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The production by an energetic nine member cast,
directed by Jeremy
Herrin, was exhausting for them and the
audience. A revival of Noises
Off, by Michael
Frayn, at the American Airlines Theatre, was
directed at a hyper-level pace. The play is a farce
about an inept theatre company on tour in England.
The first act takes place at the dress rehearsal.
The second, a month later, is backstage, while the
play is being performed in another city, and the
third act, two months later, takes place in a third
provincial theatre. A farce is low level comedy,
which appeals to an audience with limited
intelligence. In this production, doors are slammed,
characters fall downstairs, and actors slide on
a slippery floor covered with sardines. This is
repeated endlessly. Once can be moderately amusing.
Twice the amusement evaporates. A third time it is
annoying. The cast merited the applause at the end,
for having survived dangerous moments on stage. I do
not eat sardines, and hope I never hear them
mentioned again on stage.
Maurice Hines is
72-year-old and he tap-dances like
a teenager in Tappin'
Thru Life, written by him, at New World Stages,
directed by Jeff
Calhoun. It is a thoroughly delightful
show,where he sings, dances and tell anecdotes about
the many stars he has worked with, including Judy
Garland and Frank
Sinatra. The music is provided by a nine women Sherrie
Maricle and The
Diva Orchestra, who are terrific, and two
young men The Manzari
Brothers, plus 12-year-old Luke
Spring tap-dance
with him. It is a wonderful entertaining show. We
celebrated the opening at Thalia restaurant, 828
Eighth Ave, with guests like Julie
Budd, Leslie Uggams and Vivian
Reed.
Rams,
by Grímur
Hákonarson, Iceland, 2015 is a film about two
sheep farmers, estranged brothers (Sigurđur
Sigurjónsson) and Kiddi (Theodór
Júlíusson), who have not spoken to each other
for 40 years. They live side-by-side tending to
their prized ancestral sheep stock,. When a lethal
disease suddenly infects Kiddi’s sheep, all the
animals in the area are culled to contain the
outbreak. In their own way, they try to preserve
their sheep from extinction. It is a grim,
depressing tale. The photography is excellent, and
one feels compassion for the protagonists.
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One of my favorite awards ceremonies is the 2015
Sixth Annual Clive Barnes Awards at
the Walter Reade Theater at Lincoln Center. Annaleigh
Ashford presented
the Theatre Award to Dave
Thomas Brown for
his performance in The
Legend of Georgia McBrideand Blakeley
White-McGuire presented
the Dance Award to Gabe
Stone Shayer of
American Ballet Theatre. They were well
deserved, but all the nominees were excellent
actors and dancers, and we saw examples of their
fine work on videos. At a reception afterwards,
we congratulated the winners and the nominees
and the Master of Ceremonies Michael
Riedel and
the President of the Clive Barnes Foundation, Valerie
Taylor-Barnes with guests like Arthur
Mitchell and Sandra
Lee.
George Takei Allegiance received
his caricature at Sardi's. Many of his Broadway
cast attended the cocktail reception for this
legendary actor, who at 78-year-old has more
spirit and energy than many younger actors. It
was delight to raise a glass in his honor.
I attended Manhattan
Moonshine Jazz Night, a jazz evening at
Analogue, 19 West 8th St, a cocktail bar in
Greenwich Village. Manhattan Moonshine is a
Prohibition-Style Whiskey, and the Manhattan
Moonshine band performed with the local cabaret
legend
Marissa Mulder and
the Whiskey's Founder & CEO William
Kehler. It was a delightful evening and the
Manhattan Whiskey cocktails were delicious.
Among the guests enjoying the concert was the
designer Margo
Manhattan, who has an elegant jewelry
boutique, 1202 Madison Ave.
Playwrights Horizons held a
memorial for their neighbor Jean-Claude
Baker, owner of the next door restaurant
Chez Josephine, the finest restaurant on the
street, who passed away last year. In his
memory, they dedicated a seat in his name as a
faithful supporter of the Off-Broadway Theater.
After a reception in the lobby, we went to the
main theater, where Chairman of the Board Judith
Rubin and
Managing Director Leslie
Marcus spoke,
as did friends like Patrick
Pacheco, and then we toasted Jean-Claude
with champagne. Guests like Liliane Montevecchi and KT
Sullivan raised
their glasses in memory of a wonderful person,
who will be sorely missed
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