That's It For July!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             No fireworks for us this year.  Between David's health problems, and then his diagnosis (which I am not ready to chronicle yet) it was not much of a July.  Though the mini-NYC vacation we took will be chronicled on here, starting tomorrow.  I wanted to say farewell to my readers on here till next month, and explain why, posting wise, this was not much of a month.

                             August will be here, and I will tell you this--"Svengoolie" has one of my favorites lined up for this Saturday night.  I will tell you more on Saturday.

                            My apologies for not writing more.  It has been a rough month.

                            See you in August, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Question Must Be Asked, Girls--What Is Jessie Mueller Up To????????????????

                            Jessie Mueller, the Toast Of Broadway, what has happened to her?  The last thing she did was Adelaide at the Kennedy Center in "Guys And Dolls," and this veteran of the classics has not surfaced in NYC for some time.  No solo albums, no 54 Below Concerts.  What gives, Jess?  Your fans want to know.

                              No female voice on Broadway can match hers, so why this disappearing, almost reclusive act????????????  Health, personal, or other problems?  Somehow, I think we would have heard, or I would have found out.

                                It is frustrating being deprived of a cultural treasure.  So, get an act together, Jess, and present it to us.

                                  She will sell out; that is for sure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This Movie Is An Insult To All Dogs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                        With the Dog Days Of Summer approaching, I guess "Svengoolie" feels it appropriate to haul out "The Killer Shrews" again.  If you have never seen it, tune in to see how terrible it is.  If not skip it.

                         This is the movie where Sidney Lumet's father (how did he get involved with this?) plays a doctor on an island doing experiments on animals.  The "shews" are dogs with grotesque masks on, and the real mysteries here are how they were able to maintain wearing them for takes, and if they were paid enough.  If not, I hope they went to their agents, demanding more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             We will be out of circulation this weekend--more on that next week-- but we would not have watched this, were we at home.  The only good moment is seeing the nasty character get his.

                                Really, if "Svengoolie" doesn't show more gems than losers, his demographic audience will vanish.

                                  Please keep going, Sven!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Blazingly Theatrical!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Musically Haunting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not To Be Missed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             I don't say these words lightly, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             When Sara Gruen's novel "Water For Elephants," first appeared in 2006, I found it enjoyable, but nothing that stuck with me.  When the film came out in 2011, I avoided it.  And when I heard a musical adaptation was being planned for Broadway, I laughed uproariously.

                                                  Well, now, the laugh is on me.  Because Broadway's "Water For Elephants" at the Imperial Theatre, is a dazzling, pyrotechnical display of theatrics from the cast, crew, and just about everyone connected with it.  I came out of this show feeling I had seen a real musical.

                                                     The set-up is poignant.  This is a flashback story told by the older Jacob Jankowski (the wonderful Gregg Eldelman, older, but still in excellent voice) in a heartrending performance, as he recalls his youth (portrayed by the handsome, athletic and vocally adept Grant Gustin, who I believe, replaced the original lead) as he recalls both the tragic and pleasurable aspects of his life.  Having trained to be a vet at Cornell and having come back to his hometown to practice with his father, this dream is dashed when his parents are tragically killed in a car crash.  With nothing and nowhere to go, he hits the road, hooking up with a traveling circus. ("The Road Don't Make You Young" is one of many compelling songs, and it comes early on, to indoctrinate audiences into the lifestyle Jaccob is getting himself into.)

                                                  As mentioned, the two Jacobs are superb.  But the show belongs to the ensemble, all acrobatically inclined, and who do the most amazing tricks, on stage, without a net, that makes one think how much these performers are risking, and how skilled they are to be able to do it.

The presence of the animals onstage is handled in a rather Julie Taymor way, and I have to say, Rosie, The Elephant deserved a TONY nomination!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                    And so did Isabella McCalla as Marlaine, Wade McCollum as Wade, Joe DePaul as Walter, and while he played a villain, Paul Alexander Nolan, as the Ringmaster.  Their voices are glorious to hear, and the songs and stories they tell are haunting in a Woody Guthrie kind of way.

                                                      Kudos must go to the choreography of Jessie Robb and Shana Carroll (Miss Carroll also did the Circus Design) and to Director Jessica Stone for helming the whole thing.

                                                       Darlings, do not miss "Water For Elephants."  If prices were affordable on Broadway, I might have seen it a second time.  It was that good.

                                                       And when the last time I said that?  Oh, yes, "Sweeney Todd" with Josh Groban last year!  Ane 'Merrily' this year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                        See what I mean?

This Stone Cold Bitch Should Be In Jail!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                           Many readers, over time, have asked me to revive my "Bitch Of The Week" column, and I have no objections, but, having written so many columns, I stopped, first due to Covid, and now to the fact that no one is cold enough to catch my eye.

                             But then there is Jaclyn Edison.

                              She moved to Texas from--are you ready? --New Jersey, and probably some White Trash tract development. And to be surnamed after the town next door to mine.  What a disgrace!  Once in Texas, she fell for Nicolas Shaughnessy--or did she?  Because his parents, Ted and Cory Shaughnessy, owned a well-run jewelry store in Austin, and were doing quite well.  Against the wishes of the parents, Nicolas and Jaclyn were secretly married, and it was all Jaclyn's idea.  Just like it was Jaclyn's idea to kill Nicolas' parents the night of March 2, 2018. And Nicolas had financial problems, besides.  But things went awry, and only Ted was killed.  Cory survived, an investigation was done, and the end result was Nicolas Shaughnessy--a real rat bastard of a son, and a wimp, besides, to take orders from such a bitch--was convicted.  But even though accomplices Johnny Leon and Aerian Smith--who pulled the trigger--were convicted, Jaclyn, who masterminded the whole thing--got 120 days in jail.  That is it!  Can you believe it?  While the other three got 35 years!  Which is what Jaclyn should have got.

                                  Now, this bitch walks the streets free.  You can bet she lives in some trash section of the South, because trash flocks to trash.  Girls, if you see her walking down the street, passing you, smack her across the face!  Step right up and puke, when you see her!

                                   She is probably in Florida, sitting at the hideout bar table with Alice Crimmins and Casey Anthony!  Will there be a fourth?  I am sure, but I cannot guess when.

                                      I had Jaclyn's number from the moment I saw her.  Stone cold bitch!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      Hope this satisfies all my former BOTW readers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Favorite Time Of Day Is Daybreak!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         Now, girls, I am by no means an early riser, but I have to say the favorite time of my day is daybreak.  I don't even care if I see the sun rise.  I like that transitional moment where the dark and light of the sky almost overlap, and the latter overtakes the former.  I am usually awake by that time--before I fall asleep and have my crazy dreams--and often watch it from my bed, looking toward the window, but there are some days where I just get out, and look at it through the window, standing up.

                                            Daybreak to me means hope.  A new slew of possibilities, another chance to make things right, or to get done what one did not get done yesterday.  It is a reminder, every 24 hours of how lucky we are to be alive.

                                             So, don't take daybreak for granted, darlings!  Embrace it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                              It could turn out to be your best moment, each day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Darlings, There's No Place Like Oz, But Who Knew Some Of It Was In Kansas?????????????????????????????

                              The above pic came to me from one of my regular readers, the fabulous Victoria.  Not till I saw this did I realize that Kansas has two Oz Museums.

                                 The first, which is in Liberal Kansas, and was mentioned in Geoff Ryman's 1992 novel, "WAS," I always thought was the one and only, the definitive.  But this one happens to be in Wamego, Kansas, and after looking at the website, I want to go to both museums!  I wonder of both of them show the movie every day.  I think that would be highly appropriate.

                                    Whichever does, I will stay to see the movie, and more than once!  But I would not pass over the chance to visit both museums.  I mean, they are about Oz.

                                       Imagine, going all the way to Kansas, just to go to Oz.

                                      I wonder what Judy Garland would think???????????????????

Sister Camille's Message This Morning Was About Kindness To Animals, And Good And Evil!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

                                                                                     

                  David and I always get up at 8AM on Sunday mornings, in time to hear Sister Camille D'Arienzo on 1010 WINS.  Last week, due to the Trump incident, Sister Camille was not on, which disappointed us both   This morning she was on, and she preached about kindness to animals, recalling the story of Rocket, the poodle.

                      This sweet, adorable dog, who was perfectly innocent of anything to anybody, was tossed off the ledge of a Manhattan Park, by his owner, Morgan Cleopatra, and let me tell you, darlings, it is clear from that name that she is a bitch, and lives in the Bronx.  Many evil people do.  This deed was done on May 16.

                        Sister Camille talked about the choices people have between kindness/good or unkindness/evil.  We know what choice that bitch made, leaving Rocket so severely injured he almost died.  But God was watching, and so was Gojira, and Rocket was saved by a group of rescuers, who saw he got immediate and loving care, and who is now seeking a good private home.  May he find the most loving one imaginable.

                       This house is on the same page as Sister Camille, regarding kindness to animals.  We are so happy and honored to have here as an advocate.

                         Keep up the good work, Sister C!!!!!!!!  We love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                     

Single Gay Guys, This Is The Place To Meet A Prospective Partner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                           While all the lesbians are uptown at the August Wilson Theatre, intermingling at "Cabaret," single gay men can stay in their own gayborhood, and take in The Stonewall National Monument, which is a museum, depicting the history of Gay Civil Rights.  You really should visit it. David and I were there several weeks ago.

                             During my visit, I observed a lot of single gay guys, hanging about, studying the museum's attractions, and maybe thinking about something else.  This is the perfect place for single gays to meet a prospective partner.  And after hooking up, one is already in the heart of the West Village, so anything, even eternal love, is possible.

                                  It can be done.  But whether for historicity or romance, gay men cannot afford to miss this wonderful exhibition celebrating how far our community has come!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   And still going, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tonight, Girls, "Svengoolie" Is Showing The Real Thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wouldn't It Be Great If Nostalagiaferatu Showcased It????????????????

                                      There is only one Dracula, darlings, and that is Bela Lugosi in the 1931 classic that defined Universal as The Monster Studio for the next several decades.

                                        Let us hope viewers tonight get the real thing, with the gorgeous "Swan Lake" opening, that always makes me think of "Dracula," and no other music.  And please, not with the incorporation of the Philip Glass score!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It detracts the mind from concentrating on the superb visuals Tod Browning has set up.

                                         Like the three vampire women--Dracula's "wives"--rising from their grave, their choreographed formation as flying bats, and best, their balletic entrance into Renfield's (the great Dwight Frye ) room, and the perfectly balletic movement of the silk as they back away from Dracula.

                                            And don't forget the camp dialogue between Helen Chandler as Mina, and the great Frances Dade as Lucy Westenra, who styles her hair like a flapper, and is turned by Dracula in to "The Bloofer Lady," who menaces children.  That scene better not be cut.

                                               Edward Van Sloan is the definitive Van Helsing, and his scenes with Lugosi have a dramatic spark to them.  Lugosi did this role on stage; did Van Sloan?  (Who also plays the doctor who diagnoses Jennifer Jones in "The Song Of Bernadette..")

                                                  And how about that armadillo?  The only time one is shown in a horror film.  In Romania?  No, darlings, because the film was shot in California; it must have wandered onto the set, at just the right time!

                                                    May all these treats and more be delivered to you tonight, my dears, as "Svengoolie" shows a real classic, not the dreck he has been showing recently.

                                                      And sometime, dolls, you have got to see "Dracula Sucks," though not on "Svengoolie."   Its tag line is, "This time, the Count is going for more than throat."  Who is in it?  Trust me, darlings, it does not matter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                         Enjoy the pleasures of a real classic tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If You Read Between The Lines, Darlings, This Is How Vance Got The VP Nomination!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    Plainly stated girls, he kissed the ass of Trump.  Anyone who wants to work with him is required to do that; it is a kind of loyalty agreement to kiss that dirty, disgusting ass.  I mean, this is a man with skid marks on his underwear!!!!!!!!!!!  Does he even bathe?  I doubt it.  Pig!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      So, good for you, Vance, you have passed the first test.  Will you take a knife or bullet for Trump, because he will ask you.  Though security on July 13 got to him almost too late!  Which makes me question their reliability.

                                          Yes, J.D. Vance is the supreme ass kisser.  May it bring him all the misery he deserves.

                                            Too bad they couldn't have nominated Vivian Vance!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"This Isn't Dallas! It's Nashville! They Can't Do That To Us, Here In Nashville!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                             Remember those apocryphal lines Henry Gibson spoke at the climax of Robert Altman's 1975 masterwork, which will turn 50 next year?

                                I could not help but hear them flash through my head, as I witnessed on TV the attempted assassination of former President Trump, an event, I fear that puts us dangerously closer to civil war than ever before.  Heaven help us if he had been killed!

                                 Hey, I don't like the guy. But that does not mean he should be shot, or such actions permitted.  Where was the security?  Or, more to the point, where wasn't it?  Was this all planned?  And right before the RNC???????????????

                                   I am not surprised someone took a shot at Trump.  I am surprised it took this long. But it does not bode well for the next several months, which will bring panic, chaos and outrage.

                                      A gag order, duct tape, and encampment at Mar-a-Lago is all that is needed.

                                    Violence only begets violence, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Night On The Town, Last Tuesday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        At David's behest, I was whisked off to Broadway Tuesday night, to see "The Notebook."  I was glad I went, but--

                                           When the movie "The Notebook" came out in 2004--hey, that is 20 years ago! --I had no intention of seeing it, until I read Dwight Garner in "The New York Times," who compared Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams to Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty in 1961's "Splendor In The Grass."  The last is one of my favorite films, so I had to see what all the fuss was about.

                                                 Even though "The Notebook," on screen and stage, is designed to be a tearjerker, it did not get to me until the end.  The movie had passionate performances by Gosling and McAdams, but this time I felt he was the Natalie Wood character.  The same could be said of Joan Allen and Andrea Burns, who play a variation of Audrey Christie's Monster Midwestern Mother from the 1961 film.  The influence of William Inge is all through "The Notebook," and I felt it keenly in the musical adaptation.

                                                       Would that the music would whisk the audience away to a romance felt by the younger Noah and Allie.  Alas, the Music and Lyrics by Ingrid Michaelson are repetitive and pedestrian; so much so that, while the voices are glorious, I wished they would just stop singing what sound like the same melodies over and over again.  I kept waiting for the famous rain scene, but that does not happen till the opening of Act Two.  Better it should have ended Act One; it would have been the perfect way to end the act.  Some sloppy musical theater writing, here.

                                                           Dorian Harewood, and especially Maryanne Plunkett makes up for it all as the older Noah and Allie.  Theirs are the most touching moments in the show, and their absence is felt when they are offstage.  Plunkett should have received a TONY Award for her work, and the ending does bring on tears the whole evening is trying to generate.

                                                               The end result is an entertaining show that demonstrates, proof positive, it did not need to be made into a musical.  Not everything does, darlings.

                                                                  This made me want to see the movie again, not only for the memorable turns by Gosling and McAdams, but also by James Garner and Gena Rowlands, who, tragically, now herself has Alzheimer's.

                                                                     One last thing.  In 1953, Inge wrote a one-act play called "Glory In The Flower," where two former lovers meet in a diner.  On the face of his winning the Oscar for his "Splendor In The Grass" script, though the characters earlier are named Jackie and Bus, they are recognized now as foreshadows of Bud and Deanie in 'Splendor.'

                                                                          "The Notebook" has a strong feminine demographic.  Teenage girls and those in their early twenties flock to it and will love it.  But I miss the show it might have been had a better score been provided.  Where was Jeanine Tesori?  Lucy Simon?  Or Carly? Stronger musical composition skills were needed here.

                                                                                 The show is worth seeing.  But how I miss all it might have been. 

                                 

To Me, She Will Always Be L.A. Joan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               That was my introduction to Shelley Duvall, when I first saw "Nashville" back in 1975.  I was very sad to hear of her passing on July 11 of this year, just four days past her 75th birthday on July 7.  She had a quirkiness that worked for here in films, especially those made by Robert Altman.  I mean, she was just BORN to play the role of Olive Oyl in "Popeye," where she turned out to be the best thing in Altman's otherwise worst film.

                                   She struck gold with "Faerie Tale Theatre," which ran for six seasons on TV.

                                    But there came a point, incomprehensible to me, where the quirkiness did not work anymore, taking over her personality instead.  It stripped her of her unconventional beauty, leaving her a haggard, homeless look wreck, living out of a trailer.  Shelley Duvall?  Yes, darlings.  Without Altman as a compass to guide her, it all became too much.  Why she did not seek help, or no one reached out to her I cannot explain.  I know it was a tragedy, and resulted in an early departure, for Shelley, whom I mourn.

                          Just take a look at this photo, darlings.  It says it all. This is from Altman's 1977 film "Three Women," my favorite next to "Nashville."  Shelley, Sissy Spacek, the images and the color and composition thereof say more about filmmaking and the kind that unfortunately does not exist today. I do not just mourn Shelley Duvall, but the kind of filmmaking that allowed her to flourish.

                             Rest In Peace, Shelley Duvall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Girls, Do Not Watch This If You Have Already Seen It!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                  Why is "Svengoolie' dragging out that 1966 chestnut, "Munster, Go Home," out of the vault for another screening?  I am telling you, having seen it, stretching out these TV series characters to a feature length film, and depicting them in color is tedious and make the actors look fake, which they do not in the black-and-white half sour sitcom of their lives.

                                     Poor Yvonne De Carlo looks the worst in this.  But she got even, when, five years later, she originated the role of Carlotta Campion in Prince/Sondheim/s "FOLLIES," and brought the house down with her rendition of "I'm Still Here."  Remember her that way, dears.

                                     So, we will watch something else tonight.  But we will not make the mistake we did several weeks ago.  That week, "Svengoolie" was showing "The Monolith Monsters," which I refused to see a second time.  We turned to Pay Per View and found a 2024 film entitled "The Twisters," which I mistakenly thought was the film "Twisters," opening later this coming week.  It had twisters, all right, but only stock footage superimposed against actors clearly going nowhere.  It was almost as bad as "The Ghost And Mr. Chicken," another film to avoid on "Svengoolie."

                                     Darlings, hopefully we will make a better choice this week. How I would love to see "Die! Die," My Darling!" with Tallulah Bankhead and Stefanie Powers.  You got to see the scene where Tallulah force feeds the unsweetened oatmeal to Stefanie.  And how about Yootha Joyce as housekeeper/sadist Anna???????????????

                                       Now, THAT would be an evening of fun, dolls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Darlings, Wouldn't You Love To Have One???????????????

                                                That is right, girls.  There is a Giant Bat Rat Spider Crab Creature Doll!!!!!!!!!  Isn't it cute?  The most creative monster since Cucumbo in "It Conquered The World."  And made by the same studio, AIP--American International Pictures!

                                                   This is sure to brighten up any household.  A real cute, conversation piece.  But where to put it?  It might look nice on our lower book cabinet shelf.  Or how about as a settee on a kitchen or dining room table?  

                                                     Of course, at our house, it cannot upstage Baby Gojira!  As if anything could!

                                                      But, really, darlings!  This is must!

                                                       You will be the talk of your neighborhood or building!!!!!!!!!!!! 

"SUFFS" Is The New "RAGS," And The Female "1776!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                          Thanks to our friends Ellen and Victor, who got relatively inexpensive tickets, we saw "SUFFS" two week ago Sunday.  I had been intrigued by its presentation on the TONY Awards, so when this opportunity came up, we grabbed it, and it was worth it.

                                             "SUFFS" bears comparison with "RAGS," because both deal with periods in early twentieth century history.  And both have haunting, melodic scores, which I cannot tell you how refreshing it was being in a Broadway house, hearing such.  The problem "RAGS" had was it was never conceptualized as "SUFFS" is, ending up more as an overly talky book musical than the sung through show with soaring songs, which it might have been, and deserves someday to be.  Hey, it took 42 years to get 'Merrily' right.  Perhaps the same someday will be done with "RAGS."

                                                 As for "1776," well "SUFFS" has not only an all-female cast, but an all-female orchestra.  Not since "The Secret Garden" has there been such a powerhouse of female creativity on Broadway.

                                                  Oh, and how is this?  In this year's TONY roster of nominees for "Best Musical," "SUFFS" and "Hell's Kitchen" shared the honor of being two musicals that first started out downtown at The Public Theatre.  "SUFFS" was there in 2022, and took two years to get to Broadway, due to Covid.  But how many years have boasted two shows that began at The Public?

                                                     "SUFFS" moves easily from scene to scene, with conceptual settings that make it all seem seamless, like one environment, and thirty-six--count them! -musical numbers.  The score is haunting, rousing, and fun; one number "G.A.B.," an acronym I cannot reveal, is a solid showstopper, among so many showstoppers."

                                                        At the helm of it all is Shaina Taub, who not only wrote the Book, Music and Lyrics, winning TONYS for both, but plays the lead role of Alice Paul.  A tiny dynamo with a gigantic voice, Miss Paul is a force to be reckoned with, given her remarkable creative, efforts and her performance power, reminding me of the young Alice Playten.  The entire ensemble is uniformly outstanding, but I must say Hannah Cruz as Inez Mulholland, Emily Skinner as Alva Belmont and Phoebe Burn--some cast members double up as characters--and Kim Blanck as Ruza Wenclawska are standouts.

                                                               "SUFFS" deserves to be seen, not only for its theatrical excellence, which includes Leigh Silverman's direction and Mayte Natalio's choreography, but because audiences will get a glimpse into history never taught in my time, which makes me question if it is now.  Before "SUFFS," I had no idea any of these women were real; I went in thinking they were to be archetypes, and, to an extent, they are, but all lived and breathed and died as portrayed on stage.  Less known than the Founding Fathers of "1776" "SUFFS" forces the audience, in a uniquely musical theater way, to examine a slice of American history seldom known or acknowledged.  It is both entertaining and educational.  And what is the last Broadway show we can say that about, darlings???????????????

                                                                  How apt "SUFFS" opened in this crucial election year.  May it inspire people to get out and vote, come November.

                                                                   Meantime, flock to the Music Box Theatre, sit back and enjoy this show's blazing theatricality.

Yes, This Is For Real!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But I Am Not So Sure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                          Oh, I have no doubts about the show.  "Gypsy" is a remarkable show, with a score that pulls the audience in as soon the first notes of the Overture are heard.  But what follows depends on the whirling dervish that is cast as Mama Rose, and I am not sure Audra McDonald, talented though she be, is up to it.

                           Face it, darlings.  To play Rose, one has to be a belter.  I mean, remember Patti?  Who could forget?  As far as I am concerned, she made "Gypsy" the one for our generation.  Just like Ethel Merman did for hers.  How the hell does one top that?

                            Now, I love Audra, darlings, but face it, she is NOT a belter.  And this was proven by Bernadette Peters playing the role in 2003. As the score went on, I kept wondering if she would lose her voice; if not at my performance, but in doing the show eight times a week.  It was sad, because she was surrounded by a very talented cast.  But the eye of this theatrical hurricane has to be Rose, and except in the softer number, "Small World," Peters was not up to it.

                                I fear the same for Audra.  But there is one saving grace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                         I want to play Dainty June!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                        First of all, I have been doing the 'Caroline' number, plus "If Mama Was Married" all my life, or since age 12, when I first heard the Original Broadway Cast Album.  There is no question that I am a belter.  One ENT specialist I saw told me I had the strongest set of vocal cords she had ever seen!  How about that, darlings?????????  And I would love working with Caroline!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                          There is one challenge, though.  That entrance, and that split.  I am doing leg stretches and yoga these days to build up my strength.  But that split.  What about my testicles?  This is something a woman does not have to worry about, but men?  I have seen men do splits; my first one was Ben Vereen in the original production of "Pippin."  And that testicular thought went through my mind, back then.  I guess I will have to wear something to protect me under my costume.  Something stronger than an athletic supporter.

                            Leaving that aside, I think Audra's "Gypsy" should be multi racial casting.  Which would make me perfect for the role of Dainty June!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            "My name is June," darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!  "What's yours?????????????????" 

A Fond And Sad Farewell To "Merrily We Roll Along!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                               This is the day Theater Queens, and the trio above have been dreading.  Today the now acclaimed production of "Merrily We Roll Along" closes and goes into the history books.

                                 While the original will always have its place in history, this soon to fold production will go on as being the definitive one.  Not just because of how it was rewritten and staged, though that was crucial to its success, but, more important, the talent and charm of the three performers who brought humanity and vulnerability to their characters, two of whom won TONY Awards, as the show did as "Best Revival Of A Musical."  And Lindsay Mendez, should have completed the TONY triumvirate by winning one, too.

                                How Jonathan Groff pulled off humanizing Franklin Shepard was nothing short of a miracle.  Oh, he was still dislikable, but in this production, it became clear how Life simply swept him away, like a bad ocean current.  He did not strike me as a sellout, but someone making the wrong choices because the things he thought he wanted would make him happy, when they actually did not.  The last image of the show, featuring Groff standing, staring out into a galaxy with Life ahead of him was moving and devastating, because we, who had seen the show, knew what was ahead for him.  And this broke our hearts.

                                   As did the trio's rendition of "Our Time,' which takes us Boomers old enough to have seen the original production back to our starting points and breaking our hearts in the process.  At least mine was broken.  And Mendez and Radcliffe brought such vulnerability to their performances they were almost painful to watch.  And their glorious renditions of the Sondheim score will live forever on the CD.

                                   Now, there are rumors of a filmed performance--culled from a variety of performances--floating about, that may be theatrically released.  How true this is I am not sure, but if it is, you can be sure David and I will be there, and for those unable to have seen the show live, I urge you to take advantage of this opportunity.

                                       And I can guarantee this--starting tomorrow, throngs of people at my former workplace will be fighting one another to view the 'Merrily' videotape!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         Because of Maria Friedman, and her sister, Sonia, "Merrily We Roll Along " finally made the history it deserved.  It went from being a flop to the hit many of us knew it could be, and I am so grateful to have lived long enough to have seen this unfold.

                                         Farewell, 'Merrily.'  "Not A Day Goes By" that you will not be thought of.

                              I wanted to give the full version of "Our Time," but could not find it.  Here is a brief excerpt that will convey the effectiveness of this song, and show how special this cast was.

When To Call Child Protective Services???????????????????????

                                                     Girls, I know, this is a really heavy topic for a Sunday, but after last week I was faced with this question.  Because I am sorry I did not.

                                                      David and I were having dinner at our usual locale, the Offshore Diner in our neighborhood of Bay Ridge.  I was waiting for him to arrive, so he did not witness what I did.

                                                       To my left, on the last three stools of the fountain, sat a teenaged girl, her mother, and an 8-year-old boy.  The daughter seemed to be watching the other two.  This eventually became obvious, as the boy was doing something that annoyed his mother.  He seemed to be playing on the fountain stool, like many children do--I did it myself, at that age--and in the process kept either knocking into her or somehow hitting her.  She kept yelling "Don't hit me!" as she was trying to eat.  I noticed none of the children were eating, but it was the mother's tone that struck me.  She was being especially abusive verbally to the boy, and it kept up.  She told the daughter to keep an eye on him, and the two withdrew to a nearby booth.  The girl tried to placate her sibling, but he was emotionally hurt, and showed it.  The mother then said, "If you do that again, I will make you fall!"  When I heard that, I reached for my phone to call CPS. I told my server, a familiar face, what I thought, and she did not disagree with me.  But, as I lifted my cell to call, I wondered how long it would take before someone arrived.  They could be out of the restaurant before anything could be done.  Then, amidst her meal, the woman temporarily abandoned the children to go somewhere next-door shopping, for at least half an hour.  She came back, resumed her meal, and they left.  I wondered what this poor boy was in for.

                                                         I wonder, was I wrong in not calling?  I had no notion of who these people were, as I had never seen them before.  Maybe they were not from the neighborhood.  I could give CPS officials a general description, but how much good would that do?  I was tempted to confront the woman when she left the store alone, but I knew that could get me into trouble.

                                                           What should I have done, readers?  Or do, in case something like this happens again?  I did look outside to see if any police were around, but they weren't.

                                                                I still think about that poor boy.  To give credit, he looked robust and healthy, physically.  Emotionally is another matter.

                                                                 One thing for sure, darlings. If, in the near future, I hear about a young boy dying of abuse, I will never forgive myself.

                                                                  This experience will stay with me, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                        

Girls, We Cannot Wait To See The Giant Bat-Rat Spider-Crab Creature!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              Isn't that some creation, darlings?  Wouldn't it look good as a panel for an entire wall?

                             Tonight, for the first time since we have been watching "Svengoolie," he is going to show 1959's (or was it 1960?) "The Angry Red Planet."  This was AIP's venture into intergalactic space monster territory, and not only is it highly regarded, but it has also been praised by critics and film scholars!  That's right, dears, can you believe it?

                              Because of the creature pictured above, I cannot wait to see this movie on "Svengoolie" tonight at 8PM.  You have never seen anything like this, darlings, so it is worth tuning in.

                              The planet of the title is Mars, which is what this planet has been labeled in real life.

                              But there is nothing real in this Mars, dolls!  Hopefully, just camp fun and laughter!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               See you at 8 tonight, when we all blast off, dears!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Look Who Is Venturing Into The Field Of Children's Literature!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                That is right, darlings, our lovable reptile friend, Gojira, has come out with a book for children, and I know all Gojira fans, young and old, are going to love it.  I cannot wait to read it, girls!

                                  Gojira is not just a major movie star; he is becoming a cottage industry.  Fashions, books written about him, now by him, I can only wonder what field Gojira will conquer next.

                                   I wanted to share this important news with you ASAP.  You can find this book online and order it.

                                    You can be sure it will be a permanent addition to our home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Three Cheers For The Red, White, And Blue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                                   No, darlings, I have not become a MAGA--God forbid!  I am merely quoting the intro to the "Freedomland" song of the 1960's.  The other line was "We're on our way to fun--Freedomland!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                                      For those not in the know, "Freedomland" was an Americana style theme park, with exhibits and rides, located on what is now Co-Op City in the Bronx.  I visited there once with my parents.  After five years, it closed and was demolished.

                                                        This is all by way of saying something different than "Happy Fourth Of July!"  Well, the same to you, too, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                           However you celebrate the day--the Original Broadway Cast Album of "1776," the movie version, with Blythe Danner, James Cagney in "Yankee Doodle Dandy," or Joel Grey on the Original Broadway Cast Album of "George M!," make it work for you!  Hot dogs, burgers, a pool, or air conditioning.  Even Jennifer Jones, as Bernadette, which I might require!!!!!!!!!

                                                               Nevertheless, a Happy July 4th to all my readers!

                                                                But remember, as the Lanford Wilson play goes, the fireworks really start on "The Fifth Of July!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"