Thursday==>Bummer!!

In the name of fair and unbiased reporting Billi Pod must share with you loyal and faithful readers and followers the disturbing fact that yesterday was a bummer. What am I talking about I know you are all breathlessly asking your inner selves?

Well, selves ... it went down like this ... 

As you know from yesterday’s posting my entertainment event for the evening was an Off Broadway show called THE REBIRTH OF LINE and it was playing at The Producer’s Club located on West 44th Street only 2 blocks North of my apartment. Since my comp. ticket was through one of my ticket services I had to pick it up no later than 30 minutes before the curtain.

So, at 7:25pm I opened the door to the stairway leading up to the theater only to be met by a stream of disgruntled looking people walking down. One of them asked if I was there to see LINE and when I said yes she informed me that the performance had been canceled. What??

She added that the people at the box office gave no reason for the cancellation. What??

Well, at least I saved myself from walking up a rather steep set of stairs, but, WTF was I going to do for the remainder of the evening? It was really windy and cold.

I immediately checked my iPhone movie app (IMDd) for a possible movie only to discover that the two shows I was interested in seeing, LINCOLN and LIFE OF PI had show times of 8:30 and 9:05. Bummer!!

To make a rather boring report somewhat shorter==>I spent the next hour or so walking the subway platforms at 42nd Street, 14th Street and West 4th Street and then came back to PHC and watched boring stuff on the tube. Bummer!!

Oh well, you can’t win them all as “they” (whoever “they” are) say.

So ... on to more interesting stuff, like ...

Billi Pod’s entertainment event for tonight ...

8:00==>COLD SNAPS 2012: Winter One-Act Festival - “Seven one-act plays featuring: fascinating parallels, prehistoric silliness, delicate romance,

and valiant struggles for survival and sanity!” (Off Broadway - $9.00 TDF ticket).

This is playing at a theater down on West 36th Street that usually has pretty good stuff. We will see.

In response to several texts and emails regarding yesterday’s posting in which I reported I had upcoming open dates==>fear not my loyal and faithful readers and followers, shows have now been booked. Details in later postings.

I will close this posting with a link to a tremendous article about Coach Muschamp and our Gators. Check it out!!

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ncaaf--gators-going-boom-under-the-anti-spurrier-063629952.html

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.89 miles (or, 12,876 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>817.99

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>261.01

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.”

Wednesday’s Broadway Doubleheader Was Excellent

I am happy to report to all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers that Wednesday’s Broadway doubleheader was excellent, starting with ...

GOLDEN BOY, about the swift rise of a gifted twenty-one-year-old violinist, Joe Bonapart, who is corrupted by fame and fortune when he chooses to become a professional boxer==>B+

The acting is excellent but, honestly, the only character I cared a flying-f**k for or about was Joe’s father played by Tony Shalhoub.

Thankfully, the set-change problems that plagued this show in its early previews have been resolved.

The show is long, clocking in at 2 hours and 50 minutes, with 3 acts and 2 intermissions.

My comp. seat was excellent, in the orchestra, row P.

Having said this ... if you are a theatre-buff you gotta see this show.

Then for the evening I had a return visit to ...

THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD, everyone on stage is a suspect in the murder of young Edwin Drood and the audience gets to choose the killer==>A

Totally funny with extraordinary cast. I especially loved the staging.

When I first saw this show in early previews I gave it a B+. Since then the show has been tightened up and it just feels better, so Billi Pod upgraded it.

Oh, I was concerned that my comp. seat would again be in the upper nosebleed section. Well, my seat couldn’t have been better for this show. I was on the aisle in the first row, house left. This area often interacts with the cast. It was fun.

Tonight’s entertainment event is ...

8:00==>THE REBIRTH OF LINE - “An infusion of new blood, new life and a new vision into NYC’s long running  show by Israel Horovitz. Five people are standing in ‘line’ all thinking they are standing in line for something different, all striving to be first at any cost.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This show has been running downtown since 1974, making it the longest running NYC theater production. I like the show but hate the venue, the 13th Street Repertory Theatre, so when it was announced that a “refreshed” version was being mounted at The Producer’s Club on West 44th Street I decided to give it a shot. It is, of course, still running downtown. 

WTF? As of this moment Billi Pod has nothing on his entertainment schedule for the upcoming 5 days, with the exception of probably watching the SEC Championship game @ 4:00pm on Saturday. WTF?

Oh, don’t panic my loyal and faithful readers and followers, things will show up, you may be certain of that because Billi Pod lives in New York City, The Greatest City In The World.

Wow!! Billi Pod Blogs is approaching 40,000 hits. WOW!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.30 miles (or, 11,593 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>812.10

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>266.90

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.”

PETER AND THE STARCATCHER==>Still An A

Well, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, Billi Pod is happy to report that the snow and rain are gone and, Thank God, it is a beautiful morning here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World. It is, however, cold==>35º @ 8:30am.

Let’s get started this morning with Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s second visit to PETER AND THE STARCATCHER, the retelling of how a miserable orphan came to be The Boy Who Never Grew Up.

As I posted yesterday, I saw this show in early previews back on April 1st and gave it an A. I have to say that I totally enjoyed seeing it for the second time and found it to be still worthy of an A. It is a lot of fun.

I saw the show with my theater buddy Marty Kosarik and our comp. seats were excellent, second row, center orchestra. Close, but not too close. We actually felt as if we were part of the show. We left the theater with big smiles on our faces.

We had a nice dinner at a restaurant in my Hell’s Kitchen ‘hood called Traffic, which is really an upscale sports bar. The food was acceptable and we each had plenty of leftovers to take back home.

Today is yet another entertainment doubleheader for Billi Pod, both Broadway shows ... starting with ...

2:00==>GOLDEN BOY - “Charts the swift rise of a gifted twenty-one-year-old violinist, Joe Bonaparte, who is corrupted by fame and fortune when he chooses to become a professional boxer.” (Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This show is still in previews and the advance buzz is very very positive.

Then for the evening Billi Pod will make a return visit to ...

8:00==>THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD - “In this raucous staging of Charles Dickens’ last novel everyone on stage is a suspect in the murder of young Edwin Drood and the audience gets to choose the killer.” (Broadway - complimentary ticket)

I originally saw this show in previews back on October 31st and gave it a B+ report card. It received very favorable reviews when it opened and several of my theater buddies have reported that their second visit to the show was totally enjoyable. I am looking forward to seeing it again.

Hopefully my comp. seat won’t be in the upper rear nosebleed section as it was on my first visit.

Moving on ...

Yesterday I got an email from The New York Philharmonic advising me that they had just scheduled the following new concert event for January 29, 2013 ...

“SYMPHONIC SONDHEIM - Tony Award–winning star of theater, film, and television, Nathan Lane will host Symphonic Sondheim, the New York Philharmonic’s performance of symphonic suites by Pulitzer Prize, Tony Award, Academy Award, and Grammy Award–winning composer Stephen Sondheim. Experience the splendor of the New York Philharmonic playing symphonic suites of this legendary composer's greatest melodies from works such as Sunday in the Park with George, The Enclave, Pacific Overtures, Stavisky, Passion, and Sweeney Todd.”

OMFG!! I immediately went online and scored an excellent seat in the same area as my subscription series location. OMFG!!

Moving on some more ...

Even though yesterday was a majorly nasty day I was still able to log in was excellent mileage ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>6.64 miles (or, 9,459 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>806.80

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>272.20

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.”

LET’S KILL GRANDMA THIS CHRISTMAS==>B

It is a nasty, cold and wet day here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World. In fact, at 2:45pm it is lightly snowing. Unfortunately the forecast says it ain’t gonna get any better.

Oh well ... sorry about the lateness of this posting. Have a legitimate excuse, however. Yep, had a “routine” followup appointment with my eye doctor that took a bit longer than it usually does.

Oh, not to worry, everything went as expected, it just took longer to do the usual field-of-vision test. God, I hate the field-of-vision test. For whatever reason I always feel worn out when it is finally over.

When I got back to PHC I was cold and wet and just in no mood to sit down in front of this ‘puter and write. Luckily about a hour later my inner self reminded Billi Pod that he has an obligation to you loyal and faithful readers and followers out there in the hinterlands, wastelands and boondocks ... so ... here we are ...

Let’s get started with Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s entertainment event ...

LET’S KILL GRANDMA THIS CHRISTMAS, about a family that asks the question: “at 80 years old, how much longer does Grandma need to hold onto her vast fortune?”==>B

It is funny and well acted. It is also extremely and I mean, extremely, profane. The 80-year old Grandma spews the F-word about every 3rd word, and, honestly, that gets a bit tiresome by the play’s end.

Having said that, it is worth seeing if you have an open mind. If not ... stay far far away.

Tonight’s entertainment event is a return visit to a Broadway show ...

7:00==>PETER AND THE STARCATCHER - “A wildly theatrical, humorous and innovative retelling of how a miserable orphan came to be The Boy Who Never Grew Up. A dozen actors play more than 100 characters in this epic original story of one of popular culture's most enduring and beloved characters.” (Broadway - complimentary ticket)

I saw this show in early previews back on April 1st and gave it an A. It also got basically good reviews from the other New York critics. I am looking forward to seeing it again.

I will be seeing it with my theater buddy Marty Kosarik. After the show we plan to get a bite somewhere in my Hell’s Kitchen ‘hood.

Well, it is now 3:00 and it is snowing heavier. Really nasty out.

On that happy note will post this. 

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.32 miles (or, 9,459 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>800.16

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>278.74

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.”

It Was A Stellar Weekend

Good morning to all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers. I hope your weekend was stellar because Billi Pod’s certainly was beginning with the awesome 37-26 win over HALF ASS U and then a stellar entertainment doubleheader for Sunday, so ...

Let’s get this posting started with Billi Pod’s report cards on Sunday’s  doubleheader ...

MESSIAH: REFRESHED @ Avery Fisher Hall==>A<== a perfect way to start the holiday season.

The enhanced orchestration of Handel’s classic, supported by a full orchestra and a 175+ person chorus, filled the auditorium with gloriously beautiful sounds that transfixed the audience.

The performance, done with one intermission, clocked in at 2:30 but the time passed quickly.

Whenever I hear The Messiah I remember back to high school (Summerlin Institute in Bartow, FL) where I was a member of the Glee Club for 3 years, under the iron-fisted direction of Miss Margaret Clark (who was one tough lady, especially on the guys).

We performed The Messiah each season, but our version ended with the Hallelujah Chorus, omitting the final 4 numbers in the original format. Frankly, I still like our format better.

In response to an inquiry about standing during the Hallelujah Chorus ...

On March 23, 1743, The Messiah was performed for the 1st time in London. Present was King George II. The king was so moved by the singing of the Hallelujah Chorus, he spontaneously stood to his feet and remained standing until the end of the Chorus. (And when the king stands up, EVERYBODY stands up.) Ever since that day it has been customary for the audience to stand whenever the Hallelujah Chorus is sung.

You are so very welcome.

Then for the evening was a drama down at the newly refurbished Public Theater @ Astor Place ... 

SORRY, about the Apple family in Rhinebeck, NY, as they sort through personal and political feelings on Election Day 2012==>B

I really wanted to like this show a lot more. This was the 3rd part of the series. I had seen the 2nd part called SWEET AND SAD, so I was familiar with the underlying story line and the characters.

This production would have gotten a higher grade except for the staging that had the actors speaking important dialogue while their backs were turned to large portions of the audience. It is staged in the 3/4s round (if that makes any sense to you). I was on the side only 4 rows back and I had difficulty hearing and understanding, even with my hearing aid thingys.

I had the same complaint about SWEET AND SAD ... Oh well ...

Was able to log in some walking time before and after the show.

As I said above, THE MESSIAH was an excellent way to get the holiday season started for Billi Pod. Well, tonight he is  taking another step down the road to Christmas with the following show ...

7:00==>LET’S KILL GRANDMA THIS CHRISTMAS - “After a rough year filled with economic difficulties, some family members ponder the question ... at 80 years old, how much longer does Grandma need to hold onto her vast fortune?” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

Yeah, this sounds like the show I need to maintain my festive ‘tude.

Well, my loyal and faithful readers, as you all know, Monday is Billi Pod’s errands and stuff day, so he will post this picture of his darling great-granddaughter Saylor Falletta and then start doing things ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.47 miles (or, 9,776 steps)

Mileage for week==>36.69 miles (avg. 5.24 miles per day)

Total mileage since 7/1/12==>795.84

Mileage remaining until 4/23/13==>283.16

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.”