When J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic fantasy tale “The Hobbit” was first published in 1937, it became an instant classic whose popularity compelled the author to write “The Lord of the Rings” as a sequel. And while the “Rings” trilogy is much darker than “The Hobbit,” the latter is still primarily considered a children’s work that’s been adapted for the stage, radio, audiocassette, CD, and as video and computer games. Lest you think that a convincing live performance could only be delivered by a theater with a budget sufficient to create the many and varied creatures found in “The Hobbit,” think again – because the minuscule Maverick Theater and sister company Improv Shmimprov have just opened a credible, often impressive live stage production based on Patricia Gray’s 1968 adaptation. More..
Month: August 2010
On Monday 27th September at 7.30pm The Lincoln Theatre Royal will host Charles Ross’s funny and impressive show titled ‘One Man Lord of the Rings’ in which he recreates the enchanting world of Middle-earth, armed with nothing more than a pair of elbow pads and his outrageous imagination.
No props or costumes are required as Ross hurtles through the Tolkien trilogy – The Fellowship Of The Ring, The Two Towers and The Return Of The King – in just 3,600 seconds of unbelievable kinetic entertainment.
Like many Lord of the Rings fans, Canadian actor, playwright and self-proclaimed ‘professional geek’, Charles Ross fell in love with Tolkein’s trilogy at an early age. Continue reading “The Tolkien trilogy in just 3,600 seconds”
RYNDELL writes: Saw several threads on various Disney chat sites recently…apparently Universal Studios has sent out surveys testing the waters for interest in a LOTR theme park, a la the “Harry Potter Wizarding World” they recently opened in Orlando. More..
Poet Michael GR Tolkien’s reworking of classic children’s fantasy is read for audiobook by Charles Dickens’s great-great grandson. It is a match made in publicists’ heaven: the grandson of JRR Tolkien and the great-great grandson of Charles Dickens have collaborated for the first time on a verse retelling of a classic fantasy story.
Poet Michael GR Tolkien, the eldest grandson of the Lord of the Rings author, was inspired by Florence Bone’s prose fantasy for children, The Rose-Coloured Wish, first published in 1923. Telling the story of two children who set out to use an evil enchanter’s wishing chain of stones to save their alpine valley, only to fall into trouble, the book was read to Tolkien in the 40s and 50s as a child, and he in turn read it to his own children. More..
Tim writes: Thought you might like to know that Sean Astin appears (rather
tragically) in another NASA video released today. It also features Sandeep Parikh from the web series The Guild. Continue reading “Sean Astin Appears in NASA Video”
Writer and director Peter Briggs spent a little time at the Weta booth during Comic-Con and just as in previous interactions with the TORn staff, he was friendly and funny. Now rumors are circulating that he may be involved in a film with Weta called “Panzer 88.” The premise of the film, talked about by Briggs at a panel during the convention, sounds perfect for Richard Taylor and his team. It reportedly depicts “a German tank crew on the run from a malevolent supernatural entity in the snowy Russian wastes.” Bloody-disgusting.com has a well-written speculative piece on what could be keeping the Peter Jackson / Richard Taylor effects company busy. See the story here.