Wednesday, November 19, 2014

It’s Freezing Cold - Spring at the Willowbrook Inn - Billy & Ray - Honeymoon In Vegas


Wednesday==>If I thought yesterday was uncomfortably cold at 26º, wind chill 13º at 8:30am, I should have kept my mouth shut because ... OMFG!! ...

At 8:30am this morning it was ... OMFG!! ... 22º with wind chill down to 11º.

It is reported in this morning’s papers that all 50 states recorded a freezing temperature, even Hawaii. Brrrrrrrrrrr!!

Well, at least today your favorite blogger here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, can remain in the warm and cozy confines of his apartment and avoid the cold==>NOT!!

Of course NOT!!==>Billi Pod has an entertainment doubleheader scheduled for today ... 

The first event is this afternoon ... a reading ...

1:00==>SPRING AT THE WILLOWBROOK INN - “Follows the lives of two men from their first meeting in 1967 at a motivational conference, through the present day. They develop a deep relationship based on mutual understanding and love as their lives unfold separately.” (reading - free ticket)

This is an “industry only” staged reading that is being directed by my friend Scott Wojcik. I saw an earlier version (fully staged) back on July 26, 2012 and gave it an A. It was also directed by Scott.

Legendary diving champion Greg Louganis will be in the two-person cast for this reading.

It is being performed at The Pearl Studio at 500 8th Avenue and has a running time of 90 minutes, without intermission. 

Luckily it is only 6 blocks south and 1 block east of my West 42nd Street apartment.

Really looking forward to this. When it is over I will again brave the elements and come back to PHC for my usual fruit and cheese plate. Then, I will head downtown to the Union Square area for my second entertainment event ...

The Off Broadway show ...

7:00==>BILLY & RAY - “A comedy charting the birth of the film noir genre, follows literary odd couple writer-director Billy Wilder and novelist Raymond Chandler as they contentiously collaborate to adapt Double Indemnity for the silver screen. Set in 1940s Hollywood, this is a true story of how two brilliant and thorny artists battled the Hollywood censors and each other to create a groundbreaking movie classic.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This show received very mixed reviews. It is playing at The Vineyard Theatre on East 15th Street in the Union Square area, has a running time of 2:15, with intermission, and closes, as scheduled, on this coming Sunday. 

Hopefully, when all of this is over I will have avoided hypothermia.

Now ... moving on to ...

Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s Broadway show ... 

HONEYMOON IN VEGAS, in this musical remake of the 1992 hit film Jack Singer, a regular guy with an extraordinary fear of marriage, finally gets up the nerve to ask his girlfriend Betsy to marry him. But when they head to Las Vegas to get hitched, smooth talking gambler Tommy Korman, looking for a second chance at love, falls head over heels for Betsy and all Hell breaks loose for Jack==>A

This was a whole lot of fun.

It was well-performed by a stellar cast headed by Rob McClure as Jack, Brynn O’Malley as Betsy and the legendary Tony Danza as Tommy.

I was particularly impressed with McClure who not only sings and dances well but also has excellent comedic timing.

Danza more than holds his own in the singing and dancing department.

The music and lyrics were interesting and involving.

The staging, sets and props were outstanding.

This was the first preview performance and everything went well. There was a minor glitch with some parachuting Elvis impersonators, but it probably wasn’t noticed by most of the audience.

My discounted TDF seat was super-excellent ... in the orchestra, house left, row G, 3 seats from the aisle.

Billi Pod says==>worth seeing.

It opens on January 15th, is playing at The Nederlander Theatre on West 41st Street, has a running time of 2:25, with intermission, and is an open run.

Yeah, I left the theater with a big smile on my face which was quickly frozen in place by the frigid weather. Oh well ... 

Moving on ...

Your favorite blogger is happy to report that the well-reviewed Off Broadway show PUNK ROCK has had its run extended an additional week, so it now runs through December 14th. Hopefully, Billi Pod will be able to see it again.

OK, my loyal and faithful readers and followers ... you are now up-to-date ... so ... 

Stay warm everyone!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>1.78 miles (or, 3,907 steps)

Total mileage for 2014==>1,300.77 miles (average 4.05 miles per day)

GO GATORS!!

Billi Pod
“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”

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