're just getting warmed up and - bang - THE END!

On the Promises, Promises album there's a very cute sample called She Likes Basketball!!

*zips back to Amazon*

[John Yaya]

It seems that Meathead and the Blogtards have spent extra time filing the points on their heads today, as the drooling, mouth-breathing, and mentally-subnormal grunts and moans are especially meaningless.

Please, Meathead, stay in the U.K. Your American-as-Idiot routine will provide endless grist for English comedy.

[John Yaya]

It seems that Meathead and the Blogtards have spent extra time filing the points on their heads today, as the drooling, mouth-breathing, and mentally-subnormal grunts and moans are especially meaningless.

Please, Meathead, stay in the U.K. Your American-as-Idiot routine will provide endless grist for English comedy.

[Amy]

Relax, John.

We're here for the fun, the laughs, the comeraderie.

There are plenty of other places for you to spew.

Suggest you take a hike.

[Eleanor]

HUH????

[bbescuela]

As opposed to John Yaya's "I'm an idiot and I'm not afraid to tell the world" routine.

[insomniac]

I'm guessing 'John Y.' is'Xrestim' from yesterday, at least I hope so.

El. - It was Eponine,(Thenardier's daughter) that Marius lies to. "Marius" is said to be based on V.Hugo himself.

[Eleanor]

amy and bb: well said! Much better than my ever so eloquent "HUH?"

[Eleanor]

Thanks, insom. I didn't know that about Marius - interesting...
I just brought the CD's up from my car and I'm ripping them into WMP, and listening!
And didn't Lea Solanga play her in one of the productions?

Oh - she's dying now..hold me now and let it be...

[Eleanor]

Eleanor about to be maudlin - feel free to skip!

Eponine: I'll sleep in your embrace at last.

John Denver: Let me lay down beside you, let me die in your arms.

What??? I have eccletic taste in music! :)

[Amy]

He should get his "YaYas" OUT!

[Eleanor]

Uh-OH - Javert's getting ready to do himself in - I think I need to switch to The Beach Boys!!

[Kafaleni]

I was going to say something, but the subject's been changed 3 or 4 times already.

I saw Evita onstage last year. Worst date of recent experience, fantastic show. I'm never watching the movie again. For once, Antonio just doesn't hold up. He came veeeery close though. But theatre is just soooo far superior. I haven't even decided if I'll watch the movie version of Phantom yet. I had the original cast soundtrack, but it got "borrowed" *sob*

Oh.. and if you'd ever met my (British) grandmother, you wouldn't be the least bit surprised at the news media's reaction. She's one of the funniest, rudest people I know, but for anything emotional, you just put on your best stiff upper lip and don't talk about it.

[Jillywilly]

So, so glad that Dave and his homies are okay and back to seeing shows, making wry observations and photographing mounds of albino doots.

When we were in London last summer, we saw "Jerry Springer: The Musical". It was hilarous and trashy, but at times cringe-worthy. Afterwards, they passed out cute little buttons, which I popped on my leather jacket and promptly forgot about it ... that is until fall, when I was heading out the door to a PTO meeting at the grade school. I happened to glance down at my rampart region and spied a small button that blared "Chick with a Dick". Oops. My bad.

I shall now resume my feverish, borderline obsessive lurking.

[Eleanor]

Kaf - You knew that I would come to the defense of Antonio! I saw Evita in The Theatre in London, and I loved the movie - I've only seen in about 100 times (video cassette)!

And FWIW, I saw Phanton in L.A. (theater) and just got the DVD, and except for the"chandelier" thingy, the movie is worth seeing, just for the music - and Minnie Driver!

Thank goodness I've finally reached the finale of Lez Miz - I'm drained!

[Kafaleni]

El.. maybe it's just "and Madonna" that I can't stand. I liked her when she was still a person, rather than an entity. I'm not entirely sure why she's still famous.

Thanks for the "Phantom" recommendation. I'll definitely look out for it now.

I watched "Pygmalion" the other week. That's the movie of the original play - the one they based "My Fair Lady" on. I wanted them to sing!!. I kept waiting for the songs to start, (I've seen MFL hundreds of times.. I can pretty much quote it word for word), and they never did!!

[Amy]

Jeez--we can say "dick" on this blog?

*mops brow feverishly*

My kinda blog.

[judi]

oh my god. i was just looking up the lyrics to "if i give my heart to you" and it came up with lea salonga's name... and i had no idea. do you know where that song is from? a barbershop chorus did it at international (i'm listening to the live feed) and it was GORGEOUS but the lyrics are slightly different from the ones listed under lea's name....

[Kafaleni]

Amy.. you haven't said it yet? Well you have now, kinda...

*runs off looking for lea solanga*

[Scott Jordan]

I don't doubt that Dave is correct in his TV news observation. Britain is solid in a crunch-- that stiff upper lip an' all that, and US reportage tends to be inflammatory and breathless and spoiling-for-a-fight even in the best of times (when the reporters aren't busy cooking up "fake but accurate" canards, of course).

However, in fairness to America, it should be pointed out that we did a pretty fair job of dusting ourselves off and getting going again four years ago.

It's good to know Dave & crew have resumed their vacation.

[bbescuela]

Speaking of Dicks and Mary Poppins, is there any truth to the rumor that Dick Van Dyke changed his name because he couldn't get work using his real name, Penis Van Lesbian?

*waiting for rimshot*

[Kafaleni]

Scat.. I know I'm waaay LTTG, (also the subject has changed slightly, but I'm ignoring that..) Dave has written more than one serious column... my two all-time favourites are here.
They make me all weepy and yet uplifted at the same time. (Don't worry folks, I'm only linking to approved stuff!)

[Bangi_Sizzles]

JY--There are people here who are smarter, funnier and wiser than you can ever hope to be.

Please take your charming self elsewhere.

We promise not to miss you.

[Eleanor]

bbescuela - rimshot!!!

amy- dick who? *hee, hee, now i said it too*

[Eleanor]

judi - can you link?

[Jeff Meyerson]

Oh, and Dave, was the actress really involved in the bombing. Did you report her? Were you scared? Has Mary Poppins gone over to the Dark Side?

Excellent, igloo!

judi, we've seen Les Mis 3-4 times and it has become one of the standards I measure other shows by, as in "It was OK but it was no Les Mis." We saw Colm Wilkinson a couple of times in London and he was great, but as you correctly point out, seeing it from the middle of the orchestra (OK, "stalls" over there) is amazing.

[bbescuela]

Thank you Eleanor.

[Kafaleni]

El.. google "If I give my heart to you+lyrics" - it should be the first link listed, and then click on the MP3 download button

[judi]

link to what eleanor?

[Jeff Meyerson]

Martinishark: I loved this morning on the news getting the details of the evacuation of the Lower Keys from a woman detailing how she'd just driven there from Miami!

Why didn't you stay home, you stupid b#tch? Because she has to be ready to "brave the storm" for the "intrepid reporter standing out in the hurricane winds" money shot. Remember last year when the Weather Channel guy got blown over by the wind? Now that was great television.
(*end of sarcasm*)

Eleanor will accuse me of bragging again but it's not bragging if it's true. Anyway, we saw Jerry Orbach in 1975 in the original production of Chicago, with Gwen Verdon & Chita Rivera, and with ex-NYC cop Barney ("Morty Seinfeld") Martin doing "Mr. Cellophane" as the husband.

And we saw Lea Salonga in the original Miss Saigon, with Jonathan Pryce.

[Bumble]

judi- I think she meant the "if i give my heart to you" thing you spoke of in your last comment. Jeez. I just woke up from a nap to discover the blog bashing imbecile is back. Is his life so pathetic that he has to do this all the time? And if he has to slam us, could he at least do so intelligently so I don't pity him? J.Y.- Take some lessons on insulting people well. I recommend watching Steve Martin in Roxanne.

[Eleanor]

yes judi - I meant the BARBERSHOP and I'm listening as I type - thanks!

You're right Jeff, it's not bragging if it's true, it's just showing off *snork* -
But I'm very jealous re Jerry Orbach! Miss Saigon, not so much. I mean, it's no Lez Miz, is it??? :)

[Brad]

Has anyone noticed the solid blue background at the official press conferences? Doesn't that just make you want to composite a nature scene or a weather map back there?

[Bumble]

Jeff- Are you kidding? Oh. I am sooo jealous. I love Chicago. With Jerry Orbach? Wow. That's another one I saw in New York. I've never seen Miss Saigon. Want to, though.

[Jillywilly]

Yeah, I know my use of the D word was a bit sensationalistic... I probably should have used the more proper "Richard". Sorry, all!

[Jeff Meyerson]

No, El, you're right about that. It has its points but it is NO Les Mis.

And Jerry Orbach was great in Chicago. He made Richard Gere look sick. But then, he could sing and dance.

[Kafaleni]

Here's some great insults.

*sobs* They don't write them like this any more.

[Bumble]

*sigh* I miss everything. Yeah, I've heard that about Miss Saigon. Kafaleni, I, too have seen My Fair Lady many times, and I agree with El about Phantom. I also have it on DVD. I have no basis for comparison since I never saw it on stage (except at Clowes when I was five, and all I remember is that the power went out halfway through) but I think the movie was good. Gerard Butler's singing is kind of gravelly, but I think that was intentional for added emotion.

[Eleanor]

I will say Jeff, that Jonathan Pryce was excellent as Juan Peron in Evita! And Kaf, the reason Madonna was so good as Eva is because they were/are both the "Let Them Eat Cake" type!

but I do like Madonna - I always like strong women who aren't afraid to do whatever they want - for the most part!

[Eleanor]

Yes Bumble - re Butler. I read that they wanted him to have a little bit of a "rock" persona! Didn't you think it was just so beautiful visually? My friend, Cute Guy, thought the basement was too neat and clean *snork* and that the Phantom didn't look like Lon Chaney!

It's a musical, I said!!! Pretend!!!

[Eleanor]

mmmmmmm! But it would be Phantom who could put his shoes under my bed anytime!!!

[Eleanor]

I also thought that Minnie Driver practically stole the movie - she was hilarious, IMO!

[Bumble]

Yeah, she was. I had no clue she could sing. Have you ever seen "Return to Me?" Great movie.

[insomniac]

love the Blackadder insults, Kaf!

if you want to go back further, read 'Cyrano de Bergerac' by Rostand or see the movie with, I think Jose Ferrer.

[Eleanor]

Bumble - No. I just read Roger Ebert's review because sometimes I forget movies I've seen. He liked it and I love, love, love Bonnie Hunt, so I'll put it on my to-do list!

Minnie Driver was also very good in Good Will Hunting, and that first movie she made, where she wasn't too good-looking and wound up with the "cool guy"!

[Bumble]

And now, I must quit commenting for awhile so I can appease my father by singing Weeping Willow and I Am Weary with the Bluegrass Buddies for the 100th time at the 4th of July pickin' which was rained out on the 4th of July. *sigh* I don't wanna go, but I guess I better humor him in something. He didn't like my decision regarding college, and I don't think I'm gonna change my mind. *2nd sigh* You may now commence making fun of the terms "Bluegrass Buddies" and "pickin'." Catch you all later.

[judi]

eleanor: cool! tonight's the quartet competition... and i'm actually going to spend the money to watch it.

[judi]

also, el, if you're interested, i've got a "max q" song up as the song of the week on my message board. (one of the quartets that is going to sing tonight; they're awesome!)

[Jeff Meyerson]

El: Was Circle of Friends the Minnie Driver title you were seeking? De nada.

I wouldn't call Return to Me "great" either but as Jackie likes it too I guess it's more of a chick movie.

And for some unknown reason I've never been able to warm up to Bonnie Hunt. She's OK but I just don't think she's so great.

[Bumble]

Yes, I would say both Bonnie Hunt and Return to Me speak more to the girls than they do to the guy, Jeff.

[judi]

i saw return to me on a plane and only barely managed to keep watching it. if i had had any other choice, i wouldn't have. guess i'm not a girl :)

[Robert Elkins]

The comment that U.S. news networks cast more hysteria on a subject is a complete understatement. I believe they, hmm,spew it, puke it,scream it,and then then stop, for a nauseating
commercial, in which you MUST smell and smile as they do, otherwise you are not of the human race.
RHE.

[Robert Elkins]

The comment that U.S. news networks cast more hysteria on a subject is a complete understatement. I believe they, hmm,spew it, puke it,scream it,and then then stop, for a nauseating
commercial, in which you MUST smell and smile as they do, otherwise you are not of the human race.
RHE.

[Robert Elkins]

The comment that U.S. news networks cast more hysteria on a subject is a complete understatement. I believe they, hmm,spew it, puke it,scream it,and then then stop, for a nauseating
commercial, in which you MUST smell and smile as they do, otherwise you are not of the human race.
RHE.

[Robert Elkins]

The comment that U.S. news networks cast more hysteria on a subject is a complete understatement. I believe they, hmm,spew it, puke it,scream it,and then then stop, for a nauseating
commercial, in which you MUST smell and smile as they do, otherwise you are not of the human race.
RHE.

[Kafaleni]

It never occured to CG that the Phantom had a form of OCD?? That guy was super-controlled and had to have everything exactly so. That just doesn't come under "normal" in anyone's books. Totally OTT, but that's what makes him an amazing character. The book is good too.. but by then, I had Michael Crawford as Phantom fixed in my head. I still love MC as "Frank Spencer", though.. and that wasn't even a musical. I think BBC is still a naughty link round here, so I won't link to "Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em", but that was one of the total slapstick Brit-coms of the early 70's. *snork*

[Kafaleni]

Okay.. I hit post for that last comment 4.something hours ago, before I left home for church and it didn't post until I got back online. Veeeeery strange.
Also, I think Robert may have a point he's trying to make, but I'm not sure what it is.

[Eleanor]

Kaf - I agree, about Robert, even after he made it 4 times *snork*

Jeff, Bonnie Hunt practically stole Jerry Maguire from everyone. But I've never had the least desire to see her TV show...
That is all.

[Bumble]

The TV show was somewhat funny, in a silly sort of way. judi, you didn't like return to me? I'm so sad. El, you must see it now and cast your vote.

[Bumble]

And judi, the stuff you post, no one could doubt you're a girl. :-)

[Eleanor]

I'll get it on Monday, Bumble, and report back!:)

It has been my experience that it's hard to enjoy a movie on an airplane, unless I suppose you're in First Class!

[Bumble]

First class doesn't help. I still hated the Manchurian Candidate. And I like Denzel Washington.

[bbescuela]

Well, judi is either a girl, or a guy who doesn't care if his mother thinks he's gay

[just sayin']

concurring with El and Bumble about Bonnie Hunt.
she is wonderfully droll and subtle. she also nearly stole a nifty little romantic comedy called "Only You" from a heck of a cast, that included Marisa Tomei and Robert Downey Jr.
it's a chick flick also, but i really recommend seeing it. described as "delicious brain candy".

bb, heeee.

[alanboss]

Since this thread has mutated into a discussion of live theater, I'll put in my two cents.

While I manage to get to the occasional major show when they come to L.A. (Phantom, Lion King, The Full Monty, etc.) the shows I do not ever miss are done by a local group called "The Troubadors."(or "Troubies" as we fans call them.) The only other time I have laughed as hard as I do there is, well, when Dave Barry comes to town. Every one of you blogglits would love 'em! They take a Shakespeare (Shakspear? Shaekspeer? Oh hell. It's way too late for proper spelling) play, deconstruct the living crap out of it, and then set it to the music of one popular rock group or singer. Their past shows have included "Fleetwood MacBeth," "Twelvefth Dog Night,"and "A Comedy of Aerosmmith." In a few weeks they are doing "Hamlet: The Artist Formerly Known as Prince of Denmark." They also do Christmas shows in the same vein like "It's a Stevie Wonderful Life."

If you ever get a chance to see them, do it! They do do some touring, so they may turn up near you.

I have the link to their website somewhere....

(Never done a link here before. Let's see if it works.)