Todd Bell-Michael

[kport]

I entirely agree. That is how it has always worked at London, and on the Tour. But.....there is not always a 'board' at regionals................hence the 'system' has had to be adapted to suit. Somehow it worked on a recent regional, but it was never as accurate (in the first instance) as 'the board'. It has to rely upon first hand witnesses, which meant that confirmation was not always made, or if made was made long after the show began or even ended. My point is this: the system of recording cast members at shows is going to become more challenging, as regionals proliferate, and gaps may become more prevalent unless we do our best to relay such matters as and when we can.

[Todd]

Here is an article from a Cumbrian news source:

http://www.cumbriacrack.com/2014/09/15/ ... t-musical/

Gotta be excited about the first-ever Todd to join the cast !

Interesting name of the Cumbria news source . . .almost sounds like someone's pulling our leg with that one.

[kport]

Interesting name of the Cumbria news source . . .almost sounds like someone's pulling our leg with that one.

A perfectly legitimate word for 'news', very commonly used in Ireland':
   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craic

I believe the colloquial greetings 'What's cracking?' and 'What's crackalackin'?' come from the same term, meaning 'What's up?' or 'What's happening?' ('What's the news here?').

[ERinVA]

Here's Todd's Broadway World announcement:

http://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/ar ... T-20140915

[kport]

Here is a nice article from a local news source:

http://www.in-cumbria.com/todd-makes-we ... -1.1162728#

[kport]

I believe the colloquial greetings 'What's cracking?' and 'What's crackalackin'?' come from the same term, meaning 'What's up?' or 'What's happening?' ('What's the news here?').

I've lived in England all my life, regularly visit Wales and Scotland with occasional trips to Ireland and I have never come across either of those terms.

    "What's the crack?" yes, but that term has exactly the same meaning as the name of the news site questioned above.

    Those 'greetings' must be American I assume?

I have Northern Ireland friends who use both terms. And, growing up, I heard both used in South Boston (I grew up nearby, and had friends who lived there). South Boston (a.k.a 'Southie') is about as Irish as is any place in Ireland, North or South.

[ERinVA]

But Whitehaven is in Cumbria, England, not Ireland, so, based on what you have said, I guess those phrases are more Irish than English.

[kport]

Whitehaven is about as close to Northern Ireland as any spot on mainland England. The movement of families between northern England/Scotland/Ireland over the past few centuries has been immense.

I did a little research on the surname 'Elliot'; it is of Breton origin, but became settled in Scotland before migrating to England. Those of us with surnames from the British Isles can trace an interesting migration throughout the isles - and inevitably to the US/Canada/Australia.

The whole study of surnames/clans/family crests/accents/history across the UK could make for an entire degree course at any university; the point is not the past, but how people today view their heritage.

Returning to the point of this thread, Whitehaven (Todd's home town) will inevitably have Irish and Scottish influences in it, if only in phraseology and custom. I doubt it is much affected by Surrey, Kent or Dorset.

Just ask the Scots, who live 50 miles north of Whitehaven, for their opinion on this matter. Geography is a powerful influence upon local customs.

Meanwhile, congratulations to Todd on his first performances!

[patc]

I guess those phrases are more Irish than English.

Let's be clear on one thing. In Ireland it is solely "craic". If it's spelt "crack" it has nothing whatever to do with us. So the phrases 'What's cracking?' and 'What's crackalackin'?' are not to be associated with Ireland. I've never heard either of them spoken here anyway.

The main usages of "craic" can be condensed into two. As a way of replying to a question on how you got on at an event "it was great craic" (great fun) or, as a means of persuading you to go along "Ah, sure it'll be great craic". In a slightly lesser way people coming across a situation might ask "What's the craic?" (What's going on?)

I look forward to seeing Todd's Michael. I know it'll be great craic .

Pat

[ERinVA]

It really is time to get back to Todd at this point, isn't it? I do hope you get to see him soon, patc.