American Ballet Theatre (ABT) presented Le
Corsaire, music by many composers, mainly Adolphe
Adam, staged in a new version by Anna-Marie
Holmes, at the Metropolitan Opera House. It
is a delightful full length ballet about a
leader of pirates, who outwits a Turkish Pasha,
and steals his intended wife. The dancing was
superb by the entire cast. Skylar Brandt as
Medura, the intended bride, was outstanding, and
won tremendous ovations in the second act. Sarah
Lane was equally superb as Gulnare, Medura's
friend, in the first act. James Whiteside (Conrad), Aaron
Scott (Burbato) and Joo Won Ahn (Ali
the slave) contributed to a fine performance, as
did Melanie Hamrock, Zhong-Jing Fang and April
Giangeruso as the Odalisques in the first
act. The orchestra played the score beautifully,
under the baton of David LaMarche. It was
a splendid afternoon of ballet.
The Irish Repertory Theatre celebrated 30 years
with a brilliant Gala at Alice Tully Hall.
Former President Bill
Clinton (photo
below) was honored with the Visionary
Leadership Award and
his wife Hillary introduced
him. After a lovely cocktail reception, a
performance by an outstanding group of
performers followed, including Melissa
Errico, Rebecca Luker, Michael Cerveris and
his Loose
Cattle Band, Judy Collins, Riverdance and Brian
Stokes Mitchell ,
who sang an enchanting Some
Enchanted Evening .
A superb dinner followed in the Hall. President
Clinton was charming and chatted with many of
the guests, and I gave him a surprise gift, a
photo backstage with him, Hillary, Chelsea and
me at Noises
Off at
the Brooks Atkinson Theatre taken on 12-27-01!
Artistic Director Charlotte
Moore and
Producing Director Ciaran
O'Reilly are
to be congratulated for a memorable evening and
their 30 years of producing wonderful plays
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The 2019 Off Broadway Alliance Awards took
place at Sardi's. OBA President Peter Breger was
the host. Among the winners and honorees were
Best Musical Revival Fiddler on the Roof, Legend
of Off Broadway Award to Rita Gardner and
Off Broadway Hall of Fame to Alvin Epstein.
Among the guests were Carmen De Lavallade
(photo below), Jana Robbins and Charlotte
Moore. It was a lovely event.
Yes! Reflections of Molly Bloom,
adapted for stage by Aedin
Moloney and Colum
McCann,
at the Irish Repertory Theatre, is a solo
actress 80-minute performance, from the novel Ulysses,
by James
Joyce.
Aedin Moloney plays Leopold Bloom's wife, and
displays her erotic longings, and also for a few
moments, her bare breasts. It is a remarkable
performance.
The Mountains Look Different, by Michael
mac Liammoir, at the newly renovated Theatre
Row, is a production of the Mint Theater
Company. Producing Artistic Director Jonathan
Bank rediscovers neglected plays from the
past, and presents them in splendid productions.
This excellent nine member cast, directed by
Aidan Redmond, is typical. An Irish woman
lives for many years in London, living an
immoral life. She marries an innocent young
Irish man, and returns to his isolated farm in
the West of Ireland. When she meets his father,
complications occur. We congratulated the cast
and creative team at the opening night party at
West Bank Cafe.
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