A Victorian (Sort Of) Farewell To April!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

                                     As I have said, today is the end, but on a very sad note.  Two, to be exact.

                                   April is the month where there are so many death anniversaries in my family.  Going through this month is like reliving those losses all over again.

                                     But we also saw bunch of shows; some we did not like, such as "Becky Shaw," and "The Lost Boys."  And some we loved like "Bigfoot: A New Musical," and "Cats: The Jellicle Ball."

                                      Yesterday we went to the exhibit "Inside The Mind Of A Serial Killer: The Experience," and it was quite a fascinating experience.  I will post more on that another time.

                                          So, April now comes to an end, and then May flowers.  Not to mention what "Svengoolie" may have cooking up next month.

                                             Farewell, April.  I am so glad I have people, especially my David, to help me get through it.

                                               I will see you all next month, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This Is A Very Sad Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             It may be the end of April, girls, but, for me, even the end is not kind to me.

                            This day is sad for two specific reasons.  Today, if still alive, my father would have been 111!  Yes, this is/was his birthday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             The second reason is nine years ago today, in 2017, my childhood friend Doug died of complications from alcoholism, self-neglect and sepsis.  He was only 62, even younger than my mother who died at 64.

                                I remember so well the moment I heard he died.  There were grief and sadness, to be sure, but also a bit of anger.  "Why did he have to die on THIS day?" I asked myself.  I would rather he had passed on another, so this would always remain my father's birthday.

                                Alas, there are things beyond my control.  All I can do is remember and pray on this day, and then before I know it, April will be over and I can move on.

                                  I still wish the Easter Bunny would pay me a visit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Corporation T-Shirt, Stupid Bloody Tuesday, Boy, You Were A Naughty Boy, You Let Your Knickers Down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                                         "I am the egg man,                                                                                                                                           "They are the egg man,                                                                                                                                     " I am the Walrus."                                                                                                                                            "Goo goo ga joob,                                                                                                                                              "Goo goo ga joob."                                                                                                                                            ---"I Am The Walrus," Lennon and McCartney                                                                                        

                                                 Why are these lyrics creeping through my head????????????

                                                  Maybe because the Beatles cheer me up, and, with Spring coming, and here, there is reason for cheer.

                                                    But the other reason is I hate those smug, arrogant corporation types.  Straight guys who think that just because they have achieved their parents dreams they are going to be happy and successful.  Boy, darlings, are they in for a surprise!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                      So, these lyrics are a good reminder of that, as well.

                                                       They ought to let their knickers down and get spanked!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                              

"But When The Day's Hustle And Bustle Is Done..........."

                                         I never thought I would live to do it.  I told myself after seeing the original production, I would never return to it again.  But I think those who are not fans of "CATS" will enjoy this reimagining more than those who cling to the original show.

                                         For those, including myself, who constantly wonder what it would be like to be invited to The MET Gala that ANNA sponsors, this show will give one an entertaining glimpse of how it might be.

                                           Andre DeShields, at 80 gives a standout performance as Old Deuteronomy, and his is a true star presence, but the other stars of this show are  Oween Jeans' costume designs and Omari Wiles' and Arturo Lyons' choreography.  Not even "Buena Vista Social Club" can match the frenetic athleticism of this cast's dancers, and the entire combination of sets, costumes and music creates a galvanizing effect for the audience that was never present in the original.  Thankfully, that annoying pirate ship routine from the original second act has been cut, and the show has been trimmed, with the more familiar songs dominating.  I was so happy to hear "Skimbleshanks, The Railway Cat."  Of course, "Tempress" Chastity Moore as Grizabella delivers a moving rendition of the classic "Memory" in a way Betty Buckley, with her shrillness, never was able to perfect in the original.  I know I could be shot for this last, but God help me!!!!!!!!!!  At least, I am honest!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         I walked out of the Broadhurst Theatre feeling so good at having been entertained by a musical--something I have not experienced much this season.  I never expected this show to do it, but it did.  It will be interesting to see how the show fits into the rubric of TONY nominations!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            How I wish my late dear friend, Nicholas, a Gentleman Cat, could have seen the show with me.

                                             I know he would have given it a praiseworthy "Meow!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Does Lea Michele Talk To Anyone??????????????????????

                                    Girls, I just found out The TONY Nominations will be announced a week from today, and I am very curious about the "Best Musical" category.  Will there be enough shows to fit into this category????????   Time will tell.

                                      But you can be sure, darlings, that already Miss Lea Michele is sharpening her vampire fingers and fangs, ready to draw blood if she fails to get a TONY nomination, and hell to everyone backstage at that show.

                                        I have suspicion that backstage with Michele is a living hell.  I bet she does not even speak to her co-stars Aaron Tveit, he being the hottest thing in the show and the most vocally adept, or Nicholas Christopher, whose voice is glorious but his acting lacks characterization.

                                         Oh, I have seen them making the rounds of talk shows, both on TV and YouTube, and there is a chemistry generated between them, which is all for publicity.  But I am certain that when Miss Michele arrives at the theater, her attitude announces her presence, and everyone clears out of her way.  What a bitch!!!!!!!!!!!!  And to not be nice to a hot thing like Aaron Tveit!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                           This may sound like pure speculation, but at a party several months ago, I heard from someone in the know who stated she is "not a very nice person."  I believe it.  I pity the cast and crew of "CHESS."

                                               Mark my words--if she is not nominated, she will pull a Beanie Feldstein- like tantrum.  If she is, and does not win, she will be pissed on national television.  If she wins, her arrogance will show through; no thanks, but a feeling of entitlement that she deserves the award.

                                                Lea loves only Lea. But lacks the talent to pull this off, like BARBRA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I Had No Idea This Actress Had Passed, Until I Saw The Photograph Below!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                              

                           I knew Sixties folk/rock singer Melanie Safka had passed years before, but when I saw the first photograph, I thought it was her.  

                            To my sadness and surprise, I found out the person was hard working character actress Mariclaire Costello.  Not much had been heard from her, so I thought she had already passed.  But God bless her, she made it to 90.

                              I had known her for three things, one of which was very important.

                             The first was the family drama, "The Fitzpatricks," which featured Kristy McNichol's brother, Jimmy, and a very young Helen Hunt, who looked snippy and mean girl-ish even then.   It ran from 1977 to 1978.

                              The second was a moment in the 1980 Oscar winning drama "Ordinary People."  It takes place on a golf course, where Beth (the villain, played by Mary Tyler Moore) abandons her family and visits her brother.  She has a meltdown and says "I don't know what anyone wants from me, anymore." To which Mariclaire answers, comfortingly "Beth, no one wants anything from you."  Her reading was spot on, but because of the opinion I hold of Beth I always found this line double-edged, and it still makes me laugh.

                                 Had none of the above happened, Mariclaire Costello would have been remembered for one thing alone.  She became an icon in the 1971 horror film, "Let's Scare Jessica To Death," starring Zohra Lampert.  Once the moment is seen where she rises out of the lake, like a water ghost /vampire, and walks to land, where she menaces Lampert.  The moment is seared into the viewer's head.  You have to see it for yourselves, girls, which is why I just had to include it in the post covering her passing.

                                 I urge you to watch the film or find this moment on YouTube.

                                Mariclaire Costello did many things, but this is how I will remember her.

                                  Rest In Peace, Mariclaire.  You may not have known at the time, but you made an important contribution to horror film history.

                                    As one of my friends says, "May your memory be a blessing.'

                                     

Girls, I Just Found Out A Designer To Be Mentioned In "The Devil Wears Prada 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                       I am talking about Belgian designer Dries Van Noten.  Oh, my God, he really knows the concept of color.  That sweater in the middle is for me!!!!!!!!!!!!  Yes, he designs for both and women, and while there is nothing more beautiful than a woman in an elegant designer dress, I think it is time the men had their turn at high fashion.  It is for everyone, after all, isn't it, darlings????????????

                                       I would love to wear any of these items pictured.  Or, if Van Noten has a store in NYC, I want to go there directly and purchase some of these garments.  What they could do for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        And this is just the tip of the iceberg.  There will be so many new designers mentioned in this film, I am going in with a note pad.  I may have to see it more than once; I am certain I will.

                                         Dries, darlings, I simply have to talk to you about color and patterns.  And while you are at it, get me some coffee and get Rihanna on the phone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!