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That's the opening theme to Slings & Arrows, a Canadian dramedy about a Shakespearean theatre company trying to get by after tragedy strikes their group. As you can probably guess from the song, their first big play post-tragedy is HAMLET!

Netflix has been trying to get me to watch this show for a long time, suggesting it after I liked all my British sitcoms and Shakespeare plays. I assumed it must be British but sorta kept pushing it to the back of the queue. Then my friend Karen started talking about it around the same time [livejournal.com profile] maybedeadcat mentioned his Canadian friend loved the show so we had to watch it!

I love it! It has this great mix of inside theater/Shakespeare jokes for those geeky enough to know them, but enough character and story that you don't need to have taken a course on Shakespeare in college (*laughs nervously* I mean, who would do that? As an elective? non-English majors? of course not...) to enjoy the show. Rachel McAdams, who usually bores me to tears, is a main character in season 1 and I actually liked her! Oh and so is one of the guys from Kids in the Hall...in fact, I think he is one of the writers in a later season (makes sense).

Also, Paul Gross...I'm not sure how to feel about him. In a weird way, he reminds me of my Uncle...but also in a weird way, I think he is really cute and I just want to ruffle his hair. LOL. I dunno. His big baggy jacket is ridiculous. Maybe it's the character I like, he's damaged but has a good heart.

There was one American character in season 1 that had me wondering if she represented what Canadians thought of Americans - she's a bit work obsessed, money obsessed, sex obsessed (but more in a power way, not romantic way) and she doesn't "get" Shakespeare. Then again, the other American character is the movie star trying to make it on the stage and he's a nice guy...still, [livejournal.com profile] maybedeadcat asked his Canadian friend if she was representative and he apparently burst out laughing...and never gave a real answer!

The show makes me wish I had stayed involved in theater a bit after high school. Oh heck, I was barely involved in high school because my stupid band director hated the drama teacher and, like petty parents in a divorce, they made us pick sides and I had been in band since 6th grade so I wasn't gonig to stop now! But the one year I partiicpated, even though it was all just behind the scenes, I had a blast. I wish the library had a theater group LOL. We could totally geek it up.

Anyway, if you have Netflix streaming, check out Slings & Arrows, it's really a good show. :)

(no subject)

Date: 2013-02-06 02:31 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fredericks.livejournal.com
I started in on Slings and Arrows after getting sucked into the Due South fandom, and falling in lust love with Paul Gross (he plays a rather clean cut straight-laced Mounty on Due South, btw; Benton Fraser is just the handsomest comedic straight man you ever did see...outside the entire male cast of Parks and Recreation, of course). I admit to liking it, but it hasn't really stuck with me. I guess because I didn't have that connection to theater that you described above. Still, it's a rather sharply written show. And it's short, so it doesn't wear out its welcome.

(no subject)

Date: 2013-02-08 12:03 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] orangerful.livejournal.com
LOL yeah we were googling Paul Gross at work the other day and he looked SO DIFFERENT on Due South...I kinda like his crazy look in Slings & Arrows. I was sad that Due South wasn't on streaming though - how will I get my random Canadian fix after we finish off season 3!?!?!?

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