Wednesday==>We will get today’s blog posting underway with Billi Pod’s report card on his return visit to the excellent Off Broadway musical ...
PIECE OF MY HEART: The Bert Berns Story, this new musical is based on the life and songs of legendary songwriter Bert Berns, who died tragically at the age of 38, leaving behind his children, his legend, and music that would live on forever, including “Twist and Shout,” “I Want Candy,” “Hang on Sloopy,” and the immortal title song, “Piece of My Heart”==>A
This is the same grade it received when your favorite blogger saw it at its first preview performance back on June 25th. The show has been tightened a bit and still feels fresh and vibrant.
Twenty-six songs from Berns’ song catalog are interwoven into an emotionally involving and thought provoking story line that traces his rise in the often troubled world of song-writing and producing. He produced 51 hits in just 7 years
The focus is on the efforts of one of his daughters, Jessie, impeccably played by Leslie Kritzer, to learn the truth about the life and times of a father she never knew.
Zak Resnick does an amazing job in the role of Berns, creating a character who is fanatically driven to reach fame and fortune while being emotionally and physically fragile. He is very aware that his weak heart will ultimately cut his career and life short way too early.
The rest of the cast is stellar, the dancing and choreography is terrific, and the sets are excellent.
The house was 98% full and we gave the cast a well-deserved standing ovation at curtain call.
In yesterday’s posting I mentioned that the Executive Producer, Jack Thomas, is a friend. I ran into Jack at intermission and we had a nice chat. He told me that efforts are being made to find the financing to move the show to Broadway for the upcoming season. Hopefully, it will happen.
Billi Pod says, again==>you gotta see this show.
It is playing at The Signature Theatre Complex on West 42nd Street, has a running time of 2:20, with intermission, and now runs through September 14th.
Moving on to tonight’s entertainment event ... something very very different ...
The Off Broadway comedy ...
8:00==>PUPPET TITUS ANDRONICUS - “Its Avenue Q meets the Reduced Shakespare Company in this comedic take on Shakespeare's ‘worst’ play, featuring silly-string gore, a bunch of angry goths, a villainous anthropomorphic boar and all of the deaths, dismemberment, cannibalism and crimes against humanity that make ‘Titus’ the ‘poetic atrocity’ that it is.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)
This show received very mixed reviews but The New York Times had a rave review in today’s paper, ending with: “These goofy, exuberant performers have a lot of fun, providing a bubbly, ribald tonic that prompts more than a few belly laughs. Even Shakespeare would smile.”
I have been avoiding the show but when I read the review this morning I went online and was able to score a comp. ticket, which is good because the show closes on Saturday.
It is playing at The Theatre Row Complex on my West 42nd Street block, has a running time of 1:30, with one 10-minute intermission, and runs through August 16th.
Now on the sports scene ... you are welcome Marty ...
Last night’s YANKEE/BALTIMORE game was rained-out and will be made up as a day-night doubleheader on September 12th in Baltimore.
Tonight @ 7:05pm at Camden Yards is the final game of the 3-game series. On the mound for The Yankees (61-57) will be Michael Pinada (2-2), who is returning from the DL vs. Chris Tillman (9-5) for The Birds (68-50).
The local sports pundits are predicting that Yankees will have to win 89 games if they are to make it to the post-season, requiring them to have a record of 28-16, with a .636 winning percentage, for the remainder of the season. Folks, that just ain’t gonna happen, trust your favorite blogger is this ... it just ain't gonna happen.
Anyway ... on this happy note we will close today’s posting out ...
Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.01 miles (or, 6,583 steps)
Total mileage for 2014==>888.75 miles (average 3.97 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.”
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