|
L'Elisir d'Amore, by Gaetano
Donizetti, at the Metropolitan Opera, is one of
the funniest and happiest operas of the nineteenth
century. The current production by Bartlett
Sher, with the set design of Michael
Yeargan and
costumes by Catherine
Zuber is
a slightly updated version. Enrique
Mazzola conducted
the orchestra, which played the sparkling music
exquisitely. One leaves the opera house singing or,
at least, humming the melodious score. Vittorio
Grigolo excelled
as Nemorino. He was in splendid voice, powerful in
every register. His ringing high notes soared
effortlessly over the orchestra. He is, without
doubt, one of the leading tenors in the operatic
world. He was well supported by the rest of the
cast. Aleksandra
Kurzak (Adina)
looks beautiful on stage, and her high notes were a
delight to the ear. Adam
Plachetka was
a superb Belcore, with a clear, sonorous voice. Alessandro
Corbelli was a comical Dulcamara, and Ying
Fang was
an adorable Giannetta. It is a silly tale of a
lovesick young peasant, finally achieving a romantic
ending with Adina with a love potion, which is
actually a cheap wine. The audience has experienced
another magical night at the opera.
Bright Star,
music, book and story by Steve
Martin, music, lyrics and story by Edie
Brickell, directed by Walter
Bobbie, choreographed by Josh
Rhodes, at the Cort Theatre, brings bluegrass
music to Broadway. I rarely listen to that kind of
music, but I prefer it to rap, hip-hop, or whatever
the latest trend in loud, ridiculous, so-called
music is presented today to suffering theater
audiences. I found the music enjoyable and pleasant,
and the cast, headed by Carmen
Cusack in
her Broadway debut as Alice Murphy, with wonderful
voices and lots of energy, were a pleasure to be
with for two and one half hours. However, the
convoluted story, switching constantly between after
World War II and 22-years earlier in a small town in
North Carolina, was a little tedious and dull. We
know women bare children, and some do it
accidentally, but what takes place for Alice,
although supposedly based on a real event, is
unbelievable, and is basically a grim, depressing
tale. The talented musicians, nevertheless, were a
delight to listen to, and the title song should
become a classic. The opening night party was held
at Gotham Hall, and Steve Martin played the banjo
with the musicians from the show to the delight of
guests like Andrea
Martin, Diane Sawyer, Martin Short and David
Hyde Pierce.
Dry Powder, by Sarah
Burgess, directed by Thomas
Kail, at the Public Theatre, is a four character
play about shenanigans in business. It is a dull,
boring, pretentious piece of work, only 90-minutes
long, but feels longer, in which four fine actors
are wasted. Audiences do not go to the theater to
receive lectures about the desire of hedge fund
executives to engage in manipulations to make loads
of money. They prefer to be entertained.
The Effect, by Lucy
Peebles, directed by David
Cromer, at
the Barrow Street Theatre, is an unusual play about
a test for an antidepressant drug given to two
volunteers, a young attractive woman and a young
feckless man, while under the supervision of two
doctors for a month in their clinic. They fall in
love, or better said lust. The experiment is
ridiculous, and the doctors could use psychological
help. The sex scene which closes the first act is
the highlight of the evening.
Familiar, by Danai
Gurira, directed by Rebecca
Taichman, at Playwrights Horizons, is an amusing
play about a black family, assimilated in Minnesota,
preparing for a wedding of their educated daughter
to a white young man.
|
When the daughter and her aunt want an African
wedding, problems ensue. The eight member cast are
quite funny.
I was invited to a private screening and a Q & A
with Nia Vardolos and Elena
Kampouris, by THE MOMS, Windex and Fuji Film of
the film My
Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, by
Kirk Jones, USA, 2016, at the New York Institute of
Technology Auditorium. It is about a daughter who
wants to go to college out of town to escape her
parents and their loud, obnoxious relatives. Also,
her grandparents discover that their marriage is
illegal, and the grandmother wants a big, fat, Greek
wedding. The film is a comedy, which is not funny or
clever.
The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk
Road Ensemble, by Morgan
Neville, USA, 2015, is fascinating documentary
about the creation of an ensemble, by Yo-Yo
Ma, the famous classical cellist, of a group of
musicians, from various countries, who join together
with their traditional instruments to offer concerts
around the world, to preserve their art. They
comment about their life in various countries like
China, Iran, Spain and Syria, and we see scenes in
different countries where they give concerts and
speak with their families and friends.
Unfortunately, some off the countries are involved
in civil war and many of them have severe laws
restricting artistic freedom. Syria and Iran are two
examples. It is a splendid film and the photography
is beautiful.
I attended the launch
of the book Successful
Philanthropy: How To Make A Life By What You Give,
by Jean Shafiroff,
at her elegant home at 635 Park Avenue. Georgina
Bloomberg was
the author's special guest. Champagne and delicious
hors d'oeuvres were served. It was a delightful
party.
A wonderful evening was held at the Copacabana to
honor the superb actress Tina
Chen, who received the Artist
Legacy Award at
the Pan
Asian Repertory Theatre 39th Anniversay Gala Dinner. The
Artistic Director Tisa
Chang spoke
during the presentation, and among the many
distinguished guests were Katharine
Houghton, Charlotte
Moore and Raul
Aranas. There was a cocktail reception, followed
by a delicious dinner, a splendid program with
performances by many members of the company and
dancing to close the marvelous event.
I attended a cocktail reception to celebrate the
one-year anniversary of K
Rico South American Steakhouse, 772 Ninth
Avenue. The chef/co-owner John
Greco served delicious hors d'oeuvres like
oysters, arepas, empanadas of beef, yuca and
exquisite pisco sour cocktails and two fine
Argentinian wines. For a marvelous dining
experience, K Rico is open Tuesday-Sunday from
11AM-4PM for lunch (weekend brunch 10AM-4PM) and
dinner from 5PM-1AM.
I went to the unveiling of a portrait of Les
Miserables for
the Tony's
di Napoli's Wall of Fame at
147 West 43rd St, hosted by Valerie
Smaldone and
the restaurant manger Bruce
Dimpflmaier. The two stars of the show, Hayden
Tee and John
Owen-Jones, unveiled the portrait. The rest of
the cast joined them for a delicious buffet and
cocktails. It is always a splendid event.
I was invited by Gary
Springer the
Gala Chairman to a cocktail reception for the
National Meningitis Association at Sardi's. The Gala
is one of the highlights of the year to spread
awareness of the disease and to fund research to
control and eliminate it. It is a wonderful event
and I have supported it since its creation 16-years
ago. The Gala takes place at The New York Athletic
Club on Central Park South. |