Off-Broadway, The
Legend of Georgia McBride, by Matthew
Lopez, a MCC production, opened at
The Lucille Lortel Theatre. It is an
entertaining show, sure to be one of the
highlights of theatre season. Dave
Thomas Brown plays
an Elvis impersonator, married to a
pregnant Afton
C. Williamson. He loses his job in a
dingy bar, when the owner (Wayne
Duvall) decides to bring in a drag
show, starring Matt
McGrath. When Brown has to replace
one of the drag entertainers (Keith
Nobbs), he becomes a star. The five
member cast is terrific, under the
expert direction of Mike
Donahue, and
the choreography of Paul
McGill. You
will enjoy every moment of this
wonderful show. The opening night party
at Stonewall Inn, 53 Christopher St, was
delightful, with guests Michael
Urie, Annaleigh Ashford and Joshua
Henry.
Drama Desk Mingle was
a delightful event, held at 1 East 29th
St. in the Episcopal Actors Guild Hall.
President Charles
Wright held
this gathering, so that members could
meet the new members of the Nominating
Committee, as well as sample hors
d'oeuvres and fine wine. The Nominating
Committee has experienced, intelligent
journalists, and I am sure sure their
selections will represent the highest
quality of theatre in New York.
There was a Meet & Greet for Clever
Little Lies, by Joe
DiPietro, and directed by David
Saint, at the Westside Theatre,
where it opens on October 12, starring Marlo
Thomas. I eagerly await its opening.
Entertainment Tonight Host Nancy
O'Dell celebrated
her new clothing collection EVINE
Live at
a Mamarazzi
Breakfast Event presented
by The
MOMS at
Il Valentino Osteria, 1078 First Avenue.
It was a pleasant event with delicious
food, juices, and mimosas. O'Dell is
charming, and spoke about her clothing,
and posed for photos. It was worth
waking up early to sample the exquisite
buffet breakfast at the lovely
restaurant, and to meet this charming
television personality..
Film Society of Lincoln Center is
presenting a One-Week Exclusive
screening of Chocolat opening
September 18. I attended a press
screening. The film is directed by Claire
Denis, France/West Germany/Cameroon,
1988. It is a tale about a young woman,
who returns to Africa, where she grew up
in Cameroon. She is given a ride in a
car to her town, and begins to reminisce
about her life in flashbacks. Life with
her mother and father, a colonial
official, was comfortable, but
segregated. The French were the masters,
and the blacks were the servants. The
film is slow moving, but it is a
penetrating look at life in a French
colony. The acting is fine, but it
reveals why Colonial Africa wanted its
independence after World War II.
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MoMA presented Ingrid
Bergman: A Centennial Celebration until
September 10. To celebrate her 100th
birthday, her children chose and introduced many
of her films. Viaggio
in Italia (Journey
to Italy), by Roberto
Rossellini, Italy,
1954, starred Ingrid
Bergmanand George
Sanders as
an unhappily married English couple traveling to
Naples to sell a property they had inherited.
The two stars are terrific. Sanders is bored in
Naples, sarcastic, and despises the Italians and
their culture. Bergman is a romantic, who visits
museums, churches, and the ruins of Pompeii.
They fight constantly, but it has a surprising
ending when they are caught in the midst of of a
Neapolitan festival. It is a pleasure to see
such wonderful actors on the screen.
Hostsonaten (Autumn
Sonata), by Ingmar
Bergman, Sweden, 1978, is a somber look
at a mother (Ingrid
Bergman) and daughter (Liv
Ullmann) relationship. The daughter felt
neglected as a child and grew up with
feelings of hatred towards her classical
pianist mother, who was always on tour,
abandoning the family. When the mother comes
to visit her daughter, after not seeing her
in seven years, there is a violent verbal
explosion between them. The mother leaves
the next day. The acting, by the two stars,
is simply spendid. The subject matter,
however, is depressing. There is not one
light moment in the film.
MoMA is presenting Hasse
Ekman: The Other Swede in the Room September
9-18. All the films are directed by Hasse
Ekman. Lagor
i dunklet (Flames in the Dark),
Sweden, 1942, is psychological thriller
about a latin teacher, who has serious
mental problems, which result in turning him
into an arsonist. When he marries a matron
of a boys' boarding school and becomes a
teacher there, his mental condition
deteriorates, and tragedy follows. The
acting is excellent, and the story holds the
viewer's interest.
Flickan fran tredje raden (The
Girl from the Third Row), Sweden. 1949,
is a marvelous film about a stage director,
who is depressed after an opening night of a
play that is a disaster. Alone in the empty
theatre, he is visited by a mysterious young
lady (actually a kind of spirit), who tells
him a tale of a fake ring that is passed
from person to person to prove that life is
not meaningless. Actually it is a charming
fairy tale. The acting is superb, the scenes
are engrossing, and the theme is enchanting.
You will leave the cinema happy with faith
in the future.
Kungliga patrasket (Royal
Rabble), Sweden, 1945, is a valentine to
a theatre family, that has existed for many
generations. A famous actor decides to
divorce his wife of 26 years, only to be
warned by his parents and children that it
is a grave mistake. The film is serious and
funny, and shows a realistic view of life in
the theate. The acting is brilliant, and the
scenes are most enjoyable. Ekman in three
different films shows that he is a
magnificent director (also a fine actor),
and is the equal to Ingmar
Bergman. Thank the MoMA for recognizing
this genius with this excellent series of
films.
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