There are a couple of recent Fresh Air episodes that I want to highlight. First, there’s a retrospective episode of interviews from several years ago with Alan Cumming and Angela Lansbury. Cumming talks about his appearance in Caberet among other things, and the Lansbury interview is from 1980, so she’s talking about her role in Sondheim’s … Continue reading Alan, Angie, and Clarke
Theatre
How the Story Grew Redux
I’ve previously written about seeing a senior class play in Richland in March 1958, where three one act plays were performed, although I only recall the first one entitled How the Story Grew. Briefly it involved a series of women spreading a simple story about a new neighbor moving into town, with the story becoming more … Continue reading How the Story Grew Redux
January 2, 1920
Isaac Asimov didn’t know exactly when he was born. As he wrote in his autobiography: The date of my birth, as I celebrate it, was January 2, 1920. It could not have been later than that. It might, however, have been earlier. Allowing for the uncertainties of the times, of the lack of records, of … Continue reading January 2, 1920
Janus Redux
Quote of the day: Age is strictly a case of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.—Jack Benny Not long ago I recalled that when I was writing about my community theater acting appearance in the play Janus, I had stumbled upon the information that Betty White and her new husband Allen … Continue reading Janus Redux
Elsa and Max
Quote of the day: Middle age is when you go to bed at night and hope you feel better in the morning. Old age is when you go to bed at night and hope you wake up in the morning.—Groucho Marx Having used some excerpts from The Sound of Music in my little Sondheim video, I … Continue reading Elsa and Max
Sondheim’s “Our Time” Vamp
Quote of the day: When I was born I was so surprised I didn't talk for a year and a half.—Gracie Allen Last summer—and by “last summer” I mean the summer of 2024, not this past summer, but you know, the summer of last year, but that’s a rather ambiguous phrase and different folks ascribe … Continue reading Sondheim’s “Our Time” Vamp
Staying Sober in Boston
Quote of the day: People think of education as something they can finish.—Isaac Asimov When I read this anecdote, it reminded me of the story that Celeste Holm told about Oscar Hammerstein, and I thought about putting them together in a post. But then I decided to back up and relate the Most Hostile City … Continue reading Staying Sober in Boston
Celeste, Bea, and Jack
On Monday May 23, 1994, at 8:00 PM I was sitting in the Family Circle in the Academy of Music waiting for the Light Up the Night Against AIDS benefit to begin. There are seven names listed in the program, but I can really only remember three of them clearly, after all these years. In … Continue reading Celeste, Bea, and Jack
Desi Congas New York City
Quote of the day: You are not judged by the height you have risen, but from the depth you have climbed.—Frederick Douglass Still reading Todd Purdum’s Desi Arnaz: The Man Who Invented Television. Here’s the thing you need to understand about Desi Arnaz. He didn’t learn the English language until he was in his teens, … Continue reading Desi Congas New York City
Travails of Hoffman
Quote of the day: Why a four-year-old child could understand this report. Run out and find me a four-year-old child. I can't make head nor tail out of it.—Groucho Marx Tuesday morning September 25, 1984, and the Metropolitan Opera had a problem. The performance that evening was going to be Offenbach’s Tales of Hoffman, and the … Continue reading Travails of Hoffman