I Cannot Believe This Film Is Going To Be Turned Into A Musical!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            The book, and maybe the lyrics, will be by Lynn Nottage, probably the foremost name in Black Theater in this town.  The score will be composed by John Legend.  Who?????????   The vehicle is--get this--a musical adaptation of the 1959 film, "Imitation Of Life."

                              Are you kidding me?  In THIS time we live in?  So, don't go jumping on me for demanding a revival of "The Member Of The Wedding.'

                                Some consider this film campy, and believe me, I get it.  I have always wanted Sandra Dee's bedroom, all in pink, her pink wardrobe, and most of all, her pink Princess telephone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   I only saw the film once and hesitate to see it again.  Not because of camp but because it really cut me emotionally.  The two performances that anchor the film are those of Juanita Moore as Annie Johnson, a Black single mother, and Susan Kohner, as her daughter Sarah Jane.  Throughout the film, Annie passes Sarah Jane as White, but there comes a reckoning, when Sarah Jane is in adolescence, and she is beaten violently in an alley by a young Tab Hunter, who is enraged at her racial deception. Throughout the rest of the film, she treats her mother terribly, with Annie being hurt, yet persevering.  Thinking she will escape all her problems, Sarah Jane runs away to become a cheap Las Vegas showgirl.  She gets word that her mother is ill, but gets home in time for her funeral, where she finally weeps and repents on her coffin, which is being pulled by an enormous truck, with Mahalia Jackson singing.  All Annie's savings were for her funeral.  I say to Sarah Jane, too little, too late.

                                  This sequence, which would have to be staged at The Metropolitan Opera really got to me, thinking about my parents, and if I were this bad to them, and, how I wish they were here.  Coincidentally, or maybe not, I am writing this on what is the 8th anniversary of my father's passing.  I wish my parents and some others could be here.

                                  So, how in hell will this be musicalized?  Will it be changed for our times?  Then the point is missed.  The alley beating is one of the most horribly violent scenes depicted on film, and the funeral is too grand for where they want to stage it, which is The Shed on West 30th Street.

                                    If this musical  even gets off the ground, and that is problematic, who is going to go to it?  If camped up, gays and Theater Queens will run to it.  But then it might lose some of its integrity.  If played seriously, it may lose the camp audience, and only theater purists, who are few and far between, will go.  Years ago, The Public Theatre did a musical adaptation of Edna Ferber's novel and 1956 film, "Giant," which, loving the film, interested me a great deal.  Alas, it did not last long to even consider a move to Broadway, and I have the same feeling if this show gets off the ground.

                                    I hate to say it, but next to this, "Beaches" looks like a hit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      But I will keep my darlings posted on all this, and whether or not I get a pink Princess Telephone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Many Plays Have Not Been But Need To Be Revived On Broadway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And This Is My First Choice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                         "The Member Of The Wedding," Carson McCullers' stage adaptation of her own novel of the same title, opened on Broadway at The Empire Theatre, on January 5, 1950.

                            Part of the reason for its success was not only the author's poetic lyricism in her dialogue but its extraordinary cast--Julie Harris, Ethel Waters, and Brandon DeWilde.

                              That cast is one reason why this play has never been revived.  The other might be that the Southern gothic tone of its nature may be too much for today's allegedly PC world.

                               But let' get back to that cast.  They were truly extraordinary, and while The Empire Theatre has been defunct for ages, the performances of this extraordinary trio have been preserved on film, made in 1952, and Julie Harris received an Oscar nomination for her performance as Frankie Adams, who imagines herself to be a more sophisticated version of herself named F. Jasmine Adams.  That film, by the way, was directed by Fred Zinnemann.

                                Indeed, that cast can never be beat.  But if one looks far and wide, I think one might be able to find a suitable cast, and an audience that would run to this play, which would be perfect for The Booth Theatre.

                                Now, girls, I know Celia Keenan- Bolger recently turned 48, but she still has that eternal child-woman quality, delineated so superbly in both "The Glass Menagerie" and "To Kill A Mockingbird."  I still say she could pass--especially on stage ss Frankie, and I would run straight to that theater to see her.  Now, for Berenice, the Ethel Waters role, there are many choices out there, but the two best I think would be Tonya Pinkins and La Toya Jackson.  Both are fine, but I would give it to Jackson, as she seems to have more gravitas.

                                 The role of John Henry West, originated by Brandon DeWilde in 1950 is the most problematic role to cast.  It requires a boy of eight, with blond hair, who can act.  I feel this would eliminate most of the young male children working on the New York stage now.  Best to conduct a search throughout the South.   An extraordinary child needs to be found.  Which is how Mary Badham was found for "To Kill A Mockingbird," and Sondra Locke for "The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter."  And both received Oscar nominations.

                                    How I long to see "The Member Of Wedding" on stage in my lifetime.   And the clock is ticking, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     When I was eight, I would have made the perfect John Henry West.  Unfortunately, unlike Celia I cannot trans morph my age on stage.  At least, not THAT young!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         I will be forced to see Nathan Lane (??????????) do Willy Loman in "Death Of A Salesman" this Spring.  Not my choice for Willy, but this will probably be my last, and only, chance to see this play on stage.

                                            So, how about taking a stab at "The Member Of The Wedding???????"

                                         

Girls, I Think This Was The Old Vero Beach "Bamboo Lounge" From My Youth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               Save for the name change and the sign, it looks exactly the same, as I recognized it right away.  I always thought this was the inspiration for "The Slow Club" in David Lynch's 1986 masterpiece, "Blue Velvet."

                               The tragedy is in all my years of visiting Vero Beach--when my father and his siblings all lived there--I never tot to visit this place.  I did not drive, and I could not get anyone to drop me off there.  Who knows if I would have come back?  Who knows what goes on in there?

                                The building is still sleazy and cheap, as befits it, but I love the Betty Boop logo, and the name "Shadows Lounge" is OK.

                               Ah, youth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  What memories it brings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Darlings, Aunt Gladys Is This Year's Fashion Icon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             Really, girls, Chloe Malle needs to get her act together and put a fully dressed Aunt Gladys on the cover of "VOGUE."  I have heard stories of Aunt Gladys's being seen in last year's Halloween parties, and as a receptionist at a gay bar in St. Louis!!!!!!!!!!!!  I bet Vincente Minnelli would have loved it.  If only he could have done a movie about Aunt Gladys.

                              I want Aunt Gladys to become a cottage industry.  Dolls, coffee mugs, outfits adults can wear--think of the revenue she could bring.  And who would not like to have their own parasitic voodoo stick?  That could straighten out all problems.  Maybe even Trigonometry.  If only Trig could be banished from existence!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              Aunt Gladys would also make a great home health aide.  I would love to have her visit here.

                               For those who have not yet seen "Weapons," do so, and see what all the fuss is about Aunt Gladys.

                                  Here is a scene of Aunt Gladys in action.

                                 You just gotta LOVE her, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today Is The 168th Anniversary Of The Apparition Of Our Lady Of Lourdes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

                                      You know, darlings, I know all the important dates about Bernadette, but this is the big one--the day the girl actually saw Mary for the first time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          Now I am talking for real about the real Bernadette Soubirous, not Jennifer Jones, who brought her to Oscar winning life in the movie.

                                         This is a day to pray, reflect, and think on what Bernadette, thanks to the Lady, has done for us, and how she can be a comfort to all of us, through prayer.

                                            One might say this is a perfect day to watch "The Song Of Bernadette," and I am not here to stop anyone.  But my traditional date for viewing the masterpiece is on Easter Sunday, which this year is April 5.

                                             Pray for us, Bernadette.  May you be honored on this day, and every day ot the year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                Alleluia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             Here is that day, superbly reenacted by all.  Note the internalization of Jennnifer Jones, which helped her win that Oscar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Could John Steuart Curry's Painting, "The Tornado" Inspired Part Of The Kansas Sequences In 1939's "The Wizard Of Oz????????????"

 

                               Of course, those on here know I consider the Judy Garland classic sacrosanct.  There is no other.

                               I had always read the Kansas sequences were inspired by American painter Grant Wood.  Having looked Wood's work, I think it makes sense.

                                 But the first time I ever saw this painting, it reminded me too of "The Wizard Of Oz."  So, I would like to give Curry's painting credit too for the success of the film

                                    The sky, the funnel, the family gathering to dash to the storm cellar--it is all too real, just like in the 1939 movie.  Thank God lives are saved but think what will have to be rebuilt after.

                                      I used to be excited by tornadoes and wanted to be a chaser.  I loved the 1996 film "Twister," which turns 30 this year, and contains many references to "The Wizard Of Oz."

                                       Come to think off it, the opening of 1996's "Twister" is pretty scary.

                                        Don't let the fantasy fool you.  Curry's painting shows a very real and present danger, as bad then as it is today.

                                          Watch the sky, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This Is The REAL "Wuthering Heights!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                          Well, actually, darlings, Emily Brontes' novel, the greatest in the English language, is the REAL thing.  But when it comes to adaptations, the 1939 one was the best--in cinematography, casting, and fidelity to the story--to a point.  Not to mention Alfred Newman's magnificent music score.

                             But, as perfect as this adaptation is, it still does not get it right.  Because the film stops at the hallway mark of the novel, which is what everyone remembers.  It does not go into the second and third generations, like the story should.

                                I say all this in light of the approaching Emerald Fennell film version of "Wuthering Heights."  Now, I just loved her first film, "Promising Young Woman," and when I heard she was going to do this, I had high hopes for it.  To the point that I was considering seeing it.

                                    Alas, the casting is awful.  Only Heathcliff has dark hair, and all the leads are supposed to have it.  There have been hints that purists who love the book will be upset by the changes.

                                       Emily Bronte created a perfectly realized story.  Why must it be constantly tampered with?????????????  Do filmmakers think they can improve on it?  Not a chance.

                                          The 1939 film, though flawed, remains definitive.  By the way, did you know it was named "Best Film Of The Year--"over "Gone With The Wind!!!!!!!!!!!!--by "The New York Film Critics???????????? "

                                              May filmmakers stop trying to get "Wuthering Heights right, because they never will.

                                               To paraphrase Emily Bronte, "Let Heathcliff and Cathy and the rest sleep quietly in the slumber of the printed page."

                                                See the current film at your own risk!  I warned you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!