I also still owe Bob Elisberg a lunch but that's not the reason I'm going to link to his latest column. But before you click over there, try to guess who it's about. It's called "The Stupidest Man in America."
Down at Epcot in Florida, there's a great attraction called "Journey Into Imagination" that is much loved by visitors. It opened in 1983 and like many facets of the Disney theme parks, it's been through a couple of incarnations and revamps over the years. Before '99, its star was a colorful gent named the Dreamfinder who celebrated the wonders of human imagination and taught his little friend, Figment.
I've seen films of the Dreamfinder but by the time I first went to Epcot, he was gone. He was ousted in 1999 when the show was retooled and his replacement was a character named Dr. Nigel Channing, who was voiced by Eric Idle. In 2002, the show was refurbished again, this time playing up Figment's role. (Figment's voice was by now assumed by Muppeteer Supreme Dave Goelz, who took over the role from the late Billy Barty.)
For years, theme park buffs have pilloried and petitioned the Disney organization to bring back the Dreamfinder. He was a much-loved character who combined the whimsy of The Wizard of Oz (as per the movie version) with the boundless spirit of the man who provided the Dreamfinder's voice, Chuck McCann.
You've seen me mention my pal Chuck here many times but I don't think I've made clear what a truly astounding, gifted individual he is. Chuck is an actor and a writer and a puppeteer and a director and to just be around him is to feel the magic. He truly is the Dreamfinder, and I don't mean just because he did the voice. I mean he really is that character, and everything that was wonderful about it is something that is wonderful about Chuck.
Rumor has it that all the lobbying by the fans has not been without its impact; that a new version of "Journey Into Imagination" is being considered and that in it, the Dreamfinder will return to his natural habitat. Here's an article from 2006 and we're now hearing a new flurry of reports. What we're ominously not hearing is that someone there has the good sense to get Chuck McCann back to breathe more life into the character he birthed.
So this is a Call To Arms for all the Disney/theme park intelligentsia out there: Let's keep up the pressure and enthusiasm to bring back the Dreamfinder...but let's add in the fact that we don't want a new, "improved," reinvented Dreamfinder. We want the one that millions of Epcot visitors loved for all those years, the one with the voice and soul of Chuck McCann.
Please post this cry (and maybe this message or a link to it) on all the Disney Theme Park blogs and forums, and let's make some noise. We Want Chuck! We Want Chuck! And also, let's make sure they keep Dave Goelz as Figment because he's another brilliantly-talented friend of mine and he reads this blog and I owe him a lunch. Thank you.
BBC Radio 4 just did a nice documentary on Mel Blanc. It runs about a half hour and at the moment, you can listen to it at this link. Don't dawdle because BBC radio links sometimes go away. Thanks to Neil Gaiman for sending me the alert on this one. Like he doesn't have better things to do with his time.
Nathan Lane's final performance in the play November (I discussed it here) will be July 13 so if you're anywhere near Broadway before then, that's the time to go see that one. Previews started on December 20 and the play opened January 17.
The producers haven't yet announced if they'll bring in a new star or close the play down. I'm guessing the latter since last week, Playbill reported attendance was at 49.5%. If you have Nathan Lane and good reviews and you're only selling half your seats, what kind of business will you do with your second choice?
You might get a kick in the box office from the Tony Awards. They're June 15 and it's not unlikely November will win a couple...but the most likely is for Nathan and he's leaving. So the show probably will, too.
Speaking of the Tony Awards, it's been announced that Whoopi Goldberg will be the host this year. Anyone have any theories regarding that pick? We can all name types of people who need some extra encouragement to watch the Tonys...but can you name one kind who'd say, "Oh, we have to watch the Tony Awards. Whoopi's hosting!"?
May 11, 2008
