Girls, I Am Telling You, Do Something Better This Saturday Night Than Watching "Dinosaurus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                           "Svengoolie' is really scraping the bottom of the barrel this week.  When this film was first hyped in 1960, as a child I thought it looked to be the greatest dinosaur film ever!  How wrong I was!

                             The dinosaurs in this film look worse than in 1993's "Jurassic Park," and not nearly as realistic as in 1925's "The Lost World," and 1933's "King Kong!"  Give me those earlier films any time!!!!!!!!!!

                                The caveman in this film is a hoot!  He looks like the cousin of "Eegah!," and probably is.  He does not improve things any.

                                  Even if one has never seen it, I would say skip this one.  I don't know what we are going to watch tonight, but it won't be this tripe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   Get your act together, Svengoolie.  At least feature Nostalgiaferatu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As One Of The Show Lyrics Go, Darlings, This Show Will Leave You "Thoroughly Satisfied!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                      Almost as soon as we arrived in our Bay Ridge apartment, with me happily exhausted from my birthday holiday, we received word from our connections that we would be heading back into the city that night--driven to and from--to see the revival of "Once Upon A Mattress," now playing at the Hudson Theater, where, a year ago last October, we saw "Merrily We Roll Along!"

                                        The show, the only musical written by Mary Rodgers (daughter of composer Richard) is a takeoff on "The Princess And The Pea."   It is pure musical theater magic, compared to the rest of what is on Broadway.  Sutton Foster is as perfect for Princess Winnifred The Woebegone, as Carol Burnett was back in 1959.  Foster not only puts over the numbers "Shy" and "Happily Ever After," with the pizzaz required, her limberness and bodily flexibility is remarkable, and she is incredibly adept at the physically comic aspects of the role.  As her Prince, Michael Urie emerges from a charming Mama's Boy into a person of his own strength.  And Ana Gasteyer is devilishly humorous as the Queen Mother.

                                            The rest of the company is solid, the sets and costumes appropriately fairy tale like.  And to think this was directed by Lear deBessonet, from ENCORES!  She was the one I thought ruined "Oliver!" when we saw it there, so I am amazed she pulled this show off so well.

                                             A more delightful evening of musical theater one can't ask for.  But, girls, I urge you to see it fast.  I have heard no postings, but I fear it may be part of the January show exodus.

                                                This 'Mattress' will have you purring contentedly, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Celebration Ended On November 21!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But It Sort Of Continued, As You Shall See!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      Girls, I forgot to mention that on Sunday, November 17, before we dashed off to see "Communion," David and I had lunch with our friends, Dan and Norma.  She is a former librarian, and he is a high-powered lawyer.  And guess where we were seated, girls?  At the famed Algonquin Round Table.  We had lunch and discussed all kinds of subjects.  I felt like Dorothy Parker, just sitting there!

                                        But, like I said, we left The Algonquin on Thursday, November 21, after Hamlet provided us with wonderful service.  I know I will be back, if only to see Hamlet.

                                      However, the celebration didn't exactly stop, as you shall see!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Look, Everyone!!!!!!!!!!! Gojira Has His Own Comic Book, Honoring Works Of Literature!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Isn't That Thoughtful Of Him????????????

                               And doesn't he look so cute on the cover?

                             Gojira is branching out in all sorts of cultural directions.  This may be his way to get young adult readers turned on to works of good literature.  I mean, who wouldn't listen to Gojira???????

                             I bet Sister Camille would love it.  And I know Gojira would love to distribute some to all the needy children.

                             He just wants to bring a bit of joy to the holiday season.

                              Thank you, Gojira!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Come On, Girls, You All Know We Love Saying It--"Kill Her, Mommy! Kill Her!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                            I know it is December, darlings, and we are in the midst of preparations for the Holiday season, but today is also Friday The 13th, and you know what that means.

                            It means what better way to take a break from all the holiday hubbub than to watch the 1980 classic.  I cannot believe 44 years have gone by.

                             Betsy Palmer, as Mrs. Voorhees, whom we all love, acts the role with her teeth.  This is the best performance by an actress with her teeth that I have ever seen and expect never to see again.  Betsy must have had fantastic dental coverage!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 And how about that horndog Barry, and that tramp, Claudette?????????????  They started the whole thing!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                    How about Crazy Ralph, and the truck driver?  And Sandy, the diner waitress?  They are all in this film!

                                      We will probably start around 9PM. Join us in watching this classic, honoring this day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        As Mrs. Voorhees says, "I'M not afraid!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

And Then, After "The Roommate," We Dined In The Algonquin Lounge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            We were not at the Round Table this time--that is for another post--but we had dinner here the evening of November 20.  Our good friends from scenic Mill Basin, Brooklyn, Joe and Davida, joined us, and a good time was had by all.

                             While we were seeing "The Roommate," they were seeing "M.J., The Musical."  I never considered it before, but Davida said the performers playing Michael Jackson and the dancing were terrific.  Who knew?  Not that I am running to it, but another person's point of view, especially one whose opinion I respect, can help evaluate the validity of seeing a show not on one's radar.

                                Oh, when we were leaving to see "The Roommate," Hamlet came out of hiding to wish me a happy birthday.  He let me pet and scratch him, and he enjoyed every second of it, as did I.  It was so kind and thoughtful of him taking time out of his busy schedule in running this hotel.

                                 A day and a birthday never to forget, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Birthday Chronicles Continue!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Girls, Hurry And See Mia And Patti Before They Close On December 15th!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                  I can't say that "The Roommate," by Jen Silverman, is a world beater of a play, but with Mia Farrow and Patti Lupone sharing the vehicle, it becomes a performing arts event.  One which we attended on November 20, 2024.

                                   Which is exactly what "The Producers" was, back when Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick were in it.  When they left, the show tanked.

                                       The same would happen with "The Roommate."  Farrow and LuPone make the show!

                                         It is an interesting, exploratory character study of two very different women--Sharon (Farrow), living in Iowa, a lonely divorcee, who takes in a roommate named Robyn, a Bronx bomber, played by LuPone as bomber as one can get.  A butch lesbian, who has been married, she comes off as intimidating yet fascinating to the rather sheltered Sharon.  But as the drama unfolds, the audience sees sides of these characters that even they never suspected were there.  This is not as simplistic as "Single White Female," nor as dark, but I have never seen LuPone so vulnerable on stage as she appears, at times, in this. She was not a bit believable as Fantine, but her "Passion" showed she had the chops for vulnerability.   Farrow plays a likable, mousy sort, who is soon revealed to have a steel spine lurking underneath.  And this is what makes them a fascinating duo.  Under the direction of Jack O'Brien and Marsha Mason, both actresses play on the public's perception of what they think are their true selves--but is the public right?  Is the audience right about the characters?

                                           That is the fun of watching Farrow and LuPone.  They go in directions one is not expecting, and one feels sadness for both, but especially Farrow as Sharon.  Though I thought, as the play ended, she would eventually find another roommate.

                                               There is even a verbal cameo by that fine young man, Ronan Farrow!  If only he had appeared live on stage! Some of us would have gone crazy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I know I would have!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                   "The Roommate" is like a master acting class, with two mistresses of the craft, going at it.

                                                     Be sure not to miss them!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                     As Mia might say, "Tannis, anyone?????????????"