Temporal Powers

Aidan Redmond and Rosie Benton star in Temporal Powers. A presentation by the Mint Theater Company of a play in three acts by Teresa Deevy. Directed by Jonathan Bank. Michael Donovan - Aidan Redmond Min Donovan - Rosie Benton Moses Barron - Eli James Lizzie Brennan - Wrenn Schmidt Daisy Barron - Fiana Toibin Ned Cooney - Con Horgan Maggie Cooney - Bairbre Dowling Jim Slattery - Paul Carlin Father O'Brien - Robertson CarricartThe Mint is obviously deeply committed to Teresa Deevy, a forgotten Irish playwright whose plays were a staple of the Abbey Theater in the early part of the 20th century. "Wife to James Whelan" was a big hit for the company last season and "Katie Roche," her most acclaimed work, is scheduled for production next year, as is the first of two volumes of her plays. Meanwhile, the rescue action continues apace with "Temporal Powers," Deevy's bleak but compelling 1932 drama about the moral dilemma that confounds an impoverished married couple when they come into some dirty money. Helmer Jonathan Banks, the Mint's gold-mining a.d., smartly directs to the rich language of this so-called "peasant play." Deevy has set the domestic conflict between Michael (a stoic saint, in Aidan Redmond's sensitive perf) and Min (given the old Irish-spitfire oomph by Rosie Benton) in a rural village in 1927, two years after the partition of Ireland. The newly divided nation was in the depths of an economic depression during this period between the wars, adding considerable poignancy to the earthy dialect spoken by an impoverished people isolated from half their countrymen -- and, indeed, from one another. An interesting program note from Amy Stoller, the company's dialect maven, tells us that the "denseness" of the colloquial English spoken in the play, with its unfamiliar sentence structure and poetic idioms, owes its music to the Gaelic tongue spoken in rural parts. More remarkable yet, this lyrical language was written by a woman who had been deaf since the age of twenty. "It is grand for the men can be passin' the time pleasant with work, but myself must stop without a word outer me" is Min's way of goading Michael after they are evicted from their home and forced to take shelter in an abandoned ruin (clean and cozy in Vicki R. Davis's romantic set rendering). "Will you stop quiet!" is Michael's equally colorful response to her nagging. But both thesps prove adept at hinting at the affection behind their squabbling, and when Michael finds a hidden wad of cash in their derelict hovel (the ill-gotten gains of a robbery, as it turns out), you'd think their troubles would be over. But Deevy uses this stroke of luck both to drive a wedge between husband and wife and to dramatize the broader moral conundrum faced by Ireland's poorest population in these hard times. Practical wife that she is, Min eagerly plans their escape from poverty, while Michael clings to the traditional ethics of his class and resolves to turn the money over to the local priest. "It was never in your heart to make money," Min rails at Michael. "Now, what worse thing could be said of any man?" Although it takes her three long acts to do it, Deevy manages to involve half the village in the couple's moral dilemma. It's a grand crowd, essentially good-hearted and comically opinionated, but so rubbed raw by poverty that it's hard to condemn them for selling out their communal values for a succulent potato. Banks has cast some stand-up thesps in these colorful roles, the kind of actors who know how to win sympathy for a character without playing to the house. Like their language -- and indeed, their ancient rural culture -- these characters were a dying breed when Deevy wrote about them. But this deaf scribe heard every word they had to say, and here, if only for a brief moment, she gives them back their voices.Set, Vicki R. Davis; costumes, Andrea Varga; lighting, Jeff Nellis; sound, Jane Shaw; properties, Joshua Yocom; dramaturgy, Heather J. Violanti; dialect and dramaturgy, Amy Stoller; production stage manager, Lisa McGinn. Opened Aug. 29, 2011. Reviewed Aug. 24. Running time: 2 HOURS, 20 MIN. Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

Chad Michael Murray to Return for One Tree Hill's Final Season

Chad Michael Murray Chad Michael Murray is returning to One Tree Hill for the ninth and final season, The CW announced on Monday. When viewers last saw Lucas Scott in Season 6, he and new wife Peyton (Hilarie Burton) and baby Sawyer hit the road to travel the world. Lucas returns to Tree Hill when his best friend Haley (Bethany Joy Galeotti) reaches out to him for help. Hilarie Burton on returning to One Tree Hill: "I'm never ever gonna say never" "The secrets out;) Im excited 2 say that 'Luke' will b reuniting with the amazing OTH cast, Producers & Crew 4 an ep! This is 4 u great fans," Murray, 30, tweeted. While Burton previously told us she'd "never say never" about returning to the CW series, it seems unlikely due to her role on White Collar. Why do you think Lucas will return? One Tree Hill returns to CW in January.

Transformers 3 Dark Of The Moon Watch Online Free

True Blood's Jessica Tuck to Guest-Star on Castle

Jessica Tuck True Blood's Jessica Tuck is stirring up trouble on the new season of Castle, TVGuide.com has confirmed. Tuck, who plays vampire-human liaison Nan Flanagan, will guest-star as a wealthy museum benefactor who becomes a suspect in a murder investigation, as TVLine.com first reported. Castle Scoop: The Killing star to come between Castle and Beckett? The Killing's Kristin Lehman also guest-stars in the same episode as a sexy art insurance investigator who joins Castle (Nathan Fillion) and Beckett (Stana Katic) on the investigation that involves the theft of a sculpture. She also sets her sights on Castle, much to Beckett's chagrin. Tuck, 48, is also known for her roles on One Life to Live, Days of Our Lives and, more recently, Super 8. Castle returns Monday, Sept. 19 at 10/9c on ABC.

'Blade Runner' Actor Joins Ryan Reynolds in 'RIPD' (Exclusive)

James Hong, the veteran Asian-American actor who has appeared in cult classics such as Blade Runner and Big Trouble in Little China and more recently did voicework Kung Fu Panda 2, has joined the cast of Universal's R.I.P.D., the supernatural action movie starring Ryan Reynolds and Jeff Bridges. The story centers on a murdered cop (Reynolds) who is recruited to work in the Rest inPeace Department, a police force comprised of ghosts who battle spiritsunready to depart this world. Hong will play "Grandpa Chen," Reynolds' avatar, the form humans see when Reynolds' character goes about his business. Marisa Miller just joined the cast as Bridges' avatar. Also in the cast of the Robert Schwentke-directed pic are Kevin Bacon, Mary-Louise Parker, and Stephanie Szostak. Hong, with a career dating back to the mid-1950s, has astoundingly appeared in over 500 movies and television roles and will next be seen in the Jason Statham action movie Safe. He is repped by Stage 9 Talent. Jeff Bridges Ryan Reynolds

New 'Sherlock Holmes' Photos Tease The 'Game Of Shadows'

Following the massive success from the first Guy Ritchie A Virtual Detective movie, Warner Bros. got directly on establishing a follow up, which eventually grew to become this Decembers A Virtual Detective: A Game Title of Shadows. The newest problem of Empire magazine features the flicks star Robert Downey, Junior. about the cover, but additionally boasts several photos from the shoot, together with a behind-the-moments consider the cast with Ritchie themself. Coming back in the first film are Downey, Junior. and Jude Law, who plays able partner Dr. John Watson. The film can also be offering figures in the original Arthur Conan Doyle tales, including Sherlocks brother Mycroft (performed by Stephen Fry) and legendary villain Professor Moriarty, who's being described by Mad Males actor Jared Harris. The development also features new figures, like Noomi Rapaces mysterious gypsy Sim. As seen at Empire Online, the very first photo shows three from the principal castmembers, Downey, Junior, Law and Rapace, sitting around a table together. As the image is somewhat mundane, it in all probability points toward the means by which new character Sim will renew the already compelling dynamic between Holmes and Watson. The 2nd photo is most likely the most popular, since it's a genuine behind-the-moments consider the production. Downey, Junior. and Law crowd around what we should assume to become a monitor to see footage with director Guy Ritchie. Finally, and more importantly, the final image provides for us a look at Jared Harris as Holmes arch enemy Professor Moriarty. Knowing in the scripts and pens in peoples hands, this is not a still in the movie, but our nerd-senses happen to be tingling thinking of the chess game between Moriarty and Holmes. If were lucky, maybe this scene is even occur the Diogenes Club Exactly what do you consider the brand new images from A Virtual Detective: A Game Title of Shadows? Are you able to place something that we may have skipped? Inform us within the comments below or on Twitter!

Hulu Bid Deadline Extended To Friday

First we heard last Friday, only then do we heard yesterday. The deadline for companies to create a bid within the auction for Hulu is Friday, with Yahoo, Google and Amazon . com among individuals searching carefully in the online streaming video service possessed by News Corp, Disney, Comcast and Providence Equity Partners. A resource told Reuters the extension ended up being to give potential purchasers additional time to complete their research with Hulu’s financials. Bids are required in the future up to $1.5 billion-$2 billion, but you will find still questions regarding whether that cost is going to be for the whole site or odds and ends, like its coveted license contracts with content companies.

Bronfman changes to chairman at WMG

Warner Group is shuffling a set of top executive roles, as former Boss Edgar Bronfman, Junior., continues to be named chairman from the board of company directors and ex-chairman Stephen F. Cooper continues to be chosen as WMG's Boss.Switch in responsibilities is available in the wake of Access Industries' purchase of WMG for $3.3 billion (Daily Variety, This summer 21).Bronfman described inside a statement, "Given my desire to pay attention to growth possibilities and Steve's extensive background in management across several companies and industries, Thx that Steve recognized the sale to alter roles and also to function as our Boss.I anticipate ongoing our effective partnership."Cooper is another person in the supervisory board of Lyondell/Basell Industries, the Nederlander petrochemical firm possessed by Access Industries, along with a controlling partner of equity firm Cooper Investment Partners.Furthermore, Thomas H. Lee, formerly a WMG board member, continues to be chosen like a new director of the organization, growing the board's size from nine to 10 people. Lee's private equity finance firm, Thomas H. Lee Capital, would be a partner within the 2004 acquisition of WMG from Time Warner.The background music firm also introduced Friday that Lyor Cohen and Cameron Strang would stay in place as chairman-Boss of recorded music and chairman-Boss of Warner/Chappell Music. Both males will report straight to Cooper. Contact the range newsroom at news@variety.com

Terminator Twitter Account Mistakenly Looking for 'Sarah Conner'

Looks like the Terminator has taken his dogged search for the mother of the future savior of mankind to the Twitterverse, where he’s going through every Sarah on Twitter, one by one. (That is, when he’s not telling the T-1000 to suck it in binary.) There’s just one problem: The social media-savvy T-800 is looking for “Sarah Conner,” not Sarah Connor. Oops! Proof he’ll become obsolete soon enough? [@111001001101010]

Under the Greenwood Tree

Young educated beauty Fancy Day comes to town to teach school and care for ailing father. Soon gossip around town turns to who Miss Day will marry. The lead contender is wealthy Mr. Shiner. Fancy however has also caught the attention of poor Dick Dewy and the Parson Maybold. Poor Fancy is also caught in the middle of a feud between the Parson and the former church choir when the Parson introduces a harmonium to provide the church music effectively usurping the choir and asks Fancy to play.

Yankovic to Comedy Central

Prepare to polka your eyes out: Comedy Central is set to distribute a concert film of "Weird Al" Yankovic's latest tour. " 'Weird Al' Yankovic Live! -- The Alocalypse Tour" will preem on Saturday, Oct. 1, with the net distributing an extended cut of the show on DVD and Blu-ray (via Paramount Home Entertainment) and download-to-own platforms on Oct. 4. "Alocalypse" is Yankovic's first studio album since 2006's "Straight Outta Lynwood." One cut off the novelty-song writer's new album, "Perform This Way," caused a stir when Yankovic was initially denied permission to parody the Lady Gaga track by a rep for the pop star. The spat was resolved amicably, and the song has been one of Yankovic's most popular. Contact Sam Thielman at sam.thielman@variety.com

Bai ma su che gou hun fan

Historically, eunuchs wielded a great deal of influence in ancient China. And in this story, power-mad Wang is no exception, conforming entirely to type. After Wang's desperate bid to gain the ruling upper hand, a band of warriors try to stop him (some with incriminating information against him), while others act as decoys. But what unites all of them is the fact that they're targets of Wang's evil "Bureau of Information."

Miyagishima dies at age 83

Takuo "Tak" Miyagishima, a pioneering lens designer for Panavision who became one of Hollywood's most esteemed technologists, died Thursday after a short illness. He was 83."Tak Miyagishima is probably the person most responsible for the birth of successful anamorphic cinematography, in other words, cinemascope," said Rob Hummel of Legend3D, who worked closely with Miyagishima for years. "He's one of the unsung heroes behind the scenes responsible for much of the incredible entertainment people experience around the world."Among his many innovations, he built a custom telephoto lens for "Lawrence of Arabia" that made possible the pic's famous shot of Omar Sharif emerging from the desert.Miyagishima won numerous awards over his long career, including a Fuji Gold Medal, an Emmy, the Academy's Bonner Medal and the Acad's Sawyer Award (an Oscar statuette).Earlier this year he was named one of the first three Academy Science Fellows, a new class of membership for technologists who had passed retirement age but still have knowledge and experience to share with the industry.As a boy he went to a school on Southern California's Terminal Island where almost all the students were children of immigrants. In the early 1950s he had difficulty finding a job, because he was Japanese-American. Panavision's Robert Gottschalk hired him off their first meeting and Miyagishima became one of the company's first employees, and the company remained his professional home for the rest of his life. He was still working as a consultant and coming in to the office daily until he took ill.He designed projector lenses for "scope" projection, which up to then had been known for distortion. "He did lenses that were flawless," said Hummel. He improved them so much he was shifted to designing camera lenses.In accepting his Oscar , Miyagishima looked back on his early life and reflected "For me to be standing before you, only in the United States could that happen," he said.He also quipped, "I hope they didn't give this to me just to get rid of me."The Acad had scheduled an Aug. 16 salute to Miyagishima's work. Typically shy and self-effacing, he asked not to be onstage, but to watch from the audience. The Acad has not cancelled the event pending consultation with the family. Contact David S. Cohen at david.cohen@variety.com

Cause and effect

HFPA prexy Dr. Aida Takla-O'Reilly stresses the org's commitment to helping underprivileged children. Beneficiaries of HFPA grantee Inner-City Filmmakers with, clockwise from top left, Sid Ganis, Roland Emmerich, Russell Carpenter and Jon Landau.When she was just 16 years old, Dr. Aida Takla-O'Reilly was Egypt's youngest female pilot. Today, she is the newly appointed president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn.A HFPA member since 1956, Takla-O'Reilly has great hopes for the non-profit and its impressive 17-year history of philanthropy.Through its annual grants program, HFPA has given, as of last year, more than $12 million to entertainment related orgs across the spectrum. The nonprofit has been a generous donor to causes ranging from preserving the culture and history of film to professional mentoring to promoting cultural exchange. This year's record-breaking tally is $1,579,500. The Film Foundation is the largest single beneficiary at $350,000, followed by the Sundance Institute's grant of $100,000. One of the causes dearest to Takla-O'Reilly: financial assistance to talented but underprivileged students. This year, HFPA will give a total of $120,000 to six grantees in such pre-professional training orgs as Inner-City Filmmakers, the Ghetto Film School and Los Angeles County High School for the Arts Foundation."We want to encourage anything that has to do with public schools, the arts and talented youth," says Takla-O'Reilly. "We've got to encourage talent. We have to put wind under the wings of these students so that they can excel."Due to massive and prolonged government cuts, public schools are struggling to fund arts programs of any kind at every grade level."Public schools are suffering because, unfortunately, for years the country was not paying attention to the liberal arts. We've got to support what the government has not supported for a long time," the HFPA topper says. Ali Sar is the org's newly appointed treasurer. "HFPA stands out in terms of contributing to the community," says Sar, who is the org's former chairman of the board. "We have, for the last few years, (raised) going up in excess of $1.5 million each year."The people who started the foundation had the foresight to give, not only to inner-city schools but also to major schools like UCLA." Newly elected VP and five-time prexy Jorge Camara concurs. "They all really need and appreciate our help. My desire would be to be even more generous to them."The HFPA is better known for its largesse to the cause of saving deteriorating films. It was during Camara's tenure that the Michael Powell-Emeric Pressburger 1948 classic "The Red Shoes" was restored."I love the idea that we contribute to film preservation and film restoration but I am really proudest of the grants that we give to young people to help them with their studies and scholarships," Camara says. "That is my personal pet."Serge Rakhlin, HFPA's recently elected executive secretary, would like to see an increase in grant amounts."It is very important for us, from an emotional and creative point of view, that we give much more money to promote young talent," he says. Looking toward the future, Rakhlin says "I deeply care about us being up-to-date for the digital era. This is one of my top priorities: for us not to miss the train on this new era of digital community."A former employee of Voice of America's Russian service, the secretary says, "When and if we have a foreign language part of our website, then I volunteer to participate in promoting HFPA in foreign languages -- to make people know why our decisions are interesting to film lovers all over the world."Another source of pride for Rakhlin is his role on the foreign film committee. "Unlike the Academy we have no limits for foreign film submissions," he says. "It is very important for me that no significant foreign film goes unnoticed." Another of Takla-O'Reilly's passions is the promotion of cultural exchange through film. Such programs include the efforts of FilmAid Intl., Latin American Cinemateca and American Cinematheque."I thought about minority images in film. I want to bring awareness to how sometimes information is tilted and affects the different minorities," she explains. "It is very important for me to heighten the awareness of the importance of different cultures and how to look at different cultures. Not judge them -- understand them. This is very dear to my heart." SHOWBIZ PHILANTHROPY LEADER REPORT 2011:Cause & effect | HFPA's showbiz gifts | Empathy artists Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

First Look at 'Twixt': Witches, Ghosts and Tom Waits

A movie trailer featuring ghosts, witches, murder, Val Kilmer and a Tom Waits voiceover sounds either awesome or a recipe for disaster. After watching the first footage from Francis Ford Coppola's 'Twixt,' we aren't really sure which way to go. 'Twixt' stars Kilmer as Hal Baltimore, a washed-up writer who travels to a small town, where he soon stumbles upon a decades-old mass murder mystery along with a wave of wooden-stake murders. Somehow, Edgar Allen Poe, dreams and ghosts work their way into the plot as well. It looks interesting (to say the least). Of course, Coppola has a habit of changing things up. He's directed comedies ('Jack'), war films ('Apocalypse Now') and mob flicks (something called 'The Godfather'), so 'Twixt' doesn't seem like that big of a surprise. Check out the trailer below and let us know what you think.

Barry Diller's IAC Pitching Jim Henson Co. Sitcom, Animated Series (Exclusive)