On Broadway, a revival of Death of a Salesman, by
Arthur Miller, is one of the shows theatre lovers must see.It is a
splendid production with an outstanding cast, and a riveting performance by
Philip Seymour Hoffman in the lead. It is a mesmerizing performance that
will remain in your memory for a long time.
Once, book by Enda Walsh, music and
lyrics by Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova, was successful
Off-Broadway, and has transferred to Broadway. It is a small, sentimental
chamber type musical, based on a film of the same name, about a young Irish
man, who wants to sing and record his songs, and a Czech immigrant, who
encourages him. It is pleasant, with two fine leads, Steve Kazee and
Cristin Milioti.
A revival of Jesus Christ Superstar, lyrics by
Tim Rice, music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, features a very well
sung Judas by Josh Young. Otherwise, it is a well meaning but silly
version of a rock opera, which had a revival and was not successful a few
years ago. The music is pleasant, the production is glitzy, and it only
begins to get interesting in the second act, especially with Herod's Song,
sung with glee by Bruce Dow.
Off-Broadway, Hand to God, by Robert Askins,
is a play about a group of teenage hand puppeteers, preparing for a
performance in a church in a rural town in America. Steven Boyer as
Jason, has a satanic puppet, that expresses all the malicious thoughts of
the innocent boy. If you enjoy hand puppets, and a fine performance by
Boyer, this play may entertain you.
My Life with Men...and Other Animals, written
by Maria Cassi and Patrick Pacheco, is a one woman show,
starring the Italian actress Maria Cassi. She tellls us mostly in Italian
with English subtitles about her life in Florence, living with her
domineering mother, her trip to New York, and sings a few songs in both
languages. She has a chaplinesque quality, which is quite endearing.
A revival of A Moon for the Misbegotten, by
Eugene O'Neill. is given a splendid production by the Pearl Theatre,
directed by J. R. Sullivan, with a terrific performance by the five
member cast, especially by Kim Martin-Cotten. Terrence
McNally, Barbara Walsh and Jack Cummings III were among the
guests at the opening night party in the studio room at City Center.
The Big Meal, by Dan LeFranc, is a 90
minute play that takes place in a restaurant over 80 years. A couple meet,
marry, have children, and we see five generations come to life with all the
typical problems that families endure through life. It is a fast paced,
excellently acted production. The opening night party was held at the West
Bank Cafe with Reed Birney, Amy Herzog and Bobby Steggert
among the guests.
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No Place to Go, written and performed by Ethan Lipton, is the first Joe's Pub commission as part of its New Voices Series. Backed up by three talented musicians, Lipton tells the story of his company closing its operations and moving to Mars! He, now, after ten years, will be unemployed. He sings with a harsh, raucous voice, and has an affable personality. The show is mildly amusing.
The Pan Asian Repertory Theatre 25th Gala was a festive occasion at the Edison Ballroom. Daniel Dae Kim, Napua Davoy and Dr. Patricia E. Taylor were the honorees, and among the guests were Lucia Hwong Gordon, David Henry Hwang and Gala Co-Chair Tina Chen. We enjoyed wonderful cocktails, delicious dinner, marvelous entertainment and dancing. It was a memorable evening.
I attended a Meet & Greet for the new cast of Psycho Therapy. Gabrielle Miller, one of Canada's foremost actresses Corner Gas, is now the lead.
New Directors/New Films held an Industry Happy Hour, where I met actor Ty Hickson Gimme the Loot and director Sacha Polak Hemel. It was a lovely reception
New Directors/New Films March 21-April 1 continued with Generation P, by Victor Ginzburg, Russia, 2011, which is a film full of interesting ideas about modern Russia, converting from communism to capitalism within the world of advertising. A young man enters this world and becomes adept at marketing new brands and even political elections. It is a funny, serious look at how Russia has changed. Although overlong and occasionally foolish, it leaves a vivid impression. Donoma, by Djinn Carrenard, France 2011, follows three women, and a fourth later on, and their love, sex and emotional lives with a collection of men, who can only be descibed as worthless. It is an offbeat film, made cheaply with a hand held camera, and with the actors improvising the scenes. Still, it has a certain appeal, and the women, although crazy, are fascinating to watch. Twiliight Portrait, by Angelina Nikonova, Russia, 2011, is about a middle class, unhappily married social worker (an attractive Olga Dihovichnaya), who is raped by a brutal policeman. She becomes sexually obsessed with him and pursues him. She is obviously deranged, and in need of psychological help. It again shows a tragic view of modern life in Russia. The Ambassador, by Mads Brugger, Denmark, 2011, is about a bogus diplomat with credentials from Liberia, pretending to create a factory in Central African Republic, while his real reason is to secure diamonds. It shows the extensive corruption between politicians and wealthy foreign businessmen. The final film was Porfirio, by Alejandro Landes, Colombia, 2011, is based on a true story of a paralyzed man, caused by a policeman's bullet, who attempts to hijack a plane to receive his compensation for his suffering. The director used the actual person in the title role, and it is a graphic description of his ruined, disabled life. It is an amazing film.
Asghar Farhadi's Iran April 6-8 held a press screening of Beautiful City, by Asghar Farhadi, Iran, 2004, a powerful film about a thief, who tries to help his friend, who will be executed for murder. He meets the murderer's sister and a relationship begins. It depicts a grim picture of life in Iran. The director won the 2012 foreign film Oscar for A Separation, another devastating look at life in the country. He is a brilliant director.
03-23-12
Cast
members
(L-R)
Laurence
Lau.
playwright
Frank
Strausser.
Gabrielle
Miller.
Jan
Leslie
Harding.
director
Michael
Bush.
producer
Barbara
Ligeti.
Alexander
Cendese
at a
Meet
&
Greet
for
"Psycho
Therapy"
at
Snapple
Theater.
1627
Broadway
Thursday
morning
03-22-12 |