ETHEL SINGS==>????

Monday==>Yes, it is another beautiful morning on this Back To Work Monday here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World.

Even though today is my usual errands and chores day the azure blue skies are calling to your favorite blogger saying ... “come on outside and do some walking and wandering - errands and chores are boring - we are not - come on out.”

So ... let’s get started with Billi Pod’s report card on yesterday’s Off Broadway show ... 

ETHEL SINGS, decades after Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed at Sing Sing for passing American military secrets to the Soviets, Joan Beber - a distant cousin of the couple - puts Ethel’s life onstage in a musical drama==>????

In the name of fair and unbiased reporting I have to share that I have real difficulties assigning a letter grade to this show. The acting, staging and sets are terrific, the cast is exceptional and the story line is emotionally involving.

BUT ... what has bothered me is my perception that the underlying message was that Ethel and Julius were somehow victims of ethnic bias and a “witch-hunt” when they both were actually convicted of being part of a Communist spy cell that did, in fact, pass on top-secret information to the Russians during the height of The Cold War.

The play also attempts to equate Ethel with Saint Joan of Arc because she chose the electric chair over giving the government information about her alleged collaborators. She also left two young children in the care of her aging Mother.

It is indeed troubling and I acknowledge that I may be wrong in my feelings regard the underlying message(s).

Yes, the cast is remarkable, especially Tracy Michailidis as Ethel and Adrienne Moore in multiple roles. 

OK, I know you are asking your inner selves ... is this worth seeing?

Well, inner selves ... Billi Pod says that it is worth seeing, so you can draw your own conclusions.

This self-described “wild theatrical ride with music” is in early previews, opens on June 6th, is playing at The Theatre Row Complex on my West 42nd Street block, has a running time of 2:05, with intermission, and runs through July 13th.

Moving on ...

Tonight’s entertainment event is also something rather different, the Off Broadway show ...

7:00==>THE ANTHEM - A rollicking sci-fi musical inspired by Ann Rand’s dystopian 1938 novel, Anthem, about a future in which individual identity is a crime and the revolt of the young against the evil state. It is filled with romance, rousing music, energetic dancing and high flying aerial acrobatics.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

Heading the cast is Randy Jones of The Village People fame.

The show, still in previews, is playing at the Lynn Redgrave Theatre @ Culture Project on Bleeker Street in The East Village, has a running time of 2:15, with intermission, and runs through July 6th.

Moving on to your daily sports fix ...

Yesterday afternoon out at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed and Ego Built, The Wankies (29-26) lost 7-2 to The Minnesota Twins (26-28) as David Robertson blew his second save, and the game, allowing former Yankee Phil Hughes to get the win. Hughes pitched an excellent game, going 8-innings, giving up only 3-hits and 2-runs.

The only good thing about this game was the fact that your favorite blogger was at his show when Robertson imploded so he didn’t learn about the loss until the show was over.

Tonight @ 7:05pm, at The Stadium, The Wankies have a makeup game against The Seattle Mariners (28-28). On the mound for The Wankies will be David Phelps (1-2) vs. Felix Hernandez aka King Felix (7-1) for The Mariners.

On a positive note==>yesterday was another excellent walking day, largely due to the excellent weather. I had walk and wander sessions before my show and then after sunset, allowing me to record 5.69 miles. 

Yes, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, it was a nice way to end the weekend.

And ... yes ... azure blue skies==>Billi Pod will be with you in just a few more minutes.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.69 miles (or, 12,442 steps)

Total mileage for the week==>34.17 miles (average 4.88 miles per day)

Total mileage for 2014==>567.37 miles (average 3.73 miles per day)

GO YANKEES!!

Billi Pod

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