h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Just got back from the theatre. Well - the local hall. They seem to put on more and more farces. I know the girl who does the bookings and she says that the majority want that sort of thing - they need something to laugh at if they go out in the evening after a day of drudgery at work or at home.

Whatever. It was funny. Even my husband laughed. The original title in the English is "Lend me a Tenor". Sounds very English, but the author, Ken Ludwig, is an American. The real tenor in the play was played by a famous German TV star, but all the others were names not familiar to the general public. The chap who played Max looked a bit like Charlie Sheen. According to various internet sites, he is also from a family of actors. He certainly had brilliant timing and great physical comedy.

It was flippin' cold out though. Snow is forecast soon. I hope it won't be snowing when I fly to the UK the weekend after next.

What was the German title? Was it a pun, too?

[Amy P]

If it gets much colder here tonight... and the clouds keep rolling in... we'll have snow by daylight! Laughs are always good, in theature or (as it is moreoften for me), listening to comedy on the wireless (sorry, I mean radio)...

The German title wasn't a pun. Well, perhaps it was in a different way: "Othello darf nicht platzen". It could be taken to mean

"The show (Othello the opera) must go on" or

"Othello (the protagonist) mustn't burst" - At the beginning he had had rather a lot to eat and, although he was due to go to a rehearsal he preferred to sleep his three lunches off.