The Metropolitan Opera (The Met) transmitted the January 30th performance of Puccini‘s Turandot as part of their Live in HD series today. It was certainly was a treat to watch.
The performance starred Nina Stemme as the princess Turandot, Marco Berti as Calàf, Anita Hartig as Liù, Alexander Tsymbalyuk as Timur, Ronald Naldi as the Emperor Altoum. Dwayne Croft, Tony Stevenson, Eduardo Valdes played Ping, Pang, and Pong respectfully. Continue reading
It has come out that one of the Toront0 Blue Jays most popular players, Munenori Kawasaki, has signed a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs.
Kawasaki may not have been the best player on the team – during his three partial seasons on the major league team he hit .244 with one home run, 123 hits, 43 RBI, eight stolen bases, 58 walks, and 96 strikeouts. Continue reading
Veteran British actor Brian Bedford has passed away at the age of 80. Mr. Bedford had been suffering from cancer.
Mr. Bedford was born in Morley, West Yorkshire, United Kingdom on February 16th, 1935 to Arthur and Ellen Bedford.
Mr. Bedford studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art between 1952 and 1955, and won a Tony award in 1971 for The School for Wives. He would go on to earn another six Tony awards. His seven nominations are the second most in the history of the Tony awards. He would also win five Drama Desk Awards. Continue reading
I just want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year!
2015 just seemed to fly by in now time, but with a lot of activity!
A lot of different things occurred in 2015, and recap some of the things I discussed: Continue reading
As we approach the New Year, I’d like to reflect on some of the events that have occurred over the past year.
January
Canada celebrated the 200th anniversary of the birth of its first Prime Minister, Sir John A. MacDonald. Continue reading
I just want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.
I hope you get to spend time with your family and friends.
May all the blessings of Christmas be found for you and your family. Continue reading
The cast of Are You Being Served? in late 1981. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Nicholas Smith, the veteran actor who famously played Mr. Rumbold in the long running comedy Are You Being Served?, has passed away at the age of 81.
Mr. Smith was born in Banstead, England on March 5th, 1934. He trained as an actor at RADA, and appeared on stage on the West End, the Bristol Old Vic, and Broadway. He would go on to have small roles on television, on series such as The Saint, The Avengers, The Champions and Ace of Wands.
In 1972, Mr. Smith landed the role for which he would be fondly remembered, as Mr. Cuthbert “Jug Ears” Rumbold in the series Are You Being Served? He would stay with the series until it finished its run in 1985. He would later reprise the role in the follow up series, Grace & Favour (called Are You Being Served? Again! in North America) in 1992 and 1993. He also appeared in the movie version of the show in 1977. Continue reading
The Grey Cup
The 103rd Grey Cup is set to go tomorrow night in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Ottawa RedBlacks (12-6) take on the Edmonton Eskimos (14-4).
The game creates a rematch of the 69th Grey Cup as it is the first time since 1981 that teams from Ottawa and Edmonton are playing each other for the Grey Cup.
This Grey Cup also marks the first appearance of the current Ottawa team, the RedBlacks, in the title game – the RedBlacks joined the league in 2014. It also marks the first time since 1981 that any team representing Ottawa made it to the Grey Cup game – the then Ottawa Rough Riders folded in 1996, and the Ottawa Renegades (2002-2006) never represented Ottawa in the Grey Cup. Continue reading
Veteran television actor David Canary has passed away at the age of 77.
Mr. Canary was especially known for his roles as Candy Canaday on Bonanza, and as twins Adam and Stuart Chandler on All My Children.
Mr. Canary also starred on the stage, in productions of Kismet, Man Of La Mancha, The Fantasticks, The Seagull, and Macbeth. Continue reading
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