Philomena opens with a poop joke, but it’s an erudite poop joke. Steve Coogan is hearing medical results from his doctor, and he’s told his stool sample is “outstanding,” which Coogan’s character takes as a compliment, until the doc clarifies that Coogan hasn’t provided the sample yet. So you see, it’s not scatological humor so much as phonic humor, playing off an amusing … [Read more...]
Sundays: Let the Cord Wars begin
By Myles Ludwig My guess is the Home Shopping Network fills a critical niche in the lives of others, particularly those rubes living 50 miles or more from the nearest Wal-Mart or the lost chic of Park Avenue, women on Ambien who roam the late night channels, surprised to find a dozen Tanzanite tennis bracelets, a couple of über-blenders, a few NuWave cooktops and a cache of … [Read more...]
As ever, Florida Stage fest finds plays with real promise
Now five years old, Florida Stage’s annual 1st Stage New Works Festival got the most important thing right immediately. Where too many reading series elsewhere are dead ends for the scripts being unveiled, the West Palm Beach company has been committed to graduating at least a couple of the festival entries to full production each year. This season, for instance, Florida … [Read more...]
Couple hosts cutting-edge art at home
Sometimes, the universe opens a window to a new world: If we step through it, our lives are changed. And sometimes, we just have to return a pager. Dr. Marvin Mordes was doing his neurology residency in Philadelphia, and had to bring a pager to his co-resident, who happened to be at an art gallery. "After I met my co-resident, I couldn’t leave the gallery because the skies … [Read more...]