Girls, Join Us Tomorrow Night, As "Svengoolie" Presents 1972's "Frogs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                         This film may be at the milestone of fifty years old, but, like "The Killer Shrews" last week, it is the kind of film, where first time viewers have no idea how awful it is, and second time watchers know before beginning how genuinely awful it is going to be.

                                            It is an amphibian version of "The Birds."  Except the frogs in this film don't seem to do anything.  They just multiply, people scream, and that's that.  Now, of course, there is a young Joan Van Ark with that Seventies/Farrah hair style, and a young Sam Elliott, who was hot, even then.  So, this film does offer something for everyone.

                                              But it is slow moving and tedious.  This time around, I am looking forward to the commercial segments, featuring Svengoolie and Kerwyn.

                                                 Still, this is a Saturday night tradition.  So, see you at eight, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      

What A Difference A Fanny Makes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                      I have only three criticisms.

                                                       First, the sets are as annoying and cheesy as ever.  Second, the bagels hanging from the costume on "Rat-Tat -Tat-Tat" should have been removed for Julie, as they are unbecoming and insulting.  And last, she is not allowed the big finish to "The Music That Makes Me Dance," which, believe me, she is more than capable of delivering.

                                                        Those things aside, this "Funny Girl," which David and I saw last Saturday, was the one we had hoped for all along.  Not only does Julie Benko, in look, acting and song have the audience believing she is Fanny Brice, but her voice bounces off the back wall.  When she entered, at the top, sat down, and delivered the iconic opening line "Hello, Gorgeous!" with just the right amount of irony and deprecation, the entire audience cheered.  Her "People" made me weep.  And when she hit "Hey, Mr. Arnstein.....here I am!" on the final section of "Don't Rain On My Parade," the entire audience rose to their feet, giving her a standing ovation until the first act curtain came down.  I have never experienced that in the theater!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                           And something else.  With Julie at the helm, it seems the entire company has been given a shot of adrenalin, since they have someone worthy of working with.  Liz McCartney (no relation to Sir Paul) as Mrs. Brice brought grit, talent, and credibility as a woman running a Lower East Side saloon.  She was believable in a way Jane Lynch never was.

                                                             If only Julie had been given the part permanently.  But those determined to see her, can catch her on Thursday evenings, which she is doing to give Lea Michele a night off.  As for Lea, she may be good, we may be seeing her, but I can tell you one thing right now.

                                                               She could never be as good as Julie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                               Catch her, while you can, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                  

 

Oh, My God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ENCORES Is Going To Be Doing "OLIVER!"

                                          My relationship to this show goes back to my first seeing the 1968 film upon its initial release in New York City.  It is designed to be seen on the big screen, which is why I think it should be revived more often.

                                             ENCORES! is saying this is the first time it has been seen on the New York stage since 1984, and I can attest to that.  Because I saw that production which ran for 17 performances, only two weeks, from April 29 till May 13, 1984.  It was disappointing; Ron Moody, despite originating the role in London, back in 1960, was much better in the 1968 film.  Patti Lu Pone, with that voice, sang well, and had the earthiness, but not the warmth needed for Nancy.  And I was outraged at how "Oom Pah Pah!"  was placed in the show, rather than put to great dramatic advantage in the film.  Even "Who Will Buy?," the number for which I would see this show anytime, was lacking. The whole cast seemed to be walking through it.  I crashed, instead of hitting the emotional high I was expecting.  Twenty-seven years later, it has left no impression on me.

                                             So, ENCORES! is going to have to listen to me, if they are to get this "OLIVER!" off the ground.  Crucial is casting, and I have the perfect actress/singer to play Nancy--

                                          That is right, girls--Lindsay Mendez!  Now, I know she is doing 'Merrily' early in 2023 at New York Theatre Workshop.  If it does not move, that production ends January 8, leaving Lindsay free to go into "OLIVER!"  Should it extend, and move to a new venue, perhaps Lindsay could take some time off to do this show.  No one can top Shani Wallis, but of all the talent out there, Lindsay is the best choice for Nancy!  Please, ENCORES!, please, do not cast Caissie Levy, which is what I am afraid will happen.  She is not pretty, her voice is too shrill, and how she got to play Fantine I will never understand.  And she was sub-par as Sheila in the 2009 revival of "HAIR."  Allison Case saved that one!

                                             The other thing that MUST be done is to rework the book, so that "Oom! Pah! Pah!" is placed where it is in the film and used the same way.  Without this, the show will not work, and I will explain, in a future post.  As well as badger some at ENCORES! with emails.

                                                  "Who Will Buy?" If this production of "OLIVER!" does not get the professional care it deserves, the answer is nobody!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                    Let's see what happens, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Darlings, Important Theatrical News From ENCORES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      Just the other day, girls, I was musing to David, and anyone who would listen, that I saw nothing theatrically exciting coming up for the 2022-23 season.  Then ENCORES! announced its season, and oh, my God!

                                                                              

                                      The first production to be presented will be "The Light In The Piazza," which I have not seen since its original Broadway production, back in 2005!  My God, that is 17 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!  It will be performed February 1-5, 2023.  Ruthie Ann Miles, who won a TONY for Lady Thiang in the recent "King And I" revival, back in 2015, will be playing the Victoria Clark role of the mother; I cannot wait to see her swirling onto the stage, singing the opening number, "Statues And Stories."  Oh, my God!  But who will play the special needs daughter, Clara, made so memorable by Kelli O' Hara?  ENCORES! generally casts well, so it will be interesting to see what sort of company is assembled for this heartrending, yet rather sophisticated, show!

                                                                            

                                             From March 15 to 19, ENCORES! will present "Dear World."  There was supposedly an Off-Broadway production with Tyne Daly, a one-night only concert, back in 2005, so, as far as I am concerned, not only have I never seen this, but it has also not been revived since Angela Lansbury, Jane Connell, and Milo O'Shea opened it at the Mark Hellinger Theatre on February 6, 1969.  It is a musical version of Jean Giraudoux's "The Madwoman Of Chaillot," and features the title song, "I Don't Want To Know" (which I have performed) and "Garbage," among other Jerry Herman tunes.  Angela Lansbury won a second TONY for this, even though it ran about four months.  Donna Murphy is taking on Lansbury's role, which should be exciting, and I will be curious what cast members surround her.  David is especially excited to see this show, and I don't think he is alone among us out there!

                                                  Now, the last show ENCORES! is doing this season is the one I am most excited about.  It has the longest run--May 3-14--and is a personal favorite of mine, for reasons I will go into in the next post.  Any of you, having been on here, that think it is "ANNIE," would be on the right track--sort of!  

                                                     It looks like a perfect ENCORES! season.  The results will tell, but this is one of their few lineups where I have wanted to see every production!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                      See you on the aisle, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

                                          

Girls, The Latest News From Svengoolie And Sventoonie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            As for last week's broadcast of "The Killer Shrews--" enough said!  Except that the benefits of seeing something like this a second time is that NOW the viewer knows it is going to be awful.  The first time always holds out some hope!

                                            But Svengoolie has an interesting line-up for this month.  Just look!

                                            September 3--"Frogs." (1972) --The one where Ray Milland is master (in his mind) of some plantation off the Florida coast, and Joan Van Ark wears her Seventies hair style, while being menaced by little itty-bitty frogs.  It is a camp riot; if you have not seen it, you must.

                                              September 10--"It Came From Outer Space." (1953) --This was one of Universal's early attempts at outer space sci-fi.  I have never seen it, so I am really excited.  It has an interesting gimmick--the havoc the monster causes on Earth is seen only through its eyes.   I am looking forward to this, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                               September 17--"House Of Dracula." (1945) --The follow-up to "House Of Frankenstein," which was shown earlier this year.  Or was it last?  Anyway, this has to be seen for Jane Adams' performance as The Hunchbacked Nurse!  It rivals J. Caroll Naish's performance as the hunchback Daniel in "House Of Frankenstein."  Jane really goes for it, acting wise, here!

                                                September 24--"Gargoyles." (1972) --Two words alone to watch this 50-year-old film, shown earlier this year--Grayson Hall!  She livens things up, as Mrs. Parks, and when she goes, so does the rest of the film.

                                                  Now, what about our good friend, Sventoonie?  Well, his new season begins next month, October 1.  I do not know what film he will deconstruct but Svengoolie is preceding the event with a broadcast of "Count Yorga, Vampire."  This 1970 film, which I have never seen is guaranteed camp trash, as it started out to be shot as a soft porn film!  How much footage of that remains to be seen, but this is no Hammer horror.  This is truly camp and let us hope Sventoonie follows it up with a classic deconstruction!

                                                    Hey, darlings, the Fall is looking up, already.

                                                    Are you ready??????????????

                                                   

Another "A Chorus Line" Cast Member Passes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       On August 27, Robert Lu Pone, brother of Patti, passed away, at the age of 76.  He died from a three year--and that is pretty good! --long battle with pancreatic cancer.  One of the worst.

                                       For those of a certain age, and fortunate enough to have seen the original 1975 cast, he will always be Zach in "A Chorus Line."   In my head, even sitting at a production of the show, it is his voice I hear in my head uttering the opening words, "Step, kick, kick, leap, kick, touch!"   No one was more overpowering in the role, and he deserved the TONY nomination he got.

                                        And to think he wasn't originally cast as Zach.  That went to Barry Bostwick, while Lu Pone was playing the role of Al, married to Kristine, both who perform the number, "Sing!"  When Bostwick proved unable to dance to Michael Bennett's satisfaction, Lu Pone was moved up to Zach, while Don Percassi took on originating Al.  It was a perfect blend.

                                           After this show, he seemed to go more for drama, appearing in the Anthony La Paglia revival of "A View From The Bridge," in 1997-98, and his crowning glory, I am sure he would consider, was the formation of his own theater company, MCC, in 1986, remaining its artistic director, until his death.  He was also one of NYC actors who often turned up in frequent guest appearances, on "Law And Order," while it was still a good franchise.

                                               Patti, we on here mourn the passing of your talented brother.  His achievements, and our memory of them, will live on.

                                                 Rest In Peace, Robert Lu Pone.

"September Morn," Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          I want to enter this month with hope, because there are lots of things forthcoming.  Let's start with "Frank Mills Day," on the 12th.  Not to mention the day before--need I say more?  In future posts I will share upcoming theater news, and seasonal plans for "Svengoolie," and "Sventoonie," who has been renewed for another season!  Proving audiences love him and his film deconstructions!

                                             So, while this month has always been tainted from childhood because of school, there is a lot to celebrate.  Let us not forget the coming of Autumn, when Proserpina goes back to Hell for the next six months.  And Labor Day, marking the unofficial end of Summer.

                                                Don't forget--William Inge's dramatic classic, "Picnic," takes place on a Labor Day weekend.

                                                "On a picnic morning, without a warning," darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    Here is Neil Diamond's signature rendition of "September Morn!"  Enjoy, and welcome!