Darlings, Do Not Invite These "Visitors" To Your Home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          Bryna Turner's domestic drama has a capable cast, including the theatrical Divinity that is Celia Keenan-Bolger.  But not even Celia can save this mess.  Jenna Worsham's direction is skilled and capable but adds up to nothing because Turner's text is not fully realized.

                                             The premise is simple--a youngest sister, Joanna (Mary Wiseman) and her partner, Naomi (Eco Jouley) wants to have a baby, but there is a problem.  One of Joanna's kidneys is failing and in order to carry the pregnancy she needs a donor fast.  So, they invite Joanna's siblings, including estranged brother Rory (Danny Wolohan) and the battle is on.  Who will give Joanna one of their kidneys?.  The next 90 minutes, with no intermission, hinges on that.

                                                But Turner's writing is not cohesive.  I thought at first that Theresa (Ceilia Keenan-Bolger) and Henry (Will Pullen) were husband and wife. I thought Henry the most insufferable of the group but wait until a twist at the end when the real villain is revealed.  Oh, my God!

                                                   Of course, things are entertaining enough--who doesn't love family bickering because it is all something we can relate to--but it isn't "August: Osage County."  Even though that play we twice as long as this, Tracy Letts was a skilled playwright, the time just flew.  Had this been three hours long, I am not sure I would have last, Celia or not.

                                                     I can only wish Celia luck with this show and hopes for a better one that showcases her singular talent. Yes, she has the range to go beyond her past portrayals, but the writing here just does not do her character. justice.

                                                       Skip this one, girls, as it may not run long, anyway.  For more gripping family drama, pick an argument with one of your most disliked relations.

                                                           Hey, the holidays are coming!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

                                                    

                                                     

"Hell's Bells!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Christ On A Bicycle!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                            I have not heard that expression in ages, but I used to hear it often, as a child, used by my parents' generation whenever they got frustrated.

                              One day, I did or said something to my mother, and she had just had it, so she shouted this at me!  I began laughing, because as soon as she said it, what came to me was the image of Judy Garland in the house up in the cyclone, and instead of Miss Gulch appearing on her bike, it was......Christ!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              But that is just me.  The phrase is of British origin, but I know not where or how.  But whenever I think of it, I want to burst out laughing.

                                I always thought Jesus had a sense of humor, so I think he would get a kick out of it.  He would have to have a sense of humor, with all the craziness going on down below!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 Go for a bike ride, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Election Day And Happy Gojira Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        And Gojira would like all of you to get out there and vote!

                                       It is the first Tuesday in November, so that means Election Day.

                                       But--On this day in 1954, seventy-two years ago, and fifteen days before yours truly was born, an art house in Los Angeles introduced the original 1954 "Gojira" film.  Unfortunately, it took 50 years for viewers to see it, thanks to Joseph E. Levine and his dumb idea of cutting it, Americanizing it and having Raymond Burr as some sort of patsy.  And then the name was changed to Godzilla!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          Make no mistake, darlings, the name is Gojira and we have Baby Gojira living with us.  Both wish everyone a Happy Election Day and urge you to get out and vote.

                                            I would not be surprised if Gojira, who is so thoughtful, is working the polls today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Girls, Did You Know Yesterday Would Have Been Betsy Palmer's 100th Birthday??????????????????????????????

                                 No one has ever said, "Kill her, Mommy! Kill her!" like Betsy Palmer.  I can say this because I am having such fun with Linda Cardellini as the young Pam Voorhees, whom I could easily see morphing into Palmer.  The adaptation, however, is something else, and that is not a compliment, but I will discuss all that at length, once I have finished the entire series.

                                   How could Betsy have guessed a piece of junk like "Friday The 13th" would have become a cult classic, and Mrs. Voorhees turn out to be her signature role?  Such are the ways of show biz careers.

                                       Wouldn't we all have loved to wear that white fisherman's sweater yesterday to honor Miss Palmer.  I know I would have.

                                          So, a happy 100th birthday to Betsy Palmer, and another 100 years of entertainment from Mrs. Voorhees.

                                           "...what you did to him!  Look what you DID to him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                          Don't you just love it, darlings???????????????????????

Happy All Souls Day, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            Yesterday was All Saints Day, honoring Bernadette, The Fatima Children, St. Francis, and future saints like Pope Leo and Sister Camille D'Arienzo.

                              Today, we honor those having gone before us--parents, friends, associates, and others in our pasts.

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                                I apologize for not posting yesterday, but it was a frantic day, and I had to witness something excruciating, which I will examine on this blog in the very near future.

                                  Meanwhile, a Happy All Saints And All Souls Day!

                                 Starting November on a positive note!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And So We Come To November!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          Darlings, if you think 2026 has gone fast, wait for these next six weeks.  Today is All Saints Day, tomorrow is All Souls Day, my birthday is coming up, as well as Musical Theater Week and later Thanksgiving.  Then comes December and the holidays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             Gird your loins or whatever, darlings.  Things speed up now like a silent movie played at the wrong speed.

                                              But we are looking forward to a lot of excitement.  First and foremost, I hope "Svengoolie" improves his line up for this month.  How dare he show "The Wizard Of Oz.?"  Cheapening one of the great cinematic achievements of the 20th century!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                  I expect to post more movie reviews this month, thanks to You Tube and Criterion.

                                                  And books!  Oh, my God, I will never reach 100 this year!  I feel like such a failure.  And the "The New York Times" list will be coming out, and I may have to read what is on their fiction list.  Where is time?  I need it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                    I also have to pick out an ANNA WINTOUR restaurant for my birthday celebration with David.

                                                    Help me get through November, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!  It will be some month!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Halloween, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               What a day!  Not only is it Halloween, but the end of October, and then comes November with the marathon, Musical Theater Week, my birthday and others.

                                 So, a Happy Halloween to all, and what an October, what with Philly, seeing old friends and new, and the huge number of unseen movies watched and recorded this month, though I have yet to post on "Parasite."  Tonight we may watch "Crystal Lake, " because I want to see how the young Pamela Voorhees handles things, and if she gets her hands on that slut, Claudette!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    If you are Trick or Treating, girls, have fun, but be careful/

                                   Have fun, but safe Halloween, darlings, and see you next month!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!