Monday Went Out With A POOF ...

Tuesday==>Well, in the name of fair and unbiased reporting your favorite blogger has to share with you loyal and faithful readers and followers that his Monday went out with a POOF ...

Yep ... it was already a blah day but, in retrospect the ending was totally in character ... and ... this is what happened ...

As you know from yesterday’s posting, Billi Pod had two staged readings down at Walkerspace in TriBeCa, one at 2:00pm, which he opted to cancel, and then the second at 8:00pm ...

TRIPLE BEAM WET DREAM - “Speed freaks. Hustlers. Star-fuckers. Down-and-outs. Everyone at the Jack in the Box on Sunset Boulevard is looking for a way out. A drug-dealing street shaman named Candy is convinced that she’s got the fix that will set them free. But, what price are these Hollywood outcasts willing to pay to get their hands on the ultimate high?”

I left PHC a bit early for this show because: (1) I was antsy; and, (2) I wanted a bit of walk and wander time before the show. The weather was acceptable.

The show was late getting started for some reason. The house was full with lots of young, obviously “theater-related” folks.

Just as it was about to get underway one of the actors on stage shouted “there’s a leak” and pointed to the wall, house right. Everyone turned to look and sure enough, water was streaming down the wall, getting heavier and heavier.

Someone shouted “get out now” and we did, through the only aisle, which was directly under the leak. The floor was already beginning to collect water. It was kinda scary.

We all huddled outside, waiting for information on whether the reading was going to be postponed or what. No info.

After about 45 minutes many of us decided that there was no way that we were going back into that space, so a mass exodus to the subway station began.

Yep, it was a fitting end to Billi Pod’s BLAH Monday.

As I am writing this I have no clue if the reading has been rescheduled.

Hopefully, Tuesday will be a better day because I have another entertainment doubleheader ... starting with ...

A staged reading at The York Theatre ...

3:00==>GOD’S COUNTRY - “Discovering his birth mother lives in America, wealthy Englishman James Watson travels there on an epic journey to find his true identity. Sweeping melodies with Irish flavor carry this dynamic tale.” (Off Broadway - free ticket)

This musical was a hit at the 2013 New York Musical Festival (NYMF) and is now receiving a fully-staged reading as part of the York Theatre’s Developmental Reading Series. It is being performed at The York Theatre on East 54th Street and has one more performance, tonight at 7:00pm.

I will not come back to PHC when the reading is over. Instead, I will walk down Lexington Avenue to the Union Square area and walk and wander until it is time for my second entertainment event ...

7:00==>TIL DIVORCE DO US PART - “A laugh-out-loud original musical inspired by the true story of a Broadway producer's wife who is suddenly jilted by her husband after decades of marriage.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This show, that just opened to rather mixed reviews, is playing at the DR2 Theater on East 15th Street in the Union Square area, has a running time of 1:30, without intermission, and runs through May 4th.

Moving on ...

I am happy to report that both Jim Brochu’s CHARACTER MAN and HAND TO GOD received rave reviews in The New York Times. Both shows also received mostly highly favorable reviews in the other New York media.

I now want to share with you loyal and faithful readers and followers your favorite blogger's AWESOME upcoming entertainment schedule ...

Tuesday - 3:00==>GOD’S COUNTRY (York Theatre Developmental Reading Series);

7:00==>TIL DIVORCE US DO PART (Off Broadway)

Wednesday - 2:00==>LITTLE MARY SUNSHINE (Off Broadway);

7:30==>NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC @ Avery Fisher Hall (season subscription)

Thursday - 7:00==>FAST COMPANY (Off Broadway)

Friday - open at the moment

Saturday - 8:00==>BEYOND THERAPY (Off Broadway)

Sunday - 4:00==>PARABOLA (Off Broadway - reading);

8:00==> DEATH FOR SYDNEY BLACK (Off Broadway - reading)

Monday - 8:00==>BETWEEN THE SANDBAR AND THE SHORE (Off Broadway - reading)

Tuesday - March 18 - Celebrate 24 years of continuous sobriety.

Yeah, not a bad schedule, is it?

In closing==>the only good thing to come out of yesterday’s BLAH day was decent walking mileage ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.27 miles (or, 9,341 steps)

Total mileage for 2014==>222.45 miles (average 3.22 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.”

MONDAY==>B L A H

Monday==>OK, your favorite blogger has to admit something to all of his loyal and faithful readers and followers out there in the morass known as cyberspace ... so ... get ready ... take a deep breath ... and then read on ...

Here it comes ...

This morning Billi Pod woke up in a BLAH mood. Yep ... that’s it ... in a BLAH mood for your favorite blogger here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World. WTF?

Why ... I know you are all asking each other and your inner selves? Well, each other and inner selves ... he has no clue why, he just did. 

It was no help that the weather outside is dark and gloomy and still cold ... 46º, wind chill down to 40º at noon ... BLAH!!

Billi Pod’s mood wasn’t improved as he reviewed his entertainment schedule for today, a doubleheader of two staged readings downtown at the Walkerspace Theatre in TriBeCa. 

Both shows sounded pretty grim ... so ... he took a deep breath and canceled the reading for the afternoon, opting inside to ... gasp ... fall back to his usual errands and chores routine.

Man, how pathetic does all of this sound? Well, I gotta report it to you loyal and faithful readers and followers in the name of fair and unbiased reporting ... so ... there it is ... now ... let’s move on with ...

Billi Pod’s thoughts/comments on last night’s staged reading ...

THE LUCKY LADIES - “The lives of four contestants on America's longest-running and most beloved reality television dating show forever change when the camera crew stops showing up==>interesting. 

It started out very funny but ended up very very dark and kinda depressing, however, the acting was excellent (Remember, Billi Pod usually doesn't give letter grades to staged readings).

This is part of the annual reading series by The Amoralist Theatre Company, running through March 17 at Walkerspace on Walker Street, downtown in TriBeCa.

Before the show I had a nice walk and wander session in the TriBeCa area.

Now, this brings us to tonight’s staged reading, also downtown at Walkerspace ...

8:00==>TRIPLE BEAM WET DREAM - “Speed freaks. Hustlers. Star-fuckers. Down-and-outs. Everyone at the Jack in the Box on Sunset Boulevard is looking for a way out. A drug-dealing street shaman named Candy is convinced that she’s got the fix that will set them free. But, what price are these Hollywood outcasts willing to pay to get their hands on the ultimate high?” (Off Broadway - free ticket)

Hummmmmmm ... just writing about this does nothing ... and I mean nothing ...  to improve Billi Pod’s BLAH mood ... I mean ... a show about a bunch of worthless losers? WTF??

Oh, well ... think it is time to post this and then do something to improve my mood ... like ... working on my sock drawer ... or ... start working on my tax returns ... or ... whatever ...

WTF==>this posting is so lame!! Anyway ... 

HAVE A GREAT DAY EVERYONE!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.02 miles (or, 8,799 steps)

Total mileage for the week==>27.24 miles (average 3.89 miles per day)

Total mileage for 2014==>218.18 miles (average 3.21 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.”

Fat Cat Killer/Mufti-Tenderloin/The Lucky Ladies/The Gators Rule

Sunday==>yesterday’s entertainment doubleheader was excellent although it resulted in a rather long 8-hours away from the warm and cozy confines of PHC.

I left my apartment, located on West 42nd Street, at 2:45pm to head downtown to TriBeCa (which stands for Triangle Below Canal) to the Walkerspace Theatre on, duh, Walker Street, for the 4:00pm staged reading of FAT CAT KILLERS.

I got down there early so I just wandered around for awhile. The weather was acceptable, although just a bit windy.

FAT CAT KILLER, about two ex-employees who kidnap the CEO of the company that fired them==>funny, imaginative and thought-provoking. Well worth the time.

The small space was almost full, mostly with what appeared to be “theatre-folks” in some way connected to the show.

It was 5:45pm when the reading was over. I had already decided that I wasn’t going back to the apartment, opting instead to head directly up to the Eastside to the York Theater on East 54th Street for my next show.

Well, I have to share that the trip was pretty unpleasant. First, there was a 30 minute wait at the Canal Street station for an E train to arrive. When one finally arrived, it was already almost full and then at each stop it got more crammed, and, we were also moving at a snail’s pace between stations. It took 30 minutes to finally get to the Lexington Avenue/53rd Street station. Really unpleasant and that is putting it mildly.

I did have time for a cup of coffee (only my 3rd this year) and something sweet, and then it was time for my Musicals In Mufti show ...

TENDERLOIN, a musical about Dr. Brock, a crusading Minister who has dedicated himself to cleaning up the vice-ridden area in Manhattan known as the Tenderloin==>A

The show, which ran for only 216 performances in 1960, has a great score and lyrics by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick.

It is very funny and extremely well-performed.

The cast is AMAZING especially Mark Jacoby as Dr. Brock and Max von Essen as Tommy, a manipulative young journalist.

The house was sold-out and everyone seemed to be really enjoying the show. We gave the cast a standing ovation at curtain call.

Yep, James Morgan, the Artistic Director, and his awesome staff gave us another remarkable event, with only 30-hours of rehearsal time.

It was 11:00pm when I opened the door to PHC. I was both tired and starving, but It had been a totally enjoyable day/evening in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World.

Moving on ...

For this afternoon your favorite blogger will watch the Yankees/Tampa game @ 1:00pm on YES ... then ... 

For the evening it will be another staged reading downtown ...

8:00==>THE LUCKY LADIES - “Cindy, Dina, and Gina are contestants on America's longest-running and most beloved reality television dating show. However, when the camera crew stops showing up and their Prince Charming is suddenly nowhere to be found, the girls are forced to ask themselves: how long am I willing to wait for love? And just what am I willing to lose?” (Off Broadway - free ticket)

This is another part of the annual reading series by The Amoralist Theatre Company, running through March 17 at Walkerspace on Walker Street, downtown in TriBeCa.

In closing==>IT’S GREAT TO BE A FLORIDA GATOR!! 

Yes, yesterday the #1 Gators put a major ass-whipping on #25 Kentucky, winning 84-65, to become the first team in SEC history to finish 18-0 in conference play.

We extended our season streak to 23 games. We have won 32 straight at home.

BILLYBALL RULES!!

Oh ... the Yankees also won..

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.66 miles (or, 8,015 steps)

Total mileage for 2014==>214.16 miles (average 3.20 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.”

Room at the End of the Hall/Satchmo at the Waldorf/Fat Cat Killer/Tenderloin/Sports

Saturday==You know you are suffering from “The Wintertime Blues” when you see that the temperature @ 10:30am is 47º, wind chill 44º, and your reaction is ... WOW ... it’s summertime!!

Then, reality kicks in ... folks ... 47º with wind chill of 44º is still cold and it is still Winter here in The Big Apple.

Oh, well ... the forecast is for somewhat warmer weather over the weekend and at this point we will take whatever we can get from The Weather Gods.

Anyway ... moving on ... because your favorite blogger has another entertainment doubleheader scheduled for today ... so ... let’s get started with Billi Pod’s thoughts/grades on yesterday’s doubleheader, starting with ...

The staged reading of ... ROOM AT THE END OF THE HALL, about two estranged twin brothers who are together for the first time in years to bury the ashes of their recently deceased caretaker and, hopefully, to reach closure on long-buried issues==>thought-provoking and emotionally involving. Has definite promise.

As you loyal and faithful readers and followers know, Billi Pod does not usually assign letter grades to staged readings unless the work is barf-inducingly bad.

The acting was excellent even though the two performers held scripts.

I saw this with my theater buddies Dian Crystal aka My Lady, Marty Kosarik aka Whatever and Cathy, and we talked a bit afterwards about what the playwright’s message was. We weren’t in agreement on this issue but everyone had a pretty positive feeling about the work as a whole.

The bottom line ... it was well-worth the time and effort.

When the show was over I came back to the warm and cozy confines of PHC for the usual pre-theatre snack, a fruit and cheese plate, and then it was time for my second entertainment event, an Off Broadway show playing in my Hell’s Kitchen ‘hood ...

SATCHMO AT THE WALDORF, in March 1971, in a dressing room at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Louis Armstrong recounts events that transformed him into the world-famous Satchmo==>B

The acting in this one-man show is terrific as John Douglas Thompson plays both Armstrong and Joe Glaser, his gangster-connected Jewish manager.

This saved it from getting a much lower grade because there is way too much yelling, screaming, cussing, anger and gratuitous use of the n-word.

I really wanted to like this a lot more but it just didn’t work for me. I have a gut feeling that I may be in the minority on this issue, but it's just how I feel about the show.

I do have to share that my theater-buddy Dian Crystal gives it even a lower grade.

Anyway ... it is playing at the Westside Theatre on West 43rd Street, has a running time of 1:30, without intermission, and runs though August 3rd.

Moving on ...

Today is another entertainment doubleheader for your favorite blogger here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World ... starting with a staged reading ...

4:00==>FAT CAT KILLERS - “After getting laid off, Michael and Steve decide to kidnap the CEO of the company that gave them the boot.” (Off Broadway - free ticket)

This is part of the annual reading series by The Amoralist Theatre Company, running from March 8 through March 17 at Walkerspace on Walker Street, downtown in TriBeCa.

I have reservations for all 7 of the readings.

Then ... for the evening is an Off Broadway musical ...

8:00==>TENDERLOIN - “A musical comedy that tells the tale of Dr. Brock, a crusading Minister who has dedicated himself to cleaning up that section of New York devoted to vice, the area known as the Tenderloin.” (Off Broadway - discounted TDF ticket)

This is part of the York Theatre’s Musicals in Mufti Series, and, as you now probably know “Mufti” (pronounced MUFF’tee) means “in street clothes, without the usual trappings.” The show is presented script-in-hand, with minimal staging and props.

The show is playing at The York Theatre @ The Citigroup Center on East 54th Street and has remaining performance dates of Sunday @ 2:30pm & 7:30pm.

OK, moving on some more to a bit of sports ...

At noon on CBS will be the Gator/Kentucky game. The Gators hope to finish the season undefeated in the SEC. Kentucky would majorly love to be the spoiler.

Then at 1:00pm on MLB will be the Yankees/Astros game.

Billi Pod will go back-and-forth between the two games.

The Yankee Universe is saddened by the passing of Yogi Berra’s wife, Carmen, who was 85. They had been married for 65 years. RIP

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.65 miles (or, 7.978 steps)

Total mileage for 2014==>210.50 miles (average 3.19 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.”