Showing newest 23 of 30 posts from November 2009. Show older posts
Showing newest 23 of 30 posts from November 2009. Show older posts
November 30, 2009
November 27, 2009
November 26, 2009
November 25, 2009
November 24, 2009
12 Men of Christmas
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Busy Kristin Chenoweth has a new Lifetime Movie coming up this Dec. 5. It's called 12 Men of Christmas. From the press notes:
Chenoweth plays publicist E.J. Baxter who, according to MyLifetime.com, "loses both her high-powered Manhattan job and her lawyer-fiance on the same night at her office Christmas party. E.J. winds up taking a job and moving to the opposite end of the earth — Kalispell, Montana. To help the local search-and-rescue station raise desperately needed funds [...] she tries to convince the male rescue workers to pose for a naked calendar and along the way discovers what really matters to her and wins the heart of one of the pin-ups."
You can check out photos from the special from playbill.com
(photo from Playbill.com)
Busy Kristin Chenoweth has a new Lifetime Movie coming up this Dec. 5. It's called 12 Men of Christmas. From the press notes:
Chenoweth plays publicist E.J. Baxter who, according to MyLifetime.com, "loses both her high-powered Manhattan job and her lawyer-fiance on the same night at her office Christmas party. E.J. winds up taking a job and moving to the opposite end of the earth — Kalispell, Montana. To help the local search-and-rescue station raise desperately needed funds [...] she tries to convince the male rescue workers to pose for a naked calendar and along the way discovers what really matters to her and wins the heart of one of the pin-ups."
You can check out photos from the special from playbill.com
(photo from Playbill.com)
November 23, 2009
Shirts Off Their Backs
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A Steady Rain dynamic duo Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig have raised $ 1 Million dollars for BC/EFA!
Around this time, most shows on Broadway and Off-Broadway usually do a 6 week fundraising campaign for BC/EFA. Most shows will have an announcement at the curtain call telling the audience that cast members will be in the lobby with buckets for whatever an audience member would be willing to donate. Some shows sell signed playbills or posters and sometimes will do an auction. It's really a very fun time for both the cast and audience.
This time, the actors from A Steady Rain did something very unique--they auctioned their wife beaters that they wore during the show. Both would practically take their shirts off on stage during the auction. There were even accounts that Hugh Jackman's wife beater even had tasseled pasties when he took his shirt off! He even worked the crowd by gyrating and making them twirl to the amusement of his co-star Daniel Craig. I commend these two for being so generous and what great sport they have been to raise money for a good cause! To read more about it, please click here.
(photo from People.com)
A Steady Rain dynamic duo Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig have raised $ 1 Million dollars for BC/EFA!
Around this time, most shows on Broadway and Off-Broadway usually do a 6 week fundraising campaign for BC/EFA. Most shows will have an announcement at the curtain call telling the audience that cast members will be in the lobby with buckets for whatever an audience member would be willing to donate. Some shows sell signed playbills or posters and sometimes will do an auction. It's really a very fun time for both the cast and audience.
This time, the actors from A Steady Rain did something very unique--they auctioned their wife beaters that they wore during the show. Both would practically take their shirts off on stage during the auction. There were even accounts that Hugh Jackman's wife beater even had tasseled pasties when he took his shirt off! He even worked the crowd by gyrating and making them twirl to the amusement of his co-star Daniel Craig. I commend these two for being so generous and what great sport they have been to raise money for a good cause! To read more about it, please click here.
(photo from People.com)
November 20, 2009
Battery's Down Ep. 16
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Guess who made it to Battery's Down? That's Julia Murney with Jake Wilson at the last episode of the series. If you're not familiar, The Battery's Down is a web series starring Jake Wilson and directed by Connor Gallagher. It's about the life of a young performer who, along with his friends, navigate the world of showbiz in New York City and Los Angeles. It's full of theatre actors in recurring roles. I've been following the series online and now it's coming to an end. It features original songs from musical theatre writers like Jeanine Tesori, Lisa Lambert and David Kirshenbaum to name a few. For more photos of the last episode please click here.
(photo from BWW)
Guess who made it to Battery's Down? That's Julia Murney with Jake Wilson at the last episode of the series. If you're not familiar, The Battery's Down is a web series starring Jake Wilson and directed by Connor Gallagher. It's about the life of a young performer who, along with his friends, navigate the world of showbiz in New York City and Los Angeles. It's full of theatre actors in recurring roles. I've been following the series online and now it's coming to an end. It features original songs from musical theatre writers like Jeanine Tesori, Lisa Lambert and David Kirshenbaum to name a few. For more photos of the last episode please click here.
(photo from BWW)
November 19, 2009
Every Little Step Makes Academy Awards Shortlist
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The documentary Every Little Step directed by James D. Stern and Adam Del Deo made it to the documentary short list of the Academy Awards. It's a really moving and well made movie. I'm crossing my fingers it makes it to the final nominations. For a full short list, please click here.
(photo from Amazon.com)
The documentary Every Little Step directed by James D. Stern and Adam Del Deo made it to the documentary short list of the Academy Awards. It's a really moving and well made movie. I'm crossing my fingers it makes it to the final nominations. For a full short list, please click here.
(photo from Amazon.com)
November 18, 2009
Together They Were Kristin Chenoweth
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The Playbill signed by Megan Hilty, Julia Murney and conductor Steven Reineke
Sunday afternoon I got to see Wicked Divas with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. It starred Megan Hilty and Julia Murney. They were a last minute replacement for Kristin Chenoweth who was ill and couldn't perform the concert. With me was my friend Jon, Liza and Liza's daughter, Sophia who's 7 years old and a budding theatre geek. At that young age, she's seen Cats (local production), The Lion King, Mamma Mia and Wicked. It was amazing to see how she was so behaved and drawn-in to the performance that afternoon. Jon and I drove down from Chicago and stayed with Liza and her family in Indianapolis.
First of all, the Music Hall where the concert was housed is an elegant and beautiful building built in 1877. Very historic! I felt like I was pulled back in time at the turn of the century and any minute now someone in a "Somewhere In Time" attire would just come out from one of the doors.
It was nice to get to hear the Overture of Gypsy again with a full Orchestra which sounded great! Other highlights from the Orchestra was O Mio Babbino Caro which always remind me of the movie A Room With The View with Helena Bonham Carter. I also enjoyed Over The Rainbow. It was beautifully played with a solo violin playing the melody. However, it was the vocalist that made we want to see the concert.
It must have been daunting for Megan and Julia to perform this concert and replace Kristin Chenoweth at the last minute. But I thought they had immediate grasp of the audience when they sang their first song, All That Jazz (Chicago). It was fun and vivacious. The four older ladies seating behind us who had bought tickets for Kristin Chenoweth had forgotten all about her. I guess I could tell with the enthusiasm with which they were clapping after that number.
I haven't seen Megan Hilty in a show before. Not in Wicked nor in 9 To 5 so I was really interested in this concert. I don't usually relish sopranos (except maybe for Christine Ebersole) but I did think Megan is a strong singer with a beautiful voice. My favorites in terms of her solos were Part of Your World (Little Mermaid) and I Could Have Danced All Night (My Fair Lady). She did seem a little nervous when she had to talk between songs.
Julia was in great voice that afternoon. I've always loved her version of Back To Before (Ragtime) and enjoyed it even more this time because it was live! Her voice is so rich it fits this song perfectly. Ring Them Bells was a delight. It's amazing to me how she can change and use different voices/accents all in one song.....and not get tongue tied or confused. She even had a different physicality and mannerism every time she changed persona during the song. It's amazing to see. I must admit that initially I wasn't thrilled to hear her sing songs from Wicked again but I confess that she REALLY sounded great singing them. Julia and Megan ended the concert with the duet I Will Never Leave You (Sideshow)which was a perfectly matched belting face off. So thrilling!
On a side note, Julia is so at ease on stage, she's a natural. She's very funny and playful onstage plus her stage presence is so magnetic that you as an audience member will be drawn to her. I guess it was really evident at this concert specially during the banter between songs because she's there side by side with Megan.
After the show one of the ushers I had asked led us to the "green room". To my surprise there was a long line of people waiting to meet Megan and Julia. It was amusing because it felt like a reception greeting line at a wedding. My friends and little Sophia got to meet Julia and Megan who were both so nice and gracious. I think Sophia (who's usually a chatterbox) got star struck upon meeting them. She wasn't saying much. It was really cute.
Last night I spoke with Liza and she said that Sophia has been surfing JuliaMurney.com with her Dad looking at the pictures on the site. She came upon a video of Julia singing I Will Never Leave You at the Kennedy Center. After watching, she said "Oh Daddy, they sound even better when you see them live". That statement alone was worth the trip!
Here are the photos I took that afternoon at the green room and outside the theatre:
.JPG)
Julia Murney
.JPG)
Megan Hilty
The marquee of the Cincinnati Music Hall
Interior lobby
The casting board in the lobby announcing the performer change
The Playbill signed by Megan Hilty, Julia Murney and conductor Steven Reineke
Sunday afternoon I got to see Wicked Divas with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. It starred Megan Hilty and Julia Murney. They were a last minute replacement for Kristin Chenoweth who was ill and couldn't perform the concert. With me was my friend Jon, Liza and Liza's daughter, Sophia who's 7 years old and a budding theatre geek. At that young age, she's seen Cats (local production), The Lion King, Mamma Mia and Wicked. It was amazing to see how she was so behaved and drawn-in to the performance that afternoon. Jon and I drove down from Chicago and stayed with Liza and her family in Indianapolis.
First of all, the Music Hall where the concert was housed is an elegant and beautiful building built in 1877. Very historic! I felt like I was pulled back in time at the turn of the century and any minute now someone in a "Somewhere In Time" attire would just come out from one of the doors.
It was nice to get to hear the Overture of Gypsy again with a full Orchestra which sounded great! Other highlights from the Orchestra was O Mio Babbino Caro which always remind me of the movie A Room With The View with Helena Bonham Carter. I also enjoyed Over The Rainbow. It was beautifully played with a solo violin playing the melody. However, it was the vocalist that made we want to see the concert.
It must have been daunting for Megan and Julia to perform this concert and replace Kristin Chenoweth at the last minute. But I thought they had immediate grasp of the audience when they sang their first song, All That Jazz (Chicago). It was fun and vivacious. The four older ladies seating behind us who had bought tickets for Kristin Chenoweth had forgotten all about her. I guess I could tell with the enthusiasm with which they were clapping after that number.
I haven't seen Megan Hilty in a show before. Not in Wicked nor in 9 To 5 so I was really interested in this concert. I don't usually relish sopranos (except maybe for Christine Ebersole) but I did think Megan is a strong singer with a beautiful voice. My favorites in terms of her solos were Part of Your World (Little Mermaid) and I Could Have Danced All Night (My Fair Lady). She did seem a little nervous when she had to talk between songs.
Julia was in great voice that afternoon. I've always loved her version of Back To Before (Ragtime) and enjoyed it even more this time because it was live! Her voice is so rich it fits this song perfectly. Ring Them Bells was a delight. It's amazing to me how she can change and use different voices/accents all in one song.....and not get tongue tied or confused. She even had a different physicality and mannerism every time she changed persona during the song. It's amazing to see. I must admit that initially I wasn't thrilled to hear her sing songs from Wicked again but I confess that she REALLY sounded great singing them. Julia and Megan ended the concert with the duet I Will Never Leave You (Sideshow)which was a perfectly matched belting face off. So thrilling!
On a side note, Julia is so at ease on stage, she's a natural. She's very funny and playful onstage plus her stage presence is so magnetic that you as an audience member will be drawn to her. I guess it was really evident at this concert specially during the banter between songs because she's there side by side with Megan.
After the show one of the ushers I had asked led us to the "green room". To my surprise there was a long line of people waiting to meet Megan and Julia. It was amusing because it felt like a reception greeting line at a wedding. My friends and little Sophia got to meet Julia and Megan who were both so nice and gracious. I think Sophia (who's usually a chatterbox) got star struck upon meeting them. She wasn't saying much. It was really cute.
Last night I spoke with Liza and she said that Sophia has been surfing JuliaMurney.com with her Dad looking at the pictures on the site. She came upon a video of Julia singing I Will Never Leave You at the Kennedy Center. After watching, she said "Oh Daddy, they sound even better when you see them live". That statement alone was worth the trip!
Here are the photos I took that afternoon at the green room and outside the theatre:
.JPG)
Julia Murney
.JPG)
Megan Hilty
The marquee of the Cincinnati Music Hall
Interior lobby
The casting board in the lobby announcing the performer change
Broadway Book
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With the holidays coming up, how about Brian Stokes Mitchell's new book for the theater aficionado in your family? Well, he wrote the introduction and hosted the behind-the-scenes video for the accompanying CD. Lights 0n Broadway: A Theatrical Tour from A to Z is an insider look on all things Broadway written by Elliot Kreloff.
With the holidays coming up, how about Brian Stokes Mitchell's new book for the theater aficionado in your family? Well, he wrote the introduction and hosted the behind-the-scenes video for the accompanying CD. Lights 0n Broadway: A Theatrical Tour from A to Z is an insider look on all things Broadway written by Elliot Kreloff.
November 16, 2009
Death is the Great Equalizer
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Lynn told me this morning that Edward Woodward, who we all used to watch on the television show The Equalizer, had passed away. He was 79.
I am so happy that the last movie I saw him in was Hot Fuzz. It was such a different and fun role for him.
Rest in peace Mr. Woodward.
(photo from guardian.co.uk)
Lynn told me this morning that Edward Woodward, who we all used to watch on the television show The Equalizer, had passed away. He was 79. I am so happy that the last movie I saw him in was Hot Fuzz. It was such a different and fun role for him.
Rest in peace Mr. Woodward.
(photo from guardian.co.uk)
November 15, 2009
Serial Stage-dooring
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Bill Pullman
Julia Stiles. We saw her entering the theatre but she said she was running late and couldn't stop for photos or autographs. As I handed her the Playbill after the show, she did a double take and said she remembered me. She apologized again.
Daniel Craig
While Lynn went to see A Steady Rain, I saw Oleanna at the John Golden Theatre. It took the Oleanna stars an hour to exit the theatre, so in the interim, Lynn and I hung out at the Schoenfeld. Here are some photos I took.
Bill Pullman
Julia Stiles. We saw her entering the theatre but she said she was running late and couldn't stop for photos or autographs. As I handed her the Playbill after the show, she did a double take and said she remembered me. She apologized again. 
Daniel Craig
While Lynn went to see A Steady Rain, I saw Oleanna at the John Golden Theatre. It took the Oleanna stars an hour to exit the theatre, so in the interim, Lynn and I hung out at the Schoenfeld. Here are some photos I took.
November 14, 2009
Oleanna
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Oleanna is one intense and bewildering play. The drama unfolds in a university office where powwows on concepts presented in class eventually leads to accusations of sexual harassment. It is very wordy but David Mamet's heavy language is fascinating to hear. It was interesting to see how seemingly ordinary conversations can very quickly stray into dangerous ground. I never saw what was coming next, and the plot builds to a mystifying climax. Much has been said about audience sympathies shifting between the two characters, but I never really wavered. The denouement left me confounded, unsure of what I just saw and what really happened. That's why it took me this long to write this.
Bill Pullman's (John) tense, hunched shoulders say it all. On the verge of getting tenure AND buying a house, he is a bundle of nervous energy on stage as he juggles cellphone conversations and discussions with his student. He brings a unique 'everyman' charm to the tightly-wound character.
I'm conflicted about Julia Stiles' Carol. Based on what I've read about her and interviews I've seen her in, Ms. Stiles is such an intelligent person that it was hard to believe she was a student asking for a passing grade. Much less to get involved with an unseen "group" of presumably female students who press her to file charges against the professor . She does show a vulnerable side when she was about to reveal a personal secret to the teacher but gets interrupted by the infernal cellphone. We never really know what motivates her later actions.
If you're going to see it, it's best to see it with someone else for a post-viewing analysis. A debate about male-female, professor-student power struggles, political correctness and feminism is definitely in order after watching Oleanna.
Oleanna is one intense and bewildering play. The drama unfolds in a university office where powwows on concepts presented in class eventually leads to accusations of sexual harassment. It is very wordy but David Mamet's heavy language is fascinating to hear. It was interesting to see how seemingly ordinary conversations can very quickly stray into dangerous ground. I never saw what was coming next, and the plot builds to a mystifying climax. Much has been said about audience sympathies shifting between the two characters, but I never really wavered. The denouement left me confounded, unsure of what I just saw and what really happened. That's why it took me this long to write this. 
Bill Pullman's (John) tense, hunched shoulders say it all. On the verge of getting tenure AND buying a house, he is a bundle of nervous energy on stage as he juggles cellphone conversations and discussions with his student. He brings a unique 'everyman' charm to the tightly-wound character.
I'm conflicted about Julia Stiles' Carol. Based on what I've read about her and interviews I've seen her in, Ms. Stiles is such an intelligent person that it was hard to believe she was a student asking for a passing grade. Much less to get involved with an unseen "group" of presumably female students who press her to file charges against the professor . She does show a vulnerable side when she was about to reveal a personal secret to the teacher but gets interrupted by the infernal cellphone. We never really know what motivates her later actions. 
If you're going to see it, it's best to see it with someone else for a post-viewing analysis. A debate about male-female, professor-student power struggles, political correctness and feminism is definitely in order after watching Oleanna.
November 13, 2009
A New Family Moves Into Chi-Town
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Friday the Thirteenth! Previews of The Addams Family start today at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts here in Chicago. The new musical will play here until Jan. 10, 2010 before it's transfer to Broadway in April. With a cast lead by Nathan Lane, Bebe Neuwirth, Carolee Carmelo, Terence Mann and Jackie Hoffman (to name a few) plus music by Andrew Lippa, I am giddy with anticipation! For tickets and more information, please click here.
(photo by Mark Seliger)
Friday the Thirteenth! Previews of The Addams Family start today at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts here in Chicago. The new musical will play here until Jan. 10, 2010 before it's transfer to Broadway in April. With a cast lead by Nathan Lane, Bebe Neuwirth, Carolee Carmelo, Terence Mann and Jackie Hoffman (to name a few) plus music by Andrew Lippa, I am giddy with anticipation! For tickets and more information, please click here.
(photo by Mark Seliger)
November 12, 2009
November 11, 2009
Kristin Chenoweth Cancels Pops Concert--Murney and Hilty Step In!
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Kristin Chenoweth, who was scheduled to perform with the Cincinnati Pops this weekend, has canceled due to illness (read about it here). In her place steps in Megan Hilty and Julia Murney to sing "Wicked Divas", a program of Broadway Showstoppers. The concert will be at 8pm on Friday and Saturday and 3pm Sunday in Music Hall. For more information, please click here.
(photos from BWW and JuliaMurney.com)
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Kristin Chenoweth, who was scheduled to perform with the Cincinnati Pops this weekend, has canceled due to illness (read about it here). In her place steps in Megan Hilty and Julia Murney to sing "Wicked Divas", a program of Broadway Showstoppers. The concert will be at 8pm on Friday and Saturday and 3pm Sunday in Music Hall. For more information, please click here.
(photos from BWW and JuliaMurney.com)
November 10, 2009
50 golden years of "The Sound of Music"
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I'm not ashamed to admit that The Sound of Music is one of my most favorite...things of all time. Of course, I didn't see the musical, but I've seen the movie dozens and dozens of times. It turns out that The Sound of Music is celebrating its 50th anniversary on November 16 and that a special anniversary edition of the recording will be released, featuring three bonus tracks.
To celebrate the musical's opening night 50 years ago, there will be a presentation and signing of the new CD and The Sound of Music: A Classic Collectible Pop-Up at Lincoln Center Barnes & Noble, 5:00 p.m. Sam von Trapp will also be present to share stories about his grandmother, Maria von Trapp.
I'm not ashamed to admit that The Sound of Music is one of my most favorite...things of all time. Of course, I didn't see the musical, but I've seen the movie dozens and dozens of times. It turns out that The Sound of Music is celebrating its 50th anniversary on November 16 and that a special anniversary edition of the recording will be released, featuring three bonus tracks.To celebrate the musical's opening night 50 years ago, there will be a presentation and signing of the new CD and The Sound of Music: A Classic Collectible Pop-Up at Lincoln Center Barnes & Noble, 5:00 p.m. Sam von Trapp will also be present to share stories about his grandmother, Maria von Trapp.
Rounding out the cast of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
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I go on a Harry Potter surfing spree from time to time, and tonight, I found out who else will be appearing in the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, coming out in 2010 and 2011.
Bill Nighy (do I even have to say where he appeared?) - Rufus Scrimgeour
Rhys Ifans (Little Nicky, Elizabeth: The Golden Age) - Xenophilius Lovegood
Rade Šerbedžija (The Eye, Mission Impossible: II) - Gellert Grindelwald
Jamie Campbell Bower (Sweeney Todd, New Moon) - the young Grindelwald.
Toby Regbo - the young Albus Dumbledore
Ciarán Hinds (Persuasion, The Phantom of the Opera, There Will Be Blood) - Aberforth Dumbledore
Guy Henry - Pius Thicknesse
David O'Hara (Braveheart, The Departed) - Albert Runcorn
Sophie Thompson (Gosford Park, EastEnders) - Mafalda Hopkirk
Hebe Beardsall - Ariana Dumbledore
Andy Linen - Mundungus Fletcher
Matyelok Gibbs - Aunt Muriel
No word yet on who will be playing the young Severus Snape--and that's something I'd love to see.
Hebe Beardsall - Ariana Dumbledore
Andy Linen - Mundungus Fletcher
Matyelok Gibbs - Aunt Muriel
No word yet on who will be playing the young Severus Snape--and that's something I'd love to see.
November 9, 2009
The Royal Family
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I saw the play The Royal Family at the Samuel Friedman Theatre last Saturday night (10/31). It stars the genteel Rosemary Harris. I just felt that like Angela Lansbury, she's a stage legend and I had to make sure that I at least saw her live onstage.
The play is about the Cavendish family, an acting dynasty which is said to be patterned after the Barrymores. Rosemary Harris plays the matriarch Fanny. This is Ms. Harris' second time in the play. She played Julie in the 1975 Broadway revival, a role now played by Jan Maxwell . Julie, Fanny's daughter is the current onstage leading lady and mother to the ingenue, Gwen, played by Kelli Barret. They are joined by Reg Rodgers who plays Tony Cavendish, Fanny's son and Julie's brother, the cad; John Glover who plays Herbert Dean, Fanny's uncle, is married to less-than-stellar actress, Kitty Dean (Ana Gasteyer); Tony Roberts as their faithful agent and family friend Oscar Wolf. What a great cast!
The play goes through an ordinary day in life of the Cavendish which include reading scripts, preparing for the theatre as well as dodging tabloids. It's a very funny play with witty dialog. Rosemary Harris is the epitome of grace and refinement on stage. She is captivating to watch her onstage as lines and movement naturally flow out of her body effortlessly entertaining the audience and making them (including me) laugh. It's as if she's not working at all and is really living as Fanny Cavendish right in front of you. Jan Maxwell was also remarkable as Julie. Like Ms. Harris, she is at ease onstage and a natural comic! Her breakdown in the middle of the play is hilarious! Tony Roberts is very charming as Oscar Wolf while John Glover and Reg Rodgers were enjoyable. Kelli Barret was great as the ingenue. The only person I didn't enjoy was Ana Gasteyer who I thought was overly hamming up her lines and gestures. I felt that she didn't need to do that as the dialogue was already quite amusing in itself.
The set was grand. It was the living room of an NY Upper East Side apartment complete with stairs and foyer. I felt I was a fly in their living room that night. On a side note, I've never been to the Friedman Theatre before. It's a beautiful theatre! With it's lounge on the mezzanine and basement filled with photos of their past productions. It's wonderful to get to look at production stills of Mary-Louise Parker in Proof, Cynthia Nixon in the Rabbit Hole and even Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party. Oh and another bonus that night, Donna McKechnie, the original Cassie in A Chorus Line, was sitting across the aisle from me. It was so cool!
Some photos I took that night:
The poster
I saw the play The Royal Family at the Samuel Friedman Theatre last Saturday night (10/31). It stars the genteel Rosemary Harris. I just felt that like Angela Lansbury, she's a stage legend and I had to make sure that I at least saw her live onstage.
The play is about the Cavendish family, an acting dynasty which is said to be patterned after the Barrymores. Rosemary Harris plays the matriarch Fanny. This is Ms. Harris' second time in the play. She played Julie in the 1975 Broadway revival, a role now played by Jan Maxwell . Julie, Fanny's daughter is the current onstage leading lady and mother to the ingenue, Gwen, played by Kelli Barret. They are joined by Reg Rodgers who plays Tony Cavendish, Fanny's son and Julie's brother, the cad; John Glover who plays Herbert Dean, Fanny's uncle, is married to less-than-stellar actress, Kitty Dean (Ana Gasteyer); Tony Roberts as their faithful agent and family friend Oscar Wolf. What a great cast!
The play goes through an ordinary day in life of the Cavendish which include reading scripts, preparing for the theatre as well as dodging tabloids. It's a very funny play with witty dialog. Rosemary Harris is the epitome of grace and refinement on stage. She is captivating to watch her onstage as lines and movement naturally flow out of her body effortlessly entertaining the audience and making them (including me) laugh. It's as if she's not working at all and is really living as Fanny Cavendish right in front of you. Jan Maxwell was also remarkable as Julie. Like Ms. Harris, she is at ease onstage and a natural comic! Her breakdown in the middle of the play is hilarious! Tony Roberts is very charming as Oscar Wolf while John Glover and Reg Rodgers were enjoyable. Kelli Barret was great as the ingenue. The only person I didn't enjoy was Ana Gasteyer who I thought was overly hamming up her lines and gestures. I felt that she didn't need to do that as the dialogue was already quite amusing in itself.
The set was grand. It was the living room of an NY Upper East Side apartment complete with stairs and foyer. I felt I was a fly in their living room that night. On a side note, I've never been to the Friedman Theatre before. It's a beautiful theatre! With it's lounge on the mezzanine and basement filled with photos of their past productions. It's wonderful to get to look at production stills of Mary-Louise Parker in Proof, Cynthia Nixon in the Rabbit Hole and even Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party. Oh and another bonus that night, Donna McKechnie, the original Cassie in A Chorus Line, was sitting across the aisle from me. It was so cool!
Some photos I took that night:
The poster
November 8, 2009
Wishful Drinking
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I've always enjoyed Carrie Fisher's sense of humor so Lani and I couldn't resist seeing her show, Wishful Drinking last Saturday (Oct. 31). Ms. Fisher details her life from birth, to her stint in Star Wars and it's effect on her life, to her drinking days, to being diagnosed as bipolar and to the present where she has embraced her follies. It was hilarious and comical but at the same time specially poignant. I admire her wit and her courage with which she candidly embraces her disorder and openly relays so much details of life. Specially funny were the segments of Hollywood Inbreeding 101, where she discusses her family tree and reveal their dysfunctions, and the saga of Star Wars and it's forever lasting effects on her life. If you get a chance go see it. She's quite a character.
I love the Wishful Drinking poster. It just sets up the kind of humor you'll experience in the show.
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