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On Broadway, a new version by Stephen
Karam of The
Cherry Orchard, by Anton
Chekhov, at the American Airlines Theatre, is a
Roundabout Theatre Company production and
is directed by Simon
Godwin, in his debut in America. Neither the
writer nor the director should have ruined a theatre
masterpiece. First was the atrocious set. The first
gloomy scene had children's furniture. When some
members of the cast sat down, I was certain that
they would not be able to stand up afterwards.
Second was many of the cast members were miscast.
The leading actress, Diane
Lane, looks lovely. The rest of the cast look
drab and unattractive. The addition of three
musicians added nothing to the play, and the music
was unpleasant to the ears. As far as I was
concerned, it was a tedious performance, and I am
sure Chekhov would not have enjoyed it.
Off-Broadway, on the other hand Love,
Love, Love, by Mike
Bartlett, at
the Laura Pels Theatre, is also a Roundabout Theatre
Company production, and is a joy to watch. The
acting by the five member cast is excellent,
expertly directed by Michael
Mayer. Amy
Ryan, who appears in all three acts gives
an outstanding performance, as a young, freedom
loving girl, who in the second act becomes a married
mother with two spoilt teenage children, and in the
final act when the mercenary children reach forty,
is a divorced mother. The play is full of humor, and
is serious and realistic. It shows the generation
gap brilliantly. The dialogue is clever, and the
three sets by Derek
McLane and
the costume design by Susan
Hilferty are
perfect. It was one of the best evenings in the
theatre this season.
She Stoops To Conquer,
by Oliver
Goldsmith, at the Clurman Theatre at Theatre
Row, is a production of TACT, the actors company
theatre. Although a small company, they always
present first class productions. This one is no
exception. A terrific eight member cast, directed by Scott
Alan Evans, revive this classic play expertly. I
must mention two young cast members in particular. Mairin
Lee in
her debut is superb as the major love interest, Kate
Hardcastle, and Jeremy
Beck gave
a remarkable performance as Charles Marlow. When he
began to tremble, and could not stop, he brought
down the house. It was magnificent. I was happy to
photograph the two fine actors at the opening night
party in the second floor lounge at Theatre Row.
Tick, Tick...Boom!,
book, music and lyrics by Jonathan
Larson, at the Acorn Theater at Theatre Row, is
a modest, autobiographical musical about the
composer, who approaches his 30th birthday as a
frustrated restaurant waiter hoping for success in
theatre. Nick
Blaemire shines
in the lead of a three member cast, with four
musicians also on stage, directed by Jonathan
Silverstein.
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Fans of George
Gershwin's music were in for a treat at the
David Geffen Hall when The National Chorale and the
National Chorale Orchestra, under the Artistic
Director Everett
Mccorvey presented
a marvelous concert of all Gershwin music. It opened
with The Professional Performing Arts High School
Choir, conducted by Vagarshak
Ohanyan, singing five Gershwin popular songs,
followed by The National Chorale singing more songs
in A
Tribute to Gershwin. Michael
Fennelly then
performed Rhapsody in Blue, and granted the audience
an encore. The program came to a rousing climax
after the intermission when four fine soloists sang
with the chorus Porgy
& Bess, A Celebration
of Songs. It was a glorious evening dedicated to
one of America's a greatest composers.
The Bolshoi presented The
Golden Age, music by Dmitri
Shostakovich, choreography by Yuri
Grigorovich, live on film from Moscow. After its
premiere in the 1930s, it was rarely performed. What
a delight to see the magnificent performance by the
marvelous Bolshoi Ballet Company! The story is
simple. A fisherman (Ruslan
Skvortsov) falls in love with a cabaret dancer (Nina
Kaptsova), whose cabaret dancing partner (Mikhail
Lobukhin) is also a gangster. It is a messy love
triangle. The dancing is fabulous. Kaptsova is
simply spectacular. She is beautiful, and her
dancing leaves the audience breathless. Her handsome
partner Skvortsov is powerful, and lifts
her constantly and seamlessly over his head, It is a
joy to behold. Her cabaret partner Lobukhin is also
a brilliant dancer. The composer included the
popular Tea
For Two in
the second act in the cabaret scene, danced
perfectly by the amazing ensemble. I enjoyed every
minute of this unique ballet.
The Workshop Theater honored Sheldon
Harnick with
the Jewel Box Award at their 3rd annual unGala ,at
the Lindeman, 508 West 42nd St. Peter
Filichia interviewed
the honoree, and Sally
Mayes and Michael
McCormick sang
some of his songs. It was a delightful evening, with
an open bar and delicious hors d'oeuvres for Sheldon
Harnick's well deserved honor.
I attended a Meet & Greet to
photograph Lorenzo
Lamas at
The Jerry Orbach Theatre, 210 West 50th St, who
joins the cast of The
Fantasticks from October
24 to November 13 as El Gallo.
I attended the opening night party
for The
Front Page, at Sardi's. I review the show on
Saturday, October 22. I photographed the arrivals on
opening night at the Broadhurst Theatre, and
celebrated with all the guests at the party. They
included Lee
Roy Reams, Jon Hamm, Tovah Feldshuh, David Schwimmer,
Sarah Paulson, the cast members, and many others
too numerous to mention. It was a great party!
The Metropolitan Museum held a press
preview for Max
Beckman in New York: October 19-February 20, 2017. The
modern art paintings are impressive, and include
many of his previous paintings from Germany. There
are many self portraits and nightmarish ones of his
vision of hell. He also painted nude females, and
his second wife with and without clothes. It is well
worth a visit.
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