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Little Women, by Mark
Adamo, after the novel by Louisa
May Alcott, is a fully staged production of The
Mannes Opera, with The Mannes Orchestra, conducted
by the Artistic Director Joseph
Colaneri, at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater. It is
a well done, almost professional production, with
many fine singers, accompanied by a superb
orchestra. The opera itself is rather dull. The
lyrics are repetitious
and the story is monotonous, as is the music.
However, The Mannes School must be congratulated for
bringing little known
works to a larger audience, so that they may explore
contemporary music.
The New York City Center Encores! presented
its third and final production this season. Do
I Hear a Waltz? music
by Richard
Rodgers, lyrics by Stephen
Sondheim, book by Arthur
Laurents, based on Laurents' play The Time of
the Cuckoo, starring an excellent Melissa Errico as
a single lady on vacation in Venice, where she
engages in an unfortunate love affair with a married
Italian man (Richard
Troxell). The music by Rodgers is
always wonderful, especially the melodious title
song, that reverberates in one's ear on leaving the
theater. It is a fitting conclusion to a splendid
series, which I have enjoyed since its inception.
I attended the National Meningitis
Association's Give
Kids A Shot! Gala Celebration honoring
Super Bowl MYP Deion
Branch, Carl
Buher, Michael
Lafoglia and Paul
Lee M.D. at
the Pierre Hotel. Among the guests were Gold
Medalist Nick
Springer, Hockey Hall of Fame Rod
Gilbert, producer/actor Joseph
Sirola and
mystery writer Carol
Higgins Clark. It was a lovely event.
The 2016 Drama Desk Awards Nominees
Reception was held ay the New York Marriott Marquis
Astor Ballroom. It is always a wonderful party with
champagne. Who says 11:00am is too early to drink
champagne? Many nominees were present, including
Jessica Lange (upon leaving we shared the elevator
together!), Frank Langella, Michael Urie, Jesse
Tyler Ferguson, Laura Benanti, Steve Martin, Cynthia
Erivo and many others too numerous to name.
Audra McDonald was
honored at the New
Dramatists 67th Annual Luncheon at
the New York Marriott Marquis. Among the tributes
offered the six time Tony winner were those by Brian
Stokes Mitchell and Norm
Lewis. Jim
Dale introduced
the multitude of guests that came to congratulate
the wonderful honoree. Among them were Helen
Yorke, Adrienne Warren, Sheldon Harnick, Ben
Wishshaw, Michelle Williams, Pascale
Armand, Robert Sella, and I could go on and on
naming names. It is always a terrific affair.
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I photographed three actresses,
headed by Estelle
Parsons, at a Meet
& Greet for Out
of the Mouths of Babes,
by Israel
Horovitz, directed by Barnet
Kellman, which opens at the Cherry Lane Theatre
on June 19. I eagerly await the opening night.
The Caron Treatment Centers 22nd
Annual New York City Gala at
Cipriani 42nd Street is a lovely event. This year
one of my favorite cabaret performers, John
Pizzarelli was
honored and received The Artist Award. Among the
guests were two beautiful ladies, Alyz
Henrich, with two titles Miss Venezuela and Miss
Earth, and the Former Miss Germany Petra
Levin. These two ladies can lighten up every
gala!
Lyricist Sheldon
Harnick, Fiddler
on the Roof and She
Loves Me on
Broadway this season, arrived on a double-decker bus
for the unveiling of the Harnick
& Bock street
sign at 53rd Street and Broadway. As one of the
leading lyricists, Sheldon is being honored by a
special Tony Award and a special Drama Desk Award.
It is well deserved.
I went to the Metropolitan Museum of
Art to see the Turner's
Whaling Pictures, May 10-August 7. They consist
of four paintings showing the tough occupation that
sailors endured in the nineteenth century capturing
whales. On the wall, there is mention ofMoby Dick, Melville's
masterpiece, that was published two years after
Turner's death. It is an interesting exhibition.
My wife and I were invited to
dine at A.G.
Kitchen, 269 Columbus Avenue. It was a
memorable dining experience. After superb
cocktails, AG 1940 Sparkling Mojito with
Copacabana 1940 Anejo Rum (there were 11 other
specialty cocktails, that all sounded fabulous,
with names like Thai
Me Down and Her
Name Was
Lola), we ordered two delicious appetizers.
My wife was in extasy with Seafood
Ceviche with
shrimp, lobster, tomatoes, mango and
avocado, and I enjoyed A.G.
Grilled Cheese with
soup of the day (tomato soup). Two entrees
followed. Grilled
Mahi Mahi with
jumbo crab, mango, pineapple & papaya salsa,
caramelized onions and chimichurri, and Garcia's
Seafood "Paella" with
crab claws, lobster, shrimp, clams, mussels,
chicken, chorizo, saffron rice and chimichurri.
After that, it was almost impossible to eat
dessert, but we divided a Banana
Mania, consisting of banana bread,
caramelized bananas and vanilla ice cream, and
a coffee cubano. The menu is extensive, serving
everything from burgers to exotic latino dishes
at reasonable prices. The restaurant has three
sections, the main dining room with banquettes,
an informal, comfortable lounge and bar area,
and a glass enclosed cafe area. It is open every
for lunch from 11am until 11pm, and midnight on
Friday and Saturday.
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