foxy

OK

I didn’t see Ethel Merman in Gypsy but I did see Angela Lansbury in the  role in 1974. When she did the number Together Wherever You Go the audience went wild and literally stopped the show. It was, I think, the only time I ever saw that happen. The cast just stood there while the audience kept screaming. It was strange since it’s not exactly a major number. After a few minutes the audience calmed down and to everyone’s surprise they did the whole number all over again. The audience went ballistic. Angela Lansbury just stood there laughing. It was one of those crazy theater moments. 

I saw the show today. I’m happy to report that Beanie was much better than expected. Is she Barbra? No. But no one is. Still she brought a sweetness to the role and she ended both acts with a pretty rousing version of Don’t Rain On My Parade. She’s got a good voice and perhaps is growing into the role. It’s not a great show but that’s more a problem of the book. I’d recommend it if you just keep your expectations at medium. 

It’s on my to do list of shows to see. 

I’d love to see it again also. NPH stepped in for Christian Borel so maybe he will do the role this time? Maybe if Lucky sees it again he might change his mind about the show? It was such a good production. 

This afternoon I saw the final performance of Into The Woods at City Center. A brilliant production of a brilliant play with a brilliant cast. Neil Patrick Harris, Sara Bareilles, Gavin Creel, Heather Headley, Ann Harada, Denee Benton to name just a few. The best thing I’ve seen in years. I had a very good seat for this sold out production. Every number was a sitting ovation. 

Wonderful new exhibit on this Matisse masterpiece 

The Biennial is on right now at the Whitney. My favorite part of the museum is usually the view from the balconies overlooking the city and the Hudson.

In Madrid I spent 4 hours in the Thyssen-Bornemisza. Nice cafe. 
4 hours in the Reina Sofia. Guernica is still staggering. 12 hours in the Prado in two days. 
Today 4 hours in the Guggenheim in Bilbao. The Richard Serra installation is astounding. 
My feet hurt but worth it. The food in the Basque country is phenomenal. 

Also seeing it mid-May. Thanks for your review even though it wasn’t a rave. So maybe with a little time Beanie will improve. On the other hand when I’m not expecting something great I can enjoy the good parts that you’ve pointed out. Opening night is April 24 so we will see what the paid critics have to say. Or maybe we don’t. 

I’m still trying to learn to appreciate his work. The show sounds interesting and worth seeing. The $45 admission charge a little steep. Astounding what his paintings are selling for these days. 

I’ve already mentioned the Brooklyn Museum but I was there today and there’s a big new exhibit of Andy Warhol and his relationship to the Catholic Church. Surprisingly Andy was quite religious and attended church services almost every week. So most of the work on display reflects this but he certainly puts his own spin on things. 
 

Here’s 3 you might like:

The New York Historical Society. It has a large permanent collection of Tiffany lamps which are just so pretty. 
https://nyhistory.org

The Brooklyn Museum is not small but usually very quiet. It’s right next to the Botanic Gardens which are very beautiful and starting now it’s cherry blossom time. 
https://brooklynmuseum.org

The Jewish Museum is housed in a beautiful historic mansion. 
https://thejewishmuseum.org

So if the understudy steps in if SJP gets the virus…. Now I have to find out who that is. The show is starting to seem more interesting to me. 

I may not be a fan of Broderick but I don’t wish Covid on anyone. Hope he recovers quickly. On the other hand his understudy gets to go on so maybe there’s a silver lining. 

A while back there was a longish post about favorite museums which I enjoyed reading. I like museums. All different kinds and can spend hours wandering around in them. I belong to 9 museums in NYC. I like feeling my $$$ is supporting something worthwhile and you can often get a tax deduction from your membership. I join mostly because they are fun, I might learn something and most importantly having an experience with something truly great and beautiful can be a profound experience. And sometimes I just need to run in and use the bathroom. 
Some new exhibits are opening soon in Manhattan. Most recently at the Morgan Library I enjoyed the exhibit of the paintings of Hans Holbein the Younger whose portraits are astonishing. Upstairs and totally different is an exhibit of the American icon Woodie Guthrie. Both worth seeing. 
https://www.themorgan.org

So maybe we could have a Museum category in the Comedy & Tragedy forum?

The last time I saw the revival of the Martin McDonagh play Hangman was in 2020 just before Covid shut down Broadway. At the time one of the stars was Dan Stevens who played Matthew Crawley in Downton Abbey. He was very good as was the entire cast and production. It had this terrific set that I won’t spoil with a description. 
Now the play has returned. This time in the cast is Alfie Allen who played Theon Greyjoy from Game of Thrones. He’s playing the role of Mooney last played by Stevens. So I’m tempted to see it again as it’s such a good play but maybe out of curiosity to see how Allen does in the role. 

Sorry but not surprised. Matthew Broderick may have had talent when he was younger but the last times I saw him on stage he was a total zombie. How he gets work is beyond me. I can imagine SJP has a following. Unfortunately not the ones who know how to behave in a theater. This play was never on my list of things to see and your review confirmed that. 

Thinking back to my post about my friend’s dog who was given an injection by her vet I wonder what it was? Her dog just fell asleep and died painlessly in about 5 minutes. If it works for dogs I assume it would work for humans also. I guess in certain cases it could be done without the aid of a physician.

And on another note. Many people might accept euthanasia if a person had an incurable disease and was in terrible physical pain. 
But what about mental anguish? Severe depression, I believe, is in many ways the most terrible disease. One could argue that with therapy and possibly the right combination of antidepressants depression can be alleviated if not cured. Yet I’ve known a number of people who after many years of therapy and various antidepressants are still suffering. 
I suppose one can also argue that a severely depressed person is not capable of making such a serious decision to end their life. 
So who gets to decide? Personally I’d rather it was my decision.

This was not at the opera but the ballet years ago at Lincoln Center.  It was Swan Lake. As the curtain rose and the corps de ballet entered a man near me yelled “shush” at a woman who was talking loudly to her husband. Then the husband yelled back “are you yelling at my wife?”  “Yes” the man said. “Tell her to shut up!” Then they really started yelling at each other. The dancers, trying to keep their composure sort of glanced up trying not to lose their steps. Despite that song in Chorus Line it’s not always beautiful at the ballet. 

I just found this bit of video on YouTube of the first preview of Funny Girl. Doesn't show much but the audience seemed happy.

https://youtu.be/7LGPYtsnlB0

More and more I see guys (woman too) of a certain age zipping around town on scooters. When I say “town” I’m talking New York City traffic. I’m impressed and maybe a little terrified at the thought and perhaps envious of their bravery. I would wipe out in no time. Usually no helmets. So I’ve been wondering if anyone here has one and uses it on a regular basis for getting around? 
And speaking of alternative modes of transportation, whatever happened to rollerblades? I used to see a lot of people using them in the city but can’t think of the last time I saw anyone on them. I was always almost sort of tempted to try but chickened out. Equally terrifying. 

I’ve always felt we are kinder to our pets than we are to humans. Recently a friend of mine had a much loved dog of 9 years The dog had a terminal illness. After trying various treatments her vet said it was time to let the dog go. The vet made a house call and they put the dog on my friends bed. They made the lighting soft and soothing. Her dog walker was there plus a neighbor who would borrow the dog to play in the park. They all told the dog how much they loved him and stroked his fur as the vet administered a shot and the dog fell asleep and slipped away without any pain surrounded by people who loved him. 
We should all be so fortunate to pass on in such a beautiful way. 
 

Although I’m a big Sondheim fan it sometimes takes me a few times seeing one of his shows for it to grow on me. Sunday In The Park With George for one. I saw the original production and just shrugged. Eventually after a few more I saw the one with Jake Gyllenhaal (big sigh) from the second row orchestra. I thought he was great and the best production I experienced. Now I’m going to get totally shameless. A friend of mine, a screen writer invited me to a private screening of the movie Stronger. Jake being the star hosted a party and I got to go up to him after the screening and talked to him for a few minutes. He looked gorgeous in person close up by the way. He stood there politely while I told him how much I enjoyed his performance as George. I actually said “I couldn’t take my eyes off you” making a total fool of myself. But it was true. He didn’t seem to mind. 

Today I took myself to the box office and got 5th row orchestra seats for the final performance of Into The Woods May 15. Really looking forward to seeing it as it has a good cast and Encores usually does a good production. Not sure how stripped down this will be but it’s all about the music. 
The last production I saw was in 2002 when Vanessa Williams played the witch. I’ll never figure out how they did that instant, right in front of your eyes change from the ugly witch to the beautiful witch. It was great stage magic. 
I’m also a big fan of the movie version which isn’t often the case. 
https://www.nycitycenter.org