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Reviews
American Playhouse: Into the Woods (1991)
A wonderful musical
I remember the first time I saw this play in high school when my drama class went to see it on a field trip. My math tutor who had seen it told me before I saw it that it was a great play and that I would loved it and she was right. As a musical lover I was captivated the first time I saw this play at theatre. Then by chance I got to see this version with the origanal broadway cast on the Bravo channel a couple years later and I was was so thrilled because I got to enjoy it all over again. I thought it was very oringal and creative the way characters from different fairy tales are all thrown together each interacting one another without really changing the story of each fairy tale.
The basic plot is the each character has a wish and longing with the main focus on the childless baker and his wife, two original characters who only wish for a child. They are confronted by rapunzal's witch who puts a curse on them preventing them from having children and tells them to end the curse they must go into the woods and get in three days the cape as red as blood, the cow as white as milk, the hair as yellow as corn and the slipper as pure as gold. They go to the woods and meet Cinderella, Jack, Little Red Riding Hood and Rapunzal as well as a mysterious old man as they try to get what the need. The first act of the play is has a lot a humor and intrigue as each character set out to get their wish and ends with them living happily ever after. The second act deals with what happens to them after living happily ever after and although still has some humor and fun it has a more darker and sadder note as reality catches in and shows that happily ever after doesnt' last but there's still hope for happiness.
The acting and the characters as well as the plot was superb. Chip Zien and Joanna Gleason were great as the main characters the baker and his wife. Bernadette Peters was outstanding as the witch but my favorite character was Little Red Riding Hood(Danielle Ferland)who portrayed as fiesty and humorous. The songs are great and unforgettable. My favorites being "Momemts in the Woods" and "No More". I was fortunate enough to finally get the video last Christmas and I now to to enjoy watching it over and over again. This has become one of my favorite musicals.
The Nephew (1998)
A pretty good movie
I first saw this film on Showtime and I thought it was interesting enough. The story about a grouchy Irishman Tony Eagan(Donal McCann)who learns his sister Karen who had left Ireland for the America after a falling out with him died leaving behind a son who comes to Ireland with her ashes to honor her last request. He soon learns to his surprise that her son Chad Washington(Hill Harper) is a black man. His presence ends up bringing back old rivaly and revealing some family secrets. I really liked the interaction Chad had with most of the Irish folks especially his Uncle. Despite being different he really fit in quite well in the community. And I really loved his blossoming romance Aislin(Aislin Mcguckin)the beautiful daughter of Joe Brady(Piece Brosnan)an old flame of Chad's mother and rival of his uncle. They had great chemistry. The only flaw I found with the movie was that it didn't deal with the racial isssues enough. Chad being the only black person on that entire Irish Island there could dealt with some racial issues for instance possibly have his uncle turn out to be a bigot who as to find a way of dealing with his racist attitudes or dealing with racism from some if the Irish folks just for more dramatization. They could also had Chad feel a little more awkward and out of place in Ireland being black and from New York instead of having him quickly fit in quite well. Thats my only complaint. SPOILER
But I did like his interaction with that guy Sean(I think) about rap music and thought it was hilarious when they where driving and the guy started rapping to him.
Anyway, this was a good interesting movie and Hill Harper is a great and goodlooking promising actor and I look forward to seeing him in other films. The actors were good too, paritcularly Pierce Brosnan and Donal McCann who were good as enemies. I really enjoyed it.
Safe at Home (1985)
I remember this series
I recall watching this sitcom on TBS back in the 80s as well as two other sitcoms Rocky Road and Down to Earth that also came on TBS. I don't remember all the characters but from what I do recall it's about a teenage girl portrayed by two different actresses(First by Martha Nix, then Katherine Britton) who leaves home to live with her much older brother who was an anchor man and dated his anchor woman Tatum. The character I really remember is Gary(Richard Steven Horvitz)the nerdy guy who was their co-worker. I thought he was the funniest character on that show. I will also like to point that the man's sister's name was not Amy. Amy was the name of her best friend portrayed by Brenda James. I remember her friend Amy was pretty funny to and a lot more entaintaining than the lead girl. It's a shame this was a forgettable series I liked pretty much.