Thank you so much for the thoroughness of this glowing review... I so wanted to be there, but since I couldn't, it's nice that your review tells so much about the story and Clay's presentation. And the pix help so much to bring it alive for me!
Thank you Byron. He meant a lot to all of us at RLT.
Very sad. Haskell was a remarkable person, and a very great many people mourn his passing.
Rest well, dear mentor.
I saw The Drowsy Caperone on Tuesday and loved it so much that I went back to see it again on Wednesday. Kudos to Clay, Beth and everyone involved in this wonderful production.
Yes, I think she's the real deal. She has those big expressive eyes that seem to be critical for film actors and movie stardom. I wonder if you could map the DNA for big movie star eyes.
"Caplan provides a depth of feeling that isn't always there," is what I've always noticed about her. I'm looking forward to seeing her playing lead or at least a strong supporting role in a big-budget drama. She's certainly a "future" star, but if only the future could come quicker. This seems like a throwaway role though.
@Max Dickstein, if you would like to leave a civil comment, you are welcome to.
I cannot disagree more strongly with this article's characterization of Love Never Dies. I haven't been able to get the songs out of my head since I first saw the recorded Australia version months ago. Fine, it's not for people who LOVE Phantom of the Opera and have the characters crystallized in their minds in a certain way that can NEVER be altered, but it is a great and interesting show with wonderful music and scenery--see it on Youtube and make your own choice.
I couldn't disagree more. I found the show charming and very entertaining. The night I went the entire audience was in stitches. Gray created a character and a scenario that she maintained throughout the show to excellent comedic effect. Perhaps she did push the joke a hair too far, but over all it was a successful 'shtick' which, coupled with excellent delivery and a fabulous voice, more than carried the mere 75 minutes of stage time.
Saxapahaw is probably what triggered the thought, but I think the reason I made the connection was the medium and ... well, the sheer scale of the work.
Although Paperhand also works in Saxapahaw, there's no direct connection there. Walker moved to the area within the last six months or so, and was working in papier mache before that. Truthfully, almost all work in that medium presents a similarly crinkled surface.
Is it wrong that I keep looking at Mother of Pearl and thinking of Paperhand Puppet Intervention?
I cannot believe Nestor the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey isn't listed!!
I LOVE Rankin and Bass.
It's taken several years to resurface, but Deck the Halls With Wacky Walls: A Wacky WallWalkers Christmas (1983) is finally streaming on YouTube. This one has been out of print and out of circulation for several years: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrpxNcu3mes
Regarding "The Christmas Toy": The VHS tape version is better than the DVD. Kermit does an introduction and a closing segment in the VHS version. Years later, when the DVD was released, Kermit belonged to Disney so his segments were edited out.
The Tick Loves Santa features what may be the greatest Christmas pun ever. After Multiple Santa gets zapped without enough electricity to create an endless torrent of clones that come barreling down the hill to The City, Tick screams "IT'S A YULETIDE!!!"
It's these kids today. What can you do? It's hard to find horror anymore that works like this. Blair Witch did a similar thing, I think, with the found-footage approach, before that was done to death.
Re: “A loopy musical send-up with a heart: this Drowsy Chaperone's no sleeper”
great review - thank you for such a heart felt insight into a great performance!