Ghost Light Monday -- Brideshead Revisited at the cineplex

I suppose every gay man of a certain age recalls fondly the British miniseries, Brideshead Revisited. Between the stately house, the attractive cast, and the kindly look on boyhood homosexuality, the Brideshead miniseries holds a sacred spot for many.

So it was with some trepidation that I went to the cinema to see the new film version of Brideshead. Fortunately I found a very likable telling of the story, beautifully filmed with a wonderful cast. I've never read the Evelyn Waugh novel, so I can't compare the film to that. It is, however, a very different slant to the story than the miniseries.

From the opening of the film, we realize there is a strong connection between Charles Ryder (Matthew Goode) and Julia Flyte (Hayley Atwell) which will be the core of the story. The relationship between Charles and Sebastian (Ben Whishaw) is treated more as an antecedent to his relationship with Julia.

The Catholic morality of the story is also much more strongly emphasized in the film version. I saw a connection between the Flytes' Catholicism and the family's declining aristocracy that I hadn't seen in the mini-series. Emma Thompson as Lady Marchmain is equal to the task of haughtiness that Claire Bloom had in the miniseries, but also manages to imbue a little softer, human side to things. Michael Gambon as Lord Marchmain isn't given enough in the film to offer a comparison to Lawrence Olivier in the miniseries.

Matthew Goode is very capable as Charles, while his performance and delivery do seem to channel Jeremy Irons at times. Ben Whishaw's Sebastian is asked to make a much quicker descent into alcoholism than was Anthony Andrews in the miniseries, and there was perhaps not enough of fun Sebastian to understand why Charles is drawn to Sebastian, before the ugly drunken scenes showed us the somber side of their relationship.

Is there a musical version of Brideshead? I can't believe that no one has at least tried!

Brideshead Revisited
2008 film release
Directed by Julian Jerrold
Cast: Matthew Goode, Ben Whishaw, Hayley Atwell, Emma Thompson, Michael Gambon

The Little Prince opera for television on DVD

I'd earlier thought about the Lerner & Loewe Little Prince for television, which got me curious about a newer musical version of the story with music by Rachel Portman. This version is much more operatic and stars New Zealand opera baritone/hunk Teddy Tahu Rhodes (seen right, in the opera Dead Man Walking) as the Aviator with a cast of British opera singers and a children's chorus.

If this version has much of a life in the opera house, I would be surprised. At least this production is clearly designed for television and the editing it allows. Well, in reading more about the opera, I discover that it has had quite a life on-stage--this television version being an adaptation of the work that premiered with Houston Grand Opera in 2003. I find the whole thing rather static though--both visually and musically--which makes me wonder if this is really an opera to bring children to. It's full-length, roughly two hours, with an intermission. I didn't sit still for much of the production on video tape! If there are leit motifs, I couldn't discern them or any real musical structure. While the music is tonal and at times very pretty. I didn't find a whole lot to keep me musically interested. It seemed atmospheric--in keeping with Rachel Portman's experience as a film composer.

Mr. Rhodes is an attractive presence on screen and if his text is not always the most understandable, his singing certainly is better than most. If you're curious about Teddy "Bear" Rhodes, I might suggest a fellow blogger who tracks the careers of many of today's hottest baritones--or barihunks as the terms has been coined for eye-candy who sing. One of Mr. Rhodes signature roles is the convict in the operatic version of Dead Man Walking. So sinister. So hot.

The Little Prince
Music by Rachel Portman
Libretto by Nicholas Wright
Based on the book by Antoine de Saint-Exupery
Directed for television by Francesca Zambello
Bor BBC in 2006
Cast: Teddy Tahu Rhodes, Joseph McManners, Mairead Carlin, Willard White, Lesley Garrett, Tom Randle, Timothy Robinson, Rchard Coxon, Richard Suart, Aled Jones, Gweneth-Ann Jeffers

Peter Pan 1998 Broadway revival production taped for television

Okay, Cathy Rigby is really good. Even if she weren't so athletic in the flying sequences, I think she would be really good as Peter Pan. And the flying sequences are exciting even in televised version; they must have been spectacular in person. I seem to remember Ms. Rigby doing the "I'm Flying" song for the Tony Awards one year and kind of performing the fairy dust out of everyone else and then flying halfway into the house at Radio City Music Hall.

And here is the use of Stomp-like percussion in the service of the story, with the Indian and Lost Boy celebration dance! Am I prescient or what?

Well, this 1998 taping of the stage production for A&E seems to capture a lot of the magic of the show. Ms. Rigby sings admirably, although it does look like she's lip-synching to some of the songs on this telecast.

Peter Pan
Music by Mark Charlap
Lyrics by Carolyn Leigh
Book by James Barrie
Additional music by Jule Styne with lyrics by Comden and Green
Filmed for television based on the 1998 Broadway production
Cast: Cathy Rigby, Paul Schoeffler, Drake English, Chase Kniffen (who names these people?), Barbara McCulloh, Elisa Sagardia,

Ghost Light Monday -- Dark Knight

I don't think I've seen any of the Batman movies in the theater, but all the hoopla surrounding Dark Knight brought me out to see the latest incarnation of the rubber suit and the last incarnation of Heath Ledger.

What's with the voice of Batman? Is there a reverb devise built into the suit? I liked Christian Bale until I saw this film--where he seems to have the inner life of a housefly. And for all the rave reviews for Heath Ledger, who does give a good performance, it's not all that! Can someone tell me where Michael Caine's accent is from?

I need to watch a sunny, funny musical--quick!

Funny Girl film on DVD

The hair, the voice, the nails, the comedic timing, the nose. It's hard to separate this show from Barbra Streisand. I actually did this musical in high school (obviously without Ms. Streisand), and I do wonder whatever happened to Lisa who played Fanny. She was the closest thing to a triple threat my high school produced. A good comedienne and a great dancer. I honestly don't remember much about her singing voice, but she must have had one.

I could have the gay mafia after me for this comment, but Funny Girl is not one of my favorite musicals, and there are parts of the film and its performances which don't sit well with me. It's so obviously a star vehicle, which runs contrary to the ensemble atmosphere that I like best about doing theater. The chorus has very little to do in this show (and even less in the film, which cuts the big chorus number "Henry Street"). No good duets either. How about a love song? The closest we get is the seduction song "You are Woman, I am Man." And the memorable numbers from the show sound very 1960s rather than very 1910s--much like Ms. Streisand's hair, nails and costumes.

Still it's hard not to be thrilled as the helicopter shot zooms down toward the tugboat as Fanny in mink hat belts out "Rain on my Parade".

Funny Girl
Music by Jule Styne
Lyrics by Bob Merrill
Book by Isobel Lennart
1968 film released by Columbia Pictures
Cast: there are really only two that matter.

Mamma Mia! first-run film at the multiplex

It's the mother of all juke-box musicals, and while I hadn't seen Mamma Mia! on stage I was looking forward to the film for what I thought would be an infectious, silly time accompanied by ABBA music.

I was more than a bit disappointed.

The women in the cast hold up there end of the bargain much better than the men. Meryl Streep and Amanda Seyfried are good as mother and daughter. Christine Baranski and Julie Walters give exactly what's needed as the goofy friends of the bride's mother.

Colin Firth holds his own as befuddled potential father number 1. Stellan Skarsgard is alright as number 2. Pierce Bronsan looks great as number 3, but really should never have opened his mouth--especially to sing.

My main disappointment is in the music. I love ABBA music, but it doesn't work as something character-driven, or plot-moving, or with chorus. Perhaps my disappointment was augmented by seeing Hairspray so close to Mama Mia--Hairspray is much better and even manages to provide some character growth and address some societal issues.

Mama Mia!
Music by Benny Andersson and ABBA
Lyrics by the same
Cast: Meryl Streep, Amanda Seyfried, Christine Baranski, Julie Walters, Colin Firth, Stellan Skarsgard, Pierce Brosnan, Dominic Cooper

Hairspray film on DVD

When I saw Hairspray at the multiplex a little over a year ago, I remember smiling from ear to ear during most of the film, so it was a pleasure to watch it again and have the same reaction.

So much of the infectious fun jumps off the screen, mainly thanks to the bubbly newcomer, Nikki Blonsky and the pastiche tunes of Marc Shaiman. "You Can't Stop the Beat" has got to be one of the funnest closing numbers in all of musical theater. And who knew James Marsden could sing? He could have a career as a crooner, if he wanted. I even like Michelle Pfeiffer as the over-coiffed villain, although she does seem at times to be drifting.

I've never seen the show on stage or the 1988 John Waters film the show is based on, but I think I need to see both.

Is it just me, or do musicals of the "third millennium" seem to focus on women leads taking the reigns of their lives and bucking conventionality? Wicked, Hairspray, Legally Blond all follow that formula. Well if there's one way to a gay man's Broadway heart, it's to have an unconventional woman win.

Hairspray
Music by Marc Shaiman
Lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman
Directed by Adam Shankman
Based on the story by John Waters
Released in 2007
Cast: Nikki Blonsky, John Travolta, Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, Allison Janney, James Marsden, Michelle Pfeiffer, Brittany Snow, Zac Efron, Queen Latifah