Otis sticks his beak in, demands some of the stashSans a Christmas bonus, the news will make a splashThat in the play at Patterson a criminal’s been castOtis needs to think again, lest soon he breathes his last.A kiss for luck from Kandikane leaves Vitamin inspiredHe mounts the stairs with gusto; feels grand to be desired.His co-star, Agate Aggie, her face could stop a clockSaucer-eyes of azure, white hair an unkempt shock.Elsewhere, Tracy takes a breath, relaxes with the paperGood to be with family, not working on a caper.Bonnie glad to see her Dad relax to close the daySuggests he check out Flintheart, who’s acting in a play.Tickets left at Will Call greet Dick Tracy’s chiseled faceThe attraction is a classic: Arsenic and Old Lace.An evening out. Date-night with Tess. A fine way to unwind.Yet, for Detective Tracy, the fates are seldom kind.
Morning all! Morning, VistaBill!--I love the characters we’re getting in this story.Believe it or not, I know someone who could have been the model for Agate Aggie. Scary, ain’t it?-Now that they’ve had the final rehearsal, I can’t wait to see opening night!
I must disagree with some posters today. I find Agate Aggie not unattractive; somewhat over-the-hill, perhaps, and certainly in need of a fresh hairdo, but not scary-ugly!
Meanwhile, the mills grind ever finer, as Tracy and Gruesome are on course towards a very theatrical showdown….
Am I the only one who thinks Bonnie has had some lip enhancement? I tend to agree with Nick Wick & Star Bear, the art is different today. Just an observation, because I like how multiple unrelated threads all get sewn up together.
Good morning VistaBill and fans. Good comments all especially Pequod’s poem. Tracy will recognize Gruesome’s voice but will not be able to place it. Y’all have a blessed Sunday.
Well there goes my ‘Hoped For’ THEORY - out the Window . . .Confirmation ! Agate Aggie IS indeed A. A. Stone an Actress in the play. And not the slightest indication that the name Plenty is associated with her, or that she may have a child named Dade or Perfume !
One can see a facial outline that vaguely connects her back to Gertie, (good points for Staton), and she’s been blessed by absence of the ‘Marble Eye’ eye Syndrome ! The thought of Shrew pops up, but to her credit she’s there praising another actors performance.
Yet obviously, the reason for her presence, comes to mind (?) Is she just thrown in for ‘conversation’ purposes (she got that yesterday) or as a useful “filler” for 2 days ? Alternatively, will her presence have a more profound result on future events/ results ? Will she meet with sister Gertie and add further family substance to te Family
One hopes so, I’m not too sanguine, but it would be a pity to ‘Glide Over’ this opportunity !
And before leaving, my Congratulations to Pequod77 - for yet another. truly Enjoyable Winner in Verse !
WTG, PQ! I’ll bet you couldn’t do a bad poem if you tried! To me, and I am sure others, your poetic weekly recap fills in a lot of blanks! Bravo! I KNOW Stilldamatt understands the story better – thanks to you!
We see Tracy in repose and know it can’t last long. Bonnie’s innocent question seems certain to lead Tracy to the theatre and, thus, to Gruesome. Compared to Gertie, I suppose Aggie is easy on the eye, but it is all relative. As others have noted, the art is more highly stylized today. There is no end to what Mr. Staton can do, especially with such talented helpers. Seems like Tracy has trouble getting a little quality time with the newspaper, as family tends to butt in:
Thanks to VistaBill, Night-Gaunt49, Neil Wick, Gweedo, miqq1234, davidf42, Starman1948, Sydney Phillips, Morrow and Ray Toler for the kind words. Very much appreciated!
It does seem unusual to me that the play has progressed to the point of holding “dress rehearsals” and Gruesome has not yet met his co-stars.
This might be more realistic if this were a movie where actors are called to the set only for their own scenes. In movies and TV shows, it is possible even to perform a scene without ever meeting the other actor in the scene. Since it is film, his questions could have been filmed yesterday without you present, and your answers could have been filmed today without the other actor present. Edited together, the final scene appears that both actors are standing together in the same room at the same time having a conversation together—the magic of film.
But in a stage play, the actors all spend a great deal of time together. During rehearsals for a professional production, actors generally spend 8-hour days practicing with the Director and other Actors. Following each rehearsal, it is common for the Director to call all of the actors together for a meeting where general notes are given, timing problems are worked out, staging and blocking is perfected (Blocking is the general movement and positioning of actors on the stage. For example, if it is important for an actor to be standing by a window at a certain point in the play, he will be “blocked” to move to that position at an earlier point in the dialogue by the Director so that he will be in the correct position when necessary.), and Actors chat with each other concerning interpretation and pacing of the dialogue.
In a slapstick-style play such as Arsenic and Old Lace, it would also not be unusual to have a “fight choreographer” who works with the Actors on all of the physical fighting and extreme movement so that the slapstick can be performed in a controlled manner without the actors killing each other.
However, today’s strip basically serves the purpose of introducing a new character to the readers and teasing Tracy’s attendance at opening night. I understand that the exact details of how plays are rehearsed and performed are inconsequential to the thrust of the story and most people are not aware of these details anyway. Consequently, I am willing to accept this unlikely development. After all, Gruesome would not be the first actor in the cast you would warm up to if you were another actor. But being a professional in Show Business, I just found it a bit odd that Gruesome at dress rehearsal had not yet met his co-stars.
As to Sydney’s point: A.A. Stone could be both her maiden name and her stage name. Neither preclude that her married name is “Plenty.” There could still be hope for your theory.
Agate Aggie prettier than her sister Gravel Gertie. And have you guys noticed how the artwork on Sunday’s strip looks slightly different than it does Monday thru Saturday? Is there a different guy doing the drawings on Sundays?
Although, to really look like Phyllis Diller, she’d need her mouth open very wide. Here’s a picture for comparison (with her mouth barely open for once):
I’m interested in the name of Sam Sixkiller. It seems like a name that a Native American would have used as an English translation. I’ve heard the name before as there was a college quarterback named Sonny Sixkiller in the early 1970s. He was trying out for the NFL but apparently did not make it. I suppose there’s no relation between the two.
Wow. Gruesome’s face is drastically distorted in today’s strip. I don’t think a different inker would change the outline of his face entirely and make it look as if he misplaced his dentures.
(In case this actually becomes visible—hi, been lurking here for years, finally decided to register.)
Vista Bill Raley and Comet™ over 9 years ago
Good morning guys!
Agate Aggie… Bonnie Braids…
Pequod over 9 years ago
Otis sticks his beak in, demands some of the stashSans a Christmas bonus, the news will make a splashThat in the play at Patterson a criminal’s been castOtis needs to think again, lest soon he breathes his last.A kiss for luck from Kandikane leaves Vitamin inspiredHe mounts the stairs with gusto; feels grand to be desired.His co-star, Agate Aggie, her face could stop a clockSaucer-eyes of azure, white hair an unkempt shock.Elsewhere, Tracy takes a breath, relaxes with the paperGood to be with family, not working on a caper.Bonnie glad to see her Dad relax to close the daySuggests he check out Flintheart, who’s acting in a play.Tickets left at Will Call greet Dick Tracy’s chiseled faceThe attraction is a classic: Arsenic and Old Lace.An evening out. Date-night with Tess. A fine way to unwind.Yet, for Detective Tracy, the fates are seldom kind.
wanewonderful over 9 years ago
The art is slightly different today……
Vista Bill Raley and Comet™ over 9 years ago
Perfect, as usual, Pequod77. Let’s hope that Bonnie doesn’t suggest a day at the circus anytime soon… although it would bring the Pig-on-Wheels back!
Can't Sleep over 9 years ago
Morning all! Morning, VistaBill!--I love the characters we’re getting in this story.Believe it or not, I know someone who could have been the model for Agate Aggie. Scary, ain’t it?-Now that they’ve had the final rehearsal, I can’t wait to see opening night!
JohnRPelt over 9 years ago
Hard to tell if DT’s being sarcastic or not.
Sisyphos over 9 years ago
I must disagree with some posters today. I find Agate Aggie not unattractive; somewhat over-the-hill, perhaps, and certainly in need of a fresh hairdo, but not scary-ugly!
Meanwhile, the mills grind ever finer, as Tracy and Gruesome are on course towards a very theatrical showdown….
William Weedman over 9 years ago
Am I the only one who thinks Bonnie has had some lip enhancement? I tend to agree with Nick Wick & Star Bear, the art is different today. Just an observation, because I like how multiple unrelated threads all get sewn up together.
avenger09 over 9 years ago
What’s with the strips obsession with huge bulging blue eyes? Creepyville! LOL!
davidf42 over 9 years ago
Morning, Tracyville!Nicely done, Pequod, thanks for your contribution!
Starman1948 over 9 years ago
Good morning VistaBill and fans. Good comments all especially Pequod’s poem. Tracy will recognize Gruesome’s voice but will not be able to place it. Y’all have a blessed Sunday.
Jelfring Premium Member over 9 years ago
I do find the artwork slightly weird today. Why are the faces so distorted?
SYDNEY PHILLIPS over 9 years ago
Well there goes my ‘Hoped For’ THEORY - out the Window . . .Confirmation ! Agate Aggie IS indeed A. A. Stone an Actress in the play. And not the slightest indication that the name Plenty is associated with her, or that she may have a child named Dade or Perfume !
One can see a facial outline that vaguely connects her back to Gertie, (good points for Staton), and she’s been blessed by absence of the ‘Marble Eye’ eye Syndrome ! The thought of Shrew pops up, but to her credit she’s there praising another actors performance.
Yet obviously, the reason for her presence, comes to mind (?) Is she just thrown in for ‘conversation’ purposes (she got that yesterday) or as a useful “filler” for 2 days ? Alternatively, will her presence have a more profound result on future events/ results ? Will she meet with sister Gertie and add further family substance to te Family
One hopes so, I’m not too sanguine, but it would be a pity to ‘Glide Over’ this opportunity !
And before leaving, my Congratulations to Pequod77 - for yet another. truly Enjoyable Winner in Verse !
Morrow Cummings over 9 years ago
WTG, PQ! I’ll bet you couldn’t do a bad poem if you tried! To me, and I am sure others, your poetic weekly recap fills in a lot of blanks! Bravo! I KNOW Stilldamatt understands the story better – thanks to you!
jrankin1959 over 9 years ago
The look in Agate Aggie’s eyes reads… complication.
abdullahbaba999 over 9 years ago
The artwork is excellent this week..
Pequod over 9 years ago
We see Tracy in repose and know it can’t last long. Bonnie’s innocent question seems certain to lead Tracy to the theatre and, thus, to Gruesome. Compared to Gertie, I suppose Aggie is easy on the eye, but it is all relative. As others have noted, the art is more highly stylized today. There is no end to what Mr. Staton can do, especially with such talented helpers. Seems like Tracy has trouble getting a little quality time with the newspaper, as family tends to butt in:
Thanks to VistaBill, Night-Gaunt49, Neil Wick, Gweedo, miqq1234, davidf42, Starman1948, Sydney Phillips, Morrow and Ray Toler for the kind words. Very much appreciated!
Ray Toler over 9 years ago
It does seem unusual to me that the play has progressed to the point of holding “dress rehearsals” and Gruesome has not yet met his co-stars.
This might be more realistic if this were a movie where actors are called to the set only for their own scenes. In movies and TV shows, it is possible even to perform a scene without ever meeting the other actor in the scene. Since it is film, his questions could have been filmed yesterday without you present, and your answers could have been filmed today without the other actor present. Edited together, the final scene appears that both actors are standing together in the same room at the same time having a conversation together—the magic of film.
But in a stage play, the actors all spend a great deal of time together. During rehearsals for a professional production, actors generally spend 8-hour days practicing with the Director and other Actors. Following each rehearsal, it is common for the Director to call all of the actors together for a meeting where general notes are given, timing problems are worked out, staging and blocking is perfected (Blocking is the general movement and positioning of actors on the stage. For example, if it is important for an actor to be standing by a window at a certain point in the play, he will be “blocked” to move to that position at an earlier point in the dialogue by the Director so that he will be in the correct position when necessary.), and Actors chat with each other concerning interpretation and pacing of the dialogue.
In a slapstick-style play such as Arsenic and Old Lace, it would also not be unusual to have a “fight choreographer” who works with the Actors on all of the physical fighting and extreme movement so that the slapstick can be performed in a controlled manner without the actors killing each other.
However, today’s strip basically serves the purpose of introducing a new character to the readers and teasing Tracy’s attendance at opening night. I understand that the exact details of how plays are rehearsed and performed are inconsequential to the thrust of the story and most people are not aware of these details anyway. Consequently, I am willing to accept this unlikely development. After all, Gruesome would not be the first actor in the cast you would warm up to if you were another actor. But being a professional in Show Business, I just found it a bit odd that Gruesome at dress rehearsal had not yet met his co-stars.
As to Sydney’s point: A.A. Stone could be both her maiden name and her stage name. Neither preclude that her married name is “Plenty.” There could still be hope for your theory.
seanyj over 9 years ago
Agate Aggie prettier than her sister Gravel Gertie. And have you guys noticed how the artwork on Sunday’s strip looks slightly different than it does Monday thru Saturday? Is there a different guy doing the drawings on Sundays?
Jonathan K. and the Elusive Dream Girl over 9 years ago
And Sam Sixkiller, if you include the Hall of Fame panel.
puddleglum1066 over 9 years ago
In a last minute change of venue, the play will actually open at the Science Museum…
Chris Sherlock over 9 years ago
So, Gravel Gertie’s sister is a ringer for Phyllis Diller?
Neil Wick over 9 years ago
Although, to really look like Phyllis Diller, she’d need her mouth open very wide. Here’s a picture for comparison (with her mouth barely open for once):
Jerryjohn52 over 9 years ago
I’m interested in the name of Sam Sixkiller. It seems like a name that a Native American would have used as an English translation. I’ve heard the name before as there was a college quarterback named Sonny Sixkiller in the early 1970s. He was trying out for the NFL but apparently did not make it. I suppose there’s no relation between the two.
negaduck9 over 9 years ago
Wow. Gruesome’s face is drastically distorted in today’s strip. I don’t think a different inker would change the outline of his face entirely and make it look as if he misplaced his dentures.
(In case this actually becomes visible—hi, been lurking here for years, finally decided to register.)
Pequod over 7 years ago
Otis sticks his beak in, demands some of the stash
Sans a Christmas bonus, the news will make a splash
That in the play at Patterson a criminal’s been cast
Otis needs to think again, lest soon he breathes his last.
A kiss for luck from Kandikane leaves Vitamin inspired
He mounts the stairs with gusto; feels grand to be desired.
His co-star, Agate Aggie, her face could stop a clock
Saucer-eyes of azure, white hair an unkempt shock.
Elsewhere, Tracy takes a breath, relaxes with the paper
Good to be with family, not working on a caper.
Bonnie glad to see her Dad relax to close the day
Suggests he check out Flintheart, who’s acting in a play.
Tickets left at Will Call greet Dick Tracy’s chiseled face
The attraction is a classic: Arsenic and Old Lace.
An evening out. Date-night with Tess. A fine way to unwind.
Yet, for Detective Tracy, the fates are seldom kind.