Darlings, It Is The End Of An Era!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               As I was shaving this morning, the voice of Connie Francis singing "Where The Boys Are" passed through my head.  Several minutes later, David knocked on the door, to tell me that the singer herself had passed away today, at the age of 87!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               It is a sure thing that tonight's performance of "Just In Time" will be extra special, in tribute to Connie.  Gracie Lawrence, who plays her, will knock herself out more than usual, and if Jonathan Groff has not blown the roof off Circle In The Square yet, he surely will tonight.

                                I even have memories of having seen Connie Francis, live, with my parents, at the Steel Pier, during the Summer of 1960.  I can still hear her beguiling; plaintive way she sang each song.

                               Connie will be missed, and I certainly hope she finds peace, as she went through some rough times in her life.

                                 How exciting it would be to see "Just In Time" tonight!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                 Rest In Peace, Connie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                  Here is Connie singing "Where The Boys Are." Listen, and savor!!!!!!!!!!!

Something Is Wrong At "The New York Times---" And That Isn't Good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            I just learned this morning, girls, that Jesse Green, hitherto the impeccable theater critic of "The New York Times," is being relieved of said role, and reassigned to other tasks on the publication. But no one says what.

                             There is something up, and I do not like it.  Talk is in the air about The Times making changes to their cultural section.  To me, this can only mean one of several things--

                             "The New York Times" is caving in to the Trump administration and has gone full blown MAGA, hiring only the most conservative critical cultural commentators.  But then, what do conservatives know about culture??????  As one reader said, " 'The New York Times?' No way!"

                            Or they have gone to the extreme left, being so WOKE that each critic is of a different and diverse ethnicity.  Which would not only give each of them, but let's stay with theater, a personal agenda and ax to grind, that could influence what does or does not make it to Broadway.

                              Lastly, in this rather Orwellian age, I think the paper might just hire their present-day idea of what they think "fits in."  No matter how much knowledge of theater or such may be lacking in the new hires, they will be taken in spite of, not because, of knowledge.

                                Or a combination of all three.  With talk of influencers, and media stars, the paper wants to go in some sort of modernistic direction, and that does not sit well with me or many on here, I hope.

                                    I always used to start my day with "The New York Times."  I hope this shakeup does not change that.  But it could.

                                    BIG BROTHER is out there, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To End Algonquin Saturday, A Trip To The Theater, Experiencing Oscar Wilde As One Never Has Before!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         I used to think I was "The Picture Of Dorian Gray."  Though I never wished for eternal youth, I was carded for drinks and movies till my early Thirties.  I always thought a portrait of me would show all my past profligacy and promiscuity.  After seeing Kip Williams' production, I took a good look at myself in the mirror.  And while I tenderly moisturize my skin daily, I could not deny the lines and wrinkles on my face that certainly had not been on me while in my Twenties!!!!!!!!!!!

                                           So, I guess I am not Dorian.

                                           Being Dorian is hard enough.  But consider Sarah Snook who not only has to play Dorian, but every single character in Wilde's work.

                                              This is an extraordinary feat of acting by an actress and it is no surprise Snook took the TONY for "Best Actress In A Play" for her performance here.  But it could not have worked without the skilled camera work and film editing of its technical staff, a technique that failed to work with "Sunset Boulevard," but is used to heightened extremes here, taking the audience on a journey into Dorian's descending depravity.

                                                    In both this and the Wilde work, I still say the key instigator is Lord Henry Wotton, who I think, metaphorically, is the Devil. When the portrait is revealed to the young Dorian, Wotton is there and hears him wish for eternal youth--that he never ages, but the portrait does.  As the story continues, he gets this wish, but I believe if Wotton had not been present, he would not have been granted this request.

                                                      All of this is Sarah Snook running to God knows how many areas of the stage, talking to herself, in character, on pre-recorded film and using visual distortion to unique, almost campy effect, but never sinking into camp. And when the end does come, it is understated, but stark and chilling.  It is Wilde who has the last words, and his resonate.

                                                         Kip Williams, who also adapted the story, aided by his tech staff have done a remarkable job of combining theater and media.  It even inspired me; I thought of doing a one-person version of either "The Bad Seed," or "The Song Of Bernadette."  Which would you like to see, girls?????????  "The Song Of Bernadette" would be challenging, but "The Bad Seed" would be more fun.  Or how about "The Children's Hour????????????"

                                                              I wish this had not closed so soon, for I would have loved to have seen it again.  It made me reread the Wilde work, which I admire more than I did before.

                                                               But it is Sarah Snook's show all the way, and she deserves every bit of credit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                           How the hell did she learn all that blocking???????????????

Mid-Afternoon On Algonquin Saturday, We Went For Afternoon Tea At The Blue Box Cafe At Tiffany's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             I mean, darlings, what is a day in Manhattan without an afternoon tea?  And the latest place to hang out, and so atmospheric for the Summer, is The Blue Box Cafe at Tiffany's, the noted jewelry store on Fifth Avenue, on the sixth floor.

                               Isn't the blue lushness just lovely?  Hanging from the ceiling are hundreds of blue boxes--the signature item of a given Tiffany's gift.  It really is a magical place to be, with Summer being the perfect season for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                          And just look at elegant tea we were served.  Flutes of champagne, delicate, delicious finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream, and savory sweets.  What more could one ask for?

                           Who needs dinner when one has had this?  The answer is there is no need, as this more than suffices.

                              And yes, it is possible to have "Breakfast At Tiffany's!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                             But how many of us can look like Audrey????????????????????

Back To Our Algonquin Weekend--We Started On Saturday Morning With A 10AM Screening Of Alfred Hitchcock's 1976 "Family Plot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                          Neither of us had seen this film, and after the recent "Nashville" screening at The Paris Theater, and featuring both Karen Black and Barbara Harris, we were not about to miss the opportunity to see them in what turned out to be Hitchcock's final film.

                                           It is not one of his best, but he does go out respectively.  The blend of suspense and comedy did not work as well as in "Rear Window," but the actors did due diligence.  And this was a good thing, because "plot" is what the film was short on, being very convoluted.  But its trio--Karen Black, Bruce Dern, and Barbara Harris--worked like a family, matching every move for move.  Plus, a bevy of familiar character actors--like Edith Atwater, from "Strait-Jacket'-- were on hand to liven up things.

                                           Unquestionably, Barbara Harris steals the show!   Are you surprised, darlings??????  I could not determine whether she was a medium, a psychic, or both, but it hardly matters when she is on the screen, because one cannot take one's eyes off her.  What a gifted actress she was, and what a career she could have had, if only she didn't suffer from emotional problems.

                                             But when a director was able to reel her in, the result was acting magic.

                                             I am so glad we saw "Family Plot," girls!!!!!!!!!!  For those who never have seen it, watch out; you may not get another opportunity to view it, since showings seem to be so infrequent.  Copyright issues, maybe??????????????

                                               Girls, you will come out of this film wanting to plot something yourselves!!!!!!!!!!!

Girls, Join All Of Us, Tonight At 8PM, As Svengoolie Presents Another Gem, 1953's "Invaders From Mars!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                                           This is one case, girls, where the poster does justice to the movie.

                                           "Invaders From Mars" has a scene stealing cast--Jimmy Hunt as young David MacLean, Lief Erickson and Hillary Brooke as his parents, all of whom deliver A list performances.

                                              And the film has a distinctive visual look; no doubt because this film was directed--directed, mind you!!!!!!!!!--by William Cameron Menzies!!!!!!!!!!  Fourteen years before, he set designed a little film called "Gone With The Wind."  This film still his visual touch from that film!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                But there are two actors, or should I say actresses, who steal the show!

                                                 

                             The first is Jeanine Perreau, sister of Gigi, and who played the last, and surviving child victim of David Wayne in the 1951 American film version of "M," as Conformist Fifties Child Kathy Wilson.  Come to think of it, this is what the MAGA movement is aiming for, so this film still has a pertinence to today's times.  Keep an eye on Jeanine when watching.  She is never the same after walking up that hill!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                          Then there is Lucie Luz Potter as the giant, dome enclosed leader.  Ever since seeing this as a child, I thought the leader was a man.  Not until I saw the last "Svengoolie" showing, and did some research, did I realize this role was played by an actress!   And what a brilliant performance.  Just like Virginia Leith in 1962's "The Brain That Wouldn't Die," all she had to work with was her head.  What a performance!  Too bad she and Jeanine were not Oscar nominated.

                              This is a class A film.  Those who have never seen it, should not miss it.  Those who have can revel in its chilling prescience

                                A warning--the chilling twist is most disturbing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                See you at 8PM, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

                                 

The Truth Is Slowly Coming Out About Audra, Darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                From June 30, until July 6, while Audra McDonald took a vacation, Montego Glover, so good in "Memphis" (and what has she done since?) stepped into the role of Rose in "Gypsy."

                                  David and I were curious but did not get to see her.  Apparently, she was highly successful, because now she is going to be taking on Rose in all the Sunday matinees.

                                    Which means Miss High And Mighty Audra is not so, as she cannot sustain to do eight shows a week.  The truth is slowly emerging that she does not have the vocals for this role but come hell or high water either she or the producers, maybe both, are determined she see this out.  Even if they have to put in Montego, whom I am sure does a better job!  If tickets were not so expensive I would go see her, because "Gypsy" currently has the best score running on Broadway!!!!!!!!!!!

                                      Didn't I tell you, girls, Audra was not up for this?  I have a feeling Montego will be doing more performances before long!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                          Hey, maybe I will step in as Mama Rose!  I have the chops for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!