what does the terms " MOCK Surveilence" and " The One and Only Showstopper" mean?

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Request for Question Clarification by politicalguru-ga on 21 Sep 2002 15:06 PDT

Is it in an article about - or relating - to arts? Where did you find it?

All From Dictionary.com 
http://www.dictionary.com/search?q=showstopper

Mock = 
"To mimic, as in sport or derision. See Synonyms at ridicule. 
To imitate; counterfeit. "

surveillance = 
"Close observation of a person or group, especially one under
suspicion.
The act of observing or the condition of being observed. "

showstopper = 
"A performance or performer that evokes so much applause from the
audience that the show is temporarily interrupted.
A particularly arresting person or thing, especially one that draws
attention away from others or brings a course of action to a halt. "

Just to add to browolf's answer: "mock surveillance" devices look like
the real thing, but aren't.  They look like security cameras (for
instance) and so may deter unsocial or antisocial behavior, but they
do not work, do not record...

As examples, see the use in "The New McCarthyism" at
<http://www.progressive.org/0901/roth0102.html>, or "Performance
Anxiety" at <http://www.mcachicago.org/MCA/exhibit/past/anxiety/scher.html>

Your other phrase, the one and only showstopper sounds like a carping
criticism; the really successful stage shows have lots of numbers
which literally stop the show, bring the audience to its feet (?)
calling for encores and not letting the actors continue for the time
being.  I am thinking of musical shows, but the same applies to comedy
routines and other acts of virtuoso performance: the show cannot go on
until the audience settles down again.  But a show with only one
showstopper isn't in that class.

But how to tie the two phrases together?  Politicalguru asked for more
information, and unless you can provide it your question may be
difficult to answer.

Does this get you any closer?

Best, read2live