Alfie

Things have changed since 1966, and Charles Shyer's remake of Alfie reminds us of just how much. The movie that introduced Michael Caine as a Cockney womanizer at the dawn of the Playboy era played like a warning label on the sexual revolution. Compared with the original, the new Alfie, which stars twinkly eyed Jude Law as a British limo driver in Manhattan, is a bright gumball skittering across a marble floor. We're meant to attribute the remake's decidedly chirpier, breezier tone to feminism and the all-around social progress of the intervening four decades.

In the course of a year, English actor Alfie Allen, 25, has gone from being best known as pop singerLily Allen's little brother to one of the main actors on the HBO hit show,"Game of Thrones. " Playing the hero-turned-villain Theon Greyjoy, Allen has won acclaim for his complex portrayal of a conflicted young man. In this interview, he talks about fitness, his career, awkward beheadings and why he thinks Daenerys Targaryen will eventually capture the Iron Throne. LB: Hey, Alfie, I'm driving so this is going to be on speakerphone.

Has any other movie actor sustained a busy and diverse career as well as Michael Caine? Gene Hackman and Samuel L. Jackson must be the only other contenders. At age 69, Caine has made more than 130 major movie and TV appearances (not counting guest spots like his cameos on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In). More important, he has managed to pull off the feat of becoming at once an identifiable star whose name alone evokes a Cockney cool and a versatile character actor. As he swings from the extremes of colorful surrogate-fatherhood in The Cider House Rules (1999)

English actor Christopher “Kit” Harington, 25, has gone from a virtual unknown to international heartthrob in the course of a year, due to his role as Jon Snow on the HBO hit show “Game of Thrones.” In this Q&A, he talks about power, the rain in Northern Ireland, and how he dislikes the show being called “The Sopranos of Middle Earth.” Had you read the books before you were cast in the show? I hadn't read the books. I got this pilot, though, and I read it. I knew it was HBO, so I knew it would be of a certain quality.

A Man of No Importance might be of importance historically for Bay Theatre Company: This is its first full-fledged musical, and the skilled cast of 11 transports us to 1960s Ireland to remind us of the value of art in everyday life and the need to express love. The 2002 Terrence McNally, Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens musical is based on a 1994 movie of the same title. Under company co-founder and artistic director Lucinda Merry-Browne, music director Anita O'Connor with the assistance of choreographer Jen Kohlhafer, the cast brings the story and 20-song score to life.

Bay Theatre Company opens A Man of No Importance today, the second musical in the troupe's four-year history. The reasons, said company co-founder and artistic director Lucinda Merry-Browne: The cost is significantly higher than the typical show's budget of $20,000 to $30,000, and the 11-member cast is as big as the stage can comfortably accommodate. However, this show was irresistible. "This is a beautiful, uplifting show celebrating love in all forms with 24 lilting musical numbers brought to life by music director Anita O'Connor and choreographer Jen Kohlhafer," Merry-Browne said.

On May 2, 2006, OSCAR L. "Otts" SCHAFER, SR., darling husband of Alfie Schafer; loving father of Doris Ann, Stephanie, Denise, Lee, Susan, Dereen, Mark and Diana; loving grandfather of nine grandchildren; devoted brother of Doris Thomas. Also survived by two nieces and many loving friends. Relatives and friends are invited to call SCHIMUNEK FUNERAL HOME, INC., 9705 Belair Road (Perry Hall) on Thursday, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 where Funeral Services will be held Friday, at 11am. Interment will follow at Gardens of Faith Memorial Gardens.

The Washington Capitals assigned two players -- goalie Olaf Kolzig and center Rob Murray -- to the Baltimore Skipjacks yesterday.Kolzig was called up by Washington Wednesday as a backup to Don Beaupre when goalie Mike Liut suffered a groin injury. Liut is ready to play, and Kolzig was expendable.Murray was sent to Baltimore on a two-week reconditioning assignment. He had no goals and three assists in 17 games for the Capitals.Both are expected to be in uniform when the Skipjacks play the Hershey Bears at the Baltimore Arena tonight.

VS. CAPE BRETON OILERS* WHEN: Tonight, 6:30.* WHERE: Centre 200, Sydney, Nova Scotia.* RADIO: WLIF-AM 1300.* OUTLOOK: The Skipjacks are trying to slowly turn around their 10-game road trip after going winless in the first four. Despite getting their first win in a week Sunday in Moncton, the Jacks remain in first place in the Southern Division, one point ahead of Utica, which has played on extra game. Alfie Turcotte remains the team's leading scorer with six goals and 16 assists but Bob Joyce has been the team's most consistent two-way player on the trip, which includes a stop in Halifax tomorrow.

VS. PENGUINS* WHEN: Tonight, 7:35.* WHERE: Pittsburgh Civic Arena.* TV & RADIO: Ch. 20; WCAO-AM 600.* OUTLOOK: Despite a multitude of injuries to key players, the Caps (15-14-0) have won three of four and six of eight. Tonight the team will be without Neil Sheehy, Dino Ciccarelli, Peter Zezel, Dave Tippett and Jim Hrivnak. Don Beaupre will start in goal and banged-up Mike Liut will back up. Filling in on offense will be the Skipjacks' two top scorers, Alfie Turcotte and Steve Maltais. The Penguins (12-13-2)

A Man of No Importance might be of importance historically for Bay Theatre Company: This is its first full-fledged musical, and the skilled cast of 11 transports us to 1960s Ireland to remind us of the value of art in everyday life and the need to express love. The 2002 Terrence McNally, Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens musical is based on a 1994 movie of the same title. Under company co-founder and artistic director Lucinda Merry-Browne, music director Anita O'Connor with the assistance of choreographer Jen Kohlhafer, the cast brings the story and 20-song score to life.

Bay Theatre Company opens A Man of No Importance today, the second musical in the troupe's four-year history. The reasons, said company co-founder and artistic director Lucinda Merry-Browne: The cost is significantly higher than the typical show's budget of $20,000 to $30,000, and the 11-member cast is as big as the stage can comfortably accommodate. However, this show was irresistible. "This is a beautiful, uplifting show celebrating love in all forms with 24 lilting musical numbers brought to life by music director Anita O'Connor and choreographer Jen Kohlhafer," Merry-Browne said.

Lights! Camera! Fiction! The Movie Lover's Guide to Writing a Novel Alfie Thompson Running Press / 254 pages / $12.95 There is a great scene in the movie Adaptation in which the character Donald Kaufman drones on about the unbreakable rules of screenwriting to his twin brother, Charlie Kaufman, a brilliant iconoclast who can't disguise his revulsion. One thinks of that film often when reading Lights! Camera! Fiction! The Movie Lover's Guide to Writing a Novel. Alfie Thompson's advice book teaches fledgling fiction writers how to structure a narrative by scrutinizing the screenplays of successful films.

It's been a great month so far for party-going performing arts devotees with gala fundraisers for Ballet Theatre of Maryland that took place June 7 and another for Bay Theatre Company on June 10. Annapolis might now qualify as a cultural center on the basis of about 100 different arts supporters attending each event last week where both parties offered their own distinctive flavor. The Bay Theatre folks know how to throw a great party to announce their coming season and celebrate their past.

On May 2, 2006, OSCAR L. "Otts" SCHAFER, SR., darling husband of Alfie Schafer; loving father of Doris Ann, Stephanie, Denise, Lee, Susan, Dereen, Mark and Diana; loving grandfather of nine grandchildren; devoted brother of Doris Thomas. Also survived by two nieces and many loving friends. Relatives and friends are invited to call SCHIMUNEK FUNERAL HOME, INC., 9705 Belair Road (Perry Hall) on Thursday, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 where Funeral Services will be held Friday, at 11am. Interment will follow at Gardens of Faith Memorial Gardens.

On May 20, 2005, ALFRED "Alfie" H. CADDEN, devoted father of Mark H. and Jennifer A. Cadden, beloved brother of Bill MCDona, Mike and Charles Cadden, Chrissy Nightengale, Mary Le May and the late Jimmy Mc Donna and Anna Woods, also survived by the mother of his children, Patricia A. Boulware, and many other loving relatives and friends. Christian Wake Service at the Charles L. Stevens Funeral Home Inc., 1501 E. Fort Ave., Locust Point, MD, on Tuesday at 4 P.M. Mass of Christian Burial at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, on Wednesday at 9 A.M. Interment will be private.

Things have changed since 1966, and Charles Shyer's remake of Alfie reminds us of just how much. The movie that introduced Michael Caine as a Cockney womanizer at the dawn of the Playboy era played like a warning label on the sexual revolution. Compared with the original, the new Alfie, which stars twinkly eyed Jude Law as a British limo driver in Manhattan, is a bright gumball skittering across a marble floor. We're meant to attribute the remake's decidedly chirpier, breezier tone to feminism and the all-around social progress of the intervening four decades.