Archive: Arts & Entertainment

Don't be afraid -- The Passion of Dracula is a comic melodrama (adaptated from Bram Stoker's chilling Dracula novel) full of scary fun and theatrical special effects. Seats are already selling fast for Bob Hall and David Richmond's melodramatic take on the classic vampire tale to be staged at the Schwartz Center February 13-23.

The Passion of Dracula transports us to the English countryside where a trio of doctors, a young reporter and a brave English lord battle the mysterious Count Dracula. "This play is an entertaining mystery filled with all the elements of a Gothic horror story: swooping bats (not real), exploding lights, bumbling English lords, romantic encounters, and, of course, the titanic confrontation of Dr. Van Helsing with his powerful nemesis Count Dracula," said Director David Feldshuh, Artistic Director of the Schwartz Center, "It's a delightful retelling of this ever-popular story!"

---

 

You need Java enabled to view the crossword applet. If you do not have Java installed you can obtain it from java.com. If do have Java you may need to check your security settings to make sure that applets are enabled, especially if you are viewing the puzzle from your hard disk. In Windows XP you may be able to enable the applet by clicking on the yellow bar at the top of the window and selecting "Allow blocked content".

---

Smart TalkSMART TALK
By  Dr. Ced Riley

LIE v. LAY:  Sometimes, Mr. Passer uses shock to help his students remember.  Willy Passer used to teach English at Horace Smith Middle School, near the Institute for the Linguistically Impaired here in Underbelly, Texas.

The kids loved his jokes, but a few parents disapproved, so Mr. Passer was transferred to D.B. Wesson High.  (Actually, it was just one parent, but that's all it takes these days.)

At Wesson High, he teaches his juniors the difference between lie and lay as if it were a titillating secret:  "Lie is what you do, and lay is what you do to something else!  No exceptions." 

The students remember that one, and not only because they love having an English rule with no exceptions.

Of course, if anyone makes a fuss (that one parent again), the kids remember it even better.  And that's no lie.

---
v4i5

Hangar TheatreITHACA, NY -- The Hangar Theatre announced an exciting change to the 2008 Mainstage season. The Theatre has landed the rights to the critically-acclaimed hit play No Child... by gifted actor and playwright Nilaja Sun. No Child... will replace Rough Crossing as the third show of the 2008 Mainstage Season.

Hangar Executive Director Lisa Bushlow said, "we are absolutely thrilled to be able to present this timely, relevant, and entertaining play, especially given the Hangar's active program in arts education throughout the county."

---

 

You need Java enabled to view the crossword applet. If you do not have Java installed you can obtain it from java.com. If do have Java you may need to check your security settings to make sure that applets are enabled, especially if you are viewing the puzzle from your hard disk. In Windows XP you may be able to enable the applet by clicking on the yellow bar at the top of the window and selecting "Allow blocked content".

---

The Kitchen Theatre Company is going to the dogs! with the new musical adventure Emmett & Ella's Big Apple Escapade, opening February 2nd and running through February 17th with performances on Saturdays at 1 & 3pm, and Sundays at 1pm.

Emmett is a hound dog, Ella's got some retriever in her, and Louella Smythe-Trappe is a lady who loves her dogs and loves to sing. When Louella's lifelong dream of singing at Radio City Music Hall in New York City becomes a reality, Emmett & Ella are shocked to learn that she isn't planning on bringing them along. The dogs hatch a plan to follow her, leading to a wild, unexpected, Big Apple escapade full of song, dance and interesting characters along the way.

SMART TALK
By Dr. Shirley Glibb

LIAISON:  When speakers say "LAY-ih-zon," it sounds like what comes after Kyrie in the Mass.  The Latin Mass, even though Kyrie eleison is a prayer in Greek.

However, our careless speakers have enough trouble with English, let alone other languages.  The Institute for the Linguistically Impaired offers a free workshop in correct pronunciation (for example, "KYOO-po-la", "KOO-pon," and "poin-SETT-ee-ah") with all of our packages. 

Anyway, our speakers mean to refer to a close connection, an affair or a person used as a go-between.  That's a liaison, pronounced "lee-AY-zon" or, less preferably, "LEE-uh-zon." 

A similar linguistic impairment is making dais rhyme with bias.  The stage where the dignitaries sit is a "DAY-iss." 

Perhaps our country's liaison with an unfriendly government is sitting there.

----

v4i4

---

 

You need Java enabled to view the crossword applet. If you do not have Java installed you can obtain it from java.com. If do have Java you may need to check your security settings to make sure that applets are enabled, especially if you are viewing the puzzle from your hard disk. In Windows XP you may be able to enable the applet by clicking on the yellow bar at the top of the window and selecting "Allow blocked content".

---

Smart TalkSMART TALK
By Dr. Manda Rynne

LEND v. LOAN:  The Institute for the Linguistically Impaired recently included JoAnn Tiedemann in a weekend workshop at Warriner House.  Underbelly, Texas, is a long way from Madison, Wisconsin, but she got a 50% discount for giving the Institute this word pair to test advanced patients with. 

People have been loaning books to each other for 450 years, but we Smart Talkers, those of us who actually read the books, lend them. 

To us, loan is a noun and only a noun.  The bank might lend you money.  That money is called a loan.  Speaking of lending, Shakespeare said, through one of his characters, not to borrow from or lend  to friends, because often, the loan  loses both itself and the friend.

But you knew that.  You even know the character is Polonius, in Hamlet.  It's so nice to be superior.


----
v4i3