This Is A Disgrace, Darlings! A Disgrace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                  Girls, it is bad enough this had to happen at all, but that it should happen during both Pride Month, and TONY Week!

                                    On Saturday, May 31, the Repertory East Playhouse, in Santa Clara, CA, was presenting Tennessee Williams' classic, "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof." At some point, most likely during the Act Two scene between Brick and Big Daddy, a drunken heckler began disturbing the performance repeatedly, with anti-gay slurs.  Being drunk is no excuse; if you are in any way homophobic, sober or not, what are you doing going to a Tennessee Williams play????????????/

                                     So disturbing was this that John Lacy, who was playing Big Daddy, broke through the Fourth Wall, into the audience, and physically removed this nut from the theater!  I, for one, applaud his efforts! And I am sure the audience did, too!

                                       But guess what?  When the curtain came down, Lacy was fired! And his costar, Anton Troy, whom, I imagine, played Brick, resigned because he felt it wrong that the theater did not support Lacy's action.  And I agree!

                                         Wait! It gets worse!  The stupid theater cancelled the rest of the run, putting the entire cast and crew out of work! How smart is that? And where was the House Manager and ushers when this was gong on?  Why did an actor onstage have to deal with this crisis at hand, when it should have been their jobs???????  And, for the record, nobody fired Patti Lu Pone in "Gypsy" when she stopped the show and called out a photographer for taking pics during her climactic number!

                                           Guess California has less respect for its theater community than New York! I suggest that anyone connected with this production, who was there that night, get on a plane, and come here!

                                              And I hope the Repertory East Playhouse goes under!

                                              Disgraceful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Farewell To A Beloved Television Icon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             It is funny to contemplate now, but I actually was aware of Ann B. Davis, long before she became better known to my peers as Alice, on "The Brady Bunch."  Years before, in early childhood, especially during those pre-school years, after "Captain Kangaroo" went off for the day, CBS, before the soap opera laden afternoon, would air syndicated showings of its once popular comedy series.  One of these was something called "Love That Bob!," which had been retitled from "The Bob Cummings Show." It starred this actor, whom I had not heard of, at the time, as some sort of photographer, who was always getting in and out of romantic situations. The one who actually stole the show, with her lines, and delivery, was his assistant, Schultzy, played by Ann B. Davis.  She was sort of the wisecracking human equivalent of Cleo on "The People's Choice," who, of course, was voiced by the great Mary Jane Croft. Unlike Cleo, Schultzy suffered from unrequited love, for her employer.

                              Years later, when "The Brady Bunch" made its debut, and I watched--I went through a period where I wished I had been from a larger family, so I channeled my energies into this--and the credits always ended with "And Ann B. Davis as Alice," the first time I saw it, I said to myself, "Oh. my God, that's Schultzy!"

                                 What she did as Alice was not that much different from Schultzy. She was wisecracking, but in love with no one, until she found Sam, the butcher, played by Alan Melvin.  She oft times dispensed practical advice to the Bradys, most often the children.  But no one did this so long, or so well, as Anne.

                                   Slowly, she seemed to drop from the business.  Apparently, she went to live, and became active, in some sort of Episcopal religious community.  She never married, and for all intents and purposes, was the quintessential virginal spinster, the exception being she was quite content with such.    When I heard she had passed at the age of 88, I thought that wrong. Having been around so long, I thought she would have been ten years older. Funny the tricks Time plays on you, especially when a child.

                                      Ann's comic bravado will be missed. She was a pro in a time when being so seemed to be disappearing.

                                        She will never be forgotten!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Something Inside That Was Always Denied, For So Many Years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                     Yesterday, June 1, was also what I call "Sgt. Pepper Day." This was the day, 47 years before, the Beatles released what I still consideration their masterpiece "Sgt. Pepper's Lonelyhearts Club Band," with still the most striking cover in album history.

                                       So, each year, I play it on this date, to give it a listen, and treasure its brilliance.  I always, in anticipation of the brilliant piano arrangements on "A Day In The Life," manage to block out the song, "She's Leaving Home," which happens to be one of the most beautiful and sad songs ever composed.

                                         Melanie Coe, pictured above, is perhaps, next to Dorothy in the film version of "The Wizard Of Oz,' the most famous runaway in history. Back in 1967, her running away from home, and its subsequent newspaper coverage, inspired Paul McCartney to write "She's Leaving Home."

                                            For decades, the line "meeting a man from the motor trade" has been pondered over, with many interpreting the girl in question was going to have an abortion.  Paul McCartney has admitted that was not his intention. But, interestingly, as it turns out, the reason Melanie ran away then was because she actually was pregnant, and did want her parents to find out.  She ran off to meet with the child's father, her boyfriend, and, when things fell apart, she did return home, and had an abortion.  Which must have been a big deal at the time.

                                            In some ways, this song is a litmus test for adulthood.  If you hear it while young, you tend to see things only from the girl's perspective.  But, one day, as a young adult, I was listening to it, and when it got to the line, "She breaks down, and cries to her husband, 'Daddy, our baby's gone.," I began to feel so awful for this couple who had raised their daughter, and now this.  It was then I realized I was an adult--I could see this song from both points of view.  As I get older, I tend to see it more from the parents,' though I have no children, myself.

                                              Melanie has survived this time of her life, and is now, at 64, running a company of her own, somewhere in England.

                                                 I will think of Melanie next year, when I listen to "She's Leaving Home." It is nice I can actually put a face to that girl in the song!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A Movie Fit For A King.....Or Queens, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                        What a tumultuous June 1 it turned out to be.  Monsieur and I managed to catch the new Disney film, "Maleficent," and I am telling you, it is just so much fun!  Who would have thought Disney would have made a gay movie?  Maleficent was certainly a gay icon when she debuted 55 years ago in Disney's cartoon version of "Sleeping Beauty," but, with the show now all to herself, and played very tongue in cheek by Angelina Jolie, who knows full well to whom this film is directed, this becomes the film you have GOT to see in this, the Month Of Gay Pride!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             Did you know that several of Angelina's children appear in this?  Several of the adoptees, but their biological daughter (by Brad Pitt) plays a very young (maybe 5 years old, maybe) version of Princess Aurora.  It is a very crucial scene, early on, and you can see the child has Brad's blond hair and fair features, and Angelina's big eyes.  It is fair to guess the child will turn out to be a stunner!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Bet
Angelina is boss of that household!  And she is certainly boss of this movie!

                              It is interesting how the basic "Sleeping Beauty" story, while retained, is reworked.  I will not reveal to much, but let me say, that, when it comes to "Maleficent," the whole thing comes down to social class distinctions; proving once again, that those from the Wrong Side Of The Tracks should never try to pull themselves out of there, because they will never succeed.

                                And it shows here. The Human Kingdom and the Fairy Kingdom are adjacent to one another, but both divided and conflicted.  Maleficent, when first seen, is a sweet little girl with quite a flight span and a propensity for good and humanitarianism.  Fate puts her in an encounter, with Stefan, a young lad, from the Human Kingdom, whom she saves from being mauled by a beast. Grateful, they begin a friendship that seems destined to last.  But it does not. For Stefan reveals he is the son of a farmer, which I think he is ashamed of, and he wants bigger things for himself.  And this turns out to be his downfall. Somehow he manages to work his way into the King;'s good graces, becoming, not just one of his faithful stewards, but the front runner to the heir apparent.  In Sharlto Copley's deliciously malevolent performance can be seen all the corrupt ambition and hatred of everyone, including himself, he harbors.  The King tells his stewards he will not rest until Maleficent has been killed, and that the one who does this deed stands the best chance of becoming his successor.  Stefan takes it upon himself to do this, but, when push comes to shove, he cannot kill her, so he does something comparably bad--removing her wings--which he displays in a glass case to prove he has "killed" Maleficent. But he has not, and, once she recovers from the physical and emotional injury of losing her wings, Maleficent summons her evil energy, and becomes that nasty fairy that all us gay men have loved and dreamed of being, since 1959.  Only, in this context, she has good reason to be nasty.

                              So, when Stefan marries, it is another stab in Maleficent's heart. And when Princess Aurora is born, I think it occurs to her that this could very well have been he daughter.

                                From here, the film becomes familiar. Maleficent appears at the christening, and bestows her gift, maliciously. When I was a child, I used to love to do her speech.  To my detractors, I would say, in best Maleficent imitation, "before the sun sets on your sixteenth birthday, you will prick your finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel....and die!!!!!!!!!!!"   Of course, now that we are all way past sixteen, I can't begin to use this line anymore. Pity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     Aurora is stowed away by the three fairies--here called Knotgrass, Flittle, and Thistlewit.  They are played by Imelda Staunton, Lesley Manville and Juno Temple, respectively, and are wonderful comic relief.  Prince Philip wanders into the story at the right time, and, true to Disney, both he and the teen Aurora (played by Dakota Fanning's sister, Elle) are about as sexless as Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney sharing an ice cream soda, in "Love Finds Andy Hardy." But that is the Disney way, and it must be preserved.

                                    True love's kiss restores things, but you are in for a surprise, darlings. Stefan gets his comeuppance, and everyone lives happily ever after.  As this film tells, Maleficent had her reason!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     But, we just LOVE her, and Angelina is having the time of her life, playing her!

                                     Let's face it, we all envy her those horns, that costume, that staff, and the raven!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy TONY Week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

       
                          Some have the audacity to refer to the Oscars as the "Gay Super Bowl."   To be truthful, I think the designation belongs to the TONY Awards, which will be telecast this Sunday.  For starters, it involves the Theater Community and Theater Queens, a largely gay populace.  Its main audience, both of viewers of the show, and the shows seen on stage, consist of folk from the Metropolitan Area, where the greatest number of gays are concentrated! Oh, come on; you know they are!  Compare this area, with, say, Wisconsin????????????

                             All of which adds up to a very exciting lead-in week.  This is TONY Week.  So, I am telling you right now, if you have not been to the theater in awhile, this is the time to take in a show, because you will never see such "up" performances as those  this week!  And then, you can watch and compare on Sunday.

                             I have tentative plans right now to attend a TONY Party, where I have something very special prepared--both to honor the TONY'S , and to honor one of our guests, whose birthday is that evening.  Even Monsieur doesn't know what it is, though I have told him, he has seen and heard it before!
But, then, he has seen and heard a lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               As for the awards themselves, I am rooting for everyone, but the two most important awards for me--the only reasons for me to watch--are the winners of Best Featured Actress In A Play, and Best Leading Actress In A Musical.  And they had better go to, Celia Keenan-Bolger, for her heartbreaking and career defining Laura in "The Glass Menagerie," and Jessie Mueller, long overdue, for her comparably Streisand/Fanny Brice turn as Carole King in the musical, "Beautiful."  If I don't hear both these names, I will bitch out everyone on the TONY committee, and who I see in the Broadway community. And I am just the ones to do it, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!    Hey, Tony Nominating Committee, watch out!  You could jointly be named Bitch Of The Week, if you are not careful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                Have a great week of theater going, dolls, and see you on the aisle Sunday night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Poor Jodi! Still Being Railroaded!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                           I an telling you, girls, they are still trying to railroad Jodi!  Miss Arias is in the news, once again, which should please her advocates, not to mention Jodi herself.  It seems the Judge has ruled that Jodi is still eligible for the Death Penalty!!!!!!!!!

                              This is inexcusable!  Let me say, if the shoe were on the other foot, and Travis Alexander were on trial, he would be receiving clemency, and a Life Sentence. But, because Jodi has been treated by the largely male hetero sexist media as some sort of slut who offed one of their own--a good ole All-American boy, like Travis, even if he was for all his so-called Mormonism, a hypocritical pussy hound, who just might have been asking for what he got, she faces lethal injection, which you can be sure Travis would not have been facing.

                                It's like the "Fatal Attraction" reaction.  Instead of questioning Dan's (Michael Douglas) lack of judgement, and examine Alex's (Glenn Close) thought processes and emotional deterioration on a deeper level, no, the public, fueled again by heterosexual males, just labeled her a psycho bitch, and cheered like anything when Ann Archer (who had more balls than Douglas, when it came to protecting home and family) pulled the trigger on Alex!  Jodi has been put in the same position, and I, for one, thinks it is ridiculous.  She may need to do time, she does not need to be killed.  I don't see Jodi as a threat to society really, but I do worry about her being a threat to Jodi.

                                   Again, I cry--Justice For Jodi!  Being a Pussy Hounding Mormon hypocrite does not excuse one from lack of virtue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     If Travis had been a woman, what would we have called him, girls????????

                                      TRAMP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"June Is Bustin' Out All Over," Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                  Last month, "The Lusty Month Of May," was played; so , now, what better song than this gem from "Carousel?"  Can you believe it is June already?  When this month ends, we are halfway through 2014!  I have birthdays galore!  It is Gay Pride Month!  The Mermaid Parade!  The TONY Awards!  Not to mention what happens in between!

                                  So, this promises to be a very eventful month!  Get your rest, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                  And, of course, Summer arrives!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 So, Happy June everyone, and here is that song classic from "Carousel."

                                 May June bust out all over, in a good way, for you, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!