"The Shape of Water" (movie critique)

THE SHAPE OF WATER
movie poster

The Movie Mavens and The Travelling Toe were off to the local multiplex to see the new  Sci-Fic movie, "The Shape of Water".  Having seen the previews, it was one of the new movies we put on our must see list.

An overview of the movie's plot is as follows:

Elisa is a mute, isolated woman who works as a cleaning lady in a hidden, high-security government laboratory in 1962 Baltimore. Her life changes forever when she discovers the lab's classified secret -- a mysterious, scaled creature from South America that lives in a water tank. As Elisa develops a unique bond with her new friend, she soon learns that its fate and very survival lies in the hands of a hostile government agent and a marine biologist.

There were parts of this movie that were really really good.  Doug Jones, a renowned special effects player, was heartbreaking in his role of the captured and tortured Amphibian Man. He really brought the character to life.  Michael Shannon is the go-to actor for a tough, mean, cruel character.  Since the lead character, played by Sally Hawkins, was mute, as she was signing her words, they were projected on the screen so the audience would know what she was saying. Two other outstanding actors were part of the cast, Octavia Spencer and Richard Jenkins.


CAST:

Doug Jones
Amphibian Man

Sally Hawkins
Eliza Esposito

Michael Shannon
Strickland

Octavia Spencer
Zelda

Richard Jenkins
Giles

This was an interesting movie full of all kinds of emotion - friendship, kindness, torture, and even love. But one issue we Movie Mavens had with the movie were several scenes that featured female nudity.  Additionally these scenes did not have anything to do with the plot of the movie....just there for some unexplained reason. With all the issues surrounding Hollywood and sexual harassment, it might have been a good idea to delete a couple of these unnecessary scenes.

The Travelling Toe awards this movie 1 second toe and 1 middle toe up with your very own aquarium from Walmart just in case you want to grow your own Amphibian Man!!

"Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri" (movie critique)

THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE
EBBING, MISSOURI
movie poster

Well Dear Readers, it was movie time again.  The Golden Globe nominees were recently publicized and one of the actors in this movie was nominated.  The movie, "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri" was on our list to see anyway so off to the local multiplex we went.

Here is a short overview of the story's plot from the internet: 

After months have passed without a culprit in her daughter's murder case, Mildred Hayes makes a bold move, painting three signs leading into her town with a controversial message directed at William Willoughby, the town's revered chief of police. When his second-in-command, Officer Dixon -- an immature mother's boy with a penchant for violence -- gets involved, the battle is only exacerbated.

Frances McDormand was excellent in her role as the grieving but angry mother.  Frances wore little to no makeup and her hair was pulled back in some sort of ponytail. She also wore work pants and work shirts reflecting her no-nonsense type of lifestyle.  


CAST:

Frances McDormand
Mildred Hayes

Woody Harrelson
Sheriff Bill Willoughby

Sam Rockwell
Jason Dixon

John Hawkes
Charlie Hayes

Peter Dinklage
James

This movie keeps you guessing on what will happen next and how it will end such as will the murderer be caught!.  One wants to have symphony for Mildred, having lost her daughter in such an dreadful way, but it is not easy to do that seeing how she treats her son and making his life in the small town miserable while she continues her quest to find the murderer. This is definitely not a movie everyone would enjoy.  

The Travelling Toe gives this movie 2 second toes with you very own highway  billboard sign!

"Wonder" (movie critique)

WONDER
movie poster

The flick pick one week for The Travelling Toe and the Movie Mavens was the movie titled"Wonder". If you have taken the time to see this movie, then Dear Readers you already know how sweet, poignant and sad this movie really is.  But it also has laughs along the way.

RJ Palacio
author

Wonder
the book

Below is an overview of the movie plot:

Based on the New York Times bestseller, WONDER tells the incredibly inspiring and heartwarming story of August Pullman, a boy with facial differences who enters fifth grade, attending a mainstream elementary school for the first time.

The Travelling Toe required numerous tissues during the movie, but overall there were just as many happy moments as there were sad moments.  The young actor Jacob Tremblay, was excellent in this role.  He has played in several remarkable movies in his young life as an actor. This is a movie that is indeed worth the price of the ticket.

CAST:

Julia roberts
Isabel Pullman
Mom

Owen Wilson
Nat Pullman
Dad

Jacob Tremblay
Augie Pullman

Izabela Vidovic
Oliva
Sister

Daveed Diggs
Mr. Brown
English Teacher

The Travelling Toe awards this movie 2 second toes up with your

very own astronaut helmet from eBay!

Mandy Patinkin
Mr. Tushman
Principle

Simple Elegance at FUMC - Hurst

SIMPLE ELEGANCE
program

On the first Monday of Advent, a holiday event for women is scheduled at FUMC - Hurst, in Fellowship Hall.  Women of the church sign up to host a table for the event.  The Travelling Toe's dear friend, SB, has been a hostess for 8 years and a number of us always buy a ticket to sit at her table. 

Each hostess is responsible for decorating their assigned table however she chooses.  Most select a holiday theme but others chose something else.  The hostess always provides dessert for her table guests. SB always offers her table guests mints, nuts and fresh strawberries to go long with the dessert she has chosen.  This year she served us homemade bread pudding....oh yummy!!!  

The program opened with a welcome from the Chairwoman of the event and introduced all the hostesses.  After the introduction and prayer, lights are lowered and dessert is served. Many tables had sparking lights or candles that brightened the hall.

After dessert, the Regal Opera Chorale performed many holiday favorites. The group of about 15 musicians were entertaining, enjoyable and made the evening even more special!

This was another fun event to begin the festive season.  The money raised at this event is donated to a different charity and this year the proceeds are to benefit the children and youth choirs of the church.  Life is so much better with music.

Below are some pictures of the tables taken by The Travelling Toe's trusty IPhone camera:

This is beautiful table is that of our hostess, SB. This year she chose gold as her tablescape theme.

When the lights were lowered, this table shown in the twlight:

This hostess used Steampunk as her theme.

One of the hostess served this chocolate goodness for dessert.....it was all the Travelling Toe could do not to grab it up and hit the bricks with it!

These co-hostesses choose "I Love Lucy" for their theme along with the red hair and a bottle of her magic vitamin drink!

Being a lover of all things Downtown Abbey, this tablescape really entranced The Travelling Toe!

This tablescape was in white and silver with touches of blue!

This beautiful table runner was made by the Mother of one of the hostess's and is a keepsake.

There were several tables that featured snow people and here is one example.  These snowman plates are so cute!
























What a special event this always is to kick-off the Advent Season!

"An Act Of God" presented by Stage West

AN ACT OF GOD
play program

Stage West, a local community theater, presented the regional premiere of "An Act Of God".  The play was written by David Javerbaum  Dear Friend and The Travelling Toe opted to attend the Sunday afternoon performance.

David Javerbaum
playwright

Local thespian, BJ Cleveland played the lead role of "God", with the supporting cast of Parker Gray as the Angel Michael and Doug Fowler as the Angel Gabriel.

Stage West describes the play as follows:

Direct from the pearly gates, and flanked by His ever-faithful and devoted archangels, the Almighty Himself is back to set the record straight and answer the deepest questions plaguing humanity since Creation. In this hilarious, no holds barred, irreverent, and critically acclaimed new play, God takes the stage to deliver a new and improved set of Commandments that are sure to have audiences rolling in their seats with side-splitting glee while providing angel-food for thought.

The production was filled with lots of laughter and included a few local references.

Yes, it was funny and a tad irreverent at times, so The Travelling Toe must admit that this play is certainly not for everyone.

Dear Friend and The Traveling Toe made a pinky swear not to tell our Sunday School friends we saw this play so we would not be excommunicated!!  just kidding!!  they love us!!

lobby poster

l

Stage West

Home For The Holidays presented by FWSO Pops

Home For The Holidays
program

Traditionally the FWSO Pops series presents a holiday show the weekend after Thanksgiving.  This year The Travelling Toe and Dear Friend were able to attend the Sunday matinee performance.  These performances are usually well attended as they "unofficially' start the joyful Christmas season. 

The program was 90 minutes long and performed without an intermission.  Joining the orchestra, was a choir made from various local High School choral members.  This esteemed choir was lead by Chorus Master Maritza Caceres.  

Maritza Caceres
Chorus Master
Miguel Harth-Bedoya
Conductor FWSO

Maestro, Miguel Harth-Bedoya led the orchestra for this presentation. Just a side note Miguel and Maritza are married....so music runs deep in this family!

A few of the songs featured were:

                                     Carol of the Belles
                                     Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
                                     White Christmas
                                     Sleigh Ride....while this song was playing, snow started falling
                                                            on audience members from the ceiling of Bass Hall
                                     Twelve Days of Christmas

Another special touch was local actor, Babakayode Lpaye, who read the story of "The Night Before Christmas" for all of us to enjoy!

Babakayode Lpaye
Narrator

The program ended with a sing-a-long for audience members joining in with the orchestra and chorus.  Additionally there was a very special guest, none other than Santa Claus!!

The Man Who Needs No Introduction

"Little Women" presented by The Stolen Shakespeare Guild

LITTLE WOMEN
play program

The Travelling Toe and two Dear Friends attended the stage production of "Little Women" presented by The Stolen Shakespeare Guild.  We were indeed intrigued to see a stage play of this beloved work of Louisa May Alcott.  The Travelling Toe must admit seeing the 3 movie versions numerous times and always enjoying each one.

Louisa May Alcott
author

The story was adapted into play format by Emma Reeves.

Emma Reeves
Playwright

Lauren and Jason Morgan are co-directors of the play, with Lauren also being the costume director...and they were beautiful even with Jo having a patch on her gown! 

Below are shots of the small stage that SSG uses for their productions.  They always come up with inventive ways to utilize the small stage area.  In this play, different areas represented the March home as well as other places necessary for the various scenes of the play. Jason Morgan was the set designer.

The story of the four March sisters, takes place during the Civil War, where their father serves as a chaplain.  Mrs. March tries to hold the household together as they must help other less fortunate neighbors. The four sisters each have different dreams: Meg, the eldest, is a romantic, Beth the youngest is shy but loves to play the piano, Amy is willful and has more wants than her family can provide. The fourth sister,Jo, is passionate and fiery and intendeds to become a famous writer and never marry.

This was a lovely and well done production in the telling of the March family story.  One last note, all the cast members are indeed very talented as they provided music throughout the play which included the guitar, violin and voice.  We left the theater with fuller hearts due to the loveliness of this story!  What a enchanted way to get into the spirit of the season!


The Stolen Shakespeare Guild


Cast Photos from SSG: