Have You All Forgotten? (Updated, please read)

[violet]

cybermystery said:

Maybe we could have each q & a have a mistake and then make a message from the mistakes as code for him

I like that idea- maybe it can say 'happy birthday'?

[Songbird]

Songbird, out of the many ridiculous in things that are in the series, which one is your favorite and why?

Well, personally, the whole idea of things being in or out helped me get over high school, because in reality subscribing to what's popular or fashionable makes you almost like a clone or a zombie. Doing something because it's cool was never something I tried to do, although my favorite in thing throughout the course of the series was the pinstripe suits. Now, I don't personally own a suit, but I do have a snazzy pair of pinstripe pants, and a very attractive pinstripe fedora. I think on occasion, it is acceptable to do something that no one else expects, although I wouldn't go to the extent of wearing a lettuce leaf bikini, especially with a house full of animals.

Songbird, if you could pick an animal to specialize in like Uncle Monty, what would it be?

I do want to be a veteranarian, although if I could just hang out and observe birds I'd be a very happy person. Although, if I had an entire room of birds I'd advise my visitors to bring an umbrella.

[Gigi]

violet said:

cybermystery said:

Maybe we could have each q & a have a mistake and then make a message from the mistakes as code for him

I like that idea- maybe it can say 'happy birthday'?

I like that idea!

[s]

Tragedy's question:
What historical event would be most appropriate to coincide with Mr. Handler's birthday, but unfortunately, does not?

My answer:
Perhaps the Great Chicago Fire, because his books seem equally flammable and bovine-inspired.


(I'm still working on the musical.)

[vbabe1]

I like the idea of sending him a cake! You can do that like sending flowers, they deliver it to you that day. But we'll place a message on it like, "Here's a word of advice- 'Don't' ".

[Hermedy]

Crunch time, guys. We're only about halfway there. If I don't see some more questions soon I'm going to have to call an emergency meeting.

More ideas:

Describe the best and worst case scenarios that Mr. Handler can expect on his birthday.
What is the most useful gift you could give to Mr. Handler on his birthday if time, money and distance were not an obstacle?

[Gigi]

ladypoe said:

Songbird, out of the many ridiculous in things that are in the series, which one is your favorite and why?

Well, personally, the whole idea of things being in or out helped me get over high school, because in reality subscribing to what's popular or fashionable makes you almost like a clone or a zombie. Doing something because it's cool was never something I tried to do, although my favorite in thing throughout the course of the series was the pinstripe suits. Now, I don't personally own a suit, but I do have a snazzy pair of pinstripe pants, and a very attractive pinstripe fedora. I think on occasion, it is acceptable to do something that no one else expects, although I wouldn't go to the extent of wearing a lettuce leaf bikini, especially with a house full of animals.

Songbird, we were working on the questions in the meeting today. What if you changed the first part to something like this:

"Subscribing to what's popular or fashionable can make you like a lemming, blindly following the crowd. Unless you are wearing a pinstripe suit, my favorite "In" item in the series."

And then go on to answer the part about why you like it the best (since you didn't really answer why).

Would that work? Also, you talk about doing something nobody expects, but if it was "In", they would expect it. Can you clarify or change that?

[idiotj]

J and Shruti, if the first half of A Series of Unfortunate Events were a musical extravaganza, how would it go?

First of all, Stephen Sondheim should write the songs with some apprentices like Alice and under the instruction of Daniel Handler. Michael Cerveris should play Count Olaf. Krist(i/e)n Chenoweth/Bell could be in the musical version of The Austere Academy as a supporting student. Neil Patrick Harris could be Jacques Snicket and Raul Esparza can be Hector.

ACT ONE

The overture is cheerful and should imply joyous activity - i.e., romping through flowers - even though the Baudelaire children are relatively sedentary on the beach (skipping stones, biting and examining objects).

The cheery music comes to a halt when Mr. Poe (bass-baritone) comes to announce their parents' death. They are ushered to Count Olaf's house, but are greeted by Justice Strauss through song. All seems well - until Count Olaf shows up and interrupts Strauss's lovely song with a quick, harsh list of chores.

Middle-school bassoonists have been hired to play his theme song, which is only yet hinted to by their raucous crowing; lyrics, don’t worry, will appear later. As they tour the filthy mansion, Olaf can be heard singing in the background:

“I’ll marry Violet on Sunday, that’s what I’ll do; I’ll make her sign.
I know that hopefully one day, all of her fortune will be mine!”

Sadly, the Baudelaires don’t hear this; it is only at the end of the scene that they discover his dastardly plot, and this only happens after the distressingly hopeful number they perform in praise of libraries.

The orphans sing about their misery. Count Olaf announces that he's going to put on a play. It's going to be about a marriage. Klaus suspects something, so he goes to Justice Strauss and they have a duet about laws. Strauss hits on the "two people can get married if they sign a document" thing, and Klaus rushes home to tell his siblings.

The next morning, Klaus brings this up to Count Olaf, who tells Klaus to wake up his sisters. Upon attempting to do so, Klaus finds Sunny to be gone. Olaf reveals his plan. The marriage commences and there's a song called "Right Hand." When Olaf's plot is foiled, the orphans triumphantly sing a song called "Your Plot Is Foiled." Olaf swears revenge, and the Baudelaires are taken away to another home.

ACT TWO

Act Two begins with Mr. Poe and the orphans driving to Prufrock Prep. Mr. Poe sings, the orphans sing, and soon the students at the academy join in so that it's a trio. The music comes to a stop when bad violin playing begins. Mr. Poe knocks at the door several times; Nero keeps playing. At last, Poe yells "FIRE!" to get Nero's attention, and then awkwardly lies that he yelled no such thing,

Nero shows the orphans around in a song called "Welcome to Prufrock Prep," including a mention of the computer system, but then (spoken) tells the Baudelaires what THEIR living conditions will be. The Baudelaires meet some new triplet friends (the Quagmires) in the process (“Who Knew Such Misery Could Exist Outside Our Own Sorry Existences”). Duncan sings in young, ambitious reporter fashion while Isadora sings in couplets. Their song is interrupted by the chorus of students singing "new teacher." The Baudelaires look around to see Olaf in disguise. Oh noez! D: Carmelita Spats tells the orphans to attend an intensive extra gym session with Coach Genghis.

The work piles up. The Violet sings about their living conditions, Klaus sings about their schooling, Olaf sings about his nefarious plot and Nero accompanies it in the background with awful violin playing.

The Baudelaires hear there's a test the next day. The orphans scheme, and all goes well until they're found out. Klaus begins to sing, "It's Count Olaf" but is cut off by Olaf dragging the Quagmires to the car and driving off. (“Which Set of Siblings Scores More Misery Points / From This Dastardly Olafian Deed”).The Quagmires shout about VFD, and the Baudelaires are left alone, singing "No Happy End in Sight."

The Baudelaires track the Quagmires through assorted locations – a village, a hospital, a carnival. Pervading all of this, there are crows in the trees, saying crow things, doing as they please. The orchestra tries admirably to imitate this.

The Baudelaires arrive at the Village of Fowl Devotees. They are in the town hall and the elders are arguing about the rules ("That's The Law"). Then they discuss the newly arrived children ("It Takes a Village") and call upon Hector to take care of them. ("You'll be caring for them, feeding them, housing them, clothing them, teaching them good morals and good manners - we'll be raising them.")

Hector walks them back to his house and sings about his dreams and his illegal activities. ("Superlative"). "I'll escape these stupid, superfluous laws / and get away from these crow's claws."

Hector presents to them the Nevermore Tree. The orphans spot the letter among the black feathers. ("Light Amidst the Dark.")

The next song is the poem "For sapphires, etc." But it's the full-length poem, not just bit by bit. It's interrupted by the shouts of "Count Olaf has been captured." They try to fight mob mentality, but later discover Jacques has died in jail and that they are being accused of murder.

In jail, Klaus discovers the poem's secret and they form an escape plan ("Epiphanies/Happy Birthday"). They reunite with the Quagmires and Hector ("Time to Fly") but the later/ladder (they're the same word, if you think about it drunk) is shot down.

[Songbird]

Songbird, out of the many ridiculous in things that are in the series, which one is your favorite and why?

Well, personally, the whole idea of things being in or out helped me get over high school. Doing something because it is "In" or fashionable is almost like being a lemming, mindlessly following each other until the end.
My favorite thing from the series was the pinstripe suit being considered "In". Now, I don't personally own a suit, but I do have a snazzy pair of pinstripe pants, and a very attractive pinstripe fedora. This is my favorite because of all the strange fashion trends that Esme decides to follow, this one can be accomplished by anyone. I think on occasion, it is acceptable to do something that no one else expects, and randomly walking around in a pinstripe suit for a day is something that no one else expects, unless you are attending a fancy dinner party or a business meeting. Changing things up every now and then is a good thing, although I wouldn't go to the extent of wearing a lettuce leaf bikini, especially with a house full of animals.

How's this? I frequently check my computer so let me know if you need me to fix it some more

[Libitina]

Shruti/J/Alice/whoever can answer this well, if you were Dr. Seuss, how would you summarize A Series of Unfortunate Events?
I think someone might be able to do a really swell job with that, so whoever wants it can take it.

[BSam]

we already have a musical, won't this be overkill?

[s]

So I guess we still need two...

Someone answer this one; it'll be easy:

If Daniel Handler were a fruit or vegetable, what would he be? Justify your answer.

[Hermedy]

If you could throw any object at Daniel Handler, what would you choose?

Seriously guys, we just need two or three more.

[Libitina]

orangeytwixet said:

Shruti/J/Alice/whoever can answer this well, if you were Dr. Seuss, how would you summarize A Series of Unfortunate Events?
I think someone might be able to do a really swell job with that, so whoever wants it can take it.

Since we don't have a lot of time, I answered it.
Misfortune abound, no felines adorned
A monster quite like the bald-headed red horn
Disguised, incognito, all secrets well-hidden
Children saved only by fruit that’s forbidden
Fires not doused by the Lorax’s hose
Flimsy false mustaches under the nose.
All this, not a Who-ville, not even a Bliss
Just three distressed children with lives gone amiss.

[Alice Wilde]

I just want to say that at this moment I am so in love with J and Shruti my heart is about burst. Seriously, if bigamy and gay marriage were legal, I would go to your respective houses, drop on one knee and propose. I love you like absinthe, whoa and musicals combined.

(on-topic)
Daniel Handler should totally supervise the composition of a ASoUE musical.