Tag Archives: Orson Welles

“I started at the top and worked my way down.” — Orson Welles

Posted on May 6, 2025 by sheila

It’s his birthday today. When Orson Welles was just a teenager, he traveled to Ireland. And although it seems improbable (perhaps not, because this is Orson Welles we’re talking about), he decided to audition for the newly-formed Gate Theatre, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Actors, Directors, Movies, On This Day, Theatre | Tagged , | 18 Comments

“Every choice I’ve ever made has been dictated by a formless hunch rather than by strict logic.” — Peter Brook

Posted on March 21, 2025 by sheila

“I can take any empty space and call it a bare stage. A man walks across this empty space, whilst someone else is watching him, and this is all that is needed for an act of theatre to be engaged.” … Continue reading →

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R.I.P. Jimmy Buffett

Posted on September 3, 2023 by sheila

I met Jimmy Buffett in 2017 in the theatre lobby after a performance of Escape to Margaritaville, the Broadway musical centered around Jimmy Buffett songs, then in preview. (The script was written by Greg Garcia and my cousin Mike O’Malley!) … Continue reading →

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July 2023 Viewing Diary

Posted on August 6, 2023 by sheila

July was busy. I bought a new car. My old one basically disintegrated around me, so much so that the mechanic didn;t even want me to drive it home from his shop. I found a new apartment, and the market … Continue reading →

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October 2022 Viewing Diary

Posted on November 1, 2022 by sheila

Truman & Tennessee: An Intimate Conversation (2020; d. Lisa Immordino Vreeland) Fascinating dual portraits. No “talking heads”. The entire thing is made up of their own voices, told in talk shows, or interviews. Amazing footage I’ve never seen before. Christine … Continue reading →

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December 2021 Viewing Diary

Posted on January 10, 2022 by sheila

Nightmare Alley (2021; d. Guillermo del Toro) I will re-post here the thoughts I jotted down on Facebook after I saw it for the first time. I absolutely loved this film. Nightmare Alley is gorgeously shot, with an ominous moody … Continue reading →

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No Smoking

Posted on December 8, 2021 by sheila

Everett Sloane and Rita Hayworth, “Lady from Shanghai”

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December 2020 Viewing Diary

Posted on January 6, 2021 by sheila

I hope you like The X-Files. Look forward to hearing from fans of the show. The past couple of months have been heart-wrenching for my family. It will continue to be so. We are struggling under the weight of the … Continue reading →

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Recommended: Biographies

Posted on May 1, 2020 by sheila

For starters: My recommended Fiction books My recommended Non-Fiction books BIOGRAPHIES: American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson, by Joseph Ellis I’ve written a lot about Joseph Ellis’ work here. While I love David McCullough’s work so much, Ellis is … Continue reading →

Posted in Actors, Books, Directors, Founding Fathers, James Joyce, Theatre, writers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

December 2018 Viewing Diary

Posted on January 3, 2019 by sheila

Swimming with Men (2018; d. Oliver Parker) A rather slight little comedy about men forming a synchronized swimming team. I reviewed for Ebert. Zama (2018; d. Lucrecia Martel) One of the best films of the year (I saw it after … Continue reading →

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