Squeamish,
written and directed by Aaron
Mark,
at the Beckett Theatre Theatre Row, is a one person
play, starring Alison
Fraser (photo below). As
she sits in an armchair on a bare stage as a
mentally disturbed psychiatrist, she talks for
ninety minutes about horrible incidents in her life.
It is not pleasant, and neither is the play.
However, the opening night party at the West Bank
Cafe, 407 West 42nd St, was a delightful affair
where Alison was congratulated for her astonishing
performance with guests like
Rebecca Luker, Chip Zien and Daphne
Rubin Vega.
Torch Song, by Harvey
Fierstein, at 2ndStage, is
a wonderful production. An outstanding Michael
Urie stars as a drag queen
searching for love in New York in the 70s. A superb Mercedes
Ruehl appears in the
second act as his widowed mother living in Miami.
Their interaction is the highlight of the play. The
entire six member cast is directed expertly by Moises
Kaufman. It is one of the
finest theatrical experiences of the season.
The Divine Order,
written and directed by Petra
Volpe,
Switzerland/Germany, 2016, at the Film Forum, is one
of the finest films that I have seen this year. It
takes place in a picturesque Swiss village in 1971,
where a dutiful wife and mother (a remarkable Marie
Leuenberger) suddenly
becomes political, and leads a group of women to
fight for the right to vote in a male dominated
society. The acting by the entire cast is superb.
The photography is sublime. There are scenes that
are humorous, in spite of the repressive atmosphere
in the village when the women fight for liberation.
I enjoyed every minute of this magnificent film. It
will leave an indelible impression on all who see
it.
1945, by Ferenc
Torok, Hungary, 2017, is a
powerful film, that takes place, after the Allied
victory in Europe in World War II, in a small
Hungarian village. Two Jews arrive, and the
villagers are fearful that they want to reclaim
their homes and possessions, which the villagers
stole when they denounced them and they were sent to
a concentration camp. The entire cast is wonderful,
and the sin of greed is vividly portrayed. The film
will leave, as I mention in a previous review of The
Divine Order, an indelible
impression on all who see it. Both films were given
a press screening at Film Forum, which is a jewel
among New York cinemas.
Honorees David
Rothenberg (photo
below) and R.
Erin Craig were given awards at Houses of the
Moon Theater Company's Amplify 2017 Benefit at a
splendid party with delicious hors d'oeuvres and an
open bar at Gotham Comedy Club, 208 West 23rd St.
There were performances by three musicians called
the Juancho Herrera Trio, and selections from the
company's productions. It was a lovely affair.
Philanthropist Jean
Shafiroff is on the cover of New
York Lifestyles Magazine September issue, and
she was the center of attraction, surrounded by her
many friends and admirers, at a reception, with hors
d'oeuvres and an open bar, at Jue Lan Club, 49 West
20th St.
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It was another pleasant event, at what was once
Limelight Disco, one of my favorite nightspots in the
past.
I photographed the cast and playwright and director at a
Meet & Greet was held for 20th
Century Blues,
by Susan
Miller. A six member cast is
directed by Emily
Mann. I eagerly await opening
night on November 26 at the Alice Griffin Jewel Box
Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center.
Record Producer Tony
Bongiovi and Stephen
Webber, who is the Dean of Berklee College of Music,
were honored at a lovely reception at Power Station at
Berklee NYC, 441 West 53rd St. Many famous recording
artists attended. As I had to attend the opening night
of an Off-Broadway show (see below), I took a quick
photo of the honorees, and toasted them with delicious
glass of Chardonnay.
A revival of The
Lonely Planet, by Steven
Dietz, is a Keen Company
production. Two splendid actors, Arnie
Burton and Matt
McGrath, directed by Jonathan
Silverstein, give fine
performances. When it was first produced, the AIDS
epidemic killed many of their friends, and the two
characters are fearful. We congratulated the creative
team at the opening night party at the Lovage Rooftop
Bar, 360 West 40th St, with guests Kathleen
Chalfant and Stephen
DeRosa.
This One's For The Girls,
by Dorothy Marcic,
directed and choreographed by Tamara
Kangas Erickson, at St. Luke's Theatre, opens on
October 27. My review will appear in next week's column.
However a lovely party was held at the Palm Restaurant,
250 West 50th St, after the preview that I attended. The
four female cast attended, and we congratulated them for
a fine performance.
Resident Magazine gave
a wonderful party for Daymond
John on its October cover. In the penthouse at 214
West 39th St, we were served sushi, beer, wine, and
tequila and vodka cocktails. It was a glorious party.
Record Producer Tony
Bongiovi and Stephen
Webber, who is the Dean of Berklee College of Music,
were honored at a lovely reception at Power Station at
BerkleeNYC, 441 West 53rd St. Many famous recording
artists attended. As I had to attend the opening night
of an Off-Broadway show (see below), I took a quick
photo of the honorees, and toasted them with delicious
glass of Chardonnay.
A revival of The
Lonely Planet, by Steven
Dietz, is a Keen Company
production. Two splendid actors, Arnie
Burton and Matt
McGrath, directed by Jonathan
Silverstein, give fine
performances. When it was first produced, the AIDS
epidemic killed many of their friends, and the two
characters are fearful. We congratulated the creative
team at the opening night party at the Lovage Rooftop
Bar, 360 West 40th St, with guests Kathleen
Chalfant and Stephen
DeRosa.
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