We cut to a theatre exterior – Parisian Intrigue signage going up.Hmm Lee said it was on at the Georgetown theatre. this theatre has ‘Beverly’ in the title.. I guess the Georgetown theatre could be the Beverly? that or.. it’s a tribute to Beverly Garland
Inside, Lee and Amanda enter the theatre – do you think this is the same one where they filmed DOA: Delirious on Arrival?
Amanda is all excited.. and Lee is smiling and attentive
Amanda: There’s just something about the smell of the theatre, isn’t there?
Lee: Yeah, stale air conditioning…
[Ah Lee. You are such a romantic you just errr sometimes try to hide it!
]
(they both pause and look up at the stage.)
…Ah, that’s Martinet talking to the blonde at the bar.
Amanda: Mm hmm.
Lee whispers: Good luck, I’ll see you later.
[Squeeeee Lee is confident to leave Amanda to her job Loving this!]
Amanda: Yeah.
[I think Amanda’s excited to meet Martinet.. what do you think? Hmm whoa. hey why does Lee and Amanda not recognise nasty Castille?! lol.. okay okay.. maybe this Tony is Castille’s evil twin. Err no wait. Maybe Castille is this guy Tony’s evil twin! err I feel dizzy.. focus iwsod!]
Lee walks off, toward Valentine.. we see him make contact with him in the distance and walk off with him.
Tony is on stage directing the blonde in her performance.
Tony: The bottles are sugar glass so you can really bash him,..
[whooo I’m guessing I’ll need to remember that for future reference?!]
… and just spit your line in his face.
Blonde: Your corruption is complete! Swinehund!
Tony: Good, but even more venom.
Happy, Tony catches sight of Amanda.. he gives her a smile
(he seems to be expecting her) and walks over to meet her.
Amanda: Hello Mr. Martinet? Well I’m Amanda Keene from Washington after 5.
Tony: Yes hello, I’m sorry to keep you waiting, I’ve been tied up with my producer.
Amanda: No problem at all, I hope this is a good time for you.
Tony: If you promise the cover of your next issue, I’m yours.
Amanda: Ah well.
Tony: Over here.
(He directs her over to another part of the theatre.)
[Tony seems nice enough.. no jerk radar going off..]
The scene ends there.
We see a Georgetown vista..
Lee is playing the role of earnest interviewer of Carl Valentine. Valentine: I’m doing this play because it interests me.
Lee: But a producer of your stature, why Martinet?! His track record is pretty shaky.
[lol this is pretty obvious flattery! But.. maybe Valentine is arrogant enough to accept it 😉 ]
[Oh no Lee your hair is getting long in the back.. edging into mullet territory. Me no fan focus on the wonderful suit Lee is wearing Iwsod!… and Lee in the great outdoors is always good 🙂 ]
Carl: But his dramatic work is solid, it’s profound, it’s even visionary. Dramatic tastes go in cycles and I think Martinet’s time has come again.
Lee: Ah, so you think that Martinet’s play can pay off?
Carl: Well, that’s what I tell my backers! It isn’t called show art, Mr. Stedman, it’s called show business. That’s the bottom line…
… Now please excuse me, I really have to leave you now.
Lee: Ah one more thing, err off the record,… (Lee makes a show of switching off his tape recorder) …we haven’t seen the Bolshoi Ballet in DC since 1981, now are you planning to bring them back at all?
Carl: Oh, absolutely not! I will have- I took such a bath on the Bolshoi, the overhead was monstrous, the artists were temperamental and the red tape was simply endless. No thank you, I will never do business with the Bolshoi again.
(That said, Valentine walks off)
Lee chuckles and calls after him : Well, that’s our loss isn’t it?
So, does Valentine really not like dealing with the Russians? Or.. has he found a new way of dealing with the Russians?! 🙂 we’ll see!! Is anyone else walking through this pretty blind like me?! tee hee..
Back to Amanda Keene’s interview for Washington after 5 with Tony Martinet!
Amanda: So, after the off off Broadway production of Institutions in ’76 ….
[off off broadway? oh dear!]
Tony: Ah how shall I put this, a period of intense introspection. [Where Tony took on the persona of Robert Castille and tried a new occupation! 😉 ]
Amanda: Hmm well I know the audience for Neo-Absurdism theatre kind of dwindled.
Tony : I couldn’t get arrested. You know Neo-Absurdism?
[Why is that so absurd? Okay.. I know it’s absurd but.. I don’t know Absurdism nor Neo-Absurdism. Am I absurd?]
Amanda: Well I’ve read all your plays, I was even in a production in college. Tiger Tracks, I was the Wailing Walrus.
Amanda is genuinely enjoying his work. She’s perfect for this cover!
[Whooo was that around the time of I am the Walrus?! So come on guys – anyone a theatre history buff? anyone able to enlighten us on all this? Is it legit? this Neo-Absurdism? or.. truly absurd? do tell!]
Tony: Oh yes?..
[Awh. A weight seems to come off Tony’s shoulders, he’s thrilled to meet someone who loves his work – likely the work he was passionately crazy about.]
…Well you’re perfect.
Amanda: Ah, I think my favourite line was, um, “I don’t care what the king says….
Together: …pickle that herring!”
[rofl!! what a fabulously absurd line of dialogue! I think the writer had loads of fun with this ep!]
Tony (laughing): I think you do understand…
[I can hear a whoosh sound.. very loudly.. anyone else? It’s this meaning going right over my head!!!!]
(A thought strikes Tony – pow!)
…You know, we just lost the understudy for the female lead. Would you be interested? [Don’t be absurd! ]
Amanda: No, I couldn’t do that,.. [Amanda seems to automatically say no here I think]
…No, no absolutely not. That was in college.
Tony: Just read a scene, please?
[I don’t know if its intentional, but her reticence makes her above suspicion as anything other than a reporter. She’s really selling this cover! He’d never guess she’s with the errr civilian auxiliary.. ahem.. yes iwsod is being tongue in cheek- and rather absurd..]
Amanda shrugs..
Tony passes her the folder containing the dialogue.
Amanda: Well, I’ll give it a whirl.
The scene ends here.
Oh drat! We are left in suspense.. how did Amanda do?!!!!
Okay! I’ll pause here.. wonderful to see Lee in the great outdoors again, in a lovely suit.. and with my favourite tie on no less.
Lee does a good job with this cover.. it’s been a while since we’ve seen Lee do a cover not for laughs (i.e. obviously poorly). would you say? It’s not just Lee doing a great job with a cover!! So is Amanda!!! Amanda is sticking as close to the truth as she can.. and she’s doing a great job wouldn’t you say?
I just listened to the German dubbed version of Amanda´s Iinterview in
Stage
and here is what I got:1. English original
Title of the production: Tiger Tracks
Amanda´s role: the Wailing Walrus.
Amanda´s favourite line: “I don’t care what the king says…. …pickle that herring!”
2. Real German translation
Titel of the production: Tigerspuren (or Fährte des Tigers)
Amanda´s role: das heulende Walross
Amanda´s favourite line: “Es ist mir egel, was der König sagt… … pökelt den Hering!”
3. What they gave us in the episode (and re-translation to English)
Title of the production: Die rote Schlange (The Red Snake)
A`s role: das rosa Kaninchen (the pink rabbit)
A´s fav. line: “Es ist egal was der Löwe sagt… … alle Macht den Heringen!”
(I don´t care what the lion says…. …all power to the herrings!”
THAT I call ABSURD !!!
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Rofl! what a head scratcher! very absurd! Thanks for sharing this quirky fact L&A!
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I think that will be my new line when I want to confuse someone. “All Power to the Herrings!”
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LOL!
Perhaps I should try it, too…. – someday…?
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LOL, that should be highly effective, Cindy!
Very weird, I wonder why would they feel they have to entirely reword it for the German-speaking audience.
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Very weird, I wonder why would they feel they have to entirely reword it for the German-speaking audience.
I don’t know, Raffle, I really don’t know… And I guess I never will. 😦
The only thing I can think of is the wailing walrus. Amanda is neither a wailing person, nor is she as fat as a walrus. A pink rabbit is much cuter… So they tried to make it sweeter and more fitting to Amanda’s personality (perhaps???). Although I can’t see her as a pink rabbit either – she is far too tough for that!
The rest of the dubbing is pure nonsense to me. 😦
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That Beverly Theater looks like the one in Beverly Hills before it was remodeled. I guess they were hoping we weren’t looking that closely at the name of the theater, but what was on the marquee.
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Beverly hills huh – thanks for clearing this up Valerie! Great to hear from you 🙂
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I just went back and listened, and it sounded like Lee said the play was showing at “A Georgetown theater” not “THE Georgetown theater”. Georgetown is a neighborhood of Washington DC, so that would make sense.
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Hi Happycamper!! So wonderful to see you stop by 🙂
Ahhh thanks for that! Makes much more sense!
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The jumper that Tony is wearing has been trotted out by at least two other characters in the last season or 2. Lee wore it once, and I’m sure someone else wore it. It doesn’t look any better with increasing familiarity…
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Isn’t it still to come, when Lee wears it? There is an ep. in S4 in my mind…? Or did he already wear it and the jumper I’m thinking of is another one – I´m not sure…
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I don’t know about season 4 – we’ll have to keep out eye out for this grey sweater L&A!
But great catch Learjet! I found one instance where Lee wears this same grey sweater:
It’s in season three here:
It’s very briefly at the end of Welcome to America Mr Brand 🙂
Is there more? Anyone find any?
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lol… Is this brotherhood of the traveling sweater, SMK edition? 😉
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LOL
I like that idea, Sara.
Perhaps Tony had all his sweaters in the laundry, feeling a little chilly only wearing a shirt and asked Lee for help? 😉
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whoo glad I got back to this.
Sara this was spit-take funny!!! 🙂
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Yep, let’s wait and see what Lee’s going to wear in S4.
Anyway, you proved he alredy wore it in S3. 🙂
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Aw, rats, me and my late 70’s/early 80’s “fashion sense” — I like that sweater/jumper! 🙂 But I can see where it might not be for everyone. Thanks for accepting me here anyway, ladies!!! 😉
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I just asked in the previous post if we’d seen this sweater before. I could have sworn it was on Lee once. Thank you sooooo much for solving this mystery!!!
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hi everyone!
Just an FYI- I’ve upgraded the plan JWWM was on so we shouldn’t have to deal with ads anymore hoorah!!
Also, I’ve added a new little feature at the end of posts where wordpress attempts to guess what other posts the post is related to. LOL. looks to me like a great way to have 3 random blog posts suggested haaaa!
Enjoy! 🙂
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Thank you for the upgrade! You rock!
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Thank you Cindy!
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– anyone a theatre history buff? anyone able to enlighten us on all this? Is it legit? this Neo-Absurdism?
Not sure about neo-absurdism, which suggests from its name that it is a new interpretation of absurdes theatre. There is such a thing as absurdes theatre. I remember studying it in high school drama classes as well as university English classes. One more well known absurdist play is “Waiting for Godot” by Samuel Becket.
Here is the Wikipedia definition:
Their work focused largely on the idea of existentialism and expressed what happens when human existence has no meaning or purpose and therefore all communication breaks down, in fact alerting their audiences to pursue the opposite. Logical construction and argument gives way to irrational and illogical speech and to its ultimate conclusion, silence.
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Thanks iluvsmk – sounds like there was an absurd writer on the smk team. Oh wait.. no that doesn’t sound right! 🙂
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This is why I studied science and maths….
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Me too!
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Me three.
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lol this is why I studied psychology 😉
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I read a review by someone who referred to Neo-Absurdism as a style of writing which uses reality as a base to leap into a fantastical imaginary world filled with strange characters and comedic situations. He referred to it as a genre of comedy.
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lol sounds right up smk’s alley!
So how is this different to farce then?
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Oh, but I like this. I can feel my brain starting to flip. “Their work focused largely on the idea of existentialism and expressed what happens when human existence has no meaning or purpose and therefore all communication breaks down, in fact alerting their audiences to pursue the opposite.” Isn’t this a bit like what we have seen happening inside of Lee over the past three seasons? Hasn’t he been changing because his friendship with Amanda has had him reflect on the meaning of his life and his work? And if he doesn’t find a way to communicate the way he feels about to, I wonder if he is concerned that some sort of silence will take place between them…? You know the kind that grows when too many things have gone unsaid and trying to climb all over the unspoken becomes what feels like an insurmountable task and you can’t figure out how? Sometimes I wonder if the sum of all of those interrupted moments might begin to do that to Lee.
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Two great things about the anonymous “pretty blonde at the bar” in this scene. First, that’s Faith Ford who would break out as a comedy star on Murphy Brown not so long after this and she’s always a treat to watch, even on a throwaway bit like this. 🙂
But second, and most important, there’s a nameless pretty blonde at the bar and Lee’s attention is completely on Amanda. And no wonder – she is looking absolutely adorable in this scene.
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Oh yeah!!! well spotted clagnanet! Yeah you never know what goodies we can find on this show! 🙂
Go Faith Ford! she’s great! 🙂
and her line here is funny 🙂
Hooraaaahhh!!!!
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I should say I think that’s Faith Ford – it sure looks like her but she’s not credited anywhere. 🙂
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I heard it was Faith Ford as well. I will have to rewatch and pay closer attention.
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According to Wikipedia (however reliable that is 😉) she is credited with this role as Tina Culter.
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Well according to the script her name is Judy (Chanteuse). I don’t know why her last name is in parentheses.
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Chanteuse is French for singer so I thinking they are telling you her role in the play rather than her name.Not that we ever see her sing in the play and based on her lines and costume, I’m guessing they could have more realistically listed her as “Judy (Hooker)”
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How brilliant are you? I actually took a double take. I love Corky Sherwood-Forrest! I miss Murphy Brown, great show.
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Yeah I’m not sure.. it could be her! With 80% probability?
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I think Amanda is glowing here (I think that is the appropriate expression). All the planets are aligning and even her assignments are perfect for her real life experience and interests. She is totally convincing as a theatre groupie. (I went through a brief theatre groupie phase myself at college). I even think it is quite sweet that she is so pretentious over neo absurdism (of course it may not meant to be prestentious!)
Lee is also glowing imo. He is very convincing in his cover and is looking very good, even with the little mini mullet.
I may add that it is not suprising that Amanda is so good with dooplehangers – after all she had one of her own and one of her ex husband. Seeing her fave playwrit appear to be a twin of a man who kidnapped her should be a doddle after seeing her husband’s double attempt to kill a president . (for myself I still prefer to think that Martinet is really one and the same as Castille) .
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I agree Amanda is glowing – a really great description!
rofl!
rofl true! It is all upside down and all over the place! But… then when she saw Sallee was a dead assassin why did she assume no he wasn’t dead? and why wasn’t it a doppelganger?
Ahhh the old Amanda instincts I guess!
yeah I like to have fun with it too 🙂 I guess I’ll have to wait and see what I really think of Martinet before I decide he deserves to be Castille in disguise 😉 or that Castille is now in Martinet disguise.. oh dear!
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So true, Michele – she is shining. It feels like everything is coming together for her – a culmination of a season where she has grown professionally in leaps and bounds, and her personal relationship with Lee has grown and changed as well. I sense we’re moving to a big climax (because of course, I can’t remember how this episode ends 😀 😀 )
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I think you, Lee, and Amanda are all amnesiacs….
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I just love that Amanda’s real life experience makes her well suited for her cover and this case.
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Yep, exactly. And she’s great at it. While I like how she’s handled events in the past (i.e., the fundraiser in 3 Little Spies), I’m sort of glad this isn’t a bake sale or a fundraiser this time.
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whoooo love this! I’ll second that Sara! 🙂
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I agree too. So glad they are taking Amanda’s character’s links to her job outside of the housewife role.
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I second that. Took them long enough to do that – too long as I may add…
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Its as if both Lee and Amanda are becoming more integrated, in all aspects of who – they are, individually – now they just need to get their relationship with each other fully integrated…
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