Newsgroup: it.cultura.linguistica.inglese
Titolo: Schlag, Shtick & Schlock

No, it's not a comedian trio, or a lawyer's firm.
 
 
ï¿œBut if the shtick is mostly schlock, at least the visuals are
stylish.ï¿œ
 
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/02/arts/music/die-fledermaus-at-the-met-via-douglas-carter-beane.html
 
 
 
Che vuol dire?
 
 
Understanding that article is hard for me. Too much jargon and
rare words.
 
 
-- 
The difference between a Miracle and a Fact is exactly the
difference between a mermaid and a seal.
    -- Mark Twain
 

 rare words.
 
The article is basically panning the production. A 'pan' is a 
derogatory review: the writer isn't thrilled with the opera. (I won't 
be thrilled, either. I'm hearing it on Saturday, but I'm tempted to 
blow it off [not go] because it's in English and I detest 
English-language operas.)
 
The line you cited means "if the 'piece' (the opera) is mostly 
inferior, at least the visuals (the costumes) are stylish." It's a poor 
attempt at throwing a bone (giving a slight, if mock, compliment) to 
the company.
 
Shtick is a theater piece, (literally 'piece,') an act, or a comic 
routine. Shlock, or schlock, is inferior goods, something made of 
shoddy materials. Shlock is related to German 'Schlag,' whipped cream, 
hence that reference in the title of the article, a play on words.
 
Both those words are Yiddish, a language which is rife in New York 
City, frequently identifiable by the 'sh' or 'sch-' prefix. The 
spelling is arbitrary, as Yiddish uses a form of the Hebrew alphabet 
characters.
 
I apologize if I'm preachng to the choir (telling people things they 
already know) but since you asked...
 
And now I'll go back to sipping my Martini.
 
-- 
JoeWolfDee
 

 And now I'll go back to sipping my Martini.
 
Clearly I've had one too many Martinis already. That word should be 
'preaching.'
 
-- 
JoeWolfDee
 

Joe Wolf Dee, 00:30, gioved� 2 gennaio 2014:

I drank no Martinis so I didn't see your error.
 
 
-- 
"One martini is all right. Two are too many, and three are not
enough."
                -- James Thurber 
 

 
 
That is strange. I could swear that word appeared as "peaching," when I 
looked at the post afterward.
 
I guess I'll keep drinking Martinis, then.
 
-- 
JoeWolfDee
 

Joe Wolf Dee, 00:03, gioved� 2 gennaio 2014:

It's aired now on Radio3 RAI.
 
 
-- 
"Sharks were infesting the area, & one of them was a
non-swimmer."
                -- Exam howlers as noted by Eric W. N. Smith
 

 It's aired now on Radio3 RAI.
 
Did you listen? What did you think?
 
-- 
JoeWolfDee
 

 Did you listen? What did you think?
 
 
I listened it as background music.
 
A few listeners appreciated, others didn't.
 
There was an American "correspondent" interviewd by the radio
conductor (right word?) between the acts but I wasn't paying
much attention.
 
I heard that the audience laughed out loud (LOLled) several
times.
 
A part the language, it seems that the stage director (right
word?) "americanized" something to make the show more modern
rather than philological.
 
Sorry, I cannot say more and better about it.
 
Anyway Strauss is a great composer, no doubt.
 
 
-- 
Just as I cannot remember any time when I could not read and
write, I cannot remember any time when I did not exercise my
imagination in daydreams about women.
    -- G.B. Shaw
 

 Anyway Strauss is a great composer, no doubt.
 
Indeed.
 
-- 
JoeWolfDee
 

 classics.
 
 
They have to fill the theatre...
 
 
-- 
"Chi disputa allegando l'autorit�, non adopra lo 'ngegno, ma pi�
tosto la memoria."
                -- Leonardo da Vinci
 

 Were you listening it too?
 
Not that time, but most likely it was the same recording they aired 
here. He's a regular fixture of the local Saturday afternoon opera 
broadcasts.
 
-- 
JoeWolfDee