vovat: (zoma)
Nathan ([personal profile] vovat) wrote2015-08-03 11:42 am
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One Slay More

Within the past few days, [livejournal.com profile] bethje and I attended a performance of Les Miserables at the Imperial Theater and the Monster-Mania Convention in Cherry Hill. I wasn't originally supposed to go to the former, but the person Beth had originally planned on going with canceled. I read the book a few years ago at Beth's behest, and one thing I noticed about the musical interpretation was that it came across as much more sympathetic to Eponine. Victor Hugo presented her as ugly and annoying, while in the play she's the one everyone tends to identify with. I can't help but suspect the main reason Marius wasn't interested in a relationship with her is that he didn't want to have to meet her parents. After the show, we ate at the Heartland Brewery, which Beth considers her favorite restaurant in New York City. I can't say I have one of those, at least not yet. The food is quite good, but expensive. I can't say I've ever tried the beer, but I'm not a fan of beer anyway. It kind of seems wrong to go to a place that advertises itself as a brewery and NOT have beer, but I guess that's like saying you're doing Burger King wrong if you don't get a burger, or that you shouldn't build any animal other than a bear at Build-a-Bear Workshop.

Speaking of feeling like I'm doing something wrong, I've attended the Monster-Mania Convention many times, and I'm still not sure I'd really consider myself a horror fan. I guess I am by extension, since Beth has shown me a lot of stuff she liked, and it's not like I didn't enjoy it. I'd probably feel more at home at an Oz convention, and there actually WAS one of those this past weekend, but it was in California. I would like to attend that sometime, though. Maybe next year. Anyway, the two of us mostly just attend the question-and-answer panels, but they weren't as interesting this year as some of them have been in the past. When a guest shows up but doesn't do a Q&A, I always wonder if they weren't asked or they chose not to. It DOES take up time they could use to make more money signing autographs, but it's also a sign of goodwill. Sid Haig is always a good panelist, and he was supposed to do a Q&A last time, but was too sick to attend. Still, however, he didn't do one this time either. Another guest I would have thought would be a shoe-in for a panel was George Wendt, if only because I think the audience yelling out "NORM!" would have made it worthwhile. And yes, Wendt was in a horror movie, the 1986 House, as was Richard Moll who played Bull on Night Court. I wonder if he ever does conventions.

Guests who did have panels included some actors from the Godzilla films, Mitch Peleggi (Director Skinner from The X-Files), Denis O'Hare, Danielle Harris and George P. Wilbur from the Halloween series, Alex Vincent and Brad Dourif from Child's Play, Malcolm McDowell, and several actors from Scream.



I'm probably committing blasphemy here, but I've never actually seen a Godzilla movie.

I don't think I'd seen anything O'Hare was in, either. Okay, Beth said we both saw 21 Grams, but I can't say I remember it. Harris grew up to be pretty cute (not always a guarantee with a child star), and I must say Wilbur looked nothing like Tom Tucker from Family Guy.

I think Ms. Harris might be auditioning for a Flashdance remake.
McDowell was probably the most interesting guest of the night, and likely the biggest star there as well.

He dismissed questions he thought were stupid or just didn't want to answer, and sometimes made fun of the people asking them. It was amusing to watch, but probably embarrassing for the questioners. He also told a story about getting into an elevator with William Shatner, who literally kicked out some fans who were following him.

We've gotten into the habit of eating at the nearby Friendly's after the convention, and this time was no exception. I do kind of wish someone else we knew attended these conventions. Looking through the posts of other attendees on Facebook, I did come across this. I don't know the guy, but I DO know the person who drew the picture that's on his shirt. I probably would have freaked out if I'd seen it in person, but I think he was there the day before we were.

[identity profile] rockinlibrarian.livejournal.com 2015-08-06 01:27 am (UTC)(link)

Yeah, encountering the musical first, I adored Eponine, and when I read the book I spent her scenes being really annoyed at how even the author didn't appreciate her enough.