each day. got through. means one. or two. less mistakes. remain. to. be. made.

[thehefner]

GREAT PERFORMANCES on PBS to air CHESS: IN CONCERT.

I made a series of undignified and entirely un-straight-manly series half-gasp half-squeals upon learning this news. After all these years, an actual stage recording of my favorite musical of all time. And what a cast, too! Josh Groban's got the voice, but I just wonder if he has the fire of Tommy Korberg?

My only disappointment is the lack of Raul Esparza* as the Arbiter, because holy heck, what I'd give to see a proper recording of this:

If I ever had the money and influence, my dream stage project would be to produce a redux of CHESS in the same way that Sam Mendes reworked the book of CABARET for his Alan Cumming version. Also, I would up the "80's-ness" of the show like whoa (just as I would with the second half of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE).

CHESS IN CONCERT is apparently out on DVD as of today, but hell, I'm still tempted to see if it's airing here in Montreal and reworking my entire Fringe schedule around the show. It's that important.



*I still think about him in Sondheim's COMPANY. Man, that show *feel* like I should love it, but I'm just not yet old enough for the themes to matter to me at all. I feel absolutely zero resonance in those characters and their problems. Songs are good, though. I mean, it's frickin' Sondheim, of course they are.

Comments

[cisic.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'm excited about this as well. What they are releasing is the concert version that was done in London, instead of the concert version that was done here for the actor's fund. The latter would have been better (it had Julia Murney and Sutton Foster), but I will take what they give me.

And yes, Esparza is teh hotness (so much more so than Adam Pascal). I love Company. Bobby actually resonates a lot with me -- his feelings, if not his specific situation (I'm certainly not 7 times a godmother). And though I know absolutely nothing about marriage, I find Sorry/Grateful to be a fascinating description.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

I would like to see more of Sutton Foster. My only experience of her has been her adorable two appearances on FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS.

I definitely plan to revisit COMPANY ten or more years down the line, see if it resonates more. As it is, they're talking and worrying about issues that... well, clearly, I have to make certain steps in personal development before they mean anything to me as anything other than abstract concepts.

[zwee.livejournal.com]

Chess. *sighdrool*
Thank you for posting that video. *more sighing* *more drooling*

Oh, since you're in Montréal, you should consider checking out Au Pied de Cochon, 536 Duluth Ave. East.
Make a late evening reservation as earlier reservations are usually taken up by older locals and tourists. It's not cheap, but it's not your usual bistro fare either. :-)

If you haven't tried poutine or have and want to try other ocal variations, check out Maamm Bolduc at 4351 Lorimer. I mean, c'mon! They serve Poutine Bourguignonne. What's not to love?

Oh, and if you're vegetarian, pls ignore Au Pied but *do* try the Poutine Vegetarienne at Maamm Bolduc. One of the only places that serves veggie poutine in the city as far as I know. ;-)

If your'e not a veggie but want a cheap Montréal classic that isn't poutine, check out a nearby St-Hubert BBQ http://www.st-hubert.com/EN/Home (it's sounds like SAY-too-BEAR bar-BEH-que if you hear a local say it fast). Good roast chicken and you MUST stay for a piece of Maple Sugar Pie. nomnomnom.

Whatever you do, have fun!

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

You're very welcome, and sorry for getting that awesome, awesome song stuck in your head!

Aw sweet, I think I'll definitely try for Au Pied de Cochon tomorrow.

And don't worry, my billet has poutined me up!

[zwee.livejournal.com]

Oh and I now have The Arbiter stuck in my head. Thanks. :-D

[adaptor.livejournal.com]

I've been setting this up at work. Very happy making! Looking forward to employee-purchasing a copy!

By the by, have I told you about my new discovery, that eMusic has mad musical soundtracks? With one month's downloads I just got the precise version of Godspell I thought I'd lost for ever in The Great CD Carnage (a lost 100 disc case, not full but full enough to hurt), the lastest Broadway cast album of Assassins.

It would've been more if I hadn't already been spending downloads for the month. I've saved for next week Taboo and High Fidelity.

[thehefner.livejournal.com]

Crap! Forgot I hadn't responded to this yet!

No, I don't believe you've told me about eMusic, but hell, now I'm gonna have to check it out! (Wait, they made HIGH FIDELITY into a musical?)