Wasn't It A Fast October, Girls????????????????

                         Well, here we are, dears, Halloween, and the end of October.  Can you believe we are five-sixths through the entire year?  How is it possible?

                           It was a slow show month for us, with "Yellow Face" being the only thing we saw on stage.  David continues to do very well, thank God.

                           But it was a very social month.  Our friend from Pittsburgh, Judy, came to town on the 10th, and we had a lovely visit with her.  Unfortunately, for me, some sort of intestinal virus kicked in, lasting about 36 hours, so I have to wonder, is Judy some sort of Typhoid Mary?  Because the last time she came to town, two years ago, David got Covid.  Oh, well!  For sure, next time, we will not go to Joya in Brooklyn but try something else!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            On the 18th--exactly one month before my birthday!!!!!!!!--our friend Chris came over, and we watched the prequel to "Rosemary's Baby," "Apartment 7A."  We will be watching the Roman Polanski classic tonight, so I will be posting, sometime in November, what it is like to rewatch "Rosemary's Bay," and my thoughts on the prequel.  Something to look forward to, dears!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              Then, last Saturday, we had dinner at Gino's on 5th Avenue, here in Bay Ridge, with our friends Ellen and Vic, which is when we made the nighttime visit to Roy Jensen's Halloween House in Bay Ridge!  Girls, I am telling you, it has to be seen!

                                         See what I mean?  It is simply fabulous, and at night it is even better.

                                         So, while fast, October was an exciting month.  And don't forget the anniversaries of "Henry, Sweet Henry," and "A Chorus Line."  Both Michael Bennett shows, by the way!

                                            See you in November, with much to look forward to--Thanksgiving, my birthday, Musical Theater Week, and more!  Kicking off, of course, with All Saints Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                               Until next month, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Halloween, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       That is me, this past Sunday, posing in front of a section of Roy Jensen's Halloween House in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.  The address is on 79th Street, between Sixth and Seventh Avenues, but closer to Seventh.

                                        Actually, this was our second visit to the place.  The night before, after dinner with friends, we drove by at night, and, girls, I am telling you, it was so sensational!  Things that walked, moved, and talked!  It was like a carnival!  I am telling you; Bay Ridge is getting to be for Halloween what Dyker Heights has become for Christmas.  And the former certainly will, as the years move on!

                                        So, a Happy Halloween to all!  Tonight, will be a quiet one, with David and I watching the classic "Rosemary's Baby."  I mean, with Mia in town, and Ruth Gordon and Patsy Kelly, it is just perfect!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Spending Halloween with the Castevets will be so much fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            Thank you so much, Roy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          Hope you get more tricks than treats, darlings!

                                          And please be careful, if you go out at night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     

                                            

That Cold-Hearted Saturn Girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                           To think I almost had this issue.  I found it in the newsstand of the second floor of Port Authority in NYC, back in the Sixties.  I had to have been with my parents, at that time.  I did not have enough money to buy it, so that was that!

                                              But then I got "Adventure Comics, No. 345," featuring "The Execution Of Matter-Eater Lad."  In the Letters column were so many letters deriding DC for the story in the above issue.  And Saturn Girl was singled out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                               That Imra Ardeen!  What a bitch!  Just because she has blonde hair, one of the best costumes, and was the first femme founding member of the Legion, doesn't give her the power or right to run everything, as she thinks she does here.  And Dream Girl, who supposedly was romantically interested in Star Boy--how could she betray him?  Ditto Superboy, thinking he is so high and mighty, with his cape the only one flying!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  He should have been demoted and whipped!

                                                    Then there was Brainiac 5, who was then the Legion's leader.  He should talk, being he was the one who created the villainous Computo, the computer, who almost wiped out the Earth!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And don't forget, Computo destroyed one of Triplicate Girl's three bodies, making her into Duo Damsel!!!!!!!!!!  So, where does Brainiac 5 get off being so high and mighty??????????

                                                       Those of us who grew up in this era, never forgot or forgave!  True, in future issues, justice would be restored, but I am telling you, people went wild when this story first appeared!  And I can understand why!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                          As for Saturn Girl, shut your mouth, and get a mani and pedi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Let's Take A Coffee Break!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

 

                                  Darlings, if only I could!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                  While living in Highland Park, New Jersey, our downstairs radio was tuned to New Brunswick's local station, WCTC.  At 10AM, each weekday morning, a chorus would sing, "Let's take a coffee break," and an announcer would add, ".... with Carol Kaiser, Middlesex County Home Economist, on WCTC's 'Coffee Break.'"

                                        Then Carol would deliver a domestic missive each day, not unlike Sister Camille D'Arienzo's spiritual missives each Sunday.  I used to love Carol and her coffee breaks.

                                           Today, dolls, it is a whole different story.  I am lucky if I get out of bed at ten.  I crawl to the kitchen, take my medicine, and put on the coffee.  I drink till I feel awake.  

                                             Now, being retired, you may think the day is all in front of me.  Are you kidding? Sweeties, for those who anticipate retirement, let me tell you, it is almost like having less time than when you are working.  The day just goes, until it is evening, and another day done.

                                                What retirement teaches is how to use one's time effectively.    And that as one ages, one sleeps more.

                                                  Now, we get up early, on Sundays for Sister Camille!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                  If only there were a Carol Kaiser to get up to!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                 How I miss you, Carol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Girls, Do I Really Need To Reread All This??????????????????????

                                          Back in 2004, darlings, before I was even writing this blog, the novel above was the literary sensation of the season.  And you know how much I love my literary sensations.  People hailed it as a masterwork of literature.  I can recall reading it during that Summer--some of it sitting by my father's pool in Florida.  To this day, I don't see what all the hype was about, and it really did not make any kind of an impression on me.

                                            Now, just last week, "The New York Times" did an article on Susanna Clarke, whom I had thought had gone on to be a one book wonder.  When 'Jonathan Strange' came out, she hinted at it being the beginning of a forthcoming trilogy, and I waited, and waited.  No show.  Until in 2006, she published "Piranesi," a novel as short as her previous one was long.  It never made a blip on my literary radar--till now.

                                                According to what I understood from reading the article, after her gigantic debut novel became the hit she never expected, Clarke went into a deep depression, feeling she could not write anymore.  I think she was depressed because her novel was SO successful, she felt nothing she did could top it.  A not uncommon feeling among authors whose works soar into the unexpected stratosphere. 

                                                 This year marks the twentieth anniversary of "Jonathan Strange And Mr. Norvell."  There are people out there who love this book.  So, whether you do or don't, let me know if it is worth investing my time in this giant effort.  One thing intrigues me is how it is compared to writers like Dickens and Austen.  Now, I have a better grasp on 19th Century writers than I did in 2004, so maybe, just maybe, that will make me fall in love with this book.  I feel like I am missing out on something.

                                                   So, tell me, girls!  What do you think??????????????

Girls, Forgive My Horrible Musical Theater Omission!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                         I knew there had to be a reason why, earlier this week, I was singing songs from the 1967 Broadway musical, "Henry, Sweet Henry."  It gave us two Legends Of The American Musical Stage, Neva Small, who was only 14, and a 20-year-old Alice Playten, in a role that netted her a TONY nomination.

                         So, why this post?  Because four days ago, October 23, to be exact, " was the 57th anniversary of this musical's opening at the old--on the ground--Palace Theatre.  I was crazy to see it when it opened, but the show closed on December 31 of 1967, before my parents, who had promised to take me, could get tickets.  What a shame.

                           But the cast album is a gem.  If you can't land a copy, listen to it on YouTube.  

                               Here is Neva Small singing "I Wonder How It Is," which made her a Legend Of The American Musical Stage!  No wonder Bob Merrill went crazy over her talent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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

Were This Film Made Today, This Role Would Be Played By Alexndra Ocasio-Cortez!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                          That is actress Luce Luz Potter, as the chrome-domed leader of the "Invaders From Mars," the original 1953 film--the one and only--which "Svengoolie" is showing tonight.  You do not want to miss this one, girls.

                           Wait till you see Leif Erickson go from a nice father, to an abusive one.  And Janine Perreau, sister of child actress Gigi Perreau, as Kathy Wilson, the embodiment of Fifties childhood conformity!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              Directed by William Cameron Menzies, who set designed GWTW, the movie has a visual quality especially artsy in film of this type from this era. Jimmy Hunt gives a haunting performance as the little boy who has the ultimate alien experience.

                                And then......but I will not tell you anymore.  Join us tonight at 8PM, as "Svengoolie" presents this genuine classic.  Some of you may want to stay tuned for his second feature, the Jim Henson film, "The Dark Crystal," from 1982.  Which really should have been shown last week as it sort of precedes "Labyrinth."

                         "Invaders From Mars" is one of the few films of its kind where the movie is as good as the poster.  So, make sure not to miss it, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                

For Lovers Of Bergman And Altman!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               "May December" came out in 2023, but David and I did not get to see it until several weeks ago, and for those who feel Bergman's 1966 "Persona," and Robert Altman's 1977 "Three Women" are iconic films, feel free to add Todd Haynes' film to that duo.

                                  There are no deer, nor glimmers into Fifties America here.  The premise is simple, the execution complex.  Julianne Moore plays Grace Atherton-Yoo, largely modeled after Mary Kay Letourneau.  Now, for those who may not recall Mary Kay--no, dears, we are NOT talking cosmetics, now! --she was the Washington State school teacher who in 1996 had a sexual relationship with her sixth-grade student, Vili Fulaau.  Sixth grade; can you believe it???????  This led to an arrest, conviction and a prison sentence, resulting in the birth of a child while in prison.  The two married in 2005, had more children, and separated in 2019.  In July 2020, Letourneau died of colon cancer.

                                       Moore's character, Grace, is married to the student, and the action takes place a long time after the aforementioned.  Along comes Natalie Portman as Elizabeth Berry, an actress playing Atherton-Yoo in a forthcoming movie.  As the film unwinds, so do the characters, till one is not sure who is acting, who is manipulating the other, whether or not the personalities come together, and there are two important scenes--one near the end, where Grace almost turns on her husband in a way that made me lose sympathy for her, and the final scene on the film set, where Portman's character, who had an agenda from the start, gets exactly what she wants.  Is she any the happier for it?  Is anyone here?   That is what Haynes leaves the audience to figure out, and he positions the actresses in a number of mirror shots and together close-ups to emphasize the duality of personalities seeming to come together, until one cannot figure out who is the actor, or who is acting.

                                          There is nothing romantic about "May December," so don't let the title fool you.  But Hayes does pull back the layers under two distinct personalities until we can hardly tell one from the other.

                                             I loved it.  As for who is the best performance, there is no answer.  The two actresses are so in sync they could not work without each other.

                                              Girls, I am telling you, this will invite a real coffee klatch discussion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

49 Years Ago, Today................

                                         Can you believe that next year will mark 50 years?

                                        Girls, this has always been a special day for me, when my father and I saw the Original Company of "A Chorus Line," at the Shubert Theatre.  It was groundbreaking for its time, and brutally realistic about aspirations toward dance in musical theater.  Those realities still hold, which is why the show has a timelessness to it, and which I hope will get some sort of revival in its 50th year.

                                             And then there was Donna McKechnie, whom I had never heard of then, but never forgot after.  I have never seen anyone dance like that in my lifetime, and probably never will again.  I feel so proud just to have been there.

                                               My father lived to 102, dying in 2018.  To the end, we often talked about that special day, when we saw "A Chorus Line," which I will always remember.

                                See this, darlings?  This is why Donna McKechnie became a star!  And I bet she could still do this tonight!

Darlings, We Just Love Laura- Louise!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                        That is Laura- Louise McBurney, who lives up on twelve--12F, to be exact--at The Bramford in Ira Levin's and Roman Polanski's "Rosemary's Baby--" the one and only.  Laura Louise was played by the great Patsy Kelly, and she raises an interesting, but unseen question, about the story.

                        In the above scene, when they first meet, Rosemary says she's on the first day of her period.  Laura Louise pipes up that her first day was always hard, delivering one of her best lines, "Dan used to give me gin through a straw, to kill the pain."

                       Now, just exactly, who is Dan?  He is never seen.   One can guess he is or was Laura Louise's husband.  But, just how sympathetic was he to the coven?  Did he know?  Or did he disapprove????????????

                         My guess is there was something about the whole thing he did not like, and Laura- Louise and the others had him done away with.  Of course, in a manner no one would suspect.

                         So, though Patsy Kelly gives the character a wonderfully comic touch--brilliant acting on her part--make no mistake about it.

                          Laura- Louise is pretty sinister.

Darlings, Let's All Go To "A Haunting In Hollis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                            I mean, Hollis, Queens, where Kitty Genovese worked as a bar tender sixty years ago, until her tragic murder on March 13, 1964.

                          Someone in Hollis had the brilliant idea to bring the Dyker Heights concept of Christmas to Halloween, in Queens, converting this rather conventional house into a walkthrough spook house.  Isn't that ingenious?  Now, due to a man being injured, the slide attraction, known as Satan's Slope, has been removed, but from what I have seen this looks to be quite the attraction.  

                           I can't wait to see it, darlings!  Imagine, me wanting to go to Queens!

                           But who could resist those friendly, skeletal faces????????????????????

                          If anyone goes, dears, be sure and tell me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Girls, Join Us Tonight At 8PM, As "Svengoolie" Presents The 1953 Classic We All Love--"House Of Wax!" And Then, Something Else..............

                                                                                  

                              You cannot go wrong with 1953's "House Of Wax," darlings--a wonderfully atmospheric Technicolor display of period detail and costumes, with Carolyn Jones, above seeming to go for the Oscar gold, as Joan Of Arc, a moment both horrific and campy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             Even though 1933's "The Mystery Of The Wax Museum" is by far the better film, this is one of the better remakes of a film I have seen.  Vincent Price hams it up, the wax figures are gorgeous, Phyllis Kirk radiates girl power as the persistent heroine, and the wax finale is amazing.

                             Dolls, if you have seen it, enjoy it again.  For those who haven't, well what are you waiting for?  Here is your chance.  See you, tonight, at 8PM.

                                Now--

                                This being the Halloween season, "Svengoolie" is showing a second feature, hosted by Nostalgiafeatu and Company. 

     

This turns out to be the 1986 "Labyrinth," a Jim Henson feature, with a cast including his brother Brian, as well as David Bowie, Jennifer Connelly, and Frank Oz.  Girls, I am ignorant on this one, having never seen it, so I cannot tell you what to expect.  We will have to watch and see.  Though I wish he had stuck to something campy, like last week's  "The Monster That Challenged The World!  Now, that was fun!

Anywauy, join us at 8PM, for a fun filled Saturday evening!

Or so we shall see!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To Think Someone Did This To The Memorial Of An Innocent Child!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                                   

                            To understand this, darlings, you have to go back to March 22, 2020.  On that date, Megan Alano, a student at the now defunct Bay Ridge Prep ended her life, at the age of 15.  She was born on September 12, ("Frank Mills" Day!) 2004.  Over time, along Shore Road and Bay Ridge Avenue, a beautiful park bench in rainbow colors was created and painted in her honor, a plaque reflecting that.

                          On October 5 of this year, someone violated that memory, with anti-gay epithets which should have best not been expressed.  Let me say I suspect this was done by more than one person--most likely a group of dumb jock homophobes who think it is cool to be anti-gay.  If you folks don't like things the way they are, go somewhere else instead and stop bothering people.  Let me add, Megan was an amazing, talented student, involved in almost every school activity and having been inducted into the National Art Honor Society.  But she also suffered from anxiety and pain, and though I am writing in the conventional pronoun, she identified herself as non- binary.  Was Megan bullied?  With her school record, it does not sound like it, but something triggered Megan to do the irrevocable.  It almost does not matter how, as it will not bring her back.

                          Her memory deserves to be kept alive--permanently and definitely.  Maybe a camera should be installed in the area, should it happen again.

                           The hearts of Bay Ridge were broken by the suicide of Daniel Fitzpatrick, back in 2016, and now Megan, just four years later.  How did I miss hers?  Probably because it was the height of the Covid epidemic.

                           How many more does it take before people stop?  And when will police realize that this violation is a hate crime, and perps should all be prosecuted for such.

                             I haven't been this saddened and angry over something like this, in ages!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            Wake up, Bay Ridge, people are people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why Is It Right Wingers Feel They Can Scream Their Opinions To The World At Large???????????????????????????

                             This reminds me of my favorite scene in 1977's "Annie Hall, darlings."  You know, the one where Alvy and Annie are in line at the movie theater for a screening of Ingmar Bergman's "Face To Face"--this was back in the days when there were actually real movies to go to, as opposed to now--and they are right in front of this pontificating academic shouting his opinions not only to his girlfriend, but to everyone in line.  Which prompted one of my favorite lines when Alvy says, "Probably answered an ad in "The New York Review Of Books"--thirties academic looking for a girl interested in Mozart, James Joyce, and sodomy!"

                                 Something similar happened to David and I the other evening as we dined at our favorite Bay Ridge eatery, the Off Shore Diner.  With Deborah and Anna, the staff is great, but some of the customers--Oh, my God!

                                   The other night people in there were screaming their right-wing rhetoric--and you know what I mean, darlings--and I so wanted to go over and silence them.  But if I did I would either get punched or given a right-wing lecture on free speech.  Well, guess what, hons, it goes both ways.  You know if David or I had shouted our more liberal opinions we would have been quashed by these right-wingers, and I get it; they don't want to hear our rhetoric, nor we theirs.  But why do they seem able to cop the right to voice their viewpoints voluminously?  Sure, this may sound divisive, but that is the state of things today, sadly.  It is what it is.

                                     I have burst into song at the Off-Shore, and some have said I am pretty good. But if I hear any anti-gay slurs or such, I will stand up and say something!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       Where is Marshall McLuhan when needed?????????????????

Oh, My God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Darlings, Could THIS Be The Book Of The Year??????????????????????????

                                          I have to admit, girls, it meets my criteria--it blew me away, it was well written, and the concept was ingenious.  I still have it in my head.

                                          Gordon McAlpine's fun and mysterious novel--a short 234 pages, but its breadth of coverage is impressive--imagines what happened after the camera stopped rolling on the film we all love.

                                               There is no mention of Judy Garland or MGM, but McAlpine imagines how Dorothy was after the cyclone, the mysterious death of the spinster we all know is Miss Gulch, but, for copyright reasons, is given another name, the fate of Uncle Henry and Auntie Em.  And, of course, Toto!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                  Not since Geoff Ryman's "WAS" has an Oz speculation book been so good.  The sad thing is that it was published posthumously, as the author died on November 24, 2021, at the age of 62.  A pity, as I was looking forward to more McAlpine works.

                                                   Kansas will never be the same, after you read this, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday To Sister Camille D'Arienzo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   Congratulations, Sister Camille on making it through another year, and giving us so much pleasure and inspiration.

                                     As befitting a living saint, The Raving Queen and readers wish Sister Camille a very happy birthday, with a celebration befitting your stature.  Or however you care to celebrate and acknowledge your birthday!

                                    David and I get up early, so we can listen to your radio commentary.  Both of us draw great inspiration from it, as does Baby Gojira!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    So, happy birthday, Sister Camille!  We look forward to your inspiration and guidance for another year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        You are the most with it, Sister!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If Proty I Sacrificed His Life, To Bring Lightning Lad Back From The Dead, How Did Proty II Come Along?????????????????????????????

                                                                                      

              

                                                                                 

                            The cover pictured above, darlings, is what started my fandom with the Legion Of Super-Heroes.  It was Adventure Comics, No. 312, which came out in September of 1963.  Only I never got to read the story, "The Super Sacrifice Of The Legionnaries," though I would read later about it. I first became aware of this issue in Superman, No. 164, which was dated October 1963, but came out long before, as I recall reading it in the car with my parents on one of our Summer trips.

                             Just look at the cover, darlings! The costumes are just bursting with color, which is what gave me my flair for color and fashion, and what drew me to the Legionnaries in the first place. From left to right they are--Mon-El (real name Lar Gand, from the planet of Daxam), Sun Boy (real name Dirk Morgna, who is actually from Earth), Lightning Lass (real name Ayla Ranzz, from the planet Winath, who became Light Lass, shortly after the publication of "Adeventure #312"), Chameleon Boy (real name Reep Daggle, from the planet Durla, who plays an important part in this story), Saturn Girl (real name Imra Ardeen, from the planet Titan, the largest of Saturn's moons), Superboy (real name Kal-El, from the planet Krypton--need I say more?) and, finally, in the enclosed, transparent coffin is Lightning Lad ( real name Garth Ranzz, the twin brother of Ayla and also from Winath).  The costumes on Lightning Lad (the hero I always wanted to be) as well as Mon-EL, Saturn Girl, and Sun Boy, are stunning.

                            The reason Chameleon Boy is so important here, though his appearance and costume are not nearly as impressive, is that his personal pet, Proty I willingly gave up his life, to bring Lightning Lad back from the dead.  Which raises some questions.  Can proteans self-reproduce?  And if so, is that where Proty II came from?  Both Protys were pets of Chameleon Boy, but later on Proty II became Saturn Girl's pet.  Guess he could not resist the costume!!!!!!!!!!!!  He became Saturn Girl's pet right after "The Super Sacrifice Of The Legionnaires."

                           Oh, what tangled webs are weaved when it comes to Silver Age comics history.

                           I wonder how much "Adventure Comics, No. 312" is worth??????????????????

                           Bet I can't afford it.  Oh, well!

                            But those colorful costumes, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

              

"Yellowface" Slyly Comments On Political Correctness In The American Theater--Past And Present!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                              The first thing I need to tell you, girls, is "Yellowface" is performed without an Intermission.  So, make sure your bladder is aware of that.

                                             Next, after the colossal monstrosity that was Jez Butterworth's "The Hills Of California--" I cannot believe it is still running; can you, dolls?--coming to "Yellowface" was so refreshing because David Henry Hwang's take on theatrical and political awareness is so compelling, funny and well-acted by a sterling cast headed by Daniel Dae Kim, that I just sat back in a state of theatrical bliss.

                                                "Yellowface" examines the furor created when the original production of "Miss Saigon," which opened at the Broadway Theatre on April 11, 1991, misguidedly--or did it?--bring over Jonathan Pryce as the Engineer, instead of casting an Asian born actor.  Now, the character is meant to be Eurasian, which means there is other blood in him, but I can see the point.  Ever after, this role has always been cast with an Asian born actor.  I mean, Sondheim got a whole constellation of them together in 1976, with "Pacific Overtures."  You're telling me, the creative staff could not find one?  Especially after finding the sensation Lea Salonga, whom I saw years later when she returned to the show for a brief time?

                                                      Nevertheless, the character is Eurasian, and Pryce was actor enough to have received that season's TONY Award as "Best Actor In A Musical."  I am sure his performance of his signature number, "The American Dream" in on YouTube somewhere, and I advise you to give it a look.

                                                        David Henry Hwang, an accomplished dramatist, presents all sides of the argument, making the activists just as annoying as their detractors.  What is the right or wrong answer?  Is there one?  Hwang does not answer these and other questions; rather he places the evidence before the audience and allows it to make up its mind.  A very smart approach.

                                                            "Yellowface" is stimulating, funny, engaging, but it is never pretentious.  Earlier, I mentioned a Broadway monstrosity which is still running. Its creative staff should head over to the Todd Haimes Theatre, to observe what a well-crafted dramatic work is like.

                                                                Because, darlings, it sure isn't theirs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Megalopolis" Is Not "Metropolis!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Not By A Long Shot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                                 

                                    Girls, I am telling you, even if Futurina, the female robot with the lewd wink from Fritz Lang's 1927 film, had appeared in Coppola's mess, yes, she would have livened things up, but not enough to save this movie.

                                     Francis Ford Coppola is finally going off the rails.  He used to make good, or at least halfway decent movies.  But if he thinks this is going to be his magnum opus he is sadly mistaken. The sadder thing is both David and I have heard about this film for years, and the idea that such a prestigious film was playing in our neighborhood made us both excited and suspicious. Nevertheless, we rushed to the Alpine.

                                         We ended up wasting two hours and 18 minutes--138 total--of our lives.  And can't get them back.

                                          I will admit that the visuals--cinematography and art direction--are great.  What is lacking is a cast of performers or a script to back all the artwork up.  I mean, darlings, Adam Driver is so dour, he comes off as a prisoner locked in solitary confinement, having been forced to read the complete works of Joan Didion.  I had no perspective on who his character was, or what he was doing in this film.  The same with the others--Shia La Boeuf, Chloe Fineman, Giancarlo Esposito (all I kept thinking about while he was on screen was that he was in the original Broadway cast of Sondheim's "Merrily We Roll Along," back in 1981, and I saw him in it--twice!), Dustin Hoffman in what amounts to a throwaway role; how disappointing.  However, the best and liveliest performance to come out of this film, unexpectedly, is Jon Voight, who plays his role like a parody of Charles Laughton in 1933's "The Private Life Of Henry VIII."  I think he read the script, threw up his hands, thinking what the hell; he will do as he pleases, and take the job.  Coppola lets him get away with it, and it turns out to be the only sensible decision the director made.

                                              The film is victimized by misplaced ambitions.  Coppola apparently wanted to use NYC as a backdrop, to draw an analogy with the fall of the Roman Empire.  In other words, he wanted to make his explanation of American to itself.  What he was too ignorant or egotistical--maybe both--to realize was that his goal had been achieved almost half a century earlier, by another director in another film--and that was Robert Altman, with his 1975 masterwork, "Nashville."  Which holds up beautifully.  I am certain "Megalopolis" is already on the canned shelf.

                                                Do not, and I repeat, do not waste your valuable time on this insipid crap!

                                                Whether "Megalopolis" turns out to be the worst film of the year remains to be seen.  But, darlings, I can tell you already, it is a top contender!

                                                   Even daughter Sofia was smart enough not to get near this mess!!!!!!!!!

So, What Happened This Past Weekend, Girls??????????????????????

                                 I know you are eager to know, since I have not posted anything since before last weekend.  This post shall explain why.

                                   First off, after breakfast on Saturday, which was also Yom Kippur, I started feeling queasy.  I could have not foreseen what was coming, but more on that, later.

                                     David did his Yom Kippur thing, while I did mine at St. Andrews, where we still do not have a musical director.  Come on, people, get your act together!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      I marched home to David, who by then was finished with Yom Kippur, and we had a delicious holiday meal.  It sat well with me, which could not be said for the previous two days, where everything was running out of me like a colonoscopy prep.  Which I thought was a MET FORMIN attack.  Or, having dined at JOYA, a Thai restaurant, with our friend, Judy, visiting from out of town.  The last time she was here, she gave David Covid.  Could she have given me something?

                                        Be that as it may, we spent a "Svengoolie" Saturday night, but watching the presentation we taped from last week, when we were in Manhattan seeing "Yellow Face," which I plan to do a post on.  Add to that, "Svengoolie's" current offering was 1966's "The Ghost And Mr. Chicken," and there is NO WAY I recommend a second viewing of this to my girls!  First timers, maybe, but after one viewing, trust me, dears, you have had enough!

                                         Interestingly, both films viewed featured annoying performances by child actors who went nowhere.  The first was Donnie Dunagan, best known for voicing young Bambi, in Disney's 1942 cartoon classic of trauma.  In "Son Of Frankenstein," he plays Peter Von Frankenstein, and is so annoying I was wishing the Monster (played in a final appearance by Boris Karloff) would have tossed him into the boiling sulfur pit.  Well, just for a second.  Unlike Margaret O'Brien, whose Adele in 1944's "Jane Eyre," was a brilliant acting performance, Donnie Dunagan was a natural; unfortunately, not at acting, but being annoying.  Maybe that is why he did better behind the camera than in front of it.

                                             Now, "Son Of Frankenstein" may not have been as much of a gem as the original, and 1935's "The Bride Of Frankenstein," but it had an understated artistry, with its fabulous Expressionistic sets, influenced by German cinema a decade before.  But next to the second feature, the campy 1957 "The Monster That Challenged The World," "Son Of Frankenstein was an artistic masterpiece.

                                              Can you believe, darlings, that Tim Holt was in "The Monster That Challenged The World?  His career sure took a nosedive, for him to appear in this crap.  A better actor than he, Hans Conried, gave the film some needed gravitas.  Audrey Dalton, as the heroine doing a spot on imitation of Faith Domergue it was so apparent that she wanted to be Faith, and that Faith herself must have read the script, and said she was done with such crap.  Wise decision.  Then there is Marjorie Stapp, as pregnant Fifties housewife Connie Blake, who plays her role pretty much as written, though she looks a bit too glamorous for a pregnant housewife.  And once she vanishes from the action, no one knows if Connie had the baby and was OK, or not.  However, the most annoying presence in this film is not the monster--who has the film's most classic moment when it literally walks up to a gatekeeper with his back turned, and when he does, barely has time to scream before the creature kills him!  This is my favorite sequence in the movie, and, especially for first time viewers, this moment is well worth waiting for.  Oh, and don't forget Barbara Darrow, a Jennifer Jones wannabe, as Jody Simms, whose swim in the ocean, curtailed by the monster of course, is not only less screen time than Susan Backlinie as Chrisie Watkins in 1975's "JAWS," but signaled not only her character's death, but that of her career.

                                               As I stated, this film also has an annoying child, and it is renowned Fifties child actress Mimi Gibson, here playing Sandy MacKenzie, daughter of Audrey Dalton's Gail MacKenzie, who is no relation to Constance MacKenzie, from Grace Metalious' masterwork, "Peyton Place."  Sandy may be cute, but she is too inquisitive, always leaving her mother to go and look and poke at the laboratory rabbits, when all they want is to be left alone.  On one occasion, thinking she is doing them a favor, she turns up the temperature in the room, thinking the rabbits are too cold.  Unfortunately, she has no idea about the water tank, which the thermometer is attached too, that contains the retrieved egg of one of these mollusk creatures.  This kid has absolutely no clue to anything; she is never going to take Advanced Placement Biology.  She will be lucky if she ends up as a secretary like her mother.  Of course, the monster hatches, and menaces her, and while Gibson screams on cue, her terror is unconvincing.  Nevertheless, for s second, I wanted to scream at the TV, "This is what you get, kid, for poking your nose where it should not be." Sandy and her mother are rescued, the monster is destroyed, and everything ends well in this campy Fifties romantic atmosphere.  Oh, considering my previous post on "Peter Pan," I am not saying a word about the Mexican restaurant scene, except it has to be seen to be believed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                  Now, this was the fun part of the weekend.  The dark underbelly began on Saturday, when I began feeling queasy at mass.  Having dined on Thai food Thursday night at JOYA, I thought I was having MET FORMIN attacks.  By Sunday morning, I was not sure this was the answer, as I had a loud rumbling stomach, no appetite, and the runs!  I did not feel like doing much during the early part of the day.  At my sister's suggestion, we got some Pepto Bismol, and I began taking it, with something seeming to shift.  But I was not ready for a piping hot plate of lasagna--no way!  I did feel like reading a book, and you know what I read, and it mysteriously, comforted me?  And in a single sitting?  It was the demonic classic "Rosemary's Baby," by Ira Levin.  Let me tell you, darlings, it still holds up, and when I read the dialogue, I can hear, in my head, the voices of all the actors from the 1968--the one and only--film.  Face it, dears, only I would find some kind of comfort in "Rosemary's Baby."  No, I am not in a coven or joining one, but I am preoccupied with this story, planning to view the film on DVD this Halloween, revisiting the story so I can be ready to write about its alleged prequel, "Apartment 7A," which is correctly the number of the Castevets' apartment.  I will be sure to tell you about it when I view it, girls; I am not expecting too much.

                                                          So, that was my weekend, darlings, a series of ups and downs, in which I also learned that, during this period, my sister had a worse time than I did.

                                                            And, girls, I am not suggesting looking upon "Rosemary's Baby" as a panacea for illness.  Rather, turn to whatever makes you feel comfortable at the time.

                                                              Hope your weekend was better than mine, dears!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just Look At This Gorgeous Photo, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Doesn't It Conjure Up A Desire To Fly Off To Neverland???????????????

                           Girls, it sure does with me.  Though, strictly speaking, I would prefer going Alice's way to Wonderland--going down a rabbit hole, without getting my dress or hair ruined.  Imagine flying over Bay Ridge, or Manhattan, seeing NYC the way our late friend, Flaco, the owl, did.

                             The reason this "Peter Pan" photo came up was via an article deriding the film for its racist, sexist views.  Darlings, the film was made back in 1953.  Can't we just enjoy its brilliant artistry?  This is one of the Disney animated classics I have NOT seen--1951's "Alice In Wonderland" is still my favorite--but would love to.  The artwork in the animation outshines all attempts today, which is why films of this vintage should be viewed or acknowledged for their virtues, not for conforming to a period of time that could not have been foreseen back then.  This goes for many films too numerous to mention.  I mean, art should be enjoyed for the pleasure it gives us, rather than what it conforms or doesn't conform to.

                              I would love to have this photo emblazoned wall size on the ceiling of my bedroom!

                              What an image to fall asleep to!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Girls, You Simply Have To Attend "Puddles' Pity Party!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                         I mean, if you want Camp Extraordinaire, this is it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                        Join Puddles The Clown on his YouTube podcasts, as he sings outrageous songs, and just has a grand old time camping it up.  Hons, I cannot wait to hear his take on "Don't Cry Out Loud."  When the circus comes to town, this baby sure will know it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                           This is the most stylish, inventive entertainment I have come across in a long time.  Whether you want to camp it up, or wallow in your own pity party, with Puddles, I recommend it as time well spent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              And remember, darlings, "baby can't be broken!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

How Long Has It Been, Darlings, Since You Read "The Scarlet Ibis?" Or Have You?????????????

                               If not, girls, you really should.

                              I first came across this story in a short story anthology I wish I still had called "Night In Funland."  It also had this story, the original "Flowers For Algernon," by Daniel Keyes, and Stephen Vincent Benet's "Too Early Spring."

                                 James Hurst's story, which was first published in The Atlantic Monthly in July of 1960, is vague in its details, which is why I think it endures. It is the only thing Hurst is noted for.  The parents are little more than figureheads, while the main characters are the narrator, referred to only as "Brother," and his younger sibling, William Armstrong, who comes to be nicknamed "Doodle."

                                  Doodle's diagnosis is never given, but my guess is he was born hydrocephalic, (water on the brain, with an enlarged head) has a weak body, making it unable for him to walk easily, and a heart condition.  I instantly sympathized with Doodle.

                                     The narrator, who is writing this is looking back on his childhood, not unlike Scout in Harper Lee's "To Kill A Mockingbird."  The mood is Southern Gothic.  As the boys grow older, Brother becomes Doodle's keeper, and he takes on the role, but with underlying resentment.  As time goes on, Brother takes it upon himself that he is going to teach Doodle to walk, run, swim and play like other boys.  He succeeds with the first, but it is lack of success with the rest, plus excessive pride on Brother's part that sets up the tragedy.

                                        One day, while they are out, a thunder and lightning storm comes up.  Brother urges Doodle to keep up, but the overexertion from training, leaves him weakened.  In what I felt was an act of cruelty, Brother leaves Doodle behind, his plaintive cries echoing.  When a bit later, he returns to find Doodle, he finds him dead, with blood pouring out of his mouth.

                                           The blood is symbolic.  Earlier in the story the family spies a Scarlet Ibis in a tree in their yard.  The aunt who lives with them says this is a bad omen--this bird must have gone off his path and is in an area his species normally does not inhabit.   And auntie is right, because look what happens.

                                             That is the story.  I know, get out those hankies, girls.  I cried just thinking about it.  But what I wonder is why the narrator who has some remorse, as he writes this story looking back, takes no account of the fact that he murdered his own brother?  If he had stayed with Doodle, I do not think Doodle would have died.  With Brother leaving him, he died not only of over exertion, but fright, and probably a heart attack.

                                              How could the author, James Hurst, overlook this aspect?  Or did he choose to, leaving the reader to decide?

                                                Meanwhile, what of the parents?  How grief stricken they will be, when they find Doodle is dead.  And how will they deal with their older child?  I wonder.

                                                   But I have no doubt that "Brother" is guilty of murder.  Maybe not with intent, but murder, nevertheless.

                                                    What do you think, darlings?????????????????????

                                     

Darlings, You Have GOT To Be Kidding Me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                            

                                                                                   

                                              

                                                                                    

                            Girls, it seems the green light has been given to a remake of 1992's "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle."  Oh, God, do they have to?  How are they going to amp it up, because, by today's standards, the original, though shocking and disturbing for its time, is too tame now.

                            Two nowhere actresses, Maika Monroe and Mary Elizabeth Winstead will step into the lead roles.  Monroe will have the sheer gall to portray what became Rebecca DeMornay's signature role of Peyton Flanders, and no one did it better than she.  Winstead will step into the Annabella Sciorra role of Claire Bartel, and I don't see her matching Sciorra.

                                And what about the other pivotal characters--Emma, the daughter, Solomon, the handyman, and Claire's friend Marlene Craven, played beautifully by Julianne Moore in one of her early roles?  Will she be on hand?  And how about Solomon's dynamic with the Bartels?  I am sure there will be a child, but will he/she--yes, they could change the gender--have the spumk of little Madeline Zima, in her screen debut?

                                  What I think, and fear, girls, is that they will keep Peyton and Claire and jettison the rest of the original story and come up with their own.  As if they could improve on the original, which I watched earlier this week, and it is just about perfect in its structure, acting, and cinematography.  This remake does not stand a chance.

                                     Pray the project falls through, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!