foxy

Recently I had the pleasure of seeing Lauren Ambrose in the revival of My Fair Lady. I was happily surprised at how beautifully she sings. I was sitting in the first row of the orchestra so was quite close to her at times. I thought how very young she looks for 40 years old.
Curious I started rewatching Six Feet Under just to see how she’s changed. She hasn’t. She was 23 when she did that show. She looks exactly the same.
In 2014 I saw Michael C. Hall in the revival of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. I was surprised that Hall could take on such a difficult singing role. I thought he was as good or even better than Neil Patrick Harris who I had seen a few months before as Hedwig.
 
So what started as curiosity about the stars of Six Feet Under has turned into binge watching the entire series over again. I think it’s possibky the best series ever created by HBO. It’s so well written. I find myself laughing so hard and then a few minutes later my eyes are so filled with tears I have to stop watching to pull myself together. A truly brilliant show.

Recently I had the pleasure of seeing Lauren Ambrose in the revival of My Fair Lady. I was happily surprised at how beautifully she sings. I was sitting in the first row of the orchestra so was quite close to her at times. I thought how very young she looks for 40 years old.
Curious I started rewatching Six Feet Under just to see how she’s changed. She hasn’t. She was 23 when she did that show. She looks exactly the same.
In 2014 I saw Michael C. Hall in the revival of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. I was surprised that Hall could take on such a difficult singing role. I thought he was as good or even better than Neil Patrick Harris who I had seen a few months before as Hedwig.
 
So what started as curiosity about the stars of Six Feet Under has turned into binge watching the entire series over again. I think it’s possibky the best series ever created by HBO. It’s so well written. I find myself laughing so hard and then a few minutes later my eyes are so filled with tears I have to stop watching to pull myself together. A truly brilliant show.

Lobby Hero, written by Kenneth Lonergan (Manchester By The Sea) and directed by Trip Cullman, with Michael Cera as Security Guard Jeff, Chris Evans as Officer Bill, Brian Tyree Henry as Supervisor William, and Bel Powley as Officer Dawn. It's now playing on Broadway.
 
Before seeing this play, I had heard very little about it and, yes, I was pleasantly surprised after seeing it. The play takes place in a Manhattan apartment building's lobby. There's a lot of talk that goes on in that lobby during the graveyard shift. The cast is made up of Jeff, a young security guard (not a doorman), with big ambitions, his boss, "Security Captain" William, who's hard on Jeff but does like him and even trusts him with some disturbing facts about his brother. Also in the cast are 2 NYPD officers. Bill, on the force for 7 years, and Dawn, a rookie female officer. Dawn, who has once slept with her partner and has a love interest in him, learns some not so professional things about her unpredictable partner which makes working together most difficult. All meet up in the lobby for revealing conversations.
 
The plot deals with choices. It's a struggle between loyalty & doing what's right. It's an excellent script and truly captured my attention. A wonderful cast which made this amazing play even better.
 
I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Nathan Lane is 62. Not ancient certainly but also no spring chicken. While I’m not usually a big fan as I’ve stated, he was pretty incredible in this performance. There was a lot more than delivering his lines. There was a great deal of physical stuff he did that must take an enormous amount of strength. In retrospect I think he had the most difficult role in the play. I can’t begin to imagine how he does it night after night. I get exhausted just thinking about it. They should hang an Olympic gold medal on the Tony he will surely receive.

Nathan Lane is 62. Not ancient certainly but also no spring chicken. While I’m not usually a big fan as I’ve stated, he was pretty incredible in this performance. There was a lot more than delivering his lines. There was a great deal of physical stuff he did that must take an enormous amount of strength. In retrospect I think he had the most difficult role in the play. I can’t begin to imagine how he does it night after night. I get exhausted just thinking about it. They should hang an Olympic gold medal on the Tony he will surely receive.

Nathan Lane is 62. Not ancient certainly but also no spring chicken. While I’m not usually a big fan as I’ve stated, he was pretty incredible in this performance. There was a lot more than delivering his lines. There was a great deal of physical stuff he did that must take an enormous amount of strength. In retrospect I think he had the most difficult role in the play. I can’t begin to imagine how he does it night after night. I get exhausted just thinking about it. They should hang an Olympic gold medal on the Tony he will surely receive.

I saw part 2 at today’s matinee. Last Sunday I saw part 1. There’s been a lot written about the show already and reviews are all good and I’d agree. It’s a wonderful production. I did see the original but it was almost like seeing the play for the first time these two Sundays. I’d forgotten how funny it is.
I’m not a big Nathan Lane fan but I’d happily hand him a Tony for his performance.
Everyone was terrific in this production. I’m amazed they can find the energy especially when they do both parts in one day.
Lee Pace does do an extended nude scene if that’s important to you.
Today’s performance which clocks in at 4 hours (with two intermissions) sped by. Perhaps seeing the whole show in one day might be exhausting. I had no trouble seeing it over two days.
A word about tickets. Last week I got a 5th row Center mezzanine seat on tdf for $41. It wasn’t listed for today so I went to the tkts booth about noon and got a 6th row Center orchestra seat for $92. It was worth the extra $$$. More legroom but mostly it was nice to be close to the action.
It’s a pretty intense experience but definitely worth the time and money.

I saw part 2 at today’s matinee. Last Sunday I saw part 1. There’s been a lot written about the show already and reviews are all good and I’d agree. It’s a wonderful production. I did see the original but it was almost like seeing the play for the first time these two Sundays. I’d forgotten how funny it is.
I’m not a big Nathan Lane fan but I’d happily hand him a Tony for his performance.
Everyone was terrific in this production. I’m amazed they can find the energy especially when they do both parts in one day.
Lee Pace does do an extended nude scene if that’s important to you.
Today’s performance which clocks in at 4 hours (with two intermissions) sped by. Perhaps seeing the whole show in one day might be exhausting. I had no trouble seeing it over two days.
A word about tickets. Last week I got a 5th row Center mezzanine seat on tdf for $41. It wasn’t listed for today so I went to the tkts booth about noon and got a 6th row Center orchestra seat for $92. It was worth the extra $$$. More legroom but mostly it was nice to be close to the action.
It’s a pretty intense experience but definitely worth the time and money.

I saw part 2 at today’s matinee. Last Sunday I saw part 1. There’s been a lot written about the show already and reviews are all good and I’d agree. It’s a wonderful production. I did see the original but it was almost like seeing the play for the first time these two Sundays. I’d forgotten how funny it is.
I’m not a big Nathan Lane fan but I’d happily hand him a Tony for his performance.
Everyone was terrific in this production. I’m amazed they can find the energy especially when they do both parts in one day.
Lee Pace does do an extended nude scene if that’s important to you.
Today’s performance which clocks in at 4 hours (with two intermissions) sped by. Perhaps seeing the whole show in one day might be exhausting. I had no trouble seeing it over two days.
A word about tickets. Last week I got a 5th row Center mezzanine seat on tdf for $41. It wasn’t listed for today so I went to the tkts booth about noon and got a 6th row Center orchestra seat for $92. It was worth the extra $$$. More legroom but mostly it was nice to be close to the action.
It’s a pretty intense experience but definitely worth the time and money.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.broadwayworld.com/amp/c.php%3furl=New-York-Premiere-Of-BABETTES-FEAST-Will-Begin-An-Open-Ended-Off-Broadway-Engagement-20180221
 
One of my favorite movies has been turned into a play. I'm looking forward to seeing this and how it's been transformed.

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.

A couple of weeks ago I took myself up to the box office at Lincoln Center and bought a ticket for a Wednesday matinee performance. I paid $137 for a pretty decent seat up in the mezzanine. Come last Tuesday the snowstorm rolled into NYC. The next day, Wednesday was to be my performance. Since I commute into the city there was no way I could chance going in. I was very disappointed. I was going to miss the performance.
Friday (yesterday) I went into the city to see if I could make an exchange and happily, to my surprise, the ticket agent was willing to make an exchange. We had a quick discussion of possible dates and he volunteered that he had a seat available for Saturday’s (today’s) matinee. For an additional $40 I got a first row center orchestra seat. I was literally behind the conductor. I know that sometimes being too close can be as bad as sitting too far but I went for it. I’m so glad I did. Because of the orchestra pit I was about 10 feet from the edge of the stage. It was great.
I’ve seen past revivals of My Fair Lady but I can’t imagine a better production than this. Whatever the critics may have to say when it opens, I loved every minute of it.
Lincoln Center does an incredible job in their revivals. Everything is top notch.
The sets, costumes, orchestra, all just as good as it gets.
As to the stars.... Lauren Ambrose who many might know from Six Feet Under plays Eliza. She’s a wonderful actress I’ve seen in other plays but I had no idea she sings so beautifully. Her voice is just gorgeous.
Harry Hadden-Paton who I didn’t know is very good as Professor Higgins.
So much fun to see Diana Rigg as Mrs. Higgins. So sexy in the Avengers years ago, and of course Game of Thrones. Her movie, theater and television credits are as long as your arm.
However Norman Leo Butz as Alfred P. Doolittle almost stops the show. Just to see him perform Get Me to the Church on Time is worth the price of a ticket.
The Ascot Gavotte was also a favorite scene. There was never a dull moment in this production.
All in all I couldn’t have asked for a more delightful afternoon at the theater. I’m actually grateful to the snow storm that wound up putting me into such a great seat.
This was certainly the theater highlight for me this season. Highly recommended.

A couple of weeks ago I took myself up to the box office at Lincoln Center and bought a ticket for a Wednesday matinee performance. I paid $137 for a pretty decent seat up in the mezzanine. Come last Tuesday the snowstorm rolled into NYC. The next day, Wednesday was to be my performance. Since I commute into the city there was no way I could chance going in. I was very disappointed. I was going to miss the performance.
Friday (yesterday) I went into the city to see if I could make an exchange and happily, to my surprise, the ticket agent was willing to make an exchange. We had a quick discussion of possible dates and he volunteered that he had a seat available for Saturday’s (today’s) matinee. For an additional $40 I got a first row center orchestra seat. I was literally behind the conductor. I know that sometimes being too close can be as bad as sitting too far but I went for it. I’m so glad I did. Because of the orchestra pit I was about 10 feet from the edge of the stage. It was great.
I’ve seen past revivals of My Fair Lady but I can’t imagine a better production than this. Whatever the critics may have to say when it opens, I loved every minute of it.
Lincoln Center does an incredible job in their revivals. Everything is top notch.
The sets, costumes, orchestra, all just as good as it gets.
As to the stars.... Lauren Ambrose who many might know from Six Feet Under plays Eliza. She’s a wonderful actress I’ve seen in other plays but I had no idea she sings so beautifully. Her voice is just gorgeous.
Harry Hadden-Paton who I didn’t know is very good as Professor Higgins.
So much fun to see Diana Rigg as Mrs. Higgins. So sexy in the Avengers years ago, and of course Game of Thrones. Her movie, theater and television credits are as long as your arm.
However Norman Leo Butz as Alfred P. Doolittle almost stops the show. Just to see him perform Get Me to the Church on Time is worth the price of a ticket.
The Ascot Gavotte was also a favorite scene. There was never a dull moment in this production.
All in all I couldn’t have asked for a more delightful afternoon at the theater. I’m actually grateful to the snow storm that wound up putting me into such a great seat.
This was certainly the theater highlight for me this season. Highly recommended.

A couple of weeks ago I took myself up to the box office at Lincoln Center and bought a ticket for a Wednesday matinee performance. I paid $137 for a pretty decent seat up in the mezzanine. Come last Tuesday the snowstorm rolled into NYC. The next day, Wednesday was to be my performance. Since I commute into the city there was no way I could chance going in. I was very disappointed. I was going to miss the performance.
Friday (yesterday) I went into the city to see if I could make an exchange and happily, to my surprise, the ticket agent was willing to make an exchange. We had a quick discussion of possible dates and he volunteered that he had a seat available for Saturday’s (today’s) matinee. For an additional $40 I got a first row center orchestra seat. I was literally behind the conductor. I know that sometimes being too close can be as bad as sitting too far but I went for it. I’m so glad I did. Because of the orchestra pit I was about 10 feet from the edge of the stage. It was great.
I’ve seen past revivals of My Fair Lady but I can’t imagine a better production than this. Whatever the critics may have to say when it opens, I loved every minute of it.
Lincoln Center does an incredible job in their revivals. Everything is top notch.
The sets, costumes, orchestra, all just as good as it gets.
As to the stars.... Lauren Ambrose who many might know from Six Feet Under plays Eliza. She’s a wonderful actress I’ve seen in other plays but I had no idea she sings so beautifully. Her voice is just gorgeous.
Harry Hadden-Paton who I didn’t know is very good as Professor Higgins.
So much fun to see Diana Rigg as Mrs. Higgins. So sexy in the Avengers years ago, and of course Game of Thrones. Her movie, theater and television credits are as long as your arm.
However Norman Leo Butz as Alfred P. Doolittle almost stops the show. Just to see him perform Get Me to the Church on Time is worth the price of a ticket.
The Ascot Gavotte was also a favorite scene. There was never a dull moment in this production.
All in all I couldn’t have asked for a more delightful afternoon at the theater. I’m actually grateful to the snow storm that wound up putting me into such a great seat.
This was certainly the theater highlight for me this season. Highly recommended.

A couple of weeks ago I took myself up to the box office at Lincoln Center and bought a ticket for a Wednesday matinee performance. I paid $137 for a pretty decent seat up in the mezzanine. Come last Tuesday the snowstorm rolled into NYC. The next day, Wednesday was to be my performance. Since I commute into the city there was no way I could chance going in. I was very disappointed. I was going to miss the performance.
Friday (yesterday) I went into the city to see if I could make an exchange and happily, to my surprise, the ticket agent was willing to make an exchange. We had a quick discussion of possible dates and he volunteered that he had a seat available for Saturday’s (today’s) matinee. For an additional $40 I got a first row center orchestra seat. I was literally behind the conductor. I know that sometimes being too close can be as bad as sitting too far but I went for it. I’m so glad I did. Because of the orchestra pit I was about 10 feet from the edge of the stage. It was great.
I’ve seen past revivals of My Fair Lady but I can’t imagine a better production than this. Whatever the critics may have to say when it opens, I loved every minute of it.
Lincoln Center does an incredible job in their revivals. Everything is top notch.
The sets, costumes, orchestra, all just as good as it gets.
As to the stars.... Lauren Ambrose who many might know from Six Feet Under plays Eliza. She’s a wonderful actress I’ve seen in other plays but I had no idea she sings so beautifully. Her voice is just gorgeous.
Harry Hadden-Paton who I didn’t know is very good as Professor Higgins.
So much fun to see Diana Rigg as Mrs. Higgins. So sexy in the Avengers years ago, and of course Game of Thrones. Her movie, theater and television credits are as long as your arm.
However Norman Leo Butz as Alfred P. Doolittle almost stops the show. Just to see him perform Get Me to the Church on Time is worth the price of a ticket.
The Ascot Gavotte was also a favorite scene. There was never a dull moment in this production.
All in all I couldn’t have asked for a more delightful afternoon at the theater. I’m actually grateful to the snow storm that wound up putting me into such a great seat.
This was certainly the theater highlight for me this season. Highly recommended.

I finally got to see the play. St. Patrick’s Day might not have been the best day to be in mid-town but I survived.
Glenda Jackson was everything you could want in a brilliant performance. Laurie Metcalf was not far behind. I wasn’t familiar with Alison Pill, but I thought she was good in a less showy role.
The play is quite funny even when being quite serious.
There’s a lush set that does some theater magic with a gigantic mirror that I thought was really interesting.
I certainly recommend the show. So far it’s been at tkts quite a bit but it’s still in previews.

I had never seen a live production of Carousel so I was looking forward to seeing this show. With a great score by the legendary team of Rodgers and Hammerstein you have to fight the urge to hum along. This new production has a cast of Joshua Henry as Billy Bigelow, Jessie Mueller as Julie Jordan and Renee Fleming as Nettie Fowler. They all sing wonderfully.
There’s a large orchestra in the pit so the sound is rich and full. The music won’t disappoint.
However there were things about this production I wasn’t crazy about. Firstly the plot. Julie is in an abusive relationship with Billy. I suppose it’s the old story of a woman being drawn to the bad boy. I think we can all relate to this on some level. But the chemistry seemed lacking between Henry and Mueller and it was hard to figure out what they saw in each other. The scenes in heaven were somewhat bizarre with a writhing group of dancers that didn’t make much sense to me. And Billy returning to earth only to wind up slapping his daughter. Well, that’s the plot of the book but I kept wondering that Billy didn’t seem to learn much and become any more sympathetic after he kills himself.
All in all it’s still worth seeing and you can leave the theater humming as you fight the crowd leaving the theater.
 
If you have Amazon Prime and are interested you can watch a PBS production from Lincoln Center recorded in 2013 with Kelli O’Hara, Nathan Gunn, Stephanie Blythe and Jessie Mueller this time in the role of Carrie Pipperage.

For a fun 50 minutes I'd recommend this lively, funny and rather sexy show.
Now playing at the historic New Victory Theater on 42nd Street.
Part of the fun going to the theater is often the theater itself and this one is certainly impressive.
Built in 1900 by Oscar Hammerstein, grandfather of the famous lyricist, it was first called the Theater Republic. In 1902 it was taken over by David Belasco who added improvements. In the 1930's it was taken over by Billy Minsky and it became Broadway's first burlesque theater. The biggest star was Gypsy Rose Lee.
In 1942 the theater was renamed The Victory in a burst of patriotism. By the 1970's it was the block's only XXX-rated theater.
In 1990 it was completely refurbished and became the family friendly theater it is today.
 
Bromance is a show conceived and starring three attractive, very athletic, young British guys called the Barely Methodical Troupe.
Interspersed with some amazing acrobatics the show has a theme that it's okay for guys to touch and feel affection for each other all shown in a funny kid friendly way. This adult certainly enjoyed that message.
After the show the guys sit in one of the lobbies to sign autographs or take photos with anyone interested so you can get up close and shake hands.
 
http://www.theatermania.com/off-broadway/reviews/bromance-at-the-new-victory-theater_84073.html
 

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.