foxy

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.
 

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.
 

What an amazing & well written play. Extremely talented & likable cast. One of Harvey Fierstein's best!

The International Stud, the name of the original first act and where the play starts off was a real bar in the West Village. It was in the days of anything goes in NYC. What looked like a nice little neighborhood gay bar complete with exposed brick walls and a pool table had a notorious back room. Behind a curtain it was packed with men having sex in an almost completely dark room. One huge orgy! You could call it the good old days. Or not.

Coming to NY February 27, Edward Albee's play Three Tall Women starring Glenda Jackson, Laurie Metcalf and Allison Pill directed Joe Mantillo. Sounds like a hit to me.

If this becomes a trend I look forward to the Jackson Pollock movie.

If this becomes a trend I look forward to the Jackson Pollock movie.

So glad for this post. I never heard about the book which I'm reading right now. Very, very good. I look forward to the movie. Last night I watched the film I Am Love with the always excellent Tilda Swindon on Netflix by the same director. A really unusual and interesting film. Thanks for letting me know about this also.

So glad for this post. I never heard about the book which I'm reading right now. Very, very good. I look forward to the movie. Last night I watched the film I Am Love with the always excellent Tilda Swindon on Netflix by the same director. A really unusual and interesting film. Thanks for letting me know about this also.

I read this book when it came out. What was interesting for me was that I was living in the East Village at the time and worked in the West Village. On my way to work I would walk through areas and pass by some of the buildings mentioned in the book. It made the book come alive for me. Years before I lived 2 blocks from the Morgan Library. I was reading the book Ragtime and when it got to the siege of the library I put the book down, walked over to look at the building and returned to my apartment to continue reading. I thought that was pretty cool.

I read this book when it came out. What was interesting for me was that I was living in the East Village at the time and worked in the West Village. On my way to work I would walk through areas and pass by some of the buildings mentioned in the book. It made the book come alive for me. Years before I lived 2 blocks from the Morgan Library. I was reading the book Ragtime and when it got to the siege of the library I put the book down, walked over to look at the building and returned to my apartment to continue reading. I thought that was pretty cool.