#dapper day 2016

[thebestoftragedy]

Biller, director of Love Witch (2016) and Viva (2007), told Jezebel that with Bluebeard’s Castle, she saw an opportunity to subvert the trope of the dark, brooding male love interest who must be tamed and civilized by the unconditional love of his heroine, regardless of who he’s killed or locked away in a closet. Gavin is a composite of Jane Eyre’s Rochester, the mysterious love interest who keeps his first wife in the attic; Wuthering Heights’ Heathcliff, the obsessive lover driven by maddening passion; and Rebecca’s Maxim de Winter, dapper and charismatic and ultimately violent toward women.

with the possible exception of jane eyre. none of those guys are meant to be great awesome super cool unproblematic men. why does it sound like anna biller is a 14 year old who has never actually read romeo and juliet or whatever going "ummmm did you know it's actually BAD for preteens to get married the day after they meet"

[keanuquotes]

CNN — 

Keanu Reeves may be famous for playing cold-blooded assassin John Wick, but he and longtime girlfriend Alexandra Grant warmed hearts this weekend.

In a red-carpet appearance at the Museum of Contemporary Art Gala in Los Angeles on Saturday, the couple were photographed laughing, smiling and sharing a kiss.

Grant, an award-winning visual artist, chose a bright-red, floor-length floral gown for the occasion, while Reeves looked dapper in a navy suit and striped tie.

In a recent interview with People magazine, Reeves offered some rare insight into the relationship when asked about his “last moment of bliss.”

“A couple of days ago with my honey,” the “Matrix” star told the publication last month. “We were in bed. We were connected. We were smiling and laughing and giggling. Feeling great. It was just really nice to be together.”

Although Reeves and Grant went public with their romance in November 2019 when they walked the red carpet of an LA art gala hand-in-hand, they have had a professional relationship for years.

Keanu Reeves offers rare comment about his relationship

The pair, who run the publishing house X Artists’ Books, collaborated on Reeves’ 2011 debut poetry collection, “Ode to Happiness,” for which Grant provided the illustrations. They teamed up again for his 2016 book “Shadows.”

In 2020, Grant revealed that she was initially unsure about letting the world know they were an item.

“I think every single person I knew called me in the first week of November, and that’s fascinating,” she told Vogue Magazine. “But the question I’ve been asking in all of this is: ‘What is the opportunity for good?’”

[iffoundreturntosea]

July 18, Day 199/200

Day 199 2015

My new favorite Marvel movie

#favorite #marvel #movie #antman #family #familytime #laughedsohard #greatmovie #paulrudd #michaelpena #picoftheday #project365 #day199

Day 200 2016

So tasty! 🍉

#fruit #redwhiteandblue #shadesoffreedom #july #picoftheday #project365 #day200

Day 199 2017

Slumbering deliciously

#yum #icecream #bluebell #groomscake #fulllips #chocolate #delicious #sogood #face #hiddenface #july #picoftheday #project365 #day199

One of my all time favorite flavors. 🤤

Day 199 2018

Shrouded in mystery

#leo #mybaby #furbaby #meow #mysterious #whiskerwednesday #kitty #cat #silhouette #july #picoftheday #project365 #day199

Here is the original picture I took of Leo and later added the fireworks for a composite. He's just so handsome.

Day 199 2019

I did not forget, I was just doing something better!

#didntmakeit #pasttime #ohwell #cheerstonewfriends #candy #sourcandy #nationalsourcandyday #July #July18 #2019 #nationalday #nationaldaycalendar #picoftheday #project365 #day199

Day 200 2020

Old toys up on the shelf

#toys #toysontheshelf #ragdoll #raggedyAndy #raggedyAnn #spintop #bowlingpins #baseballbat #blocks #painting #art #create #missyou #gonebutneverforgotten #love #grandmaspaintings #july #july18 #2020 #picoftheday #project365 #day200

Day 199 2021

Leo looking dapper

#leo #kitty #cat #dapper #furbaby #july #july18 #2021 #picoftheday #project365 #day199

In his brand new bowtie!

Day 199 2022

Mimosa strigillosa or sunshine mimosa, a pretty ground cover.

#mimosastrigillosa #sunshinemimosa #groundcover #flower #wildflower #pretty #nature #july #july18 #2022 #picoftheday #project365 #day199

This also goes by the name, shame vine, because when something touches it's leaves they close up for about 5 mins. So cool!

Day 199 2023

Big red

#octopus #bowl #red #ispy #home #july #july18 #2023 #picoftheday #project365 #day199

One of my favorite gifts from my sister!

Day 200 2024

Now that is a gigantic crab claw!

#somethinggigantic #dailytheme #crabclaw #claw #beach #washedashore #july #july18 #2024 #picoftheday #project365 #day200

[creativeboxesblog]

A Blast from the Past: Exploring Vintage Cigarette Packaging in the UK

Brits have a long history with the humble cigarette. From the dapper gentlemen of the Victorian era puffing on hand-rolled tobacco to the iconic brands adorning shelves today, cigarettes have been a part of UK culture for centuries.

But have you ever stopped to consider the packaging? Cigarette boxes, often overlooked, can be fascinating historical artefacts, reflecting design trends, cultural shifts, and even advertising regulations.

A Glimpse into the Past:

In the early days (pre-1900s), cigarette packaging was often simple and utilitarian. Tin boxes or paper packets housed loose tobacco or rudimentary pre-rolled cigarettes. As cigarette production became more industrialized, branding emerged.

Early 20th-century cigarette boxes boasted colourful illustrations and ornate typography, often depicting landscapes, famous figures, or even historical scenes. These boxes were often collectable, with smokers proudly displaying their favourite brands.

The Rise of Regulation:

The mid-20th century saw a shift in attitudes towards smoking. Health concerns became more prominent, leading to the first regulations on cigarette packaging in the UK. These early regulations focused on displaying health warnings, initially subtle and text-based. However, the packaging itself remained a marketing tool, with brands still employing attractive designs and colours to entice consumers.

The Plain Packaging Revolution:

The landscape of cigarette packaging in the UK changed dramatically in 2016 with the introduction of plain packaging regulations. These regulations mandated that all cigarette packs be a uniform brown colour with only brand names and health warnings displayed in a standardised format. This move aimed to reduce the appeal of cigarettes, particularly to younger demographics.

A Collector's Paradise:

Today, vintage cigarette boxes are a niche collector's item. These historical artefacts offer a glimpse into a bygone era where smoking was not only socially acceptable but actively encouraged. Collectors seek out rare and unique boxes, with prices varying depending on the brand, age, and condition.

Option 2: Beyond the Pack: Understanding UK Cigarette Packaging Regulations

Cigarette packaging in the UK is subject to strict regulations aimed at reducing smoking rates and protecting public health. Understanding these regulations is crucial for anyone involved in the tobacco industry, from manufacturers to retailers.

The Players:

The main regulatory bodies governing cigarette packaging in the UK are:

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC): Responsible for developing and implementing public health policies, including those related to tobacco control.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA): Enforces regulations on the labelling and marketing of tobacco products.

Key Regulations:

Plain Packaging: Introduced in 2016, this regulation mandates a uniform brown colour for all cigarette packs. Brand names and health warnings are displayed in a standardised format with limited font size and colour options.

Health Warnings: Cigarette packs must display graphic health warnings with images depicting the health consequences of smoking. These warnings occupy a significant portion of the pack's surface area.

Misleading Marketing: Packaging designs and marketing materials are prohibited from using any elements that could mislead consumers about the health risks of smoking or portray smoking in a positive light.

Track and Trace Systems: Cigarette packs must include unique identifiers that allow authorities to track the movement of tobacco products and combat counterfeit goods.

The Impact of Regulations:

Since the introduction of plain packaging, UK smoking rates have continued to decline. While it's difficult to isolate the impact of packaging regulations on this decline, they are considered a contributing factor. The regulations have also made it more challenging for tobacco companies to market their products and create brand loyalty.

The Road Ahead:

The UK government is committed to achieving a smoke-free future. New regulations and policies are likely to be introduced in the future, potentially focusing on further restrictions on online sales, flavour bans, or even the complete removal of cigarette branding from packaging.

Conclusion: Cigarette packaging in the UK has undergone a dramatic transformation from colourful marketing tools to strictly regulated public health messages. Understanding the history and regulations surrounding UK cigarette packaging provides valuable insights into social attitudes towards smoking, public health policies, and the evolving tobacco industry in the UK.

[a-typical]

Mexico

A skeleton, wearing a black bowler hat and smoking a cigar, swooped down Avenida Juárez, his long bony arms waving madly. At fifteen feet tall, he towered above the teeming crowds. Trailing behind him, men and women cavorted and danced dressed as Calavera Catrina, the iconic dapper skeleton. A cloud of glitter shot out of a cannon as a phalanx of Aztec warriors twirled by on rollerblades. The crowd, tens of thousands strong, cheered and chanted.

If you have seen the 2016 James Bond film Spectre, you will recognize this spectacle of flowers, skeletons, devils, and floats as Mexico City’s annual Días de los Muertos, or Days of the Dead, parade. In the opening scene of the film, Bond glides through the mêlée in a skeleton mask and tux and slips into a hotel with a masked woman.

Except, here’s the trick. The Días de los Muertos parade did not inspire the James Bond film. The James Bond film inspired the parade. The Mexican government, afraid that people around the world would see the film and expect that the parade exists when it did not, recruited 1,200 volunteers and spent a year re-creating the four-hour pageant.

To some, the parade was a crass commercialization of the very private, family-centered festival that is Días de los Muertos—the two days at the beginning of November when the dead are said to return to indulge in the pleasures of the living. To others, it was Días de los Muertos’s natural progression to a more secular, nationalistic holiday, boldly celebrating Mexico’s history in front of a worldwide audience.

— From Here to Eternity: Traveling the World to Find the Good Death, Caitlin Doughty

[joestylee]

Wizkid- Nigeria’s Fashion Icon

Also known as Starboy and Bigwiz, Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun is a man of style, the best-dressed pop star. In his interview with Alex Frank of Vogue magazine in 2016, his response to the question about his style icon being Pharell reveals his high sartorial inclinations. He went on to say, ‘It’s not about the brands. It’s how you put them together.’ This is the secret code of every stylish person; understanding the how of putting together a look and this response shows you that Wizkid gets it.

Although critics may bemoan his lack of a message or world view and castigate his music for just being about vibes, Wizkid definitely understands the interplay between feel good music and feel good fashion.  

What is feel-good fashion? Feel-good fashion is fashion that doesn’t over think. It’s a feeling-myself, can’t-hold-me-down, laidback, love-my-life kind of fashion just like feel-good fashion which is eclectic, a mix of everything -Wizkid’s songs which combine different elements and styles, definitely fall under this category.

The Building Blocks 

Wizkid, one of the best-dressed pop stars, knows that a good wardrobe starts with investing in the basics - Tshirts. Solid color Tees in red, black, white and orange are his wardrobe staples. A T-shirt is like a blank canvas where all artistic ideas begin, layers and colors can be added, but it all starts with a good T-shirt. His love for T-shirts is seen in his ‘Made in Lagos’ merch with PUMA featuring Tees with slogans scrawled in catchy calligraphy. 

The Chic Toughness of Leather 

Noble, durable and warm, the Starboy loves to layer with leather. He combines the cotton simplicity of a T-shirt with the glossy thickness of leather for an aura of sophisticated grit, a signature look for his stage performances. One of such notable looks is his Monogram Admiral Jacket by Louis Vuitton for his performance at the O2 Arena - Starboy Fest 2019.

The Kiss of Accessories

Stylish people understand the power of accessories. The right accessories should never betray you. Unlike clothes, some weight and your favorite clothing doesn’t fit anymore.  Investing in statement accessories can stand you out; belts, scarves, hats, jewelry, shoes and bags that they will rock for years to come.

Accessories can become the focal point like Wizkid’s red beret in the picture below or they can pull together the look like the second picture below showing him in mustard color sunglasses and matching mustard coloured sweater, paired with silver jewelry. The trick is to keep it personal and simple like Wizkid does.

Never without his sunglasses, neck and finger jewelry, the Starboy is a true wiz with accessories.

The Fun of Prints

From hoodies to jackets, to pants he always finds a way to insert a little drama with unpredictable patterns. Sometimes it’s quirky, sometimes it’s cultural but always eye-catching and inviting.

Afro-inspired fashion definitely leans more towards more prints as showcased in Joestylee.

Who Inspires WizKid’s Fashion?

In his A Day in the Live, a 3-hour live coverage of a typical day in Wizkid’s life with Julie Adenuga, he says he never had a lot of clothes growing up and reveals for the first time that his keen sense of style was inspired by his late father’s dapperness. My father made me fall in love with clothes. I would see my dad going for an outing wearing clothes made by his personal tailor and I would be like, check this out’. Watching his fashion stylist, Karen Binns hand him outfit after outfit in preparation for his exclusive performance of songs from his Made in Lagos album you realize that his style really is intentional; he may have clothing already picked out for him, but he keeps mixing and matching until it feels just right.

Wizkid style is rooted in a strong understanding of self. The lyrics of his song Ojuelegba from the album, Ayo summarize his life story of hard work, hustle, street-smarts and faith. These qualities are all reflected in his fashion style; grounded, unpredictable, easy and self-loving. For the man who knows what he likes, appreciates every inch of his journey because it’s made him who he is and knows that life is to be lived boldly with fun and swag; for a variety of looks.

[delightfullysubatomic]

All of Tim Key’s written interviews and interviewish things I could find

I put stars next to the more interesting (imo) ones, but they’re mostly pretty good as generally there’s only a few from each year.

Ones added later in bold

2022

July: https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/2022/07/tim-key-boris-johnson-poems-last-days

Mar: https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/things-to-do/tim-key-interview-hampstead-heath-8757860

Mar: https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/qa/2022/03/tim-key-qa-i-consumed-the-office-like-toast

Mar: https://www.bigissue.com/culture/tv/tim-key-the-witchfinder/

Feb: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/tim-key-interview-my-life-without-this-time-with-alan-partridge-new-series-the-witchfinder-6j9k6ddpg

2021

Mar: https://www.comedy.co.uk/live/fgwg/tim-key/

* Mar: https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/poetry/2021/03/why-tim-key-s-poems-are-only-thing-getting-me-through-lockdown

Feb: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/feb/28/sunday-with-tim-those-comforting-evenings-in-the-pub-will-be-back

* Jan: https://www.esquire.com/uk/culture/a35278796/no-more-jockeys-tim-key-alex-horne-mark-watson/

2018

Aug: https://edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/article/103127-tim-key-i-get-more-relaxed-and-reassured-by-each-seat-filled-with-a-nice-person/

May: https://www.northernsoul.me.uk/interview-tim-key-poetry-comedy/

May: https://www.thestateofthearts.co.uk/features/straddling-dapper-sketchy-tim-key-new-show-megadate/

2017

** Oct: https://www.beyondthejoke.co.uk/content/4657/interview-rarely-asked-questions-tim-key

June: https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2017/jun/29/tim-key-the-funniest-thing

May: https://www.shortlist.com/news/tim-key-comedy-poet-interview

Mar: https://www.radiotimes.com/travel/gap-year-the-cast-and-creator-on-their-real-life-misadventures-while-filming-in-asia/

Feb: https://inews.co.uk/essentials/full-moon-parties-fake-names-fifa-stars-gap-year-gap-year-48770

Jan: https://www.oldvictheatre.com/news/2017/01/q-and-a-with-tim-key-on-art

2016

Dec (?): https://www.culturecalling.com/uk/features/art-an-interview-with-tim-key

2015

Aug: https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2015/aug/13/tim-key-poetry-taskmaster-edinburgh-fringe

Aug: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/my-edinburgh-tim-key-xwk9tkpn6q7

* Jul: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/tim-key-and-alex-horne-how-we-met-10377655.html

Mar: https://www.timeout.com/london/comedy/matt-crockett-50-comics-gallery

2014

Oct: https://nowthenmagazine.com/articles/tim-key-tim-key-single-white-slut

Oct: https://oldfirestation.org.uk/2014/10/02/tim-key/

Sept: https://www.lep.co.uk/arts-and-culture/theatre-and-stage/if-i-was-like-that-in-real-life-id-get-punched-in-the-face-a-lot-2624092

Aug: https://www.theskinny.co.uk/comedy/interviews/tim-key-single-white-slut

Aug: https://www.theguardian.com/stage/live/2014/aug/08/tim-key-live-qa-post-your-questions-now

Aug: https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/aug/03/performers-edinburgh-festival-highlights-best-show-ever-seen

https://issuu.com/festmag/docs/preview_2014_web

* Jul: https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2014/jul/06/tim-key-standup-you-look-like-plum-if-say-good

Jul: https://edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/article/63070-edinburgh-festival-fringe-2014-interview-nick-helm-and-tim-key/

* Jul: https://edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/article/62195-edinburgh-comedy-awards-2014-past-winners-reveal-what-the-top-comedy-prize-means-to-them/

Jul: https://www.fest-mag.com/edinburgh/comedy/tim-key-poet-without-a-plan

Jun: https://www.broadwaybaby.com/news/the-tim-key-three-minute-interview/200

* May: https://www.vice.com/en/article/zn7q5j/tim-key-profile-gavin-haynes

Mar: https://themusic.com.au/features/24713/zC7f3sHAw8I/26-03-14

Mar: https://thisweekculture.com/article/tim-key-single-white-slut/

Feb: https://www.timeout.com/london/comedy/tim-key-interview-a-slut-in-the-bedroom

2013

Dec: https://web.archive.org/web/20140122114612/http://www.empireonline.com/interviews/interview.asp?IID=1816 (Empire Unsung Hero for Alan Partridge film)

Dec: https://metro.co.uk/2013/12/06/tim-key-i-was-beguiled-by-the-artist-4217078/

Nov: https://www.shortlist.com/news/tim-keys-guilty-pleasures

May: https://www.jonnyburch.com/timkey-interview/

2012

Nov: https://cherwell.org/2012/11/11/king-of-offkey-comedy/

Oct: https://thegownqub.com/2012/10/24/an-interview-with-tim-key/

Oct: https://theboar.org/2012/10/tim-key-overcoats-and-ohps/

Oct: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/whats-on/theatre-news/comedian-poet-tim-key-heads-3018302

Apr: https://www.theaureview.com/music/the-au-interview-melbourne-international-comedy-festival-tim-key/

2011

* Dec: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/my-secret-life-tim-key-poet-and-comedian-35-6277076.html

Nov: https://emmafreud.files.wordpress.com/2016/02/the-comedians.pdf (Tatler)

Nov: https://londonist.com/2011/11/comedy-preview-interview-tim-key

Oct: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/authors-on-song-lyrics-they-wish-theyd-written-533ds0m3pfj

Aug/Sep: https://edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/article/37675-tim-key-interview-the-poet-discusses-edinburgh-alan-partridge-and-sexy-baths/

Aug: http://threeweeks.co.uk/weekly/3wks2011_edweek3.pdf

Aug: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/five-rules-of-fringe-comedy-m8fvf73828h

July: https://web.archive.org/web/20111108073345/http://thehumourdor.co.uk/post/7726696568/an-interview-with-tim-key

Mar: https://snipelondon.com/books/tim-key-chats-about-winning-the-edinburgh-comedy-award-alan-partridge-and-writing-the-perfect-poem

Feb: https://thebadgeronline.com/2011/02/interview-tim-key/

Feb: https://www.redbrick.me/interview-tim-key/

2010

Nov: https://www.loudandquiet.com/interview/tim-key-laugh-boat/

Nov: https://completemusicupdate.com/article/tim-keys-powers-of-ten-playlist/

Oct: https://www.vice.com/en/article/4w4xy3/living-a-lie-573-v17n10

Aug: https://edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/article/27756-the-slutcrackers-tim-key-answers-5-questions/

https://issuu.com/festmag/docs/preview_2010 [p33]

Jul: https://edinburghfestival.list.co.uk/article/27117-jonny-sweet-and-tim-key-return-to-edinburgh-after-successful-year/

Jul: https://web.archive.org/web/20100723193743/http://fest.theskinny.co.uk/article/99678-ode-to-joy

May: https://thetab.com/uk/cambridge/2010/05/09/interview-with-tim-key-1283

Mar: https://amp.smh.com.au/entertainment/comedy/keys-little-odes-of-silliness-20100312-q2xe.html

Mar: https://www.whatsonstage.com/west-end-theatre/news/brief-encounter-with-party-animals-tim-key-and-tom_14146.html

Feb: https://www.varsity.co.uk/culture/2011

2009

Dec: https://www.list.co.uk/article/22492-tim-key-dispels-wikipedia-myths/

* Dec: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/comedy/features/tim-key-a-man-of-his-words-1841773.html

Nov: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2009/nov/28/we-need-answers-mark-watson [with Alex and Mark]

Nov: https://www.vice.com/en/article/pp8v4b/i-can-write-like-tim-key-less-successful-though

Aug: https://www.fest-mag.com/edinburgh/archive/the-invisible-party (about Party / The Invisible Dot)

2008

Feb: https://www.vice.com/en/article/znyng4/literary-v15n2

2007

Jan: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6303173.stm (about Cowards)

[maximumwobblerbanditdonut]

On Sunday May 22nd around the world, the global The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride in Edinburgh community was come together and celebrate in trademark dapper fashion. In 2022, We Ride Together.

In 2016, when SH was named Grand Marshall of the 18th Annual New York Tartan Day Parade, before his trip, he visited Stewart Christie & Co, the oldest tailor in Scotland, who custom-made his suit to particular specifications in Scottish Borders Tweed.

Stewart Christie partner Dan Fearn measures Sam Heughan from Outlander for his bespoke tailored Scottish Borders Tweed suit

Stewart Christie & Co partner Vicky Rae with Sam Heughan from Outlander, helping him select his choice of tweed.

It was this bespoke suit that he wore in DGR in Edinburgh. He had to look up 'bespoke’.

SH was Grand Marshal Of The 2016 NY Tartan Day Parade.

The bespoke flag was held by Grand Marshall @SamHeughan in New York Parade in 2016 - NY ☔ with Vixy Rae one of the owners and the creative director of Stewart Christie, Edinburgh

📸 Credit Stewart Christie Edinburgh SCBespoke

I've been saying He needed a bespoke suit. It was about time. Finally, a suit fits him properly!

@aboutlander. Thank you 💙

[inzannatea-arts]

#21 Days of Nathan - A Recap Pt 2 Days 11-21

Apparently there was just too much on the other post, so here we go with post #2! 

Day 11: One word to describe Nathan

My one word to describe Nathan is "Ebullient" -- meaning cheerful and full of energy. There's also an archaic meaning of boiling or agitated as if boiling. I feel in both watching Nathan's performances and in the few times I've had the opportunity to meet him in person this word is fitting. In person, he is a boundless energy and pure serotonin. Just a genuinely delightful and kind human who CANNOT SIT STILL FOR 5 SECONDS. But that same frenetic energy is contained, if only just barely, in so many of his performances... most especially Jack. You can tell there is something boiling just beneath the surface and it's utterly fascinating to watch.

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Day 12: Play I’d like to see Nathan in

Really the answer is "anything". He has great range. But I think he'd give the appropriate gravitas and hilarity to the role of Septimus Hodge in Tom Stoppard's "Arcadia".  He might be a little on the mature side, but he could probably pull it off. Arcadia takes place both in 1809/1812 and the present day with the activities of the modern overlaid on the action of the past. We gradually learn the fates of the past protagonists as the modern actors learn them in the present. It's a very interesting play exploring the nature of evidence and modern theories of history maths, and physics. It brings together themes of romanticism and empiricism, logic and love, sex and sensibility. I think it would be a fantastic role for Nathan and he would knock it out of the park.

Day 13: Favorite picture of Nathan Page from a public event

Event was originally supposed to be the cast and crew preview, part 2 for all the folks who bought that level of movie support, but who couldn't get away for (US) Thanksgiving weekend to the other side of the planet with three week's notice. I like it because I'm photobombing it 🤣 Not only that, it was just such a fun day. @skirtswithpocketsplease is always the right person to stand near in a crowd, fyi. @lechatnoir1918 can also be spotted in this great shot of Mary and Nathan (and bombastic me... and someone's very supportive husband just behind us) from @themissfisherphiles. So hard to believe it's been just over a year!

Day 14: Actor you’d like Nathan to work with

This is another one of those "anyone" answers... However, I would really love to have Nathan and Claudia Black (of Farscape, Stargate) work together. It's probably part of my  Tony Tilse love, or maybe just that I could listen to these two talk for hours on end and it wouldn't even matter what they said. They both have amazing voices in addition to formidable acting talent.

Week 3 below the fold

Day 15: Favorite Behind the Scenes moment

This video was shot by Essie Davis’s dresser for series 1&3 Peter O'Halloran. Essie and Nathan are just so delightfully playful together, even when they're supposed to be Jedi-serious. I adore them 💓

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Day 16: TV Show you’d like to see Nathan Page on

I choose Ms. Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries. I'd love to have silver fox Jack Robinson come wandering back into his house to find, not the Miss Fisher he expects, but Miss Fisher the younger. He's been on his own long term mission and didn't know Phryne had gone missing... or maybe has been with her and neither realized the world thinks her dead-again. Either way, bring me silver fox Jack in mid-century Mod to drive the nail in Sparrow's coffin.

Day 17: Fav Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears moment

There were a lot of moments I really loved, but I think this was the moment that Essie and Nathan really made me swoon. Methinks the Inspector doth protest too much. No. No. No. No. 

Day 18: Favorite Jack Photo

This lovely shot of Nathan probably needs to be credited to DP Roger Lanser since it's a Screen-cap directly from the Kate Dennis directed episode S1E3 The Green Mill Murder. Other crew are certainly to be credited as well, but Roger... man. Roger just has that eye for good light.

Day 19: Question I’d like to ask Nathan, given the opportunity

I've been lucky enough to have a very casual conversation with Nathan and I didn't really have any burning questions to ask him. We just talked about life and kids and the fires that were raging in Australia, and Lola. Mostly Lola. And how he wants to do more bicycle stunts. I guess after all this lockdown what my wing clipped wandedlusting self wants to know is, where have you always wanted to ride but haven't yet?

Day 20: All-time favorite photo of Nathan Page

This is from the 2016 Logies when Essie Davis had been nominated for a Golden Logie and brought Nathan Page along for the ride. All of the photos were wonderful. It was the first time we'd seen them together since Phryne flew away... and it was clear these too truly were friends. Truly just enjoying each other's company. This one is my favorite because of the sweetness of it. Essie looks a touch nervous. Nathan is full of pride for his friend. Beautiful.

Day 21: Best Cycling Moment

Really it was hard to choose. I love the koala 🐨 and all of the stuff with Lola 🐕 It's really fun to get to go barreling down the hills of rural South Australia 🇦🇺 whilst sitting behind my home office desk. It sparks that sense of adventure that seems to have faded to a mere ember in last year of lockdowns and loss. But--with all of those already cataloged elsewhere in this list, I had to go with this image of pure #couplegoals from shortly after the move to Adelaide. It came from the 18 April 2018 edition of "The Advertiser," (hand delivered to me by a certain delightful person who shall remain @geenee27) at #missfishercon 2018 in Portland, OR.

I wasn't sure I could manage to get through all 21 days, but it was really fun to do! Thank you, @izzyandlouie​ for organizing it! Thank you, Nathan Page for being so generous with your time and care. Thank you to Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries and Every Cloud Productions for introducing the world to our favorite dapper detective. Thank you @adventuressclubamericas for organizing the North American fans and making us a force. Also, also... since 21 days of Nathan is done, check out @adventuressesclubamericas for #Miss Fisher March Madness if you haven't already!

[charleshenry]

TBT Enrique on an unseasonably warm day. October, 2016. #fineanddandy #fineanddandyshop #mensfashion #mensstyle #menswear #dandy #dapper #sartorial #newyorkcity #hellskitchen (at FineAndDandyShop.com) https://www.instagram.com/p/CVl0u1PMVU3/?utm_medium=tumblr

[frag1977]

#scentoftheday ~ Tobacco Collection Intense Dark Exclusive by Zara {2016}. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ It's quite odd that I've had this fragrance for sometime now but never reviewed it. I call it the other brother of my favorite @zara fragrance which is Rich Warm Addictive {got both as a set anyway} from the Tobacco Collection. Still not a full review but since I've been wearing it for sometime now and I've reached for it today, I might as well describe it as best as I can. IDE is a super easy to wear tobacco fragrance with a sweet and spicy accord that is versatile and non-offensive. For me it's mostly a tonka bean affair but with an extremely smooth and spicy tobacco accord laced with hints of coffee (though not listed amongst the notes). IDE performs much better on my skin than it did on paper when I first tried it and with a few more sprays than average I'm good to go for at least half the day. ✂︎------------- Tobacco, Tonka Bean, Black Pepper, Apple, Mint, Cashmere Wood, Basil, Bergamot ✂︎------------- This is an extremely versatile scent in my opinion and with its really moderate price point it's worth owning several bottles since you will likely need to overspray but believe me it is a superb creation. There's a lot going on with this fragrance behind the scenes and it will certainly help you get through most occasions when you can't decide what to wear. Do you like Intense Dark Exclusive? ---- DROP A COMMENT ☟︎︎︎☟︎︎︎☟︎︎︎ ----- #zara #intensedarkexclusive #zaraintensedarkexclusive #zaratobaccocollection #tobaccofragrance #dapper #gentlemanstyle #parfum #perfumelovers #perfumeaddict #fragcomm #fragfam #perfumeblogger #fragrancereviews #fragrancelover #духи #香水 #향수 #عطر #духиназаказ #духинедорого #photography #perfumephotography #productfotographie #expertphotography #frag1977 #mrcologne76 #duft #growdeparfum https://www.instagram.com/p/CU33kYkoQTa/?utm_medium=tumblr

[syubub]

Hello :) I was the one who brought up the possible INTP (Jin) and ENTP (hobi) aspect of Yoongi’s soul.m and Yoongi himself possibly being a 3 in terms of enneagram. I see why people think he might be a 5 but I disagree. However, he probably does score high in 3, 4, and 5, becasue they all’s hate similar traits. I think some say 5 because he has this loner aspect to him as well, then again 5s tend to not care about their physical appearance, and we all know Yoongi has had his fair share of days when he prefered to dress quite dapper (cough cough 3 cough cough his airport pics). 5 is also associated with INTP so I can see that as another possiblity, but your enneagram doesn’t necessarily have to match your mbti (mine doesn’t for example.

On a more serious note, the reason I say 3 is becasue type 3 is also known as The Achiever. Threes want to be successful and admired by other people, and are very conscious of their public image. We can see this in various aspects of Yoongi’s life. Unlike all the members of BTS he was truly the only one who didn’t have his parent’s initial support from the onset of his career. Having to decide between food or transportation at 17? I think that’s something someone who has great ambition and a deep desire for success can only endure. Similar to getting a shoulder injury and persevering with the pain for over 7 years? He has 3 written all over him.

And not to mention the saying; “what Yoongi, wants Yoongi gets” :) I think Yoongi himself has been a huge driving force with the direction BTS has taken and goals they’ve aimed for. Of course all 7 members play a significant role, but even in the last press conference, the members themselves referred to all questions about their future goals as “Yoongi should answer this.” And these are just the goals he’s shared with us in the past 2-3 years. Who knows what type of conversations they had prior up and up until their trainee days. 3s also tend to promote themselves and to talk about their brilliant achievements. And he even went as far as to make himself an alter ego specifically for this purpose (Agust-D anyone :)

Finally, there’s the image conscious part to type 3. In a 2016 interview for grazia, Yoongi stated how he wanted to get a tattoo, but decided against it, and I quote: “I have something I want to do in the future. I want to do some charity work, but having a tattoo might work negatively. That is why I'm holding back." Also tattoos are still seen as taboo in Korea (thank you JK and all the awesome Koreans for helping break this story type)! Yea but that just goes to show how much Yoongi considers his public image. Yoongi has also spoken about how he wants to help others (also he reads a lot of books on psychology). This is accurate seeing as how you also mentioned him and his soulmate may undertake a similar endeavor in the future.

I can see why some people think 5w4. I read up on it and that really does seem like Yoongi. But I think that’s just him in passing in a way (like the passive aspect of himself), who enjoys learning and giving his all into what we piques his interest. However, 5s are very process-oriented: they do not care about final goals and can be extraordinarily involved in abstract ideas just for the sake of acquiring knowledge, basically as an end in itself. 5s also tend to be secretive about their work and discoveries. That isn’t Yoongi. I think everything he undertakes is done with an end-goal/aim in mind. 3s on the other hand pursue their intellectual work with personal goals in mind (either consciously or unconsciously): to impress others, to be famous, to be known as best in their field, to be acclaimed as a genius (cough cough Min Genius—self proclaimed), to beat a rival at a discovery, to win a prestigious prize or grant, and so forth. Yoongi has also always been super open about all aspects of himself and his world views with ARMY. Unlike some of the other members who distance themselves from their BTS “personas,” I think the SUGA you see in public is very much similar to the Yoongi in private. I believe 3 is the more active aspect of him. But like I said he can be high in both.

This is just my opinion by the way. It’s all in good fun, as the only way his enneagram would be confirmed is if he outrightly said what it was similar to his mbti. Also this was way longer than expected :( sorry I just find personality types really fascinating.

I love how well thought out this is!! So well spoken and I'd definitely be inclined to agree with you here! The more and more I read about enneagrams the more I think 3 would totally suit him!

[littleechocosplay]

Some of the DisneyPass photos from Dapper Day! We disneybounded as Buzz and Woody, and I will forever cherish this photo of my boyfriend showing Flynn his smolder. <3

[nomanwalksalone]

THE SINCEREST FORM OF FLATTERY

by Alexander Freeling

It takes a lot of work to make a map, and precious little to copy it. And since map makers, unlike novelists or painters, are all trying to tell the same story, it’s almost impossible to prove whether a competitor has stolen your work or achieved the same results on their own.

This was the problem that Otto Lindberg and Ernest Alpers of the General Drafting Corporation set out to solve in the 1930s with a novel addition to their road map of New York State. They invented a fictional hamlet in the Catskills, called Agloe (an anagram of their initials), intended to catch plagiarists in the act. Since the GDC map was the only source for Agloe, any maps featuring the settlement had clearly stolen their work.

Until some enterprising soul opened a general store. The store, and later the “settlement” itself, took on the name Agloe in county records, and so when Rand McNally included Agloe in their own map in the 1950s, they defended themselves by arguing that the location was, in fact, real.

To make matters worse, in 2008 the novelist John Green used Agloe as a setting for his novel Paper Towns, creating a steady stream of interest in a place that was fiction, made real, made fiction again. Agloe worked as a copyright trap until it existed for real, at which point its real purpose ceased to exist. Inverting Plato’s old complaint about poetry, a copy of a copy turned out to be more real than the original. A lie repeated often enough becomes a gas station.

In fashion there is scant protection for design. Logos can be trademarked, and manufacturing techniques patented, but the fine art of cutting a pattern is without defense. A series of bills put before the U.S. Senate in recent years, such as the Innovative Design Protection and Piracy Prevention act, attempted to extend copyright protection to fashion design, but none have made their way into law. Opponents argue that there’s a huge grey area between direct plagiarism and a general trend (are we really going to declare one brand the owner of the camp collar shirt?), that there are no truly new ideas in fashion, and that the copying economy drives innovation.

Absent legal protection, these disputes often come down to power. In 2016, heritage shoemaker Alden agreed to stop making a bit loafer under pressure from Gucci, backed by its multibillion-euro parent, the Kering group. Yet fast fashion giants, who are constantly accused of replicating both catwalk designs and individual designers, back down only when the case looks so bad that it might cost them more than a few days of twitter outrage. With craft clothing, copying seems especially egregious, since a fast fashion replica of a Neapolitan suit or Belgian loafer doesn’t just steal an idea but divorces it from the traditional techniques which constitute its soul. Linguists joke that the difference between a language and a dialect is having an army and navy. The difference between inspiration and infringement is not far off.

At the same time, it’s undeniable that imitation can lead to creativity, from winking homages to Levi’s jeans to Dapper Dan’s tireless recreations of iconic brands. The difference, in the end, is about spirit. Cynical copying starts and ends in the accounting department; it’s aesthetic arbitrage, utterly indifferent to the product itself. But sincere imitation is real praise; it replicates imperfectly, and all its deviations are attempts to improve, adapt, or just have fun. Japanese Ivy imitated American prep, which in turn imitated English heritage design. Paradoxically, the best kind of imitation misses the mark, and like Agloe, NY, creates something new.

[brudnopis]

Directors mentioned by name:

• Jean-Luc Godard • William Greaves • Christopher Nolan • Judd Apatow • Billy Wilder • Charlie Kaufman (meta!) • George Clooney (mentioned as a handsome celebrity, not a director) • Sidney Drew • Jean-Pierre Melville • Alain Resnais • Oscar Micheaux • Georges Méliès • Wes Anderson (later nicknamed Wanderson) • Martin Scorsese (later as 'Scorseso', then later as 'Marvin Scorsesso') • Quentin Tarantino (deliberately misspelled as 'Tarrantinoo') • Sidney Poitier (mentioned for his acting work in To Sir, With Love) • Alfred Hitchcock • Harvey Weinstein (mentioned as a terrible human being, he also happens to have directing credits) • William Dear (protagonist B. Rosenberg's film professor) • Paul Thomas Anderson (nicknamed Panderson, later mentioned as one of the Paul Andersons) • Jean Cocteau • Ron Howard (as 'Ronson Howard') • Giuseppe de Liguoro • Francesco Bertolini • Adolfo Padovan • Sam Shepard • Vsevolod Pudovkin • Tony Scott (in reference to A.O. Scott, possibly a tribute to the director) • Marc Forster • Zach Helm (as 'Zachary H. Elms', in reference to his Stranger Than Fiction writing credit) • Manolo Cruz • Carlos del Castillo • Lav Diaz • Juho Kuosmanen • Danis Tanovic • Koji Fukada • Thomas Vinterberg • Hannes Holm • Makoto Shinkai • Martin Zandvliet • Preston Sturges • Alec Baldwin (as a Baldwin brother) • Angelia Jolie (as married to Brad Pitt) • Russell Crowe (as 'Russ Crow', for "crazy blinking" in A Beautiful Mind) • W.C. Fields • Luis Bunuel • Alexander Payne • Francois Truffaut • Kurt Maetzig • Lana & Lily Wachowski • David Cronenberg (as 'David Cronenbauer', and later as 'Dave Cronenberg') • Robert Altman (as 'Bobert Altman') • Jean-Pierre & Luc Dardenne • Vittorio De Sica • Satyajit Ray • Bob Balaban (mentioned as an actor in B. Rosenberg's daughter's film, playing a fictionalized version of B.) • Jonah Hill (mentioned as the star of a hypothetical Charlie Kaufman film) • Warren Beatty • Michael Cimino • Diane Keaton (mentioned as who B. had a falling out over with Warren Beatty) • Duke Johnson • Art Clokey • Andrei Tarkovsky • Ray Harryhausen • Willis H. O'Brien (initially misspelled as Wallis O'Brian) • Andy Warhol • Hal Roach • Yoko Ono (mentioned in reference to her art piece 'Wish Tree') • Giovanni Pastrone • Richard Burton (referenced as one of Bettie Page's ex-husbands, which is false) • Goldie Hawn (President Donald J. Trunk has a signed photograph in B.'s dream) • Lin-Manuel Miranda (in reference to a fictional White House rap. Note: Lin's directorial debut is in production) • Mike Myers (in reference to Austin Powers/Dr. Evil) • Alexander Sokurov • Francois Ozon • Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck • Claire Denis • Dome Karukoski • Masato Harada • Jakub Paczek • John Trengove • Charlie Chaplin (mentioned for his "dapper insouciance") • James Cagney (an actor who wore lifts) • Burgess Meredith (an actor who wore lifts) • Al Pacino (an actor who will wear lifts) • Buster Keaton • Melvin Frank • Mike Nichols (as 'Michael Nichols') • Nicolas Cage (mentioned as star of Adaptation.) • Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle • Sofia Coppola • Jerry Lewis • Shawn Levy • Rainer Werner Fassbinder • Paul Reubens (reference to Pee-wee Herman) • Robert Downey Sr. • Werner Herzog • Steven Spielberg (as 'Steve Spielman', later as 'Steve Spielberg') • Frederick Wiseman • John Candy (reference to Uncle Buck) • Beyonce (a safe talking point) • John Carpenter • Stephen King (as author of Christine) • Antonio Campos • James Cagney (as star of Man of a Thousand Faces) • Ludmil Staikov • Burt Reynolds (as star of fictional Children of a Lesser God theatre production) • Gary Oldman (mentioned in reference to his performance as Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour) • Carl Theodor Dreyer • Robert De Niro (incorrectly mentioned as star of Taxi) • Tod Browning • Alan Alda (reference to his character in M*A*S*H) • Ingmar Bergman • Ike Barinholtz • William Friedkin • Maya Deren • Samuel Fuller

Note: Directors most frequently mentioned throughout the novel are Jean-Luc Godard, Christopher Nolan, Judd Apatow, Charlie Kaufman & Wes Anderson.

TV shows mentioned:

• The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1969–1972) • Blossom (1991–1995) • Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969–1974) • The Bernie Mac Show (2001–2006) • Friends (1994–2004) • Grey's Anatomy (2005–present) • M*A*S*H (1972–1983) • Black Mirror (2011–present) • The Twilight Zone (1959–1964) • American Idol (2002–present) • Happy Days (1974–1984) • The Flintstones (1960–1966) • Doctor Who (2005–present) • Fox & Friends (1998–present) • Taxi (1978–1983) • Mad TV (1995–2009) • Trapper John, M.D. (1979–1986) • Bob's Burgers (2011–present)

Fictional films and TV shows mentioned:

• Herbert and Dunham Ride Bicycles (1896) [prologue] • Moutarde (dir. Rene Chauvin) • Gravity in Essence (dir. B. Rosenberg) • Ich Habe Keine Augapfel (dir. Heinrich Telemucher) • Untitled (dir. Ingo Cutbirth) • Help Me, Teach! (starring Robin Williams) • Teacher of the Year II (starring Robin Williams) • The Teacher Who Cared Very Much (starring Robin Williams) • Professor Salvador Sapperstein and the Sad Students of Salisbury High (starring Robin Williams) • Help Me Again, Teach! (starring Robin Williams) • I Am Your Teacher and I Love You (starring Robin Williams) • Jolly Roger (dir. Nunley, 1952) • Found Again (dir. Kertes Onegin) • Thyestes/Obliviate (dir. Tobleg) • 10th Birthday Party for Bobby [home video] • It's Tough Being a Teen Comedian in the Eighties! (dir. Judd Apatow) [#4 in B. Rosenberg's top 10 of 2016.] • Soy un Chimpance (dir. Unknown) • Untitled [orphan film festival film B. Rosenberg watches and describes in detail] • So You Want To Be a Funny Guy? (dir. Judd Apatow) • It's Not Appropriate to Punch Him (Cowlick) • Shrimp Coctail for Two [TV show] • The Doctor Is In[sane]! [TV show] • Who Shall Remain Nameless [hypothetical film directed by B. Rosenberg] • Dysgu i gi bach gachu (dir. Talfan) • Here Come a Coupla Fellas (starring Mudd & Molloy) • Ain't She a Corker, Boys? (starring Lucy Chalmers) • Abbott and Costello meet the Killer Robot From the Phantom Creeps [fictional film within Ingo Cutbirth's film] • Father Nose Jest (dir. Grace Farrow, B. Rosenberg's daughter) • A Coming of Rage Story (dir. Grace Less) [film within Grace Farrow's film above] • Dreams of Absent-Minded Transgression (dir. Charlie Kaufman) • Guns Blazing (dir. B. Rosenberg) [hypothetical film] • Woomin! (dir. Grace Farrow) • Woman of the Ear (dir. Sharon Old Bear) • Citizen Funny Guy (dir. Judd Apatow, a Citizen Kane remake) • The Notorious Vice Lords (starring Lance Farmer, who is an actual tornado) • What's Buzzin', Cousin (starring Rooney & Doodle) • What's Tickin', Chicken [hypothetical competing Abbott & Costello film in Cutbirth's film] • Mudd and Molloy Meet the Unseen Man [planned Mudd & Molloy film] • Fingerspitzengefuhl (dir. Sterne) [#5 in B. Rosenberg's top 10 of 2016.] • Hey, Timothy Gibbons, This Is Your Mother Calling! (dir. Judd Apatow) [#4 in B. Rosenberg's top 10 of 2017.] • Bad Luck in Bumfuck (starring Mudd & Molloy) • Mudd and Molloy Meet the 32 Foot Man (starring Mudd & Molloy) • Well Plastered (starring Rooney & Doodle) • Morons of Arabia [planned Mudd & Molloy film] • Scream Me to Sleep (dir. Egg Friedlander) • I Wake Up Sleeping [film within B's dream] • Willibald and Winibald [Hanna-Barbera TV show] • Pachinko (dir. Eisentstein) • Effluence (dir. Frederick Wiseman, 1978) • Quod Erat Demonstandum (dir. B. Rosenberg) • Issues at Hand (dir. B. Rosenberg) • Cave (dir. Plato) • Lumpy Mattress (dir. Mamoud, 1958) • Kitsui Kutsu (Tight Shoes) (dir. Kitagawa, 1997) • Hey, I'm Not Just a Towel Boy, Fellas (dir. Judd Apatow) • What A Sight! (directed by and starring Calcium, an ant) • Calcium Carbonate (directed by and starring Calcium)

[thesweatycollectiontyrant]

She Loves Me

A blurb about what some (myself) consider the perfect musical. What makes it perfect? Laura Benanti? Probably.

Background Info

This gem of a musical, She Loves Me is a romantic musical comedy based on the 1937 Hungarian play, Parfumerie, written by playwright Miklós László. Clearly, the man was a genius because this play has been adapted so many times. Movies, plays, and clearly, a musical. We follow the “he said, she said” fateful love story of Georg Nowack and Laura Benanti Amalia Balash.

I will have you know that I literally typed Laura Benanti instead of Amalia Balash and I laughed at myself for about three minutes.

The two leads have recently become coworkers at one of the finest parfumeries and do nothing but bicker. Little do they know, they’re in love.

Writers

Music and lyrics were written by the iconic team of Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick, respectively. The sheer genius these two men shared brought some of the most remarkable and incredible shows we have seen. If you don’t know about Jerry and Shelly, you need to hop on that train, and I’d be more than happy to be the ramp you can scurry up to get on the said train with this post. The book was written by Joe Masteroff, who was also known for writing the book for Kander and Ebb’s Cabaret. This show is, in my opinion, one of the staples and greatest examples of musical comedy. She Loves Me punctuated the Golden Age of Broadway with unforgettable music, some of the most beautiful lyrics ever written for the stage, and love radiated throughout the show.

Character List (in order of appearance)

ARPAD LASZLO (Tenor*) - Delivery boy at Maraczek's Parfumerie. His exuberance is infectious and commitment to his job remarkable. He is ambitious and adorable. *What’s cool about this show is that through the years, a lot of keys have changed for different performers. In the original keys, some might refer to Arpad as a Baritone. However, because of the type of character he is and the trope he serves, he is normally played by a Tenor. For many voices, it is by no means unreachable. It sits in a pretty practical range for most lower voices.

LADISLAV SIPOS (Baritone) - Not the brightest employee at Maraczek's Parfumerie. A confidant to Georg, he is an optimistic family man who looks like a huggable father. (I love this character.)

ILONA RITTER (Mezzo-Soprano) - Employed at Maraczek's Parfumerie. She is sexy and learned in the ways of romance, but longing for something more from the game of love. I do want to note that Ilona’s range requires her to sing lower than most of the comedic Mezzo roles of her day! It’s an interesting shift.

STEVEN KODALY (Tenor) -  A well respected and liked employee at Maraczek's Parfumerie. Though he is considered dapper and occasionally charming, he is more of a shallow womanizer. Pronounced “koh-DIE”.

GEORG NOWACK (Baritone) - An established employee of Maraczek's Parfumerie, he resembles a hopeless romantic. Shy, intelligent, and soft-spoken.

MR. MARACZEK (Baritone) - Owner of Maraczek's Parfumerie. With a commanding presence, his dedication to the trade is rivaled only by his faithfulness to his wife.

AMALIA BALASH (Soprano) - The eager new employee at Maraczek's Parfumerie. Despite being a skilled saleswoman, she easily becomes intimidated and nervous. Attractive, bright, and a lover of literature.

Who’s Singing?

I had a few choices to decide on which recording I’d like to profile for the post, and although I love all of them, I have to go with the 2016 Broadway Revival Cast Recording. It truly is an all-star cast. Nicholas Barasch as Arpad Laszlo, Michael McGrath as Ladislav Sipos, Jane Krakowski as Ilona Ritter, Gavin Creel as Steven Kodaly, Zachary Levi as Georg Nowack, Byron Jennings as Mr. Maraczek, and Laura Benanti as Amalia Balash.

Let’s Do This

The number of times I’ve watched the broadcast of this is absolutely unhealthy. This show is genius. I can’t get enough of this. Time to unpack.

The Overture begins with the most beautiful triumphant chords. The grace note motif, then the falling brass. The accordion does their cadenza, then the violin, then the trumpet. We hear the melody that will later be used in Sipos’ solo, “Perspective”. I want to say how essential the offbeat tambourine is in this entire show. The ambiance and essence it creates is uncanny with the Hungarian style of music. I must say, I am a sucker most for Overtures that melt into the Opening Number. We hear a modified “Good Morning, Good Day” motif, and then Arpad’s horn honks, and we’re right into the story; no big finish, no grand Golden Age Overture ending; we are immersed in the story immediately.

“Good Morning, Good Day,” one of the most underrated and beautiful opening numbers in the musical theatre canon, begins in my favorite key, B major. Arpad and Sipos begin having a conversation, greeting each other and discussing the parfumerie, among other things. Then, one by one, the other characters enter, preparing for work. Ilona is first to enter, with Arpad saying “She spent the night with Mr. Kodaly. They always kiss goodbye at the newsstand, then she walks around the block to make us think she’s been home.” In that line alone, we’ve defined that Kodaly and Ilona have a sexual relationship and that Ilona is dumber than a doorknob. Not long after Ritter enters, Kodaly comes out. He sings with such creative adjectives and sophisticated language. He greets Ritter as if they didn’t just have a rendezvous. Nowack enters and sings about such basic and beautiful things, such as the sun and the weather, in opposition to Kodaly’s necessity to magnify his own elegance and elan. The coworkers begin to hypothesize what would happen if they all took the day off. The melody here is a stepwise, ascending scalar motif that builds and builds with so much excitement. My favorite moment of the entire song is the climax, with Kodaly’s statement of “Champagne might be nice with hot hors d’oeuvres!” Gavin Creel’s placement throughout his career this show is simply breathtaking. He truly is one of the most versatile vocalists of our time. They then begin a round of the original melody, still fantasizing about the idea of taking a day off altogether on this beautiful day in Hungary. Ultimately, they decide not to, despite their longing for “a picnic.” Everything culminates in a big “Ah, well,” finished with a big button at the end.

We have moved into the Parfumerie where we are acquainted with the everyday goings-on at Maraczek’s in the song “Sounds While Selling.” Three customers enter and each is being helped by a different worker, Kodaly, Nowack, or Sipos. Sheldon Harnick used this song as a playground for incredible wordplay, as the song is set up as such: since each customer is having a separate conversation with the different clerks, the song is made up of fragments of each of their conversations. This results in such subtle hilarity. Personal favorites: “I would recommend a bath today.” “And a little brush for combing my teeth. Absolutely!” “Here’s an inexpensive perfume called rat.” “If you want to clip your earlobes, if you want to dye your hangnails.” and last but not least, “I would like an eyebrow under my chin.” I’m really glad to know that this type of humor isn’t limited to me cause this stuff is hilarious.

In a nice oom-pa-pa, Mr. Maraczek gets his solo, called “Days Gone By,” where he sings of his younger days, dancing in various venues. Bock and Harnick have this gift for writing nostalgic pieces. This song establishes Maraczek’s relationship with Nowack. He is constantly suspicious of him for a reason we don’t know yet.

In one of my favorite entrances written for a character ever, especially for that of a Golden Age female lead, Amalia Balash enters, desperately looking for a job. Nowack is initially dismissive of having an interview, stating that there isn’t really a need for more clerks/workers. A rather unpleasant customer enters as Amalia is speaking with Georg, and she tries out her selling skills right in front of the other clerks through her first solo, “No More Candy.” She is trying to sell a music box. Laura Benanti is masterful at everything she does. I would analyze, but I don’t want to spoil. It’s a really adorable, fun, and special moment.

The day is done and Amalia is hired. There’s a montage of Georg writing letters to his penpal lover, who is referred to throughout as “Dear Friend.” Unbeknownst to him, this happens to be his new coworker and evil nemesis, the devil herself, Amalia Balash (see below).

During the song, Arpad shows the shift in time, indicating that we have now arrived in Autumn. The intricacy concerning seasons and weather is such an interesting concept in this show. It brings a sentimentality to it that I don’t know how to define yet. The melody in this song is so hummable, too. Simple and kind of jazzy. Anyway, this is the song in which we realize that Georg and Amalia are lovers through letters and rivals through revenue.

Georg gets his solo, “Tonight at Eight.” A Bock and Harnick patter song was rather scarce, but this is a hallmark of the style. Zachary Levi is such a fun and energetic performer. He has such a cool and interestingly warm tone to his voice. In this song, Nowack is talking to Sipos about his date with “Dear Friend” that will commence at 8pm and describing the anxieties surrounding meeting this special person that he has such feelings for, yet has never met. It’s truly a masterpiece in writing on Bock and Harnick’s ends. 

Amalia and Ilona become close friends and confidants during “I Don’t Know His Name.” Amalia describes her love life to Ilona and Ilona, deeply concerned, gives her advice on how to deal with this “Dear Friend.” Amalia reveals a lot about Georg through this song, stating that he also is a big literature fan, who also enjoys Chopin, along with many other sophisticated forms of art and enjoyment. Ilona is much more of a ravenous lover. The chord progression in this song is so out there, but it sounds completely together and connected.

"Perspective,” Sipos’ solo, which is a complete and undeniable banger, is a lecture to Georg about how he has to submit to the people who are in charge of him, simply because in the grand scheme of things, we matter so little. In my opinion, this is the most Hungarian song in the show. The chorus starts slow and slowly gets faster and faster. The tambourine is playing on all of the upbeats, the woodwinds are going crazy. Sipos is an incredibly funny character, and this song amplifies so much about his mindset.

"Goodbye, Georg” is the song that is sung when Georg is forced to quit his job at Maraczek’s. During this, we hear a bit of reprise from Sounds While Selling. The clerks and employees say a heartfelt goodbye to Georg.

“Will He Like Me?” is one of the most underrated songs in all of musical theatre. This is Amalia’s version of “Tonight at Eight.” The entire song has this flow throughout. There is so much rubato, and it really is up to the singer to lead. We get to see the perspective of a woman that we have met at an emotional surface level. Amalia repeatedly reprimands herself for “carry[ing] on this way,” showing that she may have been in a situation where she was forced to keep her thoughts to herself. The bridge is the most beautiful part of the song. Benanti sings

“When I am in my room alone and I write, thoughts come easily; words come fluently then. That’s how it is when I’m alone, but tonight, there’s no hiding behind my paper and pen.”

That couplet alone is such a gorgeous explanation of one’s feelings. Amalia probably isn’t the kind of person who has had many successful dates or good relationships. This is a big moment for her. Musically, this song is everywhere. It explores such beautiful harmonic relationships. The orchestral accompaniment surges and wanes at just the right moment every single time. Brava to Benanti. Truly.

Now the time has come for Creel to unleash. “Ilona” is the emergence of a scene where Kodaly asks Ilona on a date. Hilarity and amazing vocals ensue. The choreography is simply iconic from this production. Dare I say, this show was Creel’s vocal Golden Age.

After all of the craziness that has just happened, Ilona is greatly upset by Kodaly because he tells her he must reschedule. Her song “I Resolve” is a song that honestly should be in many more people’s audition books. It’s got an interesting melody and has a lot of power.

We are nearing the end of Act One, and the date has finally started. Georg goes to meet this “Dear Friend” and discovers that the “Dear Friend” is Amalia Balash. His worst enemy. A few numbers ensue, including “A Romantic Atmosphere” which gives the ensemble (if the production has one) a little bit of time to shine.

Amalia believes that she has been stood up by this person she loves so dearly. She culminates the act in a beautiful solo, “Dear Friend.” She says “Please make it right. Don’t break my heart. Don’t let it end, dear friend.” I’ve always seen this song as sort of a double entendre; as if this is the moment that Amalia realizes that she has feelings for Georg. She is speaking to her penpal, her coworker, and they happen to be the same exact person.

I appreciate that the Entr’acte is on this recording. It’s a reprise of the motifs from “Days Gone By” and “Good Morning, Good Day.”

This leads to a scene in Mr. Maraczek’s hospital room (no spoilers, watch the musical) where Arpad is visiting to try to convince him to hire him on as a sales clerk. Arpad sees this is as the perfect opportunity to assist and help with Maraczek, and does so through his solo, “Try Me.” Maraczek begins coaching him through different scenarios, and Arpad runs with it. This song is really a monologue set to music, but it is so obviously a song. Every word in this song is so necessary. It also has one of the most musically complex arcs of any songs in this show thus far, which becomes a theme throughout the second act. Arpad truly astonishes Mr. Maraczek, leaving him to truly consider bringing him on as a clerk.

"Where’s My Shoe?” might be one of my favorite songs in this show. Amalia has fallen into a deep depression and calls in sick. Georg goes to visit her, and she insists that she must go to work. This duet is so funny in a similar way to the “Sounds While Selling” comedy. Amalia and Georg are having conversational dialogue through music. This is the bread and butter of romantic comedy.

Georg leaves “Vanilla Ice Cream” with Amalia as a sweet gesture. She discovers that he likes her. She realizes she likes him but actually verbalizes it this time. If you listen really closely, you can here the flutes playing the melody from “Dear Friend” during the opening section; the motif gives a hint that Amalia may be putting two and two together. The song is in four distinct sections, an ABAB form if you will. Amalia has this incredibly written sung monologue with “Vanilla Ice Cream.” Benanti truly fleshes out the music on the page and the lyrics in the script, because this is the kind of performance that I can’t get enough. The song ends with a cadenza, leading to a High B to be heard through the nation.

Some could say this began with “Try Me” but Act Two, truly beginning with “Vanilla Ice Cream” begins a string of solos for the four main characters. Georg gets his solo with “She Loves Me,” Ilona with “A Trip to the Library,” and Kodaly, with his grand farewell to Maraczek’s, “Grand Knowing You.” All of these songs are so brilliant. I’ll talk a little bit more about them down below.

Christmas has finally rolled around, and snow has permeated the streets of Hungary. The company, including the shoppers and ensemble, has come to Maraczek’s to do their final shopping in the last “Twelve Days to Christmas.” This song has such energy. I love this as a big ensemble number.

The musical culminates with Amalia and Georg confessing their love to each other and revealing that they are each other’s “Dear Friends.”

Audition Songs

This show is chock-full of incredible solo material that you can bring into auditions.

“No More Candy” - Amalia Balash, Db4-Fb5

What you need for this song is charm. You also need a lovely head voice. It is kind of stern in its approach. It’s a charming little song that would get you noticed, as this is one of Amalia’s lesser-performed solos (of her FOUR like how amazing is that). I could see this being a good song for an audition for Carrie Pipperidge from Carousel. In terms of more modern shows, I feel like this song would be really good for Alice Beineke in The Addams Family (as this is undeniably her energy), Jennie Brinker in Allegro, Phoebe D’Ysquith in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins, Princess Fiona in Shrek, Hope Cladwell in Urinetown, and possibly most of all, Glinda Upland in Wicked.

“Tonight at Eight” - Georg Nowack, D#3-E4

Patter, not the craziest range, really energetic and frantic energy. This is definitely chaotic good. Great song for auditions.

“Perspective” - Ladislav Sipos, A2-E4

This song is so undeniably matter of fact. Great for more dry and sarcastic characters. 

“Will He Like Me?” - Amalia Balash, B3-F#5

Some of the most beautiful lyrics of the Golden Age are found in this song. If you’re going out for a Julie Jordan type, this is your song. A more serious Soprano who might have some room to play quirky is what’s perfect for this song. I highly HIGHLY recommend this for people. The song is beautiful and so full of heart. The melody is gorgeous and simple. You can play with the lyrics in so many ways. This is a great song to make completely your own.

“I Resolve” - Ilona Ritter, A3-Bb4

I love that this song isn’t very rangy, but it’s great to pick a cut from. Kind of a pre-angst.

“Dear Friend” - Amalia Balash, Db4-F5

This song sits up there. This is recommended for Sopranos who have a lighter voice. Big melancholy hours with this one. Again, recommended for a Julie Jordan type.

“Try Me” - Arpad Laszlo, Bb2-E4

This song was, according to a couple of voice teachers that I talked to, a perfect song to give out, then the revival happened and everyone and their little brother started singing it. I do think this is an incredible song. Great character piece for a younger singer.

“Vanilla Ice Cream” - Amalia Balash, D4-B5

When someone who’s been behind the audition table for a long time hears She Loves Me, they immediately think “Vanilla Ice Cream.” This song is perfect in so many ways because of so many reasons. There is an opportunity for self-realization, comedy, honesty, and high notes. This song is not for the faint of heart.

“She Loves Me” - Georg Nowack, Eb3-F4

This song is SO fun. Baritones and Tenors who might sit a little lower can take their crack at this song. I wouldn’t call this patter, but it’s definitely a character piece. I’d love to see this song in more audition books!

“A Trip to the Library” - Ilona Ritter, G3-C#5

Ilona’s songs are great for belters who don’t have the crazy high belt notes that are expected for just about every Mezzo these days. Great character piece. Patter sections included.

“Grand Knowing You” - Steven Kodaly, D3-A4

It is completely unbeknownst to me how this has not become THE Tenor showpiece. It has everything you want: Narcissism, high notes, and is incredibly fun to sing. More people should have this in their books! Of course, those who can sing it well. Gavin Creel set that bar really high.

To Wrap It Up

This show as a whole is sort of a gift to the musical theatre lover. It has the perfect aspects of a musical comedy. My favorite device used is that every single principal has a solo! Amalia has four, Georg has two, Ilona has two, Kodaly has one (completely to himself), Sipos has one, Arpad has one, and Maraczek has one too! It feels whole in a way. Act Two consists of mostly solos, one after the other; but while watching, it doesn’t feel like it’s slowing down. The pace surges the entire show. There are spots where it drags in my opinion. Though fun and showy, the end of Act One does drag in some spots. “A Romantic Atmosphere” was skipped for a reason :/

I love this score so much. It has so much personality and flair. I would recommend that every fan of musical theatre listens to this cast recording, or if you can find it. watch the broadcast of the last Broadway revival. It’ll make your heart a little fuller.

Get it.