"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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Darlings, At This Moment This Is THE Bookstore In Town!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    Yesterday afternoon, before attending, of all things, a screening of "The Silence Of The Lambs," David and I stopped in at the Wild Sorrel Cookbooks Store.  Located at 332 East 13th Street, just several buildings down from CSC Theatre, this impressively curated establishment has been put together, by an obliging young man named Troy Chatterton.  Troy may be recognizable to some through his former capacity at Three Lives in the West Village.  Now, he has moved east (Of Eden?) and his store is a marvel of information on cooking of all varieties, catering both to aficionados and amateurs.  Even to those such as I whose ability in the kitchen is limited to making a cup of coffee!  But I do make FABULOUS coffee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      Troy is such a fine young man, and he showed us around the store, whose selections impressed me.  Of course, there were titles I never would have heard of, and some even I was familiar with.  His boyfriend, Sam, was on hand to greet customers as a good host should, and he was charming.  I mean, girls, for those of you who are single, this could be the next best place in town to meet men!!!!!!!!!!  None of those sleazy gay bars--that is so retro '80's!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        Interestingly, Troy offered me a piece of Sees chocolates.  My cousin Maureen happens to be married to their CEO, and lives on the West Coast.  And David, who is the kitchen master in this house, purchased two books from Troy's store.  I also noticed some luscious cookies placed out for all to enjoy, but I did not want anything in my stomach while viewing "The Silence Of The Lambs."

                                          Still, we had a lovely time, and I recommend a visit to Wild Sorrel.

                                          Congratulations, Troy, and may your tenancy there be a long one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                           Cooking will now become the new Pickle Ball!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Girls. At Last!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lilly Pulitzer For Men!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                          I have always loved the color and patterns of Lilly Pulitzer's designs.  But I always thought they were exclusively for women.

                           Either I was wrong--which may be possible--or Lilly has gotten with it and expanded her line.  And a good thing too, what with "The Devil Wears Prada 2" coming out this week.  I need to look my best when going to see it, and these outfits would do the trick.  My favorite is the suit in the middle, but I would wear shoes instead of sandals.  What they do to my sensitive feet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             Really, I am so happy Lilly Pulitzer has given men options; if new, she is long overdue for this.  As I am for these beautiful and elegant jackets.  Perfect for an afternoon or early evening.

                             Girls, go wild!  Find the nearest Lilly Pulitzer to you (there is one on Court Street in Brooklyn) and find the outfit of your dreams!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               Remember, ANNA once said Brooklyn is "the new Silicon Valley," so you cannot go wrong.

                               I can't wait to march into the theater looking so elegant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              And, of course, to stand out, with such luscious colors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hooray, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Mermaid Parade Has Been Saved!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                         Would you believe, girls, that this event was on the verge of not happening due to financial problems????????? Well, something or someone saved it, and now The Coney Island Mermaid Parade will take place on Saturday, June 20.

                             I am not sure I will be there, but I remember my first one, the eighth, back in 1990.  I went by myself, and, over the years a group of us evolved, including my David, who would go every year.   We would usually have lunch at Carolina's, a great Italian restaurant, until it folded.  Then we tried Gargiulo's which is still there but has an insufferable attitude toward patrons.  One is not allowed to wear shorts there.  OK, but on Mermaid Parade Day??????????????  The year we ate there, I marched with my gym bag into the bathroom, and changed into a pair of shorts, The staff was livid, but we were leaving, we had paid, so what could they do????????????????

                              I would hope things are better today, but I bet they are not.  And Gargiulo's has competition, not only from Nathan's, but the restaurant beneath the Parachute Jump, which I am anxious to try.

                               I am just happy this event is occurring for what will be its 44th year.  The time is slowly creeping up to 50 years.  Maybe I will attend, then!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               Have a wonderful time, everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!