Did He Get a Spare? No, Ebola Strike!

Walking past the camera crews that had set up shop outside the international arrivals area out of Dulles Airport two days ago, I had hoped perhaps Ebola panic had reached its peak. That hope lasted until shortly after sunrise yesterday as theoretically responsible organizations and even FoxNews continued to stoke a fire whose actual level of combustible material is shockingly low, considering how few cases there actually are in the country.  In particular, we have Syracuse University, who canceled a talk by a reporter who's been covering the epidemic, despite the fact that said reporter has kept themselves isolated for three weeks and is without any symptoms. Even if there were significantly more cases, the perspective being exhibited would still be way off. Call me heartless, but as I consider the potential for a full-blown Ebola outbreak in America I also consider how overpopulated the world is. For the record, I'm not saying that we shouldn't try to live our lives to the fullest - quite the opposite, in fact. As Marvin Gaye said at some point before his father told him "this is the last 45 you'll ever hear", let's get it on! And as one of Gaye's musical descendants later observed, "better live now, before grim reaper comes knocking on your door". As for Syracuse, it's nice to know that other aspects of the university are as embarrassing as their athletics.

Please Keep Me Appraised

Perhaps the most important part of the process of assessing a work of art is reappraising it. First impressions are tricky, with many works that dazzle on first viewing losing some of their luster when the heat of the moment emulates the second law of thermodynamics - with the converse often equally true. The best thing about the stage musical as an art form is the way the medium allows for a new appraisal to be based not just on a new opinion but often on a new production of the work itself. Of course, certain works of art retain their power in whatever iteration. Indeed, whether he's played by Len Cariou, George Hearn or (as seen tonight on PBS) Bryan Terfel, Sweeney Todd remains perhaps the most aspirational figure in the history of music theater - at least for those who feel that cannibalism should be as ubiquitous as it is unintended. Bon appétit.

Robin Bland

After being dumbstruck by the news of Robin Williams' apparent suicide, my initial reaction was to compare his death to that of Kurt Cobain. I quickly realized that would be wrong of me. After all, unlike Cobain, Williams didn't leave behind a little child. Williams' kids are adults, and surely that makes all the difference, right?

All kidding aside, Williams was clearly a great talent, even if he sometimes took the easy road as an actor. He gave terrific performances in Moscow on the Hudson, The World According to Garp and The Fisher King. Additionally, Throbbing Python of Love may be one of the greatest stand-up comedy albums ever. 

Put another way, it's not that I'm not a fan, just that I wonder if I'd be more or less sad if...

A) the (apparent) circumstances of his death were different.

...and...

B) this had happened before he made Patch Adams.