Oh, My God, Girls! I Cannot WAIT To Hear The Stories That Come Out Of THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        The revival of "Funny Girl," was finally put to rest, making it definitively clear that only BARBRA could sustain this show.  And though it SEEMS Lea Michele saved it, with much help from Tovah Feldshuh, all Lea did was save her ego.  Like Beanie (who?) what the hell is she going to do now?????????  Since she has supposedly had her "life's dream?"  Where does she go from there?  The gutter, like Neely O' Hara?  I wouldn't be a bit surprised.

                                        If you think I am being a bitch, hons, I am only getting started.  The one who REALLY saved this show was Julie Benko, who, as one who saw all three Fannys, was the best of the lot. And she has a gig already, with "Harmony."  Julie is the real hero of this show.

                                        But that is just me.  Anyone who worked on this production from the start has stories to tell, and a book to write, and mark my words, someone on this project will step forward and this book will sell to every Theater Queen on both sides of the Hudson.  I cannot wait to hear the truth about what really what went on backstage at this show.  Poor Jane Lynch.  Now, she is doing commercials for summer vacation in Illinois!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Oh, well a girl has to work.

                                          The story of this revival will be the stuff of legend for years to come.  The sad thing is, it could have gone so differently, if only choicer decisions had been made!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            For those who saw the show with Julie, and even Lea, be grateful.

                                            The vehicle will never again be seen on Broadway in our lifetimes.

Say It Isn't So, ANNA, Say It Isn't So!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             Before getting to the matter at hand, girls, I want to wish you all a belated Happy Labor Day weekend.  And did you know that yesterday was also Beyonce's birthday?  And where did she celebrate it, darlings?  That's right.

                              "I seen Beyonce at Burger King,                                                                                                                        I seen Beyonce at Burger King,                                                                                                                         I seen Beyonce at Burger King,                                                                                                                         And she was eating.  What?                                                                                                                              She was eating.  Oh."

                             Plenty of Whoppers were consumed, yesterday.

                             Now, to the matter at hand.  I read an article in The Guardian/U.K. which stated that ANNA--Anna Wintour--is seeking a permanent residence in North or West London, to be near her good friend, Bill Nighy.  ANNA can do as she pleases, but what does this mean for New York????????????

                              Will ANNA retire from "VOGUE?"  Unthinkable.  And who would take over.  I would love to, darlings, but I couldn't even get the assistant's job.  And, girls, just because Rihanna dazzled all in that long yellow train dress at the 2015 Met Gala, does not mean she is qualified to take over "VOGUE."    Cover girl, yes; anytime.  Editor, NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               ANNA, please don't leave us!  Who will run this city?  Who will we go to for fashion?????????????????????????

                               Oh, I know, I know, I am automatically expected to do this, and with my info of the NYC scene, I could probably take a stab at it, but that could mean less time with my girls.  Or maybe more, since, that way, everything I say or think would be between the pages of "VOGUE."

                                Sure, she could run it remotely from London, but I think ANNA loves the interaction.  I know I do!  And does that mean David and I should pick up and move to London.?  Like where?  You think the real estate is better over there, than here??????????  Don't kid yourselves, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                  Not to mention this blog would have an entirely different tone from across the pond.  I would have to write like an Edwardian snob, which would be like learning a new skill.  And at MY age???????????????????????

                                    ANNA, go ahead and buy the house in London, but please do not leave New York.  I don't know if I can take it on singlehandedly.  I mean, I can't even get Tory Burch on the phone.

                                      Nor have I yet been to Balthazar's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      Save our city, ANNA, please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!                                                                                                                                                                                 

"On A Picnic Morning, Without A Warning................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                          Yes, girls, it is that weekend again.  Time to get dressed in our best end-of-Summer outfits, like Kim Novak here, and do "Moonglow."  That's right, just like she and William Holden did in the movie "Picnic," back in 1955.  How gorgeous Kim looked!  Let's hope we can all keep looking like that.

                           So, have a spirited and spritely Labor Day weekend, darlings.  And don't forget to do "Moonglow!!!!!!!!"

                           Meanwhile--this is what to listen to this weekend--The McGuire Sisters, singing "Picnic."

Tonight, Darlings, "Svengoolie" Is Offering Up A Real Gem--The Original 1931 "Frankenstein!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                      Will it show Karloff throwing the little girl into the lake?  Will Colin Clive be allowed to say, "Now I know what it feels like to be God?"  There is only one way to find out, girls, and that is by tuning in.

                                        James Whale's artistic direction and vision make this a must.  And the cast!  Dwight Frye as the hunchbacked Fritz!!!!!!!!!!!  Mae Clarke, whose big year this was, considering it was the same year she got a grapefruit tossed in her face in James Cagney's "Public Enemy."   And Colin Clive, Edward Van Sloan, and John Boles!  What a cast!

                                         This was both Frankenstein's and Karloff's finest hour, at Universal.  Do not miss this, and it is always worth seeing again.  Something we never get tired of, darlings.

                                          So, join us all, tonight at 8PM!  Little Pippin is so excited.

                                          And the beauty of those painted backdrops, and the black-and-white cinematography!  Oh, my God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          If you think this is scary, dears, I urge you to read its source--the Mary Shelley novel.  More than horror, it is a tale of torment and tragedy!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Girls, Here Are Some Things I Would Like To See At Fashion Week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        No matter if Rihanna shows up or not, what I want to see is color.  Like this stunning men's polo shirt, suggestive to me of a Parcheesi board.  I would love to wear this because of its color combo, and hey, the idea of blending board games with fashion design is not a bad idea.  How about that, ANNA?????????????

Now this stylish shirt is like a combination of Cecil Beaton and  Alexa Meade, of "Wonderland Dreams."  I love its sort of Edwardian and Lewis Carroll combination.  This is something I would wear, and want to see on the Fashion Week runway.  You got that, ANNA?

                                                                          

                                                                                 

      Now, aren't these pants just perfect, darlings? Whether wearing the shirts above, or with a nice dark colored sports jacket, these garments are essential for men.  This is exactly what I want to see on the runway, and you know something, girls?  More men than you know are looking for color, instead of stuffy black, navy blue, and grey.

                                                       

                            Now, here is a lovely color spectrum for women to choose from. Not all of us--speaking for myself--might want the skirt at that length, but adjustments can -- but this blend of orange, and blue-white plaid is a winning combo I would be thrilled to see this next week--when Fashion Week starts, on September 8--on that runway!

                                                                          

                      Now, darlings, look at that gorgeous wraparound.  I haven't seen such an exquisite use of blue since the ball gown in Disney's 1949 "Cinderella."  And look at the Von Furstenberg influence.  Way to go, Diane!  Actually, I would love to see this on the runway in other colors as well--pink, orange, red and yellow.  But that's just me, darlings!!!!!!!!!  Wouldn't we all love to look like that?

                                                                      

                            Aren't these combos lovely?  Admittedly that brown is a little muted, but a stylish color garnet or wraparound scarf in color could brighten it up.

                              Post Summer ware does not have to be dull, darlings!  All that is needed is some commonsense and.........COLOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                                                           

Girls, If You Are Ever Shipwrecked On An Island, You Had Better Look Like This!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                          On the far right is Irish McCalla in her signature role of Jerri Turner, spoiled heiress in 1958's "She Demons."  Her opening line is priceless--"Where's my powdered blue cashmere shortie????????????"   Darlings, we simply cannot be without one.

                          Now, maybe the hair color came from a bottle, or maybe it did not, but on 50's TV, she was "Sheena, Queen Of The Jungle."  And don't we all want to have that hair, wear a leopard skin halter top, plus a skirt that barely covers the essentials?  Even if we don't have that body, girls, we can all fantasize.

                              There is no excuse for traveling without designer clothes and beauty products.  Even if one is just going to the corner store, have some make-up on hand.

                               One does not know what detours may be in store.

                               And, if you have not, girls, you have GOT to see "She Demons."  If only Svengoolie would show it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

See You In September, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 Welcome, girls, to the ninth month of the year.  Not only that, when this one ends, we are three-quarters of the way through 2023!  Added to that we have entered what I call the "ber" months, when the year essentially winds down.  I am not saying it is over yet, but the approach of the first "ber" month indicates it is on its way.

                                      I cannot wait to see what ANNA has lined up for Fashion Week, but I have some suggestions I might pose.  As for this ad, well, anything Victorian will get me there.  I have an idea Belvidere, NJ is not that far away from Cape May, as the architecture looks similar.

                                        "Svengoolie" has planned a wonderful month for us; I will tell more tomorrow.  All I will see is this Saturday night's offering is a real gem.

                                            On September 10th, we are returning to The Heights Players, where last season we saw an exceptional production of "Lost In Yonkers."  Their season opener is Arthur Miller's "All My Sons," one of his plays I have never seen.  So, we are looking forward to that.

                                             And, darlings, I really have to up my reading game, if I am going to reach 100 books this year, plus doing some lengthy rereads that are overdue.  And how about that new translation of "The Brothers Karamazov," by Michae R. Katz???????????????

                                              I may have to start getting up at 5am, like ANNA!  But, my God, the way I look at that hour.  I might have to do the Joan Crawford ice cube facial, which will probably up my heart rate, let alone deprive me of needed beauty sleep.

                                                 Somehow, darlings, I manage to get it all done.

                                                As McDonald's used to say, "I do it all for you!"

                                                Wishing you all the best, for a glorious September!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!