REIGN Takes on Mary Queen of Scots

Let's just say that the mixture of excitement and extreme skepticism I feel about CW's Reign, the quote unquote untold story of Mary Queen of Scots rise to power, mirrors my feelings when I found out they were turning Gone with the Wind into a musical. (And I don't just mean annoyance that I'm not the one writing it!)

As you know, it's tough to say which I love more: musicals or Gone with the Wind. Costume dramas or Scotland (and esp. the problematic Mary Stuart). HOWEVER. To use the comparison I used back in the day for GWTW musical, it's like introducing your childhood best friend to your best friend from college. You love them both. They're both AMAZING. And yet, you have the nagging suspicion that they are NOT going to get along. (Spoiler alert: GWTW as a musical was about as bad as it gets.)

So, I mean, listen. Almost everything about this show is historically inaccurate. Like, everything. To the point that it's not even worth detailing all the many and egregious inaccuracies. And while, I'm mostly ok with that, I'm not thrilled about the casting. I like Adelaide Kane kind of, ya know, in general. But I just am not digging her as Mary (wrong coloring entirely!). I'm really not thrilled about the men. I don't mind making Francis kind of hot. But just... I dunno. Maybe they'll grow on me. And, I know it's not the history channel. It's the CW. That's fine. 

And OBVS, despite my misgivings, I'm still going to watch the shit out of this show. 

The most appealing factor, based on the below extended preview is Mary's relationship with the very historically accurate 4 Marys (Beaton, Seton, Fleming & Livingston, though in Reign, they're condensed to 3 and given insane names like Kenna and Greer) which lasted throughout her life. I like the idea of these 5 (4) women navigating the waters together. 

The least appealing things I can surmise from the below is 
1. Please get someone else doing your copywriting for those text tags in the promos. They are ominous, but do not even make sense.
2. Why do all the French people sound just plain old British? I mean, I guess really they're all speaking French including her, because that's her first language,  in which case British is just the standard, okay. It's murky territory, but it bugs me. I'll elaborate further once I see how they handle some things re: using French at all. 

Reign premieres Oct. 17 at 9 p.m. on the CW.

Manufacture New York & Bob Bland on CBS News

My lovely and visionary friend, Bob Bland, was on CBS news for her extraordinary efforts on behalf for local manufacturing of clothing products in the US, and specifically in New York. I'm so on board with her Manufacture New York. 

Here's a snippet from the new program:

There was a time when clothes worn by Americans were also made here. By 2011, more than 97 percent of the clothes sold in the U.S. was made overseas. Fashion designer turned apparel advocate Bob Bland explains why in an interview with "CBS Evening News" Saturday anchor Jim Axelrod. She's behind Manufacture New York, a new initiative to bring clothes manufacturing jobs back home.

It's not a good deal if the true cost is someone dying in the process.

Broadway Barre Tonight!

It's that time again for Broadway Barre and I can't wait to hear my friends sangin'! Join Me!

Slipstream, Revisited

Back in April, I was too busy dealing with turning 30 to deal with Bonnie Raitt's newest (19th) release, Slipstream. But as the year when on, the drama piled on, and I sought out more quiet moments, I turned to old friends of my life who've been part of the fabric and on in the background since before I was born. 

Slipstream is everything you want a Bonnie Raitt album to be-- complete with two Bob Dylan covers and some Bonnie Raitt versions of two songs by the album's producer, Joe Henry. Long held up as a critical darling, this North Carolina boy moved to Detroit at a young age and I think his sound has always been a fusion of those two local flavors. He's been married to Madonna's sister since the eighties and has bounced back and forth between Brooklyn and Los Angeles for years working with practically everyone. (Including Loudon Wainwright, also featured as a writer on this album.)

Joe Henry can write a simple, straightforward song like nobody's business. I thought this Thursday could use one. This one's my favorite. It's been picking up a lot of TV time lately-- not to mention, a Grammy Nomination-- and I think it's a perfect winter song. I love Joe Henry's rendition also. But I prefer Bonnie on almost any song almost any day. 

I loved what Rolling Stone says about Slipstream:

"A loose and adventurous reminder of everything she does well... it's mood music with a razor edge, pain fronting as bliss, delivered by a vet who understands that the blues are often about just that."

Hope you enjoy!

GIANT at The Public

Since I was a college student, Michael John La Chiusa has been my musical theatre hero. Not because I saw similarities in our styles, nor did I ever aspire to the kind of style he has so perfected. I only sat back in awe of what has always been its own animal-- something that was always just so very him. And he indulged me as being my pen pal for a while. And I've always been emboldened and encouraged by his taste level in material. The stories he chooses to musicalize are rich and varied and often hidden treasures. 

His latest (featuring libretto by Sybille Pearson) is more of a classic, but no less ambitious. I've mentioned before that I've never been so sad to be away from  a New York theatre season before. I want to see all of it. GIANT is no exception. Based on the Edna Ferber novel (more so than the subsequent famous film starring James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor & Rock Hudson) this new epic (truly. it's clocking 3:45 with three acts) musical is playing now at the Public. 

Oh, please, world! Let me have a chance to see this show! I want to bask in the La Chiusa. Not to mention, this lady. 

Florence + The Machine + The Hollywood Bowl

Before time totally gets away from me, I wanted to share a little bit about Flo and her awesome Machine at the Hollywood Bowl. She was joined by The Maccabees (why has no one ever casually mentioned how hot the lead singer of said Maccabees is? Is that a recent thing? I don't remember him being hot.)  and another love, The Weeknd. I was joined by two of my favorites as well: Haviland and Ashley. There was a lot of mermaid hair in this group. 

Other than the psycho fan girls of The Weeknd next to our box (seriously, I feel old. Since when do bands like the Weeknd get ruined by SCREAMING teenagers? Isn't that reserved for the Biebs and Glee concerts?) all three sets were a treat. We lounged in our comfy cox chairs and chilled out (when we could actually hear him over the screaming) to The Weeknd. Then we jumped to our feet and hopped around (she asked us to) with Flo. 

Florence is the kind of wild horse-tree nymph-seventies film goddess you want to be when you grow up. Or in your imagination if you can envision a world where you relinquish any and all Type A tendencies. Not to mention, a deep deep sense of what is inherently theatrical.

She skips everywhere she goes. I'd like to do that. She makes everyone hop around on the finale "Dog Days Are Over." She knows the importance of a harp. In many ways, The Hollywood Bowl is the venue she was born to play. She should set up residence there. 

While my Dog Days I fear are far from over, this night was the first night where I felt like I lived in Hollywood. And for now, that'll do. 

Special Thanks to Alex Tievy for the tix!

Downters 3.0 - Now With New Yorkers in Every Episode

Because I've never been a big fan of rules, waiting in line (queue)...that kind of thing, I have a method of watching Downton on my prefered, British, schedule as opposed to sitting it out until the American round. (Because Americans can't have nice things, right McC?) And so, tonight, Series 3 of Downton kicked off and I think it's going to be the best season ever. 

Are there still limp turkey lines courtesy of Julian Fellowes? You bet. ("My dear, I am so happy, I am so happy, that I fear my chest might explode.")

Are there still terribly inconvenient tragedies and far-too-convenient work arounds to those problems? You bet. Is Fellowes still using obstinance from ALL characters as a primary source of dramatic drive? Oh, you know it. What would Downton even BE without people making their lives harder unnecessarily? But that's what makes it so wonderful!

I don't want to give too many spoilers in here, but I think the MVPs of the premiere were Matthew (duh) specifically for the solidarity he showed in making Branson his Best Man, Branson for getting accidentally drugged and for talking Matthew out of yet another idiotic snafu in his relationship with Mary. Sleeper MVP: Sir Anthony Strallen. Way to come to Branson's aid. 

Before I roll out on Downton until next week, let's address the big ticket draw of this season: the Maclaine. I was looking forward to Miss Shirley's arrival as much as the next gal/gay/etc. I loved her lines, but her delivery left something to be desired por moi. LOVED her costumes though and her high maintenance, modern needs-- goat cheese! nothing in the marrow family! Brills! 

Here's my question. While the real Maclaine is of Scottish (well, Nova Scotian!) extraction on her mother's side and her father was Jewish, her character is  Martha Levinson...I've sort of avoided bringing it up until now, but apparently I'm not the only one to raise an eyebrow. While I can believe an Earl at the time might marry one of my American brethren (Esp. the beauteous Elizabeth McGovern-- forever seared on my impressionable child psyche as Snow White from the Shelley Duvall Fairy Tale Theatre of my youth. Vanessa Redgrave was the evil queen. Vincent Price is the narrator/mirror! I am still deeply scarred in a fabulous way from this.  [PS- Iona, you look like a young Shelley Duvall. Finally figured that out. Amazing.])  I have a much (read: impossible) time believing he would (or Violet would LET HIM) marry a Jewish American. 


But apparently, the whole shpiel is based on the real life wife of Lord Curzon, so there's a precedent, and you'll hear no complaints from me about having a few more of my fave New York Jews around the Downters. There's a reason why when people do their impersonation of me, it pretty much always includes a "Mazel Tov" (and also, L'shanah tovah, people!) in there.

And in a way, it's nice. It feels like it's bringing my two worlds together: the New Yorkers and poshy Brits. It makes the missing of these last two years of my life a little easier. And a little harder too. Welcome Back, Downters. Keep the hits on comin'.

Scotland { the } Brave

As much as I love media for young people, somehow, I mostly manage to miss the animated films of today. I still haven't seen Up. All the Happy Feets...nope. (How many of those are there?) It took me ages to finally see Finding Nemo. But I really do have a lot of respect for Pixar and especially what seems to be the trend away from "villain" based plots. (This revelation came courtesy of an insightful conversation with my friend-- Dad & filmmaker, Trevor Banks.) 


With Pixar's newest release, Brave, the lack of an obvious "villain" is just one of many reasons to celebrate it. It's probably obvious, but Brave takes place in Scotland. So, right there, it is already The Best. (Perhaps Pixar wants some of that Scottish Brogue fairy dust that made DreamWorks so much $$.) It's also Pixar's first film to feature a female protagonist. Way to finally get on that train, you guys. 


Our heroine, Merida, also has wild curly red hair. Bonus. Points. Her dad's name is Fergus. Super plus plus bonus points. The premise looks cool. The humor seems right up my alley. And while people have joked about "yeah, this is exactly what Scotland is like," ... I mean, it is supposed to be ancient Scotland. It does capitalize on some actual Scottish folklore (or fairy tales. Pixar is marketing this as their first 'fairy tale.') and! they've thrown over Reese Witherspoon (or maybe she dropped out, but let's just run with it, shall we?) for Scottish actress Kelly Macdonald. And she's not even the only Scot they've got working on this flick! So what I'm saying is, for a corporate cartoon, there's something that feels authentic here. 


They even used Gaelic singer, Julie Fowlis's (she's from North Uist, no less!) tune Tha Mo Ghaol Air Àird A' Chuan in the trailer. So, kudos, Pixar for making the effort. I'll be checking out Brave when it comes out in June (or August in the UK). Will you guys?

Family Press

I suppose I don't really talk about my family too much, but I'm pretty proud of all of them. Most people who knew me in my younger days are still confused I didn't end up living in my beloved Georgia, watering my Southern Roots. While I haven't ruled out retiring to Savannah and a plantation house one day, it's enough to be a bit of a Georgia girl in New York, London, or wherever else I may happen to be. It was good enough for Jessica Daves, my aunt/pivotal Editor in Chief of Vogue Magazine. And it's working for my gorgeous and talented cousin, Lindsey, who makes her Southern Living debut this issue. Check it out!

Love Will Stay at Lincoln Center

All my life, I've been someone almost pathologically interested in holding on to everything. I attached everything to myself; every one. Even if they left. Even if they were never really there. And I took everything with me, no matter where I went. 


As I've gotten older, I've retrained myself to be less attached, less obsessed with forever and with keeping things. Luckily, I still get to excise my feelings about that early desire to make everything last forever by writing songs. 


This song was a gift in that way. I'm not sure I would have ever let myself write a song where the central idea was as basic as "Love Will Stay." I would have tried to say it some more clever way. Something newer. And that would have been a mistake. But instead, I inherited the really solid bones of one of the most beautiful songs I'd ever heard. I remember re-working this song like a puzzle on bus, coasting through up state New York. 


I wasn't about to die, like Alix knows she is, but I knew how she felt. And in the end, the song also got to ask the central questions that Nicholas & Alexandra asks as a whole: what lives on after something dies? What remains after we are gone? What stays? Your work? What if it was your work that got you into trouble in the first place? So then it's love, right? It was for Alix. I hope it will be for me too. 


Here's Janet Dacal, singing a military-march/pop mix of the song we're still selling loads of sheet music for (thanks, guys) from the Lincoln Center concert, one week ago. 

Photo by Pete Roessler

Birdsong on the Beeb

Have you guys ever noticed that Eddie Redmayne's lips always look just a little bit blue onscreen? Seriously, Pillars of the Earth, Glorious 39, My Week with Marilyn & now the two-part BBC adaptation of Sebastian Faulks' WWI epic, Birdsong. Do you think his lips are really like that or do you think they're just putting a nice blue enhancer on everything to give it that dreamy, period feel. I know I do that with pictures. 


Anyhow, that's kind of all I could think about during the first installment of the program last night. Wow, Eddie Redmayne's lips are really blue, and how much I like Clemence Poesy even though I had absolutely no interest in her character or what she was saying. 


I'm still going to stick it out and watch the second part-- maybe it will be better. Also, it's just sort of a comfort food. Cold Sunday nights need a BBC drama whether its amazing or just beautifully filmed. But I don't think this will be the thing to (as one BBC head stated) "prove British drama is as good as Mad Men and The Wire." You know what I mean? 


I've got to hand it to Abi Morgan though. She must be the most working, most prolific female screenwriter pounding the pavement today. Shame, The Iron Lady, The Hour. While she's certainly on a roll, I agree with some assessments of her that she's spread herself a bit too thin. Project diet, Abi! Kick some of that my way. I'll be happy to help. 

Battle of the Redheads- Vote for Lindsey

My cousin-extraordinaire has been trouncing the competition in this "Hottest Week" Vote off on Curbed.com and now she's in a battle of the gingers, third round. She needs your help. I'm still not actually sure what the contest is about (it's not an all-redhead contest). Whether it's about designers or just about being hot. In any case, I obviously think that Lindsey should win. So vote for her here, and check out her work here. The winner gets a big interview on Curbed, so let's help give a self-starting entrepreneur and awesome designer a nice platform! (And voting ends tonight at 10AM Eastern, so don't delay!)


Here are some more links for your Thursday:


-Cute article about two VOTE! actresses
- Another badass redhead, Grace Coddington
-These CEOs have pledged no campaign donations. Woo!
- Buying short stories for $1.99 on Kindle... will you buy? I might. I  mean, it's Tom Rachmann
- Everyone's jumping on the instagram train!
- Granta Magazine talks the nature of Memory & Invention
- And because they're awesome, they also did this awesome interview with my phd advisor, John Burnside
- Literary spheres of influence
- Quit your job and follow your dreams. I did  it. Lindsey did it. Do it.