The Chekhov Dreams,
by John
McKinney,
at the Beckett Theatre, is an overlong play
about the Russian playwright and a actor, who
is working on a scene from one of his plays. The
actor has a dead wife, who appears in his
dreams. It is quirky play. If you care for
ghosts, this may be the play to see. The five
member cast is directed by Leslie
Kincaid Burby.
Hangmen,
by Martin
McDonagh, directed
by Matthew
Dunster,
at the Linda Gross Theater, is a production of
the Atlantic Theater Company. In 1966, England
abolished capital punishment. Two years
later, Harry, a hangman, (a fine Mark
Addy) is
running a pub near Manchester, where I was born
and raised. A police inspector spends his time
there drinking beer with three regular
customers. A stranger arrives, and the
far-fetched plot thickens. The cast is quite
good, and five of them are from England,
some from the original production. However, the
overlong production includes banal dialogue
repeated over and over again. If you
enjoy watching people being hanged, this play
may be your cup of tea. The playwright
specializes in two nouns beginning with v,
violence and vulgarity.
The 2018 Annual Williamstown
Theatre Festival Gala was
held at Tao Downtown, 369 West 16th St. A host
of celebrities came to honor Gary
Levine. Among them were Matthew
Broderick (photo below), Emmy Rossum, Mandy
Patinkin, Becky Ann Baker, Ann Harada, James
Naughton and his lovely new wife Sarah and
many more too numerous to mention. It was a
lovely event.
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The 2018 Kleban Awards
for Musical Theatre took place
at ASCAP, 1900 Broadway, with a reception and a
ceremony. The recipients were lyricists Alan
Schmuckler and Amanda
Yesnowitz, and librettist Christian
Duhamel (their
photo below). Among the many guests were Richard
Maltby, Jr, Maury Yeston, John Weidman and Andre
Bishop. It is always a wonderful affair.
I was invited to a Jue Lan Club
VIP Tasting Dinner at the Jue Lan Club, 49 West
20th St. It was a delicious dinner. We began with
appetizers of Pastrami & Onion Spring Rolls, Steam
Crab & Pork Juicy Buns, Chicken Satay with Peanut
Sauce, Edamame Dumplings, Truffle Oil, Miso Broth,
Braised Oxtail Bao Buns, Asian Slaw, Crispy Duck &
Mushroom Dumplings. Then entrees Beijing Chicken,
Red Bean Sauce, Walnuts, Miso Glazed Salmon, Sauteed
Eggplant, Cucumber Salad, Green Prawns, Chinese
Water Spinach, Cauliflower, Cashews, 4lb Ginger &
Scallion Lobster, Their Signature Peking Duck,
Housemade Pancakes, with sides, Duck & Kimchee Fried
Rice, House Special Fried Rice, Baby Bok Choy,
Ginger, Carlic a, Chicken Lo Mein. and for dessert,
Jue Lan Club Special Forbidden Dessert Plate. All
this wonderful food was served family style. With
marvelous cocktails like Purple Rain and fine wines,
it was a meal to remember. Every gourmet must dine
at the Jue Lan Club.
The Columbus Library presented Young
Man With a Horn, by Michael
Curtiz,
USA, 1950, starring Kirk
Douglas, Lauren Bacall, Doris Day and Hoagy
Carmichael.
It is the story of a trumpet player, who dedicates
his life to playing jazz music. His life becomes
upset when he marries a wife with serious mental
problems. Popular songs like With
a Song in My Heart,
and The
Very Thought of You are
heard throughout the film sung by Doris Day. The
dialogue is adult and intelligent, and the acting is
superb. Music lovers of jazz and popular music will
enjoy the film.
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