Fairy

THE SIMPSONS MOVIE Fox DVD / $29.99 John Cleese once said that after putting together the first Monty Python compilation film, And Now for Something Completely Different, the comedy team learned that an audience won't keep laughing past the 50-minute mark if it doesn't care for the characters or become involved in a story. But the writers and producers behind The Simpsons Movie didn't need a warm-up film to learn that lesson: They created a classic screwball comedy right off the bat. This 90-minute carnival of a film contains more thrills and laughs than any combination of clowns, creep shows and animal acts.

On her 7th birthday, Denni Haw was given a Cinderella watch and figurine that became the most cherished gift of her childhood. Nearly 30 years later, Denni couldn't pass up the chance to live out a fairy tale of her own making in a Cinderella-theme wedding.Like most modern fairy tales, Denni's Cinderella story has its own twists and turns.The fairy godmother who brought Denni and Norm Crouse Jr. together was not a kindly old woman armed with a magic wand. Norm -- though he is tall, dark and handsome and conveys a certain charm -- wasn't searching the kingdom of Baltimore looking for a wife.

Before Disney put "Beauty and the Beast" on the musical theater stage, the prolific British playwright Alan Ayckbourn had a go at it in an odd little musical called "Dreams From a Summer House," which is receiving its area premiere at Columbia's Rep Stage.Ayckbourn's approach, with serviceable music by John Pattison, is part British sitcom, part fairy tale, part romantic comedy and part musical. Because it tries to be so many things at once, it's probably not surprising that it doesn't excel at any of them.

Once upon a time, Ballet Theater of Annapolis couldn't decide whether to aim its spring program at children or adults.One year it would do a program for grown-ups; the next, a program just for younger audiences. Last year, it tried to do both: an adult program on Friday night and a family program of fairy-tale ballets on Saturday and Sunday."That got fuzzy and confused," says Executive Director Janet Morgan, "and we realized we were cannibalizing our own audience. People had to choose one or the other, or they had to come to both programs on the same weekend, which most weren't willing to do."

Almost as long as there have been animated films, there have been complaints that they fall short of the Disney Standard. Sure, "An American Tail" was OK, but it was no "Bambi." Yeah, "Anastasia" was enchanting, but it was no "Snow White." True, "American Pop" displayed a certain rhythm, but it was no "Fantasia."Which explains why DreamWorks is trying a new tactic with "The Prince of Egypt," the animated tale of Moses that opened nationwide Friday. Instead of inviting comparisons to the Disney classics of yore, studio co-founder (and former Disney executive)

The evil stepmother lounges on an impromptu "bed" of chairs, threatening: "All right, this wig is coming off in two seconds."Meanwhile, Cinderella can't find her broom. The Mitzvah Fairy is nudging Cinderella's "coach" -- a stuffed pink snake -- with her rubber boot. The prince is flexing his biceps for the benefit of a mouse. And someone is sitting on Cinderella's shaggy-dog slippers.Then the 11-year-old Claire Vogelstien snaps shut the clapboard and cries, "Action!" -- and the set grows quiet as rehearsal begins.

Mid-autumn night's dreams are visiting Larry O'Dwyer. Characters in novels are speaking to him. He's experiencing what it's like to be winged and omnipresent.In his youthful exuberance, the 65-year-old actor is considering getting a tattoo, if only he could settle on a design. It would complement the two earrings in his left ear.He owes these woozy distractions to Shakespeare, who is bringing O'Dwyer's inner imp to life. His animated eyes suggest behavior that could turn from sinister to freewheeling in seconds.

Diana, Princess of Wales, was only 10 days older than I. She was born July 1, 1961; I was born on the 11th. And I am writing this 10 days after she died. So I can count almost all the days she had on Earth, and seeing the dates 1961-1997 stops my heart short.We girls born in July that summer are made of strong stuff, but we're also awfully romantic souls at heart. The kind of girls who believe in fairy tales.And Diana, I know that life seemed to be just beginning a new brightening, and that death was the last thing on your mind.

VOGELSANG, Germany -- From the moment he first saw the little village castle with a "For Sale" sign on the front door and battlements looming against the sky, Hans-Rainer Schielke knew he had to have it.Never mind that it was damp and drafty, with falling plaster, rotting beams and peeling wallpaper. Never mind that a huge owl patrolled the dark attic like a fluttering spirit, or that the grounds were choked with weeds, or that the place seemed more dungeon than palace.Schielke, 43, looked and saw his future, as well as a bit of his past.

Don't look now, but fairies have been spotted on the north shore of the Severn River.Or, you could look closely and see they have been joined by nobles, star-crossed lovers, all manner of supernatural forest creatures and a hilarious thespian with a wondrous propensity for making a fool of himself.Of course, it's William Shakespeare's most colorful and delightful comedy, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" I'm referring to.And it will be presented by the Other Little Theatre at the Annapolis Naval Station Theater, 89 Bennion Road, at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays this week through May 4. A matinee will be given at 2 p.m. April 28.Paul Hussar plays the role of Oberon, ruler of the fairy kingdom.

Absinthe, legend has it, starred in the very first cocktail. Pale green, potent and deadly alluring, the drink in its day spawned a verb, a disease and, in Paris, its very own intoxicating time of day - L'heure Verte. To painters, poets and their imitators, absinthe became liquid muse, sipped, swirled and savored with passion until its ban a century ago. American importers and distillers, thirsty to revive a taste of the past, last year persuaded the government to end the 100-year prohibition.

THE SIMPSONS MOVIE Fox DVD / $29.99 John Cleese once said that after putting together the first Monty Python compilation film, And Now for Something Completely Different, the comedy team learned that an audience won't keep laughing past the 50-minute mark if it doesn't care for the characters or become involved in a story. But the writers and producers behind The Simpsons Movie didn't need a warm-up film to learn that lesson: They created a classic screwball comedy right off the bat. This 90-minute carnival of a film contains more thrills and laughs than any combination of clowns, creep shows and animal acts.

Enchanted will make some enchanted evening for the dating crowd and also be a boisterous Saturday matinee for youngsters. This tale of fairy-tale characters who tumble down a well in the storybook land of Andalasia and come rocketing up a manhole in New York's Times Square has a piquant idea and enough good jokes to overcome its uneven moviemaking and uncertain tone. Best of all, it has Amy Adams as the gorgeous maiden Giselle - and she carries the film gracefully and uproariously on her creamy shoulders.

At Linton Springs Elementary School, students rolled out the red carpet for a bunch of storybook characters. Snow White and Cinderella, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Little Red Riding Hood and, of course, her grandmother, made appearances, smiling and camera-ready. The fairy-tale legends arrived at the 2007 Granny Awards - named for the Little Red Riding Hood character impersonated by the infamous Wolf - to sing, dance, and, of course, take home one of those coveted gold statues. The ceremony, presented by the South Carroll school's fourth- and fifth-grade chorus Wednesday, served as their spring music program.

Today, Shrek The Third, another in a series of popular animation films, opens in theaters. What's your favorite fairy-tale movie and why? Please send your thoughts in a brief note with your name, city and daytime phone number (and Such a Critic in the memo field) to arts@baltsun.com. We will publish the best answers we receive.

While detangling her granddaughter's hair, the cookbook author began the transformation to writer of fairy tales. Bobbie Hinman of Bel Air has had seven cookbooks published in the past 23 years. But the former schoolteacher, who is a grandmother of 10, has moved from writing books with titles such as Lean and Luscious and The Meatless Gourmet to one called The Knot Fairy. After reading the fairy tale at preschools and book signings, Hinman has decided, "This really is much more fun to read than a cookbook.

Cirque du Soleil meets Shakespeare in the Baltimore Shakespeare Festival's charming outdoor staging of A Midsummer Night's Dream. Shakespeare's romantic comedy looks at love on three levels - in the ranks of the royals, among young people and in the fairy kingdom. In director Laura Hackman's breezy production, some of those fairies fly from the trees. A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM -- Through July 23 -- Evergreen House Meadow, 4545 N. Charles St. -- $25 -- 410-366-8596 or baltimoreshakespeare.

Maturity 80% of those 55 or older work Mature people, like almost everyone else, want to be actively involved in the work force: A recent study by the Urban Institute, a nonprofit organization in Washington, shows that almost 80 percent of people age 55 and older are in paid employment, volunteering or taking care of their families and those outside of their households. "These findings sharply contrast with the image of older Americans as unengaged adults living out their older years solely in pursuit of leisure and rest," report researchers Sheila Zedlewski and Simone Schaner.

Packing all the nostalgia that any family could wish, Ballet Theatre of Maryland's production of the classic Nutcracker ballet avoids being weighted down by familiarity, and instead seems remarkably fresh and free of any rote movement. The original choreography by Ballet Theatre Artistic Director Dianna Cuatto, which premiered last season, seems much-improved by adequate rehearsal that enabled her to perfect every scene danced by her professional troupe and well-prepared students. And, continuing a partnership that enters its third season, J. Ernest Green and the Annapolis Chamber Orchestra and Chorale add their talents at selected Nutcracker performances.

Kids may create fairies for contest Mark Roberts, creator of collectible fairies, Santas and elves, will hold his second Fairy Creation Contest in conjunction with his signing tour. He will be at Interior Concepts, 2560 Riva Road in Annapolis, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. today. During the signing, children are invited to enter the contest by coloring, embellishing, naming and creating the story behind a fairy of their imagination. The winning fairy will be created and sold in 2006 as the Healing Heart Fairy, furthering the Mark Roberts Healing Heart Charity Fairy Program.