Old Fashioned

I like to sit in the loge boxes (comes off of the grand tier at Wortham, the 3rd ring), front and center being the best. Founders' boxes (2nd ring) are the best in the entire house, although I've never sat there before because I would probably have to donate a lot of money, which I don't have.

I would have if they didn't schedule it on Father's Day. My dad's idea of fun would not include an evening at the ballet. I would have liked a glimpse of the former stars with the company.

Wish I had an aunt like you, Carbro.

She also looks very different with make-up on.

Dan Brown has a close-up of the hand here on his website. It's pretty hazy so you can't tell very well, but if you look up the picture in a big reference book (I think this is the one I looked in), a good poster, or the actual painting, you might see what I see. The person seated to the right of Jesus is obviously a woman, but most people don't seem to know about it.

Warning: those that have not finished The Da Vinci Code may not want to read this post. For those that have already read the novel, does anyone remember the part explaining the little significant details in The Last Supper? My book is currently being borrowed by a friend, so I can't refer to it directly. I think it was either Leigh or Langdon pointing out a random, unattached hand holding a dagger. Whether this was an observation made alone by the author or that of art scholars, I don't know. I took a close look out of a HUGE picture book of a collection of Da Vinci's works, and it didn't seem to me like it was just some mysterious hand. It looks like the hand of the fourth disciple to the left, the hand which is sitting on his hip. He's the one placing his other hand on Mary Magdalene's shoulder, leaning over the fifth man with a menacing look at Mary.

Scuffite's pronunciation works, and a lot easier to understand than mine. Thanks:)

Yes, this isn't related to this thread, but about where you sit in the theater... In the Brown Theater at Wortham, you can't see the backdrop at all from the balcony (highest level). The closest I ever sat was 3rd row from orchestra during an opera, where you get a great close up of the singers. For those that like to read the surtitles, though, you'd have to tilt your head up- I'm glad to have avoided them because I always think subtitles distract you from what's going on (even in movies). There was a short ballet scene during the opera, and when I sat that close, I couldn't see the feet.

Oh, I had the same reaction, Vagansmom. Most of the theories the author wrote about I had never heard before. When I did the research online, I was frightened by how much of this stuff is out there. If you go to www.danbrown.com, there's a gallery of photographs of places and paintings he describes in the book. Also, check out www.thedavincicode.com; it takes you on a fun little quest.

I didn't realize that this book is apart of a series featuring Robert Langdon. Before The Da Vinci Code there was Angels & Demons and a new one is currently being written. It's also about a secret society, the Illuminati, and deals with the Catholic Church. There are a few references to Langdon's experiences in Vatican City, where A&D took place, in TDVC. I think I'll have to go out and read it now.

I got the book yesterday and stayed up till 3 in the morning reading. I'm on page 245.

So this is the way HB decided to end Stevenson's tenure at the company...a bit disappointing. Basically a piece of fluff, this ballet is definitely intended for children. And a lot of children there were at the showing that I went to. Ah yes, the cries of a baby, little girl in front kept standing up, random whispering here and there, and crackling of gum wrappers all made this a very pleasant afternoon. Now on to the actual performance... Sara Webb was perfectly believable as a very cute Alice. Her voice, during the speaking parts, was as sweet as honey. Too bad the choreography doesn't offer much for her to show off any, however, it does give her the chance to display her beautiful classical line. The dancing for Alice's part basically consists of arabesques, penchées, running around on pointe, and battements. The quick-footed White Rabbit was Mauricio Canete, who did a fine job eluding the girl. There were a couple of times when I thought he was a bit off the music, though. The second scene of Act I is when Alice jumps into the rabbit hole after the Rabbit. She is greeted by a number of animals prancing around, doing cartwheels (I lost track of the number of cartwheels I saw in this ballet). Again, not much to the choreography. If I saw this on television, I would have thought it was some dance sequence out of a musical. The Duchess and the Cook are intoduced in scene III of the Duchess' kitchen. Phillip Broomhead was the Duchess and Britain Werkheiser was the Cook. These two made the first act worth watching. In the kitchen, they throw around a baby and try to roll it out on a slab of dough. The costume for the Cook is comical. Just looking at the huge floppy hat makes you crack a smile. Sceve IV is the forest, and out comes a Caterpillar who slinks across the stage, which drew some laughter, and Father William and Son, mimicked by Alice. The Chesire Cat also shows up pouncing around. Finally, the Butterflies and Dragonflies come out and we get to see some actual ballet going on, although everything is extremely repetitive. Mad Hatter (Dorio Perez made a guest appearance, former principal) and the March Hare have their tea party in scene V. It becomes quite dull here since all they do is mime and everything is repeated about 3 times. The sleepy Dormouse, played by Cleopatra Williams, becomes the Cat's prey. It's pretty funny here when she's dragged around the stage sleeping on the Cat's leg. Finally, Act II opens with the Snail and Whiting, and the dance of the Turtles and Lobsters. Very odd. In the Queen of Hearts' garden, the Roses have a better dance than the Butterfiles, but still not very exciting. The Tiger Lily pas de deux was beautifully danced by Mireille Hassenboehler and Ian Casady. Hassenboehler is truly something to behold. I hardly noticed the Gardener. Choreography is eh...I thought it was sort of Macmillan like with a bunch of sweeping drops and lifts. The music is lovely here. Casady was a bit sloppy at times, but he was quite impressive. Mireille had spot-on fouettes and a clean series of piques. Her technique is gorgeous and she is a very musical dancer. Scene III is the courtroom. The Queen of Hearts and King were hilarious. They did a mock-court dance in which the Queen threw, lifted, and dragged around the King. Wonderful. Stevenson does know how to use wit. So, all in all, Alice in Wonderland is childish and playful, something in which the dancers can brush up on their acting and miming skills. I guess the repetition in the choreography can't be solely blamed on the choreographer, since there wasn't much to work with in the score.

Dance critic Molly Glentzer talks about Thursday evening's performance of Houston Ballet's Alice in Wonderland. Uninspired 'Alice' ballet falls into rabbit hole

Thanks, Boydancer. If you're going to see Alice, please post a review so I can hear a different reaction to the ballet. I'm going to this Saturday's matinee with Webb in the lead. It's interesting how a corps dancer, Laura Richards, will be Alice on the 14th. I've never really paid attention to her before, and it would be interesting to see her in the role, but I doubt I will be going to more than one showing.

The book had a cold, detached feeling to it. I think if the story had been written decades later, it would convey a very different sense. I agree with you on that I felt the movie had more depth, but maybe if I had read the book first...

Here's a small clip of her in Alice if you haven't seen it yet. http://houstonballet.org/mpg/alice.mpg

In elementary school, we were given one art and music class per week and we could join choir in 4th and 5th grade. I played the violin all throughout middle school in orchestra and took a drama/speech class in 7th grade.

I hope I get to Sara Webb- a soloist- in this role. Last I saw her was in Swan Lake as Odette/Odile two years ago. The only thing I can remember from her performance was she had wonderful projection, I could feel her presence all the way up in the front balcony (really bad last minute seats). She didn't finish all 32 fouettes and traveled quite a bit, but I would like to see how she has matured since then. I read somewhere that she's become one of Welch's "favorites." I feel a promotion coming on.

From HB's website: June 5 (evening) Alice Julie Gumbinner White Rabbit Dominic Walsh Tiger Lily pas de deux Leticia Oliveira and Randy Herrera June 7 (matinee) Alice Sara Webb White Rabbit Mauricio Cañete Tiger Lily pas de deux Mireille Hassenboehler and Ian Casady June 7(evening) Alice Julie Gumbinner White Rabbit Dominic Walsh Tiger Lily pas de deux Sara Webb and Zdenek Konvalina June 8 (matinee) Alice Britain Werkheiser White Rabbit Fernando Moraga Tiger Lily pas de deux Sara Webb and Zdenek Konvalina June 13 (evening) Alice Sara Webb White Rabbit Mauricio Cañete Tiger Lily pas de deux Mireille Hassenboehler and Ian Casady June 14 (evening) Alice Laura Richards White Rabbit Fernando Moraga Tiger Lily pas de deux Leticia Oliveira and Randy Herrera June 15 (matinee) Alice Julie Gumbinner White Rabbit Dominic Walsh Tiger Lily pas de deux Leticia Oliveira and Randy Herrera

Hmmm, I think "The Devil Wears Prada" might qualify as a beach book. Has anyone read it? I'm glad to hear recommendations for Bel Canto. I had originally planned on reading that for a new fiction project I had to do for English, but chose The Lovely Bones instead. I decided not to read it because of a few bad reviews on Amazon, but I'll probably be picking it up again.

My favorite Dr. Seuss tales were "Green Eggs and Ham," "The 500 Hats of Bartholomew," and "The Lorax." Then there was the stage when every girl read the Little Babysitters Club books, and then the Babysitters Club and Sweet Valley series. I read all the Little House on the Prairie books and then some of the Rose Wilder Years (when I was finished those, more were still being written, and I must have gotten tired of waiting). There was also the American Girl books. The first time I felt like I accomplished reading a great piece of literature was when I read The Count of Monte Cristo in 7th or 8th grade. I still think that must be one of the greatest novels ever written. I don't think I could ever tire of it. Some people mentioned Rebecca as a favorite; I'm sorry- I absolutely hated that thing when I was required to read it last year.

I hope I did not sound like I was making a case that television is as important as Greek mythology. I actually watch very little, the exceptions being the Simpsons, Will & Grace, and the occasional interesting program on PBS. Sadly, to some, tv does serve as "art," and that's what I was pointing out. People become absorbed by anything easily accessible and easily understandable to them and miss out on "real art." If anyone is vexed by how influencial pop culture is today, it's me. Once I heard a student at my school claim her dad was so old-fashioned that he listened to classical music on the radio (ummm, doesn't exactly qualify someone as being "old-fashioned"); in another similar instance, my friend overheard a group of teenagers saying no one their age would listen to classical, and if there were, they would be shocked (ha! girl standing in front of you in line). It makes us angry at times, not because they're mocking people like us, but that they could be so lowbrow. What's funny is that pop culture partially turned me on to the arts. Watching the movie "Selena" prompted me to take dance lessons, and the tv show "Hercules" and "Xena" sparked my fascination for Greek myths and Greek culture. However, the turning point was attending my first live theater performance, "Ragtime," on a 6th grade school trip. Thank God for that, because I certainly would not be the same person I am today (jeez, that sounds cheesy) since I had not grown up in an environment rich in art.

The required reading for school is Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya and Huck Finn . Other books I'll be looking into is The DaVinci Code and I'm already halfway through a collection of short stories by Neil Gaiman called Smoke and Mirrors . Gaiman is so amazing. I've been wanting for a long time to read In Cold Blood but haven't found time to due to laziness.

I'm sorry that you feel that way Ed, but writers are always making references to other sources. They've been doing that for a long long time. It's like allusions in literature. The article was written for today's society, and many people do watch the Simpsons and will know what it's talking about. If I may, may I correct you on that the Simpsons is an "animated sitcom"? I know you probably care less either way, but I feel like I have to make that statement.

Well, it would be hard to spell it out for you since my keyboard doesn't have the Mandarin pronunciation alphabet, and you wouldn't be able to understand it, anyway. When it comes to an English pronunctiation of Chinese, it really doesn't matter how you say it. Chinese people won't expect you to say it correctly. This is the best I can do with the English alphabet: ren-ren tahn Or you could just say it like how it looks, the way most non-Mandarin speaking people would.