Matthew Bourne Swan Lake, the 2019 DVD edition

So I finally got to watch the 2019 Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake with Will Bozier and Liam Mower and I have thoughts.

First things first - Nicole Kabera is gorgeous queen and Katrina Lyndon is having a blast as the girlfriend.

I quite like good 95 % of Bourne’s changes he made from the original 1995 production - be it in choreography, costume or dramaturgy. I like the slight shift with the girlfriend not being in it from the beginning with the general secretary, which makes her story more tragic and painful, so bring it on! I like there’s no prince as a kid at the beginning with a swan plushie. But I’m not sure I like that the connection between the secretary and the stranger was erased. True, with the 1995 production the end of act III (the ball) looked a bit too cartoon villain-y, with the stranger evil laughter while shaking hands with the secratary, but now - he just goes to the queen and embraces her and it’s just... Bland. I don’t know, I quite like the idea of the secretary plotting with everything and everyone all the time.

Now to the main characters. Liam is pretty good (saying it in the most british way possible), there’s no denying that, his dancing and technique is on top, his acting skills undeniable and he’s a perfect cast choice for this role.

But now to Will. I was truly looking forward to finally seeing him, as he was the only Swans/Strangers I missed back in 2019 when I was in London to watch the production live. And I hate to say it, but I was quite disappointed. His characterisation was OK I guess, nothing special necessarily, but nothing too bland either. But what was putting me off all the time was his technique... It was clear he is not a classically trained dancer (as Adam Cooper was back in 1995 or Matthew Ball and Max Westwell in the 2019 run) and it was painful to watch, especially with the whole company evolving so much in this aspect! Back in 1995, they were not what you would call a ballet company (and New Adventures is not claiming they are a classical ballet company, so it’s cool) and there was basically just Adam Cooper (and possibly Scott Ambler) standing out. But now, looking at the company (both men and women), they are different kind of animals now. True, Bourne is still much more about musical/jazz/modern/ballroom/whatever type of dancing, but it is undeniable his dancers now are much better in the classical ballet technique department. And watching the male corps de ballet as swans doing really well with all their arabesques, pas de chevals, developpes and pointed feet in general, and then Will who you can see is trying, but his feet are just not trained enough for this sort of things... And it’s infurriating, because the man has A JUMP! His elevation is huge, he was seriously flying over the stage.

Is the Swan about pointed feet? Of fucking course it is not. The Swan is all about raw energy, animalistic power, charisma... (to the point where Matthew Ball sometimes looked like too well classically trained ballet dancer, not truly ready for the sheer abandon)  But the technique matters as well. It may not be the most imporant thing (and gods know it is not for me, not by far!), but while its lacking is putting you off, then it is clearly a problem.

Will found his was as the Stranger, he seemed much more in his element, reigning over the stage and all the characters. And he was positively glowing in last act as the beaten up, but still fighting Swan. I love all those moment where he was jumping head first between the other swans, ferociously protecting his prince, fighting for him almost on the verge of absolute hysteria. The ending was as heartbreaking as it should be.

But still...

MB’s SL is still one of my very favourites. It’s still fucking spectacular and I love all the paralels and connections and reflections of the original SL characters and story with Bourne’s new one and all the possibilities his retelling offers. But I just couldn’t shake the treacherous ideas about different casting for this latest dvd edition.

Because I would give anything to once again see Max Westwell as the Swan/Stranger (preferably with James Lovell as his prince - since these two together broke me beyond repair). And Katrina Lyndon as the Queen (because she was heartless, stone cold and freaking amazing in this role) and Carrie Willis as the Girlfriend.

Proof that yours truly has been a writer of cringe since at least 2002

Oh wow, 21 years ago, and practically to the day, as well. This was an assignment for my high school journalism class, dated March 19, 2002. I'm not sure why I remembered this specifically, but reblogging something about The Mask of Dimitrios just now must have sparked the one working neuron in my brain. I kept most of my old school assignments just because I originally typed them in Word, and they don't take up much space on the disk.

As I recall, the assignment was to write a film review in 1000 words or less, mentioning stuff you liked, and stuff you didn't like. I chose "The Mask of Dimitrios," because this was back when I was a lil baby PL fan and I obsessively taped as many of his films from TCM that I could. I'm sure my teacher thought I was crazy, but he was not alone in that opinion. Honestly, there is nothing I don't like about "Dimitrios," but I had to make something up for the purposes of the review. Enjoy my awful, awful high school writing style and laugh. :P

The Mask of Dimitrios is a hidden classic

Classic films are best when watched under optimum conditions: a darkened room, a big bowl of buttery popcorn, and rain drizzling on the windowpane outside. The Mask of Dimitrios is the perfect film to watch on such a day.

A little-known mystery thriller, it is a gem that is broadcast occasionally on classic movie networks such as TCM. With an intriguing plot and unusual characters, The Mask of Dimitrios tops most other films of the genre with its style, wit, and superb acting of 1940's Hollywood. The Mask of Dimitrios is based on an Eric Ambler book entitled A Coffin for Dimitrios. The book is about an English writer who travels the world in search of a treacherous man called Dimitrios. The film version was made in 1944 under the direction of Jean Neglesco, and features the acting talents of such immortal stars as Peter Lorre, Sydney Greenstreet, and Zachary Scott.

The movie opens in 1936 in prewar Europe. In one of his more offbeat roles, Peter Lorre plays the lead character of Cornelius Latimer Leyden, a mild-mannered Dutch mystery writer on holiday in Istanbul. While at a party, he meets Colonel Haki (Kurt Katch), the chief of police in Istanbul. Haki, an ardent fan of Leyden’s books, regales him with the story of Dimitrios, a murderer for whom he has searched for years. The fugitive Dimitrios was recently found floating in the Bosporus, a knife wound in his side. Haki even takes Leyden to see the bloated corpse on the mortuary slab. Despite the gruesome sight, Leyden is intrigued and wishes to learn more about the dead criminal in order to write a new mystery novel. He travels Europe in hopes of finding more information. One of the characters he meets, a certain Mr. Peters (Sydney Greenstreet), was once part of Dimitrios’s smuggling ring. The two become traveling companions as they help each other learn more about the man who once ruined so many lives in the past.

The story is told through atmospheric settings and flashbacks. Whether the set is a shadowy street or a plush living room, there is always a feeling of suspense and intrigue, but also with the soft suggestions of comfort and affluence. It is as if the viewer is contentedly ensconced in a favorite chair while the story plays itself out on the pages of a book. This is best demonstrated in one scene in particular, in which Leyden meets with a former smuggler of Dimitrios’s ring, named Grodek. As Leyden enters, he notices Grodek’s two cats, both looking very comfortable curled up in an armchair. Soon after, Leyden also is lulled into a sense of comfort as he sits by Grodek’s fireplace, draining another glass of Grodek’s “excellent whiskey.” The scene, although relaxed, is a set-up for the long flashback that is about to occur, soon giving way to even more mystery.

The dialogue is very clever, with a refreshing and intelligent sense of humor. At one point in the film, Leyden returns to his apartment only to find that it has been ransacked by Mr. Peters, who he met earlier on the train to Sophia. After the perplexed Leyden gets over his confusion, Mr. Peters asks if he can use his note-paper and a pencil. “Go ahead,” says Leyden, “you’ve used everything else!” It is this type of banter between Greenstreet and Lorre that adds color and sharp humor to what would be an otherwise run-of-the-mill mystery film.

The characterizations are, in a word, excellent. It wasn’t often when the short, large-eyed Peter Lorre played the lead role, but when he did, it was unforgettable. His character of Leyden is a laid-back, charming, literary person, with only a desire to learn more about Dimitrios, not to get entangled in any conflicts that may exist in the process. Moviegoers who know Lorre only as a movie villain will soon learn otherwise after watching his performance as the gentle Leyden. Zachary Scott fills the role of bad guy in this film (and also his first film) as the title role of Dimitrios. With his thin mustache, slick dark hair, and dapper pinstripe suit, he emanates evil at every step. Sydney Greenstreet, billed as “The Fat Man” by Warner Brothers, is the perfect counterpart to Lorre’s character. Under the facade of a jovial character, Greenstreet’s Mr. Peters is soon revealed to be no less greedy and cunning than those of his former smuggling members. It is interesting to note that the only major female cast member, Faye Emerson, does not have the typical romantic role, but is instead portrayed as a prostitute, a woman who was once loved and then betrayed by the murderous Dimitrios.

At times, the film drags, especially during the flashback sequences when former friends of Dimitrios tell Leyden of what they know. The script is also very talky, and could have been tightened. The drawn-out passages make one want to skip to the “good parts” and return to the web of intrigue that surrounds the characters. The viewer’s mind will sometimes drift away like the smoke curling from the tip of Leyden’s cigarette, and will instead focus on visual images, not really listening to what the characters are talking about. Be forewarned if you have a short attention span.

When Warner Brothers released the film, it was advertised in trailers under the flamboyant tagline, “Of course it’s from Warner Brothers.” The Mask of Dimitrios certainly deserves this praise. With atmosphere, mystery, and an exciting conclusion, this underrated little film certainly ranks high up among the classic early film-noirs of the 40's.

I have seen a lot of ballets and dance performances and the one piece I would watch over and over would be Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake.  While I love the big classical ballets, Bourne’s SL has the potential to be completely different every single time.  Each of the dancers can make the roles their own, interpret them completely uniquely to them, and the connections between the Swan and the Prince will be individualized and original to those dancers.  Personalities and emotions and interpretations can show through classical roles, yes.  But nothing like this Swan Lake.  I’ve found 3 recordings of it and each of the three casts are COMPLETELY different.  It’s as though the artists aren’t trying to be the next Scott Ambler and Adam Cooper, they are being authentically themselves in the role.  I just love it so much!!

”Cleanシリーズ”というコンテキストをきちんと語り継がなかった日本語圏の受容のされ方の問題でもありそう(あの頃、Scott Amblerがオブジェクトの広場のインタビューで”我々の業界は物忘れが激しい”的なことを言っていたのを”そうだよな〜”と他人事のように読んでいたことを思い出す)

XユーザーのKakutani Shintaroさん

Choose Your WoW!: A Disciplined Agile Delivery Handbook for Optimizing Your Way of Working (WoW)

Choose Your WoW!: A Disciplined Agile Delivery Handbook for Optimizing Your Way of Working (WoW)

Choose Your WoW!: A Disciplined Agile Delivery Handbook for Optimizing Your Way of Working (WoW) Mark Lines, Scott Ambler Categories: Business & Economics – Project Management Year: 2018 Language: english Pages: 700 ISBN 10: 1790447844 ISBN 13: 9781790447848 File: 9.49 MB

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Royal Veriety Performance, 1997, starring Scott Ambler and Adam Cooper.

Here's what Matthew had to say about this exclusive performance:

“It was in 1997 that we were asked to appear at the Royal Variety Performance at the personal request of Her Majesty the Queen (as we were told at the time!).

However, at that point we were performing Cinderella at the Piccadilly Theatre so we did not have a Swan Lake Company currently performing! Luckily many of the original Swan Lake cast were in Cinderella, including Adam Cooper and Scott Ambler, so we managed to get a scratch cast together from that cast and from others giving their time for the honour of being in this specially staged performance at the Victoria Palace Theatre… 

It was a fabulous night and I remember many of the swans feeling very naked meeting the Queen in the line-up at the end! What's lovely to see in this clip is our introduction from none other than the legendary Two Ronnies! Another honour! 

Enjoy this little bit of Swan Lake and show-biz history…"

A quick sketch today to play with filters. And to pay tribute to Matthew Bourne's amazing Swan Lake.

Swan Lake by Matthew Bourne

Color study!

Matthew Bourne's Swan Lake (1996) has been such an inspiration for me since I watched it 5 years ago! I've always worked to try and emulate the emotionality of this performance in drawings, but it's only very recently I feel like I'm beginning to get to it!

I've always been an impressionable being, for better or worse. Now imagine me, a soft person, finding this incredible performance at 3am on Youtube. I could easily watch the damn play every day, and listen to the soundtrack all day over and over again.

I think this work is just, one of the most amazing things to ever exist, and it will never cease to amaze me✨

The complexity of the characters and their stories, the dancing, the clear interpretation of everything even tho nobody spoke once in the whole damn thing, the way they changed the way I could perceive a musical piece. Just about everything in that play changed my life in a sort of very special way and I truly loved it.

In this Ted talk i will-

“One of Adam’s most brilliant contributions came during the duet for the Stranger and the Prince. He had the idea of the Stranger walking to one side, dipping his thumb in the Private Secretary’s ashtray, and tracing down the centre of his forehead the dark line the Swan has. So– this is the Prince’s fantasy, remember– the Stranger is saying, ‘Yes, I am the Swan.’ But in a taunting, sinister way. It’s the Prince’s dream, touched with nightmare.”

-Matthew Bourne and his Adventures in Dance: Conversations with Alastair Macaulay

Adam Cooper and Scott Ambler in Swan Lake.

I can't breathe.

"...a slogan associated with the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States. The phrase is derived from the words of Eric Garner in 2014. The phrase was also uttered by several other African-American men (Anton Black, Javier Ambler, Derrick Scott, Manuel Ellis, Elijah McClain, Byron Williams, and George Floyd), indicating that they had patent airways, shortly before they died during their arrests between 2018 and 2020, respectively." (taken from the “I can’t breathe” Wikipedia page, accessed 2020-06-27)

大規模なチームの場合、求められる詳細度は、チームの文化、組織の文化、あるいは外部からの規制の適用の有無、そして組織戦略に依存する。ほとんどのチームはハイレベルの図やスケッチで必要十分であるのに対し、詳細なアーキテクチャー仕様を求める文化を持っているチームもある。アジャイル戦略が大きな支持を獲得し、コラボレーションの向上に適したより小さなアーキテクチャー仕様へ向かっているように見えるが、やはりいくつかの組織では詳細な仕様を選択する。高い安全性が求められるシステムや生命にかかわるシステムである場合は特に、その業界の規制がプロジェクトの初期段階で詳細な仕様を作成する動機となる。また第5 章で見てきたように、大規模なDADチームが小さなコンポーネントサブチームに編成された場合は、それらのコンポーネントが何であるかの定義とともに、それらのコンポーネントの一つ一つのインターフェースについて詳細に定義するはずだ。

ディシプリンド・アジャイル・デリバリー　エンタープライズ・アジャイル実践ガイド / Scott W. Ambler,Mark Lines

STREAMING SATURDAY

WHEN: June 29, 2019 at 1 PM Eastern Standard Time, weather permitting

SUBTITLES: This is a ballet. There’s no spoken dialogue.

CONTENT WARNINGS: The final act takes place in a mental asylum.

Bad movie I have Child of God 2013