During his analysis of William Empson’s The Structure of Complex Words, Stefan Collins writes: “At first meeting, the book can seem deliberately uninviting. One way to describe its structure would be to say that an outer ring of barbed wire surrounds an inner ring of ditches…at the heart of which there is a labyrinth.” (p. 116). If you enjoy this kind of snarky academic writing, you’ll enjoy The Nostalgic Imagination. Stefan Collins writes about both English history and major critics like F. R. Leavis, Q. D. Leavis, Richard Hoggart, Raymond Williams, and T. S. Eliot.

Of course, these people and their criticisms of English Literature are mostly forgotten now. We’ve moved on to obsessing over cat videos and the Kardashians. Collins captures a time when books were taken seriously and literary criticism was an honored profession. If you’re nostalgic for more serious and sensible times, The Nostalgic Imagination will meet you half-way. GRADE: B+
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Introduction p. 1
1 Whig History and the Mind of England p. 25
2 Scrutinizing the Present Phase of Human History p. 48
3 Science and Capitalism as ‘Background’ p. 77
4 Rationalism, Christianity, and Ambiguity p. 102
5 The History of ‘the Reading Public’ p. 126
6 The Long Industrial Revolution p. 156
7 Literary History as Cultural History p. 183
Postscript p. 207
Notes p. 211
Index p. 235

After Diane, Katie, and I saw The Cher Show on Mother’s Day, we dashed through the rain to the ORSO restaurant for dinner. ORSO is known for their celebrity guests. When Diane and her sister went to ORSO a few years ago, they saw Ted Danson and Mary Steenburgen. Last year, Katie ate at the ORSO restaurant and saw Judy Collins just a couple tables away. We were half-way through our meal with no celebrities in sight when two elderly women entered and took a table a few yards away from us. One of those women was Glenda Jackson.

We were enjoying dessert (Diane had gelato and I had a delicious piece of chocolate cake) when Glenda Jackson got up and walked out of the restaurant. A few minutes later, we paid our bill, put on our rain jackets and prepared for a wet walk back to the Marriott Marquise. We stepped outside, and noticed it wasn’t raining. Glenda Jackson sat on the stoop smoking a cigarette. “Good timing,” she said to us. “The rain just stopped.” “Timing is everything, Ms. Jackson,” I replied. Glenda Jackson smiled and gave us a wave with her cigarette.

Have you met a celebrity?

Fun Home: A Musical is based on Alison Beckdel’s graphic novel. Beckdel’s autobiographical story of her complicated relationship between her and her father explores sexual orientation, gender roles, suicide, emotional abuse, dysfunctional family life, and the role of literature in understanding oneself and one’s family. Like The Cher Show, it takes three actresses to play Alison Beckdel: a “small” Alison, a College student Alison, and a 40-year-old Alison who narrates the play.

While there’s humor in Fun Home, the specter of darkness and death hover over the characters. In the performance we saw, young Jane Hereth (Small Allison) stole every scene she was in. What a talented little girl! If Fun Home: A Musical shows up in your neighborhood, I recommend you go see it. GRADE: B+
SONG LIST:
1. “It All Comes Back (Opening)” – Small Alison, Bruce, Alison & Company
2. “Sometimes my father appeared to enjoy having children…” – Alison, Bruce & Helen
3. “Welcome to Our House on Maple Avenue” – Helen, Alison, Small Alison, Christian, John, Bruce & Roy
4. “Not Too Bad” – Medium Alison
5. “Just had a good talk with Dad…” – Alison, Medium Alison, Bruce, Pete, Small Alison, John & Christian
6. “Come to the Fun Home” – John, Christian & Small Alison
7. “Helen’s Etude” – Alison, Roy, Bruce, Small Alison, Helen, John, Christian & Medium Alison
8. “Thanks for the care package…” – Medium Alison, Joan, Small Alison & Bruce
9. “Party Dress” – Small Alison, Bruce, Medium Alison, Alison
10. “Changing My Major” – Medium Alison
11. “I leapt out of the closet…” – Alison, Small Alison, Bruce & Helen
12. “Maps” – Alison
13. “Read a book…” – Bruce, Small Alison, Alison & Helen
14. “Raincoat of Love” – Bobby Jeremy & Company
15. “Clueless in New York…” – Alison, Small Alison & Bruce
16. “Pony Girl” – Bruce
17. “A flair for the dramatic…” – Alison, Joan, Medium Alison & Bruce
18. “Ring of Keys” – Small Alison & Alison
19. “Let me introduce you to my gay dad…” – Joan, Medium Alison, Alison, Bruce & Small Alison
20. “Shortly after we were married…” – Helen & Medium Alison
21. “Days and Days” – Helen
22. “You ready to go for that drive?…” – Bruce & Alison
23. “Telephone Wire” – Alison & Bruce
24. “It was great to have you home…” – Bruce & Alison
25. “Edges of the World” – Bruce
26. “This is what I have of you…” – Alison
27. “Flying Away (Finale)” – Alison, Medium Alison & Small Alison

When Heidi Schreck was a teenager, she would travel from one American Legion post to another competing in debates about the Constitution. Students participated in these civic exercises and the winners were awarded money for College expenses. Heidi Schreck put herself through College on the winnings from these debates. But, it becomes very clear very early in What the Constitution Means to Me that the Constitution is just a vehicle for Heidi Schreck to talk about her troubled family and its tumultuous history.

It’s astonishing that this essentially one-woman show could deal with so many topics: civil rights, slavery, amendments to the Constitution, and feminism. Heidi Schreck talks about how the women in her own family have survived through physical abuse and rape. She also points out that the US Constitution, intended to protect all of us, never even once mentions the word “woman.”

What the Constitution Means to Me is nominated for two Tony Awards: Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play (Heidi Schreck) and Best Play.

I found What the Constitution Means to Me very moving. I can’t imagine how Heidi Schreck could perform this emotional play eight times a week! I was drained after sitting through one performance! Highly recommended! Do you have a favorite Amendment? GRADE: A-

It takes three “Chers” to tell the story of the real Cher. There’s a teenage Cher, a 20/30 year old Cher, and a “star” Cher. In chronological fashion, The Cher Show presents the story of how Cher met up with Sonny Bono and became a success, selling 50 million records. But, Sonny and Cher blew through all that money. When musical trends changed, Sonny and Cher were dropped by their record company and were broke. Sonny manages to sell the idea of The Sonny and Cher Show to CBS. The show ran from 1971 to 1974. Cher divorced Sonny and that pretty much cancelled the show. But, amazingly, Sonny and Cher reunited on TV in 1976 for a second iteration of The Sonny and Cher Show. But variety shows were going the way of the dinosaurs and the show was cancelled in 1977 because of low ratings. Cher then secures a recording contract and produces a series of hits during the 1980s and 1990s. Currently, Cher is touring the country with her Here We Go Again tour.

If you’re a Cher fan, you’ll enjoy this biographical musical. If you’re into female empowerment, The Cher Show is a perfect example of how determination and grit can produce success despite many setbacks. Do you have a favorite Cher song? GRADE: A
SONG LIST:
1. If I Could Turn Back Time
2. Half-Breed
3. The Shoop Shoop Song
4. I Got You Babe
5. When the Money’s Gone – All Or Nothing
6. Ain’t Nobody’s Business If I Do
7. Living in a House Divided
8. Bang Bang
9. Believe
10. Song For the Lonely
11. All I Ever Need is You
12. Heart of Stone
13. Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves
14. Midnight Rider – Ramblin’ Man
15. Just Like Jesse James
16. Dark Lady
17. Strong Enough
18. The Way Of Love
19. The Beat Goes On
20. I Found Someone
21. You Haven’t Seen The Last of Me
22. Finale

John Wick 3 is basically a chase movie. In John Wick 1 & 2, retired assassin John Wick (Keanu Reeves) pissed off an international crime organization called The High Table and now Wick is declared “excommunicado” (which means anyone who helps Wick is put under a Death Sentence, too). Wick has a $15 million bounty on his head and plenty of people want to collect it. The movie moves from one fight scene to another. There’s a lot of choreographed violence.

My favorite sequence occurs when Wick calls in a favor from Sofia (Halle Berry) and all hell breaks loose. There’s some creative use of dogs in the battle scene. Director Chad Stahelski doesn’t tamper with his formula of ultra violent action (I sort of wish he would!). The AMC theater where I saw John Wick 3 was sold out. The crowd was raucous! And the film sets up John Wick 4 nicely. GRADE: B+

Once again, stories from John W. Campbell, Jr.’s Astounding Science Fiction dominated another volume of The Great SF Stories. T. L. Sherred’s classic “E for Effort” stands out. Poul Anderson’s “Tomorrow’s Children” presents themes Anderson would explore in future stories. William Tenn’s “Child’s Play” is a personal favorite. Once again I applaud Asimov and Greenberg for including multiple stories by an author. In this case, it’s Theodore Sturgeon’s “Tiny and the Monster” and “Thunder and Roses.” The Brits are represented by Arthur C. Clarke’s “The Fires Within” and Eric Frank Russell’s “Hobbyist.” The overall quality of these volumes from the 1940s continue to improve with each year. GRADE: A
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
INTRODUCTION by Isaac Asimov & Martin H. Greenberg 11
“Little Lost Robot” by Isaac Asimov (Astounding Science Fiction, March 1947) 15
“Tomorrow’s Children” by Poul Anderson (Astounding Science Fiction, March 1947). 42
“Child’s Play” by William Tenn (Philip Klass) (Astounding Science Fiction, March 1947) 71
“Time and Time Again” by H. Beam Piper (Astounding Science Fiction, April 1947) 100
“Tiny and the Monster” by Theodore Sturgeon (Astounding Science Fiction, May 1947) 119
“E for Effort” by T. L. Sherred (Astounding Science Fiction, May 1947) 155
“Letter to Ellen” by Chan Davis (Astounding Science Fiction, June 1947) 207
“The Figure” by Edward Grendon (Lawrence L. LeShan) (Astounding Science Fiction, July 1947) 220
“With Folded Hands…” by Jack Williamson (Astounding Science Fiction, July 1947) 226
“The Fires Within” by Arthur C. Clarke (Fantasy Great Britain, August 1947). 272
“Zero Hour” by Ray Bradbury (Thrilling Wonder Stories, Fall 1947). 282
“Hobbyist” by Eric Frank Russell (Astounding Science Fiction, September 1947). 293
“Exit the Professor” by Lewis Padgett (Henry Kuttner & C. L. Moore) (Thrilling Wonder Stories, October 1947). 327
“Thunder and Roses” by Theodore Sturgeon (Astounding Science Fiction, November 1947) 343

Network has 5 Tony Award Nominations including Best Actor for Bryan Cranston and Best Director for Ivo van Hove. The Broadway version of Network is based on a 1976 movie written by Paddy Chayefsky and directed by Sidney Lumet. The movie features Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Peter Finch, and Robert Duvall. The movie won four Academy Awards, in the categories of Best Actor (Finch), Best Actress (Dunaway), Best Supporting Actress (Straight), and Best Original Screenplay (Chayefsky). Network feels very 1970s with its obsession with ratings and “winning” time slots.

Bryan Cranston pretty much carries this Broadway version of Network. Cranston plays a quirky newsreader (think Walter Cronkite on steroids) named Howard Beale who is fired because his newscast has low ratings. Cranston snaps on camera and his mantra, “We’re as mad as hell, and we’re not going to take this anymore,” produces a ratings surge. So Cranston’s character is put back on the air. There’s some internal politics and a love affair between Director of Programming Diana Christensen (played by Tatiana Gabriele Maslany–remember her in Orphan Black?) and the head of the News Divison, Max Schumacher (Tony Goldwyn). There’s a gratuitous sex scene on stage.

My quibble about Network is that this nearly 2-hour media extravaganza has NO INTERMISSION! Quite a challenge for those with weak bladders! GRADE: B

Nominated for 12 Tony Awards, Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations, mixes music and a messy history of success with personal failures. Under the canny direction of Des McAnuff, along with sensational choreography by Sergio Trujillo, this musical captures the rise and fall of a Motown supergroup. There have been 24 Temptations over the life of the group. As the group’s leader and show’s narrator, Otis Williams–played with gravitas by Derrick Baskin–says, “Sometimes Temp stood for “temporary.”

As The Temptations find success, members start to fall away because of alcohol, drug, physical and mental problems. The core lineup of original The Temptations slowly get whittled down to its founder: Otis Williams–still alive. But to me, Ephraim Sykes (as David Ruffin) steals every scene he’s in. David Ruffin, talented but volatile, sings some of The Temptation’s greatest hits–“My Girl” (1964), “It’s Growing” (1965), “Since I Lost My Baby” (1965), “My Baby” (1965), “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” (1966), “Beauty Is Only Skin Deep” (1966), “(I Know) I’m Losing You” (1966), “All I Need” (1967), “(Loneliness Made Me Realize) It’s You That I Need” (1967), “I Wish It Would Rain” (1967), and “I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)” (1968). But Ruffin’s abusive relationship with the singer Tammi Terrell (Nasia Thomas) accelerates his departure from the group.

I also loved the presence of The Supremes, led by the amazing Candice Marie Woods in a pitch-perfect version of Diana Ross. Rashidra Scott impressed me as Otis’s long-suffering and neglected wife, Josephine. If you’re looking for an entertaining and moving musical, Ain’t Too Proud hits all the right notes. Are you a fan of The Temptations? Do you have a favorite song? GRADE: A
SONG LIST:
“Ain’t Too Proud to Beg”
“All I Need”
“Baby Love”
“Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World is Today)”
“Cloud Nine”
“Come See About Me”
“Don’t Look Back”
“For Once in My Life”
“Get Ready”
“Gloria”
“I Can’t Get Next to You”
“I Could Never Love Another (After Loving You)”
“(I Know) I’m Losing You”
“I Want a Love I Can See”
“I Wish It Would Rain”
“If You Don’t Know Me by Now”
“I’m Gonna Make You Love Me”
“In the Still of the Night”
“Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)”
“My Girl”
“Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone”
“Runaway Child, Running Wild”
“Shout”
“Since I Lost My Baby”
“Speedo”
“Superstar (Remember How You Got Where You Are)”
“The Way You Do the Things You Do”
“War”
“What Becomes of the Brokenhearted”
“You Can’t Hurry Love”
“You’re My Everything”

Here’s another bargain ($1.00!) from that Library Book Sale I attended over the weekend: a Double Feature of social collapse (perhaps anticipating what will happen if Trump wins a Second Term). The Road Warrior is an Australian film directed by George Miller that is set in a Post-Apocalypse world where everyone is fighting for scarce resources like gasoline…and food. A small community of survivors is attacked by a thuggish gang. Mad Max (aka, Mel Gibson) uses his fighting skills and strategy to help them defend their outpost. I liked this movie back in 1981 and I like it today. GRADE: A

I’m less enthusiastic about Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome which showed up in the U.S. in 1985. Despite the astonishing performance of Tina Turner in this film, I thought the gladiatorial battle sequences became tiresome. GRADE: B

Are you a fan of the Mad Max movies? Do you have a favorite?