The blog of Richard Thompson, caricaturist, creator of "Cul de Sac," and winner of the 2011 Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Today's Cul de Sac, December 20 & 21, 2010

 So this time I thought we'd view the audience instead of the Holiday Concert, and just to heighten the drama I threw in whatsername from way back when.
First let me just say that I'm a big fan of the contrabassoon. It sounds like nothing else and adds a growly undertow to some of my favorite orchestral pieces and it's physically imposing. Most instruments are evolved, not planned, and the cb is one of the more exotic developments. But you know, it does go urngk urngk.

9 comments:

Roto13 said...

I like the little bonding moment between Alice and Sofie. Very cute.

SCOTTtheBADGER said...

Ah, but only the Sousaphone can imitate a truck's airhorns!

Dale said...

It does indeed. Merry Christmas, Richard, and thank you for all the unexpected moments of delight, the sudden snorts of laughter while standing by the toaster!

Lew Lipnick said...

I am a longtime fan of Cul de Sac. I am also the contrabassoonist in the National Symphony, and almost feel off my chair yesterday when I read Cul de Sac (and again today) when I saw you include the contra! You were really too kind in your tonal description of what is essentially a fancy plumbing fixture. My NSO colleagues would probably suggest a more colorful description of the sounds that often emanate from this instrument, but those would not be appropriate for mixed company.

paul bowman said...

This is just magical. All I want to say.

paul bowman said...

Woops, except Merry Christmas also!

Unknown said...

I am a middle school band teacher and my "main" instrument is bassoon. In college I thought myself lucky when I was selected to play contrabassoon and I've loved the instrument since then. It is a tough instrument to play, and it is almost as tall as me. I LOVE that you have an elementary school student playing it in beginning band! (Good drawing of it too!) Thanks for all of the times you've included the double reeds in Cul De Sac! You are my hero.

Kid Shay said...

That is some fierce crosshatching going on in the final two panels of the first strip. You're really ending the year with a bang!

David R said...

Hi Richard,

Got my 2011 page a day calendar. I'm all set for the new year.