"How Come" I haven't posted in the last day or two...

[ellen_datlow]

I'm busy with two anthologies I'm working on. One, tentatively called Poe: New Tales of Suspense, Dark fantasy, and Horror inspired by Edgar Allan Poe is to be turned in by Sunday to my editor at Solaris. I'm in the process of the final line edits, got to decide on story order, and finish up an Introduction then off it goes via email. It's due Monday, the day I leave for London and I'll be seeing my editor the second week I'm there. Also trying to eliminate and thus choose stories for YBFH #21.

But quickly, I saw a matinée performance of Sunday in the Afternoon with George --I'd never seen it before. Not a great musical by any means. No memorable songs (although maybe the title song), certainly no show stoppers. The staging and scenery and costumes were wonderful,and it had terrific special effects. Also, the actors were good. Although...George comes across as pretty wimpy in the first act and I think he's supposed to have more personality. His mistress obviously adores him and another woman mentions his attractiveness...Huh? I didn't see it. I gather that Mandy Patinkin was really charismatic originating the role but then in the second act where the later George is supposed to be a bit more wimpy Patinkin couldn't notch down the charisma and so it didn't work. In the current production the actor was better in the second act. The character of Dot (originated by Bernadette Peters) was terrific. She (for me) felt like the center of the first act, and I'm not sure she was supposed to be.


Finally, the reason I put "how come" in quotes is that the etymology of the phrase has been bugging me for weeks. I finally remembered to look it up tonight (after discussing it at dinner with friends) and voila! we've got it here: (Thank you google. I love you.)
how come

Comments

[shadowsandice.livejournal.com]

thanks for the 'how come', that was neat.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

You're welcome :-)

[upstart-crow.livejournal.com]

*nods at the link* Oh yes.

Interestingly, Shakespeare also used a variant of "how come" - "how comes it?", a syntax more common to romance languages and which it seems English has jettisoned since the 1500s. I think the phrase works better with the noun.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

But "how come" is quicker and snappier and I'm sure that's why it caught on.

[tinaconnolly.livejournal.com]

There aren't as many standout songs in Sunday, but I do love "Finishing the Hat".

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

By memorable, I mean songs that I'll remember enough to hum again--ever. Yes, "Finishing the Hat" was lovely. But do I remember it? nope. ;-)

[charlesatan.livejournal.com]

Good luck with the anthos!

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

The gods keep and bless you for posting this link.

;)Jody

[lonesome-crow.livejournal.com]

Oh, my, wonderful news! Enjoy your trip. I don't suppose you could give us a sneak peek at the ToC for the Poe anthology?

TOC of Poe

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

Sure, I'll do it in a separate post.

Re: TOC of Poe

[lonesome-crow.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

[foresthouse.livejournal.com]

I wish I had more TIME to read, what with all the good books that keep coming out.

Are you going to London for fun or business? I love London.

Thanks for the "how come" link - I never even thought of that before, but it is a really interesting phrase to use.

[ellen-datlow.livejournal.com]

I'd love to have more time to read novels.

Both. All my friends over there are writers :-). I try to go every winter.

It happens that the occasionally common phrase bumps me and I start wondering how it was derived. This was one of them.