American Ballet Theatre (ABT) presented its two week
season at David H. Koch Theater. The first program I
saw was three ballets beginning with a superb Symphonie
Concertante, choreography by George
Balanchine, music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, with
two magnificent leading dancers, Stella Abrera and Gillian
Murphy, supported ably by Alexandre Hammoudi.
The ensemble rose to the occasion and danced
perfectly. It was the highlight of the afternoon.
The second ballet Garden Blue, choreography
by Jessica Lang, music by Antonin Dvorak,
with colorful set and costume design by Sarah
Crowner, featured seven fine dancers, led by a
brilliant Christine Shevchenko. The third
ballet was Fancy Free, choreography by Jerome
Robbins, music by Leonard Bernstein,
which is a crowd pleaser about three sailors in 1944
enjoying a night in New York City. Aaron Scott,
Thomas Forster and Calvin Royal II were
the amusing sailors.. They were marvelous, and the
audience granted them a tumultuous applause. It was
a wonderful afternoon of glorious ballet.
American Ballet Theatre (ABT) presented a similar
program the next afternoon. It began with Symphonie
Concertante with the same cast as the day
before. It was a delight to see it again. It was
again the highlight of the program. The third ballet
was Fancy
Free. This time it had a different cast, and the
three sailors, Hernan
Cornejo, Cory Stearns and James
Whiteside, were wonderful. The second ballet Songs
of Bukvina, choreography by Alexei
Ratmansky, music by Leonid
Desyanikov, played at the piano by Jacek
Mysinski, is a dance piece for five couples, all
fine dancers, headed by the always brilliant Isabella
Boyston. The music, however, was less
interesting. It was another enjoyable afternoon of
marvelous ballet.
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Happy Birthday, Wanda June, by Kurt
Vonnegut, at the Duke on 42nd Street, is a
production of the Wheelhouse Theater Company. A husband
(Jason
O'Connell) returns home after a eight year absence,
searching for diamonds in the Amazon jungle. His wife (Kate
MacCluggage) is now engaged to a doctor who lives in
an apartment across her hall. The husband is a violent
man, who during various wars, enjoyed killing people and
wild animals. Wanda Jean (Brie
Zimmer) (photo below) is already in
heaven. It is a wild story, and the seven actors are
superb, especially the three mentioned above. Brie is
only eight years old. Jeff
Wise directed the play, and we celebrated at a
opening night party at the Brazen Tavern, 356 West 44th
St.
The Ferryman, by Jez Butterworth, at the
Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, is a remarkable play. After
watching it for 3 hours and 15 minutes, you will feel
you have been immersed in a Northern Ireland farm with
an enormous cast, expertly directed by Sam Mendes.
Everyone in the cast gives a brilliant performance, and
each one is given a moment to shine. It takes place in
1981, when the harvest is celebrated with a wonderful
celebration. In act II, we witness the celebration with
singing, and dancing, which is the highlight of the
production. This is also the period where the IRA have
become very violent with bombings, and nine political
prisoners have died in prison on a hunger strike. Three
IRA members arrive at the party, and an ominous tone
pervades the atmosphere. It is one of the most
impressive plays seen on Broadway in recent years, and I
predict it will earn a well deserved Tony nomination.
Philanthropist Jean Shafiroff (photo below) celebrated
appearing on the cover of New York Lifestyles
Magazine with an elegant party at her home on Park
Avenue. Delicious hors d'oeuvres were served with
champagne and fine wines. Jean is a beautiful, charming
lady, and I have photographed her many times. She is
always exquisitely dressed, and it is a pleasure to see
her and know her. It was a delightful evening.
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