Girls, What Have They Gone And Done To "Godspell"??????

Darlings, I am telling you, when I first heard they were reviving "Godspell" this season on Broadway, I was psyched for a nostalgic trip down Memory Lane!!! Back in the 1970s, when it was new, it seemed like every theater group out there--high school, college, and community--was doing this show. My college, Seton Hall, did a production of it, back in the Summer of 1976, which I still recall fondly, and can still summon up memories of that cast. A fellow named Chris Parker (who really wasn't big in theater there) doing a perfect Jesus, Superman T-shirt and all; Bill Yates (of the Jersey theatrical family) and his booming voice, which stood out in any ensemble number; Letty Fores (Seton Hall's answer to Alexis Smith) blowing me away with her rendition of "Bless The Lord;" and our school's designated Musical Theater Star, Audrey Witko (a nursing student, but with talent beyond the ER!!!!) who movingly rendered the beautiful and haunting "By My Side!" It is like that production is videotaped inside my head!!!!!

There was a revival, either in the late 70s, or early 80s, on Broadway, at the Broadhurst. I saw it, and while it sounded wonderful, it was limited by the strictly proscenium staging. But the big treat was seeing and hearing Robin Lamont, one of the Original Cast Performers, render what is still the show's most recognizable song,"Day By Day." When it came to score, "Godspell" had "Jesus Christ Superstar" beat by miles; the latter really only has "I Don't Know How To Love Him," whereas this is an evergreen assortment. Not surprising, since the composer was a then young Stephen Schwartz; and look what he has gone on to do!!!!!

So, honey, I was primed for this "Godpell," which was put in the perfect venue, Circle In The Square, with arena staging that allows the actors to run through the theater and the audience. This is as perfect a venue for "Godspell" as it is NOT perfect for "The Miracle Worker," which was staged there, about two years ago!!!!!

But, then, the HORROR of that New York Magazine review, which, basically said this production has been revamped and reconstituted towards the "Glee" and "Spring Awakening" crowd. "Glee" I can handle, but spare me "Spring Awakening", please!!!!!

According to the above, some numbers have been reworked. "Save The People," one of my favorites, (and a song I would occasionally use at auditions) has been given a reggae beat!!!!!! Say what?????????????? Add to that, the big Gospel type number "We Beseech Thee!" is reimagined as a country and Western number (maybe they should have brought back Mary Kay Place, as Loretta Haggers!!!!)--and it--get this--is
performed on trampoline!!!!!

The review also states that "Bless The Lord" (ALWAYS a guaranteed show stopper!!!) is the first number to bring down the house!!!! What about "Day By Day"??? It is still the show's most recognizable tune!!!!

To paraphrase Edward G. Robinson, "Mother of Mercy; is this the end of 'Godspell'"???? And you know who made these changes???? Stephen Schwartz, himself!!!! Hey, Steve, isn't "Wicked" and your Disney work bringing in enough bucks????? Why do you have to sell out your genuinely artistic achievement?????

I wonder, even with all this, if the "Spring Awakening" crowed will come to "Godspell"? A musical about Jesus????? If the actors onstage don't Tweet or Twitter, I don't know how this demographic will handle it. Which tells me, and is my way of saying, "Godspell" should have been kept the way it was, for those of us who remember it in its purest form!!!! We were the ones who made it a hit, and we are the ones who would want to see it. But not when it has been monkeyed around with!!!

The answer is simple. Inspired by Margaret Hamilton in "The Wizard Of Oz," I am going to "send a little insect on ahead, to take the fight out of them!" Maybe then, the actors will go back to performing it the way it SHOULD be!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, Bless The Lord, my soul, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!

Darlings, Today Is The Day When Someone And Something Very Special Comes Out Of The Closet!!!!!

You know it isn't me, girls. Honestly, when was I EVER in the closet?????

Nevertheless, for the past 12 years, since she was given to me as a birthday
gift in 1999, "Birthday Party Barbie" comes out of my closet on my natal day, and remains out for 30 days, until December 19!!!! You just have to LOVE that party dress, display case, and most of all those lips which--I am not kidding, darlings--can blow up birthday party balloons!!!! Just like so many of my girls out there can blow...well, you get the point!!!!!!

It feels funny, being 57, when your professional age is ALWAYS 24!!!!!!!!!!! But I am grateful to have made it to another year; one's birthday is the TRUE meaning of that phrase, "Today is the first day of the rest of your life!!!!

And this morning, over coffee, my beloved Monsieur gave me the most beautiful gifts--a gift certificate to Three Lives Bookstore, which, you know, I will gobble up in a second!!!! A BEAUTIFUL orange cashmere sweater by Ralph Lauren, darlings (he must have created it especially for ME!!!!), which you can bet I will march into soda fountains with, and use to try and get discovered, like Lana Turner!!!!!! But the HIGHLIGHT--the absolute HIGHLIGHT-- of the presents was a pair of ankle socks, worn in the house like slippers, which are designed like Judy Garland's blue socks and Ruby Slippers from "The Wizard Of Oz!" Click my heels three times, girls!!!!! I WILL try and provide a picture, but I cannot promise!!!!!!

Too bad "Carnage" has not been released yet; believe me, that would be MY birthday movie!!!!! So, for me, it's tending to business (I have the day off!!!!) opening cards, a stop at Three Lives (where, maybe, the Enchanting Ryan can help carry my selections to the cash register!!!!) Bookstore, trying to finish "Moby-Dick" along the way, and then this evening, dinner with Monsieur at my favorite, One If By Land, Two If By Sea!!!!!!

The years go faster and faster as we age, darlings!!!!! So make those moments last, and make sure you are NEVER under dressed for any social occasion!!!!!!

Let Birthday Party Barbie be your guide!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Girls, Have We Come To The World Of "Fahrenheit 451"??????

I am ashamed to say, darlings, that I have not made it down to Occupy Wall Street, even though I am there in spirit, and I especially had wanted to get down for Joan Baez!!!!! But now, with protesters being chased out of Zucotti Park, staging a Day OF Disruption today (which had better not get in the way of Broadway ticketholders, darlings!), seeking another venue, the activists are restless.

I was appalled by what was done. I mean, what about civil liberties????

But something specific I heard on the radio horrified me.

While housed down there, the protesters had amassed, I understand, a most impressive library of books--fiction, non-fiction, history, cooking...everything.

What I understand is, when removing things from Zucotti Park, police just went in, tossed the books and threw them in the garbage!!!!!!!!!

Excuse me?????? Is the NYPD suddenly working for Amazon, Kindle or Nook????

The only nook these cops know is nookie which they get whenever they can, even if done so inappropriately. This book elimination is a short step from the burning thereof in "Fahrenheit 451," and, honey, if that happens, you better believe I will in there fighting for that!!!!!!!!!

I hope the protesters find another venue, and that maybe I can get down there to do some protest songs. You know I know plenty, loves!!!!!!!!!!!

So, you can believe, I have my eyes set on this one, girls. Not only are civil liberties at stake, but how about the right to literacy???????

Then how about we retreat to the nearest soda fountain, dressed as Lana Turner??????????????

Darlings, This Is One Fun Bitch!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Bitch Of The Week this week is fictitious, but with style to kill, so you just have to LOVE her. She was probably, since I discovered her at an early age, instrumental in tapping into my Inner Bitch!!!!!!!!!

The winner of this week's Raving Queen Bitch Of The Week Award is...Cruella De Vil!!!!!!!!

But let me make things clear. That is Cruella, as envisaged by Disney animators in the 1961 cartoon, "One Hundred And One Dalmatians." NOT Glenn Close in the cheezy live action remake, which true Disney aficionados would NEVER see!!!!!!!!!

Let me say further that I am a dog lover. At a theatrical screening of "The Wizard Of Oz," I am the first to "Boo!" when Margaret Hamilton first comes riding down the road as Miss Gulch!!! And when Clara Blandick, as Aunt Em, says to her, "For twenty three years, I have been dying to tell you what I thought of you. And now..being a Christian woman, I can't say it." When this moment appeared on screen when shown at my college (Seton Hall), there were plenty who yelled out, "Say it! Say it!" And of course, I always applaud when Toto leaps from Miss Gulch's basket and runs home, as well as doing the same from the drawbridge in the Witch's castle!!!!!

So, even though Cruella is a fashion icon bitch, predating even Anna Wintour, I cannot endorse her wanting to kill all these dalmatians, just for the sake of fur!!!! Especially ones with such names as Pongo and Perdita!!!!!! Anyone having a baby???? Now there are two original names!!!!!!!!!!!!

What I love about Cruella is her patented, fur coat, cigarette holder look, and sophisticated manner. The first time I heard Duke Ellington's song, "Satin Doll" ("Cigarette holder/She kisses/Over her shoulder") I thought instantly of Cruellla. And you had better believe I wanted, at the time to dress like that, and just stride into a fancy New York nightclub, darlings!!!!!!!!! I am proud to say I have hit some clubs in my time, but, thankfully, not dressed like that!!!!!!!!

So let's hear it for Cruella De Vil, our Bitch Of The Week. She is every Queen's delight, and can serve as a potential childhood role model!!!!!!!!

Make sure YOU dress your best, when going out, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Musical Theater Week Continues, Girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Darlings, we are coming down the home stretch, but today we celebrate a true Musical Theater Legend, a child of the Broadway stage, who is still out there in the performing world, where she belongs!!!!

Today is the birthday of Neva Small!!!!!

Neva turns 59 today, so she is not exactly a little girl, anymore!!! But her superb voice is still a theatrical gift, and the memories of her playing Chava in the movie version of "Fiddler On The Roof," and her plaintive, yearning rendition of "I Wonder How It Is," From "Henry, Sweet Henry" linger in the minds and hearts of every Theater Queen extant!!!!

I have Neva's CD, "My Place In The World," and it is a treasure. She may have been Lenny's (Bernstein) goddaughter, but, believe me, Neva would have gotten there on her own!!!! Imagine, working with Barbara Cook as a child!!!! And being the Muse of composer Bob Merill!!! (Who tired to make her a major star in the musical, "The Prince Of Grand Street," which, unfortunately, closed out of town!!!) That is Neva, darlings!!!!!

So, let's wish Neva Small a Happy Birthday, and may she continue bringing joy and happiness to others, as she does, with her beautiful vocal gifts!!!!!!

Don't forget MY gifts, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Saving The Best For Last, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sometimes, girls, it is worth it to do so. And so we come today to the Birthday Of All Birthdays--none other than The (cannot be stressed enough) Greatest Show Stopper In Broadway History--Miss Donna McKechnie!!!!!!!!!!

My sources tell me this is an important birthday for Donna, that today she reaches the big 70!!!!!!!!!

That said--

Seventy for Donna is like thirty-five for the rest of us. I am sure if Baayork called her right now, she could do Cassie tonight in a second. From first opening step to finale, Donna knows every step and move of "A Chorus Line;" like the other Original Casters, it flows throughout her bloodstream, and she could do it on automatic pilot.
Not that she would, because when it came to Broadway dance artistry, no one of my generation has ever been able to match her passion!!!!!!

And on the off chance that Donna is not available, you know, darlings, I am always willing, and ready to step in. As for able, Baayork may have to go over some moves with me, especially in 'Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen'.

Donna Does It Again, Darlings! So Happy Birthday To Her!!!!!!!

Five, Six, Seven, Eight!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another Special Birthday Wish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yet another, girls; I said this was Musical Theater Week, didn't I???

Today is the 41st birthday of the Divine Martha Plimpton, current star of
"Raising Hope," who has elevated being White Trash to an art form, and seeming to have the time of her life while doing it, not to mention raking in those big TV bucks, so we can only be happy for Martha!!!!!!!!!

Never forget,darlings, her proud lineage--the Carradine line, her father being Keith. And the daughter of a Musical Theater Legend, Shelley Plimpton, who will always be remembered as "the girl who sang 'Frank Mills' in 'Hair'". Maybe I should sing the song in honor of Martha, though I am sure she has heard it enough, and can do a reasonable rendition thereof!!!!!

So, Happy Birthday To The Fabulous, Martha Plimpton!!!!!

As we used to say in the Sixties, "Keep on truckin'!!"