Alan Rickman Guestbook

Well..don't feel too bad. VideoFlicks wanted something like 89.99 for CL, and 83.00 for TWG. Needless to say, I fired off an e-mail to them (to wish I am still awaiting a response)---but that's highway robbery (I think even the Sheriff would agree...and then----cut their heart out with a spoon!)

"Oooopsssss." *sigh*

All right! (or as we say in Boston: "wicked cool!"} I'll put in my order for the video right now!

My apologies in advance to those Bostonian Rickmaniacs who do not say "wicked" in any way, shape or form!!

Secondly, I'm seriously thinking about purchasing the: Fallen Angels - V. 1 with AR (of course). The synposis is as follows:

(from Videoflicks) Film noir shorts originally produced for showtime. Tom Cruise directs 'The Fighting Frammis.' 2 other episodes: 'Murder, Obliquely' with Laura Dern and Alan Rickman and 'Since I Don't Have You' with James Woods and Gary Busey.

Secondly, I'm seriously thinking about purchasing the: Fallen Angels - V. 1 with AR (of course). The synposis is as follows:

(from Videoflicks) Film noir shorts originally produced for showtime. Tom Cruise directs 'The Fighting Frammis.' 2 other episodes: 'Murder, Obliquely' with Laura Dern and Alan Rickman and 'Since I Don't Have You' with James Woods and Gary Busey.

Okay, so I've filled my gush quota for the time being. *Grin* But hey, the Thanksgiving decorations are still up and it's still Thanksgiving weekend, so I figure I'm still allowed to give thanks. To borrow a recent observation from "next door" over at Flights of Fancy: "I feel loved. And I feel love."

Stepping down from the podium and hiding my face in a plate of Thanksgiving leftovers,

I personally am grateful that this forum exists for myself, and other Rickmaniacs to gather, laugh, cry, disagree and then agree again! I really feel as though I have found a very special place here. (Even though I have yet to have to supreme honor of Meeting Him)!!

I have been to quite a few "fan sites" for other actors, but none have the sense of commrodery that we have here.

Could you clean up my HTML boo-boo (on the first post)?

The hunt continues in reference to the mysterious "microphone question".....I e-mailed Darren Daglish (still of the Mining Co., I believe...) and this is the response that I received:

***********************************

Brenda: Thank you for your message.

Unfortunately, I do not know if a microphone was used or not. However, the Royal National theatre has a web site and a bulletin board on this production where you will be able to ask this question. The National normally responds. Try this and if you do not hear anything within a week,let me know and will try and found out for you.

I have not seen the production myself, so I cannot comment on it, sorry.

The url for the RNT is (let me try this again) The Royal National Theatre Click on the section called 'Talkback'

Good luck. Darren.

*******************************

I don't know if that helps anyone...but it was worth a shot!

Having seen A&C and then waiting for an autograph, the best comparison I can make of his personality towards his admirers to a character he has played would be Colonel Brandon. Very calm and soft-spoken, ever the gentleman and exceedingly patient. If he asks you if you want a *dedication* with his autograph, he is very careful to make sure he spells your name correctly. He also listens intently and looks you straight in the eye, if you care to tell about some performance of his you've enjoyed.

The (Latymer) School has a fine tradition of excellent dramatic productions, and aims to give everyone the chance to participate in production both on stage and behind the scenes. Some current pupils are involved in television and film, with several Old Boys making successful careers in this field.

Kate Winslet has taken the plunge. The Oscar-nominated Titanic actress married assistant film director Jim Threapleton in a super-secret ceremony at a church in Reading, England, on Sunday. The surprise nuptials were kept as quiet as the young couple's summertime engagement, which was only revealed last month. At the time, Winslet coyly said she and her beau were probably going to wed next summer. Winslet, a frequent target of the paparazzi, wanted her wedding to be a private affair, and for the most part she got her wish, as news of the nuptials leaked out only at the last minute.

About 150 guests, including Winslet's Sense and Sensibility co-stars (and lovebirds) Emma Thompson and Greg Wise, were on hand for the afternoon wedding at the All Saints' Church in southern England, where the Winslet family has worshiped since Kate was a child. Winslet, 23, wore a cream-colored, Edwardian-styled, pearl-encrusted gown by Givenchy, accented with a pearl droplet on her forehead. Threapleton, 25, wore a dark suit. After the simple, 30-minute ceremony, the couple emerged from the church and kissed passionately as they were showered with confetti. They briefly posed for photographs, and Winslet said she felt "absolutely wonderful." "It was quite amazing," said the happy bride. "It was the most amazing day of our lives." Rev. John Mortiboys, who performed the ceremony and has known Kate since she was a little girl, said the wedding "was tremendously relaxed and happyÉThey were trying to keep everything as secret as possible because you can imagine what it is like in the glare of the publicity all the time."

I wrote Peter Lathan, the British Theatre Guide on the Mining Co, about AR using a mike in A and C. This was his response. (Not very informative, but at least he wrote me back!)

*************************

Hi Brenda,

I haven't seen A&C myself - I live about 300 miles from London - but I do know the Rickman reviews have been pretty awful. I too have heard the mic rumours but don't know about their truth. Could I suggest you look at the London Theatre On-line site? It concentrates on London (my brief is to cover the whole of the UK) and Darren Daglish who runs it is usually bang up-to-date with what's happening. The URL is London Theatre

Darren is also very willing to answer queries, so if you can't find the answer on his site, then an email will no doubt settle the matter!

For what it's worth, I wouldn't be surprised: the crafts of TV/film and stage acting are so different!

Cheers,

Peter ---------------------- Peter Lathan

I noticed ANOTHER actor on "My Favorites List" just got mentioned -- Brian Dennehey. Great grinning hunk of middle-aged male... What is it about these men? The psychology major in me is chewing on why these men have such appeal to this select group. We all have our reasons for being Maniacs, but how do we explain these other choices? Is it because we appreciate maturity over the latest heartthrob? Is it the puffy shirts and boots? Is it because we spend all our time watching obscure, and for some of us, foreign, films? If you scan the old guestbooks, you'll notice an intriguing assemblage of names: Hopkins, both Fiennes, Firth, various other English blokes, a few Americans, and a scattering of actors from other countries. Are they more similar than I'm realizing? And, we all know we spend most of our time explaining to other people who these men are! What's the deal, Maniacs? Aside from being DiCaprio'ed out, why do we track these guys? Hollywood is missing a niche. What a surprise.

Jamie's Angel Food Cake

Hans' Fresh Salsa

Colonel Brandon's Syllabub

and, lest we forget......

THE INTERROGATOR'S "RESISTANCE IS FUTILE" CORNBREAD

Happy cooking everyone!! :-)

For now, no such project exists . . . but we can dream! *grin*

Renie, I couldn't agree more with the comment from the reviewer re: actors playing Death. I have held off seeing "Meet Joe Black" because of the awful reviews...even though my original "obession":Anthony Hopkins is in the movie. Imagine it, if you will....Anthony Hopkins and Alan in the same movie!!

**sigh.....**

Newsday, Monday, November 16 . . .
"A weekend in the country -- another country -- to be exact. . .

. . . . but when one plans to do nothing but go to the theater and dine in interesting places, the Savoy is the way to go. Sunday's Savoy brunch overlooking the Thames is magic. . . Dinner was at the Criterion, London's Sardi's but bigger and very art nouveau. . .Next day was lunch at sweet Luigi's close by the Savoy, . . ."

". . .Back to London and the evening performance of of "Anthony and Cleopatra," starring the one and only Helen Mirren. She's an interesting Cleopatra, but this is a dreadful production, and Alan Rickman should be pilloried publicly for his performance as Antony. Other than the very sexy Ms. Mirren, the best thing abou this evening was reading Camille Paglia in the program where she suggests that Antony has become a dominatrix's boy toy. Heavens! But after-theater dinner at the ever delicoius Le Caprice made us forget what preceded."

But since that decision, so many of our lucky friends and fellow AR fans have been to see Antony & Cleopatra that I think we could have discussion material for quite a while.

Maybe when everyone has returned and recovered from jet lag we should post a Sunday date for at least one session of the chat?

Speaking of Cedric, Fausta, any word on how he has been responding to the reviews of A&C?

Pardon, that should have been--AC&C. *grin*

Quite true--there are two formats of DVD out there, much the same as the Beta vs. VHS, PC vs. MAC, or the two formats of color television many years ago (RCA had developed one, and CBS another).

That Beta is a superior format is generally accepted--along with the fact that VHS had better marketing. So now we all have VHS. Figures.

Sony's DVD format seems to be dominating the market. Not because they make a better machine (it's arguable--and I've queried the experts)--but because there's so much more programming that's compatible.

That reduces the equation to this: if the DVD player is "hardware", then the programming is "software"--that being the case: WHICH FORMAT HAS THE MOST SOFTWARE IN WHICH YOU'RE INTERESTED? Which format offers the greatest number of video collections, films, etc. that you'd want to own?

Delia, that was an excellent *heads up*. I'm sure we all have known someone that has suffered unnecessarily for this very reason. Thank you. My prayers are added as well.

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT INFORMATION.

READ IT AND FORWARD IT TO EVERYBODY!!!

As all of you know, I have Primary Peritoneal Cancer. This cancer has only recently been identified as its own type of cancer; but it is, essentially, Ovarian Cancer. Both types of cancer are diagnosed in the same way (with the "tumor marker" CA-125 blood test), and they are treated in the same way (surgery to remove the primary tumor and then chemotherapy with Taxol and Carboplatin).

Having gone through this ordeal, I want to spare others the same fate. That is why I am sending this message to you and hope you will print it and give it or send it via e-mail to everybody you know.

One thing I have learned is that each of us must take TOTAL responsibility for our own health care. I thought I had done that because I had an annual physical, had my annual mammogram and PAP smear, did monthly Self Breast Exam, went to the dentist at least twice/year, etc. I even insisted on a sigmoidoscopy and a bone density test last year.

When I had a total hysterectomy in 1993, I thought that I did not have to worry about getting any of the female reproductive organ cancers. I don't have ovaries (and they were HEALTHY when they were removed!), but I have what is essentially ovarian cancer.

These are just SOME of the things our Doctors never tell us. ONE OUT OF EVERY 55 WOMEN WILL GET OVARIAN OR PRIMARY PERITONEAL CANCER! THE "CLASSIC" SYMPTOMS ARE AN ABDOMEN THAT RATHER SUDDENLY ENLARGES AND CONSTIPATION AND/OR DIARRHEA.

I had these classic symptoms and went to the doctor. Because these symptoms seemed to be "abdominal," I went to a gastroenterologist. He ran tests that were designed to determine whether there was a bacterial infection; these tests were negative, and I was diagnosed with "Irritable Bowel Syndrome."

I might have accepted this diagnosis had it not been for my enlarged abdomen--it looked like I was 4-5 months pregnant! I, therefore, insisted on more tests. They took an X-Ray of my abdomen; it was negative. I was, again, assured that I had Irritable Bowel Syndrome and was encouraged to go on my scheduled vacation. Except that I couldn't wear any of my slacks or shorts because I couldn't get them buttoned. I KNEW something was radically wrong.

I INSISTED on more tests, and they (reluctantly) scheduled me for a CT-Scan--which showed a lot of fluid in my abdomen (NOT normal!).

I cancelled my trip and had FIVE POUNDS of fluid drawn off at the hospital. Tests revealed cancer cells in the fluid.

Finally, finally, finally, the Doctor ran a CA-125 blood test and I was properly diagnosed. I HAD THE CLASSIC SYMPTOMS FOR OVARIAN CANCER AND, YET, THIS SIMPLE CA-125 BLOOD TEST HAD NEVER BEEN RUN ON ME ... NOT AS PART OF MY ANNUAL PHYSICAL EXAM AND NOT WHEN I WAS SYMPTOMATIC. THIS IS AN INEXPENSIVE AND SIMPLE BLOOD TEST!!!

PLEASE TELL ALL YOUR FEMALE FRIENDS AND RELATIVES TO INSIST ON A CA-125 BLOOD TEST EVERY YEAR AS PART OF THEIR ANNUAL PHYSICAL EXAMS. BE FOREWARNED THAT THEIR DOCTORS MIGHT TRY TO TALK THEM OUT OF IT, SAYING "IT ISN'T NECESSARY."

BELIEVE ME, HAD I KNOWN THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW, WE WOULD HAVE CAUGHT MY CANCER MUCH EARLIER (BEFORE IT WAS A STAGE 3 CANCER)!!!

INSIST ON THE CA-125 BLOOD TEST; DON'T TAKE "NO" FOR AN ANSWER. THE NORMAL RANGE FOR A CA-125 BLOOD TEST IS BETWEEN ZERO AND 35. (MINE WAS 754!) IF THE NUMBER IS SLIGHTLY ELEVATED, YOU CAN HAVE ANOTHER ONE DONE IN THREE OR SIX MONTHS AND KEEP A CLOSE EYE ON IT.

HAVING THE CA-125 TEST DONE ANNUALLY CAN ALERT YOU EARLY, AND THAT'S THE GOAL IN DIAGNOSING ANY TYPE OF CANCER--CATCH IT EARLY.

I hope I haven't bored you with all of this. But I hope I HAVE scared you enough to motivate you to action. Do YOU know 55 women? If statistically, at least one of them will have this VERY AGGRESSIVE cancer-and maybe, just maybe, it will be YOU.

Please, go to your Doctor THIS WEEK and insist on a CA-125 test and have one EVERY YEAR for the rest of your life. And forward this message to every woman you know and tell all of your female family members and friends.

Age won't protect you. Though the median age for this cancer is 56, women as young as 22 have it. Age is not a factor.

That rendition of the AR (long) meeting was wonderful! Sitting here in gray, November Boston--trying to puzzle my way through the more intricate points of FrontPage98---it really made my night.

The pictures are, as always, wonderful. Your dedication and decorum is admirable.

HEADLINE: The Bard heads London's all-star lineup of actors, playwrights and composers

Sunday, November 01, 1998

By Christopher Rawson, Post-Gazette Drama Critic

LONDON -- Dame Judi, Lord Andrew, Sir Peter, Helen Mirren - it's London's West End, more accessible and varied than Broadway, mixing the tatty but endearing glitter of show biz with the creative substance of long careers.

Shakespeare, 'Antony and Cleopatra'

Cut to the chase: How are the two great lovers of legend?

As pure actress, Helen Mirren is dream casting for Cleopatra - earthy and elegant, voluptuous and articulate, with a wash of age and doom over her striking beauty. There's no feel of the exotic, nor does she believably express Cleopatra's kittenish side, and a lower vocal register might serve. But Mirren's very imperfections are part of the appeal of her powerfully English Cleopatra, a woman who feels explosively and deeply. When she rises in contempt, passion and tragic loss, stripping naked to don her golden robes of immortality, she soars.

Alan Rickman makes a perfect figure of an Antony, imposingly handsome but with a compromising softness. His voice rumbles warmly, its elegiac note never absent. You hear tremulous cellos but no trumpets - he seemed under wraps in early preview, still feeling toward Antony's core passion. It is difficult to imagine him a successful war leader, but that fits Shakespeare's ambiguous hero just fine.

The National Theatre production is directed by young Sean Mathias, who has directed on the massive, difficult Olivier stage before. But Tim Hatley's impressive, unwieldy set creates pacing problems not fully solved in the second preview. A huge revolving stage and matching vertical backdrop together suggest the globe for which Rome contends, both moving and opening in multiple ways to give variety to Shakespeare's several dozen, ever-shifting scenes. Rugs, pillows, candles and a large multiethnic cast suggest the color and sprawl of the wide Mediterranean world. The scale is appropriately grand, but it needs to move more smoothly to get the running time down from a daunting three hours and 50 minutes.

Samuel West is as sympathetic as the calculating Octavius could ever be, while Finbar Lynch is a sinewy, cool Enobarbus. Trevyn McDowell is a fetching (and untraditionally young) Charmian. But a cast of 30-some mainly dresses the stage for the two stars - Shakespeare's stars, I mean, two of the greatest ever.

Not that Shakespeare makes it easy. Antony and Cleopatra must make their claim on us in spite of being undercut by the play's insistence on pratfall - Antony's botching his suicide, Cleopatra's flattering her conqueror. Rising above even the master playwright's degradations, they repay our eternal fascination.

It has come to my attention that one or more of you may have intentionally posted *false* reports! This will not be tolerated! And enough with the aliases already! Using them to hide behind rebuttals and sarcasm (end even without aliases) is not only uncouth and discourteous, but it undercuts the trust and good will of the guestbook. I think you should know that, as your webmistress, I have means of finding out who you are. And unless you want to be publicly humiliated, I would suggest you cease and desist from this adolescent behavior. I do not want to get rough with you, but as the Interrogator once said, you're forcing me!

For those who posted genuine reports/encounters, you have nothing to worry about and I apologize for all the recent unwelcomeing posts by "unbelievers."

I suppose skepticism is a natural response to those who have been tricked before, and I agree that skepticism is well and good, but *not* to the point of being rude. How would you like it if, after sharing a special and exciting experience, you were met with sarcastic and skeptic remarks? So please think before you post. If somebody's encounter, etc. seems outrageous to you, that doesn't mean it didn't happen. It probably feels unbelievable to the person who had the encounter, as well. Believe me, I know the feeling! So remember the Golden Rule, treat others as you would have them treat you.

. . . No one had expected her to fizz and dazzle in "Antony and Cleopatra" now at the National Theater. But, no, her Egyptian queen isn't as excitingly unpredictable as her lovelorn Natalya Petrovna in Turgenev's "Month in the Country," though this is largely for reasons beyond her control.

Sean Mathias' production lacks energy and depth, and Alan Rickman inexplicably chooses to see Shakespeare's grizzled hedonist as a sullen melancholic who cares little more for Cleopatra than for his own clarity of diction. It would be easier to strike sparks from a wet blanket, or throw a successful party for the ghost of Hamlet's father, than form an electric bond with this glumly inarticulate Antony.

Even so, Ms. Mirren has her moments, starting with her very first words, "If it be love indeed, tell me how much," which come across as a particularly challenging question in some ontological quiz game. As one might expect of so incisively intelligent an actress, hers is a smart, ironic, mocking Cleopatra, but, despite the odd burst of rage or wail of regret, not a particularly passionate one.

I replied in both places. Anything received?

Hey, little sister, who's the only one . . ."

Peut ettre si vous avais le temps vous me montriez. Il est un plasir de parler a une autre francophone ici.

And now--a recommendation that, if it's playing anywhere in your vicinity, you RUN to see "Gods And Monsters", written and directed by Bill Condon and starring Ian McKellan, Brendan Fraser, and Lynn Redgrave.

McKellan gives one of the bravest (as in "gutsiest") performances I can remember seeing from anyone, and Brendan Fraser proves once and for all that he's more than just a pretty face. Lynn Redgrave? Extraordinary.

Based on the life of James Whale, who directed "Frankenstein" and Bride Of Frankenstein", as well as "Show Boat".

More beautiful pictures, as usual!! Great job! (How many performances have you seen in total?) :-)

Thanks for your contribution, and please keep visiting! I realise the tenor can get rather "intense" at times...but just hang in there!

Like Julia S, I asked Tony what he thought of AR's performances because I thought it would be refreshing to have a different slant to the conversations in this GB. It could possibly "open the door" to some stimulating discussion. My boyfriend likes AR very much -- thinks he's a really good actor. However, he's only seen DH and RHPOT, I couldn't get him to sit through S&S or TMD if I paid him. I'm just curious if Tony saw them, and if so enjoyed them and if he hasn't that's OK too. I just like to know what other think.

Christine, sorry, I know it was a silly question. Just couldn't stop myself.

I think the reason I was so happy to hear from Tony was because I get such negative reactions when I mention AR to a good deal of men (unless one is talking about Die Hard). Not all, but most. So, I thought, why not ask Tony what he thinks AR's non-villian performances, if he has seen any.

Sorry, I don't remember any info on Dogma, but I think if you scan through the archives, you will find many mentions of it, and supposed distrubution dates, etc.

Maybe you can help me find out if it was him. There was a woman sitting by his side and later they danced and kissed. She was in her thirties, tall, with short blond hair very slim. Is this how his significant other looks?

Jan why didn't you ask him to pour the champagne all over you?

By the way Michele, Detective Inspector Jane Tennison is Helen Mirren's character in "Prime Suspect". No doubt Melissa inten