At least that's one good thing to say about England.. no bears roaming about ripping tents up and generally making a nuisance of themselves. Seriously, was thinking perhaps of going camping in a week or so but am now decided, am chicken and will therefore probably book myself into nice country cottage for extended mini-break. Probably going to the Peak District (Derbyshire - Darcy country) and may get a chance to take a trip to Lyme Park (Pemberley). Hmmm... have had thought maybe people not interested in travel plans. Maybe people fast asleep...shhhh! Would account for lack of activity tonight.

Since I know that you, Tracy, are of course the real Bridget Jones. You are going to be strolling about in your lovely empire frock and pelisse. Have fun.

I would love to hear about your travels, Tracy!

[Thanks, Gi - I will.]

Thanks for asking about my trip, very kind! DD Nothing ontoward happened on camping trip (aside from usual insect harrassment). That's just it --- nothing happened! Am thinking of composing something on BJD board about it, but first must compose myself! Tracy, your trip sounds wonderful. May I suggest: FORGET CAMPING, the great thing about Europe is that there are lots and lots of people TO TALK TO, and their answers are more interesting than insects'.

Tracy I think you were spying on me,I fell asleep in the chair last night at 9.30! Your trip to the Peak District sounds great but I have one reservation-'Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted?'Couldn't resist,sorry! is this your first visit to Lyme or is it one of many? Sadie hurry up with your composition for the BJD board,its been very quiet on there it needs pepping up

'Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted?' Who here hasn't used that phrase in her best Lady C condescending tone? But now that I look at it, what the !@#$ does it mean? How can one pollute shades? Is there some other meaning for "shades" not covered in my Random House Unabridgeted [;-)] dictionary? If not, maybe I shall go pollute the Pemberley board with my question. ;-) (happy thoughts, indeed)

Okay guilty as charged unoriginality is my middle name.

Evelyn, I see "Sunshine" is at #14 in the US Box Office, not bad for a film with little publicity and only playing at 122 theatres.

Hi dears, am finally able to check in with you all, from lovely Lake Tahoe. I see we have some campers here, or potential campers. Before Tahoe, we spent three days in Yosemite Nat'l Park--gorgeous. I didn't see any bears but I did spot some bear tracks. That was enough for me--I was off that trail and outta there quicker than you can say "None of these park rangers look even remotely like Joe Prince.";-) Gave new meaning to the expression *not a happy camper.*;-) Ann, I'd love to hear more about your NY adventure and meeting JE and SD. You're right, Sunshine is doing well and they've increased the number of theaters--playing in 10 in the LA area (don't hit me, Evelyn, but is it too soon to start the Oscar talk for JE?:) I just saw in the local paper that it's up here in Reno too. Speaking of traveling . . .I see there may be cause for a Toronto trip? As luck would have it, I think I'm scheduled for jury duty in early September; I guess I'll have to do what most fine, upstanding, law-abiding citizens here do--lie like hell to get out of it.;-) A very happy belated birthday to Winter and to Evelyn! Don't know if this has been posted, but I just read that Jennifer is being considered for the role of the Queen Mum in a TV film. Talk soon, thinking of you all . . .

Nice to see you checking in with us, Mari. Any celeb sightings, like Yogi? ;-)

Hi Mari...thanks for thinking of us...we miss you ole buddie:-( Re: JE in Queen Mum TV Film Godferbid....I'd rather see her in a going-nowhere-Brit movie. The rest of the DM article said: "The idea, which looks certain to attract controversy, is being developed by Carlton Television, and scripts are being written by Nigel Williams, who adapted Michael Dibdin's novel Dirty Tricks. The news will be a blow to Prince Edward's company Ardent, which has twice announced plans to make a drama about the Queen Mother but has so far failed to produce one. The Prince is said to have faced opposition and obstruction from the Queen Mother. " That rumor has been around for years...Like the Tony Blair one, IMO ITV just puts that out there to bring attenion to the project. (Mari)Sunshine is doing well and they've increased the number of theaters--playing in 10 in the LA area (don't hit me, Evelyn, but is it too soon to start the Oscar talk for JE?:) LOL...Me?...I was ecstatic when she got the Tony nomination.I play the tape almost daily...what a thrill. Oscar nom? Actually, the NY times reviewer humorously said JE and RH would be competing and RF would compete with himself..(plays 3 roles!) Anyway....it's been a hell-uv-a ride.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SILVIE...

Happy Birthday Silvie! Have a wonderful day!

Hi Silvie Hope you have a marvellous birthday with lots of Firthful moments.

Many Happy Returns, Sylvie!

Sylvia

(Judy) 'Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted?'Couldn't resist,sorry! is this your first visit to Lyme or is it one of many? Could it be that you cast nasturtiums on my good character - would that I should sully the pristine environs of Pemberley? Wot me, nevah! ;-D Seriously (with no offence taken) it will (hopefully if I can find a place to stay) be my first time at Lyme Park. I've heard so much about it, I believe Winter you or JenK were singing it's praises to me earlier on in the year - so if I can make it I will. Cheryl, I'm just going to have to run up a frock or two aren't I (;-D) in manner of top seamstress!

Have a great birthday Sylvie Is it me or are there a lot of birthday girls around here?

Tracy try and make it to Lyme if you can its a great place even without its P&P connections-not intending to be sacrilegious.I'm sure they can clean up after you've left!!After once again insulting you,a peace offering-if you need any info about Lyme opening times or prices I can help.

Gi and Heide (and anyone else) - Check out topic 6. I've posted the pics of Mel. :-)

Karen I think I must be stalking you-I've just been there and now you're here.

I'm interested in Lyme Park info too, gang.It's at the top of my wish list "someday".Tracy, sleuth -out accomodations...that sounds ideal. Instead of the marathon trip from London return in a day by train.

Rob Reiner�s legendary rock mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap is staging a UK come-back tour. The spoof story of spandex-clad heavy rock band Spinal Tap, infamous for such "classics" as Big Bottom, Bitch School and Stonehenge, will get a theatrical re-release in October through independent UK distributor Optimum Releasing. Optimum has struck a joint-venture pact with US studio MGM and France�s Studiocanal for the release, which will link with MGM and Studiocanal�s previously-announced US re-release in September. The UK partnership includes distribution of a special edition video and DVD. "We are sharing costs; we are sharing the upside and the downside," said Optimum chief Will Clarke. Optimum is opening the 1983 film, which spawned tie-in albums such as Break Like The Wind, on 25 prints. Clarke plans to capitalise on the start of the university term. "It�s an absolutely massive cult classic," Clarke said. "It seems to be getting more and more notoriety." Optimum has enjoyed considerable success with re-releases such as the current outing for A Bout De Souffle (Breathless). Jean-Luc Godard�s 1959 film reaped $34,191 from five screens on its second weekend of release, bringing its cumulative total to more than $100,000. The re-release mirrors Optimum�s success with The Third Man last year when it went up against Star Wars: Episode One - The Phantom Menace during the summer. The 1949 British noir finished its run with $400,000. ~~~~~~~~~ Wonder if they're considering a re-release of SLOW? Do you think they even had 25 prints of it? How about a special edition DVD? It too could be a "cult" classic!! ;-)

(KarenR)Gi and Heide (and anyone else) - Check out topic 6. I've posted the pics of Mel. :-) Thanks, Karen :-)

I hope you had a wonderful birthday, Silvie. Have a great year.

"Speed the Plow"a David Mamet play with Neil Morrisey has posted that it will close early on Aug.19. It opened June 29th.And had been booking til Sept. 9th. ~~~~ Brendan Fraser told Variety that he has been approached to play Brick in cat on Hot Tin Roof in the West End next spring. His co-star will probably be Frances O'Conner (Mansfield Pk), his co-star in the new film "Bedazzled". [That's the role JE wants to play..."Don't do it Jennifer with Brendan".]

Sorry I missed Silvie's birthday. Is she still here? If so, hope you had a happy one. (Karen) How can one pollute shades? maybe I shall go pollute the Pemberley board with my question. ;-) If you don't find it there, you won't find it anywhere but RWL anyway. (Mari) am finally able to check in with you all, from lovely Lake Tahoe. Of course! Was wondering where you were. "None of these park rangers look even remotely like Joe Prince.";-) LOL and I suppose no little tree frogs either.

On the upside there may well be no one with multiple personality disorder who looks like Lisa Zane.

Gi - sorry, apparently we can't make Portugal this time. DH can't fit his dates etc - so we'll have to postpone the visit to another time. And I so want to see Lisboa!

Late as usual. Happy belated birthday, Silvie!

Hi all, thnx for your b/day wishes - I was away and could not write on that day. I have replied individually to some but was unable to get through to Tracy - Thnx Sadie and Tracy and all for making it so particular -

(Arami)And I so want to see Lisboa! Not to be missed...I recommend it to everyone who visits Europe. Something for everyone..absolutely charming people and divine wine. ~~~~~ July? Is that you Silvie? Why the new nom de plume ;-)

JE On A&E This Sunday A&E will re-show Breakfast with the Arts interview with Jennifer. It shows from 9 to 11AM Eastern time. Pl. check your local listing for this show. this show was taped prior to Jennifer winning the Tony. The interview with host Elliott Forrest is only 30 minutes long.

(Arami)Gi - sorry, apparently we can't make Portugal this time. DH can't fit his dates etc - so we'll have to postpone the visit to another time. And I so want to see Lisboa! Now that you've thought of it, I'm sure I can expect your visit sooner or later :-) (Evelyn)Not to be missed...I recommend it to everyone who visits Europe. Something for everyone..absolutely charming people and divine wine. I'm happy and proud that you think so, Evelyn :-) July? Is that you Silvie? Why the new nom de plume ;-) Yes... I was puzzled too...

July - it's just easier to remember my password LOL!

Ann W - I sent you a msg privately and it got returned. Could you write me off list pls? Thnx :-)

While drool has been quite I've been re-reading old posts,I'm up to 1997 and its made me curious about how long some of you have been publically drooling, I've only had internet access since last xmas (& lurked for 6 months) otherwise I would have been here sooner.Also it made me wonder what happened to previous frequent droolers who seem to just suddenly disappear. I did read something that made me really laugh and that I had not heard of before which was that CF wasmentioned in relation to My Fair Lady production for 2000.Is this the one with Martine Mc whatever in and if so what a relief he didn't do it!

That's an ambitious project, Judy. I delurked toward the end of 1997, I think. I'm surprised (and pleased) at how many of the real originals still post. I imagine the others just lost interest which is why it's so imperative to keep getting new blood (heheh) like you to keep the salivation going. made me really laugh and that I had not heard of before which was that CF wasmentioned in relation to My Fair Lady Honey, that sets me rolling too. To be fair, it's not the thought of him doing Pygmalion that's funny. I just can't imagine Colin singing "How to Handle a Woman" from the Lerner/Loewe version (or was it Rodgers & Hammerstein?-sorry). I don't know what the 2000 production was.

Re-reading old posts! Oh my! They are a hoot (as I've recently gone back over the Bridget stuff looking for links to online interviews for the Bucket page) and have actually LOL'd many times. Judy, a couple of old Colin topics were wiped out by an overly ambitious new host (who shall remain nameless) who was trying to be technically clever. ;-) Was the old right/left discussion and list still there? Let's see, I delurked sometime in '97 and, as Nan can testify, I was chomping at the bit to have my share of the conversation, but there were technical problems and the system wasn't accepting new people's posts. With enough prompting (read: nagging) by certain newbies, the problem got fixed and we got onboard and haven't stopped.

(Karen)Re-reading old posts! Oh my! They are a hoot I wish someone would wipe mine out! (Judy)Also it made me wonder what happened to previous frequent droolers who seem to just suddenly disappear. They're still there... lurking. I get emails from some .All still devoted Colin fans. But trust me, mention Spring Reunion and they come outta the woodwork!!

Couldn't resist. Funny article in the NY Daily News: Wanna-Be Sopranos Mob N.J. Thousands turned away in TV show shot Fuhgeddaboudit! The streets around Harrison High School in Harrison, N.J., were mobbed with mob look-alikes yesterday morning, after an open casting call for HBO's hit series "The Sopranos" shut the door on opportunity early, the turnout overwhelming expectations and the local cops' capabilities. All morning, wanna-be Sopranos inched along the New Jersey Turnpike and Interstate 280 toward their hoped-for 15 minutes of TV fame. By 10 a.m., so many hopefuls had arrived that Harrison cops called for reinforcements. Read the rest here: http://www.nydailynews.com/2000-07-23/News_and_Views/Beyond_the_City/a-74202.asp

(Heidi)That's an ambitious project.well you never get anywhere without ambition-Colin take note.. As far as I'm aware My Fair Lady 2000 is still in rehearsal & features a British soap star turned singeras ED and she is not someone I would like to see CF work with. Karen I hope the right/left discussion is what my dirty mind thinks it is,but alas I've not come across ityet but I've only just read your debut so it must be upcoming. I've read about everbody's hopes for ATA & its subsequent disappointment-oh dear somethings never change Another subject is his slim body & whether to workoutor not,still topical today-ah well some things never change II

Yes, we do tend to rehash certain subjects (or beat them to death) ;-)

(Judy)...British soap star turned singeras ED and she is not someone I would like to see CF work with Ditto, ditto, ditto...mind you I don't think anyone could actually work with Martine McCutcheon (or whatever-it-is) on stage since her ego seems to take up most of the room! (Heide) I just can't imagine Colin singing "How to Handle a Woman" That's an interesting thought...I haven't seen him do anything particularly musical as yet (Ok there was the TEP 'Bananas' episode and the strange David Bowie-esque rendition of some Tudor ditty in SIL ...as I say nothing particularly musical ;-D) are there any serious musical Colin moments that I don't know about?

Late again but Happy Birthday Sylvie

(Karen)Re-reading old posts! Oh my! They are a hoot (Evelyn)I wish someone would wipe mine out! Can be done but I hope not ;-)

Tracy I managed to get hold of that brochure if you need it, but not to worry if you don't it wasn't out of my way.

Wanna-Be Sopranos Mob N.J. Thanks for this, Karen. *sigh* I'm so homesick, I can scream! Hey Murph, were you inching along in the traffic on the Stickle Bridge? ;-) (Tracy) are there any serious musical Colin moments that I don't know about? Yes, we have no bah-nah-nahs, er...no. No serious on-screen musical moments that I'm aware of. And if there are, I'm sure I'll be promptly corrected.

Hey, Eileen, you and I should have been in on that Sopranos casting call. Sigh, we coulda been condendahs.;-) Speaking of Sopranos, here's a CF connection. Did anyone see the rerun last night? It was the episode where Christopher serves as a script consultant to Jon Favreau for a wiseguy film he's making. One scene is filmed in the offices of UTA, and the secretary mentions David DeCamillo (CF's U.S. agent) several times. I suppose he represents people associated with the show. (And would it kill them to work in a story arc about Tony's visiting English cousin Anthony who controls all the East End rackets?;-) ;-)

You know, it depends on how he sings "How to Handle a Woman" --- it has real Drool promise. Yeah, I know, a one-track mind. It's all Heide's fault, she's posting Drooly stuff on the Darcy Drool Board, and I just can't get a grip. ...I'd settle for a handle :-() BTW, isn't that song originally from Camelot? And wouldn't CF look sexy with a Fedora and some cotton balls? --- for his cheeks, a la Brando. Oh Judy, what will you say, I've gone and mentioned balls and cheeks again!

Correctamundo!! It's from Camelot. Heide must be thinking of "Why Can't a Woman Be More Like a Man." ;-)

BUT LET A WOMAN IN YOUR LIFE! Karen, I need your posting saavy for some musical notes.

Sadie balls & cheeks-you know me so well.While you'restuffing cotton balls in his cheeks I'll concentrate onthe real things,ball in cheeks so to speak.Its like a taste test really-small & firm or plump & juicy-mmmm have to go mmm its rude to mmm talk with um mouth full!

(Mari) Hey, Eileen, you and I should have been in on that Sopranos casting call. Sigh, we coulda been condendahs.;-) Not me sweetie, I cut my big hair years ago and don't even use hairspray any more. Nails are short, too. But I do know a few things about the Meadowlands and those landfills around exit 15...;-D

Thanks Judy, have replied to you privately.

(Eileen) Not me sweetie, I cut my big hair years ago and don't even use hairspray any more. Nails are short, too. But I do know a few things about the Meadowlands and those landfills around exit 15 LOL! Remind me never to cross you! (First Marky Blue, and now Eileen and Mari. Hmmm, I begin to wonder what is the REAL nature of Drool operations? Yet another highly respectable front? But if drooling activities are the front, then, oh my, I must be missing out on something really naughty???)

And Tracy T and Judy having secret communications...it's all adding up.

From Reuters/Variety today: Stoppard's Broadway 'Love' Affair Tom Stoppard, who won an Academy Award for co-writing "Shakespeare in Love," is bringing his play "The Invention of Love" to Broadway in March. The Lincoln Center Theater production will be staged as a limited engagement at an as-yet-unannounced venue, said Andre Bishop, the center"s artistic director. After its success with "Shakespeare in Love," which Stoppard co-wrote with Marc Norman, Miramax Films took particular interest in the scribe"s theater projects, including a partnership with the producers of the current Broadway revival of "The Real Thing." As for Miramax's participating in the "Invention" production, Bishop said: "My phone has not rung. We are a nonprofit organization." Bishop said that casting had not yet begun for the New York production. Rehearsals are scheduled to start in early January. First staged in London in 1997, "The Invention of Love" received its U.S. debut last January at San Francisco"s American Conservatory Theater, with James Cromwell and Jason Butler Harner playing the Engli h poet A.E. Housman at different points in his life. "Invention" explores Housman's unrequited love for Moses John Jackson, an athlete and Cambridge classmate, and looks at how Housman"s passion propelled him to write some of his greatest poetry. Housman is best known for his collection of poems "A Shropshire Lad." Jack O"Brien will direct the Stoppard play on Broadway, with costume and set design by Bob Crowley. The three creatives last teamed at Lincoln Center in 1994 for the playwright"s "Hapgood." Ben Brantley reviewed the San Francisco production in the New York Times, writing that the play "ranks with Mr. Stoppard"s finest work." In other words, the Tony Awards category for play of the year could actually be of significant interest next May. Already announced for the 2000-01 Broadway season are such new works as Neil Simon"s "The Dinner Party," Charles Busch"s "The Tale of the Allergist"s Wife" and Sandra Ryan Heyward"s "Tallulah." To be expected are David Auburn"s "Proof," transferring from the Manha tan Theater Club to Broadway in the fall, and the current London hit "Stones in His Pockets," by Marie Jones, which a consortium of producers is in negotiations to bring to New York next spring. ~~~~~~~ Limited engagement...March...Rehearsals in January Good, v. good "Invention" explores Housman's unrequited love for Moses John Jackson Not good. :-(

(Karen) "Invention" explores Housman's unrequited love for Moses John Jackson Not good. :-( LOL. Did anyone read or see an interview that Stoppard gave, in which he said he had no idea of their relationship/attraction until he started doing research? It was a surprise to him. I'm not sure if the above is a figment of my imagination, or whether my recollection is accurate.

*hee hee* especially after RV...press would be dredging up Another Country and Apartment Zero and coming up with a whole new lifestyle for our little antique hunter! ;-)

Antique hunter? Do tell more Karen. I hadn't heard this. Wouldn't it be great if ODB snagged such a terrific role on Broadway!!! Does anyone know how old Houseman is supposed to be in this play. I confess ignorance about his life. Thanks for finding this news Karen!

(Sadie)Wouldn't it be great if ODB snagged such a terrific role on Broadway!!! Shhhhhh. Don't mention the B-word on #134, Sadie....they'll lynch you... Everybody likes things the way they are over there... ;-) But this is safe territory...thankgod. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thanks Karen...interesting note. I have that Tom Stoppard interview on tape, but must check it out.Wonder if it would have a British cast since it's not coming over from the West End.Tom Stoppard...Lincoln Center..mucho high profile. In time for Tony cut-off early May. I wish. *on knees*

No, it's not coming over from the West End, but the characters are English, so either they get TRTs or have Americans do the accents. About that antiquing hobby, Sadie, I'm not the best one for quoting chapter and verse of past interviews. I'll leave it to another to fill in the missing pieces...

Playbill online announced the same...and.. "The Invention of Love has as its central character 19th-century English poet A.E. Housman (1859-1936). Stoppard's story begins with Housman, old and infirm, dreaming he is dead and being ferried across the river Styx by the mythical boatman Charon. Houseman is best known for his collection of poems titled "A Shropshire Lad." Through his work, according to Invention of Love production notes, he expressed his lifelong unrequited passion for a fellow student at Oxford, Moses Jackson. .....Paxton Whitehead will play Houseman at the Court Theatre in Chicago this fall, while the Huntington Theatre Company of Boston will produce the drama next spring." ~~~~~~~~~~ Two possibilities for roles here...though the Houseman role sounds more like an Anthony Hopkins...or Jeremy Irons?

As long as ODB is not in danger of being told he's too old again (as was the case in SIL).

Invention Of Love played Philadelphia about a year or so ago (after the San Francisco run). Stoppard was here at the time, very involved with the production. Unfortunately, my recollection is that the principal actors were considerably younger than someone we may have in mind.;-) Like mid to late '20s. They'll get Jude Law.:-( Will see if I can dig up some of the old Philly Inquirer stories/reviews.

That's disappointing to hear, Mari. But maybe Stoppard will smarten up, and realize how perfect CF would be (and how youthful he looks since he's been working out).

(Eileen) I cut my big hair years ago Me too! (E) and don't even use hairspray any more Check. (E) Nails are short, too. Er . . .hmmm. Hey, at least give me credit for having divested myself of all plastic slipcover holdings (with the exception of your E-Z Wipe monitor cover which I will nevah give up!;-) I checked the Inquirer site. IOL played more recently than I thought, February of this year. Several articles on the run are lsited in their archives, but they charge for them. If anyone is interested, search on www.phillylife.com

Bag it, Mari. Karen doesn't want him to do it...Three gay roles is enough! Afraid he'll be type- casted...in competition with Rupe;-) And hey..we forgot Ned...he was sorta AC/DC. Four roles...Agggggg

Yes, and what I want truly matters in the grand scheme of things. ;-)

Judy, I received all the Derbyshire/Lyme Park info today and have been leafing through planning a trip (hopefully) for a couple of weeks time. Thank-you once again for your kind words.

Tracy,glad you received it okay,had visions of it not fitting thro' letter box.I tried to e-mail you to warn you but system was poorly.

Ned...he was sorta AC/DC Wot???

She means Walker

Well, I never. I don't even recall any discussion of Ned's sorta AC/DC qualities. How did they allegedly manifest itself?

Nan uses the term "sexual fluency" as I recall to describe Walker and then there's that entire thread about Walker being in love with Pip...or had you forgotten? ;-)

(Karen)She means Walker (Karen)Nan uses the term "sexual fluency" as I recall to describe Walker and then there's that entire thread about Walker being in love with Pip... Pip: "Except I am no longer willing to bear the brunt of your meaness. Walker: I'm sorry, I... Pip: You know, it's not as if I don't know where it's coming from, it's not as if I don't know you've always heen basically in love with me...that's been obvious for so many years that... Walker: oh Jesus, Jesus..." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Not that I'm asking for "chapter and verse", but I didn't know that ODB had been writing a play.Can anyone elaborate on that.... Good sign that FP has resuscitated.Keeps his name out there.

(Evelyn) Keeps his name out there. Well, there's out there and then there's out there. It is a long time until BJD hits the US, though. The best we can hope for in the meantime is that Londinium becomes a sleeper hit, 'cause Starz may not reach that many households. Hey--ya never know!

OK, so Pip is trying to thwart Walker. But I sensed no sexual ambiguity in Colin's acting.

But I sensed no sexual ambiguity in Colin's acting. It's in the dialogue... Nan asks him..."Were you in love with him? He answers:"Oh,who knows... He's such a dunce, I envied him." Nan......"Yes"(Smiles) "Yes".

It's in the dialogue... But it wasn't in Colin, really...

It's in the dialogue... But it wasn't in Colin, really.. Pfffft

It's possible you might see a familiar face in the audience...as he did hang out with Kevin Anderson when he was here ;-) A revival that still delivers shock therapy One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Barbican, London EC2 THE novelist Ken Kesey wrote One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest at the psychedelic-pink dawning of the 1960s, and in 1975 Milos Forman turned it into a celluloid elegy for that period. In between came Dale Wasserman's play: a didactic melodrama that, nevertheless, left this long-retired hippy itching to frolic through the city yelling "make love not war" and giving flowers to passing pigs. That reaction says much for Chicago's Steppenwolf Company, which in 1998 brought a pretty flat revival of The Man Who Came to Dinner to the Barbican. Its present import, though superficially no more enterprising, should remind the troupe's fans that it was once famous for "rock 'n' roll theatre". The old energy and commitment are back, yet skill and guile have not been lost. Whatever your objections to its anti-establishment propaganda, Terry Kinney's production is utterly gripping. The setting is a psychiatric ward in a state hospital that all too obviously represents American society in microcosm. Eccentricity is treated with what used to be called "repressive tolerance", primarily "democratic" group therapy that is actually rigidly controlled. But when genuine danger looms in the form of a questioning, rebellious patient called McMurphy - well, then Big Nurse and her system fall back on rejigging the rules, with punishment, shock treatment and, finally, lobotomy. As a study of clinical practice in 1965, it is surely far-fetched, and, as a piece of political analysis, it is positively paranoid. The State, it suggests, will commit mind-murder rather than accept change. Moreover, Tim Sampson has to act doubly hard to ensure that we believe in the most sentimentally conceived victim of institutionalised might: a native American who has retreated into aphasia in hopeless protest at the humiliation of the father with whom he silently communes. Yet Steppenwolf bring a drab-looking ward abundantly to life, stuttering mother's boy, troubled bisexual and all. And with Gary Sinise as a jokily formidable McMurphy and Amy Morton as a Big Nurse who maintains absolute power with a quiet voice, a perfect hairdo and a terrifying serenity, the conflict at the centre is packed with menace and tension. Altogether, an exhilarating evening. BENEDICT NIGHTINGALE Note: Tim Sampson is the son of Will Sampson, who played Chief in the movie. Amy Morton played Nan/Lina in 3DOR.

(Mari) Invention Of Love played Philadelphia about a year or so ago...my recollection is that the principal actors were considerably younger than someone we may have in mind.;-) Like mid to late '20s. They'll get Jude Law.:-( I love Jude Law. Besides, it would seem, CF never does work outside the UK anymore. It's probably also my rotten luck never to be destined to see CF on Broadway ever. So -- I definitly would not complain were it to be Jude Law in the role.

Vera posted this link at the FOFs. Recognize anyone there? It is too funny! http://www.winternet.com/~mikelr/flame1.html

Flame Warriors indeed....what a hoot, Murph. a lotta people come to mind.....but not moi, of course;-) My fave: 'Netiquette Nazi'....you can count on every board having one;-))

Yes great fun Murph.I looked for myself,tried 'newbie'but I can't see myself 'crying in a corner',liked the sound of 'blowhard & grunter' but they weren't what Iexpected them to be so on that basis I must come under heading 'Strumpet'(although I don't look like that!)I thought it best to point the finger at myself before somebody else does! Now go on everybody own up which one is your alter ego?

Well, I confess to a leetle bit of the Strumpet meself. I fantasize about being the Kung-Fu Master, but suspect I'm actually closer to Loopy. I kinda like what Netiquette Nazi is wearing though. Now put that in a CF film, and you've really got an interesting scene to censor! .... They didn't have an Exclamation Point Warrior!

Sadie are you sure you're only a 'leetle bit of strumpet' you did come to mind when I read it.

LOL Judy. Strumpet is a relative term. Around my relatives I'm less of a strumpet, and in the wilds of the city, well...

(Sadie)Around my relatives I'm less of a strumpet-I understand that feeling,at 34 my mum & dad still makeme feel like a kid,can you believe I don't swear,don't talk about sex plus if they talk about me to anyone I 'm referred to as shy & quiet-talk about leading a double life.Now just what do you get up to in the wilds of the city,I'm always on the lookout for new ideas!

Ah, 34, I didn't realize we were so close in age! Well, in the wilds of the city are many interesting species. Much better than camping! I might as well confess that the boyfriend and I split up after our camping trip. So now I am a complete Singleton. I know Bridget was unhappy with this status, but after a month of crying I am beginning to enjoy being single. But I cannot say more, as this is a public board.

Not to worry (about posting message 2x at Fanfic)Judy. You've no doubt noticed how much trouble I've been having lately just logging in. Especially when some one posts some real old-fashioned drool fic!

Yes Sadie I'm still I mananged to get lost in the droolfor a while.I'm sorry to hear about your split with your boyfriend he obviously didn't deserve YOU.

That's what he said! But somehow I think he meant no compliment!

Well I definitely do mean it as a compliment plus it gives you more time to drool so his loss is our gain isn't?

Heehee. V.kind, and now I have more time to drool without pretending to be doing something else, anyway. Speaking of which, did you check out Darcy Drool tonight yet? If not, you gotta!

I think I just have but I'm not sure I've not recovered from fanfic yet1