Natick Nutcrackers, Day 4: Greater Boston School of Dance

Introduction

Last day. I definitely have visions of sugarplums dancing in my head now. I went to the Greater Boston School of Dance Nutcracker in the interest of being thorough, as I neither knew anyone who danced there, nor knew anything about the school. It's new to Natick - I think it was initially in a VFW in Wellesley, as most of the students were from Wellesley and Weston.

Authenticity

This Nutcracker hewed pretty closely to the traditional Nutcracker plot. However they did something that I've not seen before but worked phenomenally. They embraced the fact that like most ballet schools they lack male dancers. Rather than import some male dancers, or have stand-in Nutcrackers and cavaliers who don't really dance, they used a female in full ballet tutu as the Nutcracker. She wore a lovely red and white tutu with vaguely military details and proper nutcracker red circles on her cheeks. It worked really well, as she danced in parallel with Clara and with the other fairies. The rest of the show was all Nutcracker as you remember it, including one of my favorites - Mother Ginger. I'm going to dock them a point for shortening some of the dances, most egregiously - the Marzipan.
Score: 9/10 - minus 1 point for shortening the dances

Staging and Costumes

This was a lovely Nutcracker. The costumes were superb - I can't imagine how much money they sink into these (maybe they rent some?). The most interesting costume was the Nutcracker tutu, but I've already gushed about it enough. This was the first time I've seen the Mouse Queen in a tutu as well, but she was splendidly malevolent in a dramatic black tutu. They were far from home, so the props were a bit spartan, but it was nicely done. The Dedham Middle School is a modern facility and the acoustics were nice and the lighting was well done. There were a few track issues, but the performers handled the little hiccups professionally - bravo to the instructors for teaching them not to panic!
Score: 8/10

Christmas Tree Growth

I was eager to see the Christmas tree grow to a spectacular height, but again, I was disappointed. It stood there in it's stand, hoping that we'd be distracted by the dancers. However, it looked like a real tree, so that might have been difficult to do much "magical" with it.
Score: 5/10 (for using a real tree)

Lacrosse Bonus Points

Sadly, no lacrosse players that I knew, and no one listed lacrosse as an interest in the program. However, I am awarding them 2 bonus points for the innovative Nutcracker role and costuming and another bonus for the Mouse Queen in a tutu.
Bonus points: +3

Final Comments

Don't be dissuaded by the score. This is an excellent Nutcracker. The performances were very enjoyable. It's a small, but growing school, and the performances and young dancers show incredible talent. This Nutcracker will be one to watch as it grows and incorporates more Natick dancers. They just need to get a venue closer to Natick. Also, they need more lacrosse players if they expect to scoop up some more bonus points!
Recommended - especially for the female Nutcracker (don't change it, even if you get some male dancers)

Total Score: 22/30 +3 bonus points -1 point docked, for 24
(a note on scoring - don't take these numbers seriously. Everyone wants to rank things nowadays, but really now, points for lacrosse players? Points for the tree? Bonus points for 80's music?)

Natick Nutcrackers, Day 3: Broadway Bound

Introduction

Broadway Bound calls their performance "Nuts and Bolts," preparing you for the fact that this is not a traditional Nutcracker. It wasn't. In fact, I wouldn't even call it a Nutcracker performance, It's more of a holiday spectacular. I described it to my wife as, "More Rockettes, less Boston Ballet."

That said, it was very good - very high energy.

Authenticity

As I said before, this wasn't really a Nutcracker. The program listed the usual parts of the Nutcracker, Party Scene, Trepak, Snow Scene, etc. But if you were looking at it, most of the time you didn't see this on stage. My daughter says BB is more of a competition school, and it looked it. Lots of spangly costumes, lots of troupe dancing, lots of loud music. It opened up with, "It don't mean a thing, if it ain't got that swing!" and continued throughout with jazzy, up-tempo and big band pieces as well as a few traditional and non-traditional arrangements of the Tchaikovsky Nutcracker.

But they went for it and did it well.

Score: 8/10 for effort and a bonus point for not doing any hip-hop (I detest hip-hop) +1

Staging and Costumes

The costumes were appropriate for the pieces. As I mentioned before, lots of sparkly and spangly costumes and very Rockettes-like. The staging was a little sparse, but they did have appropriate backdrops. This was presented at Natick High School, which is brand new, and it shows. The acoustics were excellent, the lighting was excellent, and the seating was excellent. Our tax dollars look well spent.

Score: 8/10

Christmas Tree Growth

They had a Christmas tree, bu it didn't do anything special. During the time when it should have been growing and the Nutcracker should have been coming out, it just stood there looking all "O Tannenbaum-ish." A missed opportunity.
Score: 4/10 (ouch!)

Lacrosse Bonus Points

I did see one of my former lacrosse players dancing, but she said she was the only one, and none of her team-mates were there to cheer her on (for shame!). So only one point for that. However, I am awarding an additional bonus point for using jazzy, swing numbers and an additional point for using Bow-wow-wow's "I Want Candy" for the candy cane dance and having the Arabian dance to A. R Rahman's Jai ho in a vaguely Bollywood style.

Hey! It's my blog. If you disagree with the bonus points, get yer own blog!

Bonus points: +3

Final Comments

Like I said before, this is not a typical Nutcracker, but rather a Holiday Spectacular. But once I got over my surprise, I enjoyed it and the dancers looked like they were having fun. This isn't the performance if you're looking for a traditional Nutcracker, but if you're looking for a high-energy, loud and sparkly holiday performance, this is one to consider. The kiddies would love it. My only recommendation would be more 80s music.
Recommended.

Total Score: 20/30 +1 for no hip hop, +3 for lacrosse and music for 24 points (they got bonked on the tree!)
(a note on scoring - don't take these numbers seriously. Everyone wants to rank things nowadays, but really now, points for lacrosse players? Points for the tree? Bonus points for 80's music?)

Natick Nutcrackers, Day 2: Mass Ballet

(technically, Mass Ballet is in Framingham, but many dancers from Natick attend there, including my daughter. My daughter starred as the Mouse Queen, among other roles, and my wife was Grand-mama.)

Authenticity

Mass Ballet is a full ballet and dance school, starting with a pre-K program and going through high school. Their program is populated with tiny dancers costumed as little mice, little soldiers and, of course, polinchinelles. Mass Ballet's Nutcracker, follows the traditional Nutcracker plot, with minor variations - most strikingly with red-coated (British) mice, and blue-coated (colonial) soldiers. Mass Ballet's Nutcracker is an excellent example of a full age-group Nutcracker.
Score: 9/10

Staging and Costumes

Mass Ballet stages a traditional Nutcracker with traditional costuming. The fairies are plumed with full, sparkly dresses and all the the principals wear gorgeous tutus. Mass Ballet uses Framingham High school, but trucks over a full complement of props and backdrops. The sound and lighting at Framingham High School are exemplary.
Score: 10/10

Christmas Tree Growth

Of course, one of the big scenes is when the Christmas Tree grows tall. This was was well done. Mass Ballet uses a full tree that grows to an admirable height and is very dramatic. No bonus points for a dramatic exit of the props at the end of the scene (see Walnut Hill posting for their extra point explanation).
Score: 9/10

Lacrosse Bonus Points

Mass Ballet gets 2 bonus points for having 2 girls who play lacrosse (although not for Natick, so no double points), plus an extra point for my daughter who formerly played lacrosse, and an extra just because my wife is in it as well and I want to sleep in my own bed tonight.
Total Bonus: +4

Final Comments

This is a fun Nutcracker. If you want to see a Nutcracker with little mice, soldiers, angels and of course polinchinelles, then you've come to the right place. Solid casting, but with a distinct lack of male dancers (probably the same story at most ballet schools). Incredible costumes and Framingham High School is an excellent venue.
Recommended, especially if you want to inspire a small child to be a dancer.

Total Score

28/30 + 4 bonus points for 32 points.

Mass Ballet was hurt by not having lacrosse players in principal roles, despite having my wife and daughter in the cast. Otherwise, a solid presentation.
(a note on scoring - don't take these numbers seriously. Everyone wants to rank things nowadays, but really now, points for lacrosse players? Points for the tree? Bonus points for 80's music?)

Natick Nutcrackers, Day 1: Walnut Hill

I started my resolution to see all the Nutcrackers in Natick. First night, Walnut Hill School for the Arts. Note: I am not going to review the performances. These local Nutcrackers are an opportunity for all the students to get on stage and for mom and dad and grandparents (and coaches) to see them perform.

Authenticity

Anyone who has seen the Nutcracker on TV should be familiar with the Walnut Hill's Nutcracker. It sticks to the script.
Score: 10/10

Staging & Costumes

This is the Walnut Hill stage, so they have the advantage of being on "home turf." It's a lovely theatre with nice backdrops, a nice screen and SNOW! The costumes were traditional and very pretty. The sound was excellent. The lighting was well done. One advantage of being in the gimpy-boy nose-bleed area is that you are almost directly in line with the speakers, so you get excellent sound.
Score: 10/10

Christmas Tree Growth

Of course, one of the big scenes is when the Christmas Tree grows tall. This was was well done, although due to the small stage, the tree didn't get outlandishly large. A bonus was when Herr Drosselmeyer clears the stage for the trip to The Land of Sweets by waving his cape and the tree flies up in the air, off the stage.
Score: 8/10

Lacrosse Bonus Points

Walnut Hill gets bonus points for having 2 of my former players from Natick Girls Lacrosse in the cast, and an extra 2 points for having them as Clara. Also 2 more bonus points for my seeing two of my former players in the audience.
Total Bonus points: +6

Final Comments

This is a fun Nutcracker. Very straightforward. If you're looking for something to match what you've seen on TV or Boston, and don't want to go into Boston, this is a good choice, if you can get tickets. They don't incorporate too many little kids since this isn't a ballet school that starts with pre-ballet classes and they don't have to march them on (as mice of soldiers) for parents and grandparents. They have some tiny soldiers that I guess must come from other schools.
Recommended.

Total Score

28/30, and 6 bonus lacrosse points for 34 points. This will be hard to beat!
(a note on scoring - don't take these numbers seriously. Everyone wants to rank things nowadays, but really now, points for lacrosse players? Points for the tree? Bonus points for 80's music?)

Logitech K820 wireless keyboard and touchpad in linux Mint

SUMMARY
The Logitech K820 runs on Linux Mint 17 and the standard gestures function.


K820 ON LINUX MINT 17
I wanted to try a new wireless keyboard to give my tendinitis a rest, and i wanted to try something different from my old Logitech K400 with the built-in (but tiny) touchpad.

I had seen the K820 on Amazon, but didn't have a chance to try it until I was at Staples one evening grabbing some vinyl letters. The keys were an improvement over the K400 - they were typical island keys, and it has that gorgeous large touchpad. The only downside was that there was no HOME and END key. However, a quick Google informed me that the FUNC/Arrow keys did that.

I had a gift card from Best Buy for turning in an old tablet (my venerable Viewsonic G-Tablet), so I figured I'd give it a shot and see how it worked on Linux.

Here's my setup:
HP Pavilion dv6000
Linux Mint 17

I plugged in the K820, hit the little power switch on the keyboard and I was immediately able to use the keyboard and touchpad.

Here are the gestures that I have discovered so far:
single finger tap - left click
double finger tap - right click
single finger swipe - regular cursor movement
double finger up/down scroll window
three finger up/down - open the application/"start" menu

It also has the standard left and right click by pressing on the bottom corners of the touchpad.

I was unable to turn on/off any of these using the standard touchpad driver in Linux Mint, but that's OK. I think I'll try and learn these.

Oh, and my tendinitis feels better already.

Elementary OS Challenge is over

My one week Elementary OS Challenge is over. If you recall,  I wanted to see if iI could do whatever I needed to do on an $80 laptop from Craigslist and a free Linux based operating system.

In short,  not a problem.

That's not to say that I didn't miss the extra speed of my regular laptop,  but if I had to do it, I could live with it day in and day out no problem.

Here's a brief list of what I did in this week:

Gmail
Google Calendar
Looked at some PDFs for lacrosse
Facebook
Watched online video podcasts
Listened to Pandora
Watched Hulu
Recorded and started to edit an audio podcast that I never ended up using.
Google+ postings
Twitter postings
Updated my blog (with this)
Edited my Evernotes
Played solitaire
Installed and referenced my password database - KeePass
Posted my minivan on Craigslist (hint hint)

And that's really about it.

I think I'm going to try another week or so and see what I think... of both the laptop and the OS,  although the keyboard has a decent amount of flex that makes it miss some of my  letters.  I may take it apart and see if I can put in some bracing in it.

Thanks for all your interest and comments.  If you have any questions,  feel free to contact me!

Regards,

Lyman

My Elementary OS / Craigslist laptop challenge

As you know, I finally got a working installation of Elementary OS, the new Linux operating system distribution, after a few false starts installing it.

After reading the back to school advertisements, chock full of fancy quad core laptops running Windows 8, I decided to see how cheaply I could get online.

So here's my challenge to myself:

Can I use my $80 Craigslist laptop and the no cost operating system Elementary OS for a week?

Now I can't use it for my work, because currently our VPN doesn't support Linux, but they supply me with a computer anyway. But when you think about it, pretty much everything that one does online, besides gaming, runs in a browser... Gmail - browser; Facebook - browser; YouTube videos - you got it... browser. Even if you want to write a document and print it, you can use Google Documents and Google Drive and do it all online.

Here is what an $80 craigslist laptop is... first a confession, I am a bit of a craigslist junkie - I scan the computer section nightly to see if any interesting (and cheap) equipment has been posted. I particularly like computers with weird features or sizes. I have an early Dell all-in-one that is still chugging along after 5 years or more of Lymie's homework and "other stuff." I am looking at a Dell Duo - a netbook with a rotating touch screen, and I am looking for a used Raspberry Pi to run as a digital photo frame on steroids. My name is Lyman - I have a computer problem.

Laptop specs - this was purchased from someone closing a business. This was a training laptop with a gimpy WiFi card. I decided to give it a shot (she was asking an absurdly reasonable $80 for this laptop), thinking at the worst I would add a WiFi dongle to it to get it online. It turned out it was a firewall issue - it took me 10 minutes to sort that out. The CPU is a dual core 1.6 GHz with 1.9 GB RAM and a 150 GB hard drive. Screen size is a common 15.6 inches at 1366 x 768. It connects via Ethernet or 802.11 G. Noting fancy but it works.

Elementary OS has all the stuff you need to get online - a browser, wifi software, a few basic applications and an app-store to get more. After installing Google Chrome and logging in (I do all my online stuff with Google) within 3 minutes I had all my bookmarks, my preferences and my extensions at my fingertips - auto-magically!

I put my regular laptop in  the corner of my office, booted the Dell Vostro and started creating this blog entry.

Check back in a week and see how I  did!

Thanks.