I attended the official opening night
for Bernadette
Peters, starring in Hello, Dolly!, book
by Michael
Stewart, music and lyrics by Jerry
Herman, at the Sam S. Shubert Theatre. She was
marvelous. Bernadette is a Broadway star, and it was
a delight to watch her perform. Victor
Garber was her supportive co-star. The entire
production is sensational. Jerry Zaks directed
the excellent company, and Warren
Carlyle was responsible for the magnificent
choreography. The Hello, Dolly! number at the
Harmonia Gardens Restaurant received a well deserved
standing ovation. The scenic and costume design by Santo
Loquasto was colorful. The entire cast is
brilliant (photo
of the curtain call below). It is the most
entertaining musical on Broadway. We congratulated
Bernadette at the opening night party at Sardi's. It
was an evening to remember
The New York City Ballet presented Romeo
+ Juliet,
music by Sergei
Prokoviev,
choreography by Peter
Martins. Sterling
Hyltin was
an enchanting Juliet. Her dancing was superb. She
seemed to float on the stage, and her acting was
remarkable. It was a joy to behold. Her Romeo was Harrison
Coll,
and he supported her wonderfully. The balcony scene
was exquisite. Daniel
Ulbricht (Mercutio)
was, as usual, outstanding, and Joseph
Gordon (Benvolio)
and Joaquin
de Luz (Tybalt)
were also very good. The ensembles of Capulets and
Montagues danced well, and the fencing was splendid.
On the downside, the minimal scenery by Per
Kirkeby was
drab, dreary and depressing, and the
hyperactive performance by Marika
Anderson (the
Nurse) was irritating, and that of Aaron
Sanz (Friar
Laurence) was overly emotional. But the magnificent
music of Prokofiev, and the marvelous dancing by the
soloists made the performance worthwhile.
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The granddaughter of Princess Grace
Kelly of Monaco and daughter of Prince
Albert of Monaco, Jazmin
Grimaldi will participate in the Rallye Aicha des
Gazelles de Maroc, 28th Edition March 16-31, 2018. It
is a unique adventure for modern and courageous women in
the Moroccan desert. It is the first women-only off-road
rally in the world. Jazmin (see
photo below) is a charming lady, who wishes to
become an actress. She attended a reception at MAMO
restaurant, 323 West Broadway, where I was able to chat
with her. When she appears on stage in New York, I told
her I will be happy to review her.
I attended a party for Relevance,
a production of the MCC. I chatted with the playwright JR
Lee and
photographed cast member Jayne
Houdyshell,
one of my favorite actresses. The party took place at
Suprema, 305 West Bleecker Street, where we ate
fabulous hors d'oeuvres and drank fine wines. It was a
lovely party.
I attended a photo op. at the Roundabout
Theatre Company's Rehearsal studio for the seven member
cast of the revival of Children
of a Lesser God. I
saw the original in 1980, and I am looking forward to
seeing it again on opening night at Studio 54.
Amy and the Orphans,
by Lindsey Ferrentino,
is a production of the Roundabout Theatre Company. A
brother and sister pick up their sister with Down
Syndrome (a remarkable Jamie
Brewer) to take her to their father's funeral. There
are three other characters in the six member cast,
directed by Scott
Ellis. Unfortunately, the three other cast members
are unattractive and overweight, and use the F... word
liberally in their speeches. Two of them remove their
shirts. It is unpleasant. |