Dogs and Spider-man

So I'm heading to the Apple tomorrow to attend the Westminster Kennel Club show at Madison Square Garden Monday and Tuesday, then Wednesday I'm going to see the Julie Taymor extravaganza Spider-man: Turn Off the Dark.

As some of you know, I have been in animal rescue for 30 years so finally seeing Westminster live is a real thrill. And Spider-man is reportedly the most expensive musical in Broadway history and apparently also one of the worst, so of course I'm excited to see that, too.

I will, of course, provide a full review of the Spider-man show upon my return, but I was wondering if anyone had any dog photo requests while I'm at MSG. Pugs are a given, as are some of my other favorite breeds, like the Shibas, Rhodesians and Belgians in all three of their flavors, but I'm willing to get some shots of others if I can.

I want to see a shot of you with Triumph the Insult Comic dog.

Get some Old English Sheepdog pics please! I rescued one many years ago from a shelter (he's since passed) but he was the best dog I've ever had.

Aw I thought this thread was gonna be about Ms. Lion.

What kind of dog was Ms. Lion btw? o.O

if you could post some shots of the boxers, my mother used to show them and i'm still a huge fan of the breed(if you look it up, back in the 70's(72 i think) newport was the one that went the farthest and was there). i have defected to a poodle now, but its still the first and foremost breed for me.

Take the Magic: The Gathering 'What Color Are You?' Quiz.

Hey all, back from the Apple what is Big. Awesome trip, terrific dog show (at which I took over 900 photos, so those will be sorted a bit later) and saw Spider-man: Turn Off the Dark yesterday afternoon. While the photos are uploading, I'll give a quick review of the musical.

I didn't know this before I left (or bought the tickets), but the music is by Bono and The Edge, which is to say it's music by U2. Like much of U2's music, the score is forgettable. There isn't a single song that you leave the theatre humming to yourself -- it's more Rock Opera than Broadway Musical, all electric guitars, bass and drums. It's not bad, it's just not great. I did, however, like one song early on when Pete and MJ are feeling sorry for themselves. Peter's been bullied at school and Uncle Ben has told him to "rise above it" and Mary Jane comes home to her abusive, alcoholic father and they sing a duet-that's-not-a-duet where his refrain is "Anyone but me" and hers is "Anywhere but here" and they go back and forth in their separate houses taking turns singing until they eventually start singing at the same time. That was the most "Broadway" moment of the score.

The staging though... man, what a spectacle! Most people have probably heard about the injuries on the show (the stuntman who suffered the worst one has returned, but I surprised he wasn't killed after that fall) and I have to say that given the astonishing complexity and intricacy of what they're doing, I'm amazed more people haven't been hurt. They are flying all over the theatre -- and I mean ALL OVER: one platform they use is way up on the second balcony near where I was sitting -- and they have multiple people zinging around at the same time. It's really something.

It's directed by Julie Taymor, who did The Lion King, and she's really gone overboard to outdo herself. She's succeeded. This show is a new take on the origin story, using the myth of Arachne as a basis for Peter’s powers. (I’m not crazy about the fantasy aspect of what is otherwise a straightforward Science origin, but I can let it slide without getting too geekily bent out of shape.) The opening is very cool, as six of Arachne’s handmaidens/chorus descend from the ceiling on wide golden silk streamers each, three of the girls swinging forward as three are swinging backward. As they lower towards the floor, horizontal streamers rise upward, effectively doing a gigantic basket weave in real time. It was a very cool and clever effect.

The really amazing thing about the staging is how the set seems to shift perspective on a moment’s notice. One second you’re inside an office or an apartment and presto-change-o you’re on top a building with little cars driving by on the street below then suddenly everything is upside down. Yet it all makes sense. Honestly, without the incredible staging I would probably agree with the critics that it’s not a great show. The music is meh and the story feels rushed, basically hitting the high notes of Peter’s story. However, once I got my mind around the concept they were going for, I did like the meta-commentary aspect of the story. There are 4 kids who are talking about the show as if it’s a comic book, which at first feels a little odd, but later they start interacting with the show as if their passion for the character and his story have so overwhelmed them that they are transported by it. And I have to admit, that is the exact feeling I had myself when I first read these books as a kid, so the way Taymor staged that feeling of immersion and getting lost in the world and caring about these characters was ingenious.

There is one bizarre “feels like a filler number” that has Arachne and her eight-legged freaky handmaidens go shoe shopping because Arachne is jealous that Pete loves MJ, but it’s still kind of weirdly interesting in a surrealist sort of way.



There are also funny moments, too. The wrestling scene from Spidey’s origin is Peter against a giant inflatable “Bonesaw McGraw” that’s played for laughs and it looks like the actor is having fun bouncing off the guy. One of the best lines goes to J. Jonah Jameson as he’s writing a headline describing the Green Goblin tying MJ to a piano and throwing her off the Chrysler building while Spidey tries to stop it: “Okay, I’ve got it! ‘Spider-man And Goblin Working In Concert, Piano Their Forte!’ Man, I’m really good!”

Puppies!

Rian, I'm sorry, but in the 900+ photos I took I didn't get a single good one of a Boxer. They either turned their heads at the wrong time or someone stepped in front of me.

The inside of Madison Square Garden resembles the mothership from Close Encounters of the Third Kind.


One of the coolest things about the show is that you can go back to the benching area and talk to the handlers and owners and meet the dogs. The worst thing I heard was someone asking me not to use a flash.


Newman the Pug. Newman as in Paul, not Seinfeld's mailman.




Plum tuckered.


The Jack Russell winner reminded me of Frank Gorshin from Star Trek.


One of my favorite shots. Parson Jack Russell Terrier.


Mental Maden, Old English Sheepdogs in the house.








Jake the Rhodesian Ridgeback, a very friendly guy despite being bred to hunt lions.


Redbone Coonhound.


Yes, they come that way. Chinese Crested.


The resemblance to Paris Hilton *is* amazing. Notice the Aqua Net.


Cresteds also come in a hairy version, called a Powderpuff.


Poodling it up.


The newest look in Poodles is dreadlocks. I actually liked this look quite a lot.


Don' worry, mon, t'ings be well.


Puli.


Yorkies chillaxin'.


When he's not destroying our childhood memories, George Lucas moonlights as dog show videographer. He also gets ideas for aliens there, too.


The stylish way to keep your Basset Hound's ears off the floor. Or maybe a tribute to Little Edie from Grey Gardens. Tough call.


Irish Wolfhounds are, in a word, freakin' huge.


Of course, Mastiffs aren't exactly teeny-tiny.


"...and you don't mess around with Jim."


A Viszla who has a dose of the enthusiasm.




Dogue de Bordeaux. Just looking at her it's hard to believe, but she's just out of puppyhood.


"Affenpinscher" literally means "monkeydog" in German. That's because the term "Wookieeface" hadn't been invented yet.


ACD, aka Red Heeler.


Don't hate me because I'm beautiful.


Clean, close shave. Pharaoh Hound.


Doberman Pinschers.

I want a dreadlock rasta poodle

Squeeeeeee!