Wednesday==>Man, it is really nasty this morning here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World. Yeah ... at 10:00am it is 37º with a light rain.
But ... the really bad news==>it is forecast that the rain will continue into the early afternoon when it will turn into ... gasp ... snow, which will last into the evening with a projected 3-5 inches in Manhattan.
Yes, that will be a driving Hell for those headed out for Thanksgiving. Walking around will be pretty unpleasant, too.
Billi Pod will be in the warm and cozy confines of PHC ... right? WRONG!!
Yep ... your favorite blogger has yet another doubleheader scheduled for today.
Oh well ... ain’t nuttin I can do ‘bout it ... so ... let’s move on with his report cards on Tuesday’s entertainment doubleheader ... starting with ...
UNDERCLASSMAN, in 1915 the young and brilliantly talented F. Scott Fitzgerald is swept into the hierarchy of Ivy League society and the antics of the Princeton Triangle Club as he pursues the beautiful and elusive debutante Ginevra King. Their romance inspired one of the greatest novels of the 20th century==>B+
This interesting and involving musical features a stellar cast of young and energetic and talented performers headed by Matt Dengler as Fitzgerald, Jessica Grove as Ginevra and Marrick Smith as Fitzgerald’s friend JP.
The music and lyrics by Peter Mills are totally involving and adequately develop the story line.
The staging and choreography is excellent.
I have two quibbles with the production. First, it is too long at 2:20, with intermission, and could use some serious trimming. Second, it is at the small and intimate venue at The Duke so the actors are often only a few feet away from the audience ... so .. why are they miked? Seriously ... why??
Anyway ...
Billi Pod says==>it is worth seeing.
It is playing at The Duke on West 42nd Street, has a running time of 2:20, with intermission, and runs through November 30th.
When the show was over I literally raced back to the apartment for a quick snack and then it was time to head back to Times Square for the second part of my doubleheader ...
A revisit to the Broadway show ...
THIS IS OUR YOUTH, Kenneth Lonergan's comedy/drama about three very lost young souls in the Upper Westside of New York in 1982, who are struggling to find themselves and trying to deal with the everyday demands of social interactions and relationships, starring Michael Cera and Kieran Culkin==>A-
As mentioned in yesterday’s posting, I had seen this show in early previews back on August 25th. I gave it an A- then.
Michael Cera gives an award-worthy performance as Warren, a character that is not easy to like, while Kieran Culkin’s Dennis, the manipulative petty drug dealer, controls the flow of energy onstage most of the time.
Tavi Gevinson, as Jessica, Warren’s “love” interest, develops as the show progresses and the final scene between she and Warren is very emotional.
As might be expected from Lonergan, profanity spews from the mouths of the three young characters and, of course, drugs and teenage angst are integral to the story line.
The set is totally amazing.
I found the show, as a whole, to be extremely well-acted and very emotionally involving ... so ...
Billi Pod says==>see this show.
It is playing at the Cort Theatre on West 48th Street, has a running time of 2:15, with intermission, and tickets are on sale through January 4, 2015.
My comp. seat for this show was excellent, center orchestra, row G, one seat from the aisle. Seated to my immediate right was Mel Miller who is the Producer/Artistic Director of Musicals Tonight, one of my favorite theater companies.
Mel and I had a nice ongoing conversation before the show and at intermission, and that was nice. He liked the show but a lot less than I did.
Anyway ... I hope you loyal and faithful readers and followers will agree that it was an interesting entertainment doubleheader, especially for a Tuesday.
Moving on to the details on today’s second consecutive entertainment doubleheader ...
First is the Off Broadway musical ...
3:00==>ALLEGRO - “This revival of the little known 1947 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical follows the story of Joe Taylor, Jr. from cradle to early manhood in this loving and wise exploration of America’s coming of age, as seen through the eyes of a young physician learning about the mysteries of life and death.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)
This show received very mixed reviews. The major criticism being the fact that the actors also play musical instruments ala ONCE. The critics thought that it was contrived and did nothing to enhance the show.
It is playing at the Classic Stage Company on East 13th Street in the Union Square area, has a running time of 1:30, without intermission, and has been extended to December 14th.
When the show is over I will come back to the apartment, change clothes, have my usual pre-theater snack and then head up to The Upper Westside for the second part of my entertainment doubleheader ...
A classical music concert at Lincoln Center ...
7:30==>NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA @ Avery Fisher Hall. The program is:
Wagenaar - Cyrano de Bergerac Overture;
Korngold - Violin Concerto (performed by Hilary Hahn); and,
Beethoven - Symphony No. 7
(concert - season subscription series)
For this performance I will be seated next to my friends Lenny Gordon and his wife, Marie Taylor, and that will be nice because we have some catching-up to do.
OK, my loyal and faithful readers and followers this brings you up-to-date.
In closing==>Billi Pod will celebrate Thanksgiving with his AA buddies for the 6th consecutive year. This will be in the Upper Westside. Will give the details in tomorrow’s early posting.
BREAKING NEWS==>It is 10:45pm and it is lightly snowing. Brrrrrrrrr!!
Stay warm everyone.
Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.08 miles (or, 8,917 steps)
Total mileage for 2014==>1,327.84 miles (average 4.04 miles per day)
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.”
No comments:
Post a Comment