I Just Found Out Juliette Lewis Sings In "The Rocky Horror Show!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" The Question Is, Can She?????????????????"

                                  Juliette Lewis does not look so good, girls.  Could it be too much facial work, drugs, or a combination of both????????????????

                                     Lea Michele is a disgrace, but at least she can hit notes.  Lewis is a quirky actress and is playing a role many of us want to--Magenta--in this show.  But did you know she sings the opening song "Science Fiction?"  The score's most melodic and lyrical song, and Juliette Lewis sings THIS?  Can she?

                                        And I thought the Narrator always sings this.  I would rather hear Rachel Dratch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        I have seen a couple of clips on YouTube, and I have not been impressed.  And the theater staff and show crew are coming down hard on the audience participation thing, which is crucial to this show.  I mean, are people going to be stopped from doing the "Time Warp?"  I defy anyone so stop me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                           I admit when I first heard she was cast as Magenta, I asked why?  Now, I am really wondering.  I have not seen the show yet, but I plan to, at some point.

                                             Juliette Lewis has always been an actress of limited range.

                                              This time, I am afraid she may be stretching things too far!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Girls, It Is Important To Hydrate And Moisturize, And Use Sun Screen During These Sizzling Summer Months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Otherwise, You Will End Up Looking Like This!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

                            I don't think even Sally Hershberger could do something about "The Water Ghost Of Harrowby Hall."  Looking all damp and clammy is no way to present oneself at any kind of party or social gathering.

                            This is actually billed as "A Victorian Christmas Spirit Story."  The author is John Kendrick Bangs.  I first discovered this story in my children's Hitchcock anthology "Haunted Houseful."  This volume also contained "The Wastywych Secret," by Constance Savery.  With that nasty Victorian mean girl Jessica Fairlie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 But 'The Water Ghost' is hopeless, although she can serve as an example of what happens to girls who do not take care of themselves, especially during the summer months.

                                 Stock up on beauty products while you can!

                                  So you can have "Fun, fun, fun," and maybe Daddy won't take your T-bird away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Am Important Word About Fleet Week, Girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        Now, I know that everyone on here loves Fleet Week.  The thing is it usually is around this time.  Gojira leads in the ships from the sea, the sailors disembark, and action ensues.

                                         Remember what I always say, darlings--Bring a sailor home for a home cooked meal.  But "a bit of dinner never hurt, but guess who is gonna be dessert?"

                                             The event will take place, but it will be more chaotic.  Because it is being only limited to three days--July 3, 4, and 5.  To coincide with our nation's 250th Anniversary!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                               Can you imagine what a bottleneck Manhattan will be, then.  I would not even think of coming in.  Though on the 5th, we are supposed to see "Citizen Kane" at a Fathom Events at Regal Cinema on West 14th Street.  Maybe I will nab a sailor then!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                  So, don't be disappointed, dolls.  Fleet Week will happen, but in a more abbreviated form.

                                                    It will accelerate your wiles in recruiting sailors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now, What Kind Of Blogger Would I Be, If I Did Not Write About Rex Reed?????????????????????????

                            Rex Reed, who died on May 12 this year at the age of eighty-seven, during my youth--the Seventies and Eighties--was a big name in entertainment journalism.  Though this post may read more like a gossip column than a tribute.

                           No, darlings, I never slept with Rex Reed, though I can say that even during my wildest periods I don't think I would.  Or would I?  If he could do something for me?  Maybe.  But the point of all this is that, even at his handsomest I did not find him attractive, and I think our personalities would have clashed.  Two too strong egos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                           I shall never forget Rex Reed going after Robert Altman on every picture he made.  Of his 1971 film, "McCabe And Mrs. Miller," Reed called it "an incoherent, boring, ponderous and totally worthless piece of garbage....and I am sad to say that 'M*A*S*H*' was an accident."

                           What most people don't know, but I do, girls, after reading an article in "Film Quarterly" during the time "Nashville" came out in 1975 relating an incident at one of the film festivals, where both gentlemen were staying on the same hotel floor, rooms from each other, that something took place.    One night , Altman was going back to his room, and Reed had the door open, coming on to him! Are you kidding?  Anyone who knows anything knew Robert Altman was straight, and that when gay men go after straight men it always ends badly.

                               But then he never came out, did he?   Instead, he never learned from his comeuppance several years before the above, when "TIME Magazine" said of his appearance in the 1970 film, "Myra Breckinridge--"Rex Reed's debut as an actor is on a par with the best line the scriptwriters could give him, 'Where are my tits?' "  Indeed, Rex, where were your tits?????????????

                                  Where Rex trolled, I could not tell.  Though I am sure he did.  He bought an apartment years ago in the Dakota for $30K--can you imagine??????--and Lord knows what that will go for today.  I would love to live there, but I am not about to make a deal with the devil.  I would guess Rex Reed did.

                                     Yes, he could write.  Yes, his bitchiness was entertaining, but after several decades he seemed to disappear from public view.  Like John Simon, his pieces might not be publishable today.  Why do you think I write on here?  Would the American press, even the more minor publications, accept such candor as mine?  I doubt it.

                                      So, hail and farewell to Rex Reed.  Rest In Peace.  And be content with being a footnote in American culture.

                                       Though you probably won't!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Darlings, THIS Is The Show Of The Season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        Three weeks from today are The TONY Awards.  Now, "Schmigadoon" has already picked up some minor prizes, like the Outer Critics Circle choice for "Best Musical."  But here's the thing.  The TONYS, like the Oscars, are so damned political and corporate--isn't everything, girls? --that, much as I want and think it should win "Best Musical," it probably will not.  My advice to you out there is to keep an eye on "The Lost Boys" and "Two Strangers (Carry A Cake Across New York)."

                                        But "Schmigadoon" is the show everyone should see.  A play on the Golden Age Of Musical Theater, even the title suggests "Brigadoon," and so do aspects of the plot.

                                         For show aficionados and Theater Queens like me, the references and in jokes fly, and I caught every one.  For those not in these groups, its colorful staging and knowledgeable direction and choreography by Christopher Gattelli recall the Technicolor musicals of Vincente Minnelli in the 1940s (like "Brigadoon!").  Anyone looking for a 2.5-hour getaway from the current travails of this world are encouraged to see this show.

                                            Besides Gattelli's staging, it also has some Broadway stalwarts like Alex Brightman, Brad Oscar, and Ana Gasteyer, whose performance as the mayor's wife, is a hilarious combination of Hermione Gingold in "The Music Man" and Margaret Hamilton as Almira Gulch in "The Wizard Oz."  By the way, since that film--my favorite--I bet no parent has dared to name their daughter or daughters Almira.  Brad Oscar is the mayor, hilariously dressed as the Mayor Of Munchkin City--another 'Oz' reference--and the reveal between he and Max Clayton, as the Reverend, is hilarious and great for today's times.

                                               The score by Cinco Paul, who also did the book, is wonderfully evocative of musical melodies without plagiarism.    Throughout, one can hear recollections of "Oklahoma!" "Carousel," "The Music Man" and Gilbert And Sullivan Patter that also suggests Stephen Sondheim.  This is American Musical Theater, so no Andrew Lloyd Webber here!  I loved how the score was handled.

                                                I also loved maintaining the methods of entrance and departure from "Schimgadoon."  The duo here are Josh Skinner (Alex Brightman) and Melissa Gimble (Sara Chase), an unmarried couple, one of which is that Skinner is one of the worst kinds of straight guy--someone who dislikes musicals.  It is a pity because, anyone who saw the opening of "Beetlejuice" on Broadway knows Brightman is a more than a capable musical performer, and it is a pity he gets only one song.  He plays his role well, but I wish he had been given more to do.

                                                   Sara Chase, thankfully, is given more and it is when she and the chorus step forward to sing and dance that the show is at its best.  Michael Bennett would be proud, because, beside the stalwarts mentioned--- including McKenzie Kurtz, who plays Betsy, a sort of stand-in for Ado Annie--the show's chorus is actually the star, with its blend of jazz tap, and ballet seldom seen in today's present-day musicals.

                                                      Credit for the Vincente Minnelli color style must be given to set designer, Scott Pask, costume designer Linda Cho, and lighting designer Donald Holder.

                                                     Will "Schmigadoon" stand Time's test, like the shows it references????? Only Time itself will tell.  But right now, darlings, I am telling you, it is the show of the moment, and an avenue of escape for those who need it.

                                                        And all of us do, from time to time. So go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I Want To Be Photographed By Steven Meisel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            Originally, darlings, I wanted to be photographed by Patrick Demarchelier, but he died in 2022; so, unfortunately, that is that.  But after looking at the superb color composition, I think Steven Meisel might be the person to photograph me.  That is, if he agrees to photograph me on at least some of my terms.

                           The photo, without question, has to radiate pink.  My idea is me peeking through a face hole, surrounded by a wall of real pink flowers, and smiling at the camera.  I am telling you, it could make a "VOGUE" cover!!!!!!!!!!!!!   ANNA, you hear this???????????????

                             Of course, photographers have other ideas, and I would be interested in hearing them, but the request that is non=negotiable is that I be surrounded by pink.  And with my skin tones, pink is sure to highlight them.

                              I guess "Schimgadoon," which I recently saw and will report on, is giving me all these Technicolor Vincente Minnelli fantasies.  Also, a little bit of Cecil Beaton!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              How about it, Steven?  When and where?????????????

I Have Missed Some Important Dates, And Am Sorry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                           It is said in all marriages a time comes when an anniversary is forgotten.  I thought it would never happen this year, but it did.  About ten days later, I realized I had missed May 8, which is the anniversary of when David and I first met.  We always celebrate it.  This year, with shows and doctor appointments it just slipped by.  I am so ashamed.  Now, I suppose one might say we could celebrate it any time, but I am one of those people who like to address the occasion on the actual day.  Will we celebrate the occasion?  I am sure at some point we will do so, but for now, I cannot believe I forgot such an important event in my life.  A life changer in the best, most positive, way.

                              Now, the other date I missed has religious connotations.  That was May 13, which was the 109th anniversary of the apparition of Our Lady Of Fatima to Franciso, Jacinta, and Lucia.  All of whom were first cousins, by the way.  Jacinta, the holiest child at Fatima, must be hauling down lightning bolts at me. not just  for my promiscuous. profligate past life, but for forgetting this date; the only time I have done so.

                                Is it age?  Or was May such a taxing month?  A lot happened in it, and continues to, but I think it was more from coming off the difficulty of April, which has been the case since the late Seventies.  Life changed for me shortly after my college graduation, but in ways I could not have anticipated and that had so many negative impacts upon me.

                               Like Scarlett O' Hara, I managed to survive.  Now that I am in my seventies, perhaps I still get emotionally overwhelmed around this time of year.

                                What's important is David knows I love him, and he me; in fact, several weeks ago, when my friend Angie was in town, we dined at what used to be the place David and I met.  Back in 2010--sixteen years ago!!!!!!!!!!!--it was called the Riviera Cafe; now it is Little Ruby Cafe.  Angie and I had not seen each other in at least seven years--she has been living in Alaska for the past 18-- so maybe, in a way, that was our premature celebration.  The occasion was certainly celebratory.

                                    Still, in a way, I wanted to remember these dates and celebrate them with my readers.

                                     Be good to your spouses, darlings, and may Heaven forgive me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!