Yes, the Kid in the Back

Ali has put up a photo of Richard Armitage on tour with 42nd Street c. 1991. Do I need to diagram this? Nope, it’s obvious. He’s in the back with a huge grin on his face. What a joy to watch someone like that. I have a child who is rather tall and also a dancer. She is in the back a lot due to her height. When you’re taller than the others, you are often relegated to the back. But the look of pure joy on her face usually makes her stand out. She is almost always smiling. That’s her natural response to most public situations and to life in general. Perhaps I’m imbuing RA with her qualities, but it seems that he smiles a lot. I love that. There’s not enough smiling in the world.

Click to enlarge

Photo courtesy of RichardArmitageNet.Com

edit: So perhaps Richard is standing behind the front of the line. I’m not sure, but that slightly pointed ear of the dark headed guy might be his. But I stand by what I said earlier about him smiling. If nothing else, the other picture taken behind the scenes at 42nd Street supports the claim. :D

January 3, 2012
Categories: Dorktastic, Stage Productions . Tags: , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 14 Comments

The Hum of Rippling

Did I mix my metaphors? Do you care? If you’re a normal RA fan you’re already looking at the photo below and have such a glazed look that you don’t even realize what I’ve typed above it, but I press on. A few hours ago Jonia made a post about her latest find. I wasn’t going to post but rather just Tweet about it. When I saw so much posting about it, I thought, “What the hey. I’ll ripple too.” :D

This photo is my favorite (see the link to more at Jonia’s blog piece):

Yeah, he’s beautiful.

December 17, 2011
Categories: Stage Productions . Tags: , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 9 Comments

Diary of an RA Fan — Part 697 Dragged Back From the Edge

Entry — December 16th, 2011:

Every time I think I’m done with this Richard Armitage addiction, something happens to keep me from making the leap away from it. When I see one of his candid pictures with those piercing eyes, I have a flood of thoughts that makes me want to get on my computer and start writing. It’s not that I fantasize about the guy (yeah, I know that no one is ever going to believe that even if it’s true), but he is compelling. Looking at the picture from the Macbeth tour makes it obvious why I think he will be a megastar if the American public ever really gets hold of him. But then there are so many variables, and maybe the guy doesn’t want that kind of fame. Shaking my head as I write this and thinking no way in hell I would want that kind of attention. How could you have a normal relationship when you have that kind of magnetism in a mere photograph? And for American women to drool over it? Not sure what I think, but apparently, I’m still addicted to whatever this is.

How in the world I ever thought this guy wasn’t nice looking I’ll never know. Maybe I was sick that day. Something was going on to distract me.

note: I had to post that photo twice. :D

December 16, 2011
Categories: Stage Productions . Tags: , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 21 Comments

Just When I Was Getting Bored

One of my lovely, wonderful, incredible fellow Richard Armitage fans has treated us all by unearthing a couple of photos that are in the public domain (fingers crossed here) that many have not seen:

He went from this:

to this:

Damn!

That incredible looking man with the sweet boy hopefully still inside him.

Photo find courtesy of Wendy. Top one supposedly associated with 42nd Street. Bottom one supposedly taken in the Twin Towers after a New York performance of Macbeth.

Thank you, Wendy. I’m wonderfully refreshed in the middle of this terrible drought. :D

edit: Did I just compromise my principles? I’m not sure. If I did, then I’ll run backwards. It’s my understanding that these pictures are in the public domain, or I would not have posted them. Sadly, some may be there unintentionally. I have no way of knowing that, so I posted.

December 16, 2011
Categories: Dorktastic, PHWOAR!, Stage Productions . Tags: , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 23 Comments

I’m Scaring Myself

I was watching the Cats Rehearsal videos, and I swear I recognized Richard Armitage immediately. Maybe I do feel maternal towards him. Really, someone please slap me for even going here. I’m not old enough to be his mother!! But well, I can do this with my kids. I’ve even amazed myself at times, and SO thinks it’s hilarious how I can recognize them from very faraway and even in really dim light. One time we were driving down the road, and way off in the distance we saw someone walking towards us, and I casually said, “There’s our son.” He laughed and said, “No way you can tell from this distance.” Of course I was right. I’m always right about this. :D A mother’s instincts are eerily correct. Anyone who’s a mother and recognizes her own child’s cries knows exactly what I’m talking about.

Interestingly, I was not the least maternal before I had kids. I mean I could have cared less about them. I didn’t even think they were cute and never liked holding anyone’s baby. I’m still not big on that. I was so unmaternal that it made me hesitant to have children. There was a fear in the back of my mind and sometimes in the front of it that I would be a lousy mother. But oh my gosh! that hormone was bigger than I was, and crashed over my head to magically transform me into a momma!

I’m not quite sure what’s crashed over my head to make me so aware of Richard Armitage’s movements, but a couple of years of watching him might have something to do with it. LOL! Actually, as of a few weeks ago, I passed the three year mark. So Servetus, now you know what the beginning of year four looks like. :D

Check out the guy who jumps onto the middle of the stage at the beginning of this clip. He’s really big and tall, has his hair in a ponytail, and he has on what looks like a blue tank top.


Watch on YouTube

In case you missed him, you can see him again in this one below. He’s on the left at the beginning of the clip. He does run off camera at one point, but then he comes back with a vengeance. He’s so big you can’t miss him. Oh, it’s a thing of beauty!


Watch on YouTube

If you’re still not sure, maybe the screencaps will convince you. Do I even need to point him out? I mean really. It’s so obvious. Or maybe I’m seeing things?

Seriously, do I need to draw some arrows? I didn’t think so.

Isn’t this a beautiful shot with his arms thrown up:

And of course I could be wrong about this, but I don’t think so. :D

edit: I have a slew of screencaps if you need even more proof.

March 10, 2011
Categories: SO, Stage Productions . Tags: , , , , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 87 Comments

Oprah Envy — SPOILERS

A spoiler about Spooks Series 9. Of course if you’re reading this blog, you probably already know, but I’m not taking any chances.

I’ve never watched much Oprah Winfrey. Probably seen that show five maybe six times, but I would have to be under a rock somewhere not to know about her “Favorite Things.” For those who may not know about Oprah, she is a mega star here in the States. She has a talk show which has been on about 25 years (can’t remember exactly), and she is so massively popular that I think at one point she could have run for president and won. During the holidays, she has these giveaway shows called “My Favorite Things,” and this year is her farewell. I understand that it’s been highly emotional, but I’m hard pressed to think how much more emotional it could be than in the past. Recipients are usually weeping while Oprah stands there grinning like a Chesire cat as they receive their gifts. That’s what’s shown on the news, and my jaded self has mostly thought of this as an ego trip for Oprah.

But maybe I was wrong. If I had that kind of money, I would certainly give some of it away. It would thrill me to do that since it’s a pleasure to make people feel good. At times I wish I were rich just so I could give to people more than I’m able to do normally. Today is one of those days. I really wish I were rich enough to pay everyone’s way to see Richard Armitage in The Rover. That would be such a blast. And no, we have no further word on it other than this tweet from our initial source of info, the English Touring Theatre:

In lieu of giving any of you a trip to The Rover, I do have something planned for Christmas, but I’m not quite ready to reveal it. In the meantime, bear with me as I post a couple of more diary entries that frankly, I just need to get out of the way (picture me with my tongue hanging out), and of course I need to still mourn Lucas of Series 7 at least a few more days.

It pains me to look at that picture and think of the destruction of that wonderful character! I’m not so much thinking of him becoming a bad guy as the ruining of such an interesting character. That was just shot to hell. Sorry for this slip up. I really am trying not to be negative about any of RA’s jobs! But you may not think that after you read my next diary entry. Then again, it was just something I had to get out.

Screencaps courtesy of RichardArmitageNet.Com and me.

November 30, 2010
Categories: PHWOAR!, Spoilers, Spooks, Stage Productions . Tags: , , , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 32 Comments

I Keep Forgetting

I keep forgetting that all of you who read this blog are not part of the rabid fans like I am. Oh, I know some of you are exactly like I am and could write this blog — meaning you could keep it supplied with the information over which so many salivate. Case in point is Richard Armitage leaving the Old Vic. I’ve long since looked at the YT clip of him leaving the theater after the plays. I figured anyone who read this blog had already looked at it too. But I was wrong. I’ve had emails and Facebook messages asking me about any word on footage or pictures of him at the theater, so here it is:

I love the YT user’s name, smartandcleverlass. Yes, she is, and I appreciate her grabbing this candid shot for all of us to drool over. But as I started to drool, I have to confess I had some hesitation. I began to feel sorry for RA, and the crap he must go through. His acting is wonderful, and I’ve already said I would love to see him on stage. That would be the ultimate experience of his acting for me. But I really can’t see myself following him out the door to take a shot of him with my phone. Maybe I sound like a hypocrite and one day may prove myself a liar, but I know my gut would be screaming: NO, DON’T DO IT! leave the guy be. Or perhaps I’m just a coward.

But enough of my conscience rearing its ugly head. Oh hell, I would just like a chance to find out if I would have a conscience. It would be a dream to go to one of his performances, but ever lurking at the back of my mind is this question: would I wait at the stage door to see RA afterward? I honestly don’t know. As I think about it now, I would feel like a fool doing that. No, I wasn’t kidding when I said I have too much pride to posture as a fangurl in public. I just can’t see it, but then I might let myself get caught up in the hysteria and do it anyway. Man, I am a coward.

I was talking with a fellow Armitage lover this evening, and she asked if I would go to the stage door if she dragged me there, and I said, “Of course, ’cause then I could blame it on you.” :D

Sometimes I wonder if I should have named this blog ‘The Reluctant Fan.’ That really is the best description of me, but I think that domain name was taken. All I know is I have fought this from the beginning and still fight it. I mentally slap myself about once a week. So my post about still stopping is describing a frequent occurrence. Maybe I shouldn’t write this post, but I must do it to at least fool myself into thinking I’m still sane. Momma didn’t raise a fool, so I’m trying to make her proud, but then Momma would go to the stage door. LOL! Maybe I should stop fighting my genes? Either that or take up drink. No, that will never happen. I’ve been too up close and personal with alcoholics, and that, my friends is about as revealing as I’m going to be on this blog.

Screencap courtesy of RichardArmitageNet.com

November 27, 2010
Categories: Fandom, Stage Productions . Tags: , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 30 Comments

So Now We Wait

I’ve always thought Twitter was aptly named, but today, it was palpable. A tweet popped up about Richard Armitage that literally has us fans atwitter. It really feels like we’re in a hen house and someone startled us. Here’s the tweet so you can be startled too:

Didn’t many of us think this might be a dead possibility? Well, I guess we were wrong unless this ETTtweet is having us on. I don’t think so. They look legit.

So now we know Richard Armitage is somehow preparing for The Rover. But I want to know when it will be?! Yes, I’m impatient and spoiled to getting information quickly. I can’t lie. I am indeed spoiled, and Twitter has something to do with it. It may be one of the most addictive tools I’ve used since my first IT job, and that’s going some. I’ve been privy to some pretty cool things over the last, uh, I’d rather not say. Suffice to say this tool is phenomenal for information. I’ve learned more from Twitter in a shorter period of time than I ever have from a newspaper or the radio or tv. Even my Google Reader is not as forthcoming, and it’s pretty good.

Back to Richard. I would so love to see him live on stage, and I’ve been wanting to go back to the UK. There are other things I need to do there that have nothing to do with RA, but it would be great to make it coincide with one of his performances. Wonder how many there will be. I was looking at the other productions from ETT and most seem to be about three months for touring. This has me wondering if RA is really going to be tied up so long on The Hobbit set. Surely, Peter Jackson doesn’t need him standing around in New Zealand for the duration of filming. What actor would submit to that? Even if it is a huge break? It seems risky to be off the radar that long. But then what do I know about the acting business. Then again, perhaps RA will be touring before February, or he is not required at the beginning of The Hobbit’s filming in February?

In the meantime, I’m sure you can check out RichardArmitageNet to keep up, or you can get a Twitter account. Yes, I hope to entice some of you to join Twitter, and I promise you that it does not make your IQ go down a few points just by doing so. :D Maybe I can even get some of you to use an app like Hootsuite or Tweetdeck before I’m done. MUHAHAHAHA.

Yeah, Rich, that’s how I’m going to feel until I know something:

Screencap courtesy of RichardArmitageNet.Com

Aren’t you glad my tangents are over? For now? :D

November 26, 2010
Categories: Movies, Rumors, Stage Productions . Tags: , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 33 Comments

Some Refreshment Before The Drought

Richard Armitage is at the Old Vic Theatre today where he’s participating in an annual charity event to raise funds for the arts. He’s part of a troupe of actors performing in the 24 Hour Plays. I heard about these years ago when they started on Broadway, and it’s always been my plan to go. The dynamic of these plays sounds fantastic. The goal is to write, direct, rehearse and perform six one-act plays within 24 hours. The Old Vic Theatre has a channel on YouTube, and I was able to see a little of what goes on:

I’ve always been fascinated with creativity under pressure and would love to be a fly on the wall during the preparation for these plays. It would be wonderful to watch them coming together, and of course I would love to see the finished product. For those of us who aren’t going, there is still a way for us to see something. Ali at RichardArmitageNet.Com will be providing some clips from The Culture Show, which will recap the highlights this Thursday, 11/25. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Ali.

In the meantime I will try to keep my feelings of extreme jealousy for a certain Twitter user in check. If I were in London, her ticket might not have been safe. But she soothes my terrible feelings with updates that will stave off my thirst for a while. :D

And on a related note, I LOVE the music on the 24HourPlays website. B.B. King (or someone who sounds a lot like him) is never a bad choice. Unfortunately, I think the site is just for this side of the pond. C’mon, the Brits need a site too, guys!!

edit:

Maybe a certain Twitter user will give us a report of her activities tonight. :D Stay tuned. I’ll be sure to let you know where it can be found. Good chance it will be on RichardArmitageNet.Com, so you can certainly be checking there as well.

November 21, 2010
Categories: Stage Productions . Tags: , , , , , , . Author: RAFrenzy . Comments: 27 Comments

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