Sunday Was An AWESOME Doubleheader!!

Monday==>Your favorite blogger here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, is happy to report to his loyal and faithful readers and followers out there in the boondocks, wastelands, hinterlands, and in the morass known as cyberspace, that yesterday’s entertainment doubleheader was totally AWESOME!!

So ... let’s get started with Billi Pod’s report card on the first show ...

THE LION, award-winning young songwriter Benjamin Scheuer performs in this autobiographical solo musical about love, loss, family loyalty, and the redemptive power of music==>A

Scheuer is a very talented performer and his songs tell his story without glossing over the bad spots and without being overly dramatic.

The entire event is engrossing and emotionally involving. It was especially so yesterday since Sunday was Father’s Day and he had many issues with his father.

The house was about 3/4s full and was very much into the performance. When it was over we gave the young man a standing ovation.

Billi Pod says==>definitely worth seeing.

This show is in previews, it opens on June 26th, is playing at Manhattan Theatre Club Stage 2 on West 55th Street, has a running time of 1:10, without intermission, and runs through July 13th.

I had walked from my West 42nd Street apartment to the show. When the show was over the weather was still excellent so I walked back to the apartment to watch the barfy YANKEES/OAKLAND game (details below) and have my usual pre-theater snack, a fruit and cheese plate.

Then it was time for the second part of my doubleheader, another Off Broadway show, this time in my immediate 'hood. Yeah, it was right next door to my building ...

FLY BY NIGHT: A NEW MUSICAL, in this darkly comic rock-fable an unhappy deli worker’s humdrum life gets sandwiched between two sisters during the great blackout of 1965==>A-

I was aware of the mixed reviews of this show but I found it to be a totally enjoyable experience.

The rather convoluted story line is emotionally involving, although at times it is a bit difficult to follow as it jumps back and forth in time. It also had an extra punch for me because the lead character had issues with his father, and it was Father’s Day etc. etc. etc.

The cast is excellent, headed by Adam Chanler-Berat as the “sandwich-maker” aspiring musician, Henry Stram as the Narrator, who also plays multiple roles and Patti Murin and Allison Case as the two sisters.

The house was almost full and the audience was really into the show.

My only quibble is the running time. I think it would work better cut to 90-100 minutes, without intermission.

Billi Pod says==>catch this show before it closes.

This show opened to mixed but generally favorable reviews, is playing at Playwrights Horizons on my West 42nd Street block, has a running time of 2:30, with intermission, and runs through June 29th.

So, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, I hope you agree that yesterday’s entertainment doubleheader was indeed AWESOME!!

Moving on ...

Well ... as you know ... today, being Monday ... it is Billi Pod’s usual errands and chores day ... how boring ...

At the moment my entertainment plans for the evening are in flux. Thus far nothing of interest to me has shown up on my ticket services (because it is Monday) but I have several other alternatives, including catching a movie, either "22 Jump Street" or the highly emotional "The Fault in Our Stars."

So ... stay tuned ... 

Closing out with a bit of sports for my buddy Marty ...

Yesterday afternoon, at Oakland, The Wankies (35-33) lost 10-5 to The Athletics (42-27) reducing The Wankies west coast road-trip record to 5-4. They sucked!

Yes ... in just about every aspect of the game The Wankies sucked, especially our starter Vidal Nuno who looked like he was pitching batting practice. He gave up 8 earned runs in only 3.0 innings. Barf!!

At the end of the 6th inning the score was 10-1. Billi Pod had seen enough, so he just turned off the TV. Barf!!

The Wankies have today off, thankfully, and then they begin a 3-game series against the AL East leading Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed and Ego Built. I will be at Tuesday’s game.

On this happy note will post this and then begin work on my errands and chores list ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.50 miles (or, 9,851 steps)

Total mileage for the week==>30.87 miles (average 4.41 miles per day)

Total mileage for 2014==>631.83 miles (average 3.81 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.”