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Off- Broadway, Gloria, by Branden
Jacobs-Jenkins, at the Vineyard Theatre,
takes place in a magazine office, where a group
of ambitious employees work. At the end of the
first act, a pathetic editor shoots two workers
and herself. Three co-workers, two of whom did
not witness the shootings, compete to write the
story. Office workers may enjoy this play.
Theatergoers may not. The cast is good, under Evan
Cabnet's direction.
American Ballet Theatre (ABT) closed its season
at the Metropolitan Opera house with Cinderella,
choreography by Frederick
Ashton, music by Sergei
Prokofiev, with a stunning performance by a
guest artist, Marianela
Nunez, from the Royal Ballet in the title
role. A more perfect dancer could not inhabit
the role. In the Act
II: The ballroom at the palace, she looks
radiant in a gorgeous white costume, and dances
brilliantly, receiving a tumultuous applause at
the end of the pas de deux with a supportive James
Whiteside. She was the highlight of the
evening. Isabella
Boylston was
a fine Fairy Godmother, and Gabe
Stone Shayer was
a wonderful Jester. The season ended on a high
note, and we can look forward to the company's
return in the fall at the David H. Koch Theater.
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MoMA presents Glorious
Technicolor: From George Eastman House and
Beyond Jun 5-Aug 5. We attended Down
Argentina Way, by Irving
Cummings, USA, 1940, in gorgeous
technicolor, a delight for the eyes. The
story of a young, beautiful American lady (Betty
Grable, in her first starring role), who
wants to buy horses from a handsome
Argentine horse breeder (Don
Ameche), is a romantic comedy. Argentina
never looked more lovely and picturesque.
The film, filled with music and singing,
highlights the introduction ofCarmen
Miranda, in a purely singing role with
her exotic outfits, and includes a marvelous
dance routine by the Nicholas
Brothers. It is wonderful entertainment,
with ladies in magnificent costumes, in
elegant nightclubs, and colorful folkloric
scenes of Argentine gauchos. It is an
entertaining film.
The Gang's All Here, by Busby
Berkeley, USA, 1943, is another romantic
comedy, about a soldier who falls in love
with a chorus girl (Alice
Faye). Again, it is filled with music
and singing, this time with Benny
Goodman and
his band, playing many numbers, and
featuring Carmen Miranda, in a comedic role
as well as performing exotic songs in her
spectacular costumes with remarkable hats.
Since it is directed by the marvelous
choreographer, Busby Berkeley, there are
lots of superb dance routines, with a
multitude of chorus girls. It is a pleasant,
entertaining musical, that Hollywood does so
well.
Happy
Independence
Day!
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