Monday==>Well, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, your favorite blogger here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In the World, has to admit that yesterday’s entertainment doubleheader didn’t quite live up to his expectations. Oh, it wasn’t a total bust ... it just didn’t deliver the punch that Billi Pod wanted/needed.
So ... here comes Billi Pod’s report cards ... beginning with the Off Broadway drama ...
ALMOST HOME, in the turbulent sixties a young Marine returns home to the Bronx, shaken but hopeful for the future. He finds himself caught between his parents’ dreams for his future and a corrupt police captain who has plans of his own==>B
I really wanted to like this better but it turns out to be yet another dysfunctional family story where everyone yells, screams and cusses at everyone while still claiming that they love and care about each other. This gets old pretty quickly, as least for me.
The story line is rather predictable but is best when it deals with the hidden post-combat demons that still possess the father (WWII) and the son (Vietnam).
The cast does its best with basically unlikeable characters. I have to admit that it is difficult to take your eyes off the strikingly handsome Jonny Orsini in the role of the son, Johnny.
Is it worth seeing?
Billi Pod says==>yes it is, with a comp. or discounted ticket.
This drama is playing at The Theatre Row Complex on my West 42nd Street block, has a running time of 1:20, without intermission, and runs through October 12th.
When the show was over I came back to the apartment, which is mere steps away from the theatre complex, had the usual fruit and cheese plate and then headed out early to the Eastside for my second entertainment event ...
The Off Broadway show, part of the Irish Festival ...
BOYS AND GIRLS, a comedy that follows four characters across a single night in Dublin; two get lucky, two don't==>C<==giving it the benefit of the doubt.
Thank goodness the running time was only 50 minutes, without intermission, because I found the so-called story line, delivered as monologues, confusing and difficult to understand due the heavy Irish accents and slang spewing forth from the mouths of the youngish cast.
Each character hurls profanity and sexual slang at the audience, non-stop.
Yes, I knew in advance that it was set in Ireland and was part of the Irish Festival at this venue but that didn’t make up for my inability to comprehend what was happening on stage. Trust me, I wasn’t alone because there was a lot of very negative grumbling as we were leaving the theatre.
Billi Pod says==>see this at your own risk.
This show is playing at the 59E59 Theatre Complex (one of my favorite venues) on East 59th Street, has a running time of only 50 minutes, without intermission, and runs through September 28th.
I had gotten to the theatre early so I could have a leisurely walk and wander session before the show and that was nice. When the show was over I opted to subway back to the apartment so I could watch the remainder of the Yankees/Orioles game, details below.
Moving on ...
Today, being Monday, it will be Billi Pod’s usual errands and chores day and then for the evening will be an Off Broadway musical ...
LOVE QUIRKS - “In this new musical, one small NYC apartment contains four roommates looking for love while trying to move on from past relationships. Chris, a guy who loves baseball and novels begins falling for Steph, a nice, no-nonsense nurse who isn't interested in love anymore. Lili hasn't given up on her ex-boyfriend, Ryan, an obsessive online dater who has discovered that he no longer likes the opposite sex.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)
This show is playing at Theater 54, on West 54th Street, on the 12th floor, and runs through September 28th. I haven’t been able to ascertain the running time.
Now ... on yesterday’s sports scene ...
Well ... that, too, was a major disappointment because The Wankies (76-72) lost to The Orioles (89-60) 3-2 as our closer, David Robertson, blew it, giving up the tying and winning runs in the bottom of the 9th inning.
Folks, trust me on this ... it is over in The Wankie Universe for 2014. That ain’t good because I have tickets for 4 of the remaining home games.
Tonight at 7:10pm, down at that disgrace known as Tropicana Field, The Wankies will begin a 3-game series against Tampa Bay (72-78). On the mound for The Wankies will be Chris Capuano (1-2) vs. Alex Colome (1-0) for The Rays.
Yeah ... yesterday was a pretty bad day for sports here in the Big Apple because both The Jets and The Giants lost.
Closing with just a bit more sports ... The Florida Gators are currently 15-point underdogs to Alabama for Saturday’s game in Tuscaloosa. It ain’t gonna be pretty.
Oh well ... at least the walking stats are good ...
Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.53 miles (or, 9,898 steps)
Total mileage for the week==>40.21 miles (average 5.74 miles per day)
Total mileage for 2014==>1,052.92 miles (average 4.10 miles per day)
GO GATORS!! 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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