Moulin Rouge, The Musical ,,
based on the film by Baz
Luhrmann ,
book by John
Logan ,
at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, is a spectacular
spectacle. In the program there is a page dedicated
to the history of the 130 years of the famous
nightclub in Paris. The scenic design by Derek
McLane overwhelms
the audience. The costume design of Catherine
Zube r
delights the male members of the audience with the
scantily clad females, who wander around the stage
and begin the show with the famous cancan. When
Satine ( Karen
Olivo )
descends on a trapeze, she sings Diamonds
Are A Girl's Best Friend, from
one of my favorite Broadway musicals Gentlemen
Prefer Blondes ,
which I saw in 1949, and made Carol
Channing a
star, who later became one of my best friends. There
are 72
songs featured in the show from other shows and
popular songs of the moment, Lady Gaga for
example. The leading performers, the original owner
in 1889 Harold Zidler (Danny Burstein),
Christian (Aaron Tveit), the poet who love
Satine, The Duke of Monroth (Tam Muti), who
wants to own Satine, all have fine voices and give
splendid performances, directed byAlex Timbers,
choreographed by Sonya Tayeh. For the many
members of the audience who loved the 2001 popular
film, which starred Nicole Kidman, they
enjoyed this production, greeting every song with
rapturous applause.
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Little Gem, by Elaine
Murphy ,
at the Irish Repertory Theatre, is a play about
three women living in Dublin, a grandmother (Marsha
Mason ),
a daughter ( Brenda
Meaney )
and a granddaughter ( Lauren O'Leary ),
(photo below of the last two) directed
by Marc Atkinson Borrull. All have
problems. The three actresses are superb, and
the last two attended the opening night party
for Love
Noel: The Songs and Letters of Noel Coward, written
by Barry Day, in the Gallery at the
theatre, where I photographed KT
Sullivan and Steve
Ross ,
(photo below with Day and Moore) who
performed the show in the W, Scott McLucas
Studio Theatre, directed by Artistic Director, Charlotte
Moore.
Midsummer: A Banquet,
is a production of Third Rail Projects and Food
of Love Productions at Cafe Fae, 829 Broadway.
While watching a group of young actors perform
the words the classic comedy of William
Shakespeare, as they move around the tables,
directed and choreographed by Zach Morris,
the audience eats from a menu created by Emilie
Baltz of various vegan dishes and drinks
wine. It's an unusual idea, which attracts
people to enjoy Shakespeare.
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