"Dracula" presented by Texas Ballet Theater

Carl Coomer
as
DRACULA

The Travelling Toe and 2 other friends attended the Sunday afternoon performance of "Dracula" presented by Texas Ballet Theater.

The story of Dracula is told in 3 acts in the ballet choreographed by Artistic Director of the TBT, Ben Stevenson.  The ballet is performed to music by Franz Liszt.

Ben Stevenson
choreography

Franz Liszt

The first scene opens in Dracula's castle crypt.  He and his numerous brides are awakened and are hungry for blood.  Just at that time Dracula's henchman Renfield, arrives driving a coach pulled by 2 "ballet"horses.  Inside the coach is a young girl Flora who Renfield has kidnapped to present to his master.  After Dracula has his fill, the brides then converge on Flora.

The second act takes place in the castle village.  A young girl, Svetlana is celebrating her 18th birthday with her parents and all the villagers.  One of the guests is a young man, Frederick who is in love with  Svetlana and they want to marry.  But he is almost afraid to ask her father, the innkeeper, for her hand in marriage.  Just after the father has given his blessing, a strange coach arrives and Renfield jumps off the coach and abducts Svetlana to tale to his master.

The curtain opens on the third act that takes place back at  the castle.  The brides along with Flora are waiting for the Count.  He enters with Svetlana.  She is to be the next bride.  As the Count begins to mesmerize her, she tries to resist him.  But as she losing the battle with Dracula, her father, Frederick and the Priest storm into the castle to rescue Svetlana.  Using a Cross to repeal the brides, the Priest helps Frederick find Svetlana.  Then Frederick starts pulling the drapes and curtains down bathing the castle in sunlight.  Dracula flies to a perch in the ceiling and with a loud explosion he is killed.


Wow!!  We all 3 agreed that this was a wonderful production.  All the costumes were just lovely.  There were about 12 brides and they all wore white filmy dresses and each one was styled differently to denote various time periods.  During the village scene, once again the dresses were of similar colors but designed differently.  So too were the men's vests and sashes.  But of course one of the most interesting and dazzling costume pieces was Dracula's cape which was reported to weight 30 pounds.

The main dancers for the matinee performance that we saw were:

Alexander Kotelenets
                                            Dracula

Angela Kenny
                                            Flora

Emmanuel Velazquez
                                            Renfield

Carolyn Judson
                                            Svetlana

Jiyan Dai
                                            Frederick


And they were all excellent in their roles!

Taking this production up even a further notch was that the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra provided excellent musical accompaniment for the ballet.  Michael Moricz was guest conductor.




Texas Ballet Theater

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra

TBT Photo

"Pan" (movie critique)

PAN
movie poster

The Friday Movie Mavens and the Travelling Toe hit the local multiplex to view "Pan". There were 5 of us who attended the movie screening and the review decision was split - 3 not liking it much and 2 of us liking it.  It is hard not to like a movie that has Hugh Jackman in it!

The main plot of this movie is that a baby, who is named Peter, is left at a London orphanage by his mother.  The nuns who run the orphanage are cruel to all the boys living there giving them little food, clothing or protection.  But the nuns are also hiding a dark secret. Peter, being a curious boy, begins to question where all the young lads have disappeared to during the night  The nuns tell him that the missing boys are now part of loving families in Australia.  But we soon learn the truth.  Pirates, led by Captain Blackbeard kidnaps the boys and puts them to work in a mine, turning them into forced labor.  The miners are trying to find fairy dust crystals for the Captain, who needs it to maintain his vim, vigor, vitality and appearance.

While working in the mines, Peter makes friends with James Hook (Garrett Hedlund).  The two of them along with Smee, steal a flying boat and take off  with Blackbeard in hot pursuit.  The runaways eventually land in the forest of the Fairy Kingdom, where the natives capture them. They are about to be executed when Tiger Lily sees Peter's pan medallion around his neck and realizes  who he really is.  The young boy is Peter Pan, his mother was human but his father was a fairy prince. They both died battling Captain Blackbeard.  Peter struggles to realize what his parents legacy is and what it means for him.  

Dear Readers, The Travelling Toe will leave the story line at this point as you might be interested enough to see it yourself or not as the case may be.  It is worth at least the effort to watch it on demand or streaming.

CAST:

Hugh Jackman
Captain Blackbeard

Rooney Mara
Tiger Lily

                                                                 

Garrett Hedlund
James Hook

Levi Miller
Peter Pan

The 2 of us who enjoyed the movie, thought the plot of the movie was good and there was enough action to keep it interesting. It was very colorful especially during the time in the Fairy Kingdom.  The costumes that Hugh Jackman wore were very elaborate as well as his very black ornate wigs.

This is not a movie for everyone but it provides a nice back story of how Peter Pan became Peter Pan and who all the Lost Boys really were.

The Travelling Toe gives this movie 1 middle toe up with a sprinkle of pixie dust scattered by Tinker Belle.  




Disclaimer:  The Travelling Toe is not a professional critic and any opinions expressed are for entertainment purposes only. 

"The Martian" (movie critique)

THE MARTIAN
movie poster

Dear Readers, have you seen the latest movie, "The Martian" starring Matt Damon?  If not then you need to go see it.  The Friday Movie Mavens and The Travelling Toe all agreed it was one of the best movies of the year.

The plot of the movie starts with 5 astronauts on Mars finishing experiments before leaving the planet.  A sudden storm hits and the astronauts start making their way to the rocket when Mark Watney (Matt Damon) is hit with flying debris and his communication equipment is damaged.  He is knocked out and the other astronauts, not able to make contact with him, think he is dead.  NASA tells them they must leave the planet immediately due to the storm.  They take off and leave Mark on Mars.. The Commander of the Ares III space ship, Melissa Lewis (Jessica Chastain) is upset at having to a man behind.  But the other astronauts tell her that she made the right decision for them all and for the mission.  

However, Mark is not dead but seriously injured.  He makes it back to the base camp and cleans his wounds.  He realizes he has no contact with NASA and starts a video log of what he has to do to survive as long as he can.  During his taping sessions as he assesses the situation he is funny, matter of fact and really ridicules Melissa's taste int the music she left behind. (a glittering ball was not part of the equipment taken to Mars)

There are lots of interesting story lines during the movie such as how NASA finally realizes he is in fact alive and doing his best to survive.  He must ration his food and comes up with a clever way to grown potatoes on Mars.  It is does sort of have a ewww factor but compost is compost wherever you are.  

How is Mark rescued?  Well, Dear Readers see the movie yourself.  

Side Note:  This movie is 141 minutes long so ration your liquid consumption accordingly.

ASTRONAUTS CAST:

Matt Damon

Jessica Chastain

Michael Pena

Kate Mara

Sebastian Stan

NASA SUPPORT PERSONNEL:

Jeff Daniels

Chiwetel Ejiofor

Kristen Wiig

Ridley Scott
producer & director

The Travelling Toe gives this movie 1 big toe up and 1 middle toe up with a side of French Fries and a Mars bar.


One last note, the movie is based on the  book, "The Martian:,  written by Andy Weir.

Andy Weir

Disclaimer:  The Travelling Toe is not a professional critic and any opinions expressed are of entertainment purposes.

Mars
the red planet

"Live and Let Die a Symphonic Tribute to Paul McCartney" with the Fort Worth Pops Symphony Orchestra

LIVE AND LET DIE
A Symphonic Tribute to Paul McCartney

Bass Hall
Fort Worth, Texas

The Travelling Toe and a friend went to the Sunday matinee performance of the Forth Worth Symphony Pops Concert at Bass Hall.  The show was "Live and Let Die a Symphonic Tribute to Paul McCartney".  The show stared Tony Kishman, who has a played in various Beatles tribute bands.

Tony Kishman

Paul McCartney

The concert was very entertaining especially if you enjoy Beatles music.  With band mates Jim Owen, keyboards, Chris Camilleri, drums and John Mojave on lead guitar, Tony sung Paul's  music from the Beatles songbook as well as the Wings era.The Fort Worth Symphony provided extra layers to the songs including brass and percussion and lovely strings.

What was enjoyable about this live performance was that the group pretty much just sang one song after another.  There was very little wasted time spent on talking or explaining which allotted more time for Paul's music to be performed.

Just a few songs that the group did were:

                                                     Yesterday
                                                     My Love
                                                     Live and Let Die
                                                     Jet
                                                     Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
                                                     Eleanor Rigby
                                                     Let It Be
                                                     When I'm Sixty-Four 
                                                             (well, he made it as he is 73!)


To close the show, the group did "Hey Jude".  Audience members and Symphony members alike got their mobiles out, lit them up and waved them in the air.

What an enjoyable concert.  If you have the opportunity to see this show and you like Paul's music then don't miss it when it comes your way!


Live and Let Die Show

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra

"The Intern" (movie critique)

THE INTERN
movie poster

To escape the Fall heat wave in North Central Texas, the Friday Movie Mavens and The Travelling Toe, seeking some artificially cold air, went to the local movie multiplex.  The movie we selected to see was "The Intern".

The Travelling Toe is sure that this movie has it detractors (oh the horror - someone in a movie at 70!!).  But it is a cute, charming and funny movie.  But be prepared, it does NOT have any nude scenes, bad language or bombs exploding every 5 minutes.  What it does have is some fine acting by Robert De Niro and Anne Hathaway.  

Robert De Niro

Anne Hathaway

The title of the movie certainly echos the plot line. Ben Whitaker (Robert De Niro of course), at 70 and a widower,  is a retired executive and applies for a senior (as in age) intern position at an on-line fashion company. Jules Ostin started the company and in a short time it has exploded in growth.  But she is overworked, overextended and overly exhausted.  Ben is assigned to assist her.  At first, Jules resits any help but after Ben begins driving her to appointments, she starts warming up to him. Jules begins to confide in Ben and they form a friendship.  Along the way Ben develops a romantic relationship with the in-house massage therapist, Fiona, played by Rene Russo. Yes, Dear Readers, even senior citizens enjoy some romance once in a while.

Rene Russo

One of the funniest scenes of the movie is when Ben and his fellow geeks are asked to do Jules a big favor.  Jules accidentally sent her mother an email that would destroy their relationship.  So Ben and the geeks break into the mother's house to delete the email.  And of course, if anything can go wrong it does.  

One bit of disappointment in the story was that Ben finds out that Jules' husband is having an affair.  That plot line was not really necessary  and has used in so many movies.  The writers could have been more inventive than that!

Nancy Meyers
writer, producer, director

Being Golden Girls ourselves, we did find this movie to be entertaining, funny and totally enjoyable.


The Travelling Toe gives this movie 1 big toe up with an AARP card.


Disclaimer:  The Travelling Toe is not a professional critic and any opinions expressed are for entertainment purposes only.

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra at Bass Hall

BASS HALL

The Travelling Toe and two friends attended the Sunday matinee performance of the Fort Worth Symphony at Bass Hall.  Maestro Miguel Harth-Bedoya conducted the program.

Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra

MIGUEL HARTH-BEDOYA
Music Director

Miguel Harth-Bedoya

The first selection was "Concerto for Orchestra" written by Witold Lutoslawski.  The piece required a full-force orchestra and a large variety of percussion instruments.  Lutoslawski, a Polish composer in post WWII Poland, had to write music within the guidelines of the Soviet Union. Somehow he was able to write this concerto by using Polish folk songs as a base for his serious musical piece.  The concerto is 28 minutes long with 3 movements.  The third movement has a very dramatic ending.

After the briefest of pauses and re-arrangement of some orchestra members, the second selection was ready to start.  The piece, "Les nuits d'ete, Opus 7", was written by Hector Berlioz for a mezzo-soprano voice.  It was our good fortune that lovely Julie Boulianne was engaged to sing Berlioz's song-cycle.  The words in French and English were printed in the program so that audience members could follow as this marvelous singer serenaded us as well as enjoy Berlioz's text.   The Travelling Toe hopes that Ms. Boulianne will return to us soon for another engagement.

Hector Berlioz

Julie Boulianne
mezzo-soprano

Side Note: The Travelling Toe must do a "girly" thing and mention the lovely dress that Ms. Boulianne worn.  It was made of a beautiful shade of a purple silky fabric with black flowers on it and it  fitted her just perfectly. 


After a 20 minute intermission, the Maestro returned to the podium and the final piece was played,  "Bolero" by Maurice Ravel.  Now Dear Readers, if you have not heard "Bolero" then you must live a pretty lonesome existence.  "Bolero" starts with the violas and cellos strumming and plucking their strings and then slowly other instruments of the orchestra join in, rising to an exciting concendo!  WOW!!  FWSO nailed it!!!  What a great way to finish an already lovely program!


Musicians of the Fort Worth Symphony

"Black Mass" (movie critique)

BLACK MASS
movie poster

The Travelling Toe and a friend took the challenge to see "Black Mass" starring Johnny Depp as Whitey Bulger - a true to life infamous career criminal.

The movie starts in 1975 and chronicles Whitey's role in the Irish American Winter Hill Gang in South Boston.  At that time an Italian crime family, with ties to the mafia, were operating  in South Boston as well.  The FBI needed help to take them down.  One FBI Agent, John Connolly, talks Whitey into making a deal to help them get rid of the Italians, which is a win-win situation for them both.  There is history between the two men as Whitey and John grow up in the same neighborhood, plus John continues to be friends with Whitey's brother Billy, who was a State Senator at that time.  

As the story progresses, we see John losing control over the relationship.  Whitey, continues doing what he does best - breaking the law and now with the FBI looking the other way.  

Then a new hard-nosed US Prosecuting Attorney, Fred Wyshak, arrives to finish the job his predecessor could not - which was closing down Whitey's operation.  Wyshak begins to question the information supposedly given by Whitey on the mafia bunch.  Wyshak goes through Connolly's reports and he determines that the information Whitey supposedly gave to the FBI came from other sources including their own wire taps.  Connolly wants to protect Whitey but he is in far to deep himself for that to happen.  When Whitey tries to smuggle guns to Ireland for the IRA, an undercover informant alerts the DEA about the shipment and it is confiscated. Whitey tries to force Connolly to clean up the mess, but Connolly doesn't have any power over the DEA case.  Whitey tracks down the DEA informant and the problem is solved, but just temporarily.

Local media outlets begin to expose the criminal activity associated with Whitey and law enforcement officers who are tied to Whitey..  As the continuing scrutiny focuses on Whitey and his crew, Whitey's henchman begin to rat on him for reduced sentences of their own  As the net starts closing in on Whitey, he takes it on the lam.

He is placed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list.  There he sits for 12 years,  Whitey is finally captured in Santa Monica in June of 2011.  Doubtful he will ever be released.

Whitey Bulger
bad dude

This movie did have a lot of violence and bad language.  Well, after all it is about a major crime organization who would kill anyone who got in their way.  But all the actors were really exceptional in their roles.  The hair and make up crew did an excellent job of making Johnny Depp look exactly like Whitely, including the bad front tooth

MAIN CHARACTERS:

JOHNNY DEPP
Whitey Bulger

BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH
Billy Bulger

JOEL EDGERTON
FBI Agent
John Connolly

COREY STOLL
Fred Wyshak

The Travelling Toe gives this movie one big toe up with black toe nail polish and a band aide, to cover the crime.



Disclaimer:  The Travelling Toe is not a professional ciric and any opinions expressed are for entertainment purposes only.

"Grandma" (movie critique)

GRANDMA
movie poster

A friend and The Travelling Toe went to see "Grandma" at the local multiplex.  We had high expectations for a fun and poignant film.  Perhaps had we noticed the rating for the movie was "R" we would have lowered our expectations.

The very short version of this story is that Sage, (Julia Garner) finds out she is pregnant and decide to end the pregnancy but needs money to have the procedure done. Sage and her mother Judy (Marcia Gay Harden) do not communicate well so she decides to seek help from Grandma Elle (Lily Tomlin).  But her grandma does not have the money having just paid off her life partner Violet's medical bills.  Elle then cut up her credit cards and made a wind chime out of them. So Elle with Sage in hand goes from friend to friend to try to get the money needed. But along the way, all we see is Sage trying to grow-up, accept her situation and her decision and Elle's anger being unleashed on anyone in her sight.

The one scene that has some moxie is when Elle, who is a lesbian, goes to her former boyfriend's home to see if he will give her the money.  Karl, is played the ever handsome Sam Elliott.  But some old wounds can never be healed and they leave without any money. Finally there is no other recourse but to go tell Judy about Sage's pregnancy and the need for money.  Judy does help and support her daughter.

We went to see this movie expecting some laughs since Lily Tomlin was starring in it.  Yes, there were a few - one is  between Sage's boyfriend and Grandma Elle who made interesting use of the hockey stick.  But the consenescence between the 2 of us was that we were decidedly disappointed.  Even the handsome Sam Elliott could not save this movie!


CAST MEMBERS:

Lily Tomlin
Elle

Julia Garner
Sage

Sam Elliott
Karl

Marcia Gay Harden
Judy

The Travelling Toe gives this movie 1 middle toe up with some leftover patchouli incense sticks.




Disclaimer:  The Travelling Toe is not a profession critic and any opinions expressed are for entertainment purposes only.

"Everest" (movie critique)

EVEREST
movie poster

A friend and The Travelling Toe recently went to the local multiplex to see the new flick "Everest".  This movie is based on true facts that took place in 1996.

Rob Hall, played by Jason Clarke, is a skilled climber that includes a climb up to Mount Everest.  Rob runs an outfit that takes climbers up the mountain to the top of Everest. .  

Jason Clarke
Rob

At the beginning of the trek, things go pretty much on course with just a few issues - but no real concerns.  As the group continues to climb to the top, they are  delayed for over an hour as they begin the final assault when they discover that guide ropes were not installed on the route up to the top.  Time is of the essence as the climbers must leave the upper part of the mountain no later than 2:00 in order to make it down safely and return to the last base camp. With the delays, oxygen issues and deteriorating weather conditions Rob becomes worried and tires to hurry everyone up to the summit then back down the mountain as quickly as possible.  One of the climbers, Beck, (Josh Brolin), from Dallas, begins to have serious vision problems and can not see well enough to make it to the summit.  Rob tells Beck to wait for them by the trail to be picked up on the way back down.  But due to a serious snow and wind storm. those above Beck, begin to perish.  Beck is thought to be dead as well.  The operations manager even calls Beck's wife to let her know that he did not survive the climb.  But as the storm abates, the sun comes out and somehow it warms Beck up enough that he was able to make it down to the camp.  He desperately needs immediate medical attention due to heavy frostbite.  When his wife, Peach,  learns he is in fact alive but needs  medical assistance without delay, she contacts the American Embassy begging and pleading for help to rescue her husband.  A helicopter is dispatched but it is one scary ride due to the mountains and the prevailing winds. Those chopper pilots were really heroes. to make it safely there and back.  

At the end of the movie,a photo of the group that was taken at the start of the adventure was shown.  Then individual photos were displayed of those that did not survive the climb and those that did.  A photo of Beck and his wife is shown and it was noted that Beck did lose his hands and nose.  As for Rob, his body is still on Everest.

OTHER CAST MEMBERS:

Josh Brolin
Beck

(Beck Weathers)

Jake Gyllenhaal
Scot

Sam Worthington
Guy

John Hawkes
Doug

The Travelling Toe gives this movie 1 big toe up with a strawberry snow cone.


Disclaimer:  The Travelling Toe is not a professional critic and any opinions expressed are for entertainment purposes only.

Mount Everest