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Monday, March 18, 2024

A Sophomore Novel That Reads Like A Debut!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


                                      The quality of "Such Sharp Teeth" is so outstanding I want to go back and read Rachel Harrison's first novel, "Cackle!"  As stated, it is a "werewolf novel," about a girl named Rory who goes to take care of her pregnant sister, Scarlett, and while on her way gets bitten by a werewolf.  The big reveal--which I won't---is whom the werewolf turns out to be.  



                                       Never has a novel that I have read delved into the physical and emotional pain that comes with being a werewolf.  Forget Lon Chaney, Jr. and his Universal make-up, it is a painful and agonizing experience to go through, and once losing one's human memory there is no turning back.  As scary as the novel is, Harrison makes the reader feel the pain of Rory's burden.



                                         I have her third novel, "Black Sheep," awaiting me.  I am looking forward to that, and I may go back and read "Cackle," which sounds like witches.



                                          This is the first writer in the horror genre I have been excited about in a very long time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



                                             Watch that full moon, girls!  It does awful things to the hair!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Speaking Of Witches, Darlings, We LOVED "Wicked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                     My expectations for this show were not high.  All I knew walking in was that I loved the song "Defying Gravity," and I was looking forward to hearing it sung live.



                                       But---



                                     Five years ago, before we knew there would be a pandemic, David and I saw ENCORES! do an excellent production of the Jerry Herman musical, "Mack And Mabel.  Playing Mabel was someone I had never heard of, named Alexandra Socha.  She blew us both away, and I predicted she would go places.  Well, darlings, she has, because when I opened my Playbill, there I saw her, listed in the pivotal role of Glinda!!!!!!!!!!!!!  So I knew we were in good hands.  And her remarkably lyric soprano voice was put to good use.  She could be the next Cunegonde!!!!!!!!  I was also happy for her, because, for an actor working on Broadway, "Wicked" is about as close to a steady gig as one could hope for!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



                                        Nor did Mary Kate Morrissey disappoint as Elphaba.   She nailed "Defying Gravity," making it the shattering Act One climax it is!!!!!!!!!!!!  What a way to end the first half of a show.



                                          And there were other surprises as well.



                                        I never realized how politicized this show is, and though twenty plus years old, holds up today.  Girl empowerment, mean girls, being on the outside, or different, greed--all these things play into this rather insightful fantasy.  While references to the Baum book and Garland movie abound, the film makes no attempt to replicate either.  So, for those like me, for whom MGM's1939 product is their all-time favorite movie, let me assure you--you are in good hands!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



                                          What got me to "Wicked" after twenty years?   When it opened I desperately tried to get a single ticket to see Kristin Chenowith and Idina Menzel!  I tried several times, to no avail. Then, when they left, I figured, what was the point?  Until I made a vow that if someone I really liked were ever to go into the show, I would see it.  And on March 5 of this year, that happened.



                                             Donna McKechnie, whom I saw almost 50 years ago as the original Cassie in "A Chorus Line," is currently playing Madame Morrible in this show, in the most deliciously tongue and cheek way.  She sings and dances, though not as much as us fans would like, but when she moves across the stage with a dancer's gracefulness and delivers her lines with a diction lacking in many younger actors, there is no question one is witnessing a Legend Of The Musical Stage.  Even if younger viewers have no idea who she is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



                                                 Other surprises are the still fresh look to Eugene Lee's sets and Susan Hilferty's costumes.  They looked as pristine as if it were opening night.  Unlike some shows who tire after a long run, "Wicked" is in terrific shape.  Though I wonder about Alexandra Socha; hovering high above the stage in a Glinda bubble, with nothing in front to block a fall.  That takes courage!  I would be scared to do it.



                                                     Which brings me to Joe Mantello.  Now that he is an aging actor, I had forgotten how good a director he is.  I wonder if he checks in on the show from time to time.  I hope, because it would need that to keep it in the remarkable shape that it is in.  I would not mind working with Mantello myself, though let me tell you girls that if he thinks he is going to pull that direct-by-intimidation approach on me, I will show him on the spot what B-I-T-C-H means!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



                                                        "Wicked" surprised us both to no end.  I urge those having never gone to do so right away, not only for Donna but to see one of the last examples of a genuinely lavish Broadway musical!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



                                                             And I love Elphaba!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



                                                          


          

Monkeys Escape From A Georgia Lab! And I Know Why!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


                       Girls, before you go all cutesy on me about the monkeys, let me assure you these are very dangerous animals.  Not for the reasons you may think, such as disease, disagreeability, or that they will, excuse me, shit all over the place.  No, there is a stronger reason to be afraid of these creatures, and here it is--

                         That is right, darlings!  Marjorie Taylor Greene!  She is the Wicked Witch Of Georgia, and these monkeys are her minions.  Can't you see hear standing on her porch, dressed like this, screaming, "Now, fly! Fly! Fly! Fly!?"  And I wouldn't be surprised if she has a broom she takes out and flies all over the nation with, seeing what political mischief she can cause.  Mark my words, girls, if Trump is re-elected, she may or may not make his cabinet, but she will play an important role in his administration.  Though, many in the first administration were eventually fired, so that could work in our favor, loves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



                       If only water could melt Marjorie.  Or holding a crucifix in front of her!  Or burning her at the stake!



                        Meanwhile, those monkeys are now with her, and God knows what plans she has for them!



                        Surely not the ruby slippers!  Because she has no fashion sense!

A Belated St. Parick's Day Wish For All My Readers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


                       Hope all my girls had a Happy St. Pat' s day.  Ours was quiet; we had been at a dinner party the night before, so we did a lot of reading--especially me with my Mammoth! --and had a delicious, corned beef and cabbage dinner, with carrots and potatoes.  Otherwise known as an Irish Boiled Dinner!



                         In days of yore, like before the Internet, a time of which the young do not believe it exists; to them it a time as distant as Middle Earth, there was the parade live--which we chose not to watch--but movies like "The Quiet Man," or even "The Informer" would be shown.  Would you believe, darlings, I have never seen "The Quiet Man all the way through?  Oh, and the first 25 minutes of 1968's "Finian's Rainbow" is worth a look. But only the first 25.  Like "Barbie," with only the first 45 minutes being good.



                          And today, I am having some trouble getting it together.  I wonder if it is my thyroid, or blood sugar?  I am telling you, darlings, if David had not walked in, I might have been on the couch now, having only oatmeal for dinner.



                          But I see my endocrinologist in about two weeks, so we shall see.



                          Meanwhile, I am back, so I hope everyone's St. Patrick's Day was happy.



                          Whether you are Irish, or not, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Saturday, March 16, 2024

Today Is The 61st Anniversary Of My First Holy Communion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


                                  And it happened on a Saturday, too, girls!  My parents had a time getting me into the car because I wanted to postpone the event, because Channel 9 was showing "Godzilla" (ie;. "Gojira") on "Super Adventure Theater."  Needless to say, I was forced into the car, and made it to my communion.



                                     It was a beautiful and moving ceremony.  You should see the picture of me in my robe, which is on our refrigerator.  I look like Gladys Cooper in "The Song Of Bernadette."  



                                     But the most memorable moment in the event, was that, after receiving the wafer, Ricky Brown, who sat next to me, got sick, and threw up on the pew seat.  Within seconds, a nun appeared to take him away--I thought he was going to be tortured--while another appeared with a large portion of incense, and covered the vomit with it, so it looked like a graveyard mound.  I had to spend the last several minutes of the mass looking at this, knowing what was underneath.



                                      It was a communion like no other.  But I still recall it vividly.



                                      And this was a good five years, before seeing Jennifer Jones in "The Song Of Bernadette."

Girls, You're On Your Own, Tonight, With "Svengoolie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"


                                   As David and I have a much overdue dinner party to attend this evening, we will not be able to watch "The Comedy Of Terrors," and that might be a good thing.  The title is obviously a play on Shakespeare's "The Comedy Of Errors," and is probably like 1963's "The Raven," which gathers together a bunch of old horror pros and lets them camp it up.  Remember how Peter Lorre stole the show in "The Raven?"



                                    I expect this film to be much of the same.  So, I want you girls to watch and let me know if I am right.  


                                    And can you imagine?  Joe E. Brown, in a supposed horror film?  That alone gives an indication how campy this is going to be.


                                     So, we won't be with you tonight, girls, though Baby Gojira and Little Pippin. might.  We will hear first thing from them.  But for those of you who watch, let me know.


                                       And let us hope next week's offering is better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friday, March 15, 2024

"A Soothsayer Advises Beware The Ides Of March!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"


                        Yes, darlings, today is THAT day, but let me tell you, from my vantage point, girls, it has been one hell of a week.  Let us start with the events in order!
                         Tuesday, March 12, was Liza Minnelli's birthday!  Still going great at seventy-eight!  And just six more months till "Frank Mills" day.  Lots to celebrate.

                             Wednesday, March 13, was the 60th anniversary of the murder of Kitty Genovese in the early morning hours--say 3AM-- in Kew Gardens, Queens, on Austin Street.  An urban nightmare that became a national tragedy having stood the test and time of shattered myths.  May Kitty rest in peace.

                            Wednesday, March 13, also marked the end of "Feud--Capote Vs. The Swans."  What a shame it had to end, and I will write a more extensive post on it, soon, but it made the Genovese anniversary slightly bearable, and cleared up some things for me.  More to come, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
                                           And, yes, this was the day Caesar was stabbed, and uttered the famous words, "Et too, Brute?"  But, on a highly positive note, 68 years ago tonight, "My Fair Lady," with Rex Harrsion and Julie Andrews, opened at the Mark Hellinger Theatre.  I can hear the Overture in my head. So, there is something to be said for this day!


                                                Added to all that--oh, my God, I have a dental appointment and an ear appointment in less than two weeks, and I am about to tackle my Mammoth book, "Shamataran," by Gergory David Roberts, which clocks in at 936 pages.  So much to do, so little time.


                                                     Don't kid yourselves, girls!  Retirement has time constraints, too!