On Broadway, Stick Fly, by Lydia R. Diamond, is an unsurprising, overlong family drama, about a wealthy African-American father living on Martha's Vineyard, whose two sons introduce their girlfriends to him. The opening night party at Copacabana attracted many celebrities like Phylicia Rashad, whose daughter Condola Rashad gives an outstanding performance in the play, and Alicia Keys, who is the producer and who wrote original music for the play.
Off Broadway, Once, book by Enda Walsh, music & lyrics by Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova, is the most delightful musical of the season at this moment. Based on a film of the same title, it tells a sweet story of young musician, who meets a young Czech lady in Dublin, and his dreams for success are about to be realized. The music is wonderful, the lyrics intelligent and the book engrossing. The production is directed by John Tiffany, and cast, headed by Cristin Milioti and Steve Kazee, is superb. The opening night party took place at Phebe's Tavern, where we congratulated the cast, who are moving to Broadway in February, which is great, because I'm eager to see it again. Disappointing is the new play Neighbourhood Watch, by the excellent British playwright Alan Ayckbourn. Although the cast is fine, the story of a committee set up to prevent crime, burglary and vandalism in a modern suburban development is unconvincing, and, unfortunately, not very funny. The Man Who Came To Dinner is a splendid revival with a magnificent Jim Brochu and a wonderful Cady Huffman and twenty-two members of an excellent cast supporting them. A celebration followed at Sardi's. The Cherry Orchard is also a fine revival, with a brilliant cast headed by Dianne Wiest and John Turturro, and they all celebrated the opening night at Pangea Restaurant, with guests that included David Ives, Adam Rapp and cast members Katherine and Elisabeth Waterston's brothers, James and Graham. Happy Hour, by Ethan Coen, are three short one act plays. It is not a happy theatrical experience. Maple and Vine, by Jordan Harrison, has an interesting theme, a desire to escape the hectic life in the 21st century to return to a simpler life of 1955. The cast headed by Marin Ireland is very good, but the play, itself, is underwhelming. James X, written and acted by Gerald Mannix Flynn, directed by Gabriel Byrne, is about child abuse in Ireland. It is a powerful indictment of sexual abuse on defenseless children, a worldwide problem. The opening night party took place at B Bar, where I had the opportunity to congratulate the actor and director.
We attended a press preview of The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess and the cast performed four numbers. I can hardly wait for the opening on January 12. The magnificent Audra McDonald and Norm Lewis head the cast, and they are simply superb. We also had three photo ops. First with three of my favorite actors, Rosemary Harris, Carla Gugino and Jim Dale, who will open on Broadway in The Road to Mecca, by Athol Fugard, on January 17. Then, the cast of Carrie, starring Marin Mazzie and Molly Ranson, opening January 31, and finally Outside People which will open January 10 at the Vineyard Theatre. I'm looking forward to them.
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS' 23rd Gypsy of the Year Competition is one of the best events of the season, and Hugh Jackman, Bernadette Peters and Daniel Radcliffe announced the winners. Kim Cattrall, Nikki M. James and Stephanie J. Block were three of the judges.
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The New York Stage and Film Annual Gala at the Plaza Hotel was a lovely occasion honoring Christopher Plummer, Angelina Fiordellisi and Matt Williams. Among the guests were F. Murray Abraham, Jon Robin Baitz, Matt McGrath, Carol Kane, Natasha Lyonne and Matt Linn-Baker.
The 2nd Clive Barnes Foundation Awards Ceremony at the Walter Reade Theatre with host Michael Riedel, and presenters Frederic Franklin and Nina Arianda was a joyous occasion, and the winners were Isabella Boylston for dance and Mj Rodriguez for theatre. A reception followed.
The Transport Group Gimme a Break benefit took place at the Asia Society and Museum, and honored Douglas Carter Beane and Lewis Flinn. Among the guests were Alan Campbell, Jerry Zaks, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Nikka Graff Lanzarone. It was another wonderful event.
Mauboussin is an elegant jewelry store on Madison Avenue, and with great pleasure I attended a beautiful cocktail reception there. Rita Jammet was present and we tasted her delicious La Caravelle champagne.
Spanish Cinema Now, which begins December 9-22 held a press conference at the Instituto Cervantes, where we had the opportunity to meet many of the directors like Santiago Segura, Mireia Ros and Jonas Trueba. Opening night took place with a reception in the gallery of the Walter Reade Theater with delicious Spanish food and wine, and many of the directors attended.
A wonderful reception took place before I Love My Librarian gave out their awards at TheTimesCenter, where Caroline Kennedy was one of the speakers.
A memorial concert/party for Claire O'Connor took place at Tobacco Road, and her husband Adam Bomb was one of the performers.
The League of of Professional Theatre Women held their awards luncheon at Sardi's honoring Elizabeth ireland McCann, Nicole A. Watson, Lisa D'Amour and Katie Pearl. It is always one of my favorite events.
Ralph Fiennes received the Shakespeare Society Medal at a reception at the Rubin Museum of Art followed by an onstage conversation with the actor. Among the guests present were K. Ann McDonald, Michael Sexton, Derek Hughes and Sally Wu.
The Forgiveness of Blood, by Joshua Marston, 2010, USA, Albania, Denmark, Italy, is a sad view of life in a rural town in Albania, where ancient tradition rules and modern life for the young is precarious. A feud between two families result in the death one death of one member. Tradition calls for retribution, and we see the devastating effect it has on the other family. It is a powerful film, with impressive acting, especially by the children, with a teenager (Tristan Halilij) as the young man marked for retribution.
12-10-11
(L-R)
Playwright
Zayd
Dohrn.
cast
members
Li
Jun
Li.
Sonequa
Martin-Green.
director
Evan
Cabnet
(back
row)
Matthew
Dellapina.
Nelson
Lee
at a
photo
op
for
"Outside
People"
at a
rehearsal
studio.
115
West
45th
St.
Friday
afternoon
12-09-11 |