Today And Tomorrow Should Be Fashion Designer Days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What Do I Wear???????????????????????

                           When I get off here, girls, I have to get ready to go see "The Devil Wears Prada 2."  I am curious about what new fashion designers may be mentioned--I am already aware of Gabriela Hearst--but there are so many others, and then tomorrow night is The MET Gala.  And I have to go to the dentist tomorrow afternoon!!!!!!!!!!  How fair is that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            I may go with a note pad in hand, to take down the names of new designers.  And not forget the old ones, like DIOR, Balenciaga, and Schiaparelli.  I mean, I would kill to wear those, too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             And don't forget my personal favorite Charles DeVil Moron.  Chloe, ANNA, wake up and smell the coffee!!!!!!!!!!!!!  When is he going to get American attention?????????????

                             I have to wonder what Lauren Weisberger, who, unlike the film's cast, looks twenty years older, must think of all this???????  I am sure she does not care, because she is getting a large piece of the action, I am sure.

                               When I retired from my job, in my speech I assured everyone that there would be no "Devil Wears Prada" type book.  I still recall someone then yelling, "Oh, shit!" in disappointment!

                                    Well to said person I say, next year will mark ten years since I retired.  And after I see this film, who knows?????????????????????

                                       I have to confess already some ideas are percolating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do I Look Like A Serial Killer, Darlings??????????????????????????????

                                        If I do, it is simply called ACTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        Really, girls, you have GOT to come here.!   This is so much fun.  Not only did I get to peruse info on serial killers, I got to sit at desks with manual typewriters and write police reports, pin a map on a locale where another serial killer has struck--not Highland Park, NJ, to be sure--and, in a viral visual experience, search for and try to catch one!  I was so in my element.

                                             Andrew Cunanan...Aileen Wuornos...John Wayne Gacy....Jeffrey Dahmer...H. H. Holmes....Belle Gunness...Jane Toppan....Andrei Chikatilo...Gary Ridgeway...BTK...any one serial killer aficionados can think of are on display here.  My only caveat was The Moors Murderers, Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, were not featured.

                                               There were convenient benches throughout the exhibit, so that people who might be disturbed--I worried about David--could take a break.  But David came through fine.

                                                 Now, as a serial killer aficionado. what did I learn from this?

                                               First, I learned that serial killers come in several categories.

                                              The first is Visionary--one motivated by seeing visions or hearing voices.

                                              Next comes Mission Oriented--one who targets specific groups

                                              Third is Hedonistic--one seeking pleasure and thrills from sadistic acts.

                                               The last is Power/Control--which sounds self-explanatory, but means the killer likes to dominate his/.her victim for a time before disposing of them.

                                                  What was really eye-opening was when I saw a replica of Jeffrey Dahmer's apartment, with a cooked head on the stove, and body parts in the refrigerator.  This was ghastly enough, but so was the lack of fashion and taste in that place.  As I came to discover, girls, serial killers have no taste for furnishings or fashion. Not even an especially good looking one, like Ted Bundy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

                                                    I wanted more on how serial killers are made.  My readers on here now about "The Bad Seed," but, actually, watch for young kids who shun others, have no empathy, harm animals, and have a preoccupation with fire.  These are key signs to burgeoning serial killers.  And once adolescence and hormones hit--oh, brother!!!!!!!!!!!!  Get them to a psychiatrist or therapist before this happens, or you may not stand a chance!  And this is no guarantee, unless institutionalization is recommended.

                                                      For me, there were two fascinating aspects.  The first was how, before the term "serial killer" was coined, (my guess would be with the advent of Jack The Ripper) the idea evolved from folk mythology such as werewolves, vampires and bogeymen.  The other of course, was serial killers on screen, like "Psycho," "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," "The Silence Of The Lambs," and some that should have been included like the original "Friday The 13th," and 1956's "The Bad Seed."

                                                         Which led me to question other famous film killers.  Like Rebecca De Mornay as Peyton Flanders in "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle."  Had she succeeded in supplanting Claire and taking over the family, would she have been happy?  I think eventually the novelty would wear out, and she would seek others.  Or Robin Williams in the underrated "One Hour Photo," who longs for a family.  If he found one, would it be enough?  I think not.  And how about Jennifer Jason Leigh as Hedra Carlson, constantly stealing others' identities to replicate her twin sister?  If she had survived, would she have stopped with Allie?  The ending I envisioned for "Single White Female" maintains she would not.

                                                           The exhibit is housed in the old Urban Outfitters building, on the corner of West 14th Street and Sixth Avenue in Manhattan.  Would I go there again?  In a heartbeat.  And I just might, to explore and investigate.

                                                           They plan on being there for six months.  Or longer if the business does well.

                                                          Serial killers hide in plain sight.  Jospeh Cotten delineated this brilliantly in Alfred Hitchcock's 1942 "Shadow Of A Doubt."

                                                               So, at this exhibit, beware. There may be serial killers walking among you.

                                                              David spotted a guy walking through the exhibit holding a monkey doll in his hands!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                Uhm hmmm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

An Exercise In American Musical Theater Antiquity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                           When I was collecting Original Broadway Cast albums on vinyl, "Milk And Honey" was especially memorable for three reasons.  The first was it being composer Jerry Herman's first Broadway show, with even greater triumphs to follow.  The second was the song "Shalom," which I had known years before from having sung it when in one of the school choruses.  And the third was whenever I played it Robeert Weede's voice was so loud it almost hurt my ears.  Hence, I did not play it too often.

                               I never imagined ever seeing "Milk And Honey" performed, because, while many of Herman's musicals have been revived, and I have seen them. "Milk And Honey" never turned up on the revival circuit.  I do not think even ENCORES! has done it!

                                 But there is an Off-Broadway group called "The J2 Spotlight Musical Theater Company."  They have been around longer than I was aware and have done some ambitious projects like "The Baker's Wife."  I look forward to what they may do in the future.

                                    However, and this is a BIG however, I cannot vouch for the quality of what you might see.  What got me in to see this production was not necessarily "Milk And Honey" but that Neva Small, a Legend Of The American Musical Stage, was playing Clara Weiss, a role originated by Molly Picon.

                                        Neva was the best thing amid a subpar company and production.  Especially unfortunate was that Kelly Lester and Eric Michael Gillett, who played the leads, Ruth and Phil, did not have strong enough voices to sing the score.  Neva and the ensemble were superb, but when the two leads are lacking, the show is in trouble.  Not to mention it was done on a stage with limited space so Oren Kornblum really risked doing Agnes DeMille like balletic moves choreographically on a stage where I was afraid the dancers might bump into one another.  Darlings, do not even TRY to do "A Chorus Line" on this stage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                           And the show is a dated period peace.  On one hand, it concerns a bunch of Jewish widows going to Israel to look for new husbands!  Can you believe that?  And they all talk in faux Jewish NYC accents, straight out of a Neil Simon play!!!!!!!!!!!!   The title tune is a salute to Israel; in this age, with all the trouble going on over there?  Still, it looks back on a simpler time, a time that, sadly has been eradicated forever.

                                            There is also the love story between Ruth and Phil which is straight out of Arthur Laurents' play "The Time Of The Cuckoo," which became the 1955 David Lean film "Summertime," starring Katherine Hepburn.  Later, on March 18, 1965, Richard Rodgers and Stephen Sondheim musicalized it as "Do I Hear A Waltz?"  The score, needless to say, was better.

                                              When David and I saw "Milk And Honey," last week, , it was the next to last performance.  Despite its shortcomings, for me it was worth seeing a show I may otherwise never have seen.  The show was directed by Robert W. Schneider, the company's founder, or one of them, and while he knows how to move and place his actors, giving the limitations, this was an ambitious undertaking, and he and everyone deserve credit for this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                 But for Musical Theater Historians and aficionados, keep an eye on future company productions.  It will give one a chance to see shows otherwise never staged, and that, in itself is a value.

                                                   But do NOT expect to see Sondheim's "FOLLIES."

                                                   Despite Weede's voice almost blowing one's ears, the Original Broadway Cast Album is the best way to sample "Milk And Honey."  It will give you a glimpse into a long-forgotten time. 

                                  

A Delayed Welcome For May!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

                                 Not because I forgot, darlings, but because there was so much going on last week, and, then on Friday, at David's request, we went to Shady Maple, a mega buffet in Lancaster Pennsylvania, where they serve things like pig's stomach!!!!!!!!!!  I mean, can you imagine?  Did you think I would touch that!  

                                   Our bus ride was unforgettable, because it amounted to an SUV like vehicle with only six people on what used to be one of L and M Bus Tours' most popular trips.  I felt like I was Grayson Hall in "The Night Of The Iguana."  I should have started singing "Three Little Fishies."

                                      Yesterday we went to a PEN Conference on Children's Graphic Novels, lead by my niece Jenni and nephew Matthew.  We went to dinner afterward and had a most wonderful visit.

                                        This afternoon we are FINALLY going to a screening of "The Devil Wears Prada 2."  What am I going to wear?  And tomorrow night is The MET Gala!  Where the hell is my invite?  ANNA, help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                           So, you can see how difficult it has been, getting time to write this blog.  I have to make the most of my time, because I am going to the dentist tomorrow, and how can I fit in our walking club????????????

                                              See what I am up against, girls?  And on Wednesday, we are seeing "Beaches."  Like the song says, "Heaven Help My Heart!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'

                                                Give me strength, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                But wait!  Let us usher in this month properly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               Here is Julie Andres singing "The Lusty Month Of May," from "Camelot," back in 1960!!!!!!!!!!! Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Girls, Join Us Tonight At 8PM, As "Svengoolie" Presents "Frankenstein And The Monster From Hell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

                               This is a 1974 Hammer film, with Peter Cushing.  I did not know Cushing was still making Hammer film at that time, or, for that matter, Hammer.

                                 What I am really interested in, darlings, is seeing what "the monster from Hell" looks like.  I know Karloff or Lee is not playing the Frankenstein monster, so, for that matter, is it really of concern what he looks like?  I do not think so.

                                    I certainly hope The Sven Squad will be on hand, especially Nostaligiafeeratoo.

                                    I am sure the film was made with all of Hammer's panache for blood and color!!!!!!!!!!

                                   This is a new film for "Svengoolie," in the years I have been watching him, so be sure not to miss it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     Baby Gojira and Company are so excited!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     So tune in at 8PM, darlings, and join us for the fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!