music

A Stately Pleasure Dome with Roller Skates

~ nfreim ~ Leave a comment

This week we lost singer and actress Olivia Newton-John.  As a child of the 70s/80 who loved musicals, I was, of course, a fan.  I had the Grease soundtrack on 8-track, I memorized the dance moves, and I think I even dressed up as Sandy for Halloween one year. 

But Xanadu – that was amazing.

Really, ONJ, Gene Kelly, ELO, Greek mythology . . . I was all in!  I dressed my Barbies up to look like Kira and her sisters, I begged for a pair of roller skates for Christmas (which I did get and which I was never any good at using), I even contemplated learning the clarinet (which lost out to the flute since my grandfather had played the flute and I could use his, avoiding buying a new instrument).

I know it’s cheesy and the disco outfits are a bit cringey these days, but I love it.  So I thought I’d do a running commentary on a viewing – just for the joy of it.

Opening . . .

Ah, Gene.  Such a great dancer – he made everything look effortless.  I know people argue over him vs Astaire, but he’s my favorite. 

Ripping up the drawing – yeah, most artists have felt like that.  But this music is a bit ominous.  Apparently in an early version of the script, we knew that Sonny had painted the mural. 

The top of the head know ponytail always made me laugh.  But geez I wish I could spot turns like that.  (biggest weakness in dance class)

Wait, she’s wearing braided barrettes, isn’t she?!?  I think I might still have a pair in a box somewhere.  I loved those things.  Time for a comeback?

The whole concept of the hand painting of the giant record cover for promotional reasons – huh.  Today it would be printed by machine. 

I forgot that people keep trying to fix Sonny up with girls – and that random girls seem to dig him.  Some girl just lets him take her motorbike with “I’ll bring it back” (and what does mark the change from “motorized scooter/bike” to “motorcycle” – horsepower? Something to look up)

Sonny- “I run into this girl this morning – never saw her before in my life – she kisses me and disappears.”

Danny- “So what’s so weird about that?” Life must have been very different in 1980’s Cali.

I wonder how many people watching today would know the names – Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman.  

Man, I love that dance scene.  I used to have most of it memorized.  If I was ever on DwtS (yes, I know I would have to actually be a star first – whatever), I would love to do that.  Not sure if it really fits a particular ballroom dance, or if it would have to be a freestyle.  I’d have to brush up my tapping, though.

Oh, the scene when the two “dream” bands for the club mesh.  I love this scene. It’s so over the top (Sonny’s group is sillier than Danny’s – can you say padded dance belt?) – but the way they fit together – this was a song mash-up long before the internet made it popular. 

The animated interlude was just odd.  Not that it’s bad, but just sort of a weird insert.  And I forgot about the clothes-trying-on-montage-dance scene.  Wow, the layers of cheese on this – so delightful!

Huh – who is that voice of Zeus?  So familiar . . . Wilfrid Hyde-White – from My Fair Lady – wild.

“Suspended in Time” – I still remember these lyrics. Isn’t funny how some things just stay in our brain?

I wonder if my early love for this movie is part of why I adore Starlight Express.

Looking at all these outfits, especially the ones that are supposed to span various times, I kind of wish I could go get a degree in fashion history / costuming. 

And— the happy ending. 

There was a stage version of this – even nominated for Tonys. 

Well, it’s still cheesy and a lot of fun. 

I didn’t realize it was so panned when it came out.  Probably because I was not yet of an age that movie reviews mattered to me.  Heck, they still don’t matter much – like what you like, I say.  As long as it’s enjoyable – that’s the important thing. 

Speaking of bad movies that are still weirdly enjoyable . . . I need to finish my viewing of the Sharknado oeuvre – ONJ is in #5 – Global Swarming. 

Thanks for the music, Olivia.  You’ll be missed but always appreciated.

Tomorrow Is Promised to No One

~ nfreim ~ Leave a comment

“Some days are diamonds

Some days are rocks”

 

Two years ago today, I was serving as a dramaturge for a production of Twelfth Night.  I was also assistant stage manager and a costuming assistant – these things happen when you can’t say no.  Shakespeare in the Park – a lovely July afternoon.

Two hours before curtain, the actor playing Fabian became ill and needed to go to the hospital (she was in the military – and she’s kind of a bad-ass – so if she needed to go, you knew it was serious).  Community theatre being what it is, we didn’t have a roster of understudies.  The director asked an actor with a smaller part, but he said he did not feel confident switching.  I think the director was considering going on himself.  I said that I would do it.  

It made sense, really.  I’d been at most every rehearsal, I had done detailed annotations on the script, and I’d spent many nights reading parts when people needed to miss.  We even had roughly the same build, so I could fit into the costume.  And, once upon a time, I had been an acting major.  I hadn’t been on a stage in nearly 20 years, but the show must go on, right??  So I crammed like hell and prayed that I wouldn’t throw up.

I didn’t have all the blocking down – and I missed a few lines – but I did manage to get both the longer speeches correct.  It felt amazing.

It made me remember how I loved acting – the fun of live theatre, the joy of the words.  I started acting when I got the leads in my third grade class plays (head pilgrim’s wife and last year’s rag doll, if you must know) – mainly due to my memorization abilities.  Since that evening, I’ve done a couple of local plays (I’ll spare you the Cabaret stories for tonight).  It’s a singular experience, and one I used to enjoy immensely.  I’m glad I got to remember that.

 

A year ago today, I was confined to the house recovering from major surgery – and shocked to hear that a friend had died suddenly and tragically in a bicycle vs car accident.

That sort of thing gives us a very different perspective.

People always talk about living after losing someone – “you have to live for ___ – he/she would want you to!”  It’s a weird way to try to jolt ourselves out of mourning.  To convince ourselves to embrace life even though we’re miserable.

I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately because well, there’s the current state of the world, for one.  But I’ve also lost two friends in the last month, and I’m struggling.  Trying to “live for today” and “make the most of your life!” gets heavy sometimes.  Especially with the stress fatigue that we’re all feeling thanks to the party that is 2020.  

How do we hold on to the feeling, that need to do more and be more and drink deeply of life – without letting it make us maudlin?  How do we keep it encouraging rather than a burden we are not fulfilling?  How do we make it something we are glad to feel despite the pain?

Sadly, I do not currently have the answers.  Though I suppose we can take wisdom from Sleepless in Seattle – and just keep getting up, breathing in and out, and trying.  That’s what we owe ourselves – to keep going.

 

“Some things are over

Some things go on

Part of me you carry

Part of me is gone”