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One thing I’ve learned, in my starting to work in audio drama, is that sound designs the world. If you were to think of all the ways you know something, identify something, such a thing as sound is like the smell of a strawberry before the taste -it wouldn’t be the same without it. I’ve often thought that if I were to lose any feel, it would be sight, because as long as I could hear, the notes of a song, a voice, my steps on wet grass, I could see.
Maybe it comes from having trained in ballet, but nothing fills me up like it. The greatest thing about dance is it’s like a marriage, then a birth. A composer finds just the right notes that bring about the effect he wishes, expresses his inner most creativity, then a dancer listens, takes his vision, the sound, and produces the movement, the physical expression of what dances on the air. A new forum is born.
Music is so wonderful, in that it can create entire worlds in it’s notes. A good composer knows his subject, but they must also know it’s language. The most lovely example of this is when they bring music to water. You can always tell when they are translating musically the waves braking on shore, so vivid, you can’t believe you aren’t watching them.
I just recently got to hear Ravel’s Un Barque sur l’ocean, and it lives up to it’s name -A Boat On The Ocean.
Enjoy!
Ah, England! A time spent with royalty, sipping a cuppa, nibbling a lovely biscuit, or perhaps some warm beer in a little country pub, with singing sailors and their baked bean teeth…whatever you stereotypical fantasy of the British people or way of life, one must agree, when they do something good they do something better!
For instance, their entertainment: We all know of their drama, PBS pushes just about every BBC miniseries almost to no end, good or not so good. But their comedy, ah, what treasure! It’s wonderful to see that much of the world has certainly embraced much of the British sense of humor (or humour,) and I have spent since childhood many happy hours watching BBC comedies ten times to American. So, in appreciation, I thought I’d share my old favorites, and new favorites, of great comedy TV….
Yes, Minister: 1980-1984
Yes, Prime Minister:1986-1987
I will say, without a doubt, that I believe the Minister series to be the best comedy shows of all time in the world! A show about what goes on behind the politicians, diving into the two faced world of administration. With absolutely no flaws, no bad stories, no bad acting, and almost for no reason, the scripts were like something by God. Sure, the show isn’t for everyone, no blue humor, window dressing girls, and almost no one under 40, but when it’s for you, it’s forever.
Fawlty Towers:1975-1979
The name says it all! What John Cleese and Connie Booth did with that show changed the pacing of sitcom’s forever.
As Time Goes By:1992-2005
Only in England would a show about an over middle aged romance do so well as to last over a decade. As Time Goes By was about the sweet, gentle side of British comedy, and we loved it too! Lost lovers finding each other after years of believing the other forgot, creating a new life together when many believe there is no sense trying anymore. But even if the storyline and comedy don’t get you, you have to adore the on-screen chemistry of the wonderful Dame Judi Dench and Geoffrey Palmer.
Are You Being Served?:1972-1985
This is a show I grew up with, loving Mrs. Slocombe, Mr. Lucas, Miss Brahms, Captain Peacock, and of course the totally gorgeous Mr. Humphries. Much of the comedy went right past me in those days, while the wild costumes and storylines and any chance to dance, I was right on par with! Though now I’m much older, old enough to get sick as hell of the “pussy” jokes and endless juvenile innuendos, I can till love and enjoy Are You Being Served, with much of the childhood fun as always.
Last of the Summer Wine:1973-
Taking us into the rural, untouched England, where there isn’t much to do except in your imagination, Last of The Summer, on for over 30 years, follows (or did when Bill Owen was alive,) the misadventures of three friends. They are without attachment, without jobs, without any obligations – like little boys, making summer again, beofre the fall of their years. The beauty of the Yorkshire country has become a part of the cast in itself, and the actors suck you into this simple world of spontaneous adventure and contagious wonder, that made it much more then just a sitcom.
French And Saunders:1987-
There was Abbott and Costello, Bing and Bob, Dean and Jerry, and then there was French and Saunders. Stars of the sketch show of the same name and comedy team since the ‘80s, they have become famous for their wild, ridicules, and sometimes unbelievable accurate parodies, from Gone With The Wind, to Kill Bill. But probably the most remarkable thing about these two, is that their names start with Dawn and Jennifer, making them one of the very few female double acts and the most successful in history. Time has been good to them, in my opinion, hitting their peak in the 2000’s. Now they are on their farewell tour, doing their live shows around the UK, together, for the last time. Though something tells me we wont see the last of French and Saunders.
A Bit of Fry and Laurie:1986-1995
Most Americans hear the name Hugh Laurie, and a drug addicted, out spoken doctor comes to mind. Most Americans hear the name Stephen Fry and go, “huh?” But what many Americans don’t know is that in the past two decades there was a comedy team called Fry and Laurie, with one of the most irreverent, tong-twisting, mind-bendingly funny sketch shows of the time! In my opinion, they started off better then the ended up, much of their shows, in the beginning, giving lessons on how you can screw with the English language. Still, when it was good it was great.
If you’ve never seen Hugh Laurie like this, then don’t know what you are missing!
Okay, um…I promised myself I wouldn’t do this. I said to myself, “I will not talk politics of any sort here,“ and I still will hold to that…after this, because I just had to, HAD to say my peace about this video going around the internet, said to be Leonardo DiCaprio’s baby, and they’re strategy in getting the younger generation of adults to vote.
Now firstly, I don’t think anything one way or another about celebrities using they’re image, trying to appeal to younger people . If you are political, and you see your position in the media as a way to get your beliefs across, then that’s your choice. I remember the ads with Christina Aguilera with tape over her mouth, and it was trying to get us to “not be silent” I guess. But it’s something they do, and that’s fine for them.
But this, this is, well, to say it in a couple of words, righteously condescending! Just watch:
So kids, let me brake it down for you: If you don’t vote, you don’t care about the health, the safety, the wealth, the wellbeing and such of your country. The fact that you may not have even registered means you don’t know how, or you have the brain of a banana! You probably don’t even have any friends, you dirt between the toes of an evil troll!
See, when your thoughtless ways are laid out before by the virtuous, good people that Hollywood has to offer you, it’s easy to get! (Though I still had to spell it out for you, didn’t I, you doorknob!) So get your ASS out their and vote! I mean, Leo told you to! Your not going to make him mad, do you? Are you? Because if you don’t vote, he will shut the iron door on you, you pathetic piece of…..okay, I think hat’s enough.
The point is, who the hell do these people think they are, to make such a patronizing, self satisfied four f’ing minuet video, telling you are an idiot if you CHOSE? Why don’t they just make like Rudy Giuliani and say it straight…if you DON’T vote, your on the side of the terrorists! (Yes, he DID really say that a few years ago, and in support of Bush, BUSH for the love of Mike!)
I understand. They were trying to be “smart,” sort of reverse physiology. But come on! If people haven’t already made their choice, do they really think that this would cause a magic switch to flick on in their heads, because Sarah Silverman took off her bra from under her shirt?
Still, it’s all cutting things pretty close. If someone had made their mind up that they just aren’t going to vote, why should a movie star telling them otherwise change that? I just don’t get that. It’s like the idea of watching TV and a commercial comes on. It for something you don’t want, or don’t need. But you buy it anyway. And they KNOW you will. Am I just immune? Because don’t buy everything that comes up on the screen, particularay if some celebraty is pimping it. I have a mind of my own.
Will here’s some reasons not to vote: You don’t look to either candidate to save you or neither one mean anything to you, or maybe they just don’t resonate with your values. But what am I saying. Just vote! That’s the message, isn’t it? Who cares why, it’s just you’re a bad person and we hate you if you don’t.
But maybe I just missed the point? Maybe I’m not who they are trying to reach. Maybe I’m too old to get the message. Well, I will admit, I am probably in the range of people they are trying to manipulate. And you know what, your plan failed. Yes, Leo, Natalie, Hallie and Dustin, I’m sorry, but voting just because you tried to make me feel bad is just not making the grade. Shaming me because I not only have the privilege to vote, but have the right not to, to bring wistful tears of disgrace to my eyes, isn’t going me change my un-American ways.
Please don’t vote.
