Klarinet Archive - Posting 000072.txt from 2002/11

From: LeliaLoban@-----.com
Subj: [kl] First Squidward, now Monk
Date: Fri, 1 Nov 2002 18:55:42 -0500

Bill Wright wrote,
>Okay, but I want to say that the episode is especially interesting
>(to me) because of the clarinet/guitar/voice at the episode's conclusion.
[snip]
>Also, in your role as movie critic, the episode's music is a superior
>blend of comedy and.... pathos ??

I like that about the series generally. The writers are doing a pretty good
job of keeping the series funny without asking the audience to laugh *at* the
funny nut case. That's as ugly as laughing at someone in a wheelchair. I
wish the plots were more complex; but the writers seem to be laughing *with*
the character, who has (up to a point) a sense of humor about himself and who
manages to live a productive life despite a severe handicap. Tony Shaloub
makes Monk so endearing that he might even become a role model for the
employable mentally ill. I also like it that the top cop is an intelligent,
thoughtful man, not the butt- headed goon that comic detectives usually have
to deal with. Still, there've been an awful lot of detective heroes with
gimmicks (Ironside in his wheelchair; Columbo in his crumpled raincoat; the
blind detective with his cane; Hercule Poirot weeth zee French accent zo
stageee; Miss Marple the old lady detective; Jessica whatshername the mystery
writer detective, etc. etc.). People will get tired of this series fast if
Monk continues to be defined primarily by his illness.

>Monk's body language as he tries to resolve the conflict (between
>wanting to play with Willie vs. putting the 'germ laden' mouthpiece
>in his mouth) is a gut-buster. But at the end, Monk plays..... well,
>I won't spoil it.

It does say something about the image of the clarinet and clarinet players
that the writers choose that instrument for an obsessive-compulsive
character--! I'll be sure to tape the episode next time it airs. You
described some faults in the looping, but does it look as though Tony Shaloub
knows how to play the clarinet, or is he competely faking it?

Lelia

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