streaming on Netflix: Slings & Arrows

[orangerful]

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 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, 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. :)

Comments

[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.

[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!?!?!?