Books reviews, current events, and other musings

 
This morning I watched an episode of Yes, Minister, a clever British political comedy that I enjoyed several years ago. The series centered around James Hacker, the well-meaning but somewhat naive Minister for the Department of Administrative Affairs. His policies were thwarted by his permanent under-secretary, Sir Humphrey Appleby. Hacker and Appleby struggled to achieve their distinct objectives, with the politician and the bureaucrat in an ongoing conflict.

The writing and casting were both excellent. Paul Eddington, also known for the comedy Good Neighbors, portrayed Hacker, while Nigel Hawthorne, who played the title role in The Madness of King George, was the perfect Appleby. From what I've heard, Yes, Minister is an on-the-mark depicition of British government, and it's very funny.
posted by Julian at 1:05 PM

 
Mamma Mia was good campy fun, though Abba tunes are still going through my head. It's a light musical, built around 20+ Abba songs. Though I'm not a big Abba fan, the music is a lot better than the typical show tune. Plus the underlying story, though fluffy, was entertaining and funny in its own right. The production was energetic and fast-paced, and I left the theater feeling uplifted. If you have the opportunity, go out and see it.
posted by Julian at 8:10 PM