What A Swift September!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 Yes, girls, it is the last day of the month.  Judging by the short amount of posts, it may seem nothing happened.  But, actually, a lot did.

                                    The sad anniversaries of 9/11 and Tyler Clementi.  The end of Summer, the arrival of Autumn.  A new season of "Saturday Night Live!," minus, sadly, Leslie Jones!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     But what highlights--The Gallery Players Production of "Cabaret!" And not one, but TWO screenings of Robert Altman's "Nashville," at the Film Forum!

                                       And how about the season openers of "Law And Order, SVU," and "American Horror Story/1984??????????????"

                                      Yes, it was a short month, but one cannot say nothing happened.

                                       See you here in October.  Wishing you the best for the forthcoming month!!!!!!!!

I Still LOVE Mr. Jingles, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               The character was given the main title, in last week's episode of "American Horror Story/1984," but, like I indicated in my previous 'SVU' post, this, too offered more questions than interest in what is presently going on.

                                As can be seen, Emma Roberts is still trying to be the most naïve thing on the premises.  She does the basic--and I mean BASIC--acting requirements, but I am still not buying it.  Before the season is finished, I can guarantee, viewers will get the REAL Emma--lean and mean!!!!!!!!!!

                                Just ask Evan Peters!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                Now, while John Carroll Lynch was prowling around, as Mr. Jingles, he got less screen time than Betsy Palmer as Mrs. Voorhees, in "Friday, The 13th."  Which makes me think two things--while Mr. Jingles is a baddie, I want to know his back story, and I also want to know more about Margaret Booth, wonderfully played by Leslie Grossman.  After seeing the unholy interaction between she and Richard Ramirez, The Night Stalker, (and there really was such a person, girls!!!!!!!!!!!) played by Zach Villa, I am beginning to wonder if Margaret Booth, and her "holier than thou" routine is all talk.  Could she be the hidden Mrs. Voorhees??????????  Could she and Ramirez be mother and son?????????????  How would the writers handle it?  And how, if this is even possible, does Mr. Jingles fit  into the fabric?

                                  When one of the hunky male counselors was killed, I could not even tell you which one, or care.  And, yes, we are all still wondering about Matthew Morrison's bulge; personally, I think it is an expanded homage to the one Kevin Bacon was sporting through his blue Speedos in the original "Friday, The 13th."

                                   The questions asked here suggest a more exciting seasonal lay out than that on 'SVU.'  As I watched the first episode, the week before, I thought, "How routine.  I know the drill already."

                                     Not so, here.  Already, viewers are being teased, and the prospects for the season look good to go in these or other, unknowable, directions.

                                       At least this show keeps one thinking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can Carisi Be As Tough As Stephanie March?????????????????????????

                                 This, and other queries, surrounded last week's season opener (21!!!!!!!) of "Law And Order SVU," and these turned out to be more interesting than the story itself.

                                   The whole Harvey Weinstein/sex abuse by someone in power thing has been repeatedly done on this show, even if it was not based on Harvey.  I wondered how they would find someone ugly enough to play the Weinstein stand in, so I have to commend the casting department for dredging up Ian McShane, who was not only ugly, but downright creepy and psychopathically scary.  It was a brilliant performance.

                                     The other brilliant thing they did was to open with a TV broadcast of "Gunsmoke," as it panned to the cast in a bar, where, it turned out, Carisi was being honored for his promotion from detective to ADA.   The camera move was worthy of Robert Altman (I could not help noticing, having recently sat through two screenings of "Nashville!") but the promotion is problematic.  Is Carisi ready?  He has no prior ADA experience, which I understand is a standard requirement for the position.    His supervisor is Bureau Chief Vanessa Hadid, played by Zuleikha Robinson, and let me tell you she is a real bitch/See You Next Tuesday kind of gal.  How long could anyone last working with her?  So, will Carisi last?  Or will she go first?  My hope is this last; Carisi, whom all us girls love for his cuteness, deserves the promotion, but he needs better supervision than this.  How about bringing in Stephanie here, and getting rid of this corrupt careerist?

                                      Speaking of corrupt careerists, Chief Dodds, (Peter Gallagher) who has always been portrayed as some sort of Sammy Glick on the make, was finally overtaken by his overriding ambition, and has been taken down, and relegated to some boring traffic desk job in--are you ready????--Staten Island.  An open lesson to all you overly anxious Manhattan careerists right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       Now, get this--as if someone who was facing a demotion could make any kind of request, which is simply fabrication on this show's part-- guess what he asks, as a favor? On condition of his exile, he asks that Olivia Benson be promoted to the post of Captain!!!!!!!!!!  Can you believe it????????????   Will she wear overalls, like Don Cragen, played by the wonderful Dann Florek?????????  Viewers haven't even gotten a glimpse of the pink paisley dress that has been promised; will this be how a new captain dresses???????????????????

                                         Gag me with a spoon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          The squad room is shrinking.  Only Finn and Rollins are left as team mates, and while they are both wonderful, if Finn gets promoted to Sergeant, Rollins is all on her own?  What kind of police work is this?  I would love more exposure of Rollins, because of the wonderful
Kelli Giddish, but she can't do this on her own, because Mariska Hargitay will not let this become Amanda Rollins' show; oh, no, it has to be HERS.  I mean, she got the final shot in this episode.

                                             The end result of this episode was not caring about what was happening at the moment, but what might happen in the future, for this season.  The one problem is, as long as Olivia gets her way, the show will not rise to the level it once was.

                                               And I see no sign of Hargitay abdicating!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Girls, You Wouldn't Believe It!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lesbian Vampire Flappers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      It was another one of my crazy dreams, and I have no idea what triggered it.

                                      The dream took place in black and white, like a silent movie.  I was at a party, with men and women in 20's garb, many of them flappers, and dancing.

                                       All of a sudden, the flappers turned to the men, bared their fangs, and
charged!

                                       Lesbian vampire flappers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       The men  were crushing each other into the wall, trying to claw their way out of an impossible situation.

                                         Which is when I woke up.

                                          A bit of undigested beef, darlings??????????????

If The Dish Ran Away With The Spoon, Was It A Gay Or Straight Relationship?????????????????

                                Maybe it was what today would be called a pan sexual relationship!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                Actually, I have to wonder about the ambiguity of Mother Goose.

                               For example--

                               Why was Wee Willie Winkie allowed to ran through the town, in his nightgown?
                                   Where were his parents???????????????

                                 How did The Old Woman Who Lived In A Shoe acquire all those children?
                                    Adoption?  Was she constantly knocked up?  Besides, illustrators always
                                 draw her as post menopausal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 And what is it with Mother Goose?  Another post menopausal woman, dressed
                                     in a witch's hat, using a poor goose as a broomstick, or traveling device?
                                 Where are all the animal rights activists???????????????

                                    And where the hell was Bobby Shafto headed on that raft?

                                    Mother Goose is loose, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Come To The 'Cabaret'........" At The Gallery Players, In Park Slope!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              There is only one more week to go, so I urge all to see this beautifully nuanced production.

                                Having seen this, and their production of "A Chorus Line," I am convinced The Gallery Players excel at "concept musicals."  And there is a whole gaggle of them I hope they do, and explore.

                                   But let's talk about "Cabaret."  The movie, which most know, and the stage version, are two different things.  The stage version is better, because, good as the film is, it is still "The Liza and Joel Show," whereas the stage version is about heartbreak and ruin.  Which the movie soft pedaled.

                                    Credit is due to director David Thomas Cronin, who does not let his cast copy, or channel, anyone previously associated with this show.

                                      When the show opens, and Brian Edward Levario appeared as the Emcee, the audience was at once in good hands.  He brings his own sense of sleaziness, and menace to the role, while being splendidly entertaining.  He manipulates the audience into the cabaret, and then manipulates them back out into a reality some may be afraid to face, after having witnessed what goes on here.

                                        Mr. Levario and Erica Lustig, as Sally Bowles, do splendid work.  Not for a second does Lustig copy LIZA, even when she gets to "Maybe This Time."  She sings strongly, but her Sally is still a second rate ingenue, though not a virgin, who will clearly go no further than this club, however she deludes herself.  And Lustig plays Sally exactly this way--and all the better  for her performance!

                                          Those who moved me the most were Liz Gurland as Fraulein Schneider,
Lorinne  Lambert, as Fraulein Kost, Paul Page, as Herr Schultz, and Kevin McAuley, as Ernst Ludwig.

                                          The heart of the tragedy of this musical is the doomed love affair of Herr Schultz and Fraulein Schneider, who love each other genuinely, but are torn apart by the social changes happening in the world.  This pair's rendition of "Married" is moving in its plea for a happiness both long for, but the world around them will not have.  But it is Miss Gurland who conveys the tragedy of her situation, with her survivor song, "So What?," and the heart rending, "What Would You Do."  Gurland's rendition of this tune was so genuine, I could not stop crying for her performance, for the character, and all caught in this horrid situation.

                                              It is chilling, and fascinating, to see how Lambert's and McAuley's performances evolve from likable characters, into monsters.  It begins with the chilling "Tomorrow Belongs To Me," which not only ruins the engagement party of Schultz and Schneider, but breaks off the relationship.  This chilling song closes the first act, with Cliff and Sally, Schultz and Schneider watching in disbelief.  It is one of two of the show's most heartbreaking moments.

                                                 Each and every actor carefully nuances their role, not going over the top, or being too understated.  David Thomas Cronin's direction is this way, to make sure the actors elicit the proper audience response at the moment required.  And each actor does this superbly.

                                                  Jonas Baranca is a cipher as Clifford Bradshaw, but, then, he is supposed to be.  He is the audience's alter ego, who observe, through him, what is going on.  He is also wonderful on "Perfectly Marvelous," a song I am glad was not cut.  My only criticism was, at the end, when Cliff delivers his monologue, "There was a cabaret...," the actors do not emerge as textual images to reprise portions of their songs, as in the original production.

                                                   But I am nit picking. This "Cabaret" ends on a somber note, but not over the top, like the 1998 production.  I won't go any further, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                     You must see this remarkable production, for yourselves!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There Are Better Ways To Work Out Your High School Issues, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       I am fairly certain that all of us, at the time, had our own, individual issues in high school.  And that we all found different ways to move beyond them, and work them out.

                                         Which is what Alexis Wilson, this week's winner of The Raving Queen Bitch Of The Week Award, should think about.

                                          The drop out, or should I say, expellee, never graduated from McAlester High School, in McAlester, Oklahoma.  She was kicked out over violent incidents, and having been caught with a knife, at school.  Now, she is working in a local pizza parlor. Great way to start out in life, when you are 18, and with no education, bitch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             Obviously, she is embittered.  But when two coworkers heard her say she wanted to randomly gun down 400 people at her former high school.  It was found she owned an AK-47, and there were videos of her practicing using it.

                                               She meant business, and, thankfully she was stopped.

                                                What makes Alexis this week's bitch is she is just too goddamn dumb to realize she needs to explore online options.  Ever hear of a GED?  Or online K-12, where you learn at home?

                                                    Honey, if you don't shape up, you will either end up as some truck stop hooker shooting up, or go to Colorado, and work in one of their meth labs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                       But, hell, you have to know enough science to do the last!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                        Guess you will be working those trucks, dear!!!!!!!!!!!!

Really An Apology And An Update!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     I am pretty certain most of my readers know the above, and I am not apologizing for that.  I apologize for not being on here regularly, but I just HAD to see another screening of "Nashville" on Wednesday, because who knows when I will get the chance to see it on the screen again?  Then, yesterday, I met a friend I had not seen in ages, and we caught up, then went to the NYC Transit Museum, in Brooklyn, which was surreal.

                                      Lastly, writing takes such effort now, not because I don't love it, I do--but these antihistamines the doctor has me on just knock me out, and I don't see him, till November.  So, bear with me, please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How Do I Write About "Nashville???????????" I Don't Know, But I Will Try!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              It amazes me that, as far as I know, and I may be wrong, no one has ever done a thesis or dissertation on this film.  I always felt that would be inevitable, and if someone has done it, or is working on it now, I would love to have it shared with my readers.

                              I will never forget my first exposure to "Nashville."  It was 1975, I was all of 20, and waiting in a doctor's office, when I spotted it as "Newsweek's cover story.  There, on the cover, were Robert Altman, and someone I had never heard of, named Ronee Blakley.

                              The film opened, and so many of my friends, at the time, were going crazy over it.
They kept telling me I HAD to see it, that I would just LOVE it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                But I ignored them.  Because I had seen Altman's previous film, "California Split," starring Elliiot Gould, and George Seal, all about gamblers and prostitutes.  I had no idea at the time that one of the prostitutes was played by Gwen Welles, whose performance in "Nashville" would be the crown of her career.  All I knew was that, when I walked out of the theater, I hated the film, and declared myself finished with Altman..

                                 Later, in 1976, when the Oscar nominations were out, I saw a clip from the film--the scene where Ronee Blakley sings, then breaks down on stage.  I was hooked.  I HAD to see that film.

                                 By now, the film had completed its first run.  Suddenly, after seeing the film clip, the Fox Theatre in Woodbridge, not far from where I then lived, in Highland Park, New Jersey,  was going to have a special screening of "Nashville."  But on a Friday, at midnight.

                                  I had to go.  But my parents, knowing, as I told them, the film ran three hours, did not relish the idea of me riding home alone on Route One, at three in the morning.  So, it was decided my father would accompany me, which is how I came to see "Nashville."   I believe he was impressed by the film; he never fell asleep, but I was never quite sure what he thought of it all.

                                   Countless viewings later have still convinced me not only was this Altman's masterpiece, but in its ground breaking blending of media, politics, and music, (almost foreshadowing the social media of today) "Nashville" was and is the "Citizen Kane" of the Baby Boomer generation.

                                       Seeing it recently, at the Film Forum, after a 14 year interval, it held up remarkably.  The cast, the performances are everyone doing their best work.  The humor and heartbreak flow.  Though the film is enjoyable, two scenes I dread--the assassination, and the look on Keenan Wynn's face, as Mr. Green, when the  hospital nurse tells him his wife has passed.  Remarkable acting, but one of the saddest images captured on film.

                                          Every great film has one memorable tracking shot. "Nashville," however, is a compendium of tracking shots, each and every one a gem.  I cannot break the film down frame by frame, but I will mention, the track-in on Ronee Blakley's face, while singing "My Idaho Home," and that of Lily Tomlin, while Keith Carradine sings "I'm Easy," are two of the best in a film made up of almost nothing but brilliant tracking shots.  And this technique is as central to the narrative as the dialogue, music and actors.

                                            It has the most arresting title opening in film history, an overlapping mélange of songs and voices, as an announcer announces the title and cast, as both the actors' names, and songs run down the side.  Right away, "Nashville" alerts one, through parodying 70's record compilation commercials, that this will be a different kind of film, one that will force the viewer to be on guard, and try to look as far beyond center, as one can.

                                             "Nashville" cannot be seen just once.  Only after several viewings does one begin to see the brilliance of what Altman has done, in a time, when it could be done.  "Nashville," sadly, could never have been made today.

                                                 The film is as prescient now as it was 44 years ago.  I cannot urge enough those who have never seen it, and those not old enough to have seen it in 1975, to visit the Film Forum, before the run ends.  You will be in for the cinematic ride of your lives!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

An Unsual Novel, Whose Brevity Is An Asset!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                 I am not saying I would have been unhappy, had "Crudo" been longer, but it brought something to my attention.  When a novel emphasizes structure over narrative, it should be short.

                                                   Now, a question to my female readers--have any of you heard of a post-feminist author named Kathy Acker?  The name meant nothing to me, and the book is written with minimalist punctuation--no quotations of authors, no quotes in dialogue.

                                                     Consequently, there is a lot of Kathy Acker in this book.  But the only way to find out where, is to consult the source list at the end.  Not to mention the narrator's name is Kathy, and she incorporates a lot of Acker's experiences as hers--working as a pole dancer, and porn actress, and having had a double mastectomy.

                                                        The narrative is confusing--who is the real Kathy, here?--but the writer's observations on the times around her--ours--are fascinating and illuminating. This novel really hits it stride when it goes into essay mode.

                                                            Which brings me to another book, which faces me with a dilemma.  That book is "Duck, Newburyport," by Lucy Ellman.  It is a thousand page plus, single sentence narrative of the day in the life of a contemporary woman.  Of courses, it faces me as a challenge, especially as it is getting all kinds of literary intention.

                                                               For those hovering on the fence, as to reading this, or who have eliminated it altogether,  I say to them, read "Crudo" instead.

                                                               Structurally, it does similar things as "Duck, Newburyport," but with less of a demand on one's time.

                                                                 And it commands more of one's attention.

Can You Believe It? Nine Years Ago Today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                         NEVER FORGET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                     TYLER CLEMENTI
                                                     (December 19, 1991--September 22, 2010)

                                                      Peace to him and all those being or having
                                                        been bullied!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Proserpina Is Back In Hell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   She went yesterday, darlings, but, since David and I were taken up most of the day with a screening of Robert Altman's masterwork, "Nashville," (and I AM Barbara Jean!) I did not have a time to reflect on our now entering Fall.  The cooling effects I do not think will be seen till late October, but is something to look forward to.

                                    And now we are off to a performance of "Cabaret" in Park Slope.  So, I will have a lot to report this week, including books!

                                     Cheers, dears!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"One Last Caress, It's Time To Dress....For Fall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                    Yes, darlings, despite what those on TV say, today is the last day of Summer.  It is Proserpina's last day on Earth for the next six months, because, tomorrow, she returns to Hell, and the Fall season commences.

                                      This past Summer was discovered the beauties of South Jersey, I was blown away by Elizabeth Gilbert's "City Girls," and I battled hives on massive doses of anti-histamines I am still taking.

                                        And now will come the Fall.  Coolness, culture and celebration.

                                         I bid adieu to Summer, but look forward to the season ahead!

Funny, In Unexpected Ways!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     I never saw the film "Four Weddings And A Funeral," but Luis Alberto's Urrea's novel reminded me of it.  Death hovers over "The House Of Broken Angels."  The de la Cruz' family matriarch is on her death bed--and so, unknowingly, is her son, Big Angel, who is shutting down from cancer.  So, he decides to throw himself a birthday party where no one will know it is his last, and in the process have the matriarch's funeral.

                                      This premise pushes the novel from grim to humorous.  When both branches of the family descend, chaos and madness erupts, as well as family feuds, jealousies.....you all know what it is like, darlings.  We have all been there.

                                       Add to it the border issue, because some live in San Diego, while others live in Tijuana, Mexico.  So, the border issue is played fast and loose.

                                        Who ever expected a book about Death to be so funny?

                                         An entertaining, funny family saga, the kind of which is hardly seen.

                                        Kudos to Urrea for a stunning achievement!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Entertaining Start, But Too Many Of Us Have Been Here, Done That!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                  There was not much wrong with the opening of "American Horror Story:1984," darlings, (entitled "Camp Redwood")) except too many of us, of a certain age, have been there before.

                                     As one of those folk, I can say the whole thing was gotten down perfectly.  The hair styles, costumes, those aerobic workouts--all were true to the period.  As was the creepy depiction of "Camp Redwood," the fake rain, and all the movie references therein.

                                       Obviously, "Friday The 13th" was the cue for the whole thing.  But aficionados should also have spotted references to "The Burning," "Halloween," and during the asylum escape scene, strains of music that suggested a reworking of John Carpenter's famous "Halloween" score.

                                          As for the actors, well, let us start with Emma Roberts.

                                          I am not sure she is strong enough to carry the show.  She is really  trying--and you can see too much of the effort--in trying to play a naïve newcomer, when, with that face, she will always be the perennial Mean Girl.

                                            Thankfully, she is offered great support by Billie Lourd, as Montana Duke.  She is sure to liven up moments, and will be able to work off of Emma so that her Brooke Thompson comes off better than she is capable.

                                              I am telling you, Evan Peters must be having a laugh fest!  He knows what a bitch Emma really is, so, for him trying to see her as anything else, is especially humorous. Not to mention he can relax knowing he is not going to, at least this season, be chased all over the set by Ryan Murphy, who wants to suck Evan's cock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                Mr. Jingles-- I love him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  The brilliant John Carroll Lynch plays him, and I want to know his back story.  A nod to Cropsy from "The Burning."

                                                 Matthew Morrison as Trevor Kirchner, Activities Director (Hah!) is a riot!  I did not recognize him, at first, but the hot camp thing he has down pat; there was a counselor in the 1983 film, "Sleepaway Camp" (another reference!) who had the same look.  He should be a lot of fun.

                                                   As should Angelica Ross, as Nurse Rita, who houses some deep, dark secrets.  I am telling you, dolls, keep your eyes on her!

                                                    Same with Leslie Grossman, as Margaret Wood!  I love her hair, and those glasses,  but, oh my God, what a Bible thumper.  You can bet hypocrisy is in her past, and it will be fun to see her character unravel as she is revealed.

                                                   Who played the "Crazy Ralph" stand in, who gets crushed under the car?  Kudos to him for a new take on the character.  Though the original, actor Walter J. Gorney, will never be topped.

                                                    But my favorite was Tara Karsian, as Chef Bertie.  The complete opposite of wholesome looking Betsy Palmer, as Mrs. Voorhees.  I can't wait to see what is done with her.  I could also see Kathy Bates playing this, but the concept of this show is the same as the slasher films of the era--cast unknown actors, who most likely will go nowhere.

                                                       So much is gotten right, this should be fun to watch.

                                                       But Emma Roberts had better watch out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't Y'All Go To Carolina In The Mornin', Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   I guess penis chopping is making some kind of a return.  The winner of this week's Raving Queen Bitch Of The Week Award is 56-year-old Victoria Thomas Frabutt, of Newport, North Carolina.  She and her husband, James Frabutt, was restrained by her, shortly before 4AM on Wednesday 9/11, when she took a knife, and severed his Johnson.

                                     There seems no motive but prime female rage!  Why is lopping off the man's penis the only things that seems able to satisfy it?   Renata Klein had the right idea on "Big Little Lies," when she smashed hubby Gordon's man cave.  Now, that is effective!

                                       This is some dumb looking piece of trash.  Maybe the husband is a pig; who knows?  But she is rendering bodily harm, because, once severed, the guy is in danger of bleeding out to death, and, if not, how is he able to be fixed, so he can urinate properly?  It was said the severed organ was found, and frozen on ice.  The husband was transported, along with his member, to the Vidant Medical Center, in Greenvillle.   Who know what surgical miracles will be performed, there?

                                         I am telling you, this is enough to destroy heterosexuality!  I never hear about gay men cutting off their partners' penises.  Why does it seem women are the only ones who do this?  It is not funny, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        Except, maybe in the case of Brigitte Harris, the Queens woman, who, after years of abuse, cut off her father's penis, cooked it, and served herself up proud, dressed in a red hat and outfit, flower on the table, elegant as you please, as though dining at Sylvia's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         Don't want the specialty of THAT house, dolls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This Book Did A Number On Me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                           It was in 2003--16 years ago; can you believe it?--that a then 23-year-old Matthew Pearl appeared on the scene with his novel, "The Dante Club."  It was enthralling, an award winner, and Mr. Pearl went on to have quite the literary career.  But I always wondered why he never returned to his first triumph, by writing a sequel.  Well, now he has.

                                            The first novel was set in Boston, amidst a group of Dante scholars. The murders all relate to Dante's work, particularly the Inferno.  This second book covers "Purgatorio," or what we know as Purgatory.  Well, I was raised in a real, Right Wing Catholic environment, where practically everything from missing church to not praying is a sin to send one to Hell.  I am terrified to this day.

                                                Now, Purgatory always held out hope for me.  My conception of it was some beautiful garden, where one waits.  Not so, darlings.  It is a mountainous climb up the Circle of Sins, from which the visitor must endure agony like stones on shoulders, or eyes sewn shut, to make it up the mountain, and into Heaven.  And if one dares look back, one has to start over again!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                   The suspense part of the book, and its resolution, which came as a surprise, only solidified Pearl's skill as a novelist.  I have now read all six of his books, and cannot wait for the next one.  I am not going to read Dante.  It is a lifetime commitment.

                                                     I discussed this book with my therapist, who says that now, according to the Catholic church, Purgatory no longer exists.  So, I guess I am screwed.   If I choose to believe all this, and many don't, or not literally, but I was raised on it, and it is hard to shake those childhood teachings.

                                                       Thanks, Mr. Pearl, for an entertaining work.  But don't lay a guilt trip on me, please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                         I already have enough to deal with!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I Have Been Down This Path Before, Girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                I was alive and going, during the 80's horror slasher craze.  I saw all the major so-called genre classics out there.  What's more, still reeling from my adolescence, I always sympathized with the killer, who was acting out the fantasies I wanted to on certain people, but had too much rationality, and impulse control to do so.  Thank God.

                                  So, the whole Summer Camp thing on Season 9 of "American Horror Story?"  You know we will all watch it tonight, and discuss it tomorrow.

                                    Of course, I am excited.  But also a little skeptical.  Can Emma Roberts carry the show?  I don't think so!  Rumors of a Sarah Paulson return are exciting, as well as the brilliant John Carroll Lynch.  They have the camp attire thing down right, up to and including the guys' shorts with their...goods...showing through.

                                        What I have seen looks like an amalgamation of "Friday The 13th," "The Burning," and "Sleepaway Camp."


                                          But who is playing the camp cook, who looks more like Anne Ramsey in "Throw Momma From The Train?"  I cannot wait for her, darlings, as I expect she and Billie Lourd will be the ones to liven up the show.

                                            A word of gossip--we are all upset about Evan Peters' absence from the show, and hope he returns next year.  But I can't blame him.  The exhaustion is not necessarily due to the show, but to Ryan Murphy continually chasing Evan, so he can suck Evan's cock!

                                            Let up on Evan, Ryan!  Suck your own, instead!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            I can't wait, girls, but I AM skeptical!

                                            And I will share that with you, tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Story Of Charlie Howard!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         As previously posted, the gay bashing at the opening of "IT, Chapter Two," caused me to almost walk out.  I had completely forgotten this was in the book, and when I found out it was based on an actual incident, I grew interested.  It turns out to be a tragic story.

                                         Charlie Howard was from Portsmouth, New Hampshire.  He did not have a happy time there, especially in high school, when he was bullied for his sexual orientation.  He was also asthmatic.  Charlie did not attend his high school graduation, for fear of his parents' shame, over his classmates' taunts.  Rather than college, Charlie became something of a drifter.

                                            He ended up in Ellsworth, Maine, where he had a short term relationship.  But that ended, and Charlie next went to Bangor, Maine.

                                              Arriving there homeless, he was, at first, befriended by Paul Noddin and Scott Hamilton.  They gave him a roof over his head, taking him into their home.  But, after a month, Charlie's job prospects were poor, and the couple kindly suggested he should return home, to his mother and stepfather.

                                              Charlie did just that, but could barely last out the week there.  He called Paul and Scott, who invited him to come back to Bangor.

                                                Things improved for Charlie, for a time.  He became a member of the local Unitarian Church, and the support group Interweave, both of which accepted him for who he was, and, in time, he made many friends among these group members.  As thanks for Paul and Scott's support, he prepared an Easter dinner for them, decorating their home in holiday tradition.  He soon got an apartment of his own, near the church, on First Street, and adopted a kitten.

                                                 But there were still incidents.  High school boys tormented him, and he got into an altercation with a woman, who called him "A pervert!," to his face!  Can you imagine!  That bitch!  I hope her hair falls off her head!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                   The culmination of all this was on the evening of July 7, 1984.  Charlie and his boyfriend, Roy Ogden, left an Interweave Church supper at 10PM.  Walking up State Street, and nearing the Kenduskeag River Bridge, a car full of male teens--Shawn Marby, Jim Baines, and Daniel Ness--approached the couple. Two girls were with them.  They had been partying, were drunk, and as one later said, were "looking to beat up a faggot."

                                                     The boys pursued the couple.  Roy ran to get help, but Charlie fell, and his asthma kicked in.  After beating, kicking and pummeling Charlie, they decided to throw him into the river, though he pleaded that he could not swim.  This the boys did, and by the time Roy returned, with help, Charlie was dead, though his body was retrieved.

                                                        Afterward, the boys returned to a party, bragging about what they did.  When, the next day, it was announced Charlie was dead, one boy turned himself in, and the other two fled town.  After a trial, the boys were sent to the Maine Youth Center, on October 1, 984.  But not for long.  Jim Baines was released two years later, while Shawn Marby served only 22 months.  Daniel Ness went off the grid.

                                                         Twenty five years later, two of the boys, now middle aged men, expressed remorse. Jim Baines, with Ed Armstrong, wrote a book called "Penitence," in 1994, preaching tolerance for others, and referring to the murder.  Shawn Marby later confessed regret and remorse, saying he thinks about Charlie every day.

                                                            No word from Ness.  But I have to wonder how these leopards could change their spots.  They cannot deny what they did.  I know abut forgiveness, and such, but I find it hard to wrap myself around the remorse of these men.

                                                               But, hey, I don't have to live with it, every day.

                                                                A memorial, near where Howard's death took place, with a plaque, reading, "May we, the citizens of Bangor, continue to change the world around us, until hatred becomes peacemaking, and ignorance becomes understanding."

                                                                 King used this incident in "IT," not to be homophobic, nor to necessarily skewer Bangor, but to show the evil existing in fictional Derry.

                                                                   And it goes on.  The memorial was desecrated by anti-gay vandals, in May, 2011.  It was quickly repaired by supporters.

                                                                    Charlie's death anniversary, July 7, is now celebrated, in Bangor, as Diversity Day,"

                                                                      We all know these hate crimes need to stop.  But what I want to know is how come perps in gay hate crimes don't serve as much time as straight perps committing regular crimes?????????????????

                                                                           Do gay lives matter less?????????????????????

Time To Talk About "Kings Row," Girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      What a satisfying read.  I savored all six sections by reading one a day.  But let's get to what many of you want to know.

                                         The iconic line, "Randy--where's the rest of me?." spoken by Ronald Reagan in the movie, comes directly from the book.  Yes.

                                           However, in the movie, though Drake McHugh recovers emotionally, he never learns the truth--that Dr. Gordon sadistically and unnecessarily removed his legs, to prevent him from marrying his daughter, Louise.

                                             The Gordons are the real villains in the town.  The scene where Gordon treats Willy Mackintosh's father without anesthetic, and the children hear his screams, is there.  Gordon and his wife are religious fanatics; he beats his wife and daughter, but the wife grovels to it, and, in the movie, where Drake learns the truth, and Louise goes about town destroying her father's memory to the citizenry, in the novel she is imprisoned in her home, like Cassie, and then consigned to a mental asylum in Florida.

                                            It is also hinted that The Gordons were somehow responsible for Dr. Tower not getting his job at the asylum.  Maybe each saw the evil in the other.  This led to Tower's embitterment, and the eventual murder/suicide of he and Cassie, due to years of an incestuous relationship.  It also hints Tower killed his wife, to be alone with Casssie.

                                              Benny Singer, seen being bullied only in the movie's opening segment, is a special needs person, but who functions well, when given a chance to work.  If the bullies had not gone after he and his mother, the tragedy of his death by hanging would not have occurred.  His story is one of the saddest in the book.

                                                 The one disappointment is Jamie Wakefield.  He is clearly the town's gay character, from grade school on up.  I thought there was more to his story--an escape, or suicide.
But Jamie's parents, beat him down, forcing him to work for a living in the bank run by his father, where he is chronically unhappy, but writes secret thoughts at night.  I am sure his secrets are his hatred of Kings Row.  The closest we get to Jamie's situation is a conversation between he and Drake, where the latter informs Jamie that it was OK to play childish games--doctor; "I'll show you mine, if you show me yours!"--but that now it has to stop.  Jamie says he has not done anything, and I believe him, he is so repressed.  But Drake gives a speech saying Jamie should give girls a try, to which Jamie vehemently replies he dislikes girls.   Drake fears Jamie will be caught playing with younger kids.

                                                 This is suggesting a common belief at the time--that homosexuals are child molesters. I cannot fault Drake here, because this is all he knows.  People like the hero, Parris Mitchell, are making things move forward, but only incrementally.  And Drake is acting out of a kind of compassion for Jamie.  As the town's renegade, before his leg accident, he is drawn to the outsiders.

                                                   After that, Jamie withdraws into the fabric of the town.  I wish Henry Bellamann had done more with him, but maybe he was unable.

                                                   Nevertheless, the book is panoramic, the kind of fiction that does not get written, anymore, and it is the reader's loss.  The author's hatred of his hometown of Fulton, MO, is palatable, and comes through.  And, though barely in print now, except online, "Kings Row" still speaks of ills that plague small towns today.

                                                      As Janis Ian went on to say, "The small town eyes will gape at you/In dull surprise/When payments due/Exceed accounts received, at seventeen."

                                                        Anyone with small town issues, or an interest in this literary genre, should not miss reading "Kings Row."

                                                         If only a stronger remake could be made!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Darlings, I Want To See Bonita Granville In "Beloved Brat!" Hell, I Want To BE Bonita In This Film!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                          After her brilliant, Oscar nominated, dark haired turn, as Mary Tilford, in the 1936 film. "These Three," Bonita Granville was typecast as Hollywood's most malevolent child.  And she proved it with "Maid Of Salem," the following year, which was a perfect template for Arthur Miller's "The Crucible," and Bonita, restored to her blonde tresses, foreshadowed Abigail Williams!!!!!!!!!!!!

                          But, hons, you have GOT to see "Beloved Brat!"  That is ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                          Bonita Granville plays a wealthy girl named Roberta Moore.  Her parents, (Dolores Costello and Donald Crisp) are too busy with their lives, so she acts out, and gets sent to a school for problem girls!

                           Oh, my God!  You have got to see the scene where Roberta stands before the spinster headmistress in her underwear, saying she won't go around looking like her!!!!!!!!!!!!!  And she does not want to meet her classmates!  She does, in her undies, and my, they give her a time about her "knobby knees."  But this is a Bonita Granville film, and they won't get away with this, for long1

                           I was shocked by the sophistication of girls' juvenile underwear in the 1930's.  Was this for real?  It is amazing more girls did not end up as prostitutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                           But I have to see how bratty Bonita actually is, in this!

                           And so do you, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                          I can tell you, MY panties are not that couture!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Trio Of Bitches!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I Hope They Rot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    Some of my more faithful readers may recall my favorite 'SVU' episode, "Mean."  First aired in 2004, it told of a trio of mean girls, who murder one of their own, Emily Sullivan.  The reason was because she hooked up with ringleader Brittany O'Malley's (Kelli Garner) boy friend.

                                    The story pressed all my buttons, because, as it turns out, Emily was being mean to a cruelly overweight girl named Agnes Linksy (Lindsay Hollister).  In the sense of justice, Emily got what she deserved--for being mean to Agnes.

                                      Now, most watching this episode, would say "Well, those are teen-aged girls, for you.  This would never happen with boys."

                                        Au contraire, my dears.  It has!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       On the 27th of this month, which will be fifty years--after the Summer of '69, which included the Manson Murders, the Moon Landing, and Woodstock!!!!!!!!!!!--John McCabe, a 15-year-old boy (roughly my age, though slightly older) was murdered, like Emily, for the same reason.

                                      So these three are all winners of this week's Raving Queen Bitch Of The Week Award!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         John was a good, Catholic kid, and apparently was never mean to anyone.  He went to a Knights Of Columbus dance, in his hometown of Tewkesbury, Massachusetts.  At the party, he talked, but not much more, to a local girl, Marla  Shiner.  At the dance were three teen cohorts--Edmund Brown, Michael Ferreira, and Walter Shelley.  After the dance, because he talked to Marla, the boys accosted John, and killed him.

                                            The body was left in Lowell, Massachusetts, and the case went cold for decades.

                                             They drove John around in the trunk of a car, duck taped his mouth and eyes, and roped his neck, so,  if he struggled, it would strangle him,  Very much like Emily Sullivan in "Mean."  Only John did not deserve it.

                                                The perps were all losers.  Ferreira stayed local, but the other two never got further than New Hampshire.  Big, fucking deal!

                                                  Brown had kept a pact for decades.  In 2011, he came forward and the bitch trio was arrested.  However, I am not sure justice was done.  Because they were young at the time of the crime, Brown was charged with manslaughter, Ferreira will face juvenile charges of murder, and perjury to the court. Only Walter Shelley will get a life sentence.

                                                     You know, if Ferreira and Brown are walking free now, they better watch out someone does not gun them down.  In fact, I hope they do. It would be justifiable homicide.

                                                      Justice for John. And don't tell me you are sorry for what you did.

                                                       Because if you were, you fucks, you would not have done it in the first place, or kept quiet for decades.  And don't tell me leopards change spots, because these surely did not.

                                                          See?  Boys can be just as evil!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Justice for John!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes, It Is That Time Again!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         This is the day, from 1978 on, I would stand in front of the Waverly, and sing "Frank Mills."  I am not there yet, as I am writing this from home, but I wanted to remind all of you who know, and those who may not, that today is the day.

                                            Whether you play the Original Cast recording, or sing it in your home, there is no better way to celebrate this day.

                                                So, congrats to Shelley, and another Frank Mills Day!

                                                  What better way to end this post--

                                                    Though Shelley's Broadway rendering was more poignant, as it was slowed down, her sweetness comes through as originally performed, Off Broadway, at the Public Theatre, on October 7, 1967!

                                                      Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!