Darlings, The Whole Thing Is Stolen By Amanda Plummer, And A Monkey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     Forget Ken Kesey and Louise Fletcher, darlings.  If one is going to enjoy "Ratched," one has to suspend a lot of disbelief.  Because, I am telling you, there is no way the character Sarah Paulson projects here could eventually morph into that of Louise Fletcher.  They are from two different universes.

                                        As for Sarah Paulson, much as we love her, aside from her stunning ensembles, and some superb color photography, she delivers what is actually a one note performance.  Alas, she is only doing what she has been directed to do.  The same cannot be said of anyone  else.  Everyone  else just seems to hit their marks, and then camp it up, while Ryan Murphy shoots the footage.

                                         Poor Sharon Stone.  She is stuck having to be upstaged by a monkey named Petunia--I LOVE Petunia!!!!!!!!!--while channeling Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond, while her intonation and blonde wig make it pathetically apparent that Jessica Lange was the first choice for this character.  She was wise to turn it down.  And she would never allow a monkey to upstage her!  She went through that, already, in 1976's "King Kong!"  And look how that set her back!!!!!!!!!

                                             But poor Sharon needs the work.  She never recovered from spreading her legs in 1992's "Basic Instinct," while Wayne Knight, who would go on to play loser Newman  on "Seinfeld," drools lasciviously,  which I am certain was real, because he could never get a delicious morsel like Sharon.  Alas, that time has passed.

                                             

                                                     But, thank God, darlings, for Amanda Plummer, as Louise, the jazziest Jazz Baby since Carol Channing in 1967's "Thoroughly Modern Millie."  If  there is a second season--as is reported,  wouldn't it be great to have Amanda sing that song??????????  Again, it cannot be determined if she is acting,  or playing Amanda.  But what does it matter?  She is brilliant  Hons,  I cannot wait for more of Amanda!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            

                                              Louise owns the Sea Light Inn, which is a real locale, so all us queens want to flock to it.  Those cliffside views are gorgeous, perfect for romance or suicide.  And, if I show up, Amanda had  better  be there to hand me my room key.  Imagine taking a shower here!  Janet Leigh, as Marion  Crane!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             Still, we get to see a lot of Finn Wittrock's body, especially his nice buttocks, as well as watching that tramp, Dolly, played by Alice Englert, masturbate Finn through jail bars, and who deserves what she gets.  Ryan Murphy has no shame, even copying Arthur Penn. 

 

                                            Then, there is Judy Davis as Nurse Betsy Buckett.  The irony is that in the early scenes, one could see her morphing  into Louise Fletcher, but it is obvious she took one look at the script, and decided to do what she pleased, even to the point of channeling Judy Garland.  Still, she is even better now than Rene Zellweger.  She livens things up, whenever she appears; even when she takes a 180 degree turn!

                                             Cynthia Nixon as a lesbian?  Big leap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

               

                                              But, really, darlings, the true star of this camp fest is Petunia,  the monkey.  When  Sharon Stone enters the room, with Petunia on her shoulder, who is even looking at Sharon?  With an eye for the camera that I wish some of the actors had, and a haute couture that makes me envious, Petunia is in total command of this show whenever she appears.  And her final triumph is delightful.

                                               I can see ANNA putting her on a "VOGUE" cover!

                                               Now,  if a way could be found to team her, Amanda, and Judy!!!!!!!!!!!

                                              This is camp of the highest order, and if one goes in knowing that, one can enjoy "Ratched."

                                               But anyone expecting a full exploration of she, or any of Kesey's other characters, is  bound to be disappointed.

                                                  I will say the puppet theater scene I found the most disturbing part.  It goes Jamesian,  asking the viewer are we seeing this through the eyes of Ratched, or the children?  And you get two answers, one that explores the sadistic side of children.   Mister Bill proved that decades ago on "Saturday Night Live!"

                                               Better to explore Petunia's back story.  What a past that woman should have!