foxy

Terrence McNally has written some good plays. The Lisbon Traviata, Lips Together, Teeth Apart, Frankie and Johnny In The Clair de Lune to name just a few. Unfortunately this play is not very good. Sergei Diaghilev was considered something of an artistic genius and changed the look of modern dance, primarily by bringing the focus onto the male dancer. In this play he comes off as mean, selfish, tedious and a dirty old man who forces himself on his young male dancers. I would have liked some idea why Diaghilev became the famous impresario but got none of that from this play. The actors were all fine. Marsha Mason in a throw away part as a servant seemed wasted. The two young actors who portrayed Vaslav Nijinsky and Léonide Massine were attractive and competent. The theater Classic Stage is small and stadium seating is on 3 sides so viewing is good. Wish I could recommend the play.

Seeing this this afternoon. some mixed reviews but this one was pretty good. Here's hoping. The actor James Cusati-Moyer who played the naked hustler in Six Degrees of Separation last year is playing Nijinsky. I guess he will be naked again which isn't such a bad thing. http://deadline.com/2018/02/review-fire-and-air-terrence-mcnally-1202276257/

Grit your teeth and empty your wallet and do a helicopter flight. Some even land at the waterfall made famous in Jurassic Park. If you’re really brave do a flight without doors on the helicopter which makes for better photos. No reflections from the glass. It’s the only way to appreciate the dramatic scenery.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJsczmtGjxs

And when you finish a book you don’t have to keep or dispose of a physical copy. In the last few years I’ve had to get rid of about 1,000 hard cover books. Libraries don’t want them anymore. It seems most of the people I know don’t read actual books and don’t want them. I love holding a book in my hands and turning pages but I’ve found myself adapting out of necessity.

That’s too bad because I think you’d really enjoy this production. It’s not like anything else you’ll find on Broadway.

I had the pleasure of meeting, talking to and getting a selfie with Marcelo Gomes the ABT principal dancer. He’s even better in real life.

I just finished reading The Vanity Fair Diaries 1983-1992 by Tina Brown. What I find fun about reading on my iPad (kindle) is being able to stop and Google names to refresh my memory. It also brings me to other kindle books like the Bob Colacello book “Holy Terror”about Andy Warhol and “Them”about Alex Lieberman by his daughter Francine du Plessix Gray. It’s like like peeling an onion. One layer leads to another. Much as I love hard cover books there’s a lot to be said for having the urge to read another book and have it instantly on your iPad.

I had the great pleasure in seeing Farinelli and The King today. It’s playing at the beautiful Belasco Theater which blends perfectly with the gorgeous set onstage. The play is lit by candles from 6 chandeliers and sconces scattered around the stage. There’s audience seating on the stage on two levels in boxes. I was fortunate to get a front row orchestra seat in the center on a padded bench. So I was about 8 feet from the edge of the stage and quite close to the actors who often descended steps and addressed the audience. Normally such closeness might seem uncomfortable but not so in today’s production. As you enter the theater musicians in period costume are playing period instruments. There’s also an orchestra in a gallery above the stage. Actors move about the audience chatting you up and it makes for an intimate and cozy mood. By the time Mark Rylance makes his appearance you are ready for a good time. The play is actually quite funny and Rylance as King Philippe V of Spain gives his usual brilliant performance. He’s one of those actors that truly makes you feel he loves performing. It’s more like he’s performing with you and not at you. He makes you feel engaged in the best way. I was especially taken with Sam Crane who portrays Farinelli. However when it comes time for the actual singing one of two countertenors steps in. Iestyn Davis or James Hill. While happily neither man is an actual castrato their singing does give you some idea of what the singing was like. Once you relax into a man singing in a high voice you can begin to understand the beauty. It’s a wonderful theatrical experience which I’d recommend highly if you can get a ticket. I think they may be hard to come by. It runs until March 25.

And James Franco has a very nice naked butt in an extended scene.

This may be the most expensive soap opera ever made. But you can’t go cheap when you’re showing one of the richest women in the world and her very expensive life. Castles, clothes and jewels all nicely represented along with her family and the army of servants who take care of them. As I binge watched through this season I found myself wondering why I care about these people who don’t really do all that much to justify the expense of the British people who fund all this. Yet every supermarket tabloid continues to fuel this odd fascination Americans seem to have with the British royal family. Really it makes no sense. Kind of like porn and I guess the vicarious thrill that might offer. One more guilty pleasure to add to the pile I suppose. I enjoyed every moment.

Which is why I said “if”. And I’m not.

If I was a parent I’d definitely bring my kids to see this and let them scream their brains out annoying the hell out of all the adults who came kidless. Then I’d throw the exhausted kids in bed when I got home, pour myself a stiff scotch and have a good laugh.

Looking for a warmhearted, happy holiday movie? This isn’t it. There’s lots of anger, tragedy, brutality, racism and interestingly humor. I found myself laughing in the oddest places. You get dragged around a lot in this movie and it’s a riveting ride that leaves you hanging at the end. With an Oscar worthy performance by Frances McDormand who is surrounded by a cast who manages to keep up with her much of the time. I left the theater feeling a little exhausted but felt I’d seen what might be the best film of the year.

Heartbreaking!

While I don't go to the opera all that often I might be tempted by this one. http://www.washingtonblade.com/2017/05/26/brokeback-mountain-opera-coming-nyc/ https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/30/arts/music/lyrical-cowboys-in-love-on-stage.html http://www.wqxr.org/story/brokeback-mountain-opera-critics-weigh/

I’ve seen this statue several times in person. I’ve always found it incredibly silly. Maybe it’s the hat? The pose doesn’t help. I know it’s considered a masterpiece. I still don’t like it.

There's a wonderful new exhibit at the Met of the paintings of well regarded British painter David Hockney which I'd highly recommend. Some of his work was inspired by gay subjects which were very controversial at the time. His swimming pool series that he did while in LA are really beautiful along with the large double portraits he did of some famous friends. https://www.metmuseum.org/exhibitions/listings/2017/david-hockney

I saw it this afternoon at the Regal Union Square Theater. It was well attended for an afternoon show. I read and loved the book. So interesting to see how a screenplay has to make certain changes and parts of the book are changed or dropped entirely. But the essence of the book were all there and I confess to having some tears in my eyes along with Elio at the end. It’s a movie I will certainly see again. So much to absorb.

In case anyone goes to see this play I have to let you know something that took me by surprise. I had never been to the Davenport Theater. When I walked in there were what appeared to be young parents with very young children. At first I thought I was in the wrong place but then realized there are two theaters. I’m not quite sure what kid friendly play was being performed on the first level but it sure wasn’t Afterglow. So NY. You can have a play for kiddies on one level and naked gay guys a few floors up. Gosh I love this city.

My dentist is an Indian woman. I once asked her where she was from, meaning what part of India. She answered “Seattle” and we both laughed. She went on to say she has never been to India, was born in the US and her parents were from two different parts of India and came to the US when they were young. She couldn’t remember where they were born. It’s not always easy to ask a question out of curiosity and not make it sound racist. “ What are you?” doesn’t quite work. I find when I meet someone who has an unusual name I struggle to find the right words also. I’d like to think most people would not be offended if you ask about their nationality but it’s not always easy to ask.

Have you ever walked into a restaurant that had beautiful decor or a great view and thought the food probably isn’t going to be very good? That’s sort of the way I feel about plays that have a lot of nudity. It’s a distraction from bad writing and the actors were chosen for how good they look naked. Also this play has received mixed reviews so I didn’t have high hopes for it. But it was better than I expected and these days I hear more about these polyamorous relationships. Some work, others don’t. I guess I’m more surprised by the ones that do but I like the idea since I doubt any one person can totally fulfill another. So despite some very nice nudity by some very attractive actors the play does present some thought provoking situations and worth seeing. Discount tickets are often available at tkts.

And it is. You get a lot of bling for your buck but the real reason to come is the Rockettes. Where else do you see so many precision high kicks and routines? These gals work hard for their money and of course the theater is an architectural jewel. Just be prepared for the overpriced merchandise. Still its a fun way to kick (ho ho ho) off the holiday season.

Tragically almost all the performers in the original play and movie died of AIDS.

For those interested tickets are selling fast and possibly sold out. I wound up in the first row sitting on a bench. There was only one other choice and it was far away. So no back rest for 2 1/2 hours. Luckily there's an intermission. Should be a wonderful performance.