Castell Harlech

...I must be thinking of Sam Ludwig as Martin and James Gardiner as Crostini. Because they are comic gold. Or something like. Jess and I went to see Matt Conner's children show, Martin: The King of Pizza on Saturday night. Despite crazy traffic on the beltway (I was rushing there after work), we managed to get there with plenty of time to spare. And time to lament the fact that we did not kidnap an art deprived child or two to drag to the show to make us blend in better with those around us.

With the wisdom of a short person, I sat us squarely in the center of the front row (we were the first through the gates), only to realize that, well frankly, I actually wasn't the shortest person at this show. We ended up giving up our prime seats to smaller children and moved back into the second row.

The show operates under the simple idea that Martin, who at age 10 just completed King Training University (or College?), has come home and intends to celebrate his birthday. Nobody attends but his old friend Rosemary (who likes to go operatic on us) played by Lani Novak Howe. So he decides to disguise himself (hmm, must have left the knot in there from a previous disguise attempt) and ride throughout his kingdom to determine why nobody came. Along the way, he meets a dairy worker (Florrie Bagel), a butcher (Jennifer Soto Benson), and a baker (James Gardiner). They are all pretty much tricked into going to the castle where they all meet, all hate each other, and suddenly, poof! all of their ingredients are thrown into the fire and it comes out as pizza. It's the best birthday ever!

The cast was all wonderfully fun and very energetic. I can't imagine the kind of energy used up by Florrie and Sam during their "Extraordinary Dairy" routine. That must have been quite a workout! James was asked if he was French because one lady thought his accent was so good (though apparently some kids have told him otherwise). Sam also told us that one kid asked him if he was ten and Sam said, no that he was twelve. And the kid kind of believed him. Oh children.

This was followed up by a visit to the local "pub" in Silver Springs. They have cider. Cider, we learned, that we can actually get in a pitcher for those nights that we don't have to drive. Sweet!

It was a thoroughly enjoyable day today, though I've been nursing a really bad headache for the past couple of hours so I guess I am being punished for having such a good day. It's like Louisa May Alcott just dropped into my life. At least I don't have to scrub the floors, too.

Right, my head hurts too much to type more, so I leave you with this fabulous site. You can't get better than Sheep Poo Paper.

I bought books, lots of them. I'll tell you more about them later.

Hah! Or not. I just completed the 48 Hour Book Challenge, and I have been up for all 48 hours reading- no sleep breaks for me! I am dead, dead, dead. And I need to be in DC for 4 this afternoon. Dead!

I fear my body is breaking down due to such mistreatment. Oops.

It's so odd. I've been checking amazon every once and a while to see if there is a ghost of a chance that my favorite version of A Little Princess is going to be released on DVD. Guess what I found tonight? And it's actually already been released!

http://www.amazon.com/Little-Princess-Maureen-Lipman/dp/B001T46T8I/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1242880121&sr=8-4

I must buy it!

I just had a Hobnob.

Let's see if I keel over and die during ballet tonight!

Happy really late birthday to alligatorandme!!!!

Yes, this is your birthday cartoon from 2006, I would say based on content. It is what could happen if Lestat ran into the Broadway revival of Les Miserables. Or at least a certain cast member (and no, not Trafton).

( And featuring our very own alligatorandme! )

And so ends the Lestat Chronicles. Dun dun dun.

Don't worry, it's almost over now. Just one more post after this one.

( Not according to plan )

Other than Marie dumping a glass of water on my pants, it was a very enjoyable trip to NYC yesterday. I enjoyed both shows we saw (August: Osage County and The Blue Flower)And, since I have the day off tomorrow, be prepared for an actual post! Oh, shocking!

Happy birthday, shawk!!!!! I hope you are having a wonderful day!

Some old images, and breaking into new Lestat ground today. I'm so proud of myself.

( Welcome home, little Lestat )

Ok, I feel like a right dork for posting this so late in the game. And, I've actually begun posting this comic about three times under different names (like, "Lestat: Unstake My Heart", for example). But, it is all done, as is alligatorandme's birthday present from, oh, 2006. Except, to get understand all of what happens in that one, you need to read this one first. Because I'm evil like that. I don't, however, feel like posting all 27 images in one go, so I'm breaking it down for you. Meaning, most of you have already seen this bit.

So, as I wrote way back when, "I know that Lestat didn't last long, but this was first begun back when hopes ran high, a handful of tickets had been sold, and Jim Stanek had a plan."

( Hey, Jim! Watch where you swing that light saber. )


In other, unrelated news, I should really get this for work, don't you? Today, this lady gave us a whole sob story about how she had come from Ellicot City and really needed to use the bathroom. And, we're like, "um, keys are right there in the basket, you can take them at any time. really." Silly patrons!

Who is this Andrew C. Call, and what have you done to Charlie Brady? So fine, I guess I saw him in High Fidelity, but why does Playbill say he's in Glory Days but the Signature website has pictures of Charlie?

So confused...