The Elephant in Dr. Longworth's Lab

[Gothick]

Hi all, had the show on briefly today.  Enjoyed the duelling beehive aspect (Bruno vs. Alexis--who had the biggest hair at Collinwood???)

I realize that as a gay man, I am prone to watch DS in a certain way, but I really found myself wondering--whatever the writer and director intended--whether David Selby, Lisa Richards and Chris Pennock had intended to play the scene in Cyrus' lab today where Cyrus "returns" and "explains" about his "working relationship" with Yeagar, as if Sabrina and Quentin suspected Cyrus of having had a sexual fling with Yeagar that the latter then chose to turn to his own nasty advantage.

Blackmail was a very real force in the typical male homosexual's life in the !960s.  Threats of blackmail, and dealing with the repercussions thereof, feature even in soft core porn novels written for the consumption of the nascent gay communities in the big cities (NYC, San Francisco, Boston, etc.) as well as the more literary productions of the period such as John Rechy's City of Night.

Quentin's expression throughout the scene looked as if he'd lifted a stone and found something foul--a common mainstream straight-male reaction to insinuations of homosexuality then as now.  And Sabrina looked as if she was ready to burst into tears at any moment (which is kind of Sabrina's default setting).  Although I thought Richards brought out an element of anger at one point that felt very real--it seemed as if the penny had dropped and Sabrina was thinking, "so, you neglect me for THIS?"

I know that the text was that Longworth had run into trouble getting illegal substances for his experiments or some similar underworld thing with Yeagar, but the SUBTEXT seemed to turn around "so this is Cyrus' dirty little secret."  I thought Pennock did a GREAT job with both roles today, as well.

I've always enjoyed the symbolism implicit in the names Yeagar and Longworth.  The latter clearly emphasizes the good doctor's unworldly, simplistic moralism.  Yeagar is another spelling of the German word Jaeger, which means "hunter."  Pennock's body language in the role suggests a half-wild beast of prey very much on the prowl.

On another note, poor Damian Edwards, trapped in the leisure suit from Hell for all eternity.  And Nicky thought Cassandra had it bad getting exorcised wearing a purple butterfly caftan.

Gothick

[CastleBee]

On another note, poor Damian Edwards, trapped in the leisure suit from Hell for all eternity.

LOL - too cruel!  Could this be another reason he's roaming the halls of Collinwood - hoping to find something more attractive in Quentin, Roger or even David's wardrobes ?

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[Eleanor_Rigby]

I've always read a lot more into DS storylines and characters than supposedly is there.  A lot of it went over my head when I was a kid but there were many times where my brows went up as I rewatched the episodes as an adult.  You might be right, Gothick ... but then again, maybe the story is the story and nothing more.   

[Dr. Eric Lang]

I have to agree that Pennock does some of his best work in this story line. Look for an upcoming scene in which Yaeger places a phone call to someone "pretending" to be Cyrus. He manages to nuance this performance as not quite Cyrus, not quite Yaeger, and it's quite fascinating. One of those moments when you are really impressed by the actor's ability to present something above and beyond what's in the script.

[Bob_the_Bartender]

Hey gang,

How about when Buffie Harrington came into Cyrus' lab (that looks suspiciouly like Count Petofi's former 1897 "digs" in the old mill) and, quite emphatically, informed Sabrina (a/k/a Ms. PT Wall Flower of Collinsport, ME of 1970) that, she, Ms. Harrington (looking every bit like Ms. PT "Congeniality" of Collinsport, ME of 1970, especially in that meretricious looking "metallic" blue coat of hers), wanted to "speak with Dr. Longworth alone"?

I'll bet that gave Sabrina some "food for thought," particularly after Cyrus' puzzling, spur-of-the-moment trip to Portland, to "consult" with some colleagues the night before!

I guess it's like what the Rev. Gregory Trask used to say, so often: "Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive!" (You may have heard both Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton invoke that famous Shakespearean quote frequently in the past.)

Bob the Bartender, who, like the late, great Jean Shepherd urges you all to always "think clean thoughts."

[Raineypark]

.........the late, great Jean Shepherd...

Ah, the genius story-teller of radio.    What I wouldn't give for a collection of his stories....especially anything that involved "The Old Man".

[LoveAtFirstBITE]

I realize that as a gay man, I am prone to watch DS in a certain way, but I really found myself wondering--whatever the writer and director intended--whether David Selby, Lisa Richards and Chris Pennock had intended to play the scene in Cyrus' lab today where Cyrus "returns" and "explains" about his "working relationship" with Yeagar, as if Sabrina and Quentin suspected Cyrus of having had a sexual fling with Yeagar that the latter then chose to turn to his own nasty advantage.

Quentin's expression throughout the scene looked as if he'd lifted a stone and found something foul--a common mainstream straight-male reaction to insinuations of homosexuality then as now.  And Sabrina looked as if she was ready to burst into tears at any moment (which is kind of Sabrina's default setting).

I know that the text was that Longworth had run into trouble getting illegal substances for his experiments or some similar underworld thing with Yeagar, but the SUBTEXT seemed to turn around "so this is Cyrus' dirty little secret."

You were not alone, Gothick!  That was exactly the feeling I got watching the scene, although it probably sounded silly at the time.