All the World's a Stage

I’ve got two stage-related items for you today.

First off, we went to see “Avenue Q” last night at the Capitol Theater, and we had a great time. The theater looked pretty full, which actually surprised me a bit since it’s definitely not for anyone who has a problem with bad language or simulated puppet sex. (That should get this post some interesting hits.) The theater gave out a warning that it wasn’t recommended for anyone under 15 without parental guidance, and I wondered if that would keep some of the regulars away. I’m sure there were many who stayed away, but apparently there was no trouble selling the tickets. The performances were really good, and if you don’t mind some bawdy humor, you might want to check it out. It’s playing locally through Sunday.

Next on the list is an Alfred Hitchcock movie we watched a couple of nights ago. It was one I’d never seen before, or even remembered hearing about. I came across it months ago after watching a few Hitchcock movies, and deciding to add some more to my Netflix Queue. They’ve been slowly making their way to the top, but we ended up watching this one the other night because it was available for Instant Watch.

It’s called “Stage Fright”, starring Jane Wyman and Marlene Dietrich. I’m deliberately not linking that one for you, because I don’t want you to go running off to read about it, at least not yet. Let me explain. No–there is too much. Let me sum up. (That’s for you, Carrie!) Reading about the movie, even if it’s just the summary on IMDb or Amazon, will tell you things about the movie that are best left unsaid until you’ve seen it. They may not exactly be spoilers, but they’ll still tell you more than you should know for fullest enjoyment.

The basic plot concerns a young drama student Eve (played by Jane Wyman), whose unrequited love interest Jonathan (Richard Todd) has been having an affair with a famous actress Charlotte (Marlene Dietrich). When Charlotte’s husband is murdered, Jonathan is implicated, and goes to Eve for help in proving his innocence. Eve uses her acting skills to go undercover to reveal the truth.

If you enjoy Hitchcock movies, you may want to give this one a try. It’s not one of his best works (“Rear Window” is my all-time favorite), but we liked it, and were glad to have seen it – especially since it’s somewhat unique. Intrigued? Give it a try. If you have Netflix, I’ll give you the link to the movie in case you want to watch it or queue it up – but don’t read the Critic or Member reviews, OK? It’s fine to read the “At a Glance” summary. Here you go: Stage Fright on Netflix.

One thing I must admit… we had a really hard time watching Marlene Dietrich sing without thinking of Madeline Kahn in Blazing Saddles. “I’m so tired…” Hee.