Anna, ANNA, What is Going On????????????????????????????

                           Ben Platt, current TONY nominee for Best Male Musical Lead, and one-time front runner, until Josh Groban came along in "Sweeney Todd," is the best-looking feature at The 2023 Met Gala.  I suppose the designs were in prep for the opening of the Karl Lagerfeld exhibit, but let me show you what I thought was the best design.  Are you ready, darlings????????????

                                 This!!!!!!!!!!!!  Why??????????  Because it is awash with color.  The rest of it, as shall be shown, was a black and white washout.  Maybe that was Lagerfeld's style, but it is definitely not mine.  ANNA, how could you????????????????   

                                   Let's take a look--

                                     I mean, an almost naked girl in a see-through hoop skirt?  Not only is this politically questionable, it is a fashion faux pas!  This is glamour???????????  Phfffft!!!!!!!!!!  Remember what I said awhile back about Faith Domergue, girls?  She would be appalled" And so am I!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Cecil Beaton and Schiaparelli must be turning over in their graves!!!!!!!!!  Who can blame them?????????????

                                    As for the rest--

                                      Darlings, despite how much color you may think you see, let me tell you it all came down to black, white and silver.  Just as dull as it can be.  OK, Karl is being launched, but can we have some variety?  On the clothes, rather than the floor?  Colors, textures, the right cut--that is what fashion is all about.

                                         Glad I did not pay my $50K to go.  Hell, I am having enough trouble getting into "Sweeney Todd."  Sure, I will go to the exhibit, but dressed in my best--which means color!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          ANNA, ANNA, you really need me to work with you.

                                                                        

Girls, We Have Some New Readers To Welcome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   Can you believe it, girls?  The follower indicator is now at 131, so it is time to welcome more new readers.  Their names are Parker Duncan, and Barry Cosgrove.  My girls and I welcome you both, and hope you find this blog entertaining and informative.  

                                     Lots of events this month, culminating on June 3 with my 50th high school reunion.  Oh, my God, what am I going to wear?  Blake Lively--help me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  My hair--Sally, get me an appointment!  This is what it is like to be me--imagine 24/7 of this.  Which is why I have the job--I am the only one who can handle it.

                                      But the best to you, Parker and Barry, feel free to comment on here anytime, and now to welcome you with the blog's unofficial theme song--Deborah Harry singing "Call Me!"

                          Enjoy!  And remember, this blog goes great with coffee!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Darlings, I Really Have To Talk About The 2023 TONY Award Nominations--Even If I Don't Want To!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                         Like the Met Gala, which I will report on tomorrow, I have to ask myself--what the hell is happening with culture?  Forget the high prices; that is something else.  But after going over the list of nominees, I have to wonder what the theater is coming to.  Will this period pass as a phase, like the onslaught of the British Musicals, or is this it?  If the latter, we are in deep trouble.

                         Let's look at the nominees systematically, with my thoughts.

                         Best Play                                                                                                                                                         "Aint't No Mo'," by Joseph E. Cooper                                                                                                           "Between Riverside And Crazy," by Stephen Adly Gurgis                                                                           "Cost Of Living," by Martyna Majok                                                                                                           "Fat Ham," by James Ljames                                                                                                                         "Leopoldstadt," by Tom Stoppard                                                                                                                  

                         OK there are two well-known playwrights here--Gurgis and Stoppard.  Who the hell are the rest of these wannabes?  "Fat Ham?"  What the hell?  Another riff on "Hamlet?'  Is it really necessary when Shakespeare did it best?  I am telling you, Tom Stoppard will take it for "Leopoldstadt," as he should.  Class still rules.

                         Best Revival Of A Play                                                                                                                                 "The Piano Lesson," by August Wilson                                                                                                         "A Doll's House," Henrik Ibsen--anyone hear of him???????????                                                              "The Sign In Sidney Brustein's Window," by Larry Hansberry 

                        For once, attention must be paid--and that is to Lorraine Hansberry.  She did not just  write "A Raisin In The Sun," and this production has been duly lauded.  Unlike the other two, one which is overdone, and the other a feminist mess.

                         Best Musical                                                                                                                                                   "& Juliet"                                                                                                                                                       "Kimberly Akimbo"                                                                                                                                       "New York, New York"                                                                                                                                 "Shucked"                                                                                                                                                       "Some Like It Hot" 

                        Now, this is an interesting category.  Anyone having seen it, as David and I have, know that "Kimberly Akimbo" should take the prize, and probably will.   But since the ads for "Shucked," I have had the feeling this could be a surprise TONY winner.  And Theater Queens past the BabyBoom will have no idea "Some Like It Hot" was done as "Sugar," decades ago, with Robert Morse, Tony Roberts, and Elaine Joyce.  I mean, this young generation knows nothing of value.  They will probably vote for "& Juliet," which is a piece of crap.

                           Best Revival Of A Musical                                                                                                                             "Into The Woods"                                                                                                                                           "Camelot"                                                                                                                                                       "Parade"                                                                                                                                                         "Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street"  

                           That "Camelot," which has been bastardized by Aaron Sorkin, Bartlett Sher, and Company should get a nomination here is disgraceful.  I will have no part of it.  Hasn't "Into The Woods" been revived enough, darlings?  So it is a slug out between "Parade" and "Sweeney Todd."  Since this is the best rendering of the Sondheim musical since the original 1979  production--which I saw seven times!--it looks like it will take the prize.  Sorry, "Parade."  You had it  in your grasp, until 'Sweeney' came along!

                           Best Director Of A Play                                                                                                                                 Patrick Marber will take it for "Leopoldstadt."  These other nobodies don't stand a chance, so they aren't even worth mentioning. 

                            Best Director Of A Musical                                                                                                                            Michael Arden, "Parade"                                                                                                                                Jessica Stone, "Kimberly Akimbo"                                                                                                                Lear deBessonet, "Into The Woods"                                                                                                              Casey Nicklaw," "Some Like It Hot"                                                                                                            Jack O'Brien, "Shucked"

                             Another interesting category.  Jack O'Brien could take it as a surprise for "Shucked."  But Michael Arden for "Parade" and Jessica Stone for "Kimberly Akimbo" are going to slug it out.  I would be happy if either won.  I could deal with Jack.  But the real crime here is the omission of Thomas Kail, for "Sweeney Todd," who would have won, had he been nominated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             Best Performance By An Actor In A Leading Role In A Play                                                                       The only ones worth mentioning are Sean Hayes in Goodnight, Oscar," and "Wendell Pierce in "Death Of A Salesman."  Pierce will take it.  Who the hell cares about Oscar Levant?  And how come no one else from 'Salesman' was nominated???????????????

                              Best Performance By An Actress In A Leading Role In A Play                                                                    Jessica Chastain, "A Doll's House"                                                                                                                Jodie Corman, "Prima Facie"                                                                                                                        Jessica Hecht, "Summer 1976"                                                                                                                      Audra McDonald, "Ohio State Murders"

                              Just give it to Audra already; she deserves it.  Jessica Chastain is NOT "the greatest actress of our generation," as the ads keep proclaiming.  No Laura Linney?  Ouch!!!!!!!!!!  That must hurt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  And who cares about Jodie Corman?  Audra will and should win again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             Best Performance By A Leading Actor In A Musical                                                                                   Josh Groban, "Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street"                                                             Ben Platt, "Parade"                                                                                                                                          It is going to be between them, with my guess being Groban will take it, so why bother  mentioning the others????????????????????????????????

                              Best Performance By A Leading Actress In A Musical                                                                                  Annaleigh Ashford, "Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street"                                                 Victoria Clark, "Kimberly Akimbo"                                                                                                                Same as the above category.  These two will slug it out, but Victoria Clark had better win.  Ashford is no Angela Lansbury, while Groban makes this 'Sweeney' his own.  Clark will and should win, However, Micaela Diamond is nominated here for "Parade," and she may just sneak in.

                              Best Performance By An Actor In A Featured Role In A Musical                                                                Justin Cooley, "Kimberly Akimbo"                                                                                                                Jordan Donica, "Camelot"                                                                                                                              Again, no one else in this category is interesting. But, really Jordan Donica?  He is not Robert Goulet, and why is he given "I Loved You Once In Silence" to sing?  "Kimberly Akimbo" is fresh, new, and it works. So, I say give this to Justin Cooley .  

                              Best Performance By An Actress In A Featured Role In A Musical                                                              Ruthie Ann Miles, "Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street"                                                    Bonnie Milligan, "Kimberly Akimbo"                                                                                                          Voters will be torn by these performers. No one else comes close; it will be a slug out. Miles already has a TONY, which may work in Milligan's favor.  However, Merle Louise, the original Beggar Woman in 'Sweeney' was not nominated, and I hear Ruthie is heartbreaking.  So it could be a 'Kimberly'/ 'Sweeney' slugfest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               That is my take on the TONY Awards.  As for the results, we will all find out on June 11, a Sunday at *PM, on CBS.

                                 Pay no attention to anyone else!  You heard it first here, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                     

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

                       

                                                                                                

Yes, Girls, Another New Reader!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     I had to go into Manhattan for a doctor appointment, which took up most of my day, so it was not until last night, that I noticed the follower indicator had moved to 129.  Our new reader, girls, prefers to be labeled "Unknown," which is OK, but let me welcome you, Unknown to this blog.  I hope you find it informative and entertaining.

                                      You will find information and merriment on here and discover that reading this blog goes great with coffee.  Which is right by my side, this very minute, as I write.

                                     So, on behalf of the rest of us, welcome, "Unkown."  Feel free to comment anytime.

                                      And now for this blog's unofficial

theme song-- Deborah Harry singing "Call Me!"

                                           Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Betty Buckley Really Pulled A "Regina Giddens" On The Recent 'SVU' Episode, "Bend The Law!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                           Someone on the writing staff must have been familiar with Lillian Hellman's play, "The Little Foxes."  Therein, Regina lets her husband suffer a heart attack just long enough for him not to be saved, but found alive, so she can acquire land and money he is withholding from her.

                              Regina's husband, Horace, was not despicable.  Lorraine Maxwell's (Buckley) hubby, played to a smirky supercilious froth by Tom Irwin, deserved what he got.  That Roger was a piece of work, living off his wife's money, and then going to gentleman's clubs where sex trafficking young underage girls is involved--and he is right in the thick of it.  Pig!

                                 Everything goes down on their seventh anniversary.  Roger prepares an elegant meal, but Lorraine is having none of it.  Suddenly, Roger begins choking, begging for help, but Lorraine stands there, shocked and powerless--at first.  Rallying, she feels to see if he has a pulse, then calls 911.  By the time someone arrives, he is dead.  Did she kill him?  I think so.

                                    Olivia (Hargitay) is like a dog with a bone.  In the final scene, where it is made clear what happened, and they have an "understanding," Olivia tells Lorraine if this comes back to haunt her, she will find out how heartless Olivia. can be.

                                          It will come back, if not this season, then the next.  Betty will eventually go down for this.

                                           Of course, I would never condone such in real life.  But Roger deserved what he got.

                                             And when was the last time you heard me write something interesting about 'SVU,' darlings??   

Time To Welcome A New Reader, Girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                  I see the follower indicator is at 128, which means, girls, it is time to welcome a new reader. The reader calls themselves Ezhil, so welcome to The Raving Queen, Ezhil.  I am glad you found your way here, and hope you find the material entertaining and engaging.  I aim to please.

                                  You will find this blog goes great with coffee, always by my side while writing, so imbibe whatever hot drink you choose while reading.

                                   All my girls welcome you warmly, Ezhil, and I do, too.  Feel free to comment on here, anytime.

                                   And now for this blog's unofficial welcoming theme--Deborah Hary singing "Call Me!'

                                         Enjoy, and welcome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Those Dreary Vows That Everyone Takes, Everyone Breaks, Everyone Makes Divine Mistakes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                                  They don't write them like that, anymore, darlings!

                                                  What would May 1 be, without Julie Andrews singing her perfect rendition of "The Lusty Month Of May?"  I played it first thing this morning, and I will post it at the bottom, here so that all may experience its radiance.

                                                      May is what I call my "half month;" on the 18th I will have been 68 for six months.  Time is on the march.  But as long as there are foundations and concealers, girls, I don't intend to let it stop me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                           I have a jam-packed month, followed by my 50th HS reunion in June.

                                                          Wishing you all a merry May!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    Here is Julie and Company!  Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!