Broadway Review-----GHOST THE MUSICAL

Any of you who still believe I have even a small amount of taste will probably change your mind after reading this review. I absolutely loved GHOST THE MUSICAL. It is a complete guilty pleasure. It is a technical marvel that is unlike anything I have ever seen outside of a Vegas Cirque spectacular. The score hsa a few mistakes but for the most part, I'm a fan. Critics may hate it but the audience tonight at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre embraced it and cheered for it. The show follows extremely close to the classic film GHOST. Bruce Joel Rubin, who wrote the original screenplay also wrote the book to the musical and a few of the lyrics as well. Dave Stewart & Glen Ballard wrote the score. Matthew Warchus is the director. I can't say enough regarding the technical elements in the show. Some amazing stage magic. All of the scenes from the film that one would think would be impossible to stage succeed brilliantly. The original lead actors from the London production reprise their roles of Sam and Molly on Broadway. Richard Fleeshman and Caissie Levy both sing beautifully and make you immediately forget Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore. Fleeshman is the stronger actor of the two, but Ms Levy can sing anything and make it work! Bryce Pinkham is a little too creepy in the Tony Goldwyn role of Carl. Even if you didn't know he was the villain of the piece, he's so slimy that you immediately suspect him of something. The true standout of the cast is Da'Vine Joy Randolph who plays Oda Mae Brown, the role that Whoopi Goldberg won her Oscar for. Ms Randolph doesn't do a Whoopi imitation and truly makes the role her own. Her singing voice is incredible and she absolutely steals every scene she is in. GHOST THE MUSICAL is far from perfect, but it's goal is to entertain and move the audience and tonight, it did that. I think it's the best screen to stage adaptation since LEGALLY BLONDE and if tonight's audience is any indication, it just might have a long life on Broadway in spite of the lack of critical praise and Tony nominations.

Broadway Review-----NEWSIES

Ever been in a room with a couple hundred teenage girls screaming at the top of their lungs? That's what tonight's performance of NEWSIES was like. The little ladies were respectful during the book scenes, but during the many showstopping musical numbers, you would have thought Justin Bieber himself had just come onto the stage of the Nederlander Theatre. NEWSIES is based on the cult classic Disney flop of the same name. It makes it's way to the musical stage pretty seamlessly, thanks to a terrific book from Harvey Fierstein. Alan Menken and Jack Feldman have written some additional material to flesh out the score, and Christopher Gattelli has choreographed some fantastic yet exhausting dance numbers. Several of the extended dance sequences are truly impressive and worthy of the phrase "showstopper". Jeremy Jordan, who impressed me so much in BONNIE AND CLYDE last fall, plays the leader of the Newsies, Jack. Jordan is truly a star in the making. Besides having matinee idol looks, he is a winning actor with a dynamite voice. He leads a splendid cast. It's truly Jordan and the young men who play the Newsies that walk away with the show and make it sour. Not only are they fabulous hoofers, but the singing is also top notch. These boys put out quite a winning sound! It's a pleasant enjoyable evening, however I feel the same way about the stage musical as I did about the film musical. It's just not a compelling story. I don't find the Newsboys Strike of 1899 a particularly captivating plot. They have added a few characters, including a love interest for Jack, but it just feels like filler. But just about the time my mind started to wander, one of those Menken tunes started and the real reason we all bought our tickets happens. NEWSIES is absolutely a crowd pleaser and proves another home run for Disney Theatrical.

Broadway Review-----CLYBOURNE PARK

CLYBOURNE PARK blazes onto Broadway already having had a successful Off-Broadway run along with winning the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, not to mention an acclaimed run in London and the Olivier Award for Best Play. One goes into CLYBOURNE PARK on Broadway with extremely high expectations due to the incredible amount of hype. My opinion is that the play is a wee bit overhyped. It's a good play, but in my opinion, it's hardly a masterpiece. The play is written by Bruce Norris and it takes it's lead from the classic play A RAISIN IN THE SUN. The setting is a house in Clybourne Park, in fact, it's THE house that the family from A RAISIN IN THE SUN moved to at the end of that beautiful piece. The first act takes place in 1959 as a couple prepares to move out of their home, making way for the neighborhood's first African-American family. The only character from RAISIN that makes an appearance is Karl, who attempted to talk that family out of making their move. His function in Act One of CLYBOURNE PARK is basically the same. Only this time he is trying to convince the white family to leave well enough alone and not make this final sale. The reason for this couple needing to make the move becomes tragically clear as the act draws to a conclusion. Act Two takes place in the same house in 2009. The house and the neighborhood have gone through a few changes and the act revolves around a white couple preparing to move into what is now a predominantly African-American area. I definitely think the Second Act is the stronger of the two. Where I feel that the first act is a bit clumsy, the second act is tight and incredibly funny. The performances were a mixed bag for me. I think the strongest come from Tony winner Frank Wood and the wonderful Jeremy Shamos. Tony nominations are announced this Tuesday and most consider the race to be between CLYBOURNE PARK and OTHER DESERT CITIES. I absolutely feel that OTHER DESERT CITIES is the better play, but I keep hearing that most feel CLYBOURNE PARK will be the winner. We'll see....

Broadway Review-----GORE VIDAL'S THE BEST MAN

Back in 2000, I saw the first Broadway revival of THE BEST MAN. It starred Spaulding Gray, Charles Durning, Chris Noth, Christine Ebersole, Elizabeth Ashley, and Michael Leonard. I knew nothing about the play and after seeing this miscast and ill-conceived production, I made a note never to see the play again. Never say never..... The 2012 Broadway Revival is now called GORE VIDAL'S THE BEST MAN and has the starriest cast on Broadway including James Earl Jones, Eric McCormack, Candice Bergen, John Larroquette, and Angela Lansbury. I couldn't resist giving the play one more chance. And I'm so glad I did. This production completely cleansed me of the 2000 debacle. The play takes place in Philadelphia in 1960 at an unspecified political party's nominating convention. Larroquette and McCormack play the two leading candidates and both are competing for the endorsement of the beloved President played by Mr Jones. McCormack has dirt on Larroquette and is about to use it, Larroquette has dirt on McCormack but is against getting the nomination by smear campaign. The three act play felt brand new to me and this cast is nearly perfect. James Earl Jones is outstanding, as always. Eric McCormack proves himself to be a very able stage actor and plays the villain quite well. Candice Bergen does some nice work as Larroquette's discontent wife. Angela Lansbury has a glorified cameo in two scenes, but she is always a welcome sight on a Broadway stage and once again proves that age hasn't tainted her comedic timing. John Larroquette is fresh off his Tony winning role in HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING and does superb work here. There's juicy work from Michael McKean and Jefferson Mays. The weak link in the cast is Kerry Butler, who annoys rather than entertains as McCormack's wife. It's amazing how relevant the script is 50 years after it's premiere. This is a first class production that has given me a new appreciation for both the play and Gore Vidal.

Broadway Review-----ONCE

In 1996, a small Irish film called ONCE opened in America and was a sensation. The story of two musicians who meet in Dublin and change each other's lives hit a chord in the United States and both the film and the soundtrack became big hits. In the winter of 2011, a new stage musical based on the film began an Off-Broadway run to great critical and audience acclaim. After selling out all of it's performances, the next step was Broadway. ONCE opened last month to even greater acclaim and this afternoon I was humbled to be part of an SRO audience that was completely captivated by this game changer in musical theater. A cast of incredible singers/musicians act as their own orchestra led by Steve Kazee and Cristin Milioti as Boy and Girl. Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglova, who not only played Boy and Girl in the film but also wrote the Oscar winning score, have written additional material for the show, and Enda Walsh has written a gorgeous script. The choreography (noted as Movement in the Playbill) is by Steven Hoggett and is one of the finest examples of the perfect blend of movement with music that I've ever seen. The show begins with one hell of a pre-show. The main set for the show is a Dublin Pub. And before the show begins, the audience is invited on stage to drink pints and mingle while the actor/musicians entertain them with twenty minutes of incredible music. And then the show begins with Boy singing a beautiful plaintive song of longing as Girl slowly makes her way down the theater aisle already enthralled with both the Boy and his music. ONCE has raised the bar for musical theater. Any perception I have ever had of what musical theater can be and can achieve has been changed by ONCE. It's subtle beauty and exquisite score sets a new high standard not only for Broadway, but for the art form in general. It is something that you rarely hear anything described as.....perfect. There is not one thing that I would change about thie exhilarating and moving piece of theater. You would be hard pressed to find a more beautiful and haunting song on Broadway right now than FALLING SLOWLY, which won the Academy Award for Best Song. Mr Kazee and Ms Milioti deliver that song twice in the show and there wasn't a dry eye in my audience either time, with audible sobs during it's final reprise. The competition for the Tony Award for Best Score and Best Musical is over as far as I'm concerned. ONCE is an important piece which I believe will mark a turning point in musical theater. There's no exaggerating when I say that it is quite simply an extraordinary experience.

Broadway Review-----PETER AND THE STARCATCHER

It is possible to appreciate Art and not like it. One can admire the skill and talent behind something but not particularly enjoy it. One can say "Well Done" but know that it wasn't really to their particular taste. These are the feelings I had after seeing PETER AND THE STARCATCHER. This is a highly original and incredibly unique piece of theater. 12 Actors tell the story of how Peter Pan came to be. The staging is ingenious, the cast is superb, and the scenic and lighting designs are impressive. The use of everyday objects as props is incredibly clever and everything has a "homemade" feel to it but on a Broadway budget, and that's a compliment. I write this knowing that I am in awe of the minds that it took to put an evening like this together. Rick Elice wrote the script and it's based on a novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. Roger Rees and Alex Timbers are the directors and all of them are to be commended. It's a very smart evening of theater and the half-filled house loved it. However, I did not love it. I can't even say that I liked it. What I CAN say is that I appreciated it. I was captivated by the stagecraft and the energy of the cast. I could see the work that went into every second of the piece and can only imagine how creative the rehearsal process must have been. But it just wasn't for me. I know that I am in the minority since it is critically praised and audiences adore it. Potato, Potahto. As I stated before, the Cast is excellent. Celia Keenan-Bolger, Adam Chanler-Berat, and especially Christian Borle are fabulous. But the other 9 actors are equally brilliant. The energy that it takes to get through this piece every night is extraordinary and not one of them lets down their guard for a moment. At the end of Act One, I resigned myself to the fact that I was the only person in the theater that wasn't having a good time. Until Act Two started and I noticed a few more empty seats around me, which made the house look even smaller. So my final analysis....PETER AND THE STARCATCHER is not bad, it's just not my thing. SIDE NOTE....Troy arrived today and saw END OF THE RAINBOW tonight. He was left speechless by it and when we got back to the hotel room, he got on Telecharge and got a ticket to tomorrow's matinee so he could see it again. He said and I quote "I've never seen anything in my life like that woman's performance....I have to see it again."

Broadway Review-----NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT

My face hurt. By the end of two and a half hours of NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, my face literally hurt from smiling. And when I walked out of the Imperial Theatre onto 45th St, I could see that my fellow audience members were suffering from the same ailment. It has been a long time since I have seen a show that you can simply call a "crowd pleaser". Nothing more, nothing less. The SRO crowd tonight at this new Gershwin musical was in heaven and as I was walking out the words I kept hearing were "delightful", "entertaining", and my favorite..."escapism". Diane Sawyer and Mike Nichols were seated next to me and at Intermission he said to his wife "Absolutely charming." NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT is a throwback to the old days of Broadway. A nonsensical plot with just enough story to get to the next terrific song and dance number. That's all this is and it is damn entertaining. What little story there is has bootleggers hiding several cases of moonshine in the basement of a millionaire's mansion on the weekend of the millionaire's wedding....that's it. There are screwball complications that all lead to a happy ending, of course. The book by Joe DiPietro isn't the reason to see this show. It's perfectly fine, but I would describe it as "second tier Neil Simon". What makes this show sour are the musical numbers led by incredibly winning performers. Matthew Broderick is as relaxed and comfortable as I have ever seen him. I am not always a fan of his work but I was thoroughly charmed by his performance as the playboy millionaire. His singing voice is perfect for the Gershwin songbook. And his dancing has come a long way since THE PRODUCERS. He is really impressive in this role. Kelli O'Hara plays the female bootlegger that steals Broderick's heart. She's as good as she ever has been and it's wonderful to see some real physical comedy from her. Her singing is beautiful and she also dances like a dream here. S'WONDERFUL in particular is one of the highlights of the night. It's just Broderick and O'Hara in the living room of a mansion and they dance all over the set, just the two of them. It's like a scene from a 1930's movie musical where the Leading Man and Leading Lady glide up and down the stairs, over the furniture and on tables and chairs to express their new found love. It stopped the show cold. The supporting cast includes Michael McGrath, Chris Sullivan and Jennifer Laura Thompson and all three of them are deserving of Tony nominations next week. In the final 20 minutes of the show, Estelle Parsons makes her entrance. She has a glorified cameo as Broderick's mother and she begins chewing the scenery the moment she makes her entrance. It's a delicious role and Ms Parsons goes to town with it. Kathleen Marshall is the Director and Choreographer and the show moves at a quick pace and the dancing is sublime. There's nothing else like NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT on Broadway right now. It's a beautiful love letter to those old chestnut musicals of the 20's and 30's and it doesn't have any agenda besides wanting to just entertain the hell out of the audience. And it accomplishes that goal. In this day and age, it felt good to smile nonstop for two and a half hours.

Movie Review-----THE THREE STOOGES

Sleeping in a bed without Troy and the dogs has given me a headache and also insomnia....so I have chosen to torture myself by watching bad Pay-Per-View movies in my hotel. Besides the misguided MIRROR MIRROR (see review below), I also watched THE THREE STOOGES. I thought it would be mindless fun. Well, it's mindless, numbingly so, but it's not fun and even worse, it's NOT funny. In fact, it's just awful. It didn't help my headache and certainly didn't put me to sleep. It's not even a fun disaster to watch. It's just purely a disaster. Chris Diamantopoulos, Sean Hayes, and Will Sasso play the famous trio and they do admirable work. The supporting cast including Jennifer Hudson, Jane Lynch, and especially Larry David add some spark where they can. But everyone is fighting an uphill battle with a terrible screenplay that makes the actual Stooges shorts look like they could be AFI Award Winners. I wasn't expecting a new comedy classic, but I was at least thinking that I would be entertained. Just wasn't the case. So glad I paid a minimal amount to see this mess rather than full price in a cinema. I find it hard to believe even diehard Stooges fans would enjoy this debacle.

Movie Review-----MIRROR MIRROR

It's amazing to me how quickly movies are being released on DVD, Blu-Ray, airplanes, and now hotels. In a combination of a terrible headache and a bout of insomnia, I watched MIRROR MIRROR. I had a small amount of interest in it due to my general Julia Roberts love but also because I was interested in seeing what sort of new spin could be done with the Snow White legend. So I lay in my bed, pressed YES, I will purchase this movie and let it begin.... It's a mess. It doesn't know if it wants to be a satire on fairy tales, a gothic version, or an all out slapstick comedy. Julia Roberts is all over the place as the Evil Queen and honestly looks incredibly uncomfortable in each scene. It's as if she knows she somehow got shanghaied into this movie and just decided that she had to try and make the best of it. Her accent comes and goes and she doesn't play "wicked" very well. However, she looks radiant in the incredible gowns. Lily Collins, on the other hand, is a perfect Snow White. She's beautiful and actually seems to be able to act. Armie Hammer is a handsome Prince Charming and it's nice to see that he has some comedic chops along with his already proven dramatic ones. Nathan Lane and Mare Winningham add nice support as servants of the Queen. The fight scenes go on so long that they cease being interesting. The clever references to contemporary slang aren't so clever. The best thing this film has going for it is the cinematography and the visual effects. It looks fantastic. But MIRROR MIRROR is not the fairest of them all....fingers are crossed for this summer's "other" Snow White retelling starring Charlize Theron as the Wicked Queen!

Broadway Review-----DEATH OF A SALESMAN

There has been a great disservice done to this 2012 production of DEATH OF A SALESMAN....and that is the 1999 production of DEATH OF A SALESMAN. There are moments from the 1999 version that have remained a permanent part of my psyche. Brian Dennehy, Kevin Anderson, and Elizabeth Franz headlined that production and it remains one of the finest evenings in the theatre that I've ever experienced. It's highly unfair to compare the two productions, but since they are the only two productions I've seen, I must. This new version stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Linda Emond, Andrew Garfield, and is directed by Mike Nichols. It is staged on the original set designed by Jo Mielziner and utilizes the original score composed by Alex North. Everything about this production is perfectly fine....it's just not AS good as the 1999 and I think 13 years is just too soon for me to try and thoroughly evict the memory from my head. Philip Seymour Hoffman does very strong work here. Yes, he's too young but Dustin Hoffman was in his 40's when he played the role on Broadway also. However, Dustin Hoffman shaved his head and changed his physical appearance to look older. The "other" Mr. Hoffman has some white in his hair and that's it. So to me, at times, it felt like I was watching a college performer attempting to play older. I don't mean that as a slam against the actual performance because it's quite good....it was just my own mind not allowing myself to believe that he truly was Willy Loman. Linda Emond does some nice things as Linda, but again, it's not fair but the definitive Linda Loman for me will always be Elizabeth Franz. Ms Emond's "attention must be paid" scene just doesn't have the weight that the Franz moment had. Not to mention the final moment at the gravesite which was utterly heartbreaking in 1999 and in 2012 unfortunately just has the feel of "end of play". The real standout in this production is Andrew Garfield. He is truly outstanding as Biff. There is not a false move made in his performance. Incredibly impressive and it is my hope that next Tuesday we hear his name called as a nominee for Best Featured Actor in a Play. The supporting cast is terrific with special mention of John Glover as Willy's brother, Ben. I found Mike Nichol's work a bit sluggish. It's not the disaster that his recent production of THE COUNTRY GIRL was, not even close. But if there was one thing that I was not while watching the 1999 version, it was bored. Tonight, I found my mind wandering. It just didn't always keep my interest. There are several productions of shows that I have seen on Broadway that have affected me so much that I purposely chose not to see again because I didn't want that original viewing tainted....the CABARET Revival, THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, and WAR HORSE for example. What tonight taught me is that after seeing a definitive production of DEATH OF A SALESMAN 13 years ago, I need never see any other. Again....this is a disservice to a hard working Cast and a legendary Director, but the 2012 DEATH OF A SALESMAN unfortunately lives in the shadow of a perfect and timeless 1999 version.

Broadway Review-----JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

The Pre-Show announcement states "If you have hard candies or cough drops, feel free to unwrap them at any time during the performance....the Score will drown you out." And it's true....it's a wonder that the sound coming out of the Neil Simon Theatre isn't heard a few blocks over in Times Square. I have never considered myself to be a fan of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. That's because I had to wait 41 years to see the right production. I was left speechless by what I saw and heard this afternoon. This has to be the definitive production. It can't possibly be done better than this. The set is made up of industrial steel platforms with a staircase dead center that revolves and twirls through the performance. The costumes are period with the exception of some leather fetish wear worn during the Temple sequence and a few showgirl outfits worn during HEROD'S SONG (which is fabulously and terrifyingly performed by Bruce Dow). I have never ever EVER heard this score sung this well before. And to think that it was a 2pm matinee and they have to do it again tonight. These voices are extraordinary and brought me to tears more than once. Paul Nolan play Jesus and his voice is the definition of effortless. His GETHSEMENE is spectacular. It's a beautiful portrayal and his final moments in the crucifixion are incredibly powerful. Josh Young is Judas. Mr Young has missed several performances recently due to vocal issues, but I was incredibly lucky that he was on today. His Judas is sensational. Besides an incredibly gorgeous voice, he is a wonderful actor and he brings a complexity to Judas that I haven't seen many actors grasp. Chilina Kennedy is Mary Magdalene and I DON'T KNOW HOW TO LOVE HIM is a showstopper. This production is directed by Des McAnuff and it's the best work I've seen from him since JERSEY BOYS. He and his creative team have brought new life to this overdone Show and it all feels fresh and sounds brand new. The orchestra led by Rick Fox is fabulous. The horn section in particular gave me goosies! Lisa Shriver's choreography is contemporary but not distractingly so. The staging of SUPERSTAR in particular is a total wow! I've seen all of the musical revivals this season except GODSPELL which I refuse to see. For my money, this production of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR should be this year's Tony winner for Best Musical Revival! It's awesome!!!!

Broadway Review-----END OF THE RAINBOW

There are certain performances that I have seen on Broadway that will remain seared in my memory forever....BD Wong in M BUTTERFLY, Linda Lavin in BROADWAY BOUND, Glenn Close in SUNSET BOULEVARD, Elizabeth Franz in DEATH OF A SALESMAN, Harvey Fierstein in HAIRSPRAY, Reba McIntire in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN, Hugh Jackman in THE BOY FROM OZ, and Phylicia Rashad in A RAISIN IN THE SUN, just to name a few....Tonight I can add a new name to that list and honestly, this name might shoot straight to the very top! British actress Tracie Bennett in END OF THE RAINBOW. Her stunning portrayal of Judy Garland in the last months of her life is quite truly one of the greatest performances that I have ever witnessed. This is no impersonation going on at the Belasco Theatre....this is a powerhouse performance that left me absolutely breathless and deeply moved. After the thunderous curtain call, I sat down for one short moment and simply took in everything that had passed in that space the past two hours. To have seen a performance of this calibre in a movie or on television is one thing, but to sit in Row B in a Broadway house and be so close to this kind of genius is life changing. Watching someone who is this good at their craft makes you want to lift everything in your life to a new level. In Act Two, Ms Bennett performs COME RAIN OR COME SHINE as Judy performing under duress and under the influence of several pills. This moment alone assured me that I was witnessing a performance that years from now people will boast proudly that they had the good fortune to see. The play takes place at The Ritz Hotel in London in 1968. Judy is broke and about to marry a much younger man, Mickey Deans. She is in London to perform a series of Concerts at The Talk of The Town and she is joined by her pianist and music director, Anthony. The action moves between the hotel suite and the stage of her Concert. Michael Cumpsty is wonderful as Anthony and Tom Pelphrey is appropriately slimy as Mickey. When Judy takes the Concert Stage, a 6 piece band performs on stage with her. As incredible as Ms Bennett is in the dramatic scenes, she is absolutely riveting in the musical sequences. She has every movement and nuance of Judy in her later years down pat. The couple behind me were saying at Intermission that they saw Judy sing in NYC around this same time and they confirmed that Ms Bennett was inhabiting the soul of Judy Garland, not doing a drag queen impersonation. This is a fearless balls to the walls performance. There is nothing held back. I do not know how this woman does this 8 times a week. The energy, the vocal choices, and the pain seem too draining to possibly get thru every night and twice in 1 day 2 times a week. Now, I will say that the play itself is problematic. And in a lesser actress' hands, the flaws would probably be much more evident. But with Tracie Bennett playing Judy, you simply ignore a few rocky moments in the text and revel in this historic performance. The Show ends with Anthony announcing that Judy Garland died at the age of 47. It's as if the audience forgot that detail because there were gasps hearing the age. The same age that Whitney Houston just died at. After this spoken wrap-up of Judy's life, the final moment is Ms Bennett singing OVER THE RAINBOW and as she sings "Why oh why can't I", the spotlight slowly fades on the face of a crumbled legend who realizes that she is completely lost and utterly broken. Upon the last flicker of that light, a voice from the middle of the house yelled BRAVO and by the time the lights came back up to begin the Curtain Calls, we were already on our feet waiting to thank this exceptional woman for her extraordinary gift to all of us. As she came out to an already standing crowd, I was close enough to see the tears well up in her eyes as several yelled BRAVA. I don't recall any single performance that I've ever seen leaving me weak in the knees, but Tracie Bennett knocked the wind out of me. I know that I am gushing and probably incredibly repetitive, but tonight's experience is why I come to New York several times a year. Greatness changes you and tonight I was humbled, inspired and I hit 45th St determined to be all I can be using what little I've got to give. Thank you, Tracie Bennett.

Event Review-----THE SOUND OF MUSIC in Concert at Carnegie Hall

Anyone who knows me well knows that I have a deep affection for THE SOUND OF MUSIC. I love the stage play, flaws and all, I love the score, and the movie is my all time favorite film. I am a pretty easy audience for this classic musical. I always seem to be able to find a small piece of magic in even the worst productions. A few months ago, I read that there was going to be a one night only Concert Version of THE SOUND OF MUSIC at Carnegie Hall on Tuesday, April 24. A few seasons ago, I had the time of my life music directing TITLE OF SHOW at The Repertory Theater of St Louis with an incredible cast. One of those cast members was the dynamite Amy Justman. When I read that Amy was part of this Carnegie Hall Event, I asked her if there was any way that I could see it if there was an open Dress Rehearsal. Amy worked her magic and this afternoon, I was part of a specially invited crowd to see the final dress rehearsal at 1pm. I had the added pleasure of sitting with Tari Kelly, a friend from my days at STAGES and currently the Standby for Reno Sweeney in ANYTHING GOES. Even before the rehearsal began, it was a special exciting afternoon. The enormous and glorious Orchestra took their place and the music director and conductor, Rob Fisher, waved his baton and the Overture began. To hear an orchestra of this size play this score was heaven. At the conclusion of the Overture, the stage and hall went to darkness when suddenly female voices surrounded you. The "Nuns" were stationed all around the hall in different corners so the sounds resonated from every inch of the room. I have never heard these opening musical moments sung more beautifully. Down the aisle these ladies came dressed in solid black gowns singing ALLELUIA and I buckled in. Then Laura Osnes twirled onstage and began singing the title song. I have seen Ms Osnes several times, most recently as Bonnie in the musical BONNIE AND CLYDE, and she fits the role of Maria perfectly. A stunning beauty with an equally impressive voice, she was the ideal Maria. Tony Goldwyn played Captain Von Trapp. Aside from looking like he is still finding his footing in a few moments, he was great. He sings very well and adds some sex appeal to Georg. Patrick Page took the day off from his duties as Green Goblin in SPIDER MAN TURN OFF THE DARK to play the role of Max and he's wonderful. Such a charming actor that makes every moment count as Max. Opera singer Stephanie Blythe plays Mother Abbess and her CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN is magnificent. Aside from a few thunderstorm effects, the lighting design is pretty limited. There is no scenic design except for some lovely projections that cover the back wall of the stage to set the locations. This effect works quite well, especially during the Wedding Sequence which almost makes you feel as though you are walking down the aisle with Maria. A big surprise near the end of the show happens during the Concert Sequence. The 3rd place winners at the Festival are played by 3 of the children from the movie version....Nicolas Hammond (Friedrich), Heather Menzies (Louisa), and Kym Kareth (Gretl). Finally, the biggest name in the cast is Brooke Shields, who plays Elsa the Baroness. She is simply gorgeous and looks almost regal in the part. Again, I could tell she was finding her way a few times, but by this evening, I think she will be fine. She's not a singer, never will be, but she doesn't embarrass herself and I applaud her guts. Gary Griffin has directed the Concert and he keeps the staging fluid and creates some nice pictures, especially in the final moments as the Von Trapps escape over the mountains. THE SOUND OF MUSIC is a crowdpleaser and always will be. The audience at Carnegie Hall this evening are getting a first class Concert accompanied by an extraordinary orchestra. I am so grateful that I got to see it and especially grateful to Amy Justman for making it happen.

Broadway Review-----EVITA

There are some iconic images that when you finally see them come to life in front of you, it gives you goosebumps and fantastic chills of excitement. Tonight, at the climax of DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA, as the music swelled and Eva Peron slowly raises her arms to her cheering people below, the hair on my arms stood up. This is the first time I have seen EVITA on stage and to have that moment captured just a few feet from me was truly thrilling. When you enter the Marquis Theatre, there is a simple blue curtain that has images of the real Juan and Eva Peron on it. As the lights dim and the announcement of Eva Peron's passing is solemnly heard, the curtain rises to reveal the Ensemble dressed in black holding candles as images of the real funeral procession are seen on a screen above their heads. As the exquisite voices sing REQUIEM, I allowed myself to sit back and bask in the Andrew Lloyd Webber score. For a brief moment, I remembered that EVITA hasn't been seen on Broadway since it's first production 30 plus years ago. This is the Lloyd Webber that people fell in love with before he became a punchline and a bit of a machine. I imagined what it would have felt like all those years ago hearing these melodies for the first time. From the back of the stage, a tall lean figure suddenly appears and as the crowd parts and the lights engulf him, you realize that it's Ricky Martin....and I was suddenly sucked out of my euphoria. Only briefly, but I must admit that I didn't see Che in front of me, I just saw a Global Superstar making a return to Broadway after many years. In this production, they have done away with the idea of Che Guavera and instead they have made the character an Everyman. Mr. Martin wears a very formed white shirt that he fills beautifully and suspenders that allow his ass-sets to stand out....he cuts a gorgeous figure and the audience loved it. But for me, I never forgot that he was Ricky Martin. It's not his fault, I think the Creative Team yanked any hope of a character away from him. So I just adjusted to the fact that this was going to be a production of EVITA narrated by Ricky Martin and a few moments later, I went back to basking in the beauty of EVITA. This is a stunning production that is beautifully designed by Christopher Oram (Scenery & Costumes) and Neil Austin (Lighting). It looks like every penny spent on this new EVITA was well worth it. It is simply gorgeous to watch. And I keep waiting for the Tony Award Committee to create a category for Best Ensemble. The Ensemble in this production is absolutely without flaws. The singing is nothing short of faultless and I have never heard the Score sound better, from an Ensemble standpoint and an Orchestration standpoint. One of my least favorite songs in the score ANOTHER SUITCASE IN ANOTHER HALL is given new life and sung beautifully by Rachel Potter. Max Von Essen makes the most of his brief role as Magaldi and sings ON THIS NIGHT OF A THOUSAND STARS as I've never heard it sung before. Ricky Martin is Ricky Martin. He sings the score quite well and looks like he's having a great time. His joy is infectious and by the time he takes his Curtain Call, you can't help but be in his corner. But, I repeat, he is just doing Ricky Martin. Not that that's a bad thing, it just makes Che nothing more than a soulless function to get from one scene to the next. Michael Cerveris plays Juan Peron. He's perfectly fine in spite of the fact that there is zero chemistry between he and Elena Roger who plays Eva. And speaking of Elena Roger, she has been a controversial Eva because the truth is, she's not a singer. She is a trained dancer and actress, but hardly has the vocal chops that we've heard sing this score before. However....I was mesmerized by her and although I could hear the strain in her voice at times, especially in BUENOS AIRES and GOODNIGHT AND THANK YOU, I she had me in the palm of her hands. This is a ferocious Eva and Ms Roger's portrayal is fearless. Even when her voice doesn't quite have the power you desire, she makes up for it with pure determination and deep characterization. You can keep the big belty DON'T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA's that we're used to hearing....for me, Ms Roger's performance was perfect and powerful. It is Eva's second act and there isn't one moment that Ms Roger's doesn't triumph. Being a trained dancer and also combined with Ricky Martin's dance background, WALTZ FOR EVA AND CHE is sensational and sexy. This production includes the song YOU MUST LOVE ME that won the Academy Award for Best Song in the Madonna film. This was my favorite moment of the evening. Ms Roger's is just so good. I would see this production again just to be in her presence again. Rob Ashford's choreography is incredibly impressive and danced beautifully by this amazing Ensemble. Director Michael Grandage puts some beautiful pictures together and certainly doesn't allow the evening to lag. Act One is 55 minutes and Act Two is 60 minutes. I was especially impressed to see the audience not stand for the big ticket draw and wait for the Leading Lady to take center stage and receive her much deserved standing ovation. She is a triumph!

TV Review-----VEEP

What is it about the title of Vice President that invites ridicule and mocking? Dan Quayle, Dick Cheney, Joe Biden, and of course we narrowly escaped Sarah Palin. And now we have Julia Louis-Dreyfus playing a fictional Vice President and HBO is all the better for it. I think the creators of MODERN FAMILY will spend a lot more time in their seats at this year's Emmy Awards, because in the comedy category, I can't imagine anything beating VEEP...and this is after seeing only the first episode. It is simply fantastic and easily one of the funniest shows on television right now. I watched the Pilot twice because I knew I had missed several things the first time. Serving as the Vice-President to a never seen POTIS, Ms Dreyfus outdoes herself. She is brilliant. Her facial expressions alone are worth more than any line of dialogue could ever be. But the writing is outstanding. Yes, the "F" word is said at least 30 times in 30 minutes, but still....it's funny. Real funny. The supporting cast is also exceptional. Anna Chlumsky, remember her from MY GIRL? She plays Amy, the Vice-President's Chief of Staff and she leads a band of merry misfits that serve as the Staff and support for Ms. Dreyfus's character. Several years ago, Lisa Kudrow starred in a creative edgy show called THE COMEBACK which premiered on HBO and it only lasted one season. I was and still am a huge fan of THE COMEBACK and was disappointed that viewers couldn't get on board with it. I sincerely hope that America can get behind VEEP. You never know what political party this administration is representing, which is very smart. And honestly, it makes it even funnier, if that's possible. Get the kids and the prudes out of the room and give it a shot. It's so worth it.

Movie Review-----THINK LIKE A MAN

THINK LIKE A MAN is what I affectionately now call a "Before Noon Movie". Now in most cinemas across the country, you can see a first run film before 12pm for the bargain price of $5.00. I reserve that time to see movies that I normally don't have incredibly high hopes for, but have a desire to see on the Big Screen. When I arrived in NYC yesterday afternoon, it was in the middle of heavy rain that started shortly before I landed and didn't end until the wee hours of this morning. With nothing else to do last night, I walked a few blocks from my hotel and thought I'd see a movie. There were several choices but THINK LIKE A MAN appealed to me since I am a huge Tyler Perry fan and this looked to be in that same vein. So I paid the ridiculous sum of $14.00 to see a movie that when it ended, I wished I had saved as a "Before Noon Movie". THINK LIKE A MAN is very loosely based on a self-help book that Steve Harvey wrote called ACT LIKE A LADY, THINK LIKE A MAN. It was a huge bestseller and it looks like the movie is set to be an enormous hit as well, but for me, it didn't really do anything new. It was just another one of those "beautiful people meet cute, fall in love, break up, and end up engaged or reconciled at the end" movies. I don't know what I expected, but it seems that my expectations were a wee bit high. Steve Harvey plays himself in the film and he is seen on a fictional talk show spouting his wisdom in between vignettes that introduce us to the featured players in the film. You have your Player, your Divorced Player, your Married Man, your Mama's Boy, and your Dreamer. By the end, all of them have found their happily ever after. There is one enormous reason to see THINK LIKE A MAN and that is Kevin Hart. I am not familiar with his standup, which he is primarily known for. But I intend to become familiar with it after thoroughly enjoying his performance in this movie. He is hilarious and the movie dips when he's not on screen. This man needs to lead his own movie and soon!!!! All in all, it was a perfectly pleasant way to spend a rainy evening in New York City, and considering that the choices were between this one and THE THREE STOOGES, I probably chose correctly.

Movie Review-----THE SITTER

Jonah Hill makes me laugh. I have loved him ever since first seeing him in SUPERBAD. I was worried whether or not I would still find him funny now that he's lost half a person in weight, but 21 JUMP STREET reassured me. Anything Jonah is in, I will see. And now he can say that he's an Oscar nominated actor thanks to his terrific dramatic turn in MONEYBALL. THE SITTER was the last movie made in his "large" mode and it's pretty funny. A sort of "unofficial" remake of ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING, the movie feels like a throwback to comedies from the 80's. Even the musical score is filled with synthesized sounds akin to AXEL F or MIAMI VICE. What little plot there is has Jonah suckered into babysitting for 3 kids before getting a call from his "girlfriend" requesting that he bring her cocaine at a party she is at at without him. So he loads the kids into the minivan and off they go into the New York City nightlife. They run into Sam Rockwell, who hysterically plays a drug kingpin. After one of the kids steals an egg filled with drugs, Jonah and Company become outlaws trying to make their way back home safely before curfew. Running a brisk 82 minutes, the movie flies by. Sometimes I am ashamed at the things I laugh out loud at and there are several moments in THE SITTER that made me wonder about how sick my sense of humor is. This may resemble ADVENTURES IN BABYSITTING, but this is definitely not a Disney movie. The humor is raunchy and the profanity is abundant. But it's funny....real funny. I truly wish Jonah Hill a healthy life as a skinny person, but I must admit that I will miss the jolly fat guy.

Movie Review-----HOP

I'm pretty picky about children's movies. I will see anything Disney or Pixar releases, but I pick and choose what animated films I see from other Studios. Universal Studios impressed me a few years ago with DESPICABLE ME, an animated comedy that made me laugh hard....a lot. So the combination of HOP being from the creators of DESPICABLE ME plus the attraction of having Russell Brand as the voice of the Easter Bunny was enough to tempt me into watching this adorable fun Easter treat. Unemployed slacker Fred (James Marsden) suddenly finds himself uncharacteristically busy after he runs over the Easter Bunny and has to not only nurse the gimpy rabbit back to health but also take over his duties so that the holiday can continue. Burdened with a cranky, cotton-tailed houseguest and a bout of intensive egg-delivery training, Fred finally begins to grow up. With cameos from Chelsea Handler, David Hasselhoff, Katie Cuomo, and additional vocal work from Hugh Laurie and Hank Azaria, HOP isn't as adult friendly as DESPICABLE ME, but it does entertain and has a sweet message.

Book Review----A NATURAL WOMAN by Carole King

Two summers ago, Troy insisted that we get tickets to see James Taylor & Carole King in Concert together.  We got great seats and I attempted to seem excited about it.  Somehow these two Artists never really entered my radar but I put on an enthusiastic face for Troy.  The moment that the lights went down and these two Legends entered the Arena, I was transfixed.  Both of them impressed me....knocked me out is the more appropriate phrase.  We have tickets to see James Taylor again this summer and I can't wait, but I must admit that it was Carole King at this Concert that truly blew me away.  She sat at that piano and mesmerized me for two and a half hours.  To hear her song catalogue and hear her flawlessly interpret each lyric was both moving and unforgettable.  So when I turned on Piers Morgan Tonight last week and saw her interviewed about her just released Memoirs, I shot to my Kindle and downloaded it immediately.  A NATURAL WOMAN may not be the most original Title, but Carole King's story is absolutely one of a kind.  It took her 12 years to write every word of this book without a ghost writer.  And what a writer she is!  The book is lovingly and brutally honest about her upbringing, her marriages, her willingness to remain in an abusive relationship, and most of all, her brilliant career.  Her encounters with such luminaries as John and Yoko, Paul Simon, and of course, James Taylor make for an incredibly readable and engrossing book.  To think that this woman is responsible for THE LOCOMOTION, SO FAR AWAY, I FEEL THE EARTH MOVE, and YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND among so many others leaves me awestruck!  I put my CD of TAPESTRY in the car as I was reading this book and it still remains one of the all time great albums!  The book is written in short chapters and told in sequence of her life story.  When the James Taylor and Carole King Concert ended, Troy said "You aren't likely to see the likes of that again anytime soon."  And I feel the same way about A NATURAL WOMAN....it's quite a tale!

TV Review-----KATHY

It's been a long long time since I laughed so hard I had tears streaming down my face. Well, tonight that happened a few times while watching Kathy Griffin's new weekly talk show on Bravo called KATHY. If only it was nightly instead of weekly. It's a delightful and mindless romp through the past week in pop culture. Kathy began tonight's premiere episode with a few minutes of stand-up which led into the opening credits scored by a new pop song written for Kathy and most impressively, sung by her as well. Great tune. Then the next few segments had Kathy sitting with a panel of what she called "three civilians" discussing events like The Real Housewives of Atlanta reunion special, the Kardashians, and Wilson Phillips attempted comeback. The panel was terrific and I hope we see more of them in weeks to come. Then she showed a hilarious video of her interviewing her new Staff on the Show. This is when I laughed so hard I cried. Kathy is just so quick and off the cuff....her staff is also pretty funny. Finally the evening concluded with a short moment between Kathy and her unknowingly hysterical mother, Maggie. All in all, the first episode struck the right tone and moved incredibly quickly. Kathy Griffin is born to do something like this. It's a wonderful blend of her stand-up and her reality program. Just her doing what she does best. She has surrounded herself with incredibly funny people, which takes a lot of the pressure off of her to be "on" the entire time. Something Rosie O'Donnell should have done with her now defunct OWN talk show. KATHY is terrific and my hope is that it gets so popular that it moves to at least two nights a week, at least. Kathy Griffin can do no wrong and having her back on Bravo on a regular basis is a great thing.

Movie Review-----MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - GHOST PROTOCOL

I had every intention of seeing this latest entry into the MISSION:IMPOSSIBLE franchise in an actual Cinema, but just never got there. I am a fan of these films and find them to be more fun and exciting than the recent downbeat Bond films. Where most franchises tend to weaken by the time they get to their fourth chapter, GHOST PROTOCOL proves to be the best one yet with a completely accessible plot line and non-stop action and suspense. Tom Cruise excels in these type of roles that allow him to show off his extreme athleticism and fearlessness in the face of stunts that are clearly done by him alone. His Ethan Hunt continues to be more than a generic action hero. And in this edition, he has a past that haunts him, which allows for a vulnerability that we haven't seen from this character up to this point. Cruise owns the film. But he has fantastic support from Paula Patton and a hilarious Simon Pegg. Jeremy Renner is a standout as a mysterious new addition to Hunt's team. Seeing Renner in this type of genre gives me hope for the upcoming Bourne film with him taking the primary role from Matt Damon. There are so many impressive sequences in this film, but the scene with Cruise scaling the tallest building in Dubai with only his groovy gloves as security is harrowing and the absolute centerpiece to the movie. My hope is that the enormous success of MISSION:IMPOSSIBLE-GHOST PROTOCOL means that we will be seeing more of Hunt and his team. While everyone else looks forward to Daniel Craig sulking thru the upcoming Bond flick, I will cross my fingers that Cruise is willing to slip into the skin of Ethan Hunt at least one more time.

Movie Review (Classic)-----ABSENCE OF MALICE

I've expanded my Netflix rentals so along with the current releases I have room to get caught up on some Classics that I've never seen. I rarely pay attention to the movies that Netflix suggests that I rent, but the other morning a particular film caught my eye that I hadn't seen. ABSENCE OF MALICE was released in 1981. It is now 2012 and it is astounding how this film holds up in terms of the theme of journalistic freedom. It seems that reporters can get away with saying anything about anyone whether it is true or not. That is the basic incident that sets the plot to ABSENCE OF MALICE in motion. Michael Gallagher (Paul Newman in an Oscar nominated role) reads in the paper that he is the subject of a criminal investigation. Suddenly, everything he has ever worked for is in jeopardy. He confronts the author, Megan Carter (Sally Field), a relentless investigative reporter. Together they learn that the story was purposely leaked to Carter as part of a plot by the chief investigator (Bob Balaban). Gallagher's life hangs in the balance as he and Carter try to uncover the truth. Sydney Pollack directed ABSENCE OF MALICE and the Oscar nominated screenplay is by Kurt Luedtke. The third Oscar nomination for this film went to Melinda Dillon was her incredibly heartbreaking portrayal of Gallagher's best friend. Wilford Brimley is wonderful in an extended cameo near the conclusion of the movie. The first thing I did after watching ABSENCE OF MALICE was head to Amazon to purchase a permanent copy of it. What a fabulous movie! Even the inevitable romance between Gallagher and Carter rings of truth, although I do think that the movie's one misstep is allowing the romance to happen because Hollywood dictated it. But at least the conclusion to the relationship felt true to the story. From top to bottom, this is a great picture, which also contains a fantastic score by Dave Grusin. I can't believe it took me so long to discover ABSENCE OF MALICE. Just might be my favorite Paul Newman pic....

MUSIC REVIEW----LOVE IS A FOUR LETTER WORD - Jason Mraz

I love singer/songwriters that are true poets.  Billy Joel, Carole King, Carly Simon, Adele and Jason Mraz are a few of my favorites.  Jason Mraz has been a favorite of mine for several years ever since I first heard his amazingly soothing voice.  He has one of those vocal tones that relaxes me.  Plus I understand each and every word he sings.  LOVE IS A FOUR LETTER WORD is his fourth studio album and this man just keeps raising the bar for himself with each release.  I thought it would be impossible for him to surpass his 2008 release WE SING. WE DANCE. WE STEAL THINGS. But he has with this incredible new gift.  The theme behind the album is becoming the love that we wish to see in the world.  Realizing that it is up to us alone to love ourselves into the person we have always wanted to become.  The lyrics are simple yet deep and the music is pure Mraz....wonderful.  The first single is the beautiful I WON'T GIVE UP which captures the meaning behind the album perfectly.  Other highlights include THE FREEDOM SONG, inspired by the children in New Orleans living in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, FRANK D. FIXER which is a charming song that was inspired by Mraz's grandfather, and the inspiring closing track THE WORLD AS I SEE IT.  The final dedication in the liner notes is from Mister Rogers himself...."Understanding love is one of the hardest things in the world." That sentence inspired Jason Mraz to write twelve incredible songs that together make what I am sure will be one of 2012's greatest albums. 

Movie Review (Classic)-----CHANCES ARE

I live with a true Romantic. Yes, it annoys me when Troy sits for hours at a time the month of December watching the Hallmark Channel and movies like THE DOG WHO SAVED HANNUKAH and A CHRISTMAS WISH....but he also has a great appreciation for romantic movies. The sappier the "chick flick", the better. His favorite movie of all time is SOMEWHERE IN TIME starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour. Incidentally, that was my mother's favorite movie as well. Last night, Troy wanted to watch a movie. He was looking at my DVD/BluRay collection and made the mistake of saying...."I've never seen CHANCES ARE." I immediately pounced since CHANCES ARE is one of my favorite movies from the 80's and might be in my top ten romantic comedies of all time. I couldn't believe he hadn't seen it, as big of a sap as he can be for those kind of movies. Now, I measure the moments in my life through music. Hearing a certain song on the radio can immediately flash me right back to high school or to other important times that I've experienced. Some good, some bad. When I hear the opening notes to AFTER ALL, the love theme from CHANCES ARE recorded by Peter Cetera and Cher, it immediately takes me back to a night in Columbia, Missouri circa 1988/1989. I drove from my dorm in Springfield, MO to the campus of Mizzou in Columbia, MO to spend a weekend with a few of my high school friends. On Saturday night, we were waiting to go to a party that wasn't beginning until what now sounds like the ungodly hour of 10pm so we decided to go to a movie. We got to the local cinema and the only movie that hadn't started yet was CHANCES ARE. Three of us bought a ticket not knowing anything about it except that Cybill Shepherd from MOONLIGHTING was in it. Two hours later, I was head over heels for everything about the movie and it has remained one of my favorites to this day. And yes, Denise and Melynda, I think of you both everytime I hear that song. Cybill Shepherd plays a woman whose husband is hit by a car in front of her eyes and killed. She is suddenly a pregnant widow left to raise a daughter alone with the help of her husband's best friend, played by Ryan O'Neal. Flash Forward several years and the daughter is now graduating college, the best friend is now hopelessly in love with Ms Shepherd, and Robert Downey Jr gets thrown in as the reincarnated soul of Ms Shepherd's first husband. Is it predictable? Of course it is. But it's so romantic and there are some genuinely warm wonderful moments. Cybill Shepherd is sensational. Aside from never looking more beautiful, the role fits her like a glove. Ryan O'Neal is incredibly charming and funny. Mary Stuart Masterson adds great support and Robert Downey Jr is wonderful. I now understand that Downey was "high" for 90% of the shoot, but you can't tell. He's terrific and the chemistry between he and Ms Shepherd is very sexy. I was worried watching it again that it may not have the same appeal and magic to me as it did in 1989, but it holds up. At one point, I looked over at Troy and he was simply smiling. This movie wasn't a big hit and a lot of people have never heard of it. CHANCES ARE will not be for everyone. The whole notion of reincarnation and the coincidences that come to play in this movie might be too much for some people to accept. But this is at heart a romantic screwball comedy, and if that's your cup of tea, then CHANCES ARE could be a nice surprise for you. "After all that we've been through, it all comes down to me and you...." Sniffle.

TV Review-----GIRLS

Call it the "other side" of SEX AND THE CITY. HBO premiered a new show last night that takes away all of the fantasy and escape that Carrie & the Gang brought to New York City and replaces it with an incredibly sober yet very funny look at the lives of 4 twenty-somethings on their own in the Big Apple. GIRLS is created, written, and directed by Lena Dunham, who served the same duties in the independent hit TINY FURNITURE. Lena also stars as Hannah, who is two years out of college and has been working in an unpaid Intern position living off the monthly check her parents send her. The Premiere episode ends with the Parents cutting the purse strings and informing Hannah that she will be living on her own beginning immediately. We then meet Hannah's gorgeous roommate who is going through her own relationship issues with a boyfriend she keeps around for convenience sake. Another girl returns from a trip abroad and begins living with her neurotic cousin who worships her. GIRLS is fantastically funny and contains one of the most hilarious sex scenes I've seen in recent years....I rewound it twice. Judd Apatow is the Executive Producer, so the humor is pretty raunchy but I never felt it was gratuitous. The problems these girls face so far are very real and the final scene with Hannah once again begging her parents for money is both amusing and heartbreaking at the same time. Ms Dunham has a gift for dialogue and creates characters that each have their own voice and unique traits. I think HBO has a real hit on their hands. For those who thought SEX AND THE CITY was nothing but unrealistic glamour in a very fictional New York City, GIRLS will be right up your alley.

Blu-Ray Review-----THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at the Royal Albert Hall

When I was 17, my father took me to London. I had never been out of the country before. My mother purchased theater tickets for us but was unable to get the hottest ticket in town at the time, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. It hadn't opened on Broadway yet and had only been running in London for a little over a year. It was an astonishing success and it was impossible to get a ticket. So off we went. We had theater tickets for every night except the first day of our arrival. My parents were fearful that I would be jet lagged so left the first night free of theater. My father and I spend out first day walking around the London theater district when suddenly we saw a sign in a ticket agency window that said THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA TICKETS AVAILABLE HERE. My father and I went in and were told that there was only one ticket left and it was for that evening's performance. I had been given birthday money for the trip and the cost of this one ticket wiped out everything I had, but I got the ticket. That night, my father walked me to His Majesty's Theatre in the West End and told me he would be waiting there for me when the show ended. I walked in and was taken by an usher to my seat. The seat was in the very top balcony in the very last row of the entire theater. And as I sat down, the Usher handed me a single red rose. I thought that was unusual but assumed it was part of the London theater custom...what did I know? Then I heard the women in front of me talking....that evening was Michael Crawford's final performance as The Phantom before crossing the Atlantic to introduce his triumph to Broadway. I was excited to be there but still didn't understand what the rose was for. I had not heard any of the music before that evening so had no idea what to expect. The moment the houselights dimmed, I was transported. Experiencing THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA for the first time on the stage where it began is an experience that I remember to this day and still get goosebumps thinking about it. At the Curtain Call, Michael Crawford came forward to thunderous roars and applause and suddenly the entire audience threw their roses at the stage. It was in honor of his final performance. I must tell you that I didn't throw mine....it stayed in my hotel room until the end of the trip. When I walked out of that theatre to meet my father, I was unable to speak. My life had been changed. A year later, my father took me to New York City for my Senior Trip and I got to sit next to him at the Majestic Theatre and see THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA again, but this time with both Michael Crawford AND Sarah Brightman. Since that night, I have seen it four more times....one more time on Broadway, once in Chicago where the first National Tour debuted, once in St Louis at the Fox Theatre, and just last year in the Vegas production. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is at this time the longest running musical in Broadway History. I am still amazed each time I pass the Majestic Theatre on my way to an 8pm curtain and see the line to enter PHANTOM on Broadway going down the street and around the block. It's staying power is overwhelming. It tends to get a bad rap now and is the butt of a few jokes, but THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has certainly earned a place in Theatrical History and just might remain the longest running Broadway Show of all time!! To celebrate the 25th Anniversary of it's London premiere, Cameron Mackintosh produced a one night only Event at London's Royal Albert Hall. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA at the Royal Albert Hall is quite simply, nothing short of spectacular. No matter how many times you've seen it, even if you hate it, you should rent or purchase the Blu-Ray of this Event. It is the same show musically and lyrically, but it has been restaged, redesigned, and revitalized for this Concert. Watching the Blu-Ray was like experiencing the show again for the first time. Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess, the original stars of LOVE NEVER DIES, are The Phantom and Christine for this Event. They are both incredible. Mr Karimloo's Phantom is the best sung I have ever heard and Ms Boggess is simply ravishing to look at and sounds glorious. The supporting cast is also about as good as you will see in these roles. The enormous Orchestra adds a weight to the Score that I hadn't heard before watching this production. I heard orchestrations that my ears had not noticed before. The Cast numbers 99 in this Event and your eyes pop with the number of people on that stage, particularly in the spellbinding MASQUERADE. And when the Curtain falls and the final Cast Bow happens, there is an after show with an appearance from Andrew Lloyd Webber and the original London Company of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. But the real treat (cue the waterworks) is a special appearance by Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman. Sarah sings the title song with four of the actors who have played The Phantom in London....Peter Joback, John Owen-Jones, Anthony Warlow, and Colm Wilkenson. Then the four gentleman plus Mr Karimloo sing THE MUSIC OF THE NIGHT. It is an amazing end to an Event that is so beautifully and intimately filmed that it makes you feel as though you are actually in the room. I can't urge you enough to seek this Blu-Ray or DVD out. Not only is it the entire Show captured for the first time, it is performed and filmed as perfectly as it ever will be. Do not miss it.

Theater Review-----THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES

In 1989, I played Matt in a production of THE FANTASTICKS at the Terry M Fischer Theatre on the campus of St Louis Community College at Florissant Valley. Doing that Show, I met a few people that to this day remain my closest friends. That production was directed by Donna Spaulding and it was the first of many collaborations with Donna that I have done in the past 23 years. Under Donna's direction at the Fischer Theatre, I played Jesus in GODSPELL, Bobby in COMPANY, and Music Directed 110 IN THE SHADE, CAMELOT, SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM, JERRY HERMAN'S SHOWTUNE, and PUTTING IT TOGETHER. But my proudest moment on that stage was revisiting THE FANTASTICKS a few years ago, but this time as the Music Director and Pianist for a production that utilized deaf actors combined with hearing actors. The result was a spectacularly moving experience that I won't forget. The Terry M Fischer Theatre holds a very special place in my soul and it has always been my hope and prayer that the Theater Program at Flo-Valley continues to build and thrive under it's incredibly gifted staff. Last night I had the immense pleasure of attending the final dress rehearsal of Donna's latest production there. She has bravely undertaken the Eve Ensler classic THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES. Eve Ensler continues to update this piece and in this production, there are a few monologues about women in Bosnia that are incredibly effective. But the gist of the piece has remained intact since I saw it Off Broadway several years ago. This production at Flo-Valley is a powerful one. Donna has directed 13 women of different color and nationalities with great tenderness and sensitivity. The production opens with a video introduction giving a bit of background to Eve Ensler and preparing the audience for the evening ahead. Then the sound of Sister Sledge singing their timeless anthem WE ARE FAMILY is heard and the cast dances on jubilantly. The beautiful and perfect production design by Marie McCool puts the action on four separate levels that are draped in lush pink and red colors. One of the great things about the Fischer Theater space is the intimacy that it allows between the actors and the audience and Ms McCool has created a design that welcomes the viewers in even before the performers take the stage. The costuming is also perfect. Each woman is wearing contemporary clothing that seems to perfectly compliment their own personalities while sticking to the similar theme of red, pink, and black. The 13 women are cast perfectly and it's a delight to see a wide range of ages represented. This production not only consists of the monologues themselves but most are introduced with a bit of background that describe Eve Ensler's inspiration in writing each moment. Among the performances, there are certainly some that stand out above others, but on the whole, it is a unified ensemble that make these delicious words come to life. My personal favorite moment is the closing of Act One....a brilliant and damn near perfect performance of MY ANGRY VAGINA. Donna Nelson (aka Spaulding) never allows the show to become visually dull. The stage pictures are truly wonderful and the lighting design by Ms McCool adds the ideal touch. Sitting with Troy and a few other friends last night watching these women perform their final rehearsal before tonight's Opening Performance was a gift to us. To be a part of that last moment of intimacy between a Cast and Director before "giving it away to the audience" as Donna is fond of saying on Opening Nights. It made my heart happy to see the Terry M Fischer Theatre in such amazing shape. It is truly a beautiful performance space and when I walk into that building, my sense of smell immediately lets me know that although I have moved on, I will always feel that sense of "home" there. I also felt a strong feeling of pride and gratitude last night that Donna and I have not only remained great friends but also strong colleagues through the years. Our dream of creating our own Acting Company came to fruition last fall with the creation of the North County Ensemble Players. This is a creative community outreach company that specilizes in celebrating African-American Playwrights and Performers. We premiered with a production of FOR COLORED GIRLS... that was a huge success and we will produce another production this October. Donna is a true gift to North County and her love for the Community and Theater shows in every production she undertakes. I urge all of you to see THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES. It is free admission and the show runs April 13, 14, 20, 21 at 8pm with a 2pm matinee on April 15. No reservations are needed. Besides supporting an incredible Cast and Creative Staff at Flo-Valley, you will see a dynamite celebration of women, friendship, and Eve Ensler.

Movie Review (Classic)-----CHINATOWN

Watching CHINATOWN made me realize how many incredible movies there are that I still haven't seen. I am not sure how this movie slipped by me all these years, but thanks to a beautiful new Blu-Ray edition that just got released to Netflix, it finally demanded my attention. I have heard the hype for years but never got the opportunity to see it. So happy that it lived up to the hype and critical raves. Jack Nicholson plays Jake Gittes, a private investigator in the 1930's. He is approached by a woman to investigate the adulterous husband she is married to....and from there begins one of the most complex and brilliant mysteries I have ever seen. Nicholson is outstanding and is literally in every scene. One of his most subtle performances. Faye Dunaway is Evelyn Mulwray, a woman with nothing but mystery surrounding her. Dunaway looks gorgeous and also plays this unusually subtly for her. The supporting cast includes Diane Ladd, Burt Young, and a terrific performance from director John Huston in one of his few acting roles. I was completely taken with the story and surprised at what twists and turns awaited me. The final 3 minutes had me on the edge of the couch and the ending itself is shocking and not at all "Hollywood". When the film ended, I immediately went to Netflix and put its sequel THE TWO JAKES in my queue. I understand it's nowhere near what CHINATOWN is, but the fact that Robert Towne wrote it is enough for me. Towne won a well deserved Oscar for his incredible screenplay to CHINATOWN and the film garnered 10 other nominations including acting nods for Nicholson and Dunaway. I realize that I am probably one of the last to see CHINATOWN, but if you've never experienced it, rent it. Turn off the cell phone, put away the laptop, and allow yourself to take in every second uninterrupted. Roman Polanski has at least one masterpiece to his resume and CHINATOWN is it.

TV Review-----DON'T TRUST THE B**** IN APT 23

One of my pet peeves is when marketing people put the best stuff in the commercials. The commercials that have been airing nonstop for ABC's new sitcom DON'T TRUST THE B**** IN APT 23 are hysterical and a few of them have had me laugh out loud and then rewind to watch again. So I couldn't wait to watch the Premiere episode tonight. Well, color me disappointed. I didn't laugh once. It's just not funny. A female version of THE ODD COUPLE spiked with extreme PG-13 raunchy humor that just doesn't work. The only niche that the whole show has going for it is James Van Der Beek, who is playing a version of himself. The best gag in the whole first episode is when he's trying to seduce a woman in his apartment and he starts playing the theme from DAWSON'S CREEK to seal the deal. Krysten Ritter has a few great moments as Chloe, the roommate from hell. Dreama Walker is gorgeous as the sweet and unknowing roommate. But it all adds up to about 23 minutes of everyone trying too hard to be hip and ABC wanting to push the envelope. The lowest point on television in recent memory is in this episode when the neighbor across the alley begins pleasuring himself while sipping coffee and talking to our Leading Ladies across their kitchen windows. It's not funny, it's just gross. I'm gonna chalk this up to a less than perfect Pilot and give it one more chance next week. The commercials made me laugh too hard to give up on this completely, but it's gonna have to do quite a turnaround next week to get me to stick with it. It's sure to be a ratings winner due to it's timeslot between MODERN FAMILY and REVENGE, but in order for longterm success, DON'T TRUST THE B**** IN APT 23 needs to aim a little higher and not sink quite as low for a laugh.

Movie Review-----INTO THE ABYSS

There but for the grace of God....that's all I kept thinking as I spent 105 minutes watching INTO THE ABYSS, a wrenching compelling documentary from director Werner Herzog. It examines the emotional aftermath of a triple murder in Texas, interviewing the two convicted killers, their relatives, the victims' families and law-enforcement officials involved in the case. It is absorbing from the first to last moment, but I admit that at one point I stopped the film and took a 15 minute break. I needed a relief from the relentless sadness of the piece. This story takes place in what appears to be a highly poor and uneducated town in Texas. Illiteracy, drugs, welfare, etc seem to be the norm. Criminal life is passed down from Father to Son. I have seen a few other Herzog films and this is by far the most powerful. The sections of the film dealing with the murders are hair-raising and the access to Death Row and the countdown to an inevitable execution made my stomach churn. INTO THE ABYSS will not be for everyone, but it is a film I won't soon forget. When it ended, I exhaled slowly. There but for the grace of God....

Movie Review (Classic)-----EVITA

In just a week and a half, I will see the first ever Broadway Revival of EVITA starring Ricky Martin, Elena Rogers, and Michael Cerveris. I have never seen a real production of EVITA. I saw a particularly bad community theater production several years ago that soured me on the musical altogether. But I do remember admiring the Alan Parker directed film version, so in order to make myself a bit more excited about seeing the Revival, I recently rewatched the film. There had been talk of making a movie of EVITA for years ever since the musical took Broadway by storm. Stars like Michelle Pfeiffer, Meryl Streep, and Barbra Streisand were mentioned as possible Eva Perons for years before Madonna nabbed the coveted role in the 90's. Parker and Hollywood Pictures spared no expense as they traveled to Argentina to film as much of the film on location as possible. The movie looks incredible from the art design to the costume design. It's gorgeous. Antonio Banderas plays Che and although a few of his lyrics are in desperate need of subtitles, he sounds great and looks fabulous. Jonathan Pryce plays Juan Peron and is very effective, especially in his tenderness with Eva near the tragic end of her life. But the film belongs to Madonna. There was so much controversy over this casting decision, but it paid off. She spent a lot of time preparing vocally for the role and sounds terrific. It's not Patti LuPone or Elaine Paige and certainly Michelle Pfeiffer or Meryl Streep could have sung it better, not to mention Babs....but Madonna holds her own. And when you put the singing with the visuals, it absolutely works. She is ravishing in this role. Every look, every costume, every moment absolutely works. The last 20 minutes of the film proves that with the proper director and with her own passion involved, she is a capable actress. She won a well deserved Golden Globe for her performance and quite frankly, she should have been nominated for an Oscar. It's one of those performances that no one expected and in my opinion, she pulled it off. It was even more impressive all these years later watching it a second time. One of the many great things about making a movie out of a Broadway hit is that the orchestrations can be even lusher and fuller than an orchestra pit can allow. And EVITA is no exception. The music sounds glorious and gives the picture a non-stop momentum that carries through for 135 minutes. Watching the film of EVITA again, it did what I hoped it would do....it made me excited to experience a true production on stage in just a few days.

MUSIC REVIEW-----DEDICATED-Wilson Phillips

I remember where I was as if it was yesterday....sitting in a Pizza Hut in Springfield Missouri while I was attending Southwest Missouri State University in 1990. A song came on the jukebox and a friend at the table made everyone stop talking so he could hear it. The song was HOLD ON by a group I'd never heard of called Wilson Phillips. The song made an impact and I remember buying the debut CD of Wilson Phillips at the Springfield Wal-Mart. I have always loved this group. I love their harmonies and the way those three very different voices combine to make such a beautiful smooth sound. Their first CD was such a smash and then their second CD bombed, which led to the breakup of the group. The second CD contains my favorite Wilson Phillips song, however, (YOU WON'T SEE ME CRY). A few years ago, they got back together and put out a CD called CALIFORNIA that is basically a tribute to some great songs from the 60's and 70's. It's a terrific CD. But there's something incredibly special about their new CD called DEDICATED. Everyone knows the lineage that these girls hail from....2 of them are the daughters of Brian Wilson (The Beach Boys) and the other is the daughter of John Phillips (The Mamas And The Papas). This newest CD is a collection of songs that their parents recorded and wrote in their respective bands. The arrangements are incredibly close if not identical to the originals, but what's different are the female voices and those harmonies. There are some incredible covers on this CD, most notably the A Capella version of GOOD VIBRATIONS, it's awesome! The CD opens with CALIFORNIA DREAMIN', continues with WOULDN'T IT BE NICE, DEDICATED TO THE ONE I LOVE, MONDAY MONDAY, GOD ONLY KNOWS, and many more. It's a moving lovely tribute to the legacies of their incredibly talented parents. Wilson Phillips has had such a checkered history that everytime a new CD comes out, I think of it as the last one they will ever produce. But I keep getting surprised. DEDICATED is a wonderful and fitting addition to this group celebrating their 22nd year in the business.

TV Review-----THE CLIENT LIST

A few weeks ago, Troy and I spent a trashy Saturday night watching the TV movie THE CLIENT LIST starring Jennifer Love Hewitt. It was a total popcorn movie that was perfect for a mindless weekend evening. Lifetime has taken that very successful ratings event and made a new weekly series from it. They have created the Series as if the television movie never happened. In this version, Ms Hewitt's husband leaves her so she is struggling as a single mom. I guess they thought it might make her actions a bit more forgiveable if she was single. In order to support her two children in Texas, Ms Hewitt takes a job as a Masseuse in an all female employee massage parlor called, get this, THE RUB. She quickly finds out that in order to make the REAL money, she must give her clients a "happy ending". Loretta Divine plays the owner of THE RUB and as always, she is wonderful to watch. Cybill Shepherd returns in the role of Ms Hewitt's mom. I always find Cybill a welcome sight. One thing that has happened in the few years since the TV movie is that Ms Hewitt has found an acting coach. I thought she was pretty terrible in the film but on the Pilot episode she was actually quite good. She's absolutely beautiful to look at and for once her looks didn't compensate for her performance. It will be interesting to see if she continues to impress. THE CLIENT LIST is not high class television, not even close. But it is an enjoyable and entertaining way to bring one's weekend to a close.

Movie Review (Classic)-----CHAPTER TWO

It's amazing how things hit you differently the older you get. When I was younger, I loved CHAPTER TWO and thought of it as a charming romantic comedy about finding love the second time around. Tonight while watching it with Troy, I found myself incredibly moved and teary. That's something that has never hit me before with this story. CHAPTER TWO started life as a Broadway Play in the late 70's. Neil Simon wrote it and based it on his real life second marriage to Marsha Mason. Neil Simon's first wife passed away and not long after he met Marsha Mason while she was performing in his play THE GOOD DOCTOR. They fell in love and got married. But not long after the wedding, the pangs of guilt and memories of Mr Simon's first wife nearly ruined his newfound love with Ms Mason. Mr Simon wrote CHAPTER TWO with every intention of having Ms Mason do it on the stage, but she found it a little too close to home and thought it was too soon. The Play was a hit. A few years later, Columbia Pictures made the film of the play and Ms Mason felt enough time had passed, so she starred in the film alongside James Caan. The story closely resembles the real life situation with a few fictional elements thrown in, although Mr Simon's memoirs attest to several moments in the play and screenplay that are pulled directly from actual conversations and arguments that he and Ms Mason had. The film is incredibly romantic and also heartbreaking at times. James Caan is riveting as George Schneider, a man who falls in love too soon and is unable to let go of his wife's hold on his heart. It is astounding to watch his performance and realize that he was not nominated for an Oscar. It's a beautiful performance that should have been recognized. Marsha Mason plays Jennie Maclaine and absolutely deserved her third Oscar nomination for this role. She lost to Sally Field in NORMA RAE. Ms Mason completely inhabits this character and practically dares you not to fall in love with her. Because she is basically playing a version of herself and living her own moments, so to speak, it is that much more of a real honest thrilling performance. Second only to Ms Mason's 1981 fourth Oscar nominated performance in ONLY WHEN I LAUGH, this is among her finest work. Valerie Harper and Joseph Bologna provide terrific supporting work as Jennie's best friend and George's little brother. Filmed on location in New York City, the town looks absolutely beautiful. Tonight I find this movie very hard to shake. Watching it with my Soulmate, knowing our history and how it took so long to find each other made me appreciate the whole aspect of starting a second chapter in ones life. How you must let go of the "ghosts" in order to move forward in life and love. In the final scene, as Jennie runs through the streets of Manhattan to get home to her waiting husband, I found myself a puddle on the couch. Like I said, amazing how things hit you differently with age. I no longer consider this a comedy. It's a drama about love, life, and second chances. Absolutely one of Neil Simon's finest works.

Movie Review (Classic)-----IT'S MY TURN

Some people get excited by jewelry, some by clothing....me, I get excited when a favorite film of mine from my childhood finally gets released on DVD. 8 years ago, I had 6 videotapes left after making the change from VHS to DVD and I went to Amazon to see if any of these 6 films had a DVD release date yet. All but 2 had DVD Release Dates, but the two that remained had a box that you could check next to a statement that said "Please inform me when this movie is released on DVD". The two movies were IT'S MY TURN and CHAPTER TWO. A few weeks ago, I got an email from Amazon that said these movies were being released on DVD on April 3. Now to illustrate my reaction I must put in a situation that some of you can relate to....imagine showing up at Dillards realizing there was a huge sale that you didn't know about, or winning tickets to a World Series game, or having someone in a restaurant pick up your check as a surprise....that's on a par with the happiness I felt knowing these two movies were finally getting a DVD Release. Troy hadn't seen either one of them so we earmarked Friday and Saturday night of Easter Weekend to watch them. Tonight was IT'S MY TURN starring Jill Clayburgh and Michael Douglas. This movie was released in 1980. It was R and yes, my mother took me to see it. She was always dragging me along to see movies that she wanted to see. I'm not complaining. It's where I developed my great love for the movies. So I was 10 years old when she took me to Jamestown Mall Cine to see IT'S MY TURN at a matinee. I knew the Diana Ross song so I was happy as long as I got to hear the song. I don't remember really loving the movie since I was too young to know what was going on. But I was a good kid to take to the movies. I sat there quietly and enjoyed even what I didn't understand. A few years later, my mother rented the VHS of the movie so she could watch it again. I was a bit older and could finally appreciate the film. Then watching it again in my early twenties, it quickly became a film that I greatly enjoyed and wanted to own. Jill Clayburgh has always been one of my favorite actresses. She is such an actress of THAT era....the 70's. AN UNMARRIED WOMAN, SILVER STREAK, STARTING OVER, I'M DANCING AS FAST AS I CAN....come on, she's terrific. In IT'S MY TURN she plays Katherine, a brilliant Mathematics professor in Chicago who lives with a kind divorced father named Homer, played by Charles Grodin. One weekend, Katherine flies to New York to attend the wedding of her father and also interview for a position at NYU. At the pre-wedding dinner, she meets her new stepbrother, Ben, played by Michael Douglas. Ben is a retired baseball player due to a shoulder injury. Katherine and Ben instantly have a connection and spend the weekend flirting with danger. Ben is married but the wife is back in Ohio, Katherine has Homer back in Chicago. In one weekend, Katherine sees passion for the first time in her life. Passion from her father to his new wife, passion from her brother to his wife, and lust that could quickly become passion in the arms of this young ballplayer. It makes Katherine question everything she has known and accepted up to that point, which leads to a beautifully written scene between Clayburgh and Grodin that brings the film to a beautiful and realistic finish. Jill Clayburgh is beautiful in this film and plays it like a dream. This is one of the few films she lead that didn't garner her an Oscar nomination. The film is a little too lightweight for the Oscars. But her performance is mesmerizing and her Katherine brought in the "80's" woman. Michael Douglas has quite frankly never been sexier than he is as Ben. He is totally believable as a disheartened athlete wondering what the rest of his existence is going to bring. Clayburgh and Douglas define chemistry in this, their only film together. Jill Clayburgh passed away 2 years ago after a long battle with leukemia. I was saddened by her death. She is a symbol of my childhood since my mother loved her so much. I don't remember any women back in the late 70's who didn't love Jill Clayburgh. She was a symbol of what a woman could and should be. Her characters were always strong and complex and her portrayals were always spot-on. When the end credits rolled tonight and Diana Ross's anthem started playing, Troy said "I can't believe I've never seen that. It's wonderful." Tomorrow night, I look forward to showing him the wonderful CHAPTER TWO written by Neil Simon and starring James Caan, Marsha Mason, Valerie Harper, and Joseph Bologna.