An Understated Farewell To One Of The Two Worst Months Of The Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

                                                       I have always believed that once one gets through February, the year kicks off.  The days get longer, Spring arrives, the weather is warmer, and one feels more comfortable about venturing outside.  I always breathe a sigh of relief when we come to Feburary.

                                                         Not that this was a bust.  We celebrated the birthdays of Blythe Danner, Shelley Plimpton, and my sister.  We saw The Gallery Players' production of "Once Upon A Mattress."  We dined for lunch at La Grenouille.  Yes, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                          We also said goodbye to Lee Radziwill, and remembered the year anniversary of my father's passing.

                                                           So, February was hardly a bust.  How could it be, with my beloved David, beside me?

                                                             March looks to be potentially exciting.  See you all, then!!!!!!!!!!!

Here Is Jack, Showing Us How To Wash His Hands!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                I have been looking for Jack, for a long time.  You see, when I was a child, I had this book called "The American Health Series," where Jack and his sister, Dorothy, showed how to maintain good health.  Jack was the youngest kid I had seen wear suspenders--which I, at my advanced age, do now.  Dorothy, dressed like an over aged Shirley Temple, had the shortest dresses you can imagine; she would not be allowed in a school today.

                                  Their Aunt May would come and give them big sugar cookies, because their mother would load them down with vegetable salads, especially when they had lunch in town.. Which was a big deal for them, because they were distinctly middle class,  They never went on vacation, Day trips, yes, but this gang was far from the Jet Set.  You can see from this picture Jack is never going to grow up to know what Fire Island is.  He will live next door to Dorothy in the same town, and raise their families together.

                                     Which is kind of how I thought things would turn out for me, which is why I found this book, while campy now, so comforting, then.

                                      Of course, had things turned out that way, I might have been in an asylum, all this time!

                                       Which proves that not getting what you think you want is often the best gift of all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How Could I Forget Bitch Of The Week?????????????????

                                  My God, girls, it is Thursday!  Maybe my coffee is not strong enough.

                                   I wanted to be certain, before I posted this, but, with all that has emerged in the past week, I can safely say it.

                                   Jussie Smollett is the winner of this week's Raving Queen Bitch Of The Week Award.

                                    Not only a bitch, but just plain dumb!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     I take gay bashing seriously.  So, when I heard he staged the whole thing, and snookered two guys into enacting his attackers, I was livid.  Jussie, you disgrace and insult the LGBQT Community, the Chicago PD, and even your two cohorts, who did it for money, and can be accused only of stupidity.  I actually feel sorry for them.  You duped them and then with the whole homophobic ranting and rope coming from you--what kind of scum, are you.

                                      Poor baby!  You were only being paid two million dollars!  And THIS is how you negotiate for a raise???????????  You just killed you career, hon, because who the hell is going to hire you for anything? Soon, you'll be picking spuds out of ash cans on Sunset Strip!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        That would be  a suitable punishment. Nevertheless, I feel some legal
reprimands are due, and, hopefully coming your way.

                                         You idiot?  Just who the hell did you think you were?

Girls, Did You See Amy Sedaris' Hat Show, Tuesday Night???????????????????????????

                                              As always, with Amy, she was both entertaining and informative.

                                              Her igloo hat was a masterwork of design.  I would love to see a millinery shop, run by Amy. It would be the most engaging store of its kind, since Minnie Fay's in
Hello, Dolly!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                                But Amy touched on something important, and that was craft block, which she seemed to be suffering from.  Now, I am no crafter, but I do, occasionally suffer from writers' block.  If I don't post on here for awhile, that is usually the reason.  The others might be travel, doctors' appointments, or illness.

                                                   I want to write.  I feel I have to put something down every day.  But it is hard, because the really quirky ideas, like Mr. Hyde being the first schizophrenic,  just come out of nowhere.  To be sure, books, movies and shows are covered here.  But the really ingenious things are from my bizarre mind.  And sometimes it is not so bizarre.  For instance, I have not seen any TV commercial of late, that annoy me.  Those I wrote about were wisely taken off the air, but where is the new batch??????????

                                                   So, I got what Amy was talking about.  And it was great seeing Chassie and Patty Hogg!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                      But what is Nutmeg up to?????????????

"Facing Demons" Showed 'SVU' Should Face Up To Its Demise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                The best thing about "Facing Demons," was the return of Dean Winters, as detective Brian Cassidy.  For those who have not known him earlier, it may come as a pleasant surprise that he is more to some of us than Mr. Mayhem, though he does that role brilliantly.

                                   He is worn down, but still good looking, and Winters' inhabiting of the role was impeccable.  Of course, in each scene with Mariska, he enacted the shit out of her, but then so could a five-year-old in a Children's Theatre class.  Which Noah must be pursuing; if not, then something else, as there was no sight or mention of him.  This kid is raising himself.  Cue in Julie Andrews as a guest, playing Mary Poppins!  The REAL one!

                                   Sexual abuse was the topic, but what was so predictable was that Cassidy, back in 1985, when he was ten, had been abused by the coach of his Little League team,  William Sadler gave a subtle and smarmy performance as that coach, Gary Dolan, who very nearly got off.  Cassidy's anguish was palpable, and, of course, Olivia wanted to step in and fix everything, which is why he never told her what had happened to him.  Believe me, I get it. I wouldn't want Benson clinging to me like a drug to an addict!

                                  There really isn't more that can be said about this episode.  It was straightforward, simple, and predictable. If it had not been for Dean Winters, it would have been a snooze fest!

                                    The next episode does not air until March 14.  This show is taking too many hiatuses.  I think it is because the writers cannot come up with anything truly exciting.

                                     Which tells me it might be time to say good bye!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Think What This Could Mean For 'Merrily!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'

                                         Three days more remain till I evaluate the Fiasco's handling of "Merrily We Roll Along."  But I want to show you a piece of film I found that has the right idea.  This is a group from the Australian company of "Sondheim On Sondheim."  They are performing "Opening Doors," from 'Merrily', and give an idea of how brilliantly not only this number, but the show itself, might transfer to film.

                                          Interesting to note the whole thing is shot in black and white.  Which begs the question--is that because of the time period?  Would the film start out in color, and then fade into black-and-white, with time?  It is certainly an arresting idea, and could work.

                                             And look at how the number ends.  Almost like a replica of the original poster!

                                            I love it!  And future toilers with 'Merrily'--and there will be others--take note.  This could actually work!

                                             Get ready, Fiasco!  I have my eyes on you!

Happy Birthday To Shelley Plimpton!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                 Can you believe it, girls?  It is another February 27, and that means it is Shelley Plimpton's birthday.  For those who have not been on here long, and may not be quite familiar, Shelley is not only the mother of actress Martha Plimpton, but a legend of the musical stage herself.  Over fifty years ago, in both the Off-Broadway and Broadway versions of "HAIR"," she, the most angelic and innocent looking of the lot, portrayed teeny-bopper Crissy, introducing what is my favorite song from the show, "Frank Mills."  And though I have acquired a reputation for doing that song--even on September 12, in front of the Waverly--Shelley own it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                    Shelley Plimpton turns 72 today. How can such a thing be?  If she is that old, then the rest of us are not that far behind!  Needless to say, Shelley looks wonderful--many happy returns!!!!!!!!!!!!!--and hers will always be the definitive version of "Frank Mills!"

Listen to Shelley right now!

For reasons beyond me, I cannot get the Broadway version.  This is the original Off-Broadway version, as introduced at the Public Theatre on October 7, 1967.  Shelley's voice is there, but the music arrangement is a bit more up tempo than on Broadway.

Nevertheless, we love you, Shelley!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Compelling, But Uncertain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       This book made "The New York Times 100 Best Noted Books List Of 2018."  That was enough to have me consider reading it, but when Michelle Obama endorsed it, I was there;  I figured she was just doing her Oprah bit, but then Oprah herself had to get in there--I mean, God forbid, she should be upstaged by even the nation's former First Lady!!!!!!!  And classy, too!  Michelle, I mean, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          Nevertheless this book reads at a breakneck pace. It raises issues that make the reader think; for instance I did not like how Celestial and Andre behaved when Roy was imprisoned.  I had pegged Celestial as some cold hearted bitch, but when things wrapped up I thought differently.

                                            The novel examines not only marriage but how blacks are treated within and outside their own community.  Perfect reading for Black History Month, but this would be worth it any time of year.

                                              One is free to disagree or agree with the situations and outcome.  The characters of the parental figures are equally as strong as their offspring.  The novel rests on Jones' concise writing, objectivity, and allowing readers to think for themselves.

                                                It went in directions I never expected, and that is really satisfying!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We Welcome A New Reader, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                Girls, I am so excited!  It has been awhile, but the follower indicator is at 85 now, so someone wonderful has found their way here.  While I do not know who you are, exactly, let me bid you welcome, and hope you get enjoyment and information out of what is written on here.  The world of The Raving Queen is a wacky one, and I do my best to keep up with it.

                                                 As I tell everyone I welcome, it goes great with coffee=--I never write without it--so make sure it is beside you.

                                                  And now, here to welcome you, is this blog's unofficial theme song--

                                                  Enjoy!  And Welcome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Spring Is Fast Approaching! So, I Thought It Time For Another Marriage Chat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             A friend of both David and myself recently, to our surprise, got married.  I hope she had time to read some of my columns, but probably not.  In any case, I hope those of you who have, are finding them informative and helpful.  Let's continue, with some of my favorites, from this batch!!!!!!!!!!!

                               This may be a short column.  I think Numbers 82, 86, and 87 are most important.

                               Number 82.  On The First Date, Tell Him You Aren't Thinking Of Getting Married--This is a scare tactic used by spinsters (think Judith Evelyn as Miss Lonelyhearts in "Rear Window"!) to make the dates feel they are not being baited.  I used to do just the opposite--make my intentions known outright, when I was young, when all that the guys wanted was.....well, you know!
Subtlety is the key here.  If he thinks you are not interested, he will wonder what is wrong with him, and before you know it, he will be pushing hard, and will be putty in your manicured and nail polished hands!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                Number 86.  When You're Out Strolling With Him, Don't Insist On Stopping At Every Shopwindow--  We girls all know we are clothes horses, dears, but there is no reason to frighten him away, with that, immediately.  I know it will be tough to cast your eyes away from the designer houses, but it must be done if a husband is to be landed.  Once hitched, you can spend all the money you want.   Your husband will want you to look good, especially at social parties, and making ourselves look good is what we excel at, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                Number 87.  Don't Tell Him How Much Your Clothes Cost--I mean, goodness!  You do not want him to think you shop at J.C. Penney's or Sears!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Be grateful for whatever trifle he gives you, then take it to a custom made place, and remade to your fashion specifications.  He will be so dumb, he won't know the difference.  Once the wedding is done, then you can cavort to all the couturiers you want!  But till that time, fool him into thinking you are not too demanding or specific!  Remember, only WE know the truth!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    That's it for today, girls. Short and sweet.  It has been over a month since my last one, so I felt I was due.

                                      Happy Springtime thoughts, and luck on all your wedding plans!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Bauble That Needs To Be Polished!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    Having grown up listening to Carol Burnett, on the Original Cast Album of "Once Upon A Mattress," I had always wanted to see the show, even if only to hear, live, its two most famous songs, "Shy," and "Happily Ever After."

                                     Looking at it today, knowing it was written by Richard Rodgers' daughter, Mary--her one real hit!--and that her father's partner, Oscar Hammerstein, mentored a young Stephen Sondheim, one can almost see a foreshadowing of "Into The Woods."

                                      Alas, while this 'Mattress' hits all the right notes--an outstanding Princess Winifred, a Queen with a show stealing dress, and a bevy of voices who can sing this Fifties musical to the rafters, the choreography and pacing slow it down a bit.  It just did not seem tight enough, and this may very well be because the show is still getting on its feet; it opened last Friday, and I caught the
Sunday matinee.

                                      Most know the story--one of Hans Christian Andersen's lightest--"The Princess And The Pea."  But filtered by Rodgers and the book writers into a Fifties period comic concoction that is fun to watch, while hearkening back to an age of musical theater many of us in the audience long for.

                                       The Gallery Players' first offering, this season, "A Chorus Line," was so professionally done it could have moved across the river.  This 'Mattress' reeks of too much community theater, especially in the rather makeshift sets.  If you are going to do one show right, why not do them all that way?????????????????????

                                        My advice is to give this show time to get on its feet.  I have a feeling by the time the run ends, on March 17, it will have tightened up quite a bit.

                                          Besides, how else does one get a chance to see shows like this, as they are not revived, anymore?  Oh, yes, I know about the one with Sarah Jessica Parker, but forget that!  Now, even she is starting a fashion line!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            There is nothing here that cannot be fixed, and what is solid is delightful. Give yourself a chance, and see this production of "Once Upon A Mattress," darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             Because both princesses and musical theater seem to be becoming endangered species!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Morning After The Oscars, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               No, I was not forced into a state of catatonia, and both David and I got through the program, but speaking for myself,  I have some things to say about last night's Oscars.

                                This was the most politicized Oscars I have ever seen.  If you were not Black, or a woman, forget it; you did not stand a chance.  I realize how that may sound, and I certainly don't mean to be, but, it seems, that, from the start, there was this hidden agenda of White Guilt for having giving so many previous deserving winners awards before the days when diversity ruled.

                                  The biggest surprise, and diverse element, was the award for Best Actress Given to Olivia Coleman!!!!!!!!!!!!!  That was a stunner!  She was so touching and cute, it almost felt like the Oscars were getting back on track again.  At least, for a moment!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     There were some other surprises.  Two song renderings--Bette Midler singing the touching "The Place Where Lost Things Go," from "Mary Poppins Returns" was gorgeous, but oh, how I would have loved to hear Julie Andrews doing it.  And Bradley Cooper doing "Shallow" from "A Star Is Born," with Lady Gaga, came off better live on stage, last night, than it ever did in the actual movie.

                                      Since MERYL was absent, class was represented,, thank God, by repeat shots of a gracious looking Amy Adams--oh, that hair!!!!!!!!--in a stunning white gown.

                                        But let's face it, there are only six, maybe eight, awards, anyone cares about.  So, do away with everything else, present those awards, and call it a night!  No one, and I speak for myself here, gives a damn about anything else.

                                           As to those eight awards--how about them?

                                          Best Picture--"Green Book!"  What?  Not that I had any clear cut favorites--there were not any--but I was jolted, because the way the evening was going, I thought it would go to either "Roma," or "Bohemian Rhapsody."  After the latter won for Best Film Editing, I was prepared to hear "Bohemian Rhapsody" announced, but "Green Book" threw me!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                           Best Actor--Rami Malek, in "Bohemian Rhapsody."  Rami, who?  Never heard of him!  And beating out Christian Bale as a right winger is pretty impressive, especially since this is supposedly his first major role!  Shades of Jennifer Jones!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                           Best Actress--Olivia Coleman, in "The Favorite."  Boy, did that come out of left field.  I was figuring poor Glenn Close would score on her seventh try.  Now, in her Seventies, Glenn has lost her last chance.  She has to wait till she has an age related illness so the Academy can honor her with an Honorary Award, Which is, literally, the Kiss Of Death!   I would turn it down, Glenn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             Best Supporting Actor--Mahershala Ali, in "Green Book."  He gave a better performance in "Moonlight;" this film was Race Relations Light, like a male "Driving Mr. Daisy."  And it took two to make this thing work, so why not give it to Viggo Mortensen, too?  But this years award was all about correcting now perceived ills of the past!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                               I could not help but notice how Richard E, Grant, seemed pissed.  Having won so many other awards for his work in "Can You Ever Forgive Me?," I think he thought he was a sure thing!  Instead, he ended up with egg on his face!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                Best Supporting Actress--Regina King, in "If Beale Street Could Talk."  Take it, Regina, baby!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  This was the real thing, and a performance that commanded respect and admiration on the basis of merit, not its politics.  Poor Amy Adams; another nomination down the tubes.  But there is still lots of time ahead for her--an Oscar is in her future!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                 Best Director--Alfonso Cuaron, for "Roma."  Again, when I saw this, I thought "Roma" might take Best Picture, though it had already cut its chances by winning Best Foreign  Language Film.  Cuaron is a marvelous director, but is the film as good as some think it is?????????????

                                                   These are the awards that are REALLY cared about.  The Best Song, for a change, just happened to have some good nominees in it, and the Best Foreign Language category had the potential of pulling off a "Roma" double header, which it did not.  Again, thank you, Amy Adams!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                    Did any of these film interest me, no?  If this is the way of film, it will be back to scrawling pictures on cave walls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                      Having no host seemed to pick up the pace a little.

                                                      But it will take more than that to improve the Oscars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                 

                                           

A Word About Jesse Green!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                              Make no mistake about it, dears, the Fiasco Theatre Company's heads are still potentially on the chopping block, until I see how they have handled 'Merrily.'  What I want to write about now is Jesse Green, The New York Times critic, because I don't want to give the impression, having disagreed with his assessment of "Call Me Madam," that his head is on my chopping block.  It isn't. There actually is something I read about him saying that demonstrates we are both on the same page--at least about one thing.

                                               To paraphrase Mr. Green, he said something to the effect that many who write theater criticism have no idea of what it is like to create theater, and when I read that, I cheered!!!!!!!!!!!!    Mr. Green, I take off my hat to you.  Over the years I have performed, auditioned, stage managed--everything but hanging lights.  The height scares me.  And without a net--no way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                I am glad this notion is shared by someone else, because this cuts very close to the bone with me. At my former workplace, which was an arts center, things were becoming much more corporate than I could tolerate.  I am not placing the blame solely on them; many arts places seem to be going in this direction.  But it was something I could not, and would not, tolerate.  I also could not work with people who ostensibly thought they knew about theater, but did not.  At least two in particular, whom I could name, but will not.  They know who they are.

                                                 When I was hired there, in 1981, back when 'Merrily' was getting on its feet, (See?  There will be more than one connection to 'Merrily.') one had to have some kind of background in the performing arts to work there.  These days, any tramp off the street would be hired.  Like when the Castevets, in "Rosemary's Baby," plucked Theresa Gionoffrio off the street to potentially bear Satan's child.  This, to me is unconscionable.

                                                    Now, here comes another 'Merrily' connection, because, when the show finally did open, and people whom I knew saw and talked about it, so many would come up to me, and say "You ARE Charley Kringas."  Which I was proud of.  Because, from my first viewing I got Charley, because he and I were on that same idealized wave of integrity.  And never seemed to have lost it.

                                                       Did I leave/retire having done my own version of "Franklin Shepard, Inc.?"  No, but I certainly wanted to.  In fact, maybe this post is it.

                                                         So, to Jesse Green, thank you for making this head-on-his-shoulders idealist/purist force me to write this.  I always considered the criticism of others informative, up to a point.  When it comes to viewing, the only critic I listen to, is I. Because if you have no experience of any kind in the art you are writing about, what the hell gives you the right to judge it?

                                                           Meaning, Jesse, if you felt you were on the hook, you were not, and thereby off.  The Fiasco Company, till March 2, is still on it, with their 'Merrily.'

                                                            Oh, God, how I would love to be proved wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Belated Tribute To Lee Radziwill!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      The event was planned for weeks in advance, darlings, long before Lee passed, but her passing made for this to be my way of honoring her memory.

                                       My David had planned to take this past week off, and, as he had never been there, decided that, on Thursday, he wanted to have lunch at La Grenouille.  As I had not been there in at least twenty years, and, even back in the day, when more establishments of its type abounded, thought it the best of the lot.

                                        Our expectations were satisfied.  The flowered elegance, and muted lighting, showcasing all the colors, still remains. So does the cuisine.  We went simple--a Cheese Souffle for an appetizer, Quenelles in Cream Sauce, with Rice, for David, and a Bouef Bourguignon for me.  We topped that off with Oeuf A La Neige (Floating Island--which I have had, and theirs is delicious!!!!!) for David, and a Lemon Tart With Raspberries, In Raspberry Sauce, for yours truly.  Their decaf coffee was full bodied, and the little Petit Fours were scrumptious.

                                           Of course, we had wine with our meal, and when we toasted, we raised our glasses in memory of Lee.  How happy I would have been had she suddenly popped in.

                                           But, then, for all I know, maybe she was there....in spirit.

                                           Here's to honoring you, Lee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

An Open Post To The Fiasco Theatre Company, Regarding 'Merrily!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!'

                                                    "Imagine how snide and vicious he
                                                       (Addison De Witt) could get, and
                                                    still nothing but the truth."--Anne
                                                      Baxter to Celeste Holm, in "All
                                                    About Eve" (1950.)

                                          Indeed, Fiasco.  Be afraid.  Be VERY afraid.

                                          I, (The Raving Queen, that is!) am coming to see 'Merrily' on the March 2 matinee.  Woe to those from whom I find this production unsatisfying.

                                          Why do I sound angry already, when I have not seen it?

                                           Because I have read a great many things that made me cringe when I heard of some of the ways it has been approached.  I won't address those until my actual review--I still hope to be proven wrong--but if not, look out!

                                            My review will also elaborate on my connection to the show, which goes a bit beyond Row E, center.

                                              I admit to a curiosity about how a score as rich as Sondheim's could be encompassed in a show reduced to an intermissionless one hour and forty five minutes.  That, more than the cast of six, worries me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                               I have seen several productions of 'Merrily,' including the original (I saw that twice!) and have always come away with something from them.  You better get your act together, or this queen will eviscerate you in print!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                               Still, until the show starts, I look forward to it, and hold out hope.  What else can I do?  I am sure the show is frozen.

                                                Be very careful with my 'Merrily!"

                                                The eyes of The Raving Queen are now, till then, upon you!!!!!!!!!!

Hey, Abby, Lonny! What Did You Think Of The Roundabout 'Merrily????????????'

                                  When it was released, I could not wait to see the documentary "Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened."  As a devotee of 'Merrily,' I was so excited to be let in, via cinema, to the incredible world of what it was like doing that show.

                                    Lonny Price made the film, and he did an wonderful job, but the two who impressed me the most, back in 2016, were Terry Finn, the original Gussie, and Abigail Pogebrin, whose hair, poise and articulate voice helped clarify things from the voice of a participant. I have since discovered Abby's writing, both on Judaism and 'Merrily', two topics endearing to New Yorkers.
And with the opening of the Roundabout re-do by the Fiasco Theatre Company, I fearfully ask--of Abigail, Lonny, Terry, anyone who has seen it yet--IS it a fiasco????????????????

                                     When I read Jesse Green's review of the show, all my suspicions were confirmed.  But, then, I thought back two weeks ago, to a post I had written about seeing the ENCORES' production of "Call Me Madam," with Carmen Cusack.  I walked into the auditorium that day with low expectations, and a lousy attitude, "How the hell will I get through this?"  After all, aside from Cusack not being Merman, as Green and everyone kept over stating, "Call Me Madam," though serviceable, is not a world beater of a musical.  Not a classic, like 'Merrily.'

                                        The show swept me away with its gorgeous costumes, Cusack's altogether different take and voice of the part, and a young man named Jason Gotay, whose unbridled talent almost made me stand up in my seat!   With the right handling, he could become the male Jessie Mueller!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          Which goes to say Green was wrong in his assessment.  And now things might repeat themselves with 'Merrily."  Right now, though I have hope for the show--and hope is an important component of the show--my expectations, thanks to Jesse, are not that high.  I would love to be proven wrong, again.

                                            So, Abby, Lonny, anyone who sees it before I, if this post catches your eye, give me your feedback under "Comments."  I would love to hear!

                                              Love to all you 'Merrily' originals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                              Here are Abigail and Lonny articulating!  Simply brilliant!

                                              And, Abby, who does your hair???????????????????

A Medieval Morality Tale!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    The irony of Samantha Harvey's novel, as far as I am concerned, is that it moves backward in time, just like the musical "Merrily We Roll Along," now playing at the Laura Pels, under the auspices of the Roundabout, and which I am scheduled to see at the matinee on March 2.

                                      Despite the on cover comparison to Virginia Woolf, the novel reads like a more literate, medieval version of "Peyton Place."  And though it is Anglican, those filled with plenty of Catholic or Christian guilt, will be shaken, as it plays fast and righteous with going to Hell, or Purgatory, neither of which seem pleasant.  I was quaking in my boots.

                                       Father John Reve, pastor for the town of Oakham, tries to unearth the death behind the town's wealthiest citizen, Thomas Newman.  Was it a suicide, and why?  Or a murder?  I won't tell you, but, as the book unfolds backwards, so, like "Peyton Place" and Henry Bellamann's earlier "Kings Row," the sins and transgressions of the entire community are laid bare.  Anyone might have been responsible for Newman's death, but who actually was?

                                          The story keeps moving, but because of the time period, the novel moves in archaic language, slowly and deliberately, as though trying to channel Hilary Mantel.  It works as a mystery and an examination of medieval morality, the latter, in some cases, still played out today.

                                             And, yes, the title is important to the plot.

                                             Yet, something seems missing--a pulse, a beat. While more accessible than something like Iain Pears' "An Instance Of The Fingerpost," it is not more readers of light fiction.  This is a novel grounded in a solid literary and historical foundation.

                                                Sure to curl those guilty, Christian hearts, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is This Not The Best Designed Set Of All Time???????????????????????

                             Now, some might argue that the Babylonian set of D.W. Griffith's 1916 film, "Intolerance," merits this citation, but from the time I was young it was, and still remains MGM's conception of Munchkinland, in 1939's "The Wizard Of Oz."

                             Actually, I will go so far as to say that for many people, especially those who start out with the film, before reading the book, their conception of Oz is influenced more by MGM than L. Frank Baum.  And I think he would have been thrilled, had he lived to see it.

                              This photo barely does it justice.  The mixtures of colors, composition, painted backdrops, all fused together by hand rather than computer graphics, which only look cheap, make this a masterwork or set design.  So much so that my fantasy has always been to have a backyard with enough land to replicate it.  Not that I expect this to happen, but I can dream, can't I????????????

                                Some of you may have your own favorite set designs, and I am willing to listen.  But even if Muchkinland is not your favorite, you have to admit it IS impressive, and belongs in the Top Ten!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                  Whisk me away for a weekend, there, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               

Girls, You Should Have Seen Amy's Cold Cuts Tower!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   For those of us who enjoy beauty, color, and humor--and who on here does not-Amy Sedaris returned two nights ago with a second season of her divinely funny domestic comedy show.  Patty Hogg, Chassie, Nutmeg, The Lady In The Wood, and Esther, were all back, and on, to welcome all us fans.

                                    The theme was understanding teenagers, and how difficult it is.  Tell me about it.  I never understood myself, when I was one.  But the highlight was Amy's Cold Cuts Tower.  I am telling you, it looked like a wedding cake, designed by Sylvia Weinstock!!!!!!!!!!!  When I realized what it actually was, the thought of that amount of processed meat, and how it could kill you, almost turned my stomach.  Then I remembered the show was about teenagers, whose metabolism is such they could eat such a thing, without there being any upset.

                                      I dimly remember such a time.  Not that I did anything like that, though I then had the capacity to do.  Today, I feel more like Mr. Darling, at the close of Disney's "Peter Pan," who, as his children return to the nursery, looks out the window as the pirate ship sails to the moon, out of sight, as he recalls having seen that ship himself once, when he was very young.

                                         The shocker of the evening was that Esther might--now, mind you, I only say MIGHT--be bisexual. She was talking about having contact with a man....as if she had ACTUALLY had it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Heaven help us!!!!!!!!!!  If that is the case, what is poor Nutmeg in for?????????

                                             Needless to say, Amy is as lovely, charming and funny as ever.  Tuesday nights are lots more fun, now that she is back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                              Make sure not to miss her, loves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sociopathy Seems To Be The Flavor Favor Of The Literary Season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         It seems--at least, to me, darlings--many books I have read early in this year have sociopaths as main characters.  Authors seem to want to be the next Patricia Highsmith, and their protagonist the next Tom Ripley.

                                           Well, I am happy to report someone has succeeded.  I had never read John Boyne before, but, after having my eye last year on "The Heart's Invisible Furies," contemplating reading it, I have decided, on the basis of loving "A Ladder To The Sky."

                                              To say this is one of the best of the year is too early to tell.  To say it may very well qualify by year's end is pretty impressive. And high praise from me, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                Maybe it taps into me more because it takes place in and around the literary worlds of London and New York.  Not even I was prepared for how despicable a person Maurice Swift turns out to be.  And I am not exactly sure he gets his comeuppance.

                                                   This is a mystery, right from the start.  It may be possible, especially near the end, what horror the reader is headed  for, but, let me tell you, the mystery begins with the front of the book jacket.  It took me a third to halfway through to unravel the meaning of the cover.  I don't know whose idea it was--Boyne's or the cover designer--but it is brilliant, and paves the way for the marvelous story that is to come.

                                                  Girls, get your hands on this, at once!  On the basis of this, I will have to give John Boyne further investigation.

                                                   What some will do for fame!  This shocked even I, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another Florida Bitch?????????? Why Should I Be Surprised??????????????????

                                    Let me begin by saying I take gay bashing seriously.  So, I will have more to say on Mr. Jussie Smollett another time.

                                     Meanwhile, Christian Nichols is the winner of this week's Raving Queen Bitch Of The Week Award.

                                     Believe it or not, this guy, who lives in some town called Oldsmar, is only twenty-one-years old.  He must have lived some hard, White Trash life, to look this bad at so young an age.

                                       But his lifestyle has nothing to do with winning the award.

                                        This sicko was arrested for having sex with a Siberian Husky (one of the most beautiful and affectionate of dogs; I feel so sorry for this animal!) while in a dog's costume?

                                         Like the saying goes, you can't make this shit up!  He is a sicko into bestiality, and he also films himself and others, having sex with dogs!

                                          Child and animal abuse are the worst offenses, and this guy and his crowd deserves to be locked up.  The poor, sweet dog, smart thing, tried to fight Christian off, and run away--smart dog!!!!!!--but Nichols caught up with it, hitting it, to prevent its escape, and raped the animal.

                                            Boy did his parents make a mistake when naming him Christian.  They may not practice bestiality, but how much better can they be if this is how their child turns out.

                                             So, Christian is this week's winner.

                                             I know some hungry pit bulls who would like to sink their teeth into him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Gritty Mix Of Cormac McCarthy And ZaSu Pitts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         Having read Ottessa Moshfegh's first novel, "Eileen," I knew anything that might follow would be something to keep an eye on.  I had no idea she had written "My Year Of Rest And Relaxation," so that is also on my reading radar.

                                          Written in a rambling, almost Joycean style, "McGlue" tells the musings of a man on board a ship destined for his hometown of Salem, Mass. to face trial and execution for the killing of a compatriot named Johnson, with whom he had an ambivalent, and questionable relationship, despite his homophobic mentioning of the cabin boy on board as "the Fag," or "the Fagger."

                                              The grittiness of it all had a very Cormac McCarthy flavor, while the scenes on land reminded me of Frank Norris' 1899 novel, "McTeague," which 28 years later, became the 1927 Erich Von Stroheim film, "Greed," wherein ZaSu Pitts (Yes, darlings, I kid you not; ZaSu Pitts, seven years before she portrayed Miss Tabitha Hazy in Norman Taurog's classic 1934 film version of Alice Hegan Rice's "Mr. Wiggs Of The Cabbage Patch," a sympathetic Goat Alley type tale based on the novel by Alice Hegan Rice.  Neither the movie is shown anymore, or the book available.  A shame, because I would love exposure to both.) gave one of the screen's greatest dramatic performances.  You have to see it, to believe it!  And this was decades before she played sidekick Elvira Nugent on "Oh Susanna!," aka "The Gale Storm Show," in the late Fifties.

                                                  The connections this tiny novella has is just remarkable.  It is so surprisingly insightful and probing for so short a novel--only 145 pages.  But it consolidates Moshfegh's stature as a writer, and I am interested now, more than before, in "My Year Of Rest And Relaxation!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                                     Would that we all could have one of those, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where Do The Literary Set Hang Out Now? Would Someone Please Tell Me?????????????????

                                      Back in the day, at 56 Carmine Street, not far from the location pictured above, there was a restaurant called C'ent Anni. It was where all the literary set gathered, and, unfortunately I never made it to that spot. How, I don't know.  Like Elaine's, on the Upper East Side, both spots were seemingly there forever, then, one day, mysteriously gone.

                                       For a time, during the Brat Pack era, The Odeon seemed to be the hangout of choice, and now, while it is there, no one goes there anymore?  The question is, where do they go?  I wish someone would tell me, so I could quietly infiltrate the spot, and emerge with my own "Answered Prayers."  Hey, I am not Truman Capote.  What have I got to lose?

                                        There is a C'ent Anni on Franklin Street in Brooklyn.  I think the name is just borrowed, as I  had never heard of it before, and if the literary set flock there, I would well have known about it.

                                          So, if anyone out there can fill me in, please do.

                                           I am all set with a pen, and a notebook, and a drink.

                                           Even if that drink is decaf coffee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now, The City Is Really Going Down The Tubes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                               Lee Radziwill--March 3, 1933-February 15, 2019


                                         Forget DeBlasio, Cuomo, and their silly hissy fits about Amazon, darlings.  I was rocked more, last Friday,  by hearing of the passing of Lee Radziwill, one of the last remaining doyennes of glamour in Manhattan.

                                          Unlike those of us girls who claim to be, including yours truly, Lee was an actual Princess.  She was stunning.  She wore clothes like no one else since Babe Paley, eclipsing, even--so help me, God!!!!!!!!!!--her sister, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

I had not had lunch with Lee in ages.  There were rumors she suffered from Alzheimer's,  though I have never officially had it confirmed.

She taught so many of us how to dress, decorate, and display taste.  She dabbled in fashion design, interior decoration and, even, yes, acting.

When she walked into a room, oh, my God, darlings, it was like in the 1946 "The Razor's Edge," when Gene Tierney came down those stairs, in that stunning black gown!

From the looks of it, the only remnants of glamour in this town are ANNA, Gloria Vanderbilt, the Misses Frank and Marotta, and, with the pressure on, myself.

What a legacy Lee left behind for us to uphold.

We lived with and for Lee so long, I don't see how we can last without here.

But we shall have to try.

Rest In Peace, Lee. She did more for far many more than you realized!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Florenz Ziegfeld.....Now....Presents.....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                   Oh, my God, girls, wait till you hear this one!  I fell off my chair, in utter disbelief.

                                    It was a quiet evening at home.  I was in the living room, reading, and David was in the bedroom, watching a screening of "Funny Girl, " on TV.  As soon as I recognized the soundtrack, I popped in and out to see a couple of the numbers, like "I'm The Greatest Star!." and "People."

                                     But the number of all numbers in this film is the Ziegfeld bridal number, which is "His Love Makes Me Beautiful."  On a small screen, you can see how faux it is; the girls in Sixties hair styles and make-up trying to impersonate 1920's Ziegfeld girls, the skimpy costumes which look like they came from a hookers' store on Sunset Strip, masquerading as Follies costumes, and then, of course, BARBRA, in all her campy glory--on the tube.

                                     This is why "Funny Girl" has to be seen on the screen.  And then those gay chorus boys, singing about them being the lucky gents getting married to the most beautiful brides in the world, when whom they wanted to marry was each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      Yet on screen, this sequence looks so real.  As does the "Don't Rain On My Parade" sequence, ending the film's first half!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         Casually, I asked my beloved, David, if he had ever seen "Funny Girl" on the screen, thinking, of course, that he had!  I could not believe it when he said, "No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                            I mean, this is Gay Cinema 101!  Not to have seen THIS on the screen?  In fifty years?

                                             I have to remedy this.  But, short of being BARBRA herself, how do I arrange for a special screening????????????????

                                             So, girls, never assume anything!

                                             Look how campy this looks on a small screen!

                                              For years, during this period of my life, when the film came out, I would sing the chorus boys refrain:  "You are so BEEEEEEEEEEEEAUTIFUL!,"
followed by BARBRA's camp response, "I AM SOOOOO BEAAAAAAAAAAUTIFUL!"

                                              And now I am doing it again, half a century later!

                                             I have GOT to make sure David sees this film properly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Let's Go To Santa Land--In Arizona!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               I am just fascinated by abandoned amusement places, and I would love to go and explore, each and every one, but Santa Land is so compelling.  Not for what it is, buy where it is.  Sure, children all over the country fantasize about Santa Claus, but the mythology is always associated with cold weather, and, of course, the North Pole?

                                So, how could Santa Land have turned a profit in Arizona?  The American Southwest?  Where it is known to be hot?

                                It may have been a refreshing idea, but it did not pan out.  Now, I want to see what remains of it, thanks to its now haunted look, and who knows what walks there.

                                Remember, dolls, what Shirley Jackson said "...and whatever walked there, walked alone!"