It needed more skating

I went to one of Broadway's latest movies-turned-legit productions tonight--Xanadu: On Broadway. I went in knowing that it would be ridiculous and hoping that it would be utterly enjoyable nonetheless. To start with the positive, I really liked the two leads. Kerry Butler (Shelly in Bat Boy: The Musical and Penny in Hairspray) has great comic timing and embraces the silliness in her role without going over the top. James Carpinello (Saturday Night Fever) isn't the world's greatest singer, but he was very charming and strong on his skates. Some of the directing and staging was very clever, and people who love the music from the movie will love much of it here, too. I also loved the fact that the finale includes a skating ringer who wears head-to-toe sparkles, skates rings around the cast, and is never seen in any other part of the show. The randomness is in keeping with the musical as a whole.

Unfortunately, not everything was quite so rosy. Mary Testa and Jackie Hoffman provide the alleged comic relief. Despite the fact that most of the audience was howling at their broad, big, and over-the-top scenes (of which there were many), I would rather punch these two women in the face than sit through their bits again. Sadly, too, the show needed a great deal more actors on skates. Kerry Butler skates through most of the show, but James Carpinello only rolls around for a few songs. The rest of the cast laces up only for the underwhelming finale. There should have been not just one skating genius here but many, many extras skating laps around the stage amid disco lights and laser lights galore.

My qualified recommendation sums up like this: one of the people sitting next to me reeked of marijuana. I think a toke or two would probably make this whole affair a lot funnier.

Every weekend should be a long weekend

It was so good to have an extra day to play this weekend. The weather was perfect and I had just the right mix of lazy Netflix-watching time (Alpha Dog and a disturbing documentary about pedophiliac priests called Deliver Us From Evil) and time to catch up with friends. Caryn and Larry were in town for their five-year anniversary, and I got to crash romance-a-palooza for lunch with them on Saturday before they went to a matinee of Avenue Q. It's hard to believe they've been married five years already!

Melissa was in town for the weekend, and I got to have drinks with her and her boyfriend, Jim, on Sunday. I think it's been a full year since we've seen each other which is shameful. It was so much fun to see her again that I think I need a weekend out in Chicago sometime soon. Melissa knows what motivates me, so she promised we could order from Pockets while I'm there.

And, with my extra day of leisure, I got to catch up with Josh and Todd over lunch at Popovers.

Sadly, now I have to go back to work.

The Thirteenth Tale

I started The Thirteenth Tale with fairly high expectations. I've had a thing for historical fiction lately, and this novel is all about a writer and her book-obsessed biographer. A book about books and the quiet stories that we can hear all around us if we only listen properly? Sounded perfect.

Unfortunately, Diane Setterfield, after a strong start, loses momentum half-way through. She's clearly trying to create a spooky atmosphere and sense of longing among her characters, but she lays it on a little thick and fails in evoking the eeriness she strives for. Margaret Lea, invited to write the biography of Britain's most reclusive best selling novelist, Vida Winter, is the protagonist for half of the book. When not playing amateur detective confirming Miss Winter's tale, she mostly fills the reader in on her own sorrow. The root of her sadness, though strongly tied to the book's themes, never rings quite true and left me unsatisfied.

The more compelling portion of the novel is Miss Winter's story. This story-within-the-story comes closest to achieving Setterfield's atmospheric goal, and is certainly the heart of the book. Miss Winter is one half of a pair of disturbed and neglected twins. Their once grand house is literally falling down around them while the mental illnesses and bizarre lifestyles of family members leaves them with only each other for comfort.

I wish Setterfield had trusted her readers a bit more. She spells things out unnecessarily and doesn't let the reader put the pieces together herself. Her mystery is not so complex as to require quite the level of handholding she provides. Ultimately, I enjoyed The Thirteenth Tale, but it didn't quite live up to its promise.

Wondering if Gore will run again...

I just watched Al Gore on The Daily Show. I wish he had been this personable when he was running for president! His new book, The Assault on Reason looks really interesting (The New York Times review made it sound scorching), and I can only imagine how different this country would be if he had been recongnized as the winner in 2000. Like everyone else, I'm eager to find out if he'll run again this time around. I think he could actually kick some ass if he did: let Barack and Hillary beat each other up over the next nine months and then swoop in and snag the nomination.

Does anyone else think the Democrats are acting like a bunch of pussies?

I am so frustrated and disappointed that Congress is now putting forward an Iraq funding bill with no withdrawal dates included. I realize the Democratic majority is a very slim one, but I can't help but feel like they backed down pretty quickly. Bush has made an art out of ruling as though the country was his own General Lee and every political battle is a game of chicken. The Dems couldn't even pull a Ren MacCormack and get their shoelaces caught long enough to make their loss respectable.

And, frankly, I've had enough with non-binding measures. Do something that counts! A non-binding vote of no confidence on Gonzalez doesn't effect change anymore than rubber stamping the president's bullshit war spending does.

Bridal Shower

Saturday was Pam's bridal shower--she looked pretty as a picture, and I was excited to give her the blanket I crocheted for her. And Caryn (looking more and more pregnant every time I see her!) did an amazing job as host as always. I worry that she's so focused on everything being perfect that she doesn't have any fun, but she really does put on a good event. Way to go, Caryn!

Rory's not going to war -- relax, everyone

Last night was the series finale of Gilmore Girls, which used to be one of the smartest shows on TV. For six seasons, the writing was as witty, clever, and pop-culture-referenced as anything else on the small screen. Unfortunately, the current season was so mediocre that when we finally got to the series ender, which should have tugged at my heart strings and gotten me all teary-eyed, I didn’t care half as much as I should have.

Stars Hollow used to be a place I wanted to visit, both virtually each week and in real life (if such a place actually existed, I would have happily made a road trip). By last night, though, the town’s folk were more annoying than entertaining and plot points were so over the top as to be silly even in this admittedly silly town. An entire graduation reenactment since the whole of the town couldn’t attend what was surely a boring ceremony? I don’t remember Taylor, Kirk, and Babbett showing up when Rory graduated from Chilton, so what’s the big to-do this time around?

Though the spirit of Lorelai and Rory’s relationship remained strong to the end, their recent banter left something to be desired. If anyone doesn’t believe me, just rewatch the final scene and pay special attention to Rory’s last few lines. It’s as if attending Yale has addled her brain. On the positive side, Luke’s verbalization about how important Lorelai’s happiness is to him was very sweet and a nice pay off to everyone who wanted to see them together all along.

As an aside, hats off to Liza Weil, who played Rory’s friend Paris. Her character should, by all rights, have been extremely annoying, but instead she remained entertaining through and through. She grew to be a surprise favorite of mine on this show.

I read in an interview with the very talented creator/exec producer/one-time show writer Amy Sherman-Palladino that she knew from the start how she wanted the series to end. Though this season’s mediocrity was surely never part of her plan, I wonder if the broad strokes were what she had in mind.