I attended a performance of Take Me Out at Studio Theatre recently. It was a thoroughly delightful show (with or without the cute, nekkid guys), funny and touching. It's not often that I'm thinking as the cast is leaving the stage "No! Come back! I'm not done applauding!"
And while I loved the show enough that I'll probably buy the script, one of my favorite moments had nothing to do with baseball, the many levels of men's relationships, nekkid guys, loyalty, or embracing diversity. Well, unless the diversity we're talking about embracing is the inclusion of 19th century word geeks in so-called normal society. Because it's possible that I'm the only person in the audience who appreciated this exchange:
A: Are you fleering at me?
B: Fleering? Why do you always talk like you live a hundred years ago?
The only other place that I have encountered the word "fleer" is in Patience:
(Chorus of Dragoons) ~
Now is not this ridiculous, and is not this preposterous?
A thorough-paced absurdity - explain it if you can.
Instead of rushing eagerly to cherish us and foster us,
They all prefer this melancholy literary man.
Instead of slyly peering at us,
Casting looks endearing at us,
Blushing at us, flushing at us, flirting with a fan;
They're actually sneering at us, fleering at us, jeering at us!
Pretty sort of treatment for a military man!
They're actually sneering at us, fleering at us, jeering at us!
Pretty sort of treatment for a military man!
And in case you were wondering, perhaps not having had the advantages of a G&S education:
(flîr)
intr.v. fleered, fleer·ing, fleers
To smirk or laugh in contempt or derision.
n. A taunting, scoffing, or derisive look or gibe.
[Middle English flerien, of Scandinavian origin.]
fleering·ly adv.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Oh, a clever bit of wordplay from Greenberg. Fleer, as any 10-year-old (or Google) will remind you, is a trademark for a line of baseball trading cards.
Post a Comment