This Becky Has NOTHING To Do With Thackeray Or GB Shaw!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   Darlings, how many parties have we been to where an individual or group is conversing with us, and mentally we just don't care, and say, inside our heads, "Why don't you just get the hell out of here?"

                                     The answer is many.  And Gina Gionfriddo's play "Becky Shaw" leaves the audience, like party guests, captive among people they would rather not be with.

                                       Let's start with the playwright.  Gina Gionfriddo.  Sounds like she should be working behind the counter at a pizza parlor.  As for her writing, she cannot seem to decide if what she is going for is "Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf?," "Fatal Attraction," or "Promising Young Woman."  What emerges is two hours of histrionics blending all three and not succeeding very well at any of them.

                                         Thank God for Linda Emond, who livens things up.  When she speaks, she knows how, and what could be rantings have some dramatic meaning.  Too bad the rest of the cast does not follow her example.  And Lauren Patten, who plays Emond's daughter, Suzanna is supposed to be going for a doctorate in psychology at NYU?  If she can't reign it in long enough for normal conversation, then she should drop the program and go into something else, because it is clear she will not make it as a psychologist.

                                           The other characters are not much better, and while they do follow through on what they are supposed to do, Gionfriddo and director Trip Cullman might just as well have told the cast unitedly, "Just go out there, and scream the playwright's grievances to the audience".  But are they her grievances. Are Suzanna and Becky stand-ins for the author?  Does anybody care?  I certainly did not.

                                               Yet the audience seemed to be lapping it up.  Has the theater become so expensive that audiences will applaud at the most mediocre material?  The answer is yes; I have seen applause at far worst.  

                                              "Becky Shaw" is to be avoided.  For those having children or grandchildren--their school play would be more theatrically satisfying than this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                  Raspberries!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, My God, Girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's MERYL and ANNA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                     Darlings, this image is classic, and will be as long as we are alive, so I suggest all run out and buy the May issue of VOGUE.    I have been sitting on this for a while, girls, but we have to talk about the May 1 opening of "The Devil Wears Prada 2," with the entire original cast back, and I cannot wait to learn the names of some new designers.  Alas, I will not be able to see it on opening day, because of what I do for love.  Before knowing of this opening date, David booked us on an LMS But Trip to Shady Maple, in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  Now, I know Jonathan Groff comes from somewhere around there, but hell, he won't be there.  He fled to NYC as soon as he could.  Like all us young artists!!!!!!!!!!!

                                        While it has a lovely gift shop and savories, the place is a buffet shrine passing off what is supposed to be Amish food, but I think is conspicuous consumption.  You should see how some of these heifers--and yes, they look it!!!!!!!!!--pile high their plates.   I find it disgusting.  But David loves it, so if he lets me watch my true crime, serial killer programs, who am I to deny him a visit to Shady Maple?  I can take medication for it, to block out the experience.  But why does it have to be on May 1????????????????????

                                         So, God knows when I will see this.  And what shall I wear?  What if I see it in Manhattan, and ANNA is there?   I am going to have to wear my best, even if I see the film in Brooklyn!!!!!!!!!!

                                           But, really, girls, sometimes retirement is a bitch.  Like cramming Easter, Passover, doctor appointments and two shows (which I eventually will report on) into one week.  I am moving faster than when I was working.  You never hear people say this, but I will--Thank God for the NYC Subway System.  It affords me so much reading time, which I sometimes do not get at home.

                                           Not to mention I am juggling two potential tragedies in my life, of which I cannot say more.  Don't worry, though, David and I are fine.

                                             And "Death Of A Salesman" opens tonight at The Winter Garden.  If it gets a rave from "The New York Times" I will spout off on here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                              That is what this past week has been like, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today I Have Been Chronicling My Life For Nineteen Years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                               And you know what comes after nineteen, don't you, girls?

                                              Next year, when twenty is reached, we will have to have a big party!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                               But today is the anniversary of starting this blog.  My first post was today, and it was short and sweet, because, at the time, I was not sure what this blog was going to be.

                                                  I am so happy I have a legacy to look back on.  I just find it hard to believe it has been 19 years.  I was 52 when I started this, and now I am 71.  I can't believe it!

                                                  But I want to thank all my readers, for whom I write this blog.  It has been a fascinating 19 years, and I can only pray that the next nineteen will be just as interesting, if not more.

                                                     The Raving Queen turns 19 today.  If only the same could be said of me.

                                                     But would I really want that?  No.

                                                       I am just proud to have kept this going for nineteen years.

                                                        Thank you all, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today Is The Day, Girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The Annual Screening Of "The Song Of Bernadette!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

                           I am running on empty, darlings. I had no sleep last night, --I just could not--and I just sang in my church choir, have not had coffee or eaten, so the screening, which usually starts at 2PM may start at 3PM.

                             I just heard a sad story from one of my friends, and while I cannot give out info, I ask all to pray for this family.  I know just what they are going through.  Holy Thursday, or April 2, specifically, was the 47th anniversary of my mother's death.  A life changer, to be sure.

                                So, a Happy and Holy Easter to all.  But, hey, if you prefer "Easter Parade," or "The Ten Commandments," that is fine with me.  To each his own, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   And watch it on the candy.  You don't want to end up a diabetic, like me!

                                   Happy Easter, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                

At Dawn On The First Day Of The Week, Mary Magdalene Carried Spices To the Tomb, To Anoint The Body Of Jesus!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                           This is more in line with what Easter is all about, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            But Jesus was entombed with a stone covering the entrance, and I wonder how Mary Magdalene and the others, enroute, thought they were going to roll away the stone!

                             Much to their relief, an angel was there, the stone unrolled, and they were told of the Resurrection.   Mary Magdalene ran to the Disciples telling them the Lord had been taken from the tomb!

                             But such was not the case.  Jesus later appeared to them, live, and that was the first Easter!

                               Which is why some people get up early, to reenact, in their own way, this rite.

                                  And it would not surprise me if a white bunny rabbit had been in the vicinity.

                                 But chocolate eggs and such.  That came along in the late nineteenth, early twentieth century, due to American commercialism!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                   Happy Easter, everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Girls, Join Us At 8PM, As "Svengoolie" Starts April With A 1981 Film Featuring Two Hotties, When They Were Hot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                             Gay men across the tri-state area, will want to tune in to "An American Werewolf In London," featuring David Naughton and Griffin Dunne both at their hottest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                               David is the brother of Broadway TONY winner James Naughton, whom I remember seeing in shows.  Griffin Dunne is related to Joan Didion and is the son of Dominick Dunne.  His sister, Dominque, was tragically murdered by her boyfriend, after the release of what would have been her breakout film, "Poltergeist." Griffin is still out there, and I have to say, he still looks pretty good.  I have no idea what David is up to. But his fame came from a series of Dr. Pepper commercials in the early eighties.

                                    But their youthful hotness, the cinematography, the transformation sequences, and some touches of humor in this unexpected comic horror film make for delightful viewing.

                                      In all my years of watching "Svengoolie," this is the first time I believe this film has been shown on his program.

                                        You won't want to miss it.  So, tune in at 8PM, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                         And I hope I see Nostalgiafeeratoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today Is Holy Saturday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                            Jesus has died on the cross and been laid in the tomb.  The disciples and Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Jesus, await his return.

                            After all the pomp of the last several days, we all wait for the coming of Jesus.  This is when Lent slows down, culminating in the celebration of Easter, which is tomorrow.

                               Can you believe how fast this Lenten season has gone??????????????

                               When I was growing up, Holy Saturday also came down to a choice of Easter movies.  Late that night, starting at 11:30 PM, two choices would be offered.  Channel 7 would show, every year, "The Song Of Bernadette."  Channel 2 would show "Easter Parade."  You know which one I went for, darlings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                And so, we face another Holy Saturday.  Make it a quiet and peaceful one, preceding the joy of Easter.

                                Hallelujah, girls!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!