"SUFFS" Is The New "RAGS," And The Female "1776!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                          Thanks to our friends Ellen and Victor, who got relatively inexpensive tickets, we saw "SUFFS" two week ago Sunday.  I had been intrigued by its presentation on the TONY Awards, so when this opportunity came up, we grabbed it, and it was worth it.

                                             "SUFFS" bears comparison with "RAGS," because both deal with periods in early twentieth century history.  And both have haunting, melodic scores, which I cannot tell you how refreshing it was being in a Broadway house, hearing such.  The problem "RAGS" had was it was never conceptualized as "SUFFS" is, ending up more as an overly talky book musical than the sung through show with soaring songs, which it might have been, and deserves someday to be.  Hey, it took 42 years to get 'Merrily' right.  Perhaps the same someday will be done with "RAGS."

                                                 As for "1776," well "SUFFS" has not only an all-female cast, but an all-female orchestra.  Not since "The Secret Garden" has there been such a powerhouse of female creativity on Broadway.

                                                  Oh, and how is this?  In this year's TONY roster of nominees for "Best Musical," "SUFFS" and "Hell's Kitchen" shared the honor of being two musicals that first started out downtown at The Public Theatre.  "SUFFS" was there in 2022, and took two years to get to Broadway, due to Covid.  But how many years have boasted two shows that began at The Public?

                                                     "SUFFS" moves easily from scene to scene, with conceptual settings that make it all seem seamless, like one environment, and thirty-six--count them! -musical numbers.  The score is haunting, rousing, and fun; one number "G.A.B.," an acronym I cannot reveal, is a solid showstopper, among so many showstoppers."

                                                        At the helm of it all is Shaina Taub, who not only wrote the Book, Music and Lyrics, winning TONYS for both, but plays the lead role of Alice Paul.  A tiny dynamo with a gigantic voice, Miss Paul is a force to be reckoned with, given her remarkable creative, efforts and her performance power, reminding me of the young Alice Playten.  The entire ensemble is uniformly outstanding, but I must say Hannah Cruz as Inez Mulholland, Emily Skinner as Alva Belmont and Phoebe Burn--some cast members double up as characters--and Kim Blanck as Ruza Wenclawska are standouts.

                                                               "SUFFS" deserves to be seen, not only for its theatrical excellence, which includes Leigh Silverman's direction and Mayte Natalio's choreography, but because audiences will get a glimpse into history never taught in my time, which makes me question if it is now.  Before "SUFFS," I had no idea any of these women were real; I went in thinking they were to be archetypes, and, to an extent, they are, but all lived and breathed and died as portrayed on stage.  Less known than the Founding Fathers of "1776" "SUFFS" forces the audience, in a uniquely musical theater way, to examine a slice of American history seldom known or acknowledged.  It is both entertaining and educational.  And what is the last Broadway show we can say that about, darlings???????????????

                                                                  How apt "SUFFS" opened in this crucial election year.  May it inspire people to get out and vote, come November.

                                                                   Meantime, flock to the Music Box Theatre, sit back and enjoy this show's blazing theatricality.

Yes, This Is For Real!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But I Am Not So Sure!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                          Oh, I have no doubts about the show.  "Gypsy" is a remarkable show, with a score that pulls the audience in as soon the first notes of the Overture are heard.  But what follows depends on the whirling dervish that is cast as Mama Rose, and I am not sure Audra McDonald, talented though she be, is up to it.

                           Face it, darlings.  To play Rose, one has to be a belter.  I mean, remember Patti?  Who could forget?  As far as I am concerned, she made "Gypsy" the one for our generation.  Just like Ethel Merman did for hers.  How the hell does one top that?

                            Now, I love Audra, darlings, but face it, she is NOT a belter.  And this was proven by Bernadette Peters playing the role in 2003. As the score went on, I kept wondering if she would lose her voice; if not at my performance, but in doing the show eight times a week.  It was sad, because she was surrounded by a very talented cast.  But the eye of this theatrical hurricane has to be Rose, and except in the softer number, "Small World," Peters was not up to it.

                                I fear the same for Audra.  But there is one saving grace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                         I want to play Dainty June!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                        First of all, I have been doing the 'Caroline' number, plus "If Mama Was Married" all my life, or since age 12, when I first heard the Original Broadway Cast Album.  There is no question that I am a belter.  One ENT specialist I saw told me I had the strongest set of vocal cords she had ever seen!  How about that, darlings?????????  And I would love working with Caroline!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                          There is one challenge, though.  That entrance, and that split.  I am doing leg stretches and yoga these days to build up my strength.  But that split.  What about my testicles?  This is something a woman does not have to worry about, but men?  I have seen men do splits; my first one was Ben Vereen in the original production of "Pippin."  And that testicular thought went through my mind, back then.  I guess I will have to wear something to protect me under my costume.  Something stronger than an athletic supporter.

                            Leaving that aside, I think Audra's "Gypsy" should be multi racial casting.  Which would make me perfect for the role of Dainty June!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            "My name is June," darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!  "What's yours?????????????????" 

A Fond And Sad Farewell To "Merrily We Roll Along!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                               This is the day Theater Queens, and the trio above have been dreading.  Today the now acclaimed production of "Merrily We Roll Along" closes and goes into the history books.

                                 While the original will always have its place in history, this soon to fold production will go on as being the definitive one.  Not just because of how it was rewritten and staged, though that was crucial to its success, but, more important, the talent and charm of the three performers who brought humanity and vulnerability to their characters, two of whom won TONY Awards, as the show did as "Best Revival Of A Musical."  And Lindsay Mendez, should have completed the TONY triumvirate by winning one, too.

                                How Jonathan Groff pulled off humanizing Franklin Shepard was nothing short of a miracle.  Oh, he was still dislikable, but in this production, it became clear how Life simply swept him away, like a bad ocean current.  He did not strike me as a sellout, but someone making the wrong choices because the things he thought he wanted would make him happy, when they actually did not.  The last image of the show, featuring Groff standing, staring out into a galaxy with Life ahead of him was moving and devastating, because we, who had seen the show, knew what was ahead for him.  And this broke our hearts.

                                   As did the trio's rendition of "Our Time,' which takes us Boomers old enough to have seen the original production back to our starting points and breaking our hearts in the process.  At least mine was broken.  And Mendez and Radcliffe brought such vulnerability to their performances they were almost painful to watch.  And their glorious renditions of the Sondheim score will live forever on the CD.

                                   Now, there are rumors of a filmed performance--culled from a variety of performances--floating about, that may be theatrically released.  How true this is I am not sure, but if it is, you can be sure David and I will be there, and for those unable to have seen the show live, I urge you to take advantage of this opportunity.

                                       And I can guarantee this--starting tomorrow, throngs of people at my former workplace will be fighting one another to view the 'Merrily' videotape!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         Because of Maria Friedman, and her sister, Sonia, "Merrily We Roll Along " finally made the history it deserved.  It went from being a flop to the hit many of us knew it could be, and I am so grateful to have lived long enough to have seen this unfold.

                                         Farewell, 'Merrily.'  "Not A Day Goes By" that you will not be thought of.

                              I wanted to give the full version of "Our Time," but could not find it.  Here is a brief excerpt that will convey the effectiveness of this song, and show how special this cast was.

When To Call Child Protective Services???????????????????????

                                                     Girls, I know, this is a really heavy topic for a Sunday, but after last week I was faced with this question.  Because I am sorry I did not.

                                                      David and I were having dinner at our usual locale, the Offshore Diner in our neighborhood of Bay Ridge.  I was waiting for him to arrive, so he did not witness what I did.

                                                       To my left, on the last three stools of the fountain, sat a teenaged girl, her mother, and an 8-year-old boy.  The daughter seemed to be watching the other two.  This eventually became obvious, as the boy was doing something that annoyed his mother.  He seemed to be playing on the fountain stool, like many children do--I did it myself, at that age--and in the process kept either knocking into her or somehow hitting her.  She kept yelling "Don't hit me!" as she was trying to eat.  I noticed none of the children were eating, but it was the mother's tone that struck me.  She was being especially abusive verbally to the boy, and it kept up.  She told the daughter to keep an eye on him, and the two withdrew to a nearby booth.  The girl tried to placate her sibling, but he was emotionally hurt, and showed it.  The mother then said, "If you do that again, I will make you fall!"  When I heard that, I reached for my phone to call CPS. I told my server, a familiar face, what I thought, and she did not disagree with me.  But, as I lifted my cell to call, I wondered how long it would take before someone arrived.  They could be out of the restaurant before anything could be done.  Then, amidst her meal, the woman temporarily abandoned the children to go somewhere next-door shopping, for at least half an hour.  She came back, resumed her meal, and they left.  I wondered what this poor boy was in for.

                                                         I wonder, was I wrong in not calling?  I had no notion of who these people were, as I had never seen them before.  Maybe they were not from the neighborhood.  I could give CPS officials a general description, but how much good would that do?  I was tempted to confront the woman when she left the store alone, but I knew that could get me into trouble.

                                                           What should I have done, readers?  Or do, in case something like this happens again?  I did look outside to see if any police were around, but they weren't.

                                                                I still think about that poor boy.  To give credit, he looked robust and healthy, physically.  Emotionally is another matter.

                                                                 One thing for sure, darlings. If, in the near future, I hear about a young boy dying of abuse, I will never forgive myself.

                                                                  This experience will stay with me, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                        

Girls, We Cannot Wait To See The Giant Bat-Rat Spider-Crab Creature!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                              Isn't that some creation, darlings?  Wouldn't it look good as a panel for an entire wall?

                             Tonight, for the first time since we have been watching "Svengoolie," he is going to show 1959's (or was it 1960?) "The Angry Red Planet."  This was AIP's venture into intergalactic space monster territory, and not only is it highly regarded, but it has also been praised by critics and film scholars!  That's right, dears, can you believe it?

                              Because of the creature pictured above, I cannot wait to see this movie on "Svengoolie" tonight at 8PM.  You have never seen anything like this, darlings, so it is worth tuning in.

                              The planet of the title is Mars, which is what this planet has been labeled in real life.

                              But there is nothing real in this Mars, dolls!  Hopefully, just camp fun and laughter!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               See you at 8 tonight, when we all blast off, dears!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Look Who Is Venturing Into The Field Of Children's Literature!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                That is right, darlings, our lovable reptile friend, Gojira, has come out with a book for children, and I know all Gojira fans, young and old, are going to love it.  I cannot wait to read it, girls!

                                  Gojira is not just a major movie star; he is becoming a cottage industry.  Fashions, books written about him, now by him, I can only wonder what field Gojira will conquer next.

                                   I wanted to share this important news with you ASAP.  You can find this book online and order it.

                                    You can be sure it will be a permanent addition to our home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Three Cheers For The Red, White, And Blue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                                   No, darlings, I have not become a MAGA--God forbid!  I am merely quoting the intro to the "Freedomland" song of the 1960's.  The other line was "We're on our way to fun--Freedomland!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                                      For those not in the know, "Freedomland" was an Americana style theme park, with exhibits and rides, located on what is now Co-Op City in the Bronx.  I visited there once with my parents.  After five years, it closed and was demolished.

                                                        This is all by way of saying something different than "Happy Fourth Of July!"  Well, the same to you, too, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                           However you celebrate the day--the Original Broadway Cast Album of "1776," the movie version, with Blythe Danner, James Cagney in "Yankee Doodle Dandy," or Joel Grey on the Original Broadway Cast Album of "George M!," make it work for you!  Hot dogs, burgers, a pool, or air conditioning.  Even Jennifer Jones, as Bernadette, which I might require!!!!!!!!!

                                                               Nevertheless, a Happy July 4th to all my readers!

                                                                But remember, as the Lanford Wilson play goes, the fireworks really start on "The Fifth Of July!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"