Signature Center's "The Night Of The Iguana" Sinks Into The West, Like An Empty Sunset!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    Oh, Lord God, spare me from bad Shakespeare or Tennessee Williams.  Having seen three productions of "The Night Of The Iguana" during my time in NYC, this comes off as the worst, for several reasons.

                                    All of them stem from director Emily Mann, who went so weak in her casting, and has no vision of what she wanted to accomplish with this staging.  This is exemplified by the casting and performance results from Jean Lichty, playing the pivotal role of anguished spinster Hannah Jelkes.  The sad thing is when she enters, Miss Lichty has the perfect look and manner for the part.  But when she opens her mouth--out the window goes all of Williams's poetry.  Darlings, as Mrs. Higgins said in "My Fair Lady," "She's ready for a canal barge."

                                   This is especially detrimental to the second act, which is largely a dialogue between Hannah and the Rev. Shannon, just as the second act of "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" is a dialogue between Brick and Big Daddy.

                                    Daphne Rubin-Vega has the earthiness for Maxine but plays her like she is from the upper barrio of NYC.  Come on, Daphne, it has been almost thirty years since "Rent," and you can't do anything else?  Get over it!  Tim Daly tries for Shannon, but, honey, has he aged, and his ravings of self-destruction are not at all convincing; instead of a man with inner torment, we get a petulant, childish drunk.

                                       Then there is Lea De Laria.  Why the hell was she cast?  The good thing is I had forgotten that Miss Judith Fellows, one of the roles I always wanted to play, gets less stage time than I remember.  The bad news is this spinster teacher, who is a repressed lesbian is anything but with De Laria playing it.  Hell, if they wanted to camp it up, why not just get Rosie O' Donnell????????????

                                           It hurts me to see Williams' last good play ruined in this manner.  With the audience laughing it up as if at a Neil Simon play, instead of a study of people in different stages of self-destruction.  The only real performance here is the great Austin Pendleton, as Nono, the world's oldest living poet.  I had forgotten he has lines--quite a few and thank God! --but the really remarkable thing is that, and I could see this from where I sat, when he is not on stage, he is never breaks character, but is always physically doing something related to the role he is playing, rather than just sitting there waiting for his next cue.  This is what acting is, if only the other cast members noted this, and if perhaps Pendleton had directed, better casting choices would have been made.

                                            My favorite line in this play is when Hannah says, "Nothing human is disgusting, unless it is cruel, unkind or violent."  I am sorry to sound so cruel but what been done with this "Night Of The Iguana" is truly disgusting, and I urge theatergoers to avoid it.

                                            Stick to the 1964 John Huston movie, darlings!  How does one top Grayson Hall singing "Three Little Fishies??????????????"

Merry Christmas To Everyone On Here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        Front and center, of course, is our adorable Baby Gojira in his fashionable holiday outfit, which he loves to show off!  With him is his sidekick and assistant, Little Pippin, and to the right is the ceramic Christmas tree my mother made herself, when I was in second or third grade.

                                          This is my way of sending Holiday Greetings to all of you.  The holidays are a great time for fashion and beauty, but also remembrance, like remembering I could not write this blog without so many of you out there who read it.  And I want to say thank you.

                                            By the way Pope Francis' birthday is this coming Sunday.  He will be 87.  I cannot wait to hear the special message Sister Camille has on that day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             Merry Christmas to all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I Survived My Endoscopy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                        A week back, when I told my neurologist I was scheduled for an endoscopy, he reassured me it was nothing.  Then he asked me how old I was.  I told him I had recently turned 69. He said it was about time I had one.

                          So, yesterday, an anxious mess, my beloved David accompanied me to the center where it was done, at the end of the world in Manhattan, on the West Side, between 11th and 12th Avenues.  I mean, darlings, the river was right there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                           I was prepped and wheeled in.  They put something for me to clamp down on with my mouth; I was afraid I was going to be intubated.  The next thing I remember is laying in my bed in the prep spot, and a nurse came in, and I said, "When am I going to have this endoscopy?"  The nurse smiled and said, "Oh, you are all done.  You've had it."  I had no idea.

                             I did not have a sore throat, and my voice sounded the same.  I trilled a few notes and found I could do it.  But I am holding back on singing till Sunday's rehearsal.

                               I want to especially thank David who endured other, and everyone who reassured me along the way.

                                As Eugene says, at the end of "Brighton Beach Memoirs," "Onward and upward!"

Girls, Wouldn't We All Want To Look Like This For Christmas????????????????????????

                        I mean, that crisp white blouse!  That floral bow tie!  Those pink pants, white shoes, and pink nail polish on fingers and toes to match!!!!!!!!!!!!  Plus, that waste line!  Wouldn't we all just love to have THAT, girls????????????????

                       It is Christmas time, and time to present that singing rage, Miss Patti Page!   I would love to look like this for one Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                       But most of all, it is time for Patti to sing.  Here is one of my favorites of hers--

                                Here is Patti singing "Jingle Bells" enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tonight May Be A Good Night To Exercise Those Options, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 If only "Svengoolie" were showing 1935's "The Raven," which is a real gem, just like last week's lavishly Technicolored "The Mystery Of The Wax Museum," where, if one looked hard enough, not only could Queen Victoria could be spotted moving her eyes, but so other actors portraying wax figures.

                                     Unfortunately, "Svengoolie" is offering the 1963 version.  Now, it has an all-star cast, and a scene stealing raven.  Those who have not seen it may find it entertaining, and worth it to see this trio of pros in one film. However, the film is reduced to camp hilarity, with Peter Lorre stealing the show; imagine The Three Stooges in a horror film, and this is what it amounts to.

                                         So, tonight, in this house, options may be exercised.  Having mentioned "The Bad Seed" yesterday, it is a possibility, as it can always be counted on to deliver.  Again, those having never seen it are urged to; I promise you will never forget it.

                                          But, whatever we decide, I shall report all to you, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        Have a fabulous Saturday night, dears!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Guess What, Darlings???????????????? Sixty-Nine Years Ago Tonight, "The Bad Seed" Opened On Broadway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                "You hit him with the shoes, didn't you?  You hit him                                                                                     with the shoes; that's how he got those half-moon marks                                                                                        on his face and hands.  Answer me, Rhoda!                                                                                                  ANSWER ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!--                                                                                             "The Bad Seed," by Maxwell Anderson

                                                   

                                        That is right, darlings.  Twenty days after my birthday, child evil was presented on the theatrical stage.  Are we connected?

                                        Well, I have never killed anyone, or plan to, but I have seen this film any number of times, and I have a cousin who, at 12, saw this as his first Broadway show.  What was his grandmother thinking?

                                          Just look at that picture.  The tension can be palpably felt.

                                          Nancy Kelly's hysterics netted her a TONY Award and an Oscar nomination she richly deserved.  As did Patty McCormack whose chilling psychosis won her a Supporting Actress Oscar nomination, which she also deserved.  As did Eileen Heckart.

                                            Anyone free tonight, girls, it would be a lovely thing to watch this classic theatrical film.

                                              In fact, with tomorrow's "Svengoolie" showing, which I will report tomorrow, this idea is looking better and better.

                                                 Here's to Patty McCormack, who is still alive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today Is Mary's First Big Day Of The Month!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                           That's right, girls, it is the Feast Of The Immaculate Conception, when those not so pure, like yours truly, honor the purest of the pure--Mary, Queen Of All.

                           Darlings, if you think being The Raving Queen is a tough job, imagine the job Mary has.  I mean, it is 24/7, non- stop.

                             Mary deserves a rest, but if she took one, she wouldn't be living up to her name.

                             We honor Mary, and her disciples on Earth, like Sister Camille.

                              Say a prayer to Mary, darlings!  She is a good listener.  She has eons of experience!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!