On Broadway, Seminar, by Theresa Rebeck, starring Alan Rickman, is a hundred minutes of fun, about four writing students taking a course with an obnoxious famous writer. All five actors are marvelous, and I enjoyed it immensely. Th opening night party at Gotham Hall attracted celebrities like Anjelica Houston, Rebecca Romijn, Kim Cattrall and Debra Messing, among many others.
Off Broadway, Richard II, by Shakespeare, is a historical play about the medieval king, who was dethroned and died in captivity. The fine cast play multiple roles in this splendid production. Wild Animals You Should Know, by Thomas Higgins, is about fathers and sons, who go on a Boy Scouts camping trip, and sex rears its ugly head. Both opened the same night as Seminar, so, unfortunately, I was not able to attend their opening night parties. Blood and Gifts, by J. T. Rogers, is a superb play about Afghanistan from 1981 - 1991, when Russia was forced to withdraw from the country. The magnificent cast includes Jefferson Mays, Michael Aronov and Bernard White. The opening night party at P. J. Clarkes attracted A. R Gurney and Mary Stuart Masterson, who is married to the excellent lead actor Jeremy Davidson, who plays a CIA agent.
The New York City Ballet is presenting The Nutcracker from November 11 - January 2. This is George Balanchine's gift to New York at holiday time. Audiences, adult and children alike, will delight in this marvelous production. Sara Means as the Sugarplum Fairy, Jonathan Stafford as her Cavalier and Tiler Peck as Dewdrop, in the opening night performance, received well deserved ovations, and the children in the first act and as angels and polichinelles in the second were simply adorable. It is one of the most enjoyable nights of ballet.
I attended a rehearsal of The Visit, which will play one night as a benefit on November 30 at the Ambassador Theatre. Chita Rivera and John Cullum star, with music by John Kander, book by Terrence McNally, choreography by Ann Reinking and direction by Carl Andress. It promises to be a extraordinary night of theatre
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Patricia Kennedy hosted a Macy's Thanksgiving Parade Viewing & Brunch at the Career Transition for Dancers Headquarters for Iraq, Afghanistan & Vietnam injured veterans and their families. It was a lovely occasion.
The Film Society of Lincoln Center will offer Spanish Cinema Now from December 9-22. I saw five screenings, and the films are quite impressive. Extraterrestrial, by Nacho Vigalondo, is about an alien invasion of Madrid. Science fiction fans will enjoy it. Every Song Talks About Me, by Jonas Trueba, is a delightful romantic comedy about a young man, breaking up with his girlfriend after six years together, and finds that he cannot live without her. Don't Be Afraid, by Montxo Armendariz, is a powerful film, with a remarkable performance by Michelle Jenner as a young girl suffering the psychological effects from incest with her father. It is a penetrating look at child abuse, which, unfortunately, is prevalent today. Ispansi, by Carlos Iglesias, covers the years from 1930 to 1975 in Spain and Russia, where Spanish children were sent during the Spanish Civil War. The horrors of war, the politics of the period and the suffering of civilians from hunger and the dreadful winter weather in Russia is forcefully brought to the screen. And surprisingly, a beautiful, sentimental love story emerges in this vast panorama of struggle and violence. It is a marvelous film. The Executioner, by Luis Garcia Berlanga, 1963, Spain/Italy, is a macabre comedy about an executioner about to retire, who wants to replace his unwilling son-in-law in his position. The view of family life and the problems in society in that period is quite scathing. From November 22-27 the Film Society of Lincoln Center is presenting A Rational Mind: The Films of Edward Yang. A Confucian Confusion, 1994, shows confused young adults enjoying the wealth of modern day Taipei, without happiness. and Mahjong, 1996, shows scam artists and petty crooks living meaningless lives in Taipei. Both excellent films show a searing and critical view of modern day life without moral values.
11-25-11
Patricia
Kennedy
(blonde
lady
eigth
right)
hosts
Iraq.
Afghanistan
&
Vietnam
injured
veterans
and
their
families
at a
Macy'
Thanksgiving
Parade
Viewing
&
Brunch
at
Careers
Transition
for
Dancers
Headquarters.
165
West
46th
St.
Thursday
morning
11-24-11 |