The Sadness Of Revisiting One's Home Town!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            Last week, David and I went on an L and M Bus Tour.  We went to two art museums, one in Princeton, and one on the Rutgers University campus in North Brunswick.  The museums were fine examples of what they ought to be, but it was the emotional resonance of being back in familiar territory that got to me.

                              Princeton is much more cosmopolitan than I thought.  Oh, sure, the university is still there, and always will be, but either my memory misperceives things or the town has expanded considerably since I was last in it, decades ago.    I mean, Labyrinth Books!  I have GOT to go in there, sometime.  I bet Joyce Carol Oates hangs out there

                                 Now, the Rutgers visit was more personal for me, because I inhabited this campus during my youth.  Not so much as a student--Rutgers was the only school I ever applied to that turned me down!!!!!!!!!!!--but, in those days, one could wander the campus, see the bookstore, and use the library for your own research.   Of course, if one was not a student, one could not take out books, but that did not matter, then.  Now, I am sure only those matriculated can gain access to the library and its materials.  How times have changed.

                                 In the picture you can see part of the road we traveled, and those arches over the Raritan River, which were part of my life since infancy.  And from New Brunswick, down by the highway leading to Albany Stret, one can see Highland Park across the river.  That is when I wanted to cry.  Highland Park will always be a part of me, but I can never go back there.  Even sadder is the realization that, in my absence, the town has gone on, without me.  That is a bitter pill to swallow. 

                                 Still, I was glad for this glimpse of Highland Park.  It is still there and always will be, a secret kind of place like Brigadoon.  I guess that is what makes it special.

                                   Having read the Thomas Wolfe book, I can say he was right.  "You Can't Go Home Again."

                                     Cheers, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Friday The 13th, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              Two consecutively in one month.  Can you believe it, girls???????????

                              I won't say much on this post, because I will have something more exciting to say tomorrow, because something special is coming up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              Meanwhile, enjoy your Friday The 13th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Darlings, Somone In Bay Ridge, Besides Us, Is A Big Gojira Fan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                           On this poster, in almost the exact spot on our subway platform, where Cynthia Nixon was called by her right name, someone painted a picture of Gojira giving it both to our fearless leader and Northwest Florida.

                                              Actually, I think he should have given it to all of Florida.  I mean, the Jim Dooley generation that made it a retirement mecca is gone, people don't flock there like they used to, it is hot, crawling with creepy creatures, alligators and mountain lions among them, and the government down there--don't get me started!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                  So, I just want to thank the artist who drew Gojira onto this poster.   He still looks as lovable as ever!

                                                    At first, I thought Baby Gojira had done it.

                                                   But he would NEVER be seen on a subway platform!!!!!!!!!!!!

Girls, Today Is A Milestone, As Liza Turns 80!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     On this year, especially, it should be a national holiday for gays and especially Theater Queens.

                                     Liza Minnelli, who has made lasagna for Michael Jackson, Elizabeth Taylor and Halston, turns 80!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  There was a time when I thought she would never make it to this point.  I mean, between her history and her mother's, wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      But today Liza turns 80, and we are so happy to have her around.  She is one of the most notable Italian Americans in existence, like Cher, (for portraying Loretta Castorini in "Moonstruck") Susan Lucci, Andrew Cuomo and Chef Boyardee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         All of us on here wish Liza a very Happy Birthday!  I hope Lady Gaga and everyone shows up for the party, which I have so far not been invited to!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          If Zasu Pitts were alive, she would come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            Happy Birthday, Liza!  May you be around for a long time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     Here is Christine Pedi as Liza.  Today, she is more Liza than Liza!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         

Oh, Wally, Wally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It Is Time To Hang It Up Already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       Before getting into the train wreck of the theatrical experience above, let me just say a word about Timothee Chalamet.  Kid, you just blew your Oscar chances!  And go, Amy Madigan!

                                        Ok, Now--

                                        Had "What We Did Before Our Moth Days," now at the Greenwich House Theatre (probably because it was the only venue it could get) had been 90 minutes with no intermission, one might have emerged regarding it as thoughtful, effortful, philosophical and sincere.

                                           Instead, Shawn, with his Napoleon complex, and fondness for only his own words, has turned this into three hours which is just twice too long as it should be.  Imagine the graveyard scene of "Our Town."  Even with Wilder's poetry, stretched out to three hours, one would say, "Enough already!"

                                              The premise is simple.  Four actors sit on a stage, enacting characters who turn out to be connected to each other, musing on life, death, and everything in between.  I could not help noticing it was SO heterosexual.  Not that there is anything wrong with it, but a New York set play that does not acknowledge gay people??????????  And this from an author who, decades earlier, while I was still in my twenties, hit on me at a New Years Eve party????????????????

                                                  I could care less about that, but I do care about good theater, and Shawn is still writing the same pretentious crap as "My Dinner With Andre," which, for the life of me, I cannot to this day understand how some went crazy over it. .  There definitely were some 'Andre' groupies in the audience!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                  This production was purportedly directed by Andre Gregory.  His name may be on the program, but, in his 90's, one can bet an assistant did most of the work.  Not that there is much to direct, anyway.  The actors could do it themselves.

                                                  The actors--Hope Davis, John Early, Maria Dizzia and Josh Hamilton are capable of delivering their monologued lines, but I sensed in each an effort to be earnest; in other works, to "speak the play," as Shakespeare would say--and then get the hell out of there!  As the actors exited the stage for the final time, I sensed a bit of relief in all.  And I could not help noticing the audience did not give it a standing ovation.  No one stood for this play.  They all headed to the nearest exit.

                                                   My advice?  Stay away from this venue while the vehicle is there.

                                                   As for Wallace Shawn, you are still a troll!  Try writing something groundbreaking, instead.

                                                   That is, if you can

                                                   

I Want A Saturn Girl Action Figure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                               As I have previously mentioned, on a bookshelf in our bedroom is what I call my little Cup Of Heroes.  Not to be confused with the Canyon Of Heroes, dears.

                                                 The cup contains Sun Boy (Dirk Morgna of Earth) from the Legion Of Super-Heroes.  I also have Doctor Fate and The Spectre, both from the Justice Society Of America,

                                                    For me, with superheroes, it is all about the costume.  Which is why I want to add to my cup, another Legionnaire, and that is Saturn Girl (Imra Ardeen).  She is, or course, from Saturn.  That red costume is dazzling; too bad she has a dour expression on her face.  But the costume is accurate and colorful.

                                                       Who knows who else is out there?  By the time I am finished, darlings, my cup may become a cornucopia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                           I wonder if Computo or the Legion Clubhouse is available??????????????

See, Darlings?????????? The Golden And Silver Age Of Comics Has Evolved Into What Today Is Called Pop Art! How Would You Like These Images, Among Others, Covering Your Walls? I Would!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            Many think Pop Art is Andy Warhol, with the jar of Campbell's Tomato Soup, or the photograph of Marilyn Monroe.  But, as can be seen here, Pop Art can be anything if drawn in the correct style, like Golden and Silver artists of yesteryear.

                             Color is a central requirement; as can be seen, these images are ablaze with color.  I would like the middle one either on my living room wall or the bedroom ceiling.

                              Or maybe the collage should go on the bedroom ceiling, and the knockout words in the living room.  It is SO much fun to contemplate.

                             So, girls, the next time you yearn for the Golden or Silver Age Of Comics, look to Pop Art!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 Another great home decorating idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!