More Sopranos Musings

I just realized that I have yet to weigh in on this week's episode of The Sopranos. Here are my thoughts:

. The "Tony-in-a-coma" storyline can't last much longer. Yes, it's chock full of symbolism, and the writers are obviously working in some richly woven images, but one can only take so much abstract absurdism. We're going to have to have Tony back in action soon.

.That said, there is something to be said for the juxtaposition of "real world" and "coma world" in last week's episode. Tony is clearly somewhere WEIRD, either hell/purgatory, his own hallucination, or somewhere in between. As always, the writing is excellent.

.Somebody needs to whack Janice. She is the most annoying character sincer Livia.

.The funniest line last week was an offhanded one, delivered by (I think) Silvio...when the assembled family (and "family") members were discussing the shooting of Tony by Uncle June, someone just deadpanned "Goddamn Junior." For some reason that struck me as funny. Maybe it was the delivery.

.AJ needs a good smack in the head. And a haircut.

.Meadow is going to play a crucial role in the development of things...not sure if she will embrace the mob life, or run from it, but I suspect that she will be a catalyst for many interesting developments to come.

.I am not one of the "Adrianna is alive" theorists. She's dead. Of course, on The Sopranos, being dead doesn't automatically put you out of business.

.Little fat Vito also needs to be whacked. Maybe he'll make a pass at Paulie or Christopher and they'll just put a bullet in him and get it over with. (My hope here has nothing to do with not liking fat people or gay people. Vito is just an asshole.)

.Junior is crazy, but maybe not as crazy as he wants everyone to think. I think the shooting was done in a spell of Alzheimer's-induced mania, but I also think he plays it for all it's worth.

.Finn is not going to last long. He will dump Meadow and run for the hills before long.

The upcoming episode will hopefully answer a few questions, but they will probably be replaced with still more. If anyone has more comments or predictions, please post them.

FLT3

A Happy Week

This has been a particularly happy week for me. I am thrilled to be cast as Fred/Petrutchio in KISS ME KATE. This is a role I have wanted to do for a long time, and this production is going to be phenomenal! A good friend of mine from Tuscaloosa, Michelle Bunch (formerly Michelle Rhodes) is playing Lilli/Kate opposite me, which makes it even more exciting! I am sure many KATE comments will be posted over the weeks to come.

I also started rehearsal at Bham Children's Theatre for DOLLY DOOLEY'S BIG BREAK, which is a fairly cheesy (but fun) kids' show, which we will perform 40+ times between opening (April 11th?) and closing (May 20th?) The cast is great, and we all know and like each other, so it should be fun...it's also nice to be getting paid to act. BCT is a good company, and I hope to do more with them in the future.

Also, SPRING HAS ARRIVED!!! Let the cheers and celebration begin!

FLT3

Spring approaches

Only 5...count 'em...five little days until THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING!!!! The weather has been almost perfect for the past week or so, and promises to be great for Spring's official arrival in less than a week.

This is the time of year when everything starts to look a little brighter, the winter depression starts to subside, and fresh, renewed life appears everywhere. I have, in the spirit of optimism, started to put away the winter wools and heavy coat. I have also started looking ahead to my absolute favorite day of the year...Easter. Yes, Easter is my favorite holiday, (even counting Christmas.) The food, the sunshine, the blossoms everywhere...Easter is the best day of the year, in my opinion.

With apologies for the nonsensical segue from Easter to violent killings, I watched the first installment of the long-awaited new season of The Sopranos last week...WOW! As usual, the series is tight, brilliantly written, and full of the unexpected. Tony getting shot by a senile Uncle June was not what I had anticipated... now the big question is "does he die?" Conventional wisdom says no, but The Sopranos is edgy and unusual enough to possibly kill off the protagonist and wind down the series showing the aftermath of Tony's death. It will be interesting to see where they go with this...

Auditions for Kiss Me, Kate are this weekend. More on this story as it develops... it looks like there will be a good turnout, I feel very confident in our director (Andy Duxbury) and I predict the show will be an excellent cap to CenterStage's best season yet.

FLT3

After a little break...

...I am glad to post again. The past week or two have been very busy with King & I opening, and lots of teaching duties between subbing and teaching voice (at Music Plus Studios, which is working out very well.)
The show is phenomenal, and I am SO PROUD of the work the cast and crew have done. They have all put in much time and effort, and it shows. Ticket sales have been pretty good, and this weekend is looking very promising at the box office.
Nothing else really new or exciting going on. I start rehearsal for Dolly Dooley's Big Break at Birmingham Children's Theatre on the 20th, and I am looking forward to it. BCT is a very well respected company, and I'm glad to be in the loop with them.

The news is filled with stories about the three kids who allegedly set the church fires in Bibb County and elsewhere...such a waste. All three of these seem to have been relatively good kids, whose lives are now ruined because of a stupid and senseless situation that should have never taken place. One of our cast members is a recent graduate of BSC, and knew the suspects. He echoed everyone else in describing them as fun-loving, "normal" people.
What's really sad is that these kids will most likely be in their 50s or 60s when they finally get out of prison. Even if they live 30 years after their release, what sort of lives will they lead? As ex-cons who have spent most of their lives in prison, will they even be able to relate to the outside world anymore? Who will hire them for a job? Who will accept them socially? It truly is a terrible situation all around.

On a brighter note, the weather is absolutely GLORIOUS today!!! Blue skies, high temp of about 77 degrees, light breeze...PERFECT! I am looking forward to enjoying it as soon as school is out. (I am subbing at VHHS today.)

That's all for now. If you haven't yet seen The King And I, please catch one of our three remaining performances! :-)

FLT3