The Word On The Street About The Audra "Gypsy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                           Have you heard the vocal tracks on the ads, girls?  She sings it like a coloratura soprano.   Which she is, so why the hell is she doing "Gypsy??????????"

                                           Even worse than this, I have heard that she sings "Rose's Turn" in a grey dress, with the blood of her daughter, Louise, running down the front.  Suddenly the audience is magically transported to Times Square, where, while Audra ends "Rose's Turn," Louise sings "Little Lamb!"

                                          You have got to be kidding me, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   I know it is a rumor, so I hope this is not true, but the very idea!!!!!!!!!!!!  Oh, and this is definite--the Jerome Robbins choreography is going to be jettisoned, in favor of new.  If there is any break dancing in this "Gypsy," I will have plenty to say about it.

                                          Remember, this is "Gypsy," and for some Theater Queens the ultimate musical, which we do not like being tinkered with.   On January 19, when I arrive, I will have a legal pad and pen to take notes, and if I see one step awry, this production will get it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                            If I hear any more word on the street, I will be sure to let you know.  Till January 19, I am excited for "Gypsy."  Let us see if it is worthy of that excitement.

                                             "Hold your hats, and hallelujah!," dears!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        

Girls, Seventy Years Ago Tonight On Broadway, Theater Was Changed Forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      Just look at the hysteria on Nancy Kelly's face!  And it is only going to get worse, as her killer child digs in her heels, with those shoes!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      Nancy, at this point, is just beginning to realize that child Patty, aka Rhoda Penmark, is indeed a very dangerous child.

                                          Yes, darlings, tonight, seven decades ago, "The Bad Seed" opened on Broadway.  And theater has never been the same!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                             If only it would get a Broadway revival today.  But how could you match this perfect cast?  I doubt one could.

                                             Patty McCormack is the only one still alive.  So, Happy Anniversary, Patty! Thanks to film there is an approximation, and an excellent one of that stage performance, since the camera treats the film like a staged play, especially within the interior scenes.

                                                Darlings, if you have never seen it, you will have the fun of your life.

                                                And when Nancy Kelly drops the drinking glass--oh, my God!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I Don't Care What Anyone Says! The Feast Of The Immaculate Conception Is December 8! So, Why Is It Being Celebrated December 9????????????????

                               I was always taught December 8 was this feast day.  But now itis being celebrated tomorrow.  I just don't get it.  What would Mary say?

                              Those who want to participate in the celebration have to go to mass tomorrow, on the 9th.  What gives, darlings???????????

                               Give Mary her due!  She deserves it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               This is a time when we need Sister Camille, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Skip This One If You Have Seen It Already, Girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                I know it has the creme de la creme of horror actors, probably their last gasp of glory.  But what should have been a campy delight is a mess, with Peter Lorre the real scene stealer in this film.

                                "Svengoolie" needs to get his act together, and show more gems, than this mess.  Because of that, David, myself, Baby Gojira and Company will be watching something else.

                                  We will be watching 2024's priest drama, "Conclave." Stanley Tucci is in it, and there are nuns to liven things up.  One of whom is played by Isabella Rossellini, and I hear she goes real Gladys Cooper in this.  I can't wait.  Catholicism seldom is such fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     Whatever you watch, girls, even if it is "The Comedy Of Terrors," have a wonderful, safe and fun filled Saturday night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                       Hey, Nostalgiaferatu!  Can you get Svengoolie to show better movies???????????

                          

After "Our Town," On Tuesday Night, We Went To Serendipity 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Who Knew????????????????????????????

                           I just returned from doing my one-mile walk, so I hope this has coherence.  Of course, years before, I had been to the original Serendipity on the Upper East Side, and I felt that one visit was enough.  Especially after having to wait two hours--can you believe it, girls? --to get in.  And this was way before Covid.

                           I hadn't even been aware there was a Serendipity 3.  Was there ever a Serendipity 2?

                         This one is in the theater district, right near where we saw "Oue Town."  Unlike the one on the Upper East Side, this one is gigantic, spacious, and decorated in a candy-colored childhood fantasia I would love to convert our apartment into.  Very Lewis Carroll-esque.

                          Like Alice, I could not wait to go down this rabbit hole.  And while I know this contributed to my A1c going up--I mean we were celebrating my birthday, for heaven's sake! --it was worth.

                          I have never done a single drug in my life. That is right, dears.  But I am telling you, darlings, for a guaranteed high, you have got to try the Frozen Hot Chocolate!!!!!!!!!!  It is huge, and good and sweet to the max.  I was on such a rush I actually felt stoned, and David had to wind me out of there back to the Algonquin, where I am sure Hamlet knew what had taken place!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                        Girls, this is not to be missed.  Just take a look at this!

                        I mean, how could this be resisted??????????????????

                       The service and staff were great to us, and this was at peak after theater hours.

                        Go to Serendipity 3, darlings, and live out your Candy Land fantasy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                       

And Don't Forget, Girls, Tonight Is St. Nicholas Night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            This concept and illustration came from a book I had as a child and still own, called "Tales Told In Holland."  The American Santa Claus originated in European traditions of St. Nicholas, which varied in different countries.

                              In Holland, as depicted, he rode about on his white horse, dispensing gifts to good children, accompanied by Black Pete, his Moor assistant, who carries a stick to beat and a bag to carry of bad boys and girls!  Look out for Black Pete and his switch, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                Elsewhere, St. Nicholas is accompanied by Krampus, often depicted as the Grim Reaper, or a great, hairy beast. In some parts or Europe this is Krampus Day, where folk dress up like Krampus and parade about, getting drunk, I am sure.  Not unlike our American Santacon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                So, dolls, before thinking Christmas is a uniquely American thing, realize if it was not for Europe there would be no holiday celebrations like those now.

                                  A Happy St. Nicholas and Krampus Day to everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                

That Evening, November 19th, We Saw "Our Town!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" What A Revelation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          Like most theater folk of my generation, I have been "Our Town"-ed since high school.  It was done at my college.  I saw the last revival with Spalding Grey.

                                             So, "Our Town--" again???????????????????

                                             I figured seeing it at this age would be different from seeing it as a teen.  And I was right.  For one thing, in the Stage Manager's opening speech, instead of naming the characters, names the actors playing them.  There is a wall blocking the stage, often used for intimae scenes, like when doors open and George and Emily have their next-door courtship.  And this "Our Town" is done straight through, without an intermission.  What I thought was a lengthy three acter, is a quick one hour and forty minutes.

                                               But packed with insight and great performances.  Richard Thomas and Katie Holmes fair best, as the Webbs.  Katie Holmes is a revelation, taking on an acting challenge like this and running with it. When she is onstage, one cannot take one's eyes off her.  Every little gesture speaks of technique and revelation.  The only other actress out there I could see doing this is the divine Celia Keenan-Bolger.  But Katie Holmes is impressive.

                                                  Julie Halston has some funny moments as Mrs. Soames. But "Our Town" earns its grit when it gets to Act Three, set in a cemetery, with deceased members catatonically seated, though they do speak.  Having turned 70, this scene hit me int he solar plexus.  Because I am closer to those seats than I was when first exposed to this play, and the truth cannot escape me.  And when Zoey Deutsch as Emily does her famous "Oh, earth, you're too wonderful for anybody to realize you" speech, there was not a dry eye in the house.  As it should be.   Kenny Leon directs a great company of actors, but I wish he had allowed or encouraged Ephraim Sykes to show emotion when by Emily's grave.  Seeing this scene has always made me wonder if the afterlife is like this.

                                                         And what of Jim Parsons as the Stage Manager?  He was a surprise too.  I was afraid there would be too much of Jim Parsons, but the actor restrains himself and projects the image of a shell backed New Englander.  It is a testament to Kenny Leon's direction.

                                                             This production is playing through January 19.  Which happens to be the day we see Audra McDonald in "Gypsy."  You can bet I will be critical about THAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                               While "Our Town" is here, it should be seen.  It may not be the "Our Town" our youth remembers, but it is the one present day youth, if they go, will remember always.

                                                                   Where are the Thornton Wilders when needed???????????