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The first edition of Complete Idiot's Guide to Bridge by H. Anthony Medley was the fastest selling beginning bridge book, going through more than 10 printings. This updated Second Edition includes some modern advanced bidding systems and conventions, like Two over One, a system used by many modern tournament players, Roman Key Card Blackwood, New Minor Forcing, Reverse Drury, Forcing No Trump, and others. Also included is a detailed Guide to Bids and Responses, along with the most detailed, 12-page Glossary ever published, as well as examples to make learning the game even easier. Click book to order. | |
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Every Little Step (10/10) by Tony Medley Run Time 96 minutes. I like pretty much anything about Broadway musicals. I like the PBS shows of cast recordings. I like movies and shows about how plays are made. This is a movie about how a revival of “The Chorus Line” was cast. It is drop-dead fascinating, actually much more entertaining than the musical about which it is made. It starts with a tape recording director
Michael Bennett made on For the next 12
hours on that early winter morning in 1974, Bennett and his fellow
dancers talked about their lives, revealing an incredible amount of
information about their personal histories, their motivation to perform
and their dreams. The process of discovery revealed that the faceless
chorus was composed of individuals with wit and abundant humanity, each
with a special story to tell. Bennett taped
these conversations and collaborated with Nicholas Dante to write A
Chorus Line. His long time associate Bob Avian helped choreograph the
show. Multiple Grammy and Oscar-winning composer Marvin Hamlisch was
brought on to fashion the score, and Ed Kleban contributed the Lyrics.
The team began intense workshops with the cast before the script and
songs were even finished. I have to say right here that “The Chorus Line” is not one of my favorites. I wouldn’t walk across the street to see the play or the movie (and I’ve seen both). But I would walk a lot further to see this movie. We see auditions for each of the major roles, from the first cattle call, then to subsequent auditions as the applicants are narrowed down. Finally it comes down to the final two or three for each of the roles and by this time we’ve gotten to know each of the contestants through interviews which are frank, revealing, and often emotional. What is remarkable and admirable is how these people put everything they have into every audition. Dustin Hoffman, for one, has called auditioning “the lowest depths of misery.” It’s awe-inspiring to see them throw caution to the wind and let it all hang out. If you like Broadway, this is a movie you cannot miss.
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