Many of you may have willingly or unwillingly been involved in a Mystery Dinner Theater show. Admittedly, these events run the gamit on quality - from the actors to the script quality to the other participants. And, lest we forget, the quality of the food.
Taking the basic idea of an interactive story experience out of the rubber chicken circuit is a group of innovators who started on the streets of New York, enlisting participants as active sleuths while guiding them through a series of locations in search of clues hidden in and around businesses in New York leading to the solution to a mystery. I thank my friend Suzanne for giving the thumbs up to the NY experience, prompting L.A. visitors Diana and Otto to suggest we take in the West Coast installment: Accomplice Hollywood.
accomplicetheshow.com
I am not going to give away the plot exactly, but this will have some spoilers in it. So if you think you might ever do this - which I do recommend - you might want to avoid my spoilers below.
The show experience starts a few days prior, when you are asked to watch a video online and you get a call explaining where you should meet to start the experience. We started ours at a famous landmark on Hollywood Boulevard. We had a great group of 8 people, everyone at least semi-willing to participate and work together on the clues.
We moved from clue to clue, taking in different sites on Hollywood Boulevard and meeting some accomplices along the way.
******SPOILER ALERT!!********
You are helped between some of the locations and clues by actors you encounter spread out among the various businesses willing to let the production set up there. Two sites were restaurants in which it was pretty easy to identify our target...they were waiting in a corner with cold beer and water for the group. (Big thumbs up for the refreshment, just wish they would have had wine too!) In other places, it was much more difficult. One of the more hilarious situations was the clue in which we had to find a character in Hollywood Blvd.
This challenge actually ended up being for the actor.
Hollywood Blvd. between Mann's Chinese theater and the Hollywood Highland Center used to be crawling with various people dressed as all manner of movie and TV characters (and some just in really bad Halloween costumes) who, for a suggested $2 tip, will pose with you for your family photo. A few weeks ago, police cracked down on these folks for panhandling. Having a storyline that includes one of these characters suddenly got very, very risky. He also tends to stand out, making him easy to find. But I felt enormously sad for the actor in that heavy costume and mask outfit standing in the sun all weekend, while his co-stars hung out in bars with beer!
By the end of the experience you are starting to look at everyone on the street and wonder if they are part of it. We will never walk on Hollywood Blvd. and see a group of tourists closely examining the words written on the walk in the Hollywood Highland Center and not feel the urge to go over and thrown them off the scent!
*****END OF SPOILERS*****
My only complaint about the production (other than the lack of wine as a beverage option!) was that the story and clues did not have much of a focus on the history of the area. The show could have given us a better tour of the area; I would have appreciated knowing more about the places we visited and walked past.
Otherwise, I had I good enough time I would do the NY show as well (they have multiple options there).
So, we continue to survive Los Angeles - with accomplices to help!
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Surviving L.A. - Takes Ellen!
One of the unique opportunities that Los Angeles affords is the opportunity to watch a live filming of a TV show. I've been wanting specifically to see the Ellen Degeneres Show because I think Ellen is hilarious and I love her work for animals and her emphasis on what people who come on her show do for social programs. I also appreciate that she features some regular people on her show who have done amazing things in their own life, and not just celebrities.
The show airing Monday, March 22 features Pierce Brosnon (the stuff my late-night dreams are made of! - I know, I know...he'll always be Remmington Steele to me!) and the ever classy and hysterical Betty White.
As an experience, it was not what I expected. Ellen tapes at Warner Brothers Studio, and many days she tapes 2 shows a day. Leslie and I had tickets for the 'late' show, which required us to be at Warner Brothers Studios at 3:30 p.m. The check-in and staging area is...the parking garage. They have a large area with benches and some TVs on the wall and two stalls for check-in....one for tickets holders and one for those who do not have tickets but are hoping for empty seats.
Note: we are under the impression from the process that if you order tickets and do not show up, you end up on a naughty list with no hope of future tickets! Tickets are difficult to get - but can be had at ellen.warnerbrothers.com
I had been told by many people to wear bright, solid colors for good seating selection (camera people like colorful backgrounds). That did not appear to ultimately matter here. There were some VIPs who were seated front and center, and then everyone else was given a number as they checked in and that's how you were seated, for the most part. We were among the last to show up (though still on time before 3:30) and got numbers 180-181. After the check-in process was completed we were basically going to sit the the area in the parking garage for 90 minutes. They did show some of Ellen's current shows on the TVs. This is also when they circulated through the audience and apparently selected some people who were going to participate in a game during the show.
At nearly 5 p.m., they started the seating. For the next hour, I felt I was back in kindergarten. They made us line up in corrals by number, and then we were told to wait until someone came and walked us across the street. (Stay in line. No one go until I say 'cross'! Now stand against the wall.)
Once inside the studio the line weaved through the "Ellen" store, open for your Ellen needs. When Leslie and I got into the seating area we could see that it was mostly full and seemed destined for the last 2 rows. Admittedly, the whole sound stage is smaller than it appears on TV, but we had still hoped for better seats. Fortunately, as a party of two, our bodies were needed to fill empty seats in the third row. (We are on the extreme right side if you are looking at the audience from the stage.)
An 'MC' came out onto the stage for our 'warm-up' which consisted of him attempting to lead us through basic moves at our seats. 'Use your right arm, now your left arm, now clap, now sway side-to-side.' He also goes over the rules "no catcalls for Betty White, now!" and reminds us that we are to pretend that it is Monday. Apparently, that means I've seen the future. At least on the Ellen show, Monday is funny.
This cross between romper room and aerobics at a senior center lasts for an hour, during which time the crew is putting cameras in place and the show's DJ, Tony, sets up his playlist. I can't imagine what the crew must think, watching a goofy crowd of mostly women trying to get down to Michael Jackson tunes in the confines of their 2x2 seat space. I wonder if it was listed as a perk on the job announcement.
At 5 minutes until 6 o'clock we are asked to sit, and clap. Incessantly. They wanted clapping for what feels like a good 45 seconds in and out of every commercial, before we are even entertained. I thought that's what laugh tracks were for.
Promptly at 6 o'clock they announce the Ellen Degeneres Show and the moment we have been waiting for since 3:30 (some much longer) arrives. Ellen herself steps on to the stage and welcomes us all there.....to at least 2 minutes of clapping. If you have ever seen her show, you know she opens with a monologue. I am guessing they must film these most every day - but the day the show airs so that it will be topical, because we did not get one. Instead, she launched into the opening segments of her show, which for us included two women in Orange (as in the fruit) outfits competing for a trip to Florida. This is one of my least favorite parts of the show, but it illuminated something special for me about Ellen. She's quick.
It's one thing to be a stand-up comedienne and deliver a scripted punch-line. Improv is a whole other beast and Ellen would be very good at it. Her ability to react with a witty line to any situation was fantastic. There were no cuts, no second takes on her show.
After the game she moved to the interview area to bring out her guests. Pierce came first. Something a guest at a TV show taping must remember is that you are there to provide a service to the show....background that claps for as long as it is told to and laughs at the appropriate moments. The show is done for the television audience, not you. Unless you are seated in the center of the audience, there is a good chance your view of one of the Hottest Men in entertainment will be instead of the back of Randy, the cameraman. To my left was a TV for me to view what the camera was seeing, but really this is just as I am going to watch it at home...on a nice big TV (and the ability to have a bathroom break during the commercials if I need it, something not allowed on Ellen).
Betty White provided a hilarious interview, as expected, again watched on the TV screen to my left. The segments were separated by commercial time, at which point Ellen and her guest might get make-up re-touched and the upcoming scene is prepped for. But it is all in "real time."
At 6:45, Ellen is wrapping up the show. I am guessing that leaves time for the monologue to be filled in later. But it is an efficient machine, with no breaks or re-takes. Impressive. If anything comes out drastically different when the show airs, I'll post again.
Immediately following the show, Ellen takes the mic and thanks us, then cruises out of the studio. We were waiting in line with the crossing guards when we saw her drive by on her way home.
In all a fantastic experience. We even won Shell Gas giftcards and got a CD from the musical guest.
Ellen's motto is Live. Laugh. Dance. And it is helping us Survive L.A.
The show airing Monday, March 22 features Pierce Brosnon (the stuff my late-night dreams are made of! - I know, I know...he'll always be Remmington Steele to me!) and the ever classy and hysterical Betty White.
As an experience, it was not what I expected. Ellen tapes at Warner Brothers Studio, and many days she tapes 2 shows a day. Leslie and I had tickets for the 'late' show, which required us to be at Warner Brothers Studios at 3:30 p.m. The check-in and staging area is...the parking garage. They have a large area with benches and some TVs on the wall and two stalls for check-in....one for tickets holders and one for those who do not have tickets but are hoping for empty seats.
Note: we are under the impression from the process that if you order tickets and do not show up, you end up on a naughty list with no hope of future tickets! Tickets are difficult to get - but can be had at ellen.warnerbrothers.com
I had been told by many people to wear bright, solid colors for good seating selection (camera people like colorful backgrounds). That did not appear to ultimately matter here. There were some VIPs who were seated front and center, and then everyone else was given a number as they checked in and that's how you were seated, for the most part. We were among the last to show up (though still on time before 3:30) and got numbers 180-181. After the check-in process was completed we were basically going to sit the the area in the parking garage for 90 minutes. They did show some of Ellen's current shows on the TVs. This is also when they circulated through the audience and apparently selected some people who were going to participate in a game during the show.
At nearly 5 p.m., they started the seating. For the next hour, I felt I was back in kindergarten. They made us line up in corrals by number, and then we were told to wait until someone came and walked us across the street. (Stay in line. No one go until I say 'cross'! Now stand against the wall.)
Once inside the studio the line weaved through the "Ellen" store, open for your Ellen needs. When Leslie and I got into the seating area we could see that it was mostly full and seemed destined for the last 2 rows. Admittedly, the whole sound stage is smaller than it appears on TV, but we had still hoped for better seats. Fortunately, as a party of two, our bodies were needed to fill empty seats in the third row. (We are on the extreme right side if you are looking at the audience from the stage.)
An 'MC' came out onto the stage for our 'warm-up' which consisted of him attempting to lead us through basic moves at our seats. 'Use your right arm, now your left arm, now clap, now sway side-to-side.' He also goes over the rules "no catcalls for Betty White, now!" and reminds us that we are to pretend that it is Monday. Apparently, that means I've seen the future. At least on the Ellen show, Monday is funny.
This cross between romper room and aerobics at a senior center lasts for an hour, during which time the crew is putting cameras in place and the show's DJ, Tony, sets up his playlist. I can't imagine what the crew must think, watching a goofy crowd of mostly women trying to get down to Michael Jackson tunes in the confines of their 2x2 seat space. I wonder if it was listed as a perk on the job announcement.
At 5 minutes until 6 o'clock we are asked to sit, and clap. Incessantly. They wanted clapping for what feels like a good 45 seconds in and out of every commercial, before we are even entertained. I thought that's what laugh tracks were for.
Promptly at 6 o'clock they announce the Ellen Degeneres Show and the moment we have been waiting for since 3:30 (some much longer) arrives. Ellen herself steps on to the stage and welcomes us all there.....to at least 2 minutes of clapping. If you have ever seen her show, you know she opens with a monologue. I am guessing they must film these most every day - but the day the show airs so that it will be topical, because we did not get one. Instead, she launched into the opening segments of her show, which for us included two women in Orange (as in the fruit) outfits competing for a trip to Florida. This is one of my least favorite parts of the show, but it illuminated something special for me about Ellen. She's quick.
It's one thing to be a stand-up comedienne and deliver a scripted punch-line. Improv is a whole other beast and Ellen would be very good at it. Her ability to react with a witty line to any situation was fantastic. There were no cuts, no second takes on her show.
After the game she moved to the interview area to bring out her guests. Pierce came first. Something a guest at a TV show taping must remember is that you are there to provide a service to the show....background that claps for as long as it is told to and laughs at the appropriate moments. The show is done for the television audience, not you. Unless you are seated in the center of the audience, there is a good chance your view of one of the Hottest Men in entertainment will be instead of the back of Randy, the cameraman. To my left was a TV for me to view what the camera was seeing, but really this is just as I am going to watch it at home...on a nice big TV (and the ability to have a bathroom break during the commercials if I need it, something not allowed on Ellen).
Betty White provided a hilarious interview, as expected, again watched on the TV screen to my left. The segments were separated by commercial time, at which point Ellen and her guest might get make-up re-touched and the upcoming scene is prepped for. But it is all in "real time."
At 6:45, Ellen is wrapping up the show. I am guessing that leaves time for the monologue to be filled in later. But it is an efficient machine, with no breaks or re-takes. Impressive. If anything comes out drastically different when the show airs, I'll post again.
Immediately following the show, Ellen takes the mic and thanks us, then cruises out of the studio. We were waiting in line with the crossing guards when we saw her drive by on her way home.
In all a fantastic experience. We even won Shell Gas giftcards and got a CD from the musical guest.
Ellen's motto is Live. Laugh. Dance. And it is helping us Survive L.A.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Surviving L.A. - Takes Reflection
Ahhh....the end of the year...the decade to some...and it always seems to bring out the need for reflection among resolutionists, pundits and network anchors. So I was inspired to get a little reflective myself, and came to a conclusion: those who said "give it two years and you'll love it here" were wrong. There are some things I still just can't get used to.
So for 2010 I give you:
Surviving L.A. - The top 15 signs you’ve been in L.A. too long:
15. Crime scene tape causes excitment because you might see Laurence Fishburne.
14. It doesn't phase you to sit in traffic for 9 hours from Vegas to Los Angeles, even though it's less than 300 miles.
13. You know you can valet your car anywhere, including church or the hospital, in case your in that much of a hurry.
12. Palms trees decorated with Christmas lights and ice skating in Santa Monica seems perfectly normal.
11. You know which episode of Miami Medical caused an actor to legitimately ask “is there a REAL doctor in the house?”
10. You’re tracking the Korean Taco Truck and the Cupcake-Mobile on twitter.
9. There’s an appetizer of bacon on the menu – 6 slabs for $10. And you buy it.
8. You know that ‘going to the races’ could mean horses….or turtles.
7. You know the difference between working ‘in the industry’ in Los Angeles and working ‘in the industry’ in The Valley, and you DON’T confuse the two.
6. When you see two men run across an intersection, dive into the windows of a truck and start fighting with the inhabitants….and you immediately look for the cameras and wonder what movie is filming.
5. You’re watching Survivor on television at the same moment one of the contestants appears in your doorway.
4. You know where you can get your hands on a WWII sub.
3. You know someone who won tickets to the Michael Jackson funeral.
2. You’re pissed you didn’t win.
1. While driving down the road you say “that’s weird” and the driver thinks you are referring to the ‘sold’ sign on a home, completely ignoring the 70-something, white as a sheet man in yellow Bruce Jenner running shorts and black dress socks and shoes taking his Sunday constitutional.
Wishing you 15 signs for a very happy 2010.
So for 2010 I give you:
Surviving L.A. - The top 15 signs you’ve been in L.A. too long:
15. Crime scene tape causes excitment because you might see Laurence Fishburne.
14. It doesn't phase you to sit in traffic for 9 hours from Vegas to Los Angeles, even though it's less than 300 miles.
13. You know you can valet your car anywhere, including church or the hospital, in case your in that much of a hurry.
12. Palms trees decorated with Christmas lights and ice skating in Santa Monica seems perfectly normal.
11. You know which episode of Miami Medical caused an actor to legitimately ask “is there a REAL doctor in the house?”
10. You’re tracking the Korean Taco Truck and the Cupcake-Mobile on twitter.
9. There’s an appetizer of bacon on the menu – 6 slabs for $10. And you buy it.
8. You know that ‘going to the races’ could mean horses….or turtles.
7. You know the difference between working ‘in the industry’ in Los Angeles and working ‘in the industry’ in The Valley, and you DON’T confuse the two.
6. When you see two men run across an intersection, dive into the windows of a truck and start fighting with the inhabitants….and you immediately look for the cameras and wonder what movie is filming.
5. You’re watching Survivor on television at the same moment one of the contestants appears in your doorway.
4. You know where you can get your hands on a WWII sub.
3. You know someone who won tickets to the Michael Jackson funeral.
2. You’re pissed you didn’t win.
1. While driving down the road you say “that’s weird” and the driver thinks you are referring to the ‘sold’ sign on a home, completely ignoring the 70-something, white as a sheet man in yellow Bruce Jenner running shorts and black dress socks and shoes taking his Sunday constitutional.
Wishing you 15 signs for a very happy 2010.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Surviving L.A. - Takes Jewelry
Ironman races, Adventure races, marathons. I often get asked why I do such things. (Insane things, according to Richard.)
Self-fulfillment? The love of a challenge? Massacism?
In the case of last weekend the answer is simple: Jewelry.
Self-fulfillment? The love of a challenge? Massacism?
In the case of last weekend the answer is simple: Jewelry.
Sorry it's blurry....it says "Run Like A Girl."
Last year my friend Sunghee asked me if I wanted to run the Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco with her in October. As I poised my lips to say 'no' and list all of the reasons hilly San Fran was the last place I would run 26.2 miles, she added: "The finisher's medal is a necklace designed by Tiffany's presented to you at the finish line by men in tuxedoes."
Well, we all know how much I love a man in a tux, so I said yes. And, because misery loves company, I recruited friends. There ended up being 8 of us in all, training through the year to run around San Francisco looking for men in penguin suits ready to give us jewelry.
If you are considering running a half or full marathon in your life, I HIGHLY recommend this event. And not just for the necklace. It is well done, well attended, well cheered, well mapped and for a good cause.
The course started at Union Square in the main shopping district near Nike Town, where all participants names as listed on a giant wall. The race started at 7 a.m., and was really well organized. You ran toward the water, and then swept past some of the iconic sites of San Fran just as the sun is rising (depending on fog) - Alcatraz, Fisherman's Wharf, the Golden Gate Bridge. The hills are not the worst that San Fran could throw at you, and they are early in the race. I was pleasantly surprised at how well we ran them, but I think the distractions of the views probably helped. It also helped that nearly every mile had some form of entertainment, from a gospel choir to bagpipers to a steele drum band.
Many of the sponsors also had stretches of positive, inspirational messages to keep you motivated. About mile 9 you reach the top of the last of the bigger hills and drop down onto the beach. The wind off the water is not bad and the views make it worth any extra effort. Here is where the half and full marathon's split. The full racers head off deep into Golden Gate Park while the half runners dip into the park and end back to the water's edge for the finish line. After a few miles in the park, the full emerges to run along the water past the San Francisco Zoo and then out around Lake Merced, pushed on by a fabulous 80s cover band.
Mile 22 greets you with Ghriardelli Chocolate samples before you head back up one small hill and down the homestretch along the water.
I ran the race with my friend Debbie and we had a goal of finishing. Not lofty, I suppose, but good enough for us. We were there to have fun, and we did. In fact, I carried my blackberry and was able to snap pictures, post to Facebook and chat with Richard while I was moving along. If I ran it again, I would be far more serious about actually trying to run it well, but for this time, I wanted to soak in the experience of the city, the views, the commaraderie and the fun.
A big thanks to Sunghee, for the suggestion; to Theresa, for coming down from Seattle; to Debbie, for training with me and running with me; and to her husband Scott and my dear Richard, ever my cheerleader.
He may shake his head then he hear's me ask if he's okay with me doing the next crazy event....but he helps me survive L.A. And I now have a fabulous little piece of jewelry to wear while doing it.
Get ready to go!
View of Alcatraz, about mile 4
Down to the beach!
Entertainment in Gold Gate Park
Back along the beach for the home stretch!
FINISH in sight!
Why, yes, I'd love a Tiffany Necklace, thanks!
Well, we all know how much I love a man in a tux, so I said yes. And, because misery loves company, I recruited friends. There ended up being 8 of us in all, training through the year to run around San Francisco looking for men in penguin suits ready to give us jewelry.
If you are considering running a half or full marathon in your life, I HIGHLY recommend this event. And not just for the necklace. It is well done, well attended, well cheered, well mapped and for a good cause.
The course started at Union Square in the main shopping district near Nike Town, where all participants names as listed on a giant wall. The race started at 7 a.m., and was really well organized. You ran toward the water, and then swept past some of the iconic sites of San Fran just as the sun is rising (depending on fog) - Alcatraz, Fisherman's Wharf, the Golden Gate Bridge. The hills are not the worst that San Fran could throw at you, and they are early in the race. I was pleasantly surprised at how well we ran them, but I think the distractions of the views probably helped. It also helped that nearly every mile had some form of entertainment, from a gospel choir to bagpipers to a steele drum band.
Many of the sponsors also had stretches of positive, inspirational messages to keep you motivated. About mile 9 you reach the top of the last of the bigger hills and drop down onto the beach. The wind off the water is not bad and the views make it worth any extra effort. Here is where the half and full marathon's split. The full racers head off deep into Golden Gate Park while the half runners dip into the park and end back to the water's edge for the finish line. After a few miles in the park, the full emerges to run along the water past the San Francisco Zoo and then out around Lake Merced, pushed on by a fabulous 80s cover band.
Mile 22 greets you with Ghriardelli Chocolate samples before you head back up one small hill and down the homestretch along the water.
I ran the race with my friend Debbie and we had a goal of finishing. Not lofty, I suppose, but good enough for us. We were there to have fun, and we did. In fact, I carried my blackberry and was able to snap pictures, post to Facebook and chat with Richard while I was moving along. If I ran it again, I would be far more serious about actually trying to run it well, but for this time, I wanted to soak in the experience of the city, the views, the commaraderie and the fun.
A big thanks to Sunghee, for the suggestion; to Theresa, for coming down from Seattle; to Debbie, for training with me and running with me; and to her husband Scott and my dear Richard, ever my cheerleader.
He may shake his head then he hear's me ask if he's okay with me doing the next crazy event....but he helps me survive L.A. And I now have a fabulous little piece of jewelry to wear while doing it.
One of the best parts of this race was our commitment to fun...which included taking pictures and uploading/posting to Facebook in-race (and chatting with Richard). So, these are camera phone and not the best, but....run along with us! (Though, I am not in any of these pics, just the photographer.)
Wall of racer names at Niketown
Get ready to go!
View of Alcatraz, about mile 4
Down to the beach!
Entertainment in Gold Gate Park
Back along the beach for the home stretch!
FINISH in sight!
Why, yes, I'd love a Tiffany Necklace, thanks!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Surviving L.A. - Takes Supertitles
Foreign movies have subtitles, operas have Supertitles. Rather than scrolling along the bottom of a movie screen, supertitles are displayed at the top of a stage, so that those of us not fluent in the traditional opera languages of German, French, Russian and - in the case of L.A. Opera's opening show for 2009-2010 - Italian, can follow along.
Richard and I had the unique opportunity to attend the L.A. Opera's Season Opening Gala Saturday and enjoy The Elixir of Love, L'Elisir D'Amore. Those intimate with Richard and me know we are far more likely to spend Saturday's at college football games than operas - but remember that our motto for our time on the West Coast is "New and Different." And WOW did this qualify. (Besides, UCLA had already beat Tennessee.)
Richard donned a tuxedo and even tried a mushroom cannoli at the Opera Gala....we really are expanding our horizons beyond our previous boundries. (Yes, he now OWNS a tuxedo...can ballroom dancing lessons be far behind?)
From a novelty perspective, our experience was fabulous. We had an extremely enjoyable evening and while I don't think we'll be buying season tickets to the opera, I will share with you what I learned as a first-time opera-goer.
1. L'Elisir D'Amore, The Elixir of Love, is apparently a great production for your first one. "It's a comedy and it's short" (a mere 2:45 with intermission!) was an oft-repeated phrase from those in the know.
2. If you are a single guy interested in an older woman....get a ticket to this event! There were packs of seemingly affulent cougars roaming the halls. One women from a not-to-be-divulged-brand-name-family had seemingly pulled out every piece of Dolce & Gabbana jewelry she owned to showcase at once. No matter that it didn't match. And nothing says "I'm hot" more than a designer dress cut to show off the pacemaker surgery scar.
3. Speaking of outfits.....even if opera is not your idea of a fun Saturday night....you might go by just to see the patrons show up for the pre-gala cocktail party. I think some people thought this was a costume ball. (And I thought the Miami Vice-style-white-pants-color-jacket-combo tux had ended with my prom...apparently I was wrong.) Fortunately for tourists, the gala puts these outfits on display with a long red carpet walk into an outdoor cocktail party with only stantions between us and the cameras off the local tour bus. (For the record, Richard looked amazing walking the carpet in his tuxedo.)
4. Oh...you're wondering about the show itself? L.A. is NEVER about the main event when a red carpet is involved! The entire storyline is printed in the program (or found online) which is to aid in your understanding. It does, however, also spoil the ending and erase the opportunity for rousing speculative discussion during the intermission....will our hero get the girl? Will the heroine find her heart? Who dies at the end? How much longer is this...are we really staying for the whole thing? (Oh...just kidding...)
5. Spoiler Alert.....the "Elixir of Love" is a cheap bordeaux. (I could have told you that!)
6. However good a short comedy might be, you must remember that an opera is intended to be a showcase for amazing voices, not necessarily a showcase of acting talent or intricate plot lines. If you want 2 hours and 45 minuts of intellectual comedy, go rent Gross Pointe Blanke and watch and episode of The Daily Show.
7. If you decide to go to an opera, educate yourself as to quality of voice so to enhance your experience - and look like you have experience. I clearly lack the understand/appreciation of tenors/sopranos/falsettos to know when I was hearing something that should wow me. This became grossly apparent when a character would stop singing and the theater would explode in wild applause all around me, and I would be caught looking like I had just woken up. I wish I had a DVR and could rewind to hear what I had inadvertantly missed. But for the novice - when everyone else applauds...you'd best go along...lest you stick out!
8. They serve alcohol before the opera....during intermission...and after the show. I'm not saying you need a drink to enjoy opera...but you feel free to draw your own inference.
9. The supertitles are displayed at the top of the stage. They are NOT intended to be a full, literal translation. They reminded me of a Kung Fu movie dubbed into English. The words would say "she loves me" and the guy would sing for 2 minutes. But maybe that's a lot of words in Italian, what do I know?
10. The bows for the cast after a performance last almost as long as the second act. Seriously. And the ovations rival Catholic Mass aerobics.
11. Placido Domingo is an amazing singer.....and a long talker. When he got up to speak at the post-performance gala, a woman at our table informed us we should sit back and relax....he goes on and on and on and on.....bring your iPod.
So, we continue to survive L.A. - tuxedos and all. Even though Placido is still at the podium talking....
Monday, August 31, 2009
Surviving L.A. - Takes Cardboard (for your wine, of course!)
Living in California can quickly make you a wine snob. The close proximity of an abundance of fabulous wineries can quickly flood your wine cellar and make you wonder how ANYONE could possibly still drink cheap White Zinfandel when tantalizing blends of sweet champagne can be had for $8?
The upside of membership in 4 wine clubs is that we have stopped hoarding every good bottle for a special occasion. The downside is my new attitude that I'm too good for Two Buck Chuck.
Next thing you know Richard is running off to buy a tuxedo for opera galas....and we needed to be reined in.
Fortunately, our good friends Bob and Leslie can help us maintain proper perspective by inviting us to Chateauneuf de Cardboard for a Boxed Wine Tasting and reminding us that good things come in packages of all sizes, shapes, and materials - like specially designed cardboard boxes keeping 'open' wine good for....well....we have yet to find out.
I know boxed wine usually gets the side-eye for the party guest who shows with the white Franzia box that looks like it was snatched from a sorority house kitchen. But today's sophisticated palates may find a taste they really enjoy coming out of a cube...including:
(To be read with a French accent) Target Merlot and Target Pinot Grigio - very affordable, drinkable, every day wine to keep in the fridge.
Pinot Evil - which also comes in a bottle, but a box is great for when the evening calls for one glass. (We don't know when that is...but...just in case it ever happens.)
French Rabbit Chardonnay (our contribution) - an extremely light, French white best served cold enough to need your own faux fur.
Bota Box Old Vine Zinfandel - Richard's Favorite of the evening
Bota Box Shiraz - Bota Box apparently makes several great boxed varities that stays fresh after the box is opened 45 days. And just WHO would take 45 days to finish a box of wine? We don't know these people.
Killer Juice Sauvignon Blanc - hints of citrus and summer with no cardboard aftertaste!
White Wine for Chilling (in the family of Red Wine for Grilling) - When soliciting recommendations for our purchase I was told that White Wine for Chilling paired very well with a Camelbak. The bladders could be easily changed out and made for a great accompaniment on a hike.
So we continue to survive L.A. - even sans cork. Enjoy your favorite box tonight!
The upside of membership in 4 wine clubs is that we have stopped hoarding every good bottle for a special occasion. The downside is my new attitude that I'm too good for Two Buck Chuck.
Next thing you know Richard is running off to buy a tuxedo for opera galas....and we needed to be reined in.
Fortunately, our good friends Bob and Leslie can help us maintain proper perspective by inviting us to Chateauneuf de Cardboard for a Boxed Wine Tasting and reminding us that good things come in packages of all sizes, shapes, and materials - like specially designed cardboard boxes keeping 'open' wine good for....well....we have yet to find out.
I know boxed wine usually gets the side-eye for the party guest who shows with the white Franzia box that looks like it was snatched from a sorority house kitchen. But today's sophisticated palates may find a taste they really enjoy coming out of a cube...including:
(To be read with a French accent) Target Merlot and Target Pinot Grigio - very affordable, drinkable, every day wine to keep in the fridge.
Pinot Evil - which also comes in a bottle, but a box is great for when the evening calls for one glass. (We don't know when that is...but...just in case it ever happens.)
French Rabbit Chardonnay (our contribution) - an extremely light, French white best served cold enough to need your own faux fur.
Bota Box Old Vine Zinfandel - Richard's Favorite of the evening
Bota Box Shiraz - Bota Box apparently makes several great boxed varities that stays fresh after the box is opened 45 days. And just WHO would take 45 days to finish a box of wine? We don't know these people.
Killer Juice Sauvignon Blanc - hints of citrus and summer with no cardboard aftertaste!
White Wine for Chilling (in the family of Red Wine for Grilling) - When soliciting recommendations for our purchase I was told that White Wine for Chilling paired very well with a Camelbak. The bladders could be easily changed out and made for a great accompaniment on a hike.
So we continue to survive L.A. - even sans cork. Enjoy your favorite box tonight!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Surviving L.A. - Takes a tuxedo
If you were called - from Hollywood - to save the world, could you step up? Play the part? Dress the part? This week, my husband the clothes horse was about to find out.
I worried what covert international crisis might be afoot when I saw the cryptic message: "We have a problem." "What's the problem?" I typed timidly, fearing Ernst Stavo Blofeld had kidnapped Placido Domingo and threaten modern arias as we knew them. The ominous words that make women everywhere rejoice appeared on the screen. "Black tie."
Since Richard made the grave mistake of marrying me, I have been telling him he should just buy a tuxedo. I thought a wedding was a good reason for an investment, and he a few opportunities to step out in style in the last few years. I think men who own tuxedos are incredibly sexy. Why that, in and of itself, did not bring about the purchase is a matter of on-going discussion..... but....
Apparently, my strategy should have been to move to L.A.
How could anyone in such a fashion-forward town not be prepared for every event? Neither of us needs suits for work (yeah, I'm rubbing it in, kinda...). We need bathing suits for the beach...wetsuits for surfing...fire-retardant suits for the wildfires....something for that last-minute invitation to a black-tie opera gala or call to stand in for a high-stakes poker game where the free world is in the ante.
We don't have an earthquake preparedness plan, but when the call from Q comes in, Richard will be ready. After following tips and gathering intel and negotiating a treaty with a disappearing ink pen, Rick Bond is now the proud owner of a striking suit ready for Beverly Hills Cocoktail Parties, Hollywood Premieres, Children's Birthday Parties and the Fat Lady Singing.
His reference to "the noose" no longer refers to his wedding ring.
But as all well-heeled heros have a fatal flaw, Richard has an evil side that comes out toward his leading ladies....
He won't wear the tux until I learn how to tie the bow-tie.
00Jerk.
I have 2 weeks to learn....or else my Elixir of Love will be a lonely night sans my knight in shiny lapels and french cuffs.
For those wondering what finally convinced my nominee for best-dressed-in-the-comedy-we-call-Surviving-L.A. to don the strait jacket, the clues are encrypted here....or you can catch the ending when it comes out on DVD (see Surviving L.A. in 2 weeks).
For now we continue to Survive L.A. - just with a lot more style!
I worried what covert international crisis might be afoot when I saw the cryptic message: "We have a problem." "What's the problem?" I typed timidly, fearing Ernst Stavo Blofeld had kidnapped Placido Domingo and threaten modern arias as we knew them. The ominous words that make women everywhere rejoice appeared on the screen. "Black tie."
Since Richard made the grave mistake of marrying me, I have been telling him he should just buy a tuxedo. I thought a wedding was a good reason for an investment, and he a few opportunities to step out in style in the last few years. I think men who own tuxedos are incredibly sexy. Why that, in and of itself, did not bring about the purchase is a matter of on-going discussion..... but....
Apparently, my strategy should have been to move to L.A.
How could anyone in such a fashion-forward town not be prepared for every event? Neither of us needs suits for work (yeah, I'm rubbing it in, kinda...). We need bathing suits for the beach...wetsuits for surfing...fire-retardant suits for the wildfires....something for that last-minute invitation to a black-tie opera gala or call to stand in for a high-stakes poker game where the free world is in the ante.
We don't have an earthquake preparedness plan, but when the call from Q comes in, Richard will be ready. After following tips and gathering intel and negotiating a treaty with a disappearing ink pen, Rick Bond is now the proud owner of a striking suit ready for Beverly Hills Cocoktail Parties, Hollywood Premieres, Children's Birthday Parties and the Fat Lady Singing.
His reference to "the noose" no longer refers to his wedding ring.
But as all well-heeled heros have a fatal flaw, Richard has an evil side that comes out toward his leading ladies....
He won't wear the tux until I learn how to tie the bow-tie.
00Jerk.
I have 2 weeks to learn....or else my Elixir of Love will be a lonely night sans my knight in shiny lapels and french cuffs.
For those wondering what finally convinced my nominee for best-dressed-in-the-comedy-we-call-Surviving-L.A. to don the strait jacket, the clues are encrypted here....or you can catch the ending when it comes out on DVD (see Surviving L.A. in 2 weeks).
For now we continue to Survive L.A. - just with a lot more style!
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