Les Miserables: If it aint broke...why fix it?

Okay, I just need to vent here. The other day, I was fortunate enough to be able to take in yet another performance of Les Miserables. I think this was my 12th time, or somewhere close to it.  Sam has heard me talk about it since...well, since she was an infant, when I would sing the score to her as I tried to get her to nap. So I was thrilled to finally take her to see it.  To me, it is the end-all be-all of musical theater. The story and the music tug at my heartstrings every time, without fail.  As originally written, it is perfection.

I want to stress that I said as ORIGINALLY written.  I would love to know what brain surgen felt the need to tweak the staging and music.

The new sets, admittedly, look incredible, and the transition between scenes is as smooth as always.  However, with a show like this, they are not needed.  It worked so much better before, and used to be much more effective.  Sometimes, simple works better. Restaging classic scenes like "One Day More" is just unnecessary.

One thing that the previous incarnation was known for was its use of a spinning stage. This is no longer true,its been cut.  Now, to me, this is not a big deal until the second act, during the barricade scene.

When Gavroche died, I wanted to see it.  It lost something when we just heard it.  Along the same lines, after the students are all shot to hell, I missed that slow pan when we see the other side of the barricade, littered with soliders bodies. Normally, this is a very powerful and effective scene...this time around, I sat in the audience, saying to myself, "Wha-?!?!"

My biggest petpeeve, though, and it happened repeatedly, was the changes in music.  I didnt mind when things are added, or when the wording was changed a little, but there were whole chunk of "dialogue" cut, as well as whole verses from songs.  Because I have listened to the symphonic recording more than any sane person should, I know every little line. Off the top of my head, I know there were whole verses cut from "Castle On A Cloud" and "Fantines Death". Sam even picked up on the "Castle..." omission because she has used it as an audition song.  There were other chunks missing, like the intro to "Master of the House", which was reduced to about 5-10 seconds long, it seems. There was also some incidental music cut, such as the beginning of "I Dreamed A Dream", as well as the reprise of "Drink With Me", right after the women and fathers of children are told to leave the barricade.  When done right, that can be a powerful scene. In past productions, it has moved me to tears. In this new version, they are given about 2 seconds to say their goodbyes and get the hell out of there.  Kinda ruined the moment.

Also, along the lines of the music...SLOW DOWN!!!  There were quite a few moments when they were rushing through the music.  As I said to Katie, since we were at the last show before they moved on to the next city, maybe the actors wanted to wrap it up since they wanted to pack up their crap and get the hell out of Baltimore.  Cant really blame them, if thats the case.

In spite of the above criticism, there was one or two changes that I actually enjoyed.  Specifically, having the opening take place on a ship worked suprisingly well.  And I enjoyed the way Javerts suicide was depicted; well done.

And the story and music still got to me.  Seeing it with Sam added a whole different wrinkle to the end; as Valjean lay dying, Sam took my hand, squeezed it hard, and put her head on my shoulder.  I was no good after that, the tears were a-flowing. So, even with the above changes...it still works. And I am anxiously awating the next time I can see it. Because even a modified version is better than anything out there.

And the Oscar goes to...

Nope, this one is not about the puppy.  This one is about the Academy Awards, airing this Sunday.

There was a time when I would have an educated opinion about the Oscars. A lifetime ago, I worked for a move theater, and would see 95% of the movies.  Even the crap. (And yes, there has always been crap.  Those people who say "They dont make them like they used to" are just fooling themselves, because they NEVER made them as good as they seem to remember). When you can see movies for free, you tend to forgive the crap, because all it cost me was my time.

But all those years of seeing movies for free spoiled me, since I usually watched them after hours, with a couple of friends/co-workers.  So, I never had to deal with the "human" element.  And now that I have to, there are very few movies that are worth going to the theater for, because of the rest of the audience. Its just not worth it.  Those few instances where I have braved the landscape is only after a movie has been out for weeks so that maybe the crowds have died down. Even then, I am usually shown that I was right to stay away.

The only exception to these rules is when I take Sam to a kids movie.  I go in with different expectations, knowing that kids are gonna be running around being stupid because people dont know how to parent.

Its not the quality of movies that have gone down;  I would just rather watch them in the comfort of my own home. 

So, I was looking at this this years major Oscar nominees, and out of the 25 (or so) movies that have a nomination for best picture, best director, or acting award, I have seen a grand total of...One of them.  And five of them I have never even heard of. 

Oh, and that one that I saw was Toy Story 3. 

Well, at least The Amazing Race is also on Sundays, so at least the night wont be a total loss...

In honor of Valentines Day...

I am fortunate that my bride feels the same way about Valentines Day that I do: Its a silly, made-up holiday.  We are one of those strange couples who expresses their love all year long, not just on one day that the flower and card companies agreed would be a good day to rip people off of money that they do not have.

Katie and I met doing theater. We were friends for a long time before getting together.  At the time, I was going through a divorce, so Katie and I proceeded as friends. My daughter Samantha was my number one priority, and I put all my time into trying to build a good life for her.  Katie was there when I needed it.  She knew when to help, and more importantly, when to leave me alone to figure out my own way, to figure out what works for Sam and I.

(Its funny...Katie and I kissed on stage long before we kissed in "real life"...)

(And yes, I am dressed in a grass skirt and coconut bra in this picture.  Ah, the things I do for the stage...)

Over time, I realized that the perfect woman was already there, as my best friend.  Everyone has someone who is their perfect match; unfortunately, some people never find them.  I am one of the lucky ones who found his. 

At times, she drives me crazy.  At times, her upbeat attitude and positive thinking irk me to no end, seeing as how I am a glass-half-empty kind of guy. But I would not change a thing about her.  God only knows what the future will bring; there will be happiness, there will be sorrow.  But with her by my side, I will make it through just fine. She makes me laugh, she makes me cry...but, more than anything, she makes me smile.

To paraphrase the poet Roy Croft...I love her, not for what she is, but for what I am when I am with her.

And how will we celebrate Valentines Day?  With a simple "I love you", and a kiss or two.  The same way we celebrate every day of the year.

Oops, I almost forgot...

I forgot to mention the 4th family member.  Two weeks ago, we adopted a 9 week old Puggle (half Beagle, half Pug), who we named Oscar.

In two weeks time, he has really integrated himself into our lives.  The girls love him.  So, I love him, too.  As much as I want to ring his neck half the time.

I have not raised a puppy in a long time.  The last dog I had I got when she was 2, so I missed out on the teething and housetraining stage. Not so much, this time around.  I just keep telling myself things will get better...right?  (Somebody PLEASE say they will get better)  Patience is not one of my strong points, this is nothing new.  And my patience is being tested, without a doubt.  But, one look at Sams eyes when she sees the puppy...well, it makes it a little more tolerable. 

Even if my hand is covered in band-aids from scratches and bites.

First time for everything...

So...um...yeah....my wife has been telling me for some time that I need to start a blog.  So, here goes nothing.

For someone who is always speaking his mind, I got nothing, at the moment. Right now, I am simply trying to figure out what I am doing here. I suppose I could start with a little basic bio information.  That seems like a safe place to start. I will expand on all of this as time goes on, I am sure.

My name is John Sheldon.  I am a (very) happily married man.  I know some of you reading this think you have a wonderful spouse.  And I have no doubt that they are a wonderful person.  However, they pale in comparison to my wife, Katie.  This is a simple fact;  accept it, and move on.  Her one flaw is her taste in men.  How she puts up with a schmuck like me is a mystery, but I am glad she does. I met Katie doing theater, a hobby that she and I are both passionate about.  I'll expand on my theatrical career in later posts.

I, also, have a ten year old daughter, Samantha, who is a godsend.  She and I have been through a lot together; my current wife is not the mother of my daughter. That honor goes to my first wife.  She and I separated when Sam was 2.  In the years that followed, Sam and I went through a lot, as I seemed to become her primary caregiver.  I found out how hard it is to be a single parent, to be a mommy AND daddy at the same time.  At times, I failed.  At times, I succeeded.  Through it all, she and I formed a bond that is still strong to this day.  How she turned out is the one thing I am most proud of.


I live in Halethorpe, MD, right outside of Baltimore.  I am fortunate in that I live close to my parents, who are about ten minutes away in Columbia.  Also, my younger brother, and his family, lives within a half hour, and my older sister and her husband live about an hour away, in Virginia. 

I work as a payroll analyst for a health company. Essentially, a payroll CPA, although I am not an accountant. But its that kind of work. And yes, its as exciting as it sounds. So, I doubt you will hear me talk much about it.  I will, however, talk about the band of misfits who make up this office.  I say this with nothing but affection, however.  I geniuinely like (most of) the people I work with.  They make it bearable.

That covers the basics.  God only knows where this blog may take me, but Katie feels like it will be a good outlet for me.  We'll see what happens...