#splendid renditions

[chiropteracupola]

you could rate eotn adaptations by the quality of the version of 'the girl i kissed at clusium' that they sing...

[nostalgebraist]

I feel like I've had the same experience several times now: someone does a new translation of a non-English literary classic, and all the critics praise it to the moon, so I go and try to read it, and it's turns out it's just . . . bad? Like, really bad? And weirdly bad?

A while back, I wrote about the case of Pevear and Volokhonsky. Here's another example, which I encountered while doing background research for my novel Almost Nowhere.

----

One of my novel's major characters is a literary translator, famous for his rendition of the Persian epic poem Shahnameh ("Book of Kings").

To help me write this character, I tried to read the Shahnameh myself. I started out – where else? – with the translation that seemed to be the gold standard, and which was certainly the most critically lauded.

Namely, the 2006 translation by Dick Davis, in prose with occasional shifts into verse.

Here's how the Shahnameh begins, in Davis' translation:

What does the Persian poet say about the first man to seek the crown of world sovereignty? No one has any knowledge of those first days, unless he has heard tales passed down from father to son. This is what those tales tell: The first man to be king, and to establish the ceremonies associated with the crown and throne, was Kayumars. When he became lord of the world, he lived first in the mountains, where he established his throne, and he and his people dressed in leopard skins. It was he who first taught men about the preparation of food and clothing, which were new in the world at that time. Seated on his throne, as splendid as the sun, he reigned for thirty years. He was like a tall cypress tree topped by the full moon, and the royal farr shone from him. All the animals of the world, wild and tame alike, reverently paid homage to him, bowing down before his throne, and their obedience increased his glory and good fortune.

And here is the same opening, in the 1905 translation by Arthur and Edmond Warner (which I only discovered much later in the process of writing Almost Nowhere):

What saith the rustic bard? Who first designed To gain the crown of power among mankind? Who placed the diadem upon his brow? The record of those days hath perished now Unless one, having borne in memory Tales told by sire to son, declare to thee Who was the first to use the royal style And stood the head of all the mighty file. He who compiled the ancient legendary, And tales of paladins, saith Gaiúmart Invented crown and throne, and was a Sháh. This order, Grace, and lustre came to earth When Sol was dominant in Aries And shone so brightly that the world grew young. Its lord was Gaiúmart, who dwelt at first Upon a mountain; thence his throne and fortune Rose. He and all his troop wore leopard-skins, And under him the arts of life began, For food and dress were in their infancy. He reigned o'er all the earth for thirty years, In goodness like a sun upon the throne, And as a full moon o'er a lofty cypress So shone he from the seat of king of kings. The cattle and the divers beasts of prey Grew tame before him; men stood not erect Before his throne but bent, as though in prayer, Awed by the splendour of his high estate, And thence received their Faith.

Now, I can't speak at all about the source text. I have no idea how faithful or unfaithful these two translations are, and in what ways, in which places.

Still, though. I mean like, come on.

This is an epic poem about ancient kings and larger-than-life heroes.

This is a national epic, half myth and half history, narrating the proud folkloric lineage claimed by a real-world empire.

There is a way that such things are supposed to sound, in English. And it sure as hell isn't this:

What does the Persian poet say about the first man to seek the crown of world sovereignty?

Excuse me? That's your opening line? I thought I was reading a poem, here, not taking a fucking AP World Literature exam!

----

Postscript

Some of the critical praise for the Davis translation, quoted on the back cover of my copy (emphasis mine):

"A poet himself, Davis brings to his translation a nuanced awareness of Ferdowsi's subtle rhythms and cadences. His "Shahnameh" is rendered in an exquisite blend of poetry and prose, with none of the antiquated flourishes that so often mar translations of epic poetry." (Reza Aslan, The New York Times Book Review) "Thanks to Davis's magnificent translation, Ferdowsi and the Shahnameh live again in English.” (Michael Dirda, Washington Post) "A magnificent accomplishment . . . [Davis’s translation] is not only the fullest representation of Ferdowsi’s masterpiece in English but the best." (The New York Sun)

[howmanyholesinswisscheese]

More Sherlock & Co Headcanons

Because y'all like the first ones so much.

Mariana is one of those heathens who eats the kernels at the bottom of the popcorn bowl and enjoys it.

John and Sherlock have a rotating cast of answers to the age old client question, "So are you two...?" which only serve to confuse the asker even more. It's an incredibly enjoyable sport. Sherlock often just plays dumb, to John's enormous amusement. It's their favorite inside joke.

When he does actually eat it, Sherlock's go-to breakfast food is a boiled egg and soldiers. Fight me. I will not stand for boiled eggs and soldiers slander they are amazing and Sherlock knows it.

John keeps a collection of bloopers/funny moments he's recorded during cases in a folder on his computer. When he's feeling down, he puts in his earplugs and listens to them. He never fails to get a laugh out of it.

Speaking of language headcanons in the last post, Sherlock speaks fluent Spanish (because of course he does). Sometimes he and Mariana have innocuous conversations in Spanish just to mess with John. He finally gets what it's like to be a stranger watching them all converse in BSL.

Sherlock has a strong appreciation for the musical arts. Once, after a particularly sour case, John took Sherlock to the orchestra to lighten his mood. Sherlock didn't express much outward enjoyment, still drained from the previous week's labor, but the next day the pieces they'd heard rang out through the flat as Sherlock's touch brought them to life from memory on his violin. John found this version infinitely more beautiful than any orchestra. and he even glimpsed the ghost of a smile as Sherlock lost himself in the music.

You know how everyone has a different little doodle they do when they're bored and they've got a pen and a bit of paper around? Well, Sherlock does mandalas and circle scribbles, John does little smiley faces and zig zags, and Mariana writes peoples names in calligraphy.

@obsessed-sketches and I both agree Sherlock wears a really heavy, well-worn coat for the deep-pressure stimulation. And a scarf, because those are absolutely splendid to play/fiddle with and being all wrapped up just adds a whole nother dimension to it all.

John uses Microsoft Edge as his default browser. Mariana's exasperated protests have been completely futile in convincing him to switch and to be honest, who knows if there's any hope left for him anymore.

Speaking of browsers, Sherlock would be such a boss at the 2048 game.

Someday I'm gonna have to write a dance lesson fic, because the idea of Sherlock teaching John to dance for a case lives in my head rent free for literally every SH rendition but these two especially. Sherlock freely infodumping about the history of each song he plays as he shows John how to waltz, John filling the silence with nervous rambling, that rapport setting in and them just falling into step after a few minutes and forgetting time is even passing... I know I mostly HC them as a QPR but dear god the intimacy in that may kill me.

Mariana once introduced Sherlock to the National Day Calendar. National Cellophane Tape Day, National Life Insurance Day, National Raspberry Popover Day, and the likes are now slipped happily into conversations at 221B under Sherlock's firm belief that each one is on par with Christmas in terms of their significance in the public eye. Slay, Sherlock. National Days are awesome.

John makes the cutest sleep noises.

Yk how i said Sherlock likes rainbow sour straps. If you've ever eaten sour straps, you'll know there are two ways to eat them: whole, or by tearing the colours into strips. Clearly, as a civilised human being, Sherlock does the latter.

SHERLOCK WOULD TOTALLY WRITE AWESOME POETRY AND READ IT OUT AND JOHN AND MARIANA WOULD BE STUNNED INTO AWESTRUCK SILENCE

Mariana wears those really big hoop earrings. You know the ones.

AAAAH i should stop before this becomes a mammoth block of text. Maybe I'll make a part three.

Thank you kindly for being unwillingly subjected to my opinions coming to my TED talk.

[angel-clouve]

Presenting to you a silly headcanon: Zenji singing "Happy Birthday" while playing his biwa to every person he knows has a birthday on that day 🪕🎶

(Edited on 09/03/2024 to fix grammar mistakes and formatting)

The recipient of this special performance was just left confused—or downright freaked out—at the sight of a floating biwa playing a rendition of birthday song in front of them (How did this biwa anomaly even know about their birthday???)

The more sensitive people might or might not also hear a male voice singing alongside the sound of biwa playing and ended up fleeing the scene before Zenji could even finished his performance.

A very exasperated Haku was always spotted nearby every time this curious occurrence happened (probably also being asked by Zenji beforehand to record his performance for future review material)

If PC and/or Subaru was also there with him as fellow eyewitness, they would share sheepish smiles with each other and offered Haku a pat on the back.

After Zenji finished his mini birthday recital—regardless if the birthday person was still there standing or already vanishing—he would ask for opinions from his friends about his performance.

Whether he received praises from PC and/or Subaru or a lighthearted threat from Haku to confiscate his biwa, he will always strive to give an even more splendid performance for the next birthday person he encounters.

[sgiandubh]

Jottings: Season 7, Episode 2. Nothing compares to them

A tiny, but welcome disclaimer: I have not read all the OL books yet, so do not expect witty repartees and connecting the dots with the current book follow-up by the series. In fact, I am still struggling right now with Voyager, after I gave a resolute middle finger and an excruciating amount of time to Dragonfly in Amber, which bored me to death with its sketchy depiction of eighteenth-century Paris. Unpopular opinion, I know: I can't help it, since I consider Paris, for many personal reasons, as my second, beloved home.

There go my two cents, with little to no spoilers. There is much to savor in there:

I thought I couldn't bear to watch one more single time Sinéad O'Connor's rendition of ye olde Skye Boat Song. I was wrong. I think it is exactly what this season needs: a bit bruised & battered & breathless. The perfect tinge of rough around the edges. This is no walk in the park and hers is the right cue, setting the tone for all the rest.

Vlachos. Excellent. Loved every second of it.

I suppose everybody will talk about the Look Jamie gave Claire right after Insufferable Bree gives birth to wee Mandy. I cackled all by myself, which is not even surprising. And so will you, Shippers United. Mark me.

SS upgraded a bit her game, to the extent she doesn't sound all the time like reciting United Airlines' flight schedule. She and Rankin finally manage to pull off a decent rapport (chemistry will always be at a deep-frozen 0). So, rejoice: at least they don't look like the mean troop leader forced them to share the same tent at Camp Sunrise. It's all fine and dandy, until she relaxes and slips back into that horrific, East Coast wannabe accent. Sorry, not sorry.

Did Lizzie say ”Fraser's Fridge”, when reading the birth announcement, or am I hearing things again? Now that's an earworm, sheesh...

Vandervaart looks promising enough, but what do I know, after a two-minutes scene with SS? Court is adjourned.

LJG & JAMMF, what a powerful, ambiguous, elegant scene. Tension is mounting, and this is when you crack open the Netflix & Chill'd ice cream bucket. It will come in handy, trust me.

The fireflies' scene was the death of me. There is something extraordinary about S's superb ability to speak volumes without uttering a single word. There is so much love and such despair to capture Bree's face, Bree's voice, Bree's alien joy when she mentions damn Mickey Mouse, and keep them forever. Did I ugly cry? I let out a sincere Fuuuuuck and couldn't help it. This is when the box of tissues came in handy, and you know, damn the consequences.

Dear (?) Diana Gabaldon: GET THAT WONDERFUL MAN THROUGH THE STONES, WHERE THERE'S PENICILLIN AND A HOT BATH AND A HIGHER AVERAGE LIFE EXPECTANCY, STAT.

Yeah, sure. She missed that point five seasons ago, why do I even bother?

Spoiler: "What was it like.... there? It was.... magical". BOOO-HOOO-HOOO (I have no qualms).

Jeremiah's wooden toy plane in the streets of Wilmington and then the real thing across the sky, just after the little family gets through the stones. Clever reminder of that plane landing in Boston, with Claire, Bree and TMcG... ho-hum ... Frank Randall, after Culloden.

And finally, since I would really like to let you enjoy the wonderful last quarter of it, Jamie and Claire. That unspeakable tenderness that keeps us all completely spellbound. This is S&C acting, how could it be otherwise: and splendid, at that. But their acting, since that chemistry test, is informed by clear, present, deep feelings. We know. They know we know.

And they got their mojo back. I always hoped and prayed they will go out with a bang, not a fizzle. And it seems I was right. Fingers crossed. I trust them and, as always, I trust my gut.

[lostmyremembrall]

📖

Hiiiii!! Can i request the prompt 14?

📖𝟏𝟒: 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐥𝐦 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐓𝐨𝐦...

𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐁𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐝 (𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐓𝐨𝐦 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐚𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠)

𝐺𝑒𝑛𝑟𝑒: 𝑅𝑜𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒, 𝐹𝑙𝑢𝑓𝑓

𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑒 𝐽𝑜𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 1𝐾 𝐸𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑡!

A/N: Of course! Hope you enjoy it! Had a lot of fun writing Tom being an asshole. But we love to see it.

You regretted instantly at the title screen. Days of begging Tom to watch a horror movie with you, ignoring the barely audible groans and eye rolls. ‘Tis the season’ you said, wanting to amp yourself up to the coming Hallowe’en feast.

You loved Hallowe’en. It felt right and appropriate to be a witch, living in a spooky castle, stirring cauldrons and flying on broomsticks. Tom always found muggle’s idea of horror to be cliche, perhaps due to his distaste for the muggle’s version of its celebration. To quote his words, apparently “the muggle’s rendition of our traditions is horrendously cheesy– and not scary.”

 Which is why it was surprising when Tom proposed a surprise date and showed you his room turned cinema. He smiled proudly and presented you with three film rolls: the Conjuring I, the Exorcist, and… the Nightmare Before Christmas.

“The last option’s there for you, if you need it,” he raised a challenging brow, attempting to contain his smirk.

You guffawed at the audacity of your boyfriend.

You snatched the film reel from his hands with the barely legible handwriting of the Conjuring I. “Not. Necessary,” you met his challenging gaze on your tiptoes before pushing the reel against his chest.

He bit down on his smile and proceeded to set up the film as you laid down on his bed. The projector faced the large headboard of his bed, making it convenient to lie down and watch the film.

You rested your chin on your hand as he joined next to you.

“Thank you for doing this, Tom,” you beamed at him, despite the former teasing. “I’m going to enjoy this.”

Tom angled his face towards you, taking the moment to observe you with the usual unreadable expression, as if deep in thought.

“You know, I have a good feeling,” he murmured. “Me too,” with one last side glance towards you, he popped a few popcorns into his mouth, and turned his attention to the projection.

You shrugged off his enigmatic response and turned your attention to the projection as well.

Not merely two minutes later, you were already reaching for the large snake soft toy that you’d previously given Tom for Christmas.

This was no skeletons dancing and doing a musical number. This was no Tim Burton.

You clutched the animal as the creepy doll stared at the camera.

“Y/N,” Tom sighed.  “Nothing has happened yet.” He did not even have to look at you to know you were terrified.

You scrunched up your nose. “Yes, but we know something is about to happen.”

You waved at the projection, now showing two women fearfully stepping into their apartment. “The lighting, the music.”

“It’s not my fault the filmmakers did a splendid job,” you mumbled and took more popcorn.

You shrieked when there was a loud banging at their apartment’s door, burying your face into the neck of the snake. Unable to take your eyes off, your fearful wide eyes continued to watch the scene.

All of this, Tom watched without a word. Noticing the direction of his gaze, you did a double-take to find him staring at you. At this point, he was no longer watching the film. As his hand reached for more popcorn, you came to realise that he’d found another, better source of entertainment. In his eyes, a shimmer of amusement danced as he watched you jump in terror at more banging on the door.

“Tom!” flabbergasted, you were speechless save for the name of the man who supposedly cared for you.

Tom shrugged nonchalantly, popping a few more popcorn into his mouth. “I did say I’m going to enjoy this,” his words slightly muffled by the popcorn still in his mouth.

You ended up hiding your eyes for the majority of the film. Over the screams and shouts from the film, you occasionally caught him chuckling at you, mumbling something about knowing this were going to happen.

“Tom?” you peeked up towards your boyfriend, momentarily releasing his poor mangled snake.

“Hm?” he responded without looking away from the scene. Apparently, the climax was intriguing enough to warrant his attention.

You fidgeted, the prospect of the coming night suddenly becoming a real and serious problem as it neared the end of the film. It was going to be a long night before the break of dawn.

“Can I sleep with you tonight?”

You guiltily pouted, knowing full well he was going to respond with an annoyed growl, ‘I told you so’, or quite possibly both.

“No.”

You bit your lips. That was cold.

But, knowing the extent he had to go through to set up this date night, it was very understandable.

Trying to gauge whether he was upset with you, you continued to stare at the side of his face, which was revealing no emotion whatsoever as a man got severed in half with a chainsaw.

His eyes flickered over to you, noting your silence.

For a moment, you thought his blank expression faltered. His eyes wavered between yours for a flicker of a second, showing genuine sympathy.

He groaned, finally rolling his eyes away from you.

“Come on,” he swung his arm across your back, pulling you closer to him. So abrupt, your face smushed into his sweatered chest as you fell to your side, eliciting a muffled giggle out of you. You smiled against his sweater which was somewhat scratchier than the snake toy, breathing in the comforting scent of Tom. Shielded in his arm, the film – the screams, the bloodshed, all of it – eventually slipped away from your consciousness.

“Of course you can,” his calm voice echoed above you.

[frankenwolf1564]

Transformers ONE Optimus Prime and Megatron: ONE shall stand, ONE shall fall

Trying another little something this week, kind of a blend between a photo gallery and a full review. Not as in depth or with as much background as a full review but more complex than my notes on a gallery. Hasbro Deluxes are like… the default transformer toy? So there’s usually nothing exceptional to say about what the actual figure can do. “It has a waist swivel, it has a bicep swivel, it has an ankle tilt.” Standards have risen substantially over the past, like, decade, especially post Siege, so while there are standouts, the context of a toy will usually be a meatier discussion. I’ll still mention accessories and stuff but I’m not going over every point of articulation.

Starting with Optimus, he’s a fine little lad! He’s on the smaller end of the deluxe scale, not quite mini-bot, but close. That might be a bit small for some people’s taste, but it does leave him as the perfect size to work as cogged Orion Pax, especially when stood next to the Studio Series Optimus. It helps that most of the elements that distinctly denote him as “Optimus” are his accessories. The smokestacks can unpeg, the axe is completely optional, and the matrix isn’t even visible tucked away behind his thinner, opaque chest window. Nearly everything else that feels like Prime is just from the two forms looking fairly similar. The biggest thing that’s baked in is his face, which is molded with the classic mouth plate. Given the scale and some of the styling at play, he works wonderfully as the Autobot Leaders younger self. I’d even be willing to look past the SS’ weird color choices and get him too if it weren’t for something we’ll get into later.

Rounding out Orion, he’s a little lacking in articulation thanks to his slightly lower price point, with no ankle tilt and slight clearance issues in his arms, but you can still get him into a wide range of poses, no problem. It might just take a little more balancing. I love how the fingers are sculpted into the axe. It’s close to how it works in the film and is just fucking cool, innit? Optimus feels incomplete without an Ion Blaster but it’s not a deal breaker. You can use the smokestacks as guns if you really want anyhow, though they are a bit dinky. The axe tucks away neatly on his back, and the matrix is as nicely sculpted as ever. I like the more Prime styled handles, though they are mostly just to let him hold it.

His truck mode is cute. It rolls fine and does the job. I said Deluxes don’t have much to talk about when it comes to what they can do.

Moving on to Megatron, he’s similarly splendid! Like SS ONE Prime his colors are a bit off, having used an off grey compared to the movies shiny silver, but it’s much more at home on Megatron, and it doesn’t look like it’s just yellowing, either. The rest of him looks great anyhow! He’s well sculpted and the muted red pairs nicely. It’s a great rendition of the character but… that fusion cannon is seriously hurting selling him as Megatron. The tri-barreld cannon didn’t have quite as much screen time, but it is a huge visual distinction that clearly sets him apart from just being D-16. The sculpting and such are absolutely that of his final form with the harsher angles, but like Orion and Optimus there isn’t a massive visual shift between the two forms and the cannon isn’t doing him any favors.

He shares many points of articulation with Optimus, with a few improvements and one or two downgrades. He gains a second hinge in his elbows, his wrists swivel, his ankles tilt and his feet can rock, but he can. Not look up. Like at all. His head swivels just fine, and he can look down, thanks to the transformation, but that one thing really hinders what you can do with him. You’re forced to stick with more static poses unless you want him looking at the ground all the time. Or at least. I was.

The tank mode is fun! There’s also more to talk about here so- Nothing’s coming undone once it’s all pegged together and it’s a dead ringer for what we see in the film. It’s definitely one of my favorite tank Megatrons in recent years and in general. The turret is just “alright” though. The swivel is located above the hinge so it’s hard to point it up in any one direction other than straight forward and have it look natural. It also unpegs a tad easily…

Megatron has a couple things that could have used a little more work, but they’d probably require bumping him up a size class to get more parts. Things like the head, maybe his shoulders and hips, a few minor bits that we’ve seen done better elsewhere. He could have easily gotten the triple barrel cannon as well. I really like him at this size though? I wouldn’t want him any bigger, and none of those things are a deal breaker. All of this comes with zero kibble, too. Honestly my biggest complaint is that there isn’t a mainline Deluxe version of him. I’d have gladly gotten both Orion Pax and D-16 and Optimus Prime and Megatron, but they didn’t release a Prime Changers D-16. I have no reason to also get the SS Optimus, as I’m happy with the Prime Changers and that doesn’t have a direct Decepticon counterpart, so the whole set would forever be incomplete. Hasbro I want to give you my money please-

[high-school-lit-tournament]

High School Lit Tournament Quarter-Finals

Pride and Prejudice: Pride And Prejudice, the story of Mrs. Bennet's attempts to marry off her five daughters is one of the best-loved and most enduring classics in English literature. Excitement fizzes through the Bennet household at Longbourn in Hertfordshire when young, eligible Mr. Charles Bingley rents the fine house nearby. He may have sisters, but he also has male friends, and one of these—the haughty, and even wealthier, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy—irks the vivacious Elizabeth Bennet, the second of the Bennet girls. She annoys him. Which is how we know they must one day marry. The romantic clash between the opinionated Elizabeth and Darcy is a splendid rendition of civilized sparring. As the characters dance a delicate quadrille of flirtation and intrigue, Jane Austen's radiantly caustic wit and keen observation sparkle (source).

To Kill a Mockingbird: The unforgettable novel of a childhood in a sleepy Southern town and the crisis of conscience that rocked it. [...] Compassionate, dramatic, and deeply moving, "To Kill A Mockingbird" takes readers to the roots of human behavior - to innocence and experience, kindness and cruelty, love and hatred, humor and pathos. Now with over 18 million copies in print and translated into forty languages, this regional story by a young Alabama woman claims universal appeal. Harper Lee always considered her book to be a simple love story. Today it is regarded as a masterpiece of American literature.

[krispyweiss]

Billy Strings and Chris Thile Blow Minds on “CBS Saturday Morning”

- Two players, three songs and one duo that should play together more often

Their second time playing together also represented Billy Strings and Chris Thile’s national-television debut as a duo.

And while some music lovers might’ve expected more from their Feb. 3 appearance on “CBS Saturday Morning” that’d been insane. For Strings and Thile, arguably the greatest guitarist and mandolinist their generation has produced, blew not only Sound Bites’ mind - but their own minds as well.

Thile couldn’t help but chuckle when Strings hit on a particularly splendid riff during their up-tempo rendition of “I’ve Been All around this World.” And the laughter continued as the song progressed, causing Strings to call for an extra bar.

The intricate interplay continued on the instrumental “I am a New Pilgrim,” during which they wrapped their instruments into a double helix of their respective musical DNA. This number was subdued in its delivery but Strings and Thile’s facial expressions betrayed the intensity that went in to making this music.

There was one mic - and no amplifier - for the pair to play and sing into as they performed and they offered “Wild Bill Jones” as a vocal duet - their very different voices blending into one glorious sound of joy. Each watched the other for silent cues and responded appropriately as the music cascaded from their brains to their hands to viewers’ ears.

They ended it with a high-five. If only Strings and Thile had been given more time - that’s the one thing sane folks could’ve wish for because the duo deserved the entire broadcast. For even with the sky-high expectations that accompany such a pairing, Strings and Thile exceeded them.

2/3/24

[twistedtummies2]

Top 15 Mickey Mouse Appearances

“I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing: that it was all started by a mouse.” Today marks the official 100th Anniversary of the Walt Disney Company. Having counted down my Top 15 favorites among their animated features, I think the time has come to take a look at the company’s mascot, and arguably their most famous and iconic character creation: Mickey Mouse. The exact origins of Mickey are somewhat shrouded in myth and speculation, but regardless of all the details behind how he was created, why he was created, and just who, specifically, should get the majority of the credit FOR his creation, one thing is certain: Mickey is quite possibly the single most popular cartoon star in the world, alongside or perhaps even surpassing Bugs Bunny. For some, he is a representation of innocence and optimism; for others, he’s more simply a pop culture phenomenon or a spokesperson for merchandise. Whatever you think of him, this little rodent isn’t going away anytime soon, and remains the avatar of Disney itself, partially because he was originally voiced by the company’s chief founder, Walt Disney. I thought it would be fun, on this auspicious day, to look back on Mickey’s history over the years, and list some of my favorites of his more noteworthy appearances. Several of these appeared on a very old list I made on DeviantArt several years ago; that list is severely outdated, however, in several places. So for those of you who might remember it, don’t worry about it: this countdown will be more accurate, expansive, and up to date. I won’t be counting down any of Mickey’s classic theatrical cartoons, I should point out; you won’t be seeing “The Mad Doctor” or “Steamboat Willie” here. This is simply because…well…there are a LOT of Mickey Mouse cartoons, and picking the ones I love most is a mammoth undertaking I don’t want to really attempt at the present. Instead, we’ll be talking about all of Mickey’s other major appearances: video games, movies, TV shows, and maybe - just maybe - we might even cover a comic or two. With that said, let’s waste no time! Slap on your circle-eared headbands, and tell the club to begin the march! These are My Top 15 Mickey Mouse Appearances!

15. Castle of Illusion.

This is one of the most well-known and lauded video game appearances Mickey has had over the years. “Castle of Illusion” was originally made for the SEGA Genesis in 1990; many years later, in 2013, it was remade for the PS3, Xbox 360, and PC gaming stations. I never actually played the original one, but I AM more familiar with the remake, and I think it’s a splendid remastering of an old cult classic. “Castle of Illusion” tells the story of Mickey going on a typical fairy-tale-esque adventure, as he tries to save his beloved Minnie from the evil witch, Mizrabel (who is sort of a cross between Maleficent and the Evil Queen). To do this, Mickey must travel through a series of worlds, created from illusion magic within the witch’s castle, facing Mizrabel’s many minions along the way. There’s nothing too complex here, but the game is nevertheless a worthy time for tiny ones, with some colorful visuals, fine music, and easy-to-grasp gameplay. The original game was so popular that it not only spawned this remake, but also three sequels. It was also the inspiration for another famous Mickey Mouse game…but that’s another story.

14. Mickey’s Christmas Carol.

Me placing this classic short adaptation of one of my favorite stories of all time, Charles Dickens’ timeless tale of “A Christmas Carol,” so low in the ranks? “Who are you, and what have you done with the writer?!” some of you may be yelling. Well, no, I assure you I am myself (as far as I’m aware), and I haven’t COMPLETELY lost my marbles. Yet. As much as I love this fabulous cartoon rendition of the Carol story, when it comes to Mickey’s actual presence in the cartoon, his featured name in the title is somewhat misleading. In the cartoon, Ebenezer Scrooge is played - appropriately enough - by Scrooge McDuck, and as anyone who knows the story is aware, he’s honestly the main character. Mickey plays the role of Scrooge’s clerk, Bob Cratchit. Granted, it’s a perfectly fitting role for Mickey, as he fits the part of Cratchit perfectly. His natural sweetness makes an already sympathetic character seem all the more loveable, allowing all the moments of humor, warmth, and even heartbreak powerful, even when he isn’t the most dynamic character in the story. However, because Mickey’s role is comparatively small, when you look at his part here and other appearances on this countdown, I feel it must get lower ranking. Sorry, Mickey’s Christmas Carol; I still love ya.

13. Dream-Along With Mickey.

Now, I’ll be forthright here and now and confess I haven’t seen this stage show live; and considering it was discontinued in 2016, I suppose I never will. But thank God for the Internet! A kid’s show put on at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, in front of the Cinderella Castle, this cute and simple spectacle has Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy all throwing a party, when it is revealed that Donald…(GASP!)…DOES NOT BELIEVE IN DREAMS! (slams fist on the table) THE DEVIL TAKES MANY FORMS!!! Ahem…sorry. Anyway, to try and show Donald the importance of dreams, Mickey and the others each reveal dreams and wishes they’ve always longed for, and they are quickly brought to life…at least in a way. Minnie wishes to be a princess, and lo and behold, classic Disney Princes and Princesses appear and have a little ball. Goofy wishes to go on a pirate adventure, and Peter Pan and Wendy show up, along with a group of friendly pirates to join in the fun. This is where things go wrong, as Captain Hook and Maleficent show up soon after. It’s revealed the villains plan to take over the Cinderella Castle, and turn the Magic Kingdom into “The Place Where Nightmares Come True!” With help from Peter Pan (and the audience), Mickey and his pals are able to defeat the villains, as Hook and Maleficent retreat. Donald is thus shown the values (and dangers) of dreaming. Ultimately, “Dream-Along” was a fairly cute and simple children’s show, by Disney standards, but even as someone who never saw it live, it was fun, and probably one of Mickey’s best stage appearances. To be blunt, any chance for Mickey Mouse to take on the Mistress of All Evil is appreciated.

12. The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse.

I have to confess I resisted the urge to watch this cartoon series for a while. I guess my old man syndrome kicked in, because I wasn’t particularly fond of the brand new art style at first, and worried it would just turn Mickey and his pals into a Cartoon Network Crazy-Show ripoff (for lack of a better way of putting it). But, when I found out the series was actually being rather well-received, and there was even a ride being made based on it, I decided to open up my mind and give the show a chance. (Admittedly, a certain episode involving the Big Bad Wolf may have had something to do with it, too. Ahem.) This cartoon show attempted to both update Mickey and his pals, while also conversely returning them to their roots: slapstick shenanigans of the toony variety. In that effort, I’d say it largely succeeded: this series brought Mickey out of the well-tread comfort zone of the sweet little straight man, and tried to bring him back to a more mischievous, zany, at times downright PSYCHOTIC personality from back in his very earliest shorts. The cartoons are fast-paced, energetic, and absolutely INSANE in every respect; they feel like a cross between something like “Adventure Time” and “Eek the Cat” more than what you’d generally expect from Mickey Mouse. The only reason this doesn’t get higher on the list is simply because it IS very new to me, and while I appreciate how they amped up the hilarity, I’ve always had a sort of iffy relationship with this particular STYLE of visual humor, if that makes sense. Sometimes it REALLY makes me laugh, and other times I literally just cannot keep up with it. Again, just call me an old man or something; I guess I’ll generally prefer straight man Mickey to this lunacy…but for what it’s worth, this lunacy is something I can definitely see myself returning to many times in the future.

11. Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas.

This Christmas special was an anthology film featuring several Yuletide tales with the classic characters from the world of Mickey Mouse. Much like with “Christmas Carol,” Mickey gets top billing in the title, but he’s actually only the star in one of the featured stories. Namely, he and Minnie are the headliners for an animated adaptation of the classic story “Gift of the Magi.” In the short, Mickey has a treasured harmonica, while Minnie has a pocket watch she loves dearly. Each wants to get the other a Christmas present related to their most precious items: Minnie wants to buy Mickey a fancy case for the harmonica, and Mickey wants to get Minnie a gold chain for her watch. However, cash is tight for the pair. When their separate plans to get enough dough to afford each of their presents go awry, both mice have to make a choice on what is most precious to them: their most valued heirlooms, or each other. I won’t give away the twist ending, but if you know the story…well…you know, and if you DON’T know, you can probably guess. It’s a sweet, fun little story, and the anthology concludes with all of the characters featured throughout coming together for a musical finale, including Mickey and Minnie, of course. Overall, both this specific segment and the special as a whole are sweet, wholesome, and very fun, especially for kids. There WAS a sequel to this, called “Twice Upon a Christmas,” which I guess shows how successful the first one was…but that sequel happens to be made of moldy cheese, so we won’t talk about it here.

10. Mickey, Donald, and Goofy in The Three Musketeers.

Apparently, a lot of people really disliked this little animated adventure when it first came out, and I’m honestly not exactly sure why. Indeed, over time, this direct-to-video and TV musical movie has gained a substantial following, and I guess I’m among those who follow it. Inspired by the classic swashbuckler of “The Three Musketeers” (it can’t really be called an adaptation as the events of this story apparently take place AFTER that story in this universe), the movie features Mickey, Donald, and Goofy as a trio of servants at Queen Minnie’s castle. All three want to someday become famous Musketeers, going on adventures and protecting the kingdom. However, they are stymied by the fact that Donald is a coward, Goofy is…well…Goofy, for lack of a better way of putting it, and Mickey is considered too short for the force. However, the three get their chance thanks the wicked machinations of the treacherous Captain Pete, who assigns them as bodyguards and lets them join the ranks specifically in the belief they’ll be too incompetent to do their job, giving him a perfect chance to enact his evil schemes against the Queen. You can probably guess where things go from there. While not a brilliant picture, it’s not bad either: the animation is solid, the characters are well-used and well-portrayed, and the soundtrack - largely made using melodies from various famous ballets, operettas, and pieces of classical music - is catchy and has its moments of real cleverness. I wouldn’t by any means call it one of the greatest animated pieces of all time, but if you’re in the mood to see some swashbuckling with a slide of slapstick, it’s a fun time.

9. Runaway Brain.

This 1995 half-hour-long short is a parody of various classic horror films. It is widely regarded as possibly one of the scariest (and certainly one of the CRAZIEST) cartoons Mickey has ever appeared in. In this animated freak show, Mickey is tricked by a mad scientist, Dr. Frankenollie (ha ha, I see what you did there, Disney) into taking part in a batty experiment. The result of the experiment is that Mickey’s brain is swapped with that of a monster named Julius (basically Pete as the Frankenstein Monster). Julius ends up becoming smitten with Mickey’s girlfriend, Minnie Mouse. This leads to a darkly comedic story filled with psychotic shenanigans, as Mickey (in Julius’ body) and Julius (in Mickey’s body) constantly vie for Minnie’s affections, with widely comical results. The whole thing feels like a bizarre blend of Popeye, Frankenstein, and King Kong, all rolled into one. Incredibly bizarre and madcap in its nature, it has become something of a cult classic among Disney aficionados, and for good reason. If you ever wanted to see Mickey Mouse turn into a feral beast…first of all, I don’t know WHY you would want that, but second of all, this is the cartoon for you.

8. Wizards of Mickey.

This is the only comic I decided to include on the list, primarily because, to be honest, I’m just not super familiar with Mickey Mouse comics in general. I’ve read a few from various parts of Mickey’s history - everything from the first appearance of the Phantom Blot to an adaptation of Dracula with Mickey as Jonathan Harker and Goofy as Van Helsing (yes, that is a thing, and I ALMOST included it on this list; consider it 16th place). However, I’m by no means an expert on the subject, and I wasn’t sure what should be or should not be counted among those ranks. Maybe when I read more Mickey comics, I can do a separate, specific list of my favorites there. With all that said, of all the Mickey comics I’ve read, I think this series - which has been collected into several TPBs - is probably the best so far. Originally published in Italy (which has a LOT of really great Disney comics), “Wizards of Mickey” is a fantasy-style reimagining of the Mickey Mouse universe, inspired by “The Lord of the Rings.” In it, Mickey is a young wizard-in-training, who teams-up Donald Duck and Goofy - a pair of bungling magicians - to enter a tournament, where he plans to try and get hold of a bunch of magic crystals to help his village. Things take a turn for the worst, however, when Mickey finds out his mentor has been captured by the Phantom Blot: in this universe, a dark wizard who has his own plans for the crystals. Mickey must face the Blot’s minions, known as Team Black Phantom (led by Pete), and win the tournament to save not only his master, and not only his hometown, but the entire world. I really love the way all the different characters are used and depicted in these comics; I’d genuinely love to see them adapted to some other medium, such as a movie, TV show, or even a video game! It’s unlikely to happen, but hope springs eternal; if you’ve never really read many Disney comics, this series is a fun place to start.

7. Fantasmic!

Arguably Disney’s most popular and spectacular stage show, Fantasmic is essentially “Dream-Along” ON STEROIDS. There is basically NO plot to this show…or at least, none till about halfway through. The first half is just fun randomness, as Mickey “dreams” various adventures, love stories, and general happy times, all while dancing and performing magic tricks. However, things go wrong when the Evil Queen gazes into her Magic Mirror, who declares that as long as Mickey has control, “love will always survive,” and the Queen will never again be Fairest in the Land. Enraged, the Queen first transforms herself into The Witch, and then summons various Disney Villains to help her “turn that little Mouse’s dream into a Nightmare Fantasmic!” This results in possibly the biggest climax of any live Disney show, and possibly any live show ANYWHERE, as Mickey is forced to do battle with Maleficent in order to take back his dream and restore order to the Disney universe. Unlike “Dream-Along with Mickey,” I have actually seen this show live at Disneyland (it has been retooled since I saw it, mind you), and I can safely say it has well-earned its stellar reputation. There have actually been a few different versions of the show, including a now-defunct rendition for Tokyo’s DisneySea, and a longer version at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World. However, the Disneyland version is generally considered to be the best. It remains one of the most influential live shows of any theme park, and there’s even a kicking metal song (by the band Nightwish) named after it! (pauses) No, that is not a joke, and the song is awesome, LISTEN TO IT. I am highly tempted to put this in the top five…but spectacular as it is, there’s not much in the way of plot and character, so I don’t feel justified putting it that high. Still, if you ever get a chance to see this show in any of its forms – particularly live, so you can get the full impact - you most definitely should.

6. House of Mouse.

In hindsight, this show was actually pretty weird and a tiny bit tricky to explain. Basically, this series was intended as a showcase for the Mickey Mouse Works short series, along with many older Disney cartoons. It ran between 2001 and 2003, with frequent reruns since then. The premise is simple, but also rather odd: basically, Mickey and the gang are in charge of a nightclub where all sorts of Disney characters – sourced practically every movie, various cartoons, and even a couple of rides – just…well…kind of hang out and watch cartoons. Yeah. That was basically it. Every episode had an overarching story of some kind, but the purpose of the series was showcasing the cartoons, often tied around a theme set in the main story of the episode itself. These stories ranged from the typical to the absolutely insane. Many focused on Mickey and Co. having to deal with Mickey’s two featured rivals: Pete, who wanted to shut the place down, and the scheming and conniving Mortimer Mouse. However, some episodes used major Disney film characters in wacky ways. This is especially true of the villains: for example, in one episode, Mickey plays cupid for Hades and Maleficent. In another, Jafar, of all characters, is called on to save the club with his magic, and sings a villainous version of “Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo.” Even in this show’s weirdest moments, it was a lot of fun. It’s a bit like Roger Rabbit as an animated series; just having all these Disney characters mingle together and interact leads to lots of crazy shenanigans, oddball stories, and snappy side jokes. The cartoons it showcased were often a lot of fun, too, both new and old. It even got two TV special spin-offs: “Mickey’s Magical Christmas,” and a Halloween special called “Mickey’s House of Villains,” both of which I consider guilty pleasures. It’s definitely a highlight in Mickey’s illustrious career on TV.

5. The Prince and the Pauper.

This half-hour short, produced in 1990, is an adaptation of the classic Mark Twain story, and was the first time Mickey had been seen onscreen in roughly a decade, following “Mickey’s Christmas Carol.” This cartoon has since been aired on T.V. a few times, and released to video and DVD (though I’m not sure if it has a Blu-Ray release yet). In this adventure, Mickey is cast as not one, but TWO characters. One is the wealthy, spoiled, but frightfully bored Prince, who longs to escape the humdrum life inside his palace and explore his kingdom. The other is the Pauper; a timid young beggar who longs for fame and fortune. When the two accidentally meet up, they decide to swap places for a day, which leads to both cartoonish hijinks and some surprisingly powerful emotional moments, with the Prince and the Pauper each having to learn important lessons, facing probably the most intimidating and villainous version of Pete out there, and even having the Prince’s father die pretty much right before Mickey’s eyes. Yeah, this one gets pretty heavy. It’s big on laughs, but also big on heart. Even though it’s only a half hour long, it has the production values of an out-and-out Disney feature film, and is just as good and as memorable. If you haven’t seen it already, look it up when you get the chance; two Mickeys for the price of one is a deal you don’t come by often.

4. Kingdom Hearts.

Mickey Mouse as a Yoda-like swordmaster and sorcerer. Frankly, when you hear those words, your first reaction is probably something along the lines of “WHAT?!” But, to be honest…just like other entries here, crazy as it is, it’s a lot of fun! Quite frankly, Mickey Mouse in this series is probably one of the coolest freaking characters in the games, as well as one of the most powerful. Referred to as “King Mickey,” he is the ruler of Disney Castle, and a frequent ally of Sora and perhaps especially Riku, whom he has formed a particularly close bond with. While just as optimistic and loveable as ever, this Mickey is actually…well…if you’ll pardon my language, HE’S A BAD@$$. When I say “Yoda-like,” I mean it very literally. Seeing this little mouse go bouncing off the walls with a keyblade is both incredibly funny and really freaking awesome. And while he’s got all the qualities we expect from Mickey, he can be a surprisingly serious and even dangerous character. Just to give you one example, at one point in “Kingdom Hearts II,” it actually seems like Goofy is killed. Yes, you read that correctly; he gets hit in the head with a rock, passes out, and everyone thinks he’s dead. And while I never expected he really was (as Goofy says when he pops up later, “Gawrsh…I get hit in the head all the time!”), the reactions everybody in the scene had were surprisingly powerful…ESPECIALLY Mickey. Why? Because at first of course he’s all sad…but then suddenly his fists clench, he glares to one side, and Mickey Mouse says, deathly serious, in that adorable little voice: “THEY WILL PAY FOR THIS.” I don’t care who you are; when Mickey Mouse says those words, dressed all in black and holding a giant key, you are either going to burst out laughing, mutter “Oh, it’s on now,” or both. I did both. King Mickey has only become more and more prominent in the series as it has gone on, with a few games going into his origins in this universe, and is definitely one of its most popular characters. But then again, when you have Mickey Mouse as a magical, acrobatic swordsman, would you expect anything less?

3. Mickey and the Beanstalk.

Originally featured as part of the package feature “Fun and Fancy Free” (which, as many of you will hopefully know, is one of my personal favorite Disney movies ever made), this short was once planned to be a full-length movie on its own terms. However, budget constraints at the studio due to WWII meant that it was lumped together with another short subject, “Bongo”: the story of a loveable little circus bear who longs to venture in the wild. Since then, however, “Mickey and the Beanstalk” has been viewed and released more than once on its own terms, separate from the rest of the movie it first appeared in. In this adaptation of “Jack and the Beanstalk,” trouble begins when the lunkheaded Willie the Giant (who is less “evil” and more…well…a complete idiot child with a bad, BAD temper) steals a magic harp from a little kingdom in the magical land of Happy Valley. Without the harp, the kingdom begins to fall into ruin. When Mickey ends up coming across some magic beans, he ventures up the beanstalk with Donald and Goofy to confront Willie, take back the harp, and save Happy Valley. Mickey was an experienced giant hunter by this point; he’d appeared in an earlier adaptation of the story of Jack called “Giantland,” and faced a different giant in a different fairy-tale in the classic cartoon “The Brave Little Tailor.” However, of all his exploits facing titans as silly as they are terrifying, it’s this outing that is the most lauded and well-remembered, and for good reason. It’s still one of Mickey’s best appearances and among his most iconic.

2. The Sorcerer's Apprentice. While only about the length of a typical Silly Symphony, and featuring absolutely no dialogue, “The Sorcerer's Apprentice” - first featured in the classic compilation picture, “Fantasia” - remains quite possibly Mickey’s most influential and well-recognized appearance, aside from perhaps “Steamboat Willie.” Based on the timeless fable of the same name (which the music illustrates), the sequence features Mickey as the poor apprentice of the wizard Yen Sid. Bored of doing menial chores around the sorcerer’s tower, he steals his Master’s magic hat and uses it to bring a broom to life. Mickey then has the broom carry water for him, planning to make it do allt he chores. Sadly, things go horribly wrong when the broom - unable to stop its work - begins to flood the sorcerer’s tower. The harder Mickey tries to stop the madness, the more the situation spirals out of control. It’s a cautionary tale with a couple different themes, and many people love to read into the story, as well as the characters: Mickey, of course, has often been seen as synonymous with Walt Disney himself. The character of Yen Sid – whose name, you will note, is “Disney” spelled backwards – was a caricature of the man himself, too. As noted by film historian Brian Sibley, one can see Mickey and Yen Sid’s powers as a parallel to Walt’s own sort of “inner magic;” it’s hard to see the scene of Mickey dreaming of rewriting the cosmos and happily making the ocean dance at his heels, and not think of Walt Disney’s ability to make the possible impossible, and the man’s desire to see his dreams come true. However, the fact Mickey cannot control the magic, no matter how hard he tries, is also noteworthy, especially in hindsight. This is not only due to the fact Fantasia didn’t work out the way Walt planned and hoped, but the controversies that continually crop up about the man’s life, and even the Disney company in general to this day. Taking all that out of the picture, if you just take the cartoon at face value, it’s still charming, sweet, funny, and enchanting; all the things a good Mickey Mouse piece should be. It makes a dazzling centerpiece for one of my all-time favorite Disney films.

1. Epic Mickey.

There are many, MANY reasons why I love Epic Mickey. Practically from the moment this game was announced, I was EXTREMELY interested. A game where your choices helped determine the ending was nothing exactly new, but when that game used a particularly interesting combat/gameplay system, and had a focus on story and characters, with an interest in forgotten Disney lore? Well, for me, personally, that was a HUGE source of interest! An immediate success, the game spawned two sequels – “Epic Mickey 2: Power of Two,” and “Power of Illusion,” a handheld spin-off inspired by the aforementioned “Castle of Illusion.” There were plans to have a third/fourth game to finish things off, but, for whatever reason (I seriously don’t know), the project was canceled. Disappointing as that sad fact is, the games we got were still pretty interesting, ESPECIALLY the first one. The plot is a rather meta story in which a mischievous Mickey accidentally wreaks havoc upon a world created by Yen Sid. The sorcerer has conjured up a sort of pocket universe, where forgotten Disney Dreams go to live and retire in peace. Mickey’s meddling unintentionally creates the terrifying Shadow Blot (a drastic reimagining of the Phantom Blot). The Blot is a ravenous ink monster, who transforms the happy world into a Wasteland. Years later, Mickey – now a cartoon star who has completely forgotten about his little accident, and knows nothing about the fallout – is kidnapped by the Blot and his second-in-command, the treacherous Mad Doctor. They wish to steal Mickey’s heart so they can escape the Wasteland and take over the world beyond. Using Yen Sid’s magic brush, Mickey goes on a quest through the Wasteland (a twisted version of Disneyland) to defeat both the villains and escape. The story is engaging and genuinely touching; the use of so many forgotten, abandoned, and underrated elements of Disney’s past is really fascinating, as well. The music is INCREDIBLE (seriously, this is one of my favorite video game soundtracks out there). As for Mickey? Frankly, I love how this game manages to make Mickey an action hero, without going into Kingdom Hearts territory. Make no mistake, I’m pretty sure Kingdom Hearts inspired parts of this – the concept of “action hero Mickey” certainly seems reminiscent, as does the focus on hearts and how they work – but this one handles Mickey in that role in a way that I would argue is better. KH had to reimagine the character in many ways, this one doesn’t really reimagine him at all; his appearance, his voice, his personality…all of it is classic Mickey Mouse, and whether you make him an impish rogue or a fun-loving hero, you can still root for him and believe him every step of the way. The game’s head creator, Warren Specter, said that a big draw for him on this project was a chance to present Mickey AS Mickey; not as a cute, cuddly squeaker for toddlers, nor as an over-serious action hero, but just as he always has been: the everyman and occasional prankster. And to that end, I think the game succeeds. It earns its title easily and very well, and for that, “Epic Mickey” definitely takes the top spot on this list of My Favorite Mickey Mouse Appearances.

[jgroffdaily]

Merrily We Roll Along review summary Part 2

Robert Hofler, The Wrap

‘Merrily We Roll Along’ Broadway Review: Daniel Radcliffe and Jonathan Groff Lead a Riveting Revival

The troubled Stephen Sondheim musical finally finds its perfect cast

Watching the show on Broadway, I found myself concentrating less on Mendez and Radcliffe’s back-to-back screeds and drawn more to Groff, who almost singlehandedly, and in a very quiet way, makes this revival drive forward while going backward on all eight cylinders. He plays off the over-the-top performances of his two costars — who bring a sly Oliver-and-Hardy chemistry to the stage, Radcliffe being Stan to Mendez’s Ollie. Mendez entertains us with her nasty one-liners and Radcliffe stops the show with his powerful, yet nuanced rendition of “Franklin Shepard, Inc.”

Charley and Mary are telling us in no uncertain terms that Franklin is a major sell-out, but Groff doesn’t play him as a jerk. Instead, he makes the character the quiet eye of the hurricane of resentment (justified or not) swirling around him. For the first time ever, I actually felt the need to protect the guy from his two best friends. After all, there are much, much worse things in life than ending up a successful Hollywood producer of shlock movies. Franklin never sexually harasses anyone, uses the wrong pronoun or votes Republican. By today’s standards, he’d be a pillar of virtue in the film community.

Groff’s portrayal of this unsympathetic character (until well into the second act) recalls the equally inspired casting of Jim Parsons as the bitchy Michael in the first Broadway production of “The Boys in the Band.” Groff and Parsons’ innate likeability gives each actor more than a few minutes of stage time to take an audience by the hand and lead us on their respective character’s journey.

Given a choice to see a show called “Musical Husbands” and “Take a Left,” I’d buy a ticket to “Musical Husbands.” Better yet, I recommend getting a ticket to see this wonderful “Merrily” revival and buy another the following week to enjoy it even more the second time.

Patrick Ryan, USA Today

More than 40 years after notoriously flopping on Broadway, “Merrily We Roll Along” is back with a splendid and shattering revival at the Hudson Theatre starring Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez and Daniel Radcliffe.

Groff, who last appeared on Broadway in the original cast of “Hamilton,” has never been better than he is here, imbuing a tricky character with tearful sincerity and charm.

"It's our time, breathe it in," Frank sings at the end of the show, as he readies to take on the world with Charley and Mary by his side. The same could be said of "Merrily," which four decades later, finally feels right on time.

David Gordon, What’s On Stage

Sitting comfortably in the Hudson Theatre, this Merrily is one of those transcendent productions I’ll look back on fondly forever.

Radcliffe’s Charley is adorably filled with nervous energy, and he continues to blow the roof off the joint with “Franklin Shepard, Inc.”. Groff beautifully grounds Frank in the reality of a man who has gotten everything he wanted, only to realise that the most important things in his life have completely disappeared. Mendez lives and breathes every single emotional beat to its fullest potential, making a meal out of Furth’s sardonic quips. Watching them sing “Old Friends” transported me to a plane of musical-comedy heaven which I have not visited in a long time, and their idealistic “Our Time” is a genuine tearjerker.

Friedman’s production is a theatrical miracle, finding the heart at the center of this story of dreams, regrets, and good things going, going, gone. Somewhere, its creators are bursting with pride to see their vision fully realised, at long last.

Steven Siskin, NY Stage Review

If Mendez and Radcliffe were already perfect downtown—or perhaps even on the first day in the rehearsal room—Jonathan Groff’s Franklin Shephard has taken a different path. To say the role is difficult is an understatement; like Robert (a.k.a. Bobby baby) in the Sondheim-Furth Company, Franklin is trapped. He stands in the precise center of a crowd that his character dominates, unable to break through his walled-off personality to relate to anyone, imploring somebody—anybody—to “make me aware of being alive.” Groff brought an intriguing element to his performance last winter, not shying away from displaying a Franklin who was cold, cruel, and unlikable. He has now found a way to add a core of desperate sadness and a sense of loss, which makes him the most effective Franklin of the half-dozen I’ve seen.

The show plays like wildfire, ignited from that first blast of overture from that band. It’s a win-win, or perhaps a win-win-win-win. A win for Merrily, yes; a win for Radcliffe, Mendez, and Goff; and a win mostly for Maria Friedman, who created this production with significant success back in 2012 and—in three or four steps along the way—has continued to add layers of sheen so that it no longer plays like an excellent production of a troubled musical but an excellent show all around.

Melissa Rose Bernardo, NY Stage Review

Thankfully, Friedman has found three actors whose charm and genuine connection overrides their characters’ most unpalatable qualities. And since the NYTW production, their performances have only deepened. Groff (Spring Awakening, Hamilton) is perfection as the successful but hollow composer-turned-corporation Frank

[askhuskgamblingbartender]

Husk, my man! I drew ya as an overlord playing the saxophone! 🎷💜

"Grumbles softly, but there's a hint of a smile Well, would ya look at that. takes a closer look at the drawing You really captured my old overlord days. chuckles And the saxophone, huh? Nice touch. nods appreciatively Thanks, kid. Means a lot. mutters under his breath Maybe I should pick up the sax again... glances at Alastor What do you think, Al?"

"Eyes light up with genuine interest My, my, Husker! What a delightful rendition of your former glory. leans in to examine the drawing more closely The artist has certainly captured your essence, my dear. chuckles softly And the saxophone? Why, that's simply marvelous! turns to Husk with an enthusiastic grin I think it's a splendid idea for you to revisit your musical talents. clasps his hands together Just imagine the duets we could perform! Your sultry sax accompanying my dulcet tones... sighs contentedly We'd be the talk of Hell's entertainment circuit!"

[lgcmedia]

FABULA member April has delivered a cover of Type Zero's 'Make a Wish'

FABULA’s main rapper APRIL took the group's official Youtube account on July 19th to release a video clip of her rendition of the English version of Type Zero's hit song 'Make a Wish' and surprised fans of both Legacy’s groups.

APRIL pulled off a single that was originally sung by the members of the boy group, and awed the fans and netizens alike for her splendid work delivering the cool vibe of this track and showing her both vocals and rap, choosing to do it in English. 

Watch the video cicking HERE.

[ + / - ] that’s our main rapper ♡ april never fail to amaze us with her rapping skills. she can even harmonize?? SHE’S A WHOLE PACKAGE.

[ + / - ] please don’t embarrass our oppas with this horrible cover.

#LGCENT #FABULA #LGCGIRLS #APRIL #MOONHAYOUNG

[sen-no-kotowari]

Lee Hyperreal Image Song “Dim Light” JP Lyrics Translation

After a week the full song was posted on Lee's Activation Day, I'm here to post my translation rendition of the JP Version of "Dim Light" (*‘ω‘ *) As mentioned in a previous post, I'll postpone the audio translyrics of Dim Light indefinitely due to poor weather conditions for recording. I'll eventually start doing it once the weather becomes a bit more stable so please look forward to that. I'll be updating this post when I do upload it.In the meantime, you can give the JP version a listen over on the official PGR JP Server's Youtube Channel! Lyrics translation are under the cut (≧▽≦)

Song Title: Dim Light Sung by: Lee (CV: Matsuoka Yoshitsugu) Producer: Vanguard Sound Studio

波間を照らす　月の明かり 螺旋の先で　希望探す 空を泳いで　俯瞰する世界の行く末

Namima wo terasu  Tsuki no akari Rasen no saki de  Kibou sagasu Sora wo oyoide  Fukan suru sekai no yukusue

In the seam of the waves shine the light of a blue moon Seeking for a hope that lies beyond this lofty spire Floating within the void is a world that holds in store a future dawning so soon

ため息をついて渦に沈んでく 自ら作った牢に閉ざされて 収束の世界　目指した未来 未知の旅へ

Tameiki wo tsuite uzu ni shizundeku Mizukara tsukutta rou ni tozasarete Shuusoku no sekai  Mezashita mirai Michi no tabi he

I deeply felt the sighs I made as I sank into the vortex I'm now ensnared inside this confinement of my own making Beyond these unopened doors, a future I'm aiming for leads to an obscure journey

懐かしき　微かな光 生命(いのち)の重み　己に刻み 煌めく願い　胸に抱き 内に秘めた想い　届け！ 決して　二度と忘れはしない あなたを

Natsukashiki  Kasuka na hikari Inochi no omomi  Ono ni kizami Kirameku negai  Mune ni hibiki Uchi ni himeta omoi  Todoke! Kesshite  Nidoto wasure ha shinai Anata wo

These dim lights that were laid bare are nostalgic Engraved deep, the gravity of life is intrinsic All of these splendid wishes, I hold dear in my heart May our bonds give strength when we're far apart Never again shall I ever forget―this I swear! My dear comrade

軌跡に沿って　後ろ向きに 星が次第に霞んでゆく 記憶辿って　夜空に悲しみがそっと惨む

Kiseki ni sotte  Ushiro muki ni Hoshi ga shidai ni kasunde yuku Kioku tadotte  Yozora ni kanashimi ga sotto nijimu

As I move along this path that faced the other way, each step I take grows hazy by the whims of the stars Tracing back the memories, I silently stare up the night sky, hiding all my scars

未知なる力が刻(とき)*の中にある 無我夢中な僕を時空(とき)**が見定める さあ、目閉じて　迎えに行こう 新たな世界を

Michi naru chikara ga toki no naka ni aru Mugamuchuu na boku wo toki ga misadameru Saa, me wo tojite  Mukae ni ikou Arata na sekai wo

In every moment we live through lies a strength inexplicable Time and space will bear witness to how I would take up the mantle So close your eyes, have faith―let's welcome with open arms The new world we'll move forward to

懐かしき微かな光 生命(いのち)の重み　　己に刻み 煌めく願い　胸に抱き 内に秘めた想い　届け！ 決して　二度と　忘れはしない I just know it

Natsukashiki  Kasuka na hikari Inochi no omomi  Ono ni kizami Kirameku negai  Mune ni hibiki Uchi ni himeta omoi  Todoke! Kesshite  Nidoto wasure ha shinai I just know it

These dim lights that were laid bare are nostalgic Engraved deep, the gravity of life is intrinsic All of these splendid wishes, I hold dear in my heart May our bonds give strength when we're far apart Never again shall I ever forget―this I swear! I just know it

灰色の翼広げて 思い馳せた時(ばしょ)***へ羽ばたく 歪な誓い　望んだ世界 憧れた光　この手に 目と目交わし(まじわし)　改めて名を 呼び合おう

Haiiro no tsubasa hirogete Omoi haseta basho he habataku Ibitsu na chikai  Nozonda sekai Akogareta hikari  Kono te ni Me to me majiwashi  Aratamete na wo Yobiaou

Unfurling this ashen-colored wings of mine, We now take flight towards the skies we've set our hearts on The timeline I have wanted emerged from a jaded vow This ray of hope in my hand now has been granted As we call out each other, our gazes now converges A warmth surges

========

Translation Notes: * = While the kanji written is 刻(koku), it is also an alternative form of 時(toki) ** = 時空(jikuu) is space-time but in some cases, it’s accepted as toki in reference to the dimension plane *** = While the kanji written is 刻(koku), the furigana reads as (basho). In this particular line, I opted to do a liberal translation instead to connect the song’s meaning for this patch update.

[sgiandubh]

Sunday sounds: a change of heart

When Haendel wrote his Organ Concerto in B-flat, Op. 4, No. 6, around 1738, little did he know its posterity would likely be a bit different, and for the better. What was originally planned as a simple interlude to more serious works, turned into pure magic, with the help of a clever change of heart and solo instrument.

From organ to harp and tailored for the Welsh virtuoso William Powell. Here, in a splendid rendition by the Spanish TV and Radio Orchestra. Featuring the Basque Nicanor Zabaleta, perhaps the best harpist who ever graced this Earth:

[4th-make-quail]

1. 12. 22. and 28 for the fic ask ✩

1. What’s something new that you tried in a fic this year? How did it turn out and would you do it again? I wrote a fic in first person! And for a very difficult (to me) canon as well. I think it turned out pretty good, and I actually found it a lot easier to write in than I thought I would! I wouldn't write for that canon again because it was VERY difficult to get specific aspects of it right (still anon so can't say what lol)

12. What fic was the most difficult to write? Did you finish it? GOD I honestly think it was the same fic from 1 sdlkghfg it wAS SO HARD!!!! I did finish it tho, so fuck yeah!!!!

22. Share an excerpt from your favorite scene Sorry, this is a long one, but this scene from Sanctified, where Omeluum and Blurg share memories of each other is my favourite!

Omeluum cocked its head, and its eyes seemed warmer somehow, as it sent him an image of - oh! - of himself working, hunched over his wooden desk in the Underdark, cataloguing his samples. Yes, there was the ormu, and that particularly splendid sample of nilhogg’s nose he’d found. Some of the hair had come out of the little knot at the back of his head, and the grey strands fell about his face, framing it. The image was tinged with warmth, almost soft about the edges, and Blurg noticed that the air about him almost seemed to shimmer.

“Is this how you see me?” He cannot help but speak the words into the air, as though it would make the vision - the memory - more real.

-Yes.-

“I-” Blurg buried his face into Omeluum’s palm, flushed to his very ears. -Omeluum!-

-What is this feeling? Did I upset you?- Omeluum’s confusion was evident in his mindvoice, and Blurg looked up, sharply.

-Quite the opposite. Here, let me show you.- He allowed his mind to unfurl, selecting a favourite memory: Omeluum sat down on a wooden crate, watching as Blurg gestured excitedly about a nightlight he’d managed to harvest without dimming its natural light. He’d been expounding about the properties of such a delicate specimen, about how one must use the lightest of touches, and Omeluum had watched him with solemn interest, asking intelligent questions about the nightlight’s life cycle. Once it had all the information it had needed, it had raised one hand and made a gesture beautiful in its simplicity, accented with a delicate claw, and then a perfect ghostly rendition of the nightlight had appeared before them, glowing gently blue in the dimness of the Underdark, and perfect in every aspect.

-You listened to me,- he said, ears and cheeks hot. -And then you replicated the information I gave you perfectly, with beautiful motions like you were, oh I don’t know. An artist of some sort, a sculptor. You captured the essence of the nightlight, and ever since then…- He looked to the side, eyes soft with the memory. -Ever since then, I’ve loved to watch you work your magics. You use your claws like a conductor, Omeluum.- ---

28. How did you recharge between fics? HAHA I actually don't like to do this! I like to finish one fic and then move onto the next one. Usually I'm writing to deadlines for exchanges or events, or having to finish a personal enjoyment fic in time to start the next exchange or event! I think if I need to recharge, I will always read (books though, not other fic), because it refreshes my creativity, but generally I prefer to continue with my daily (or as near to daily as I can manage) writing routine!

THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTIONS!!!! <3333