things i'm digging

As always, there are a myriad of things that I am totally digging right now...mostly revolving around tv and food....but what can you do.

1. PSYCH - I love, love, love this show. The adventure continues with Shawn and Gus....and my love for actor James Roday continues to grow.

2. IN PLAIN SIGHT - A new show starring Mary McCormack (who is fabulous in the Broadway show BOEING BOEING) about a US Marshall. Witty banter ensues with her partner Fred Weller (who I saw on Broadway in Glengarry Glen Ross a couple of years ago). Bonus: She has a hot boyfriend who is usually half-naked more often than not.

3. Cupcakes - Seriously, my birthday was last week, and I have eaten a crap load of cupcakes. The perfect dessert....I wish every day was cupcake day!

4. Pizza - This crazy good place by my apartment has the most amazing pizza. When you order a slice, they make the slice from scratch...like a mini-pizza. I am slightly embarrassed to admit that they totally know me there now, like Cheers.

5. Summer movies - Between THE DARK KNIGHT, HELLBOY II, and IRON MAN, this has been a summer of fantastic movies. Popcorn, coke, and AC....the perfect way to spend a hot, summer day.

6. SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE - I am usually not one to watch reality tv (other than THE HILLS and THE SEARCH FOR ELLE), but this show is amazing! I didn't watch the audition portions, just started when they were at the final 20. Now, we are down to the final four (am recording the episode now - will watch momentarily), and all I want to do is get to a dance class. I have been moved tears by some of these performances. I totally think they can dance....

7. TV shows on DVD - I have waxed poetic previously about my love of the library. It totally still rocks. I am working on THE WEST WING (halfway through season two), BROTHERS AND SISTERS (season one), and picked up 30 ROCK and THE CLOSER season ones today at the library. Since I am dirt poor (still no roommate), free stuff from the library is totally the way to go!

8. Vacation - One week from today, I will be up on Lake George with my parents, swimming, reading, and resting. Seriously, that is the vacation...trashy novels (also courtesy of your friendly, neighborhood library), hot dogs and corn on the cob on the grill, and swims in the lake. It is bliss...and I can't wait to get on the train and up to the water!

photo credit: www.popmatters.com

movie redux deluxe!

Seriously people....I see a lot of movies. Like, an obscene amount. So, here are some thoughts on what I've seen lately.....

THE DARK KNIGHT

I have been waiting for this movie for so long. I loved BATMAN BEGINS, and I even had a countdown for THE DARK KNIGHT on my facebook page for several months. However, I took it down after the death of Heath Ledger. Ledger casts a huge shadow over THE DARK KNIGHT. His character of the Joker is truly creepy, and a frightening nemesis to Batman. The movie itself is so dark and morbid. I also thought it was fantastic.

Maggie Gyllenhaal and Aaron Eckhart are fabulous additions to the film, and the love triangle between the two of them and Christian Bale's Bruce Wayne adds some much needed humor to the film.

Seriously, this movie is so dark. It was depressing, and then kind of got more depressing. The film is really intense, and I was actually kind of overwhelmed. I have to be honest and say that Heath Ledger was not far from my mind. I am still so saddened by the whole thing. Such a tragedy.

Final thoughts: An incredible performance by Ledger, and a dark, disturbing film that will get your adrenaline pumping. I can't wait to check it out on the IMAX screen.

MAMMA MIA

You know how sometimes movies are so bad, you kind of enjoy them? MAMMA MIA is a bit of a train wreck, but a fun train wreck at that. Amanda Seyfried does a good job as our heroine Sophie, and the locale is just amazing to look at. However, there are some truly cringe worthy moments, and I think it is mostly because of poor direction. Awkward close-ups, and dismal choreography don't help the already awkward staging. Giggles abound, but often for the wrong reason.

Final thoughts: If you are a fan of one of the actors, or like ABBA music, check it out. Best scene: Sophie and her mom (Meryl Streep) bond while she gets ready for the wedding.

HELLBOY II

I so want to live inside Guillermo del Toro's head. This film so surprised me with it's bizarre and fascinating vision, and surprising humor. Although it did start to feel a little long, I was genuinely invested in this battle between the humans and the elves/supernatural creatures. A fabulous popcorn movie, this action flick has a surprising dose of soap opera relationship drama.

Final thoughts: Totally dug it....and having no recollection of the first movie doesn't deter from the movie at all.

JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH

Great movie? Not really....but the 3-D is totally cool, and Brendan Fraser is totally cute. Some totally scary moments, that embarrassingly had me jumping out of my seat. (You can begin mocking......now!)

Final thoughts: Total 3-D mindless fun.

WALL-E

A stunning movie that totally rocked my world. I enjoy that the two things that will survive the end of the world are cockroaches and musical theatre. Any movie that says this is okay with me. The world is trashed....like literally overrun with garbage, and the humans have left in a rocket ship, leaving behind a robot to do the cleaning up. Wall-E has somehow developed a personality, and falls in love with a probe robot that comes to the planet to check up on things. A fantastic love story ensues.

Final thoughts: Check this out in the theatre. Hopefully, you will love it as much as my parents and I did!

INCREDIBLE HULK

I totally dig Liv Tyler and Edward Norton. I like summer action flicks. This one was fun, and I really liked it when Liv and Edward were together. Didn't really dig the enemy storyline. Thought that Tim Blake Nelson was a riot.

Final thoughts: If you dig the actors, and the comics, definitely one to check out.

GET SMART

Had some genuinely funny moments. Not as good as I had hoped it would be.

Final thoughts: You can put this one on your NetFlix list.

photo credit: www.movieweb.com

south pacific

Many months ago, I decided I wanted to see SOUTH PACIFIC for my birthday. So, I picked up my tickets, and have been waiting for months to see the show. I watched them win the Tonys, and was giddy with excitement that the day finally arrived. A friend and I took in dinner at this fantastic Turkish restaurant, and then wandered to the theatre. Truth be told, I was never a huge fan of the show. My only point of reference have been the movies that have been made, never having seen the stage show.

The live production of the show was amazing. Some of the music in the show, although beautiful, can sometimes be a little hokey; however, in this production, the songs were so gorgeous, and made so much sense. The joy and simplicity of the music was stunning, and you couldn't help but be drawn into the story. A big part of this was the incredible casting of the show. Kelli O'Hara was born to play this part. She captures the youth and awkwardness of first love, but also is devastating when she is so racist she can't be with a man who was with a woman of color. Paolo Szot has such a gorgeous voice, and his chemistry with O'Hara is lovely. The two of them together are lovely.

This show, although a period piece, is dealing with things that are still timely. With themes about war, racism, and the disturbing idea of a mother essentially prostituting out her daughter in the hopes of her marrying an American soldier, it is difficult to imagine that these are still viable discussion pieces today.

The staging and lighting of the show are phenomenal. The acting is brilliant, and the 30-piece orchestra is so beautiful, I can only imagine what is was like to attend shows that always have a 30-piece orchestra.

My only disappointment about the evening is that Matthew Morrison was out. He is such a great performer (I saw him in THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA and HAIRSPRAY), and I was looking forward to him doing a different part. His understudy did a great job, but I still would have loved to have seen him do the part.

Final thoughts: A lovely production that I enjoyed to no end. It worked on so many levels, and other than the cell phone that rang through the end of the show, and the absence of Morrison, a perfect night at the theatre.

photo credit: www.playbill.com

saved....the musical

SAVED! the movie was hilarious. It was about a girl, who in trying to prove that her Christian boyfriend is not gay, becomes pregnant. It's a great movie. So, I was most excited when Playwright's Horizons was presenting a musical version! What a fun show. With a great cast, and fun music, the musical captured a lot of the movie, but also was fresh and had it's own voice. Is it the kind of musical that will change the world? How you view things? Your personal morals? No. However, it is an enjoyable diversion that will keep you laughing, and make the problems of the world disappear for awhile. Special kudos to Celia Keenan-Bolger as Mary and Van Hughes as Patrick. Both were standouts in a fabulous ensemble. (Fun note: Van Hughes is up next in 9 TO 5 on Broadway!) Oh, and the show had lots of little references to facebook, which although is ridiculous, is so true. (Like someone changed their status, etc. Have I mentioned how much I adore facebook? Love, love, love it!) Sadly, the show is now closed, but hopefully will pop up somewhere else soon. It was a fun show, and has totally inspired me to revisit the movie, which I think I might do tonight.

photo credit: www.tapeworthy.blogspot.com

dude....i'm still alive!

Yes reader, I am still alive, contrary to the lack of updates. Things have been crazy.....after three years, my roomie moved out to seek fame and fortune on the other side of the country. I have travelled to Chicago for a weekend of hanging with the girls from college, and headed home to Ohio to eat pizza, and see the family, which were both fantastic trips. I performed in a cabaret for the repertory group I'm a part of, and was recently cast in a production of THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE. I also celebrated my birthday, taking me one step closer to the big 3 - 0! It has been a crazy couple of weeks. I have also been to the movies, and to the theatre, and will post reviews for these.

Oh, and the official countdown is on for my mini-vacation upstate on Lake George. In two weeks, I will be sitting by the water, reading a trashy novel, and imagining that the world is a good place.