Ten Down, Two To Go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                  Not only is it Halloween, darlings, but it is the end of another month.  2021 is just speeding by.

                                                   A month of several friends' birthdays, my first return to a movie theater in almost two years, David and I taking a trip to Roosevelt Island, my reaching my goal  of reading 100 Books A Year,  with me trying now to break that record.  Yes, October has been quite a month.

                                                      Looking ahead, we have November, which includes Thanksgiving, Musical Theater Week, my birthday (OMG!) and who knows what hilarity lies ahead.  Hope your October was as blissful as ours, and everyone have a happy, safe and healthy November.

                                                       See you next month,  girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Two Appropriate Halloween Songs

                                    What would Halloween be, without "Monster Mash," and "Monster Mash Party?"   So,  here they are.  On the second song,  I love the scream after the words "Transylvania Twist."  I used to play this loud, with the windows open, and scream.  It drove my mother crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    Have a fun Halloween,  darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Forty Years Ago, This Halloween Night......................................................

                                                    It is hard to believe how time has best, nor this all happened to me, but it did.

                                                    I had just started working at the library, a month ago. I was also in graduate school, getting my Master's at NYU.  I first heard about "Merrily We Roll Along," while working in the school's bookstore, as one of my coworkers was auditioning for it.  Then she was cast, and all of us were so excited for her.  And for all those who had been cast.  A Prince-Sondheim show, a Broadway debut in one's teens or twenties, it could have happened to so many of us (if only I had auditioned!) and I expected their lives were made.  At the very least, as an already established Theater Queen, and a Sondheim devotee, I was so psyched.  I mean, this was going to be THE show of the season, right?  It was going to win TONY Awards for everyone,  right??????????????????

                                                       That is what I thought.  But, then, at work, and school, I kept hearing these adverse comments.  "Oh, it's like 'COMPANY'," one would say.  Or, "I hear people are walking out on it."  This last began making the papers, and I was crushed.  I walked  to the Alvin Theatre, where it was playing and stood outside one day, and there was a photo with my coworker in the show.  "My God!" I thought.  She had arrived.

                                                         But those comments.  I had to see this right away, before it slipped away, as I feared.  Now, this was 1981, and Halloween was on a Saturday, then.  I  was working that day, till 6, and I decided, with the parade and festivities, landing a ticket would not be difficult.  And so, I scored a ticket for that night's performance of 'Merrily.'  Behind me, was a gentleman also seeking a ticket, and we began chatting.  His name was David Semonin.  Thus began a friendship that lasted for 29 years, until, sadly, he passed.

                                                  As for 'Merrily,' the overture lifted me  out of my seat, the show, especially the performers and score, clicked with me, and I was a 'Merrily' fan.  I still say the main problem with the show was it had no real visual concept, which shocked me, considering it was being staged by Harold Prince.  But that cast--let me tell you, I have seen and heard many renderings  of the show, but none have sung it as well as the Original Cast!  They will always be the Gold Standard.

                                                    After the reviews came out, where I thought many of the critics either did not get the show,  or took it  out on the youth of the cast, I knew I had to see it one  more time, and fast.  So, about two weeks later, I went, right before it closed, and was as captivated as ever.

                                                        At this time, I was at  the same  point  as the cast--starting out.  I was 26, and just beginning my path in New York.  I never expected it would include meeting many of the 'Merrily' cast, seeing Ann Morrison in concert, or Lonny Price's documentary film.  Lonny, by the way, was in another flop favorite of mine--"RAGS."  I wish something would be done with that.  As I look  back  on these forty years, are there regrets?  Oh, yes.  But I also realized that, had  I strayed from  the path I was on, it may not have led me to the greatest thing of all--my beloved, David, (Spegal) whose presence I thank God for every day, and enlivens me each and every one.

                                                         All because of a chance Halloween  four decades ago.  So, Happy Halloween  to all  you original "Merrily'-ers.  You were the turning point in my life I didn't recognize, but now do.

                                                           As the shows says, "dreams don't die."  Rather, they mutate into something you never thought you wanted or would get.   The best often turns out to be different from  what we expect.

"It Was The Boogey Man, Wasn't It????????????????? As A Matter Of Fact, It Was!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                      What else is  one to watch on Halloween, but this 1978 masterwork?

                                        My favorite scene is still when the Myers parents come home, and their son Michael, in clown costume and mask, stands outside, holding a bloody knife. The mask is removed, a baby faced Michael looks catatonic, the father asks, "Michael?," and the ominous music flashes to the Myers what the viewers know--this child has murdered his sister, on Halloween, back in 1963.

                                            Part of me wishes the film had gone on to explore Michael's juvenile psychopathology, as that topic fascinates.  But, then, there wouldn't be the humorous scene where Annie Brackett (Nancy Kyes) is screaming in the car, from the garage, being attacked by Michael.  She screams "Lindsay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!," who is her babysitting charge, Lindsay Wallace, played by Kyle Richards, younger sister of Kim Richards, who played Prudence on "Nanny And The Professor."  Lindsay is so rapt with attention on the 1951 horror classic "The Thing," in front of her,  on TV, she has no other idea what is going on.  The way this scene is shot and edited is how Carpenter often takes the edge off the disturbing quality of the film, making it as humorous as it is grim.

                                                Of course, darlings, you don't have to watch it. Would I tell any of you to do anything????????????  Of course not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                  But, in our house, there is just no better film to celebrate this day!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                 "Michael?????????????????????????????????"

                                                 

Gojira Wishes Everyone A Happy Halloween!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      Yes, our lovable reptile friend,  Gojira,  is  always ready to celebrate holidays.  I am sure he will distributing candy to children--he loves children, as they do him--this Halloween.  Quite a humanitarian and a bon vivant.

                                         So, a Happy Halloween  to all, from  Gojira and myself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          May all your treats be wrapped!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here Is An Idea, Darlings! Why Not Do The Two Versions Of 'Merrily' In Repertory?????????????????????????????

                                                                                     

                                            Believe it or  not, girls, we are coming up on the 40th Anniversary of the Stephen Sondheim musical, which will be on November 16.  And now, with theaters scrambling to get back on their feet, re-establishing pre-Covid hits, and finding some new ones, I think featuring the two versions of 'Merrily' back to back, would be a great idea, and give audiences more of an understanding of each piece.

                                                  The Kaufman and Hart version  should be viewed first, especially by those who are aficionados of the musical, and even more, by those who are not.  I can tell you what you will discover is that the play is even nastier than the musical.

                                                       And casting would be fascinating.  Each cast would perform both shows, but would the leads be the same?  Probably not--so that the leads in  the musical would be reduced to smaller parts in the play, and vice  versa.  Everyone gets their chance.

                                                          Plus, the musical has been done any number of times, as  I can attest, having seen and/or listened to recordings thereof.  Has the original play ever been revived?  If not, it is about time, and there is no better way to showcase it, than in tandem with the musical.

                                                               Somewhere in Off or Off Off Broadway, a hungry little theater group is looking for an idea to set them off.

                                                                 Get crackin', fellas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What Makes Jonathan Franzen.........Jonathan Franzen???????????????????????????????

                                          Writers are influenced by other writers, of course, but, the Brontes being a major exception, they are not descendants thereof.  If this corollary was true, Jonathan Franzen, operating at the top of his game with "Crossroads," would be considered a worthy descendant of Leo Tolstoy, Sinclair Lewis, William Inge, the Southern Gothic writers, and the  late Grace Metalious.  Oh, and don't forget Henry Bellamann, who wrote "Kings Row."

                                              These authors took  a region noted to  them, and peeled away its layers, exposing all  the hypocrisy, anger, and other human truths resting within.  When it comes to the Midwest, as Jonathan Franzen shows, people there are as fucked up as anyone else.   Most of  America thinks we in  New York or Los Angeles  are the most  messed up, but Franzen clearly demonstrates that is not so.  There is  plenty wrong  in the Midwest.

                                                   So, I think  Jonathan Franzen should be saluted as an activist in arms,  for peeling away at the idealized America too many cling to.  Before they go out, and attack the American capitol,  darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                      I can't wait to see what the Hildenbrandts are in for,  next!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                               

Today Is National Cat Day! So, I Am Sending My Love To Nicholas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        Girls, I am telling you, Nicholas is the real Cinderellla story. He has  moved up in the world, from  watching a health food store, to living, practically on his own, in a deluxe manse  near us on Ovington Avenue, in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.  So, I and all my girls, want to send a special message of  love to Nicholas on this day.

                                           Happy National Cat Day, Nicholas.   You took  such good  care of me,  I want to visit you so much.  I will  try and  do my best,  so that we can catch up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             Love you,  Nicholas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Girls, Be Sure And Join Us Tomorrow Night, When "Svengoolie" Presents "Frankenstein Meets The Space Monster!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                                    Everyone in this house is excited, I am telling you, especially Baby Gojira, and Pippin! Not only can't we all wait to see what the Space Monster looks like, we are also wondering what this Frankenstein will look like. It will be far removed from  Universal and Boris Karloff!!!!!!!!!

                                                        I know nothing about this one, dears.  It is from 1965, and I am not sure if it is an American or British film.  The poster suggests some potential for heaving bosoms, so we can only hope.  However things turn out, I am sure it is  guaranteed to be a camp riot!

                                                            So, join us for the fun, the night before Halloween. Should be a fun way to usher it in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                              And let's hope we see Toonie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One Of These Four Books Will Make "Book Of The Year!" But Which One???????????????????????

                                                                                     

                                                                                      

Talk about an abundance of riches, darlings.  I had spent three quarters of  the year--as David can tell you--griping about the lack of quality fiction.  Then, suddenly, comes a deluge almost too impossible to keep up with. But kept up I have.  Never has there been a year, since writing this blog, where four equally qualified titles vie for the top number!  I really am  not sure what to do.

I finished "Crossroads" yesterday, and can happily say it is Jonathan Franzen at his most....well, Jonathan Franzen.  No one dissects an American family quite like  he does,  and here,  the Hildebrandts,  whose patriarch is a  minister--get roasted, probed examined, as does organized religion, drugs, mental  illness, post menopausal sex and...wow!   What an improvement, after "Purity."  Franzen  is back where he belongs, and, as this is the first of a planned trilogy, I cannot wait to see where it  picks up from!

A personal favorite, of  mine, was Franzen's mentioning of two  board games I was familiar with; one  I hated, one I enjoyed.

"RISK" was the game I hated.  I was more fascinated by the packets of colored cubes, which I would build things with, like blocks.  The older I became, and more self-aware, the more convinced I was  that "RISK" was a game for straight boys, and gays did not like it.  Are there any gay RISK players out there?  If so,  please let me know.

Not to contradict myself, but, during the mid to late Sixties, I had "STRATEGO," and I loved it.  Maybe it was because of the pieces, maybe the red and blue, maybe the bomb tokens, or maybe I had more testosterone in me than I wanted to admit.  It was a war game, a sort of lower brow version of "CHESS," but not as complicated and more colorfully designed.

Franzen's book almost made me want  to go out and rediscover these games again.

Now, "The Lincoln Highway, by Amor Towles, happens to be set in the America of my birth year, 1954, so already I was favorably disposed.  Not to mention being fond of his earlier works,  "Rules Of Civility," and "A Gentleman  In  Moscow."  This book is epic in length and scope, and reads like a boys' adventure book.  The Watson Brothers, Emmett and Billy, plan an excursion to find happiness  in California,  their mother having  walked  out on them years before, their father recently deceased, and Emmett, at 18, having just aged  out of a reformatory.   These well intentioned plans are foiled by two of of Emmett's cohorts, the duplicitous Duchess, and the tragic Wooly Martin, scion of a wealthy Eastern family, whose story is  heartbreaking.  Starting out in Nebraska, and ending up in Manhattan, this is a moving, action packed novel that never lets up.  I devoured the last 100 pages in a single sitting.

"Cloud Cuckoo Land," from Anthony Doerr, author of "All The Light You Cannot See," is a work  where, like Towles, the author succeeds in equaling his previous work.  Blending all  sorts of generic elements--history, fantasy, and sci-fi--I am not especially partial to into a carefully structured narrative, Doerr gives a work  guaranteed to satisfy anyone who  loves reading, language and literature.

You've already heard me  on  "The Magician," by Colm Toibin.  It is even better than "The Master," and tells of the life of Thomas  Mann in all  its fascinating, but tragic glory.  A  must read literary fictional  biography that left me considering tackling the Mann works I haven't yet.

So, girls, there you have it.  Four books, equally good.  Only one can be "Book Of The Year."  Which one shall it be?  I have several  weeks--around the first  or second week in December--to decide.  At this point, I have no more  idea than any of you.

But stay tuned, girls!  More shall be revealed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Not Since "Hamlet" Or "Les Miz" Has There Been Such A High Cast Body Count!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                  "House Of Frankenstein," shown by Svengoolie last Saturday, was more enjoyable than "Son Of Frankenstein."  One thing I noticed was the body count; by the end, like the more classic works I have mentioned, all the main players were dead.  And the emotionality in this film suggests maybe they were aiming for something more.

                                                      The most touching performance was delivered by J. Carrol Naish, as the hunchback, Daniel.  Then there is Elena Verdugo, (yes, from  "Marcus Welby, M.D.") as the gypsy girl Ilonka.  Daniel falls in love with her, and she has the decency to be kind to him. But then in steps Lon Chaney, Jr. as Lawrence Talbot, aka "The Wolf Man," and who would have thought of him as a romantic rival?  Ilonka flips for him, she disses Daneil cruelly, and allows herself to be attacked by Talbot, so she can kill him, for  love, with a  silver  bullet!  Oh,  my God!  Daniel, understandably, turns on Karloff, as Dr. Gustav Niemann, whom he has been assisting in wreaking revenge on the town officials, who condemned him, years before.  But Glenn Strange, as the Monster, comes to defend Karloff, and, just as he would do with Lenore Aubert as Doctor Mornay, two years later, in "Abbott  And Costello Meet Frankenstein," throws Daniel through, I swear, the very same window!  Or a reasonable facsimlie thereof.  Or maybe the 1948 one was the facsimilie.  Anyway, the image looks similar.

                                                          Of course, the Universal back lot  torch mob is on the prowl.  But where in the world is Dwight Frye????????  Good as Naish is, Frye would have been the perfect Daniel.  Alas, he died the year before, 1943, which was when Universal made the predecessor to  this film, "Frankenstein Meets The Wolfman."  And, in a small role as a village  official  is  Sig Ruman, who, the year before appeared in 1943's most prestigious, A-list film--"The Song Of Bernadette."

                                                           Imagine!  But Karloff is grabbed by the Monster,  chased by the mob into a swamp, with quicksand, where they sink, and die!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  None of the main  players survive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                What the hell was going on here?  Was there a psychologist  on  the set?  I  can't figure it out, but I can tell you it was very entertaining.

                                                                     I can also tell you, had I been working on this film, I would  have spent my evenings either at Chasen's  or The Brown Derby!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I Thought "Roanoke" Was The Series' Worst Season! But "Double Feature," Especially "Death Valley," Made It Look Like A Masterpiece!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          Really, girls, after Mamie Eisenhower got her head blown off, that was it, for me.

                                          Sarah Paulson's lively reimagining of this woman livened things up so much her departure sank the show into a metaphorical quicksand bog.  Who cares about Kendall giving birth to the alleged "perfect" specimen, or that Calico is now participating in the birth project?

                                             Wait a minute, is this all wrong?  I mean, what time period  are we  in,  at the end?  The perfect baby was supposed to be born  in 2021, so that means it should have been the baby Lily Rabe gave birth to,  back in "Red Tide."

                                                Really, had the whole thing ended with Lily Rabe, still pregnant, awakening from what had been  a  horrible dream, that would have been perfect.  Add to  it the macabre touch of  the seemingly normal  family leaving  P-Town, with the final shot of a  seemingly innocent Alma, sitting in the back. looking out  the window, and sweetly waving at  the  untalented creatures, who suddenly would appear!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                     THAT is how one ends and connects a series.  And I don't even get paid  for my ideas!

                                                        This season  was such a disappointment,  I  think I am going to go back  and give "Roanoke" a re-examination.

                                                         I only hope Season 11 is better, and more cohesive, than this!!!!!!!!!!

I Will Always Remember This Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        Forty six years ago today, when it was a Saturday, and I was--gasp!--20, my father and I saw the Original Cast of "A Chorus Line," at the Shubert Theatre.

                                          I sailed into the city for tickets, as soon as I heard it was moving from  The  Public.  My father asked me to get a ticket for him,  too, as he wanted to see it.  I was surprised that he would want to see what was then so contemporary a show.

                                            It was a day neither of us forgot.  Donna McKechnie blew us both away, and the show was a turning point  in my life.  Sammy Williams' monologue was brilliantly performed, and heartbreaking.  Not to mention the secret I was carrying; earlier that week, in college, I had my "first  time," and I kept wondering if  my father knew.

                                              As long as he lived,  we talked about how wonderful that "Chorus Line" afternoon was.  Each time  I see it  is a way of  bringing it back.

                                                How I wish  I  could go back  in  time, and relive the magic again.

Girls, Join Us Tomorrow Night, As Svengoolie Presents "House Of Frankenstein!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                      Released in 1944, possessing an all-star horror cast, and followed the following year by "House Of Dracula," this was Universal coming to the end of its horror phase, a stature it would not gain till around 1954 with "The Creature From The Black Lagoon."

                                       The  first horror cycle ended, in 1948, with "Abbott and Costello Meet  Frankenstein," which was shown  earlier this month.  "House Of Frankenstein" I have not seen since I was a child, and features what I  believe is Glenn's Strange first shot at playing the Frankenstein monster.

                                          The all-star cast is priceless, but the standout is Elena Verdugo!  Remember her as Nurse Consuelo  on "Marcus Welby,  M.D.," back in the 1970's?  Well, here she is; who knew she had done horror movies,  much less anything else?

                                              John Carradine plays the most  erudite  Dracula,  ever.  He is still  trying to maintain his dignity as an  actor,  but he did have a family  to support!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                 I hope you will support us  all, including Baby Gojira,  Pippin, and Kerwyn, as we all  take this in,  tomorrow evening.

                                                  And hope Svengoolie  soon shows "Curucu, Beast Of The Amazon."

Still Cannot Get Enough Of Sarah As Mamie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     Great as she is, though, she cannot carry "Inside," the next to last episode of "Death Valley."  As I keep saying, the black and white conspiracy segments are great; the present day ones, featuring, last week, a grotesque gay birth that defied all biological credibility, (and horror has to have a degree of credibility to work!) with only Leslie Grossman to liven things up, proved dramatically unsatisfying.

                                        Some may even  be fascinated by the present day segments,  but the point is, does anyone really care?  That's the problem.  One cared about the characters in "Red Tide;" even when they go all twisted, like Alma.  But, for whatever reason, the writers of "Death Valley" keep viewers at a far distance from empathy.

                                            Which is a shame, because where is the enjoyment?

                                             Everyone is guessing how it will end, and here is  mine.

                                             Lily Rabe will awaken, still pregnant, the whole thing having been a dream.

                                               We'll talk  about it, next time we dish, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                                         

It Still Holds Up, Today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                  Girls, I have absolutely no doubt that in some small town communities today, this would still be regarded as a vile  book.  I mean, girls pulling off their panties in cars, or trying on falsies in their bedroom??????????  America can't have that, can it???????????????

                                                    Grace Metalious knew, and she told.  And, in some way suffered for it.  But her tale holds up today.  This must be my fourth reading of "Peyton Place," and I cannot get over how well written it is.  A high school grad, but no college, or lit or creative writing courses, and she wrote a book for the ages.  Remarkable.

                                                      And, girls,  let me tell you, every word of it is true, because, having grown up in a small town, I LIVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I have written about some of my more repugnant school mates, but there are some things I have never written about, such as--

                                                         The horrible suicidal death of my mother's friend, back  in 1978.

                                                           The almost traumatic incident which happened to me on November 12, 1970.

                                                             The unforgivable letter an uncle by marriage wrote to my mother and I, while she lie dying in the hospital, of lung cancer, in early 1979.

                                                                So, don't try and tell me I did not LIVE "Peyton Place."  

                                                                These three events marked the last straw.  I knew then I had to get out of not only Highland Park, but New Jersey--and  fast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                   Grace knew the score, while I learned it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Darlings, What Better Way To Spend A Sunday Evening, Than Listen To Jessie Mueller Sing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                 Which is exactly what David and I did, two evenings ago, thanks to Seth Rudetsky, and his concert series.  Jessie was the featured guest--she has been on before, because we have seen her with Seth before--but Jessie is always worth tuning in.  One thing though--Seth, hon, bring it  down.  I mean, we tune in to Jessie, not you.  While you are not quite the media whore that Lin-Manuel Miranda is, your yacking got in the way; without it, another song might have been squeezed out of Jessie. You are a great accompanist--hell, I would love to work with you--but remember who viewers/listeners are tuning in to.

                                                       And such nepotism, allowing your partner,  James Wesley. to sing.  Nice voice, not bad, not distinctive.  Jessie carried him, all the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                     Jessie opened with "Beautiful," which, along with "So Far Away" is my favorite of her Carole King renderings.  She sang "She Used To Be Mine," from "Waitress," which still brings tears to my eyes, and she sang two other songs, I think from "Waitress," I was not so familiar with, but were a pleasure to hear.

                                                       But we also got to hear Jessie sing three classics associated with icons--"The Trolley Song" and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas;" both  Garland classics,  but here interpreted by Jessie uniquely, and would have made Judy sit up and take note, in her grave.  Especially on 'Christmas' she soared, making me tear up, as did Margaret O' Brien in "Meet Me  In St. Louis, which the song is  from.

                                                        The piece de resistance was the closing number,  which was "Ice Cream," from "She Loves Me!"   I thought this song would vanish, once Barbara Cook  passed on, but Jessie's rendition will keep it alive, and when will she do "She Loves Me!" on Broadway?  I know Laura Benanti did it awhile ago, and she was fine, but Jessie is exceptional, and we want  to see her do it!

                                                           Aside from this,  I  saw  a clip of Jessie, with some  orchestra, singing "People" from "Funny Girl."  See this, and forget Beanie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                             It is Jessie,  who should be doing this role!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                            

                                    Here is Jessie singing "Ice Cream," in a non-audience concert at P-town!  Just listen to that voice!  And that final note!  Not since Barbara Cook, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Son Of Frankenstein" Was Disappointing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            I was right, darlings, when I said Svengoolie should have shown 'Bride.'  As the final entry in the "Frankenstein" series,  justice was not  even done.  I have not  seen this film since I was a child, and it obviously made little  impression on me, then, because I barely remembered it.

                                             Karloff and Lugosi were the best.  Lugosi, as Ygor, was especially moving.   I actually wanted to know his back story.  Together, both acted like they had studied the Method, with Lee Strasberg, but, this, I think, was when Lee was just getting on  his feet.

                                               As for Basil Rathbone and Lionel Atwill, well, the latter must have been annoyed during the entire shoot with that artificial arm  he had to work  with.  I would have been.  During their scenes together,  he and Rathbone went at each other, like they were doing Shakespeare, which only ramped up the camp factor.

                                                   The only redeeming  feature was the  stylized set design, obviously influenced by German Expressionist Cinema, notably 1919's "The Cabinet Of Dr.  Caligari."

                                                      Oh, and the fiery pit, near the end, not only seemed to borrow from RKO's 1933 "The Mystery Of The Wax  Museum"--also  with Atwill--but  foreshadowed  ts remake, twenty years later, Warner Bros. 1953 "House Of Wax."

                                                          I was surprised when it was explained to me that much of the parody elements of Mel Brooks' 1974 "Young Frankenstein," were specifically taken from this particular film.  Now,  I am curious to watch that film again,  myself.

                                                            All in all, a disappointment.  Not only did the film not hold up, but the station was having problems again.  The picture would occasionally fragment, and more often than that, sound would vanish, omitting chunks of dialogue.  Not that this was Noel Coward, dears, but it did  interfere with narrative continuity.

                                                               I want Svengoolie to go back to being FUN!  It is time he  showed "Curucu, Beast Of The Amazon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

A Very Happy Birthday To Sister Camille!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                   On her 1010 WINS broadcast this morning, Sister Camille D'Arienzo  revealed today is  her birthday,  though, of course, a lady never reveals her age.  On behalf of  myself  and all my readers  on  here, a most happy and blessed  birthday to you, Sister Camille!  Your weekly messages of hope inspire and comfort many, including myself, and are helpful  during  these rather  troubled times.

                                                     Your birthday now is  easy to remember,  as it is two days before my later  mother's, who was born October 19, but in an earlier  year than yourself.

                                                         Have fun, celebrate life, do whatever makes you happiest on this, your natal day.  An outpouring of  love and  well  wishes come from  this blog post.

Join Us Tomorrow Night, Darlings, As Svengoolie Prevents "Son Of Frankenstein!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                                   By lesser standards of Universal, this is a gem, but as the climax to the Boris Karloff/Frankenstein Trilogy, it is the worst of the lot.

                                                      Not that it's bad.  Just a lot of recycled stuff seen before; not nearly as much fun as the original, nor as campy as the sequel.   One reason  I am looking forward to see "Son Of Frankenstein" tomorrow, is because I cannot recall the last time I saw it, let alone what happens in it.  It does have the originality of Bela  Lugosi, as Igor, and this is the one where, I think, Lionel Atwill has one arm.

                                                         Some people like this film; I would rather Svengoolie had shown 'Bride.'

                                                         But, David, the gang, and I will be watching, so hope to see you, too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                           Unless you'd rather  watch the YouTube video where Barbra Streisand--that's right, BARBRA!--visits her old  Broadway dressing room!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Cold? Oh, No! Baby, I Can't Believe Your Heart Is Cold! Maybe It's Just Afraid...To Be Broken Again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                      Girls, I am telling you, what challenges we brides face,  once the officiate  pronounces us "man and wife," "husband and husband," "wife and wife," or  whatever.  But few have had such challenges as Mae Clarke, here, in her bridal gown, yet, having to face Boris Karloff as the Frankenstein monster.  And this, after having James Cagney shove a grapefruit into her face, earlier in the year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         On last Saturday's viewing of this screen masterwork--which was restored and uncut--I was surprised at the budget expended upon it.  Much more than "Dracula."  The amount of extras in this film  almost  exceeded the lead players!  Colin Clive is the gayest mad scientist I have ever seen. There is  no doubt why he left the university; not because of his crackpot theories, but because he was caught in his dorm, with Fritz!!!!!!!!!!!!  They way Dwight Frye wields that whip, it is clear he has used it on Dr. Frankenstein.  And the latter has LOVED it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  As for Elizabeth, I had forgotten she is not  killed in the movie--I had always thought she was--as she is,  in the novel.

                                            Frederick Kerr as Baron Frankenstein, is a riot; a real party animal, who just wishes his son would come home, and then come out!  Even he knows marriage to Elizabeth  is just convenience.   As for Marilyn Harris' iconic performance as  Little Maria, it may have taken her nowhere,  but she will  be remembered for this.   Imagine  being brave enough to let a  big guy like Boris Karloff throw you in the lake!  I am not  sure I could have done  it!

                                                 Pity Svengoolie is skipping the middle of the trilogy, the campy "Bride Of Frankenstein,"  with Elsa Lanchester wearing that electric doo everyone wants to get, at Sally Hershberger's!!!!!!!!!!!  Instead,  he  will be skipping  to "Son Of Frankenstein," which marked Karloff's last appearance as The Monster, and is where Universal ought to have ended things.  Alas.........

                                                   "Frankenstein," the original, is a screen masterpiece.  If you missed last Saturday, get hold of a DVD, and find out for yourselves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                       Meanwhile, girls, let's go to our bridal fittings, and get our hair done!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Darlings, We LOVE The Ballsy Mamie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          Girls, there is no doubt that Sarah Paulson's testosterone fueled interpretation of Mamie Eisenhower is the highlight of "Double Feature."  As are the black and white segments offering up a delicious conspiracy theorist view of Fifties America.  Keep this up, guys, and you may have a winner.  But lose the present day plot, fast.

                                              The gay guys who are preggers are too dumb to know they are gay, not to mention not having a uterus or ovaries.  If they haven't figured out, by tonight's episode, how that baby is going to come out, they deserve what they get.

                                                In fact, what they deserve is a lesbian version of the "It's Alive!" baby, which would be a hoot, and liven up this segment, where none of the actors can act, and the writers are inhabiting whatever L.A. literary spot there is.  If, indeed, there is one, because I think  L.A. and literary are oxymorons.

                                                   With just two episodes to wrap things up, things had better move fast.  How about an ending where the aliens are responsible for opening up the McDonald's franchise?  Dumbing down America by fast food consumption.   Denigrating the great American non-intelligencia!

                                                      Serves them  right!

Let's Stop With All The 'Hansen' Hate!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                              As of last Thursday, darlings, I stepped out of the cultural/Covid divide, and went back  into a movie theater.  I am still here, to prove it.  I chose to see "Dear Evan Hansen," having not seen it on stage, and wanting to see Ben Platt, as well as trying to grasp the hate mongering toward this film.  It is not deserving of it.

                                                  Don't get me wrong; there is plenty the matter with the film; just not what the dissenters are saying.  "Dear Evan Hansen" seems less a musical, and more a film with music.  The musical  medium  is representational, and this film lacks any kind of visual or theatrical style.  The closest one gets is several seconds of Evan, and his friend, Jared (Nik Dodani) doing some  generic dance steps in an arcade.  That is about as much choreography as is, and Jamica Craft, who is credited for this, should not have been. 

                                                  The film, which was shot in Atlanta, GA, looks like Anywhere, USA.  It is much too literal, visually, without any theatricality to give it an extra boost of energy.  Is this supposed to be a musical, an Afterschool Special, a Joan Didion adolescent story, or what?

                                                    No one can make up their  minds.

                                                     Are there any good things about the film?  Yes, and Ben Platt is one of them.  There is, of course, THAT voice, and when he  looks  into  the camera  for the first time,  the viewer beholds pain, and  for  the next 136 minutes, he inhabits Evan, without looking overaged; blending, in fact, into the fabric of school scenes, whenever he is in a crowd. I could not imagine anyone else in the part.   Kudos to Amy Adams, who doesn't sing nearly enough to suit me, but, then, that is her character.  Julianne Moore was the big surprise; her folksy, lullaby rendition of  "So Big, So Small," coming on the tail of what happens at the  Murphys (Adams and Danny Pino) and a confrontation between Heidi and Evan, had me in tears.

                                                        OK.  So stop with the Ben Platt hate.  He inhabits Evan.

                                                        Stop saying Evan should be a gay kid.  Having been one myself,  are you hatemongers saying we are all wusses???????????   That straight kids can't get/aren't bullied?  Come on, now!  No one is immune from bullying.  And how about the old adage of gay actors playing straight characters?  Get over it; it has gone on since pictures moved, and shows no sign of letting up.  And who says one cannot be as good as the other?  Did Jennifer Jones have to be canonized, to play Bernadette?  Oh, excuse me; for most of the hatemongers, you are much too young for that reference.   Ask  your Grandma, bitches!

                                                    Oh, one more thing!  After  things go awry, Evan does display genuine remorse.  The hatemongers paint him as some kind of monster,  but I did not get that from Platt's performance.  Evan may be getting acceptance from those he thought he wanted it from, but it is clearly not making him happy.  A monster would not feel that way.  Get it,  kiddies??????????????

                                                           As I said, it may not be a  good movie, but not worth the hatred.  Here are some filmed musicals which are--"Nine"(2009), "A Chorus Line" (1985), and "Mame" (1974, with Lucille Ball, yet!).  Check these out for much worse mistakes than "Dear Evan Hansen."

                                                            Granted, the movie will be shortly forgotten.  Platt will always be remembered for it.  But he deserved a better environment surrounding him.  Maybe then this might have been  the Oscar caliber musical everyone hoped for.

                                                                 If Broadway musicals are destined to be ruined, then don't commercially film  them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why Viewing "Peyton Place" Decades Later Made Me So Sad!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     Many of us baby boomers who read the Metalious novel or saw the 1957 movie when young, having been raised in small towns, were convinced our town was Peyton Place.  This was true of me, growing up in Highland Park, New Jersey.

                                        Last night, I watched the 1957 film for  the first time  in  several decades.  David had  never seen it before, and, city raised, did  not have my reaction.  I had  forgotten so  much of  the film--its length, what was left in, and out, of the  book.  But the cinematography, by William C. Mellor, who was Oscar nominated here, displays some breathtaking camera work.  Mark Robson's direction here mined actor gold, as five of  its players were Oscar nominated.  But I cannot forget, and never did,  how it is Hope Lange, as Selena Cross, who just about walks  of f with the movie, deserving an Oscar she never  won.  Watch her in this film; the viewer always  focuses on her when on screen.

                                          What follows from above is Allison (Diane Varsi) getting on the bus, Selena reaching out her hand to her, as they say farewell, as Allison goes off to New York, and then the beautifully staged shot as Selena, left behind, runs alongside  the bus, and Allison, till both outrun her.

                                               It is here  I burst into tears, not  just because of the cinematic beauty of the  sequence,  but because it was  like  my life splintering in two  before my eyes.  I certainly wanted, like Allison, to go to New York--indeed,  I have lived here longer than I ever did in HP--but a part of me wonders if I  had been left behind, what  might have happened to me.  I had expected I  would  have stayed in my parents house, till owning it, or taking an apartment in town, working locally, or commuting to NYC daily, with maybe an occasional  trip  to the theater on  Saturday, and church on Sunday. Then the whole routine again.  In other words, amidst  the conservative, Catholic environment I was raised, these were the expectations foisted upon me--that I would turn out a combination  of  Gregory Peck  in "The Man In The Grey Flannel Suit," and Jennifer Jones, in "The Song Of Bernadette."  Instead, I  took the other path, and, while  happy now, wonder  if when  my time  comes what punishment I  will face for  past  deeds.   Of course, this would have tormented  me, no matter what path I  took.

                                              But seeing this scene  last night, made  me see the splitting of  my life, and the choices made.  Would I have been as happy staying in HP?  Would Allison have been as happy, remaining  in Peyton Place?

                                                 I have my doubts.  But, while Allison returns in  the  movie, it  is clear having once  left,  she can never  be a  resident again.

                                                    And neither can  I.

                                                   Alas,  the  past  can  be  both  beautiful and heartbreaking!

Girls, Join Us Tomorrow Night, As Svengoolie Airs A REAL Gem--The Original, 1931 "Frankenstein!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                                  And let us hope the airing goes better than "Dracula," which was ruined for us purists by Philip Glass.  I don't think music was ever added for "Frankenstein," but the movie has been tinkered with.  When  first released, the scene where the Monster  drowns little Maria (Marilyn Harris) in the  lake was cut by the censors of  several states, and in its subsequent television airings.

                                                    Over the decades, it has been restored--I have seen it, either on VHS or DVD--but even if tomorrow just shows the father carrying her dead corpse through the town main street, demanding justice, it  will be disturbing enough.

                                                       "Frankenstein" is more dark and grim, less witty, than "Dracula," and  I am not sure I  would let small children watch it.

                                                          And how about Mae  Clarke? 1931 was certainly her banner year. First, she get gets a grapefruit shoved in her face by James Cagney, in "Public Enemy," then she gets murdered  on her wedding day, fully gowned, in "Frankenstein"

                                                            The things a girl has to do, to get work!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                              Join  us all , tomorrow night!  Baby Gojira,  Pippin, and Kerwyn can't  wait!

Oy! What Have We Gone, And Done??????????????????????????

                                        First, darlings, let me say I had nothing to do with this.  Last evening--or was it the one before--David  just causally told me he had bought two tickets--at $250 each--for this revival of  "Funny Girl."  He agreed that if the Covid gets worse, we don't go, or if the project folds (as I suspect it may) we will get our money back.  I should have been consulted.

                                         The day we are scheduled to go is the matinee performance on Saturday April 2, 2022, which just happens to be the 43rd anniversary of  my mother's death.  If we go, I  hope she  keeps an eye on  us, from  above.

                                          Of course,  every Theater Queen in town will  go.  And I am more  worried about Beanie  facing their ire, rather than the critics.  Over the years, more suited performers, like Neva Small or Judy Kuhn,  not to mention a young Patti Lu Pone might have fared better--but Beanie????????She has got a voice, but not THE voice, meaning less that she's not BARBRA and more  that her voice does not seem  strong enough to handle the vocal demands the score requires.  Remember how Madeline Kahn--God, rest her soul!--burned her voice out with  "On The Twentieth Century," back  in 1978?  I do, because I saw it, in previews, and even then I could tell  Kahn's voice would not last.

                                            If we end up going, it will mark The Raving Queen's return to Broadway, which is something to be celebrated.  If Beanie conks out onstage, we will  be third  row  center, and  I can  just get up there,  and  finish  the show.   I  have been wanting to  do "Funny Girl" since I was nine years old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                               Only time will tell, darlings!  However it  goes, this will be some kind of an event!

                                                 And I will  share it with you, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!