Speaking Of Shows That Need A Revival............!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 With all the talk of "Carousel" on here, darlings, my thoughts have turned more to theater, and other shows that merit a revival, even if only at ENCORES.  My first choice would, of course, be "RAGS," but, on a lesser tier, I think "Ballroom" merits a revival, because then it might stand a chance of being the magical experience it ought to have been.

                                   On Feburary13, 1973, CBS broadcast a classic made-for-TV film, entitled "Queen Of The Stardust Ballroom."  It starred Maureen Stapleton and Charles Durning, in some of their best work, and dealt with widowhood and loneliness.  Jerome Kass, on whose mother the character of Bea Asher was based, wrote a very moving story, but I did not like the ending.  Maybe Kass was being truthful here, maybe he was caving in to network demands.

                                     The ending is a real downer.  Bea achieves the designated title of the movie,  and is on a big, romantic high.  She knows that Al Green, Charles Durning's character is married, and won't leave his wife, so they decide to be content with what they have, within the confines of the Stardust Ballroom.  One morning, Al goes to visit Bea at her house, and finds her in bed, dead.  If memory serves me right, the movie ends with Durning weeping over her body.

                                        What a downer!  Or is this morality thing against what is technically an adulterous relationship--even if no sex was involved????????????

                                          Several years later, Michael Bennett, riding high on the initial success of what became his signature work, "A Chorus Line," looked around for another project, and decide to musicalize this story as "Ballroom."  Jerome Kass wrote the book, while the music was by Billy Goldenberg, and lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman.  The song "Fifty Percent," sung movingly, by the lead, Dorothy Loudon, as Bea, became the show's best known song, often covered by other female singers.

                                            "Fifty Percent" is the "Rose's Turn" of the piece.  In it, instead of dying, Bea resolves to continue with things as they are, at the Ballroom, where she is happiest.  It is ironic that Bennett was involved in two shows where a character's death was considered.  First, there was Bea, in "Ballroom," and, several years later, Effie in "Dreamgirls."  In the original draft of the latter, Effie  died, which not only sent audiences out wanting to slash their wrists, but would so mirror Florence Ballard's tragedy, even Miss Diana "Bitch" Ross could not look the other way.  Effie's song, "I Am Changing" I always felt was the better song that THAT OTHER ONE, effective as it is.  Effie is finally shown her own merit, and given some hope.

                                              Likewise, with "Fifty Per Cent."  It sure as hell is better than Bea dying, as if being punished for something.  But, hey, Al is the one who is married, not Bea; she is widowed. So, why make Bea the guilty party?  Unless, this is how Kass' mother died.

                                               "Ballroom" was the most anticipated show of the season, as it was Bennett's first effort, after "A Chorus Line."  At the time I wondered why some of that cast--Donna, Kelly, Priscilla, Sammy--were not in this; now it makes sense--they would have been too young for it, then.  But, now?  I would love to see Donna McKechnie do Bea!  Or how about Victoria Clark????????  Lenora Nemetz would be great in the Marilyn Cooper role of Natalie.

                                                  As for Al, he has always been portrayed by heavyweights, and maybe it is time to get away from that.  So, who is out there?  How about Len Cariou?  Or Morgan Freeman--hey, the time is right!!!!!!!!  Or how about William H. Macy?  And there are others I am sure I am overlooking.

                                                   Now, when I saw "Ballroom," it was late in previews.  With Bennett's name attached to it, I knew, no matter what reviews it got, it would be the hottest ticket on Broadway.  When I saw it, the show was pretty much, probably all, of what was on the cast album.

                                                     It only had a brief run.  Meaning it was hot for awhile, then petered out.  It ran from December 14, 1978, to March 24, 1979--just four months, and ten days.

                                                      What went wrong?  I can tell you, and as I exited the theater after the performance I saw, I noticed Michael Bennett standing in the back of the house.  I so wanted to go up to him, and help him with the show.  But he would never have listened to me, and I did not have the nerve, then.  Now, I would tell him how to stage it.

                                                       Bennett's choreography here, though, won the TONY Award.  That is because all the best moments, and scenes, took place inside the Stardust Ballroom.  If only some way had been found to conceptualize everything so that the entire story takes place within it, the show would have a much better chance.  You may have to get rid of some characters, or have some plot elements done as asides by the actors, but it would work better than going from the magic of the Stardust Ballroom, switch to kitchen sink 50's drama, and then back to the Stardust.  When the show ventured out of the ballroom, audiences wanted back in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                         Fix the show up that way, and there might be a hell of a show there!!!!!!!!!!!!  I always thought there was!

                                                            Now, let us see some creators work on this--and the results!!!!!!!!!

When the dancers swirled almost in time to the lights, with that globe overhead, it was MAGIC!!!!!!!!

And it can be--again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"It's A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood. Won't You Come To My Neighborhood??????????"

                                         I have to confess, I did now grow up with Mister Rogers.  I am from the generation of Captain Kangaroo, Mr. Green Jeans, Dancing Bear, and, of course, my favorite, Bunny Rabbit!!!!!!!!!  Oh, and don't forget Mr. Moose!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         This does not mean I was not aware of Mister Rogers.  But what I was aware of was disturbing to me.  If some guy with as unctuous a voice had approached me as a kid, I would either have run for my life, or smacked him in the face, accusing him of being a child sexual predator.

                                          I always thought Mister Rogers had the manner of a child molester.  He absolutely creeped me out!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                           Yesterday was a HOT day!  And, with us potentially suffering from cabin fever, David, our neighbor, Jennifer, and I, went to the only interesting movie around--the documentary on Mister Rogers, entitled, inevitably, "Won't You Be My Neighbor."

                                             Overall, I got a lot out of it.  I had no idea he was a talented musician, or   he had been an ordained minister--now that voice makes sense!  It is perfect for a minister!!!!!!--or that he had come from a wealthy family, and had been an overweight kid, who was sickly, and had been bullied.

                                                There were dimensions to this guy I had not even imagined.  And his interaction with children, which you get to see, first hand, is so moving and genuine, that even I was impressed.  Especially when it came to this disabled boy, Jeffrey Erlanger, who, years later, meets up again with Rogers, showing his triumphant survival into adulthood.  There were moments like this, when the film genuinely moved me to tears!!!!!

                                                   It also made me wonder.  Fred Rogers had great help and support from his wife, Joanne, and he had two sons, one of whom looks like Joanne, the other like your garden variety drug dealer.  Obviously, neither followed in his footsteps into children's television, unless it was behind the scenes.

                                                   There was a subtle moment when Rogers took an employee to task for frequenting a gay bar, during his off hours.  Hmmmmmm...so Mister Rogers disapproves of homosexuality?????????  Are there any other dark secrets to his persona????????????

                                                      If there were, this film did not explore them.  Perhaps the filmmakers were just interested in a puff piece.  Perhaps, this really WAS Mister Rogers!!!!!!!  Still, when someone comes off as the closest male equivalent to Jennifer Jones in "The Song Of Bernadette," my suspicions cannot help but be aroused!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                     In any case, the film is highly enjoyable.  Though I have to confess, Koko, the gorilla, steals the show!  You always spell the name with a "K," unless one is talking about Chanel, in which case it is a "C."  But Koko is a real scene stealer, and interacts with Rogers beautifully!   Simply precious, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Still, and all, I could not help wondering--if someone is simply too good to be true, then they usually are.

Aren't they?????????????

How Could I Forget Helmut Lang, Darlings???????????????????

                             As many of you know, by now, I am partial to colors and pastels, but I have to say this snappy looking number, by Lang, is just perfect for the Vampire party scene, in Bay Ridge!  Some of the Ridge's chicest looking vampires should do well to take a cue from Helmut Lang!!!!!!!!!
Doesn't she look smashing, and vampiric???????????????

                              But Lang has color, too.  Look at some of these other creations--

Look how spectacular that pink gown is!  I would wear it in a minute, especially on a day like this!!!!!!!  As for that two piece ensemble, definitely more Autumnal, but I bet Liza Minnelli wishes she could wear it!  And I would take some of her red Halstons, any day!!!!!!!!!

But these Lang creations are fabulous!  Especially the pink gown for us girls, and the black gown for you VamGlams!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Clothes make us, darlings!  Vampires, or not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Who The Hell Can Go To The Box, In The East Village?????????? Only The Hormonally Charged!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      To think that, in the day of the Internet, there exists The Box!  A sex circus, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        And where the hell is 189 Chrystie Street?  I never heard of that street, at all!!!!!!  Am I THAT far behind the times???????????

                                       Not for the children, or the faint of heart.  Of course, one can go there, and drink, but with its part Western, macho, and Belle Watling motif, it is more like a 19th Century brothel, where, I am not sure if it is performers, or patrons, act out sexually in front of each other.

                                        Such places, which used to be called sex clubs, used to abound in both Villages, especially among the gay male populace!  Believe me, darlings, I know!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          The Box seems to be bringing a hetero concept to clubbing!!!!!!!!!  I am sure they will take your money, even if you are gay.  They bill themselves as a "Theatre Of Varieties," so if it is variety you want, the by all means seek it out.

                                            There was a time when I would.  Back in the day, when I was young, dash home from work, do my wardrobe and makeup change in a manner of micro minutes, and head out the door.

                                             I urge the young to try it just once.  It may untie those uptight Millennials!!!!!!!!!!

                                              As for me, those days are done, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This Is The New Place To Be Seen!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   If, like me, you have been keeping up with Lindsay Mendez and "The Carrie Diaries," then you have heard about Casellula.  I am just dying to go there, and sample their cheeses, not to mention that luscious chocolate cake saturated in milk.  Or is it cream?????????

                                   Located at 401 West 52nd Street, it is right in the Theater District, so I am sure lots of the folk from "Carousel" and other shows, hang out there. I know I would. And may soon start to.

                                   It is an evening place; they do not open till 5PM.  I think we all owe ourselves a visit there!

                                   So exciting to discover new places.  And you just never know whom you may see!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lauren Weisberger Is Back In The Writing Game!!!!!!!!!!!! And I Am So Thankful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 As you will see, from the photo I post at the end, Lauren may have aged a little, but she still has that killer hair to stand her in good stead, leading to publication.  I have to confess that after the literary debacle that was "Revenge Wears Prada," back in 2013, I swore I would never go near another Weisberger book again.  So, when "The Singles Game" came out, and I  saw it was about tennis and the U.S. open, I was, like "Who cares?," and immediately dismissed it from my reader radar.

                                I had no idea she would write another book.  I thought, in fact, that she had stopped writing.  So, when I spied "When Life Gives You Lululemons," while browsing in a bookstore, I just had to pick it up.  And when I saw that one of the main characters was Emily Charlton, from her signature novel, I thought, maybe I should give this one a chance.

                                Girls, you must, it is THE Summer read.  Perfect with a Margarita or Mojito.
Emily is, indeed, the main character; she is now an image consultant, straddling both New York and LA, and, during the course of the novel, infiltrates the suburban terrain of affluent Greenwich, Connecticut.  At the end of the book, she is a major life change, and there are cameos by Andy (Andrea) Sachs, now living on a farm, and, of course, Miranda Priestley.

                                Emily, dears, gets paid for what I do on here, for free.  I'm just saying.....

                                   But Lauren is back, name dropping drinks and designers, as no one, apart from me, can.  Like her best fiction, of which this is an example, I always learn some new things from her. The most important here was about tinted moisturizing.

                                    All the women in the novel are fabulous, and some of the straight men are pigs!  But, hey, when dealing with corporate New York, what can be expected???????  I just wish Lauren would put more gays in her books.  We are out there too, darling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     Nevertheless, I can safely say Lauren's back, and don't miss her latest!  Now, I MAY have to go back and read "The Singles Game!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Here is Lauren, with that killer hair!!!!!!!!!

Let's have lunch sometime soon, Lauren!!!!!!!!

You have GOT to tell me who does your hair!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Welcome To The Second Half Of The Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                          It is a new month, darlings, and is hot and scorch outside, so, much as I would to stay in here, curled up with my Jane Austen, we are going to venture to BAM and see the Mister Rogers documentary.  It will be cool in there. And, since we are already so close, there is absolutely NO way I can NOT follow that up with a visit to Greenlight Books.  And who knows what I may find???

                         Yes, girls, it is July, when we have the 4th, the peak of Summer, and other things to look forward to.  I still have not resolved my Tilt- A-Whirl dilemma, but if I do, believe me, you will get a full report. Unless I barf, in which case I will not get too graphic.

                          Moisturize and hydrate today, dolls!  Especially, if venturing out, you cannot afford to look less than your best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                           A happy and healthy July, to all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!