On Broadway, a revival of Picnic, by William Inge, recreates a small town in Kansas, where people live quiet, boring lives, hoping for some excitement to come along. In this case, a young, attractive drifter (Sebastian Stan) causes the trouble. The cast features fine actors, like Ellen Burstyn, Mare Winningham and Reed Birney, but seems to drift aimlessly along. Sixty years ago, it seemed sexy. Today, it's just dull.
A revival of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, by Tennessee Williams, is long, repetitious, and overloaded with loud acting and gratuitous noise from children and fireworks. The reason for this revival is to present Scarlett Johansson in a starring role on Broadway. She isn't bad, but neither is she very effective as a sex starved wife, hoping to inherit her dying father-in-law's money. This is the fourth revival I have seen on Broadway, and this one wasn't necessary.
The New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players continued their season with the perennial favorite H.M.S. Pinafore. As always, it was well sung and performed. The romantic couple, Cameron Smith and Kate Bass , were especially in fine voice and James Mills was quite amusing. The orchestra played the score excellently, under the baton of Albert Bergeret. It was another entertaining night at City Center.
The last New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players production was The Yeomen if the Guard. It was a well staged production, with an outstanding Quinto Ott as Wilfred, the Head Jailer. The delightful score was conducted by Albert Bergeret. It ended another successful season.
The legendary Chita Rivera held a press conference at Birdland, where Jim Caruso interviewed her about her numerous projects for 2013. On October 7, she will appear in a one night concert at a Broadway theatre to be announced, entitled Chita: A Legendary Celebration. She will embark on a tour throughout the country, and publish a coffee table book about her career. Friends like Tom Viola and Robert Osborne drank a champagne toast to the magnificent star.
The Film Society of Lincoln Center presented press screenings of Dance on Camera 2013 February 1-5. To Dance Like A Man, by Sylvie Collier, UK,2011, is a delightful, absolutely charming film about three adorable 11-year-old children, identical male triplets, who are training to become ballet dancers in Cuba. It follows their daily life, studying in school, taking ballet classes and preparing for roles as cats in the school production of Peter and the Wolf. It is a beautiful film, revealing family love and the young men's passion for dance. It shows the importance of discipline for success in life.
01-11-13
(L-R)
Cast
members
Jeo
Shepherd.
Antoinette
Henry.
George
Bugatti.
Marcus
Goldhaber
at
the
opening
night
party
for
"The
Wonderful
Wizard
of
Song:
The
Music
of
Harold
Arlen"
at
St.
Luke's
Theatre.
308
West
46th
St.
Thursday
night
01-10-13 |
En Avant, by Gabrielle Lamb, Canada, 2012, is a short 12-minute film, showing the return of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, under the direction of the former leading ballerina Virginia Johnson. We welcome back a fine company and can only wish them great success in the future.
Busby Berkeley, by Hubert Knapp and Andre S. LaBarthe, France, 1971, is an interview with the great film dance director, who brought magnificent, original musicals to the screen, especially in the 1930s. He explained how he was able to film the incredible scenes, such as 100 beautiful ladies in a swimming pool, multiple views of one couple in reflecting mirrors, and the views of the dancers with the camera diving down from above. It is an inside look at the work of this brilliant director, who made musicals that have never been equaled.
Shirley Clarke: Rome is Burning, by Noel Burch and Andre S. LaBarthe, France, 1970, is an interview with the underground filmmaker with clips of three of her films. She is articulate, and we realize her influence on future directors. She is filmed in a small apartment with friends. It is like attending a private party.
A Girl From Mexico, by Maclovia Martel, is the story of Carmen Gutierrez, who born in Mexico in 1926, studied dancing and became the first Mexican to appear on Broadway in shows like Finian's Rainbow and West Side Story, and also in early television in the United States. Her daughter interviewed her, and with still photos and film clips recreates the career of this talented dancer, who then became a fine fashion designer later in life. It's like a charming, intimate home movie of a remarkable lady.
Trash Dance, by Andrew Garrison, USA, 2012, is an unusual dance film about trash collectors in Austin, Texas. A choreographer, an engaging Allison Orr, finds beauty and grace in a spectacle that she has these workers perform on an abandoned runway in front of thousands of spectators. We watch her persuade them to appear with their trucks, and in the process, we become well acquainted with these hard working people. Trash will never be the same to you after seeing this entertaining documentary.
Koch, by Neil Barsky, USA, 2012, is a wonderful documentary about the three time Mayor of New York City from 1978-1989. Believe it or not, he appears as an honest politician, with a great personality. He is never boring, almost always funny and a delight to follow in this fascinating documentary. He loves, lives and breathes New York. All New Yorkers will enjoy this film, as will citizens from all over the world. Koch is a unique and remarkable man.
Ballet in Cinema presented The Sleeping Beauty, by Tchaikovsky, from The Royal Ballet, filmed in December 2011. It is a lovely production, and featured two exciting young dancers in the leads, Lauren Cuthbertson and Sergei Polunin. Both danced magnificently and were a pleasure to watch. The rest of the company were also excellent, especially Claire Calvert as the Lilac Fairy. The orchestra played the score brilliantly, under the baton of Boris Gruzin. It is a spectacular ballet film.
|