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On Broadway, The
Price, by Arthur
Miller, at the American Airlines Theatre, is a
revival by the Roundabout Theatre Company, with a
fine four member cast, directed by Terry Kinney.
A policeman (Mark
Ruffalo) and his wife (Jessica
Hecht) await the arrival of an appraiser (Danny
DeVito) to sell their dead father's possessions. The
wealthy estranged brother (Tony
Shalhoub) unexpectedly arrives, and we see the emotions between
the two brothers erupt, and the resentment
between them is revealed. It is also a serious play,
but DeVito adds a well needed humor to the production.
The set design by Derek
McLane captures
the the atmosphere of a shabby apartment perfectly.
Come From Away,
book, music and lyrics by Irene
Sankoff and David
Hein, at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, is a musical
about 7,000 air line passengers, stranded in Gander,
Newfoundland, on 9/11 after the terrorist attack on New
York City. They remained there for five days. The tiny
population of Gander and nearby towns rose to the
occasion giving them food and shelter. The highlight
late in the show is a party where everyone sings and
dances. The talented twelve member cast, playing
multiple roles, and the terrific eight musicians,
directed by Christophe
Ashley, made
the show memorable. The night I saw the musical, the
Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau attended
and introduced the show, praising the Canadian people
and the friendship that exists between Canada and the
United States. The former Prime Minister Jean
Chretien was
also present, as was Ivanka
Trump, Irene
Sankoff and David Hein,
all with whom I chatted and photographed, plus 125
Ambassadors to the United Nations. It was a wonderful
evening at the theater.
Off-Broadway, Sweeney
Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,
by Stephen
Sondheim, at
the Barrow Street Theatre, is a Tooting Arts
Club production. The theater is turned into a pie shop
in this unique presentation of this wonderful musical.
The eight member cast is outstanding, with a brilliant Jeremy
Secomb as
the barber and a marvelous Siobhan
McCarthy as
Mrs. Lovett, directed by Bill
Buckhurst.
The music is played by three talented musicians. The
audience is invited to come one hour early to sample a
chicken or vegetable pie with a drink. It is a most
pleasant theatrical experience.
The Gravedigger's Lullaby,
by Jeff
Talbott,
at the Beckett Theatre, Theater Row, a production of
TACT, The Actors Theatre Company, is a well acted play,
featuring four actors, Jeremy
Beck, Ted Koch, Todd Lawson and KK
Moggie, directed by Jenn
Thompson. The theme is the miserable life of a
gravedigger, who lives with his wife and baby in a
dilapidated shack. When suddenly he receives an offer
for a better job, his hopes raise. It is a very strong
play, with astonishing physical display by three of the
four actors.
Linda, by Penelope
Skinner, at the Manhattan Theatre Club, features the
magnificent Janie Dee in
the title role as a hard driving advertising executive,
who is so focused on her career, that she neglects her
two daughters and husband. When a younger girl replaces
her on a campaign launch of a new product, her
career begin to decline to tragic effect. The eight
member cast, directed by Lynne
Meadow, is superb, and the scenic design on a
revolving stage by Walt
Spangler deserves a special ovation. I enjoyed every
minute of this riveting production.
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The Emperor Jones, by Eugene
O'Neill, is a production of the Irish Repertory
Company. Obi Abili stars
in the title role, and gives a splendid performance,
directed expertly by Ciaran O'Reilly.
He rules a Caribbean island and is overthrown. When he
tries to escape, tragedy ensues.The other six members of
the cast contribute to the success of the play,
choreographed by Barry
McNabb. The puppet & mask design by Bob
Flanagan was impressive. We celebrated at the
opening night party at Jake's Saloon, 202 9th Avenue,
with Kate Burton,
Tony and Gen
Walton and John
Douglas Thompson (photo below), who starred and was
superb in the previous production by the company in
2009.
The Truffles: Jazz, Murder & Dinner
Theater, at Swing 46: Jazz &
Supper Club, is a two hour immersive play, created by Sonia
Carrion, book by T.
Adamson, music & lyrics by Jenni Lark & Hal
Galardi, with
delicious food and drink, while watching seven
attractive actors, directed by Billy
Manton, perform a murder mystery at the 10th
Annual Donati Gala & Truffle
Auction. The menu consists of an appetizer with URBANI
Truffles, a choice of steak,
salmon, chicken or pasta with
truffle essence added if you wish, and a chocolate
pudding dessert.
You may select any drink you prefer to accompany the
meal. It is a perfect way to celebrate birthdays,
bachelorettes, office outings, corporate parties and
special events. I promise you that you will
leave well satisfied and happy.
Brasserie 8 1/2, in the Solow
Building, 9 West 57th Street, is an elegant restaurant,
with exquisite food. One enters down a sweeping
staircase a la Sunset
Boulevard, and
one is immediately in a spacious dining room with
colorful French paintings. My wife and I enjoyed a
magnificent lunch. We toasted each other with a Moet &
Chandon glass of champagne for my wife and a glass of
Sancerre for me. As appetizers, my wife had Yellowfin
Tuna Tartare, Nicoise Olives, Capers, Cucumbers and
I Onion Soup Gratinee, Emmenthaler, Gruyere Cheese and a
glass of red wine, a Cote de Rhone. Our entrees were Atlantic
Salmon, Braised Escarole, Ricotta Gnocchi, Portobello
Mushroom, and Steak
Frites, Dry Aged Black Angus Sirloin with
a glass of Bordeaux red for each of us. We finished our
lunch with two desserts, Classic
Creme Caramel and Warm
Molten Chocolate Cake and a cappuccino
with a glass of Fra Angelico for my wife and a Calvados
for me. The wine list is extensive. Open daily Sunday
11am-9pm, Monday - Friday 11:30am-10pm, Saturday
5pm-10pm, I heartily recommend this marvelous French
restaurant, which serves glorious food that you will
always remember.
I went to a photo op for Indecent,
by Paula
Vogel, directed by Rebecca
Taichman.The producers are Daryl
Roth, Elizabeth McCann and Cody Lassen. I photographed
them, plus the ten member cast. It opens on Tuesday
April 18 at the Cort Theatre. I eagerly await opening
night.
I attended the Williamstown
Theatre Festival Gala, at Tao Downtown, 369 West
16th St. I photographed Jessica
Hecht, Becky Ann Baker, (photo below), Dylan Baker,
Laila Robins and Martyna Majok at
the cocktail reception, followed by a dinner and
entertainment. It
was a glorious event.
The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Avenue ant 92nd Street,
presented a press preview for two exhibitions, The
Arcades: Contemporary Art of Walter Benjamin March 17 -
August 6, 2017and Charlemagne Palestine's Bear
Mitzvah in Meshugaland, March 17 - August 6, 2017.
The latter is a tribute to teddy bears, made famous and
named after President Teddy
Roosevelt. The many iconic toys will delight
children especially. The first exhibition is a
meditation on Parisian city life by a German Jewish
Philosopher, Walter
Benjamin, which he began in 1927 with many of the
famous vaulted shopping passages, (arcades), being
represented, and then proceeding to modern artworks .
Both exhibitions are worth a visit.
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