This Show Is A Live Wire, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        I have to say something, outright.  "Dead Outlaw" is performed straight through, without an Intermission.  Dramatically, it is fine; some musicals, like "A Chorus Line," should be that way. But lately, it seems more shows are going this route when they do not need to.  Consider us senior audience members with bladder issues.  Am I going to have to be reduced to one of those guys wearing guy cup diapers, just to go to the theater????????????????

                                         The quality of "Dead Outlaw" is first rate.  A gruesome , and Gothic tale, set in Oklahoma, of  Elmer McCurdy, who ends up as a mummy on the sideshow circuit, may strike some as macabre, but with an original score by David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna that is high on originality, and a truly star turn by Andrew Durand as McCurdy, this show is fast moving, creepy and fascinating especially to those whose tastes cater to the morbid and unsolved mysteries.

                                          I am not certain I would vote this for Best Musical, but I would give it an "A" for originality.  David Cromer's direction and Ani Taj's choreography keep the story moving.  In some ways, it reminded me of "Water For Elephants, so, if you loved that one, darlings, this one is for all of you.

                                            How did I manage to miss this Off-Broadway?  Nevertheless, "Dead Outlaw" is on Broadway, and audiences should have a bang-up time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             And, girls, you won't get robbed, like at "Othello!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Girls, Wouldn't We All Want To Look Like This???????????????

                            Imagine being a Thirties chorine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   What a dream!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  That outfit!  How I would love to wear it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                           Well, seeing The Narrow Community Players production of "42nd Street," on the Fort Hamilton Army Base, at the end of Bay Ridge, almost makes that dream come true.

                             The Players have done a remarkable job of giving lavishness to a musical on a budget unlike David Merrick's.  Yet all the big moments are there--the entire company singing "Lullaby Of Broadway," tenor Erech Holder-Hetmyer's extraordinary take on "Dames," and the famous "We're In The Money," with the dancers on giant coins! --not to mention a score the likes of which is virtually perfect.  How many times can one say that?????????????

                            Seeing this production of "42nd Street" was pure pleasure.  And I love the way the title song is performed, like a variation on "Slaughter On Tenth Avenue," with dancer Emma Kaufman, who plays fresh-faced ingenue Peggy Sawyer, doing some very Donna McKechnie moves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             Narrows always puts care into its productions, but this one, with its score and lavishness, only raises the bar higher.

                              Could they be capable of doing "FOLLIES?????????????"

                               I would love to see them try!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Redwood" Is Dead Wood!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         I know, girls, I know, that headline could have been the entire post.

                                        There is an urban legend, popular among gay men, that every one of us has a friend who has a friend who knows Idina Menzel.  I don't know who that friend is among my circle, darlings, but after seeing Idina in this, I don't think she will be spending much time on the Broadway stage.  Her era has come to a screeching halt.

                                           Could "Redwood" have been a salvageable show?  Maybe, if it was just Idina.  Unfortunately, the score,, by Kate Diaz and lyrics by Diaz and Tina Landau, who also wrote the book and directed the production, is sub-par on all accounts.  I have seen my share of turkeys over the years, but never before have I wanted to fall asleep so soon in the first act.  I literally had to fight back sleep, and I was not on medication.  I hoped the rest of the show would improve, but, for me, it did not, so I saw the whole thing.  I should have trusted my instincts and just gone off.

                                              Idina Menzel plays this character named Jesse, a lesbian, whose son, Finn, died from presumably an accidental drug overdose.  She thinks leaving her life and convening with nature will solve her problems, but all it does is show what an uncaring, unsympathetic character she is. If the writers intended to make Jesse sympathetic, they failed miserably.  These two other characters, Mel and Becca, should have been eliminated; they are so uninteresiting.  Short of Jesse twirling from a tree, like some ersatz version of Mary Martin getting ready to play "Peter Pan," there is no genuine musical theater choreography.  Maybe because this isn't a genuine musical.

                                                   Oh, I know I sound like a bitch, but then, girls, you did not sit through this, I did.   It closes on Sunday, May 18, if you want to check it out.  Be my guest.

                                                      I have only two final words for this show--

                                                       Chop!  Chop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now, How About Those Other TONY Snubs????????????????

                                                                                

                                                                                 

                           These three, of course, are the most prominent.  Kieran Culkin should have been nominated for his novel take on Ricky Roma in "Glengarry Glen Ross."  I would love to have seen this actor, who has shown such promise for over two decades, take home a TONY the same year he took home his well-deserved Oscar.  Alas, it was not to be.

                            Could price gouging have had something to do with these snubs?  'Glengarry' tickets are not cheap but come nowhere near the top price of "Othello" at $900.  Just think, a night on the town for two, and tickets at almost $2,000.  Are you crazy?  Then Denzel, an arrogant prick who can always be counted to put his foot in his mouth, says that he is worth it.  Well, I am glad you think so, Denzel.  You pay the way for some impoverished theater novices who might really want to see the play, and you.  I don't see you digging in those deep pockets, yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                           Then, Audra McDonald, nominated for "Gypsy," simply because she is Audra McDonald, not that she was Mama Rose, has the nerve to tell Jake Gyllenhaal that she cannot afford to see him in "Othello."  Come on, Audra, you must get a day off where you could take in the show, and with that hefty paycheck you are pulling in, I know damn well you can afford it!  And why did you tell this to Jake; didn't you have the nerve enough to tell this to Denzel?  And why????????????

                            Poor Idina Menzel.  After almost 30 years after the show that made her a star, "RENT," and performing in the same theater, not to get a TONY nomination for "Redwood."  Well, Idina, let me tell you, your voice is great, but it needed better material to get on the roster of nominees.  For those interested in "Redwood," stay tuned for my post review of it.

                           Joy Woods, who I have been saying all season, is the revelation of this season's "Gypsy," deserved the nomination she got.  But three members of the "Gypsy" cast were neglected, and I think they should either be given nominations, or special awards.  They are Chowsie, the dog, the Little Lamb, and Caroline,The Cow!!!!!!!!!!!!  Without them the show could not operate, and I for one think Chowsie steals every moment onstage from Audra, and deservedly so!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            So, darlings, Hollywood A-listers were not the only ones snubbed.   I am just so happy for Celia and The Performing Arts Library.

                               It should be an interesting TONY Awards this year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             May the best bitch win!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After 50 Years, Still The "Citizen Kane" Of Our Generation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                        Over a month ago, David and I went to the Paris Theater to take in a 50th Anniversary screening of Robert Altman's masterpiece "Nashville."  I cannot believe fifty years have gone by, because I remember when it came out, and how it floored me.  It was as groundbreaking then as "Citizen Kane" was in 1941, and it still is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                        I have to tell you, darlings, even with my bladder issues, I sat unmoving for the entire two hours and forty minutes.  I wouldn't miss a frame.  And "Nashville" is one of those films that has to be seen on the big screen.

                        Now, for those who have never seen the film, I say stop reading right here, as I will continue with references that should surprise you when seeing it for the first time.

                           Can enough things be said about "Nashville?"  No, though it is oddly prescient how it holds up in today's times.

                            Most seeing "Nashville," initially or repeatedly come away with just two words--Ronee Blakley!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            Miss Blakley, as Barbara Jean, with her heartbreaking realness and a voice to equal it, is the eye of the hurricane around which the remaining characters of "Nashville" revolve.  Not to say that pros like Karen Black and Barbara Harris do not make stupendous musical contributions.  But "Nashville" would not have the gravitas it has without Blakley, who is also the film's sacrifical lamb.

                               While everyone else is screaming out their belief in the goodness of America, Barbara Jean is not a hypocrite, but a genuine believer.  Which is why she is the inevitable choice for the horrendous tragedy that happens near the end.

                                   I could see "Nashville" any number of times and still enjoy it.  I have it on DVD, which will help if my bladder worsens--I can sit for two hours, but not much more.

                                   Still, I would risk an accident not to miss any frame in "Nashville."

                                   It still remains America's explanation to itself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She May Be The Bitch That Killed Florence Ballard, But She Was A Standout At The MET Gala!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             If ANNA approved, who am I to say otherwise?????????????????????

                            The person in question is Diana Ross, or "Miss Ross" as she arrogantly prefers to be called.  Well, she can take that and shove it!!!!!!!!!!!!  "Miss Ross," my ass!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             But, girls, what a dress!  And the flowing train!!!!!!!!!!  I don't care if a bitch is wearing it, the dress still stands out.  I only wish I could see how it looks on me.

                               Again, the mail managed to lose my invitation to this event, which, otherwise, you know I would be at, hons!!!!!!!!!!!!  ANNA, your staff is slipping up.  You need to have me there, to keep things running and organized.  It would be an honor to work for ANNA!

                                 Let's face it, ANNA runs New York City!!!!!!!!!!!  What?  You think that silly thing Eric Adams does?????????  He's just some closet case without a beard!  At least Ed Koch has Bess Myerson!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    No doubt, Diana is still looking good, and will continue to.

                                     But when will she fess up about Florence Ballard???????????????

Congratulations To Jonathan Groff On His Current TONY Nomination!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     Oh, girls, isn't he just dreamy???????????

                                    After performing the impossible task of humanizing Franklin Shepard in "Merrily We Roll Along," Mr. Groff is having audiences swoon with his take on Bobby Darin in "Just In Time."

                                    We snapped up tickets to "Just In Time" three weeks from today, and I am telling you; I am going to faint.  Not to mention all the Theater Queens jamming the Circle In The Square stage door, adoring, pawing, and trying to ger their hands on Jonathan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       He may need a bodyguard for this project, but, oh, girls, HIS body--WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      And the talent to match!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Let's all march over to the Circle In The Square and visit Jonathan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        I cannot wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         Congratulations, Mr. Groff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!