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Off-Broadway, The
Layover, by Leslye
Headland, at 2econdStageTheatre, is play about
two strangers (Annie
Parisse and Adam
Rothenberg) sitting together on a flight, which
is delayed. They lie about themselves and wind up in
a hotel room making love. The unbelievable play
continues, with a violent ending. The acting is
quite good, under Trip
Cullman's direction, but the play leaves a lot
to be desired.
A Day by the Sea,
by N.C.
Hunter, at the Beckett Theatre, is a production
of the Mint Theater Company. This fine company
presents productions of excellent plays, which have
been forgotten, and resurrects the reputation of the
playwrights.. A fine example of their wonderful
efforts is seen in this play, with an excellent ten
member cast, expertly directed by Austin Pendleton. A
diplomat in the British Foreign Office (Julian
Elfer) is 40-years-old, and experiences a
midlife crisis, when he is informed that he is
suddenly being reassigned from Paris to London.
During his visit home with his family and friends on
a beautiful estate in the south of England, he tries
to decide his future. The play is intelligent, and
the dialogue is a joy to listen to. Jill
Tanner as
his mother gives an outstanding performance, and the
other cast members are equally good.
Philanthropist & Auhor Jean
Shafiroff is
on the cover of the Resident Magazine's August
Hamptons 2016 issue. There was a celebration at the
elegant Chelsea Station restaurant and bar, 290 8th
Avenue, with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. It was a
delightful event.
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I photographed a caricature
presentation at the Palm Restaurant, 250 West
50th St, of the cast of Avenue
Q and
their puppets. It was well deserved.
Things to Come/L'Avenir,
by Mia
Hansen-Love, France, 2016, stars Isabelle
Huppert as
a university philosophy teacher, married to
another philosophy teacher for 25 years. They
have two grownup children. He announces to her
that he has met someone and is leaving her. They
divorce and she has to begin a new single life.
Huppert is in every scene. We see her on the
train, in the classroom, at home, and often with
her disturbed mother, who finally dies. This is
film that middle aged divorced women can relate
to. Huppert, one of France's
most distinguished film actresses, give a fine
performance, but the character is a dull,
serious, depressing person, who, in
the classroom, reads philosophical jargon to her
students, as she says, to make them think. Her
daughter presents her with a grandchild towards
the end of the film. The photography is
excellent, but the film is less appealing.
Crystal Renee
Emery is
a producer/writer/director of the documentary
film Black
Women in Medicine. I attended a reception at
the First Presbyterian Chuch before viewing the
film at Cinema Village. The film shows how very
few women, especially black women, have become
successful in the field of medicine. She
interviews those that have succeeded in spite of
the prejudice that exists. It is an impressive
film. CBS News correspondent Michelle
Miller spoke
to the guests at the reception and was the emcee
for the occasion. It was a delightful evening.
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