On Broadway, a revival of Glengarry Glen Ross, by
David Mamet, has been a sold out success, due to the presence of
Al Pacino as Shelly Levine, a pathetic real estate salesman. His
performance is excellent, as well as the rest of the seven member cast,
especially Bobby Cannavale and David Harbour, under the
direction of Daniel Sullivan.
Off-Broadway, The Great God Pan, by Amy Herzog,
is a memory play about a young man, who may or may not have been sexually
abused as a child by a friend's father. The seven member cast are fine, but
the play is too vague for the audience to care very much. The opening night
party took place at Heartland Brewery with guests like Lois Smith, Shuler
Hensley and Kerry Butler and many more.
Happy Merry Hanu-Mas is a holiday variety
entertainment by Marc Kudisch and Jeffry Denman, who sing,
dance exchange banter and spread holiday cheer, accompanied by three
excellent musicians. The opening night party took place in the music room of
the theatre,
Flipside: The Patti Page Story, by Greg White, is
for fans of the popular singer of the 50s and 60s, who sold more than 100
million records. Two actresses play the singer as a young lady and an older
woman reminiscing about her career, recreating 28 of her songs. While the
story is dull, the songs are pleasant.
Marge Champion was honored by Food for
Thought Productions and Cause Celebre at the Keep Dancing Gala: Survivors
and Thrivers at Chez Josephine. Among the guests were Susan Charlotte,
Lee Roy Reams, Rex Reed and KT Sullivan.
The Cort Theatre celebrated its centennial with a
cake and proclamation from the mayor. The cast of Grace and alumni from
previous shows were among the guests.
An exhibition of Sounds of Color, by Colucci,
was held at the National Arts Club, and the artist, Steven Colucci,
greeted everyone with cocktails. It was a delightful event.
Film Society at Lincoln Center presented Spanish Cinema Now December
7-16. Tristana, by Luis Bunuel, Spain/Italy/France,1970, is a
brilliant masterpiece by
the great Spanish director. An orphaned girl
(Catherine Deneuve) becomes the ward of an elderly man
.
.
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(Fernando Rey), who becomes her lover. She escapes with a young painter, but returns when illness strikes her and she exacts vengeance on the man who had taken advantage of her in her youth. It is devastating film, magnificently acted by the two stars. Orange/Honey (Miel de naranjas), by Imaol Uribe, Spain/Portugal, 2012, is a grim, depressing tale of military justice, under Fanco's dictatorship in 1950 in Andalucia, where rebels are executed summarily. One soldier risks everything joining the underground. It is a terrible view of life under military rule.
Film Society at Lincoln Center is presenting press screenings for the 22nd Annual New York Jewish Film Festival Jan 9-24. The Fifth Heaven, by Dina Zvi-Riklis, Israel, 2011, takes place in 1944 as World War II is ending. It is the story of a 13-year old girl (Amit Moshkovitz) placed in an orphanage and her romance with a 25-year old freedom fighter, with tragic consequences. The cast is wonderful, especially the lead, and the film is absorbing and impressive.
The Trial of Adolf Eichmann, by Michael Prazan,
France, 2011, is a documentary about the capture, trial and execution of the
Nazi responsible for the transportation of millions of Jews to the gas
chambers during World War II. He showed no remorse. The film is a powerful
indictment of evil.
All In, by Daniel Burman, Argentina, 2011 is
about an immature divorced man with two young children, who reunites with a
former girlfriend. As well as being a gambler (poker), he is also a liar.
This, supposedly, romantic comedy is not funny and the two leads are
irritating,
Let's Dance, by Gabriel Bibliowicz, Israel,
2012, is a documentary about the success of modern dance in Israel and the
world. The archival clips are interesting , and some of the brief selections
of dance are good to see, but there are too many talking heads. Dance is
better seen, than talked about.
Sellebrity, by Kevin Mazur, USA, 2012, is a
fascinating look at the world of the paparazzi who pursue celebrities and
their children, and make their life miserable. Interviews with Sarah
Jessica Parker, Salma Hayek, Sheryl Crow and others reveal the price of
fame. It shows the photographers, in action, causing fights and mishaps to
secure their photographs. It is not a pretty picture. The days when
publicists could control their clients' reputation is over.
Opera in Cinema from Emerging Pictures presented
Cendrillon, by Massenet from the Royal Opera House filmed in July
2011. Although well sung, especially by Joyce DiDonato in the title
role, the production itself, the first time given at the house, was
disappointing. The set was minimal and mostly barren, consisting of a chair
in the center of the stage, with the fairy tale of Cinderella printed on the
walls, and the costumes, especially in the second act court scene at the
ball, were unattractive and totally weird. The choreography was uninspired,
and the entire production was unpleasant to watch. The orchestra, under the
baton of Bertrand de Billy played the score excellently and the
entire cast sang beautifully. It was a joy to hear it, but not to see.
12-21-12
(L-R)
Frank
Wood.
Lois
Smith.
Cory
Michael
Smith.
Mario
Cantone.
Ruben
Santiago-Hudson.
Leslie
Uggams.
Michael
Shannon.
Paul
Rudd.
Kate
Arrington.
Ed
Asner
celebrate
the
Centennial
of
the
Cort
Theatre
with
a
cake
and
a
proclamation
from
the
mayor
at
the
Cort
Theatre.
138
West
48th
St.
Thursday
night
12-20-12 |