Book Mark Book Review Club Oct Meeting

The Travelling Toe and several Gal Pals, are members of The Book Mark Review Club.  At the recent October meeting, Susan Boone, was the featured reviewest. She is always a delight to hear.  The book that she reviewed was, "The Little Old Lady Who Broke All The Rules".  Susan told the story in the first person which made it even funnier!

The book was written by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg.  

Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg

Here is how the book is described on Amazon:

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel meets The Italian Job in internationally-bestselling author Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg’s witty and insightful comedy of errors about a group of delinquent seniors whose desire for a better quality of life leads them to rob and ransom priceless artwork.

Martha Andersson may be seventy-nine-years-old and live in a retirement home, but that doesn’t mean she’s ready to stop enjoying life. So when the new management of Diamond House starts cutting corners to save money, Martha and her four closest friends—The Genius, The Rake, Christina and Anna-Gretta (a.k.a. The League of Pensioners)—won’t stand for it. Fed up with early bedtimes and overcooked veggies, this group of feisty seniors sets about to regain their independence, improve their lot, and stand up for seniors everywhere.

Their solution? White collar crime. What begins as a relatively straightforward robbery of a nearby luxury hotel quickly escalates into an unsolvable heist at the National Museum. With police baffled and the Mafia hot on their trail, the League of Pensioners has to stay one walker’s length ahead if it’s going to succeed.

Told with all the insight and humor of A Man Called Ove or Where’d You Go Bernadette?, The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules is a delightful and heartwarming novel.

After Susan had finished her story, she did share with the group that the author had written a follow-up book called, "The Little Old Lady Who Struck Lucky Again".

Each month at the Book Mark Club, members sign up for a month to volunteer to decorate the tables. October was the month the Gal Pals and The Travelling Toe selected. Our theme was Halloween and Fall. Eleven table tops, plus the cookie table, the drink table, and the dessert table were decorated. Below are photos of the decorations taken with The Travelling Toe's trusty Iphone.  Hope you enjoy this touch of Fall!

 

"Beauty and The Beast" presented by Texas Ballet Theater

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
program

"Beauty and The Beast" arrived at Bass Hall performed by the cast of the Texas Ballet Theatre. The Travelling Toe and 2 Dear Friends attended the Sunday matinee performance.  As one might expect, the audience was full of little girls all dressed up in Beauty costumes with many also wearing tiaras.   

 Lew Christensen was the choreographer of the ballet. (1952-1984)

The synopsis of the ballet from the program is as follows:

ACT 1

A young girl, Beauty, wanders with her father into the domain of the Beast.  Beauty asks her father to pick a rose for her.  He does so, and the enraged Beast takes Beauty captive and banishes her father.  The Beast courts the captive Beauty with everything at his command.  She is terrified by his attentions, and flees to the cottage of her father and sisters.

ACT 2

Stags from the forest come to Beauty, bearing the rose and lead her back.  The Beast has died of a broken heart. His kingdom is in mourning, and as he lies on his funeral bier, Beauty realizes she loves him.  Her farewell kiss restores him to life and his true nature: the Beast is transformed into a prince, and the kingdom rejoices at the wedding of Beauty and the Prince.  

Beauty and the Beast, adapted from the 18th century fairy tale by

 Madame LePrince de Beaumont.

Madame LePrince de Beaumont
1711-1780

This was indeed a beautiful ballet.  The storyline is a bit different from the one produced by the Disney Company.  The ballet uses forest animals instead of teapots and candlesticks. Also, her sisters back at the cottage, were reminiscent of the evil stepsisters from Cinderella and were a funny touch in the ballet.

The costumes by Jose Varona, were so beautiful and indicative of the characters portrayed.  

We were so fortunate to see Carolyn Judson as Beauty and Alexander Kotelenets as Beast.  They were an expressive and passionate duet.  What a wonderful performance!

Texas Ballet Theater

Bass Hall

"The Marvelous Wonderettes: Dream On" presented by the Granbury Theatre Company

THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES: DREAM ON
play program

The Travelling Toe and four Dear Friends traveled to the cute town of Granbury to attend a musical comedy at the historic Granbury Opera House.  OK, Dear Readers, The Travelling Toe must admit we did have a some chow before the play!

Granbury Opera House

Granbury Theatre Company

Previously, we had met The Marvelous Wonderettes when they sang for their High School graduation in 1959. In the second act of that musical, they again  performed for their classmates at the 10 year reunion int 1969. It was also presented at the Granbury Opera House.

The musical picks up several months after the 1969 reunion. They had been asked to perform for the retirement party of a favorite teacher, Mrs. McPherson.  

Of course as the girls sing popular songs of the era, secrets each have surface as they share them with each other... and of course with us the audience.  

After intermission, The Marvelous Wonderettes are back to celebrate the 20 year class reunion in 1979.  As you might remember in the 1970's Disco ruled the airwaves.  

Each of The Marvelous Wonderettes, Betty Jean, Cindy Lou, Missy and Suzy have great voices but they also harmonized so well.

Having seen the first installment of this fun musical, this was a must see of our little theater group.  We so enjoyed it

The songs they sang were all so familiar to us Golden Girls.

Just a few are:

Build Me Up Buttercup

Downtown

The Hustle

I Can See Clearly Now

I Know A Place

I Will Survive

We Are Family

The Marvelous Wonderettes

Betty Jean                 
            Kelly Nickell

Cindy Lou
            Caitlan Leblo

MIssy
           Emily Warwick

Suzy    
            Amber Lanning


The Wonderettes were backed up by a small band who were also marvelous.  Also must mention the costumes certainly reflected the fashions of the time period.

What a fun and enjoyable way to spend a hot Sunday afternoon in Central Texas. And if the "girls' come back for the 30th reunion in 1989, we will be there!!!

"Beautiful" presented at Bass Hall

BEAUTIFUL
play program

The travelling tour show of the successful Broadway musical, "Beautiful", recently made a stop at Bass Hall in Fort Worth. The musical is based on the story of the early life of songwriter Carole King and her writing partner at the time, Gerry Goffin. Through many tribulations, Carole goes from being a naive young girl to becoming a more confident performer on her own. Between 1955 - 1999 Carole wrote 118 pop hits!

Carole King

Just a few of the songs that were part of the musical were:

Be-Bop-A Lula

Some Kind of Wonderful

Take Good Care of My Baby

Will You Love Me Tomorrow

Up On The Roof

On Broadway

You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling

And don't forget, "The Locomotion" sung by Little Eva, who at the time was Carole and Gerry's babysitter.

All of the cast members were so good in their roles along with all the singing and dancing they had to perform.  The stage setting, which has to be moved from city to city, really set the story line. And the costumes reflected the times as the story moved from one era to another. 

If you are within that certain age range as is The Travelling Toe, then you will have many fond memories of the songs performed

Dear Friend and The Travelling Toe agreed that this was one of the BEST shows of the Broadway at the Bass season.  If it comes your way do go see it, as the music was wonderful!  Your toes will not stop tapping!

Bass Hall

"American Assassin" (movie critique)

AMERICAN ASSASSIN
movie poster

Upon a recommendation of a Dear Friend, The Travelling Toe and another Dear Friend went to see the action flick "American Assassin".  The movie is based on books written by the late author, Vince Flynn.

Vince Flynn
1966-2013

Here is a brief overview of the movie provided by the internet:

When Cold War veteran Stan Hurley takes CIA black ops recruit Mitch Rapp under his wing, they receive an assignment to investigate a wave of random attacks on both military and civilian targets. After discovering a pattern of violence, Hurley and Rapp join forces with a lethal Turkish agent to stop a mysterious operative who wants to start a global war.

CAST:

Dylan O'Brien
Mitch Rapp

Michale Keaton
Stan Hurly

David Suchet
Director Thomas Stansfield

Sanaa Latham
CIA Director Irene Kennedy

Shiva Negar
Annika

This movie was certainly action packed and The Travelling Toe 

awards this movie 2 second toes up with a tool vice,

'cause you will never know when one will come in handy!!

Taylor Kitsch
Ghost

"Kingsman: The Golden Circle" (movie critique)

KINGSMAN: THE GOLDEN CIRCLE
movie poster

Having seen the first installment of the "Kingsman" movie series, the Movie Mavens went to the local multiplex to see the new sequel, "Kingsman:The Golden Circle".  As with most sequels it does not quite measure to the first movie.

The description of the movie from the internet is as follows:

With their headquarters destroyed and the world held hostage, members of Kingsman find new allies when they discover a spy organization in the United States known as Statesman. In an adventure that tests their strength and wits, the elite secret agents from both sides of the pond band together to battle a ruthless enemy and save the day, something that's becoming a bit of a habit for Eggsy.

Of course one of the big draws for seeing this movie is that Colin Firth has returned from the dead to help his prodege, Eggsy.  Also another personal favorite English actor, Mark Strong, repeats his role as Merlin.

CAST:

KINGSMAN

Colin Firth
Galahad

Mark Strong
Merlin

Taron Egerton
Eggsy

STATESMEN

Halle Berry
Ginger Ale

Channing Tatum
Tequila

Pedro Pascal
Whiskey

Jeff Bridges
Champ

EVIL ONE

Julianne Moore     

Poppy Adams

                                                            

AS HIMSELF

Elton John

The Travelling Toe awards this movie 2 second toes up with your very own pair of glittery glasses just like Elton wears!

FWSO Symphonic Series - Mendelssohn

FORT WORTH SYMPHONY
program

With Maestro Miguel Harth-Bedoya at the podium, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra opened their 2017-2018 symphonic series with a delightful program, at beautiful Bass Hall.  

Maestro Miguel Harth-Bedoya

Dear Readers you may not think you know any classic music but the first selection on the program was one many have heard at graduation services.  Yes indeed, "Pomp and Circumstance Military March No.1".  The march was written by Edward Elgar in 1901. It has been an endearing selection ever since.

Edward Elgar
1857-1934
(doesn't he have an awesome mustache)

It was then time for the featured solo violinist, Augustin Hadelich, playing a beautiful piece written by Felix Mendelssohn, "Violin Concerto In E Minor".  Augustin has been featured with the FWSO on several appearances and has become an audience favorite.  He certainly did not disappoint with this appearance.  He coaxed notes out of his 1723 "Ex-Kiesewetter" Stradivari violin that was heart stirring.  

Augustin Hadelich
Violin Soloist

Felix Mendelssohn
1809-1847

Of course an encore was required due to an overwhelming standing O .  He played a lovely piece by Niccolo Paganini, "Caprice #21".  

Niccolo Paganini
1782-1840

After a brief intermission, the orchestra took their seats and began playing the last selection, "Symphony No.3 in A Minor" written by Sergei Rachmaninoff.  

Sergei Rachmaninoff
1873-1943

What a wonderful program to begin the new season!



Fort Worth Symphony

Bass Hall