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Off-Broadway, A Class
Act, by Norman
Shabel, at New World Stages, is a play about
lawyers engaged in a class action suit against a
chemical company, which was responsible for toxins
in the drinking water. After many twists and turns,
we see that lawyers, sometimes, behave badly. If you
do not trust your lawyer, you may enjoy this play,
written by a lawyer.
Quietly,
by Owen
McCafferty, at the Irish Repertory Theatre,
takes place in a pub in Belfast. The bartender (Robert
Zwadzki) and a customer (Patrick
O'Kane) are watching a soccer match on
television, when in walks a stranger (Declan
Conlon). Fists fly as the customer recognizes
him as the man who threw a bomb into a pub years ago
killing his father. The two men were 16-years-old at
the time, and now they are 52-years-old. It reflects
the time of the civil war between Catholics and
Protestants. The stranger tries to offer his
regrets. It is a strong, well acted play, directed
by Jimmy
Fay. It
is a production of the Abbey Theatre, The National
Theatre of Ireland in Dublin. We congratulated the
splendid cast at the opening night party in the
Gallery of the theatre.
I spent a delightful afternoon at Chez
Josephine, 414 West 42nd St, where Cause
Celebre presented
one of their Musical Brunch Series, Songs of
Charles Strouse, sung by Penny
Fuller, accompanied at the piano by David
Gaines. Penny appeared on Broadway with Lauren
Bacall in Applause.
Founding Director/Playwright Susan
Charlotte introduced the program, which include
songs from the composer's Broadway shows like Annie,
Golden Boy, Bye Bye Birdie, and, of course, Applause, while
guests, includingLouise
Lasser, Billy Goldenberg and Kathleen
Carroll enjoyed a scrumptious three
course brunch, with a choice of appetizer,
entree and dessert, plus a cocktail. Everything was
delicious, including my Maine Lobster Bisque,
Classic Eggs Benedict and Profiterole au Chocolat,
with my Bacardi Rum and Coca Cola. Chez Josephine is
certainly one of the best restaurants on the West
Side, and I heartily recommend it for fine dining.
MoMA is presenting Serious
Funny: The Films of Leo McCarey July 16-July 31. Part Time
Wife, USA, 1930, was released 86 years ago, and
is as fresh today as if were written yesterday. As
always, comedies are about difficult marriages,
separation and divorce. In this case, wealthy Edmond
Lowe has
a quick temper and his beautiful wife Leila
Hyams can
no longer tolerate his jealousy. She is a talented
golfer, and he decides to play golf to win her back.
An adorable Tommy
Clifford is his
smart, young caddy. The dialogue is witty and wise,
and lovers of golf will enjoy every minute of this
film.
Ruggles at Red Cap, USA
1935, features an all star cast, headed by Charles
Laughton (Marmaduke Ruggles) as as a British
servant to an English lord (Roland
Young). In a poker game in Paris, an American, a
highly amusing rich Charles
Ruggles wins
the butler for his wife (Mary
Boland), and takes him to the Western town Red
Cap.
Hilarious scenes follow, including a relationship
that develops between Laughton and ZaSu
Pitts. His lord arrives in this one horse town,
and becomes enchanted with a local belle (the lovely
Leila Hyams). |
A highlight is when Laughton
recites the Gettysburg Address in the local bar. His
lesson in democracy has him become the owner of an
elegant restaurant. It is a delightful film.
The Milky Way,
USA, 1936, is probably the funniest boxing movie
ever made. On a sidewalk, a middle weight champion
of the world (William
Gargan) is knocked unconscious, as a milkman (Harold
Lloyd) ducks, when a bodyguard (Lionel
Stander) swings a punch at him. The newspapers,
thinking Lloyd had landed the punch, make him a
headline sensation. A shady boxing manager (Adolphe
Menjou) persuades the milkman to train, and
fight six times. Menjou fixes the fights to make
Lloyd a contender for the championship. The scenes
are silly, but funny. The dialogue is witty and
clever. You will laugh from the first minute to the
last. Why can't today's filmmakers make these kinds
of enjoyable films, without vulgar dialogue, violent
scenes, gratuitous demeaning sex, and at a level to
appeal to undemanding, unintelligent audiences?
Going My Way,
USA, 1944, is a sentimental tale of a young priest (Bing
Crosby) assigned to a New York parish to replace
an old priest (Barry
Fitzgerald). Their growing, warm relationship is
the heart of the story. The film won seven Oscars
including Crosby as Best Actor. As the most popular
singer of that era, he sings a number of songs
throughout the film. Rise
Stevens as
an opera singer appears as an old friend of Crosby,
and she performs a scene from Carmen.
Their voices plus a children's choir are the
highlights of this pleasant film.
Love Affair, USA,
1939, is a romantic story of a painter/playboy (Charles
Boyer) and a singer (Irene
Dunne), who are both engaged to other people.
They are alone on a ship crossing the Atlantic Ocean
to reunite with their fiances in New York, and fall
in love. Again, it is a tender tale, that will
delight romantic souls. Irene Dunne has a splendid
voice, and sings a couple of songs. The dialogue is
sharp and clever, and the leading actors are full of
charm.
Duck Soup,
USA, 1933, features the four Marx
Brothers. Zeppo appeared
for the final time. For fans of the Marx Brothers,
this is a typical zany comedy, and perhaps one of
their weakest films. There is a lot of repetition,
which is not so funny. Two scenes withEdgar
Kennedy selling
lemonade from a cart is one too many. Harpo should lose
his scissors, and even Groucho's
one liners only occasionally hit the mark. However,
there is a mirror scene, which is quite amusing and
clever. Chico dressed
as Groucho, and Groucho face each other, after a
mirror is shattered. The result is hilarious.
MoMA is presenting Modern
Matinees: Summer with Judy Holliday July 8-August 31. Bells
Are Ringing, by Vincente
Minnelli, USA, 1960, is a film version of a
Broadway musical, written by Betty
Comden and Adolph
Green, music by Jule
Styne. It
is about a telephone answering service, where the
operator (Judy Holliday)
gets involved with her customers. Dean
Martin is
the romantic lead, as a playwright with a writer's
block helped by Holliday. It is a very funny
musical, with terrific songs, like Just
In Time andThe
Party's Over. Sadly,
this was Holliday's final performance. She was a
brilliant comedienne, who lit up the screen in every
film. |