The Triumphant Return of The Old Timers — Page 2

Fifteen years on and we're all still HAWT AF. And it's kinda funny Namo, but I've always wanted to be one person's nine favorite things. I think I may have finally accomplished that.

I just saw an amusing, if wildly uneven, production of Midsummer Night's Dream in Chicago. T.R. Knight was an enthusiastic Bottom, which is how Bottoms should be, in my opinion. But I believe Melisa Soledad Pereyra as Hermia and Christina Panfilio as Helena have completely spoiled any future production of the show for me as I don't think it's possible the roles could ever be played more brilliantly. At the other end of the spectrum, Edward O'Blenis seemed to think a baritone authoritative tone was all that was required to play Thesues and Oberon. And I honestly do not understand how Sam Kebede was cast as Puck, much less allowed to perform in front of a paying audience. It was one of the most painfully awkward, over-the-top, amateurish performances I've ever seen. The sets and lighting were jaw-droppingly gorgeous, while the costumes were all over the place. The sort of Lord of the Rings meets the Wild Boys from Duran Duran's music video via Pat Benatar-as-Cyndi Lauper-for-Halloween stylings of the fairies didn't really work, to say the least. Especially when Puck is dressed as a mostly naked ancient Inca somethingorother when there was no discernible rhyme, reason or appeal to see him as any of those things, whatever they were/are intended to be. But to balance out the awkward inanity of the fairies, every member of the acting troupe was well-defined, well-directed and well-performed, stopping the show (in a good way) with their performance of The Most Lamentable Comedy and Most Cruel Death of Pyramus and Thisbe, the part of the show that can often force audiences to stare at their watches and wonder why they stayed after intermission. With inspirational dashes reminiscent of Waiting for Guffman, Rent, French & Saunders and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged), there was never a dull moment and you wonder why it isn't one of the most referenced parts of the play.

Updated On: 12/13/18 at 04:16 PM

Updated On: 12/14/18 at 01:24 PM

Aww, I'm not an old timer, and not one of the stans...

I have never loved you more, Namo.

i think I should pop a bottle of champagne or something!

Speaking of dark side... ( see how I did that!) I'm really liking the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina- That great 50's " what's hidden below" vibe ( tho it takes place in present day) and all the delightfully gruesome w(b)itchiness. Can't wait to see how far they will go.

On a completely different note, I also liked The Kominsky Method. " How do you insult Patti Labelle? Call her Roberta Flack". I'm getting old enough to like alte kocker humour.

Saw a wonderful production of "Fun Home" here i TO and looking forward to OSLO in Feb.

Going to try for The Play That Goes Wrong as well so stuff to look forward to!

Did somebody say champagne?

Without the agita!

I mean javi and magruder, as I live and breathe in my leafless suburb!

Sabre, I dug the first five Sabrinas and I know I have to see the rest so I can enjoy the Xmas special.

To be fair the Sabrina episode is being referred to as the "Solstice" or Yule episode cos ya know- "other gods".

A little birdie told me to stop by and say 'hello'. Hope that the old gang is doing well. Wishing everybody a jungle-licious Holiday season!

Rathnait was so fun.......So grateful that I am still alive

Blessings to everyone...

Charles Busch starring in his Christmas perennial TIMES SQUARE ANGEL -- pure magical delight. When he's really working, Busch will delight me in ways I've forgotten I knew I could be delighted it, and he was working last night, and so was most of the rest of the cast, including the imperishable Flotilla De Barge, who brought the show to a halt in one scene of mad over the top comic genius that made Julie Halston and Busch herself acknowledge it.

Yeehaw, is what I'm saying.