Whenever things get real in the strip, someone inevitably chimes in with something like, “Arlo sure is being mean!” Or, “Arlo’s not being very sensitive to Janis.” When I was in the 5th grade, seriously, our teacher introduced us to the two essential elements of fiction: conflict and resolution. If you’re going to write fiction, any kind of fiction, things are liable to get testy. Then, things are put right, or they aren’t. Either way, a story is told. Admittedly, a comic strip is not the ideal vehicle for complex narrative. It unfolds so slowly, and readers, for whatever reason, seem to have well-formed expectations of how the characters should act. Of course, my advice to those who become unsettled by events in A&J is always the same: be patient.
232 responses to “Great Expectations IV”
Emb, I really “dug” your cemetery Ghost romp. I am going to sound ignorant but what was that from? Was that Gilbert and Sullivan?
Circadian is other often heard except when they arrive in Oklahoma for their season.
Off to breakfast..
Another word not often heard. Dang phonr@ Tight.
Dang phone! Right!
Speaking of circadians, mine left for home today.
Last night, my sister and I watched a midnight performance of the Rocky Horror Picture Show on BBC America. The schedule said that it went from midnight to 1:30 AM and it did, even though it was 2.5 hours long. How appropriate that the only time they could do that this year was Halloween!
Anon.: Yep, early in Act II of Ruddigore,* one of their best comic operas. The soloist is the specter of Sir Roderic Murgatroyd, the most recently deceased of the Bad Baronets of Ruddigore. The chorus is the other deceased baronets, all of whom have come down from the castle’s portrait gallery to hassle the current baronet, Sir Ruthven Murgatroyd for not being bad enough.
*Right up there with Iolanthe, Patience, and The Gondoliers.
Peace, emb
I will go back and watch it again. It was so comic I first thought it was a symphony or opera company doing a spoof of themselves for Halloween.
I did, awesome performance. Was that on stage or a television performance? Then I went and watched more including them coming out of paintings. It is excellent and I had not seen it.
Much better than Pinafore or Mikado or more commonly seen.
Mindy, I’m sorry, but I don’t remember what story you mean. Under the circumstances I’m sure that it doesn’t matter. So sorry to hear about the accident and I hope that she recovers. Charlotte, you had me going with the first line of your comment. It rained all night, but I think that the storm isn’t here yet. Some good games yesterday. How about that Florida play? If you haven’t seen it you must. Ok Denise, it isn’t funny anymore. As I recall, her last comment didn’t sound like her at all.
“Much better than Pinafore or Mikado or more commonly seen.”
H.M.S. Pinafore [anagram of Name for Ship] was their first big hit and it shows. E.g., the former capt. ends up marrying his wet nurse, and his daughter ends up marrying the former tar, who is about the same age as her father. Pirates is a little better [but lots better than the popular Broadway travesty of Pirates]. Then they began to hit their stride. Mikado is probably their most popular opera, but not really as good as the four above that I consider tops. Princess Ida is odd [among other things, the only one with 3 acts], has some good songs, and a strange plot which may be Gilbert’s meatiest.
Both Pinafore and Gondoliers have an older woman who cares for babies who comes out very well [Buttercup, who marries the former capt. and the mother of Luiz, who (whoops, don’t want to spoil it for those who’ve not seen it).
There are worse fates than being a G&S geek. Peace, emb
Thanks, I have seen Gondoliers and Pirates, along with Pinafore and Mikado..
Not sure I have seen Iolanthe but perhaps Patience?
Loved the ghouls. Was this a stage production or done on sound stage?
Not bad thing to like opera in any form. Costuming and makeup in your video was superb.
Darn it, Jerry. I was hoping you could tell me because I sure couldn’t figure out which story you meant either! 🙂
Anyhow, my cousin is now alert and stable. She can write short questions with her good hand, and there doesn’t seem to be any brain injury. Apparently, she and two boys were out for a ride. She was likely the driver (at 14, sigh), and doing 60mph on a curve. I know the road it was on. You do not do 60 on it. Glad she is doing okay, but if she was the driver, oh my.
Dear Mindy, your family must be so happy and thankful that your cousin seems to be not permanently injured. Could have been much, much worse. It is a pity of course that it seems to have been her own fault. Lessons have been learned, we will all hope.
G & S comic operas have always appealed to me very greatly. The first record album I ever bought was songs from H.M.S. Pinafore. I loved it and listened to it over and over. Must remind you that a “pinafore” was a type of little girl’s dress many years ago, that’s what makes the ship’s name really funny.
Last night — Halloween — there was lots of appropriate classical music on the Internet and FM stations I listen to, and that bit from Ruddigore was among them. I looked at emb’s YouTube link today but will watch later. Noticed a very inviting bit from the opera “Mephistofile” (spelled wrong) will watch that too.
It’s the Great Pumpkin: http://www.12news.com/story/news/local/valley/2015/10/29/inflatable-pumpkin-loose-peoria/74837360/
Mindy from Indy, sorry to hear of the accident. Better news that she is recovering and does not seem to have any brain injury. Prayers for her and her family.
“Was that on stage or a television performance?” I don’t know, but guess TV. Most live stage performances don’t have cameras in several spots, incl. on stage. Peace, emb
Well, I loved it! Got a notice on an opera and said to myself it sounded interesting. Clicked to see where? Australia.
No wonder I wander.
for emb and Anony: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1AADDE9822C87DDD
Wanted to link act 2 from the same source as it is the one emb got that from. But the person who put it up does not have Act 2 in a start to finish sequence, but rather all mixed up.
Mark, thank you, I am carrying in groceries still, not easy with torn rotator cuff. I am going and buy yet another garden card and a REALLY big padlock and a Keep Your Hands Off sign. My workmen love them.
I am also going to request they pick up trash thrown all over yard like sodas, fast food, etc.
Thinking Charlotte, Emb, me liking God and Simone and opera, who else does? Percentage of populace who do is small.
I may have mentioned it a few weeks ago. But tonight I cut up a turkey breath into medallions and then dumped them into bread crumbs,eggs and flour, then pan fried them.
When I made it for my daughter a few weeks ago, she kind of snubbed her nose at Turkey even though she likes healthy foods! However when I made it like that she said she said that tasted like my pork chops. She actually took the leftovers back to Chicago.
Probably not too healthy as there is oil in the pan fry, but the turkey is fairly lean.
Steve, I’ve heard of having baited breath. Is that how you were able to cut it? Mindy, do you remember what I said that was connected to a story? I’m now going to go back and find Denise’s last comment.
Steve, if the oil’s hot enough to seal the meat quickly, there’s not that much in the finished product, and it also depends on what type of oil you use.
With what did you “bait” the breath? Methinks the term is supposed to be “bated”, short for “abated”.
Steve from Royal Oak, MI, why not bake them? Like you would anything using a Shake and Bake(tm) product. No oil required then and with that coating it should still come out juicy.
I thought “baited breath” meant you have a worm in your mouth.
Let’s see: emb likes God and comic operas. Charlotte (me) likes comic operas, grand opera, orchestral Classical music. Jackie likes operas very much too. Now, who is Simone?
Jerry, I surely wish you luck at finding Denise’s last comment. I’ve searched for her on Facebook with no response, and I’m pretty sure I remember her last name — Krupa, easy to remember for those of us older people. Does Mark in TTown or other computer genius care to try finding her somehow or other?