Flanfire

Finding Neverland -- Perhaps the first time in a long time at least that we have gone to a "sneak preview" - and well well worth the visit to the theater. Finding Neverland is the story of J. M. Barrie and the discovery of Peter Pan as he gave of his own life to a widow and her four sons. That giving to a family is desperate spiritual shape cost him dearly but won us all one of the most delightful stories ever told. It is not important whether the story is true to the facts, because we get the message. The sad thing is that Barrie's wife was so self-centered that she could not share in the joy of giving out of one's own need to be a blessing to those truly needy. Johnny Depp's next movie will be Charlie and the Chocolate Factory -- and Charlie will be played by the young man who plays Peter in this movie. One can hardly wait till next July -- and the good news is that Gene Wilder's portrayal as Willie Wonka will not be challenged in the upcoming film, which is truer to the original story. Depp is a great artist, and yet I wonder if even he realized that his Barrie role was a portrayal of godly behavior --doing the right thing without regard to scandal and without regard to the personal cost.

Saturday night we went up to Round Rock to Saradora's - a great coffeehouse in a building chock full of Texas history (at least the history of the legendary Sam Bass). There we heard Seth and Brennen Leigh [Hulbert] and some of their friends (Leo Rondeau opened). Brennen keeps writing new songs - and the best thing is she is playing more guitar so that Seth (in these duos) can play more guitar leads. It is good to see these two beginning to mature as artists. Oh, BTW, their folks were in town for the gig - all the way from western Minnesota.

Today a pal of mine from the Washington, DC, area said he had taken a German friend of his to see Slaid Cleaves - and they were wowzered out of the small club into nirvana. Ivan Brown was "on" bass, and I do not know who all else was in the band this trip -- but I was glad to see my pals enjoying one of Austin's finest.