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Rigoletto,
by Giuseppe Verdi,
at the Metropolitan Opera, is an updated, modern
version, which takes place in Las Vegas in 1960. I saw
the opera at the old Metropoltan Opera House in 1948
with Leonard Warren in
the title role. I have seen perhaps forty performances
of the opera over seventy years attending the
Metropolitan Opera, and I have to admit I prefer old
fashioned sets and costumes. .Zelijko
Lucic in the title sang extremely well with a
powerful, sonorous voice, only equaled by Andrea
Mastroni as Sparafucile. Both dominated the
performance. Olga
Peretyatko has impressive credentials, and sang
well, especially in the high notes. Her caro nome in
the first act was well received. Stephen
Costello as the Duke also projected well, and his
signature aria la donna e mobile was granted a
well deserved applause. Oksana
Volkova was sexy, and displayed her bare legs well,
but was inaudible. The orchestra, under the baton of Pier
Giorgio Morandi, played the music excellently, and
the male chorus, under Donald
Palumbo, contributed to the success of the
performance. The production by Michael
Mayer itself is another matter. I see no point in
seeing six chorus girls with fans, and a dancer dressed
as an Egyptian stepping out of a sarcophagus (which was
used later to abduct Gilda) in the first act. Also, a
topless pole dancer at a sleazy cabaret opens of the
third act, which must have delighted voyeurs. It
contributes nothing to the opera One can only describe
the set design as garish, and unpleasant to one's
eyesight. Finally, having Monterone (Nelson
Martinez) appear as an arab tycoon dressed as a
sheik is probably not wise in our troubled times. But,
fortunately, nothing can destroy Verdi's glorious opera,
probably one of the most popular in the world.
Paramour, directed and conceived by Philippe
Decoufle, at
the Lyric Theatre, is a dazzling entertainment by Cirque
du Soleil. We
were invited back to see it again for the third
time. It is a story of a Hollywood director (Jeremy
Kushnier), who discovers a new artist (Ruby
Lewis), and is determined to make her a film star
and a future wife.
She has a jealous boyfriend, and complications ensue.
The story is a cliche, but the amazing circus acts
are fabulous. Every performer seems to do
the impossible, and we watch with astonishment as they
float through the air and perform incredible acrobatics.
It is a sight not to be missed!
Artistic Director Susan
Charlotte presented Cause
Celebre Musical Brunch Series The Charles Strouse Show at
Chez Josephine, 414 West 42nd St. It is always a lovely
event. A delicious brunch is served with a choice from
many drinks, followed by a terrific show. Billy
Goldenberg introduced Charles
Strouse, the composer of wonderful Broadway musicals
like Annie,
Bye Bye Birdie, Applause, among many others, who
performed at the piano, sang and told wonderful stories,
joined by Carole
Shelley and Eric
Ives Garcia. Among the guests who enjoyed the
presentation were Louise
Lasser, book
writer of The
Wiz William F.
Brown, his wife photographer Tina Tippit
Brown, lawyer Harvey
Stricklon, his wife Linda and
the wife of Charles Strouse, dancer/choreographer Barbara
Siman. It was a delightful luncheon. Afterwards,
some of us were invited to Susan Charlotte's penthouse
for wine and hors d'oeuvres to complete a marvelous
afternoon.
The York Theatre Company presented Milk
and Honey, book by Don
Appell, music and lyrics by Jerry
Herman, one of their Musicals
in Mufti! The
cast was excellent, directed expertly by Michael
Unger, with Jeffrey Saver playing
the score magnificently at the piano. The plot, about
American widows visiting Israel in 1961 and two of them
finding love, is delightful, funny, and the music is
lovely. Mark
Delavan was
outstanding in the leading role, singing beautifully. Anne
Runolfsson, as his new found love, sang equally
well, and Alix
Korey was
hilarious as the second widow. She is a scene stealer!
We congratulated the marvelous cast at the opening night
party in the music room.
Yen, by Anna
Jordan, at the Lucille Lortel
Theatre, is a play about two teenage brothers (Lucas
Hedges and Justice
Smith), abandoned by their
drug addicted mother (Ari
Graynor), who live
unsupervised in a drab flat in a housing project in
London. They spend their time watching porn on
television and playing video games. A teenage neighbor (Stefania
LaVie Owen) enters their
lives, and attempts to civilize them. The four actors
act terrifically, under the expert direction of Trip
Cullman. We congratulated the
cast and their proud families at the opening night
party at Sushi Samba, 87 7th Ave. South.
Georgie, My Adventures With George
Rose, written and starring Ed
Dixon, directed
by Eric
Schaeffer, at
the Loft at the Davenport Theatre, is a wonderful one
man show, in which the magnificent Broadway actor is
remembered by the actor who was influenced by him. Ed
Dixon is a remarkable performer, who imitates George
Rose to
perfection.
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The 90-minute show is full of humor,
until the ending, which ends in tragedy. Theatre lovers
will love this show. We celebrated at the opening night
party at Sardi's with guests Kathie
Lee Gifford, Christine Ebersole and Lee
Roy Reams.
Drunkle Vanya is
an immersive entertainment at the Russian Samovar, 256
West 52nd St, in a private room on the second floor of
the restaurant. The audience sits on couches and chairs
while six actors. as characters from an adaption of Uncle
Vanya by Chekhov, encourage
them to participate in the shenanigans, that take place
for almost two hours. The audience is also encouraged to
buy alcoholic drinks and plates of Russian food after
receiving a complimentary shot of flavored vodka. In
Chekhov's plays, vulgarity and profanity never appear,
and that is why I prefer them in the old-fashioned way,
rather than in this updated modern version.
A wonderful The
Blue Jacket Fashion Show to
benefit the Prostate Cancer Foundation was presented
at Pier 59 Studios, followed by cocktails and dinner.
Among the models were actors like Mario
Cantone, TV personalities like Carson
Kressley, athletes
like CC
Sabathia, and NY Post columnist Richard
Johnson. It was a lovely affair.
I attended a
press preview of the SR Socially
Relevant Film Festival New York 2017 at the Serafina
Harlem, 1260 Amsterdam Avenue. The Founder and Artistic
Director Nora Armani spoke
about the festival, which takes place from March 14-18.
She described the films, which will screened at
Cinepolis Chelsea.
Leaving Serafina Harlem, we encountered my good friend Gary
Shapiro. He works in the press office at Columbia
University. He invited us to tour the campus. It was
delightful. Gary is knowledgeable about the history of
one of the oldest universities in the United States.He
took us visit many of the splendid building, including
the Finesse Exhibition in the Wallach Art Gallery
For cat lovers, Oscilloscope Laboratories
presented a press preview at Metrograph Cinema, 7 Ludow
St, of Kedi,
by Ceyda
Torun,Turkey, 2016, a fascinating documentary,
beautifully photographed by Charlie
Wuppermann, following street cats, who are welcome
in Istanbul. The cats, who are named Sari,
Bengu, Aslan Parcasi, Psikopat, Deniz, Gamiz and Duman,
have different personalties. They could be almost human.
Many inhabitants take care of these cats, giving them
food and shelter, and reveal how rewarding it is to have
a friendly relationship with them. Restaurant owners,
fishermen, factory workers, among others, speak lovingly
about their favorite cats. We see mother cats protecting
their kittens, frightening mice, being stroked, and it
is a delight to see the respect between humans and cats.
Every decent person will enjoy this delightful film.
I attended a press preview at Film Forum of Beat
the Devil, by John
Huston, USA, 1953, a new 4K restoration of the
complete, unseen, uncensored original cut, starring Humphrey
Bogart, Jennifer Jones, Gina Lollobrigida, Robert
Morley andPeter
Lorre. It is a silly, chaotic story about four
criminals, who intend to make a fortune stealing uranium
in Africa. Meanwhile, they are waiting for their ship in
a little town on the the Italian coast. They meet Bogart
and his wife Lollobrigida, and Jones and her husband Edward
Underdown. The plot, written by Huston and Truman
Capote, is
too ridiculous to describe, but it is a delight to watch
the stars being silly. By the way, there are many
marvelous supporting actors, who contribute to making
the film watchable.
The 58th Street Branch Library presented Florence
Foster Jenkins, by Stephen
Frears, UK/France, 2016, based on true events about
the wealthy, eccentric opera lover (Meryl
Streep in
the title role), who rented Carnegie Hall in 1944, to
perform operatic arias, accompanied at the piano by
Cosme McMoon (Simon
Helberg). The fact that she was not a good singer
made the event memorable, as celebrities like Cole
Porter and Tallulah
Bankhead attended,
and one thousand members of the armed forces received
free tickets. It is a wonderful film, and the acting is
superb. Streep has already received an Oscar nomination
for her brilliant performance. All the supporting
members of the cast are equally fine, especially Hugh
Grant as
her husband. I enjoyed every minute of this fascinating
story.
I attended a press preview Treasures
from the Nationalmuseum of Sweden:
The Collections of Count Tessin, Feb 3-May 14 at
the Morgan Library and Museum, 225 Madison Avenue. I was
overwhelmed. These magnificent paintings and drawings
have never been seen in the United States, and they are
superb. The Count was in Paris during the mid-eighteenth
century, and bought these works of art. It is a unique
exhibition, and a viewer will be impressed. Do not miss
it!
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