tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569705696893575981.post2760188963867774559..comments2023-11-27T00:05:29.054-05:00Comments on Medfly Quarantine: Goodnight, MoonRyan Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18054550377681273142noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569705696893575981.post-26098945404044583382009-10-03T18:37:28.688-04:002009-10-03T18:37:28.688-04:00I was definitely a standard-setter in the fieldI was definitely a standard-setter in the fieldRyan Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18054550377681273142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569705696893575981.post-17833060224227823732009-10-02T17:31:01.632-04:002009-10-02T17:31:01.632-04:00That one still is all I need to pronounce you the ...That one still is all I need to pronounce you the finest actor of your generation. My God, you're brilliant!Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05730146625671701859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569705696893575981.post-71849432158219534962009-09-26T22:24:39.972-04:002009-09-26T22:24:39.972-04:00Miranda, I can't believe I never mentioned my ...Miranda, I can't believe I never mentioned my brief acting stints to you, especially knowing about your passion for acting! That was bubble-headed of me. When I was younger, it was something I thought I wanted to do, because I knew I loved movies but I didn't know what the hell a director did. The only thing you really notice watching movies as a young person is the actors.<br /><br />And thank you so much for the praise, Miranda. You are surely my most enthusiastic fan!<br /><br />And yes, that's really me. I realized this gave me an excuse to post a picture of myself, so my readers could attach a face to the blog. Though I was freaking out for a bit, because I couldn't find a digital copy of that picture --- but thankfully I dug it up in an old photobucket account I had from that time, including other pictures from mu junior/senior year of High School. Guessing my old password was a hell of time!Ryan Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18054550377681273142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569705696893575981.post-33048948316195157632009-09-26T22:17:04.083-04:002009-09-26T22:17:04.083-04:00Pat, that's exactly right, there's just so...Pat, that's exactly right, there's just something <i>missing</i> from his comedy. The elements are there, they just don't gel. Combine that with the fact that he's clearly a chicken-shit when it comes to differentiating from the script in any way, and it's no wonder his material just falls flat.<br /><br />I would highly recommend this documentary, especially if you have an interest in theater. It details the back-stage politics more thoroughly than any other movie I've ever seen on the subject.Ryan Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18054550377681273142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569705696893575981.post-8822816120942333472009-09-26T21:13:13.035-04:002009-09-26T21:13:13.035-04:00With all this extreme yakking that you and I have ...With all this extreme yakking that you and I have done over the past few months...<br /><br />You told me about your artistic aspirations. But you NEVER told me that you did any acting. <br /><br />For shame, little baby...<br /><br />I'm with Pat. (Well, aren't I always?)<br /><br />I enjoyed your post immensely. Your perspective is a rare and beautiful thing in this odd amd precious universe we inhabit, Ryan. <br /><br />And is that really you...?<br /><br />You're so cute!!!Miranda Wildinghttp://cinematicpassions.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569705696893575981.post-14512321608773768392009-09-26T09:05:30.338-04:002009-09-26T09:05:30.338-04:00Oh, and I would loved to have seen you in that pro...Oh, and I would loved to have seen you in that produciton of "The Odd Couple"! That had to be fun.Patricia Perryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15394997608325540950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569705696893575981.post-13198945741417791552009-09-26T09:04:19.020-04:002009-09-26T09:04:19.020-04:00Ryan -
From one former amatuer thespian to anothe...Ryan -<br /><br />From one former amatuer thespian to another - great post! I'm so relieved to find that someone else is underwhelmed by Ken Ludwig. Years ago when I was in Indianapolis, a local production of "Lend Me a Tenor" was a big hit and I never could understand why. Felt the same about "Moon Over Buffalo" when I finally saw it. Ludwig's farces <i>seem</i> like they should be laugh-out-loud, side-splitting hilarious, but they never quite manage to make me laugh.<br /><br />I've heard of this documentary, but never got around to seeing it. Thanks for putting back on my radar, it sounds fascinating.Patricia Perryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15394997608325540950noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569705696893575981.post-16563571136698076762009-09-26T08:50:51.114-04:002009-09-26T08:50:51.114-04:00Adam, yes, that's how I met my pal Brian here,...Adam, yes, that's how I met my pal Brian here, in out old theater days. Of course, that started one of the 21st century's greatest love affairs.<br /><br />Yes, I strongly recommend the films of Pennebaker. <i>Don't Look Back</i> is, of course, seminal, and for damn good reason. My favorite of his, though and one of my favorite movies period is his documentary about the Clinton campaign <i>The War Room</i>, which focuses specifically on James Carville and George Stephenopolous (I hope I didn't butcher that...), and the way they navigate the waters of political campaigning. I know it's a documentary, and he's just being himself, but James Carville deserves a freaking Oscar for his performance in that movie! There are no words for entertaining that man is.Ryan Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18054550377681273142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569705696893575981.post-13464066189937547342009-09-26T08:45:48.824-04:002009-09-26T08:45:48.824-04:00Yes, that was a real shame. But also, I don't ...Yes, that was a real shame. But also, I don't think anyone really expected us to have such perfect chemistry. But man, we really nailed that scene! Now, if you had been the Charlotte to my George, that would have been something.<br /><br />Yeah, my overriding memories of <i>Moon Over Buffalo</i> are that of the drama, which isn't to say I didn't have fun. Yeah, that play isn't very well written, honestly --- but then our director wasn't known for picking great plays! Remember when we did <i>Spoon River Anthology</i>?<br /><br />But Philip Bosco, who played George in the OBC, brings up a great point in the documentary. The character is all highs --- pitched at the same bombastic frequency --- and that makes it less humorous because he's just <i>always</i> over the top. There's no nuance to the part.<br /><br />Yes, you were my favorite acting companion throughout High School. Being the catcher to your pitcher was a true honor.<br /><br />"What happened to George?"<br />"He just came out of the closet."<br /><br />HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!Ryan Kellyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18054550377681273142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569705696893575981.post-66059238711886943962009-09-26T02:32:33.918-04:002009-09-26T02:32:33.918-04:00Sadly, I admit failure of familiarity with either ...Sadly, I admit failure of familiarity with either <i>Moon Over Buffalo</i> or the work of Ludwig- although your post assures me that I'm not missing out on much.<br /><br />It does assure me, however, that I'm totally missing out by having seen none of Pennebaker's films. I'll need to catch up on that, it seems! I had no idea he had also done documentaries on Bowie and Clinton, nor did I know that he made a film which followed Carroll Burnett backstage. I'll bet she's proud because she can claim to have worked with at least two filmmaking legends: Pennebaker and John Huston.<br /><br />So... you and Homiebrain performed onstage together, eh? Wish I coulda been in the audience back then! But you guys were up in Jersey while I was stranded in the heartland. <br /><br />This was one of your best posts, Ryan. You were able to use your own personal experiences to help you appreciate the work of a master dealing with similar material. <br /><br />Like you, I've had experience with Neil Simon on the high school stage; I was the assistant director for a production of <i>Lost in Yonkers</i>. You can see me being interviewed about the production in this short clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOL5-4bLeHsAdam Zanziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14524618281515322239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7569705696893575981.post-22219561655338830672009-09-26T02:19:57.223-04:002009-09-26T02:19:57.223-04:00It's a crime that you weren't able to be t...It's a crime that you weren't able to be the Manolo to my Jesus for the full run of The Odd Couple. The comedic payoff of having two Koreans play Hispanic brothers wasn't nearly as effective. <br /><br />I remember Moon Over Buffalo being a pretty trying experience for many reasons, but we certainly had our laughs as well. Your post inspired me to dig up my copy of the script (which I use to dry my tears whenever I think of the glory days) and it was much worse than I remembered. Perhaps the memory of us landing in the most compromising of positions (sans pants) made me more forgiving of the rest of the show than I should have been. <br /><br />It was a privilege and a pleasure to share the stage with you for all those years, Mr. Kelly. You've always been-and always will be-the only man that I would ever dry hump on that glorious stage.Homiebrainhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04642237344615886965noreply@blogger.com