Nrthwnd

This could be daunting - with so many tributes to Stephen Sondheim coming up..... anyway .... ...Here`s the RE-Opening Night of COMPANY, with the director giving a pre-show speech. COMPANY re-opened on the day of Steve`s passing... Friday, Nov. 26, 2021. It`s amazing...

Saw Encanto this afternoon. It was good, the colours were all over the place (takes place in Columbia), the musical numbers were mostly fast and furious (care of Lin Manuel-Miranda), but some times very funny and still touching. And a lot of various characters to enjoy and root for. No Spoilers here. And oh my --- soooo many 'gifts' to get through! We were amazed that they covered pretty much every body there, whether in dialogue or a number. A great movie, especially back on a Big Screen! out of five. We just enjoyed "Coco" a bit more. P.S. We didn't see it in 3D. We saw it on a regular old, big-ass movie screen, like days before... Still gonna get the 3D-DVD when it's released later on!

Here's a totally 180' twist on a current London/Broadway musical ..... SIX. Like Sondheim's COMPANY going from Bobby (a bachelor/1970) to Bobbie (a bachelorette/2021) this season, these SIX guys are singing the same lyrics with no gender change.... the results? Well.... No lip-syncing here. Six genuine voices and man, how they harmonize!

And from the Ohhhhh Myyyyyy Gaaaaaawwwwd Dept....... An all-male version of SIX! And this is NOT a lipsync thing. They are SINGING just as much as their female counterparts. Woof. Totally awesome! And very trippy at the same time, as they are Really ~ GOOD ~ Singers!

^ Well, you know me .... sometimes ..... I just can't help myself!

Awesome tour, Bert! But snakes .... eh ..... even photos of them make me feel a touch uncomfortable. Gators and Crocodiles, too. One is too slithery ... and the others are too .....toothy. Ho, ho, ho.

Just returned home, after another great Wednesday Pizza! This was the TriColore one, with plenty of tomato and pesto on it. It's the colours of Italy's flag! How can I resist this pizza? Walnut pesto? Never noticed that. Pesto is just 'pesto' to me. Supposed to be raining all day, but for one reason or another, it wasn't raining now. Just beautiful! This with Chile Oil on it is very tasty. Finished, with that slice for David. Good pizza I'd like to repeat again.

^ Very nice choices. My fave CDs are Alegria, ZED, and KA, although I have never been to Vegas to see any of their shows, including KA. This was at Tokyo Disneyland from 2009-2011

^ That's okay. It's a hoot just to be able to re-visit it, after all these years. And the CD is still one of my faves to play, of all the Cirque show CDs I have.

^ I actually got to ride a few 'clones' of Corkscrew, with my early TPR tours over several European countries... Alton Towers had one I rode, before they put in "13". Then there was the one I rode at Holiday Park in Germany.... ......Super Wirbel! HP kept a piece of it for entry in their new coaster area. It's a clone. But cool surroundings. HP worked actual trees and stuff in and around their coaster! Holiday Park, Germany - Super Wirbel R.I.P. - I would love to have seen Playland do this with Corkscrew, back then.

^ This will be the first time, we've ever repeated a Cirque show! But like I said, it was our first one, so the timing is awesome for our anniversary. And I get to give it to him as a Holiday Day prezzie! (with VIP free parking)

I honestly believe there's another thread for Cirque... in another context. None the less... I just grabbed two VIP tickets to Cirque's (then) First Show in Vancouver ..... Alegria. We first saw it in 2003, their first tour of a show to Vancouver, since causing a huge sensation at our 1986 World`s Fair! I still have the program and tickets for it. But next year, April 22nd, we will be seeing it on David`s and my 50th Anniversary date! It cost me nearly $700 Cdn. for the tix. But it`ll be VIP, with free parking, drinks and nibbles before the show begins,. Free program, too. Even I can`t wait!!! The 2003 programme/program.

We're now going to be heading into our second STORM in the last month. Much rain. A lot of flooding, probably. Hopefully, nobody loses their life, as several did in the previous deluge. Stay tuned for what stays strong, and what loses the battle. BTW, our house and blocks are pretty safe from floods in unexpected places (i.e. drains). Heavy rain 'looks' pretty "monsoon awesome", lol. It brings people out on their porches, because it "sounds loud."

Um, I hate to be crude, but this one pic of yours made me think ...... .... Frozen Bird Poop or Frozen Vomit? ~ Ho ho ho.

^ All those state side Wacky Worms finally paid off, huh Elissa? Sadly, I didn't add any to my List for the past two years! Hmmmph.

This just popped into my emails. It's from Attractions Magazine, online. Amongst all the news they post about theme parks, there was this one. And one of the first couples that were helped with adoption thru Disney, was this couple and their new baby. Bravo to Disney for this! https://attractionsmagazine.com/disneys-family-building-program-adoption/?mc_cid=a71e314cca&mc_eid=ca232be3e5 Thanks for Attractions Magazine for this great article AND photo!

^ I'm curious. What do you like about these particular candles? And can you post a pic of them?

I just mailed out most of my Holiday Card List. All the out of town cards. And yes, I still do send out cards. I enjoy the fact that when handwritten, the card becomes all the more special, to people I send them to. And I certainly appreciate and enjoy receiving cards, too. And a good # of them in the past have been bee-yoo-tiful! Anyway, along with a couple of gift packages mailed, stamps for International; USA; Canada = $94.82 ....... Cdn.

Awesome night shots, Bert! And those photos of the killer whale "performing" ..... great! I envy parks that do a Holiday make-over with the lights and all. And are still open. Thanks for sharing, Bert.

I am wondering ... Um, is the missing word W-I-N? Just curious of me.

I am happy that I did know Stephen Sondheim, through several notes over the years, we exchanged. From when I originally wrote to him in late 1987...... till his last note to me in March of this year. And I did get to actually meet him and chat privately with him, at his NY "business" townhouse (1989). He lived in Connecticut. I was very blessed in that way, to know him a bit. He passed away a couple of days ago. He will be missed by me and all of the musical theatre world.

Here's what was posted about Corkscrew (thanks SoCalJasonland). Who bought it, I still don't know. Maybe somebody else does? I remember reading about ... "somewhere in Brazil" it was sold to? But I could be totally wrong on that.

So very sad to write this. Stephen Sondheim just passed away today. Age 91. R.I.P. https://www.broadway.com/buzz/178605/legendary-broadway-songwriter-stephen-sondheim-dies-at-91/ Early photo of Steve.

<sighs> Stephen Sondheim R.I.P. Age 91. And a LEGEND in/for American Musical Theater. https://www.broadway.com/buzz/178605/legendary-broadway-songwriter-stephen-sondheim-dies-at-91/ Early photo of Steve.