Billi Pod Has Another Awesome Doubleheader!!

Happy Hump Day to all of my loyal and faithful readers out there in cyberspace.

I don’t know the reason ... but ... Billi Pod experienced difficulty this morning in sitting down in front of this beloved iMac to create the daily edition of Billi Pod Blogs.

Yes ... yes ... he knows that he has a responsibility to bring some excitement to those of you languishing in the hinterlands ... but ... for whatever reason he has been mired in sloth today ...

This is being written around noon and will not be completed before it will time for him to head out to the first of his entertainment doubleheader ...

2:00==>WIT - “Follows a brilliant and exacting poetry professor as she undergoes experimental treatment for cancer. A scholar who devoted her life to academia must now face the irony and injustice of becoming the subject of research.” (Broadway - complimentary ticket)

Tony and Emmy Award winner Cynthia Nixon stars in this Broadway premiere of the show that had a very successful Off Broadway run several years ago. She will be totally bald for this show.

I saw the Off Broadway version with Kathleen Chalfant, and, frankly, wasn’t sure I wanted to see it again, but ... when it showed up on one of my ticket services I couldn’t miss the opportunity to see a Broadway show with a comp. ticket ... so ...

Tonight’s entertainment event is going to be something very very different ...

8:00==>THE NIGHTMARE STORY - “A blend of storytelling, live folk music and shadow puppetry in this Ukrainian-based folk tale about a young boy who must journey to a distant mountaintop to retrieve a flower that will magically revive his comatose mother.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This show won the 2011 NYC Fringe Festival Overall Excellence Award and I am rather confident it will fall into the “love-it or hate-it” category.

I want to give a somewhat brief report on last night’s HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, which was the first performance of the new cast, including Nick Jonas as J. Pierrepont Finch ... so here goes ...

It gets a PLUS because Billi Pod was very pleasantly surprised with Nick’s performance level for his first show. Billi Pod had seen Daniel Radcliffe twice (first in very early previews) and thought he was very unfairly snubbed by the Tony Nominating Committee.

Nick seemed to be very comfortable on stage and the rest of the cast interacted well with him. He danced well and his vocals were more than adequate. He will only get better as he becomes more confident with his character’s development.

I thought Michael Urie as Bud Frump was excellent and that Beau Bridges held his own, contrary to some early chat board buzz.

There has been some concern about the possibility of some problems with young female audience members overreacting during the course of the show, in a rock concert mode, but that was not an issue last night. Oh ... there was a lot of shrieking when Nick made his entrance and during his curtain call, but other than that, shrieking was not a factor.

You do have to be advised that security is very present outside the theater before and after the show.

Is it worth seeing with the new cast members? Billi Pod says==>YES!!

OK my loyal and faithful readers it is now time to post this and then have my usual fruit and cheese snack before heading downtown to The Village for this evening's show ...

Oh ... in response to several inquiries about Billi Pod’s opinion/thoughts regarding the Oscar Nominations ... well ... surprise surprise ... he doesn’t have any because ... the only movie he saw that is at all involved in the process is MONEY BALL ... so he doesn’t have anything to add ... at least not at this time ...

Billi Pod

“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”

ALEX-155

Nick Jonas and Beau Bridges Tonight==>AWESOME!!

It is 44º, bright and clear @ 8:00am in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World. No rain in the forecast and that is majorly good.

Billi Pod is happy to report that he got most of his errands and stuff done yesterday even though the weather was kinda nasty and unpleasant.

So ... let’s move on to the important stuff that you are no doubt breathlessly awaiting ... like ... tada ...

Billi Pod’s report card on YOU ONLY SHOOT THE ONES YOU LOVE, the one-man show written and performed by Jeffrey Sweet==>A.

This show, playing at The Barrow Street Theatre, is extremely well written and performed. Sweet gives the audience an intriguing history lesson into the development of the improv. comedy scene in Chicago and what impact The Second City Theatre there has had on the comedy scene worldwide.

The audience was really into his performance and the house was almost sold-out. It was a very pleasant evening.

Oh ... when I picked up my ticket the attendant smiled at me and said ... “hope you made it up to your show OK the other night” ... referring, of course, to Billi Pod’s senior moment last Saturday. I told him ... yes ... and we both laughed.

Billi Pod’s entertainment event for this evening is ...

7:00==>HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING - “Wily window washer J. Pierrepont Finch (now played by Nick Jonas) enjoys a comedic rise up the corporate ladder.” (Broadway - discounted TDF ticket)

Jonas is joined by Beau Bridges, in the role of J. B. Biggley. This is my 3rd visit to this excellent revival and tonight is the first performance with all of the new cast members. I am really looking forward to it.

Wow!! Just checked and it is up to 52º at 1:00pm and it is still bright and clear.

You know what==>I think I will just head out and wander a bit ... the first time I have been able to do this in quite some time ... so ...

Talk with you later!!

Billi Pod

“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”

ALEX-154

Billi Pod Says==>MONDAY SUCKS!!

Hello everyone out there in cyberspace

Yes ... Monday does indeed suck ... but ... Thank God it is finally above 32º in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World.

Billi Pod has tons of errands, things and stuff he has to do today ... the only problem ... it is gray, nasty and misting rain. Barf!!

It is supposed to be in the lower 50s later in the day ... we will see if that happens.

Really exciting football game last night, which, as you know, The Giants won in overtime and are on their way to Super Bowl 45 vs. The Patriots. Bring it on!!

These are the headlines in the local papers ...

“SUPER! - Giants outduel Niners, Pats next” - New York Post

“ONE MORE TYNES! - Giants boot Niners in OT, set up Super rematch with Pats” - The Daily News

“REMATCH - Giants and Patriots Win by a Foot and Will Reunite in the Super Bowl” - NY Times

Moving on ...

Billi Pod’s report card on yesterday afternoon’s THE FALL TO EARTH, about a mother and daughter who are trying to make sense out of their son’s/brother’s suicide==>B.

Yes ... the acting is excellent but this grade may be kinda generous because I really wanted to bitch-slap the ditzy mother character who is involved in some totally unreal scenes, including pinching a female police officer.

Interesting note - the audience was about 80% female-over-60.

Tonight’s entertainment event is ...

8:00==>YOU ONLY SHOOT THE ONES YOU LOVE - “A 75-minute solo show written and performed by Jeffrey Sweet that weaves an anecdotal history of improvisation and comedy in the 20th century, transporting us from Chicago to New York to Toronto to Russia to London and back again.” (Off Broadway - $9.00 TDF ticket).

This is playing down in The Village at The Barrow Street Theatre, and, yes ... I double checked the date, time and venue location ... if you read yesterday’s blog you will understand what this means. If not ... then go back and read it ... It Is So Ordered!!

Sad news about Joe Paterno. It is a shame that his legacy is now and forever tarnished. The Daily News had this headline that pretty much says it all ...

“SAD. OLD. BEATEN. BR0KEN. - The coach who won and lost it all”

And ... speaking of sad, old, beaten and broken ... the circus show known as The Republican Party moves on to Florida, a state known for its political manners and decorum, for the January 31st primary vote.

Yep ... Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert couldn’t have scripted it any better than this.

Well, my loyal and faithful readers, even though it is still nasty and ugly out at noon, Billi Pod has to brave the elements because he really has to do things and stuff now ...

Later!

Billi Pod

“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”

ALEX-153

My Tripleheader Report Card And My Senior Moment ...

Good morning my loyal and faithful readers out there in the hinterlands and in the vast wilderness known as cyberspace.

It was 19º @ 8:30am this morning in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World. Yesterday’s slush has now turned to ice making it extremely unpleasant out there. Not only unpleasant but also a bit dangerous because it is reported that portions of the sidewalks in Manhattan are now covered with what is called “black ice.”

What is “black ice” those of you living in the South are no doubt breathlessly asking?

It refers to a thin coating of glazed ice on a surface that it is virtually transparent and extremely dangerous. One minute you are walking along ... the next you are flat on your ass ... or worse.

Trust me ... when I go out later in the day I will take extra precautions. This is the one danger that Billi Pod fears about living up here during the Winter. For him, at his age ... a slip-and-fall could have catastrophic consequences.

OK ... OK ... catastrophic is a pretty harsh word ... but you understand what I mean ... don’t you?

Anyway ... moving on to providing you loyal and faithful readers with the usual report cards on yesterday’s entertainment events ...

Billi Pod’s tripleheader was a mixed bag ...

First was the 3:00 show OUTSIDE PEOPLE, the dark comedy about a young American who falls in love with a young Chinese woman in Beijing==>C.

It just didn’t capture me and I found it to be a bland version of the soon-to-close Broadway show CHINGLISH.

Yeah ... it was a very much been-there-seen-that theater experience. The acting was OK but I just didn’t care about any of the characters.

When the show was over I had about 2 hours to kill until my next show. This show was playing in the Union Square area so normally I would have just walked down to The Village to the theatre where my next two shows were scheduled ... but not with yesterday’s weather ... no way ...

So ... I took a rather convoluted subway ride down there. The sidewalks and crosswalks were really slushy and nasty. Went to a coffee shop I like and had some coffee and a sinfully delicious brownie. Was just killing time until my 7:00 show at The Barrow Street Theatre, the first of two shows there.

Got just a bit restless at the coffee shop and thought that I was perhaps overstaying my welcome ... so I decided to go over to the theater a bit early because I knew that the lobby of the Barrow Street Theater was warm and had some seating.

It was 6:15 when I went inside the theater. Was a bit surprised that the lobby was empty. Hummmmmm ... this is kinda weird ... anyway ... went up to the box office to get my ticket ... and ...

When I told the box office attendant that I wanted to pick up my ticket for CEMETERY GOLF I got a confused and blank stare from him. I repeated the request as I was fishing the ticket vouchers out of my backpack. I held one of them in my hand for the attendant to see and then ... we both simultaneously said ... OH SHIT!! Not joking ... this is what we both said.

It was a senior moment ... my shows were not at The Barrow Street Theatre but rather at The Drilling Company Theatre uptown at Broadway and 78th Street. OMFG!! How could I have been so stupid. OMFG!!!

I do have two shows scheduled at The Barrow Street Theatre, but they are for next week.

The attendant kinda smiled and said ... "hey, no problem man, you have plenty of time to make it up there" ...

And, thankfully he was correct because the 1 train station is just a block away from where I was. I have to admit that I spent the entire time on the train mentally bashing myself for being so stupid. I also thanked The Theater Gods for my decision to go to the theater a bit early.

Well, it was 6:45pm when I arrived at The Drilling Company box office ... no problems ... so ... now on with the other stuff ...

CEMETERY GOLF, about growing up in the deep south in a fundamentalist family with an evangelical pastor for a father==>A.

Totally enjoyable although I am rather certain the author/performer will probably spend eternity in Hellfire. The title comes from the father's hidden vice of playing golf in a cemetery adjacent to his church.

Then ... the second show ...

HONOR AND FIDELITY, about a woman’s journey to find her cultural identity by unraveling the history of her family's past==>B

I wanted to like this a lot more and to give it a higher grade but in retrospect I found the story line to be difficult to follow and the characters hard to differentiate in a solo performance.

It was around 10:30 when I got back to the warm and cozy confines of PHC. It was bitterly cold and very unpleasant during the short walk from The Port Authority Bus Terminal to my apartment building.

Yes ... an interesting day to say the least ... a tripleheader ... a senior moment ... Hellfire and brimstone ... and snow ... and ... well ... anyway ...

Oh ... in case you are wondering ... I only wrote about the senior moment because of my responsibility as a fair and unbiased reporter. I could have covered it up and no one would have ever known ... you are soooooooooooo welcum ...

Anyway ... today’s entertainment event is ...

3:00==>THE FALL TO EARTH - “Kenny lived his life in secret. His mother and sister travel to an unfamiliar town looking for answers for his suicide. With the help of a local policewoman they uncover tragic truths about him, their family and themselves.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This is playing at the 59E59 Theatre complex, one of my favorite venues. It has gotten very mixed reviews from the critics and from my theater-buddies. We will see ...

When the show is over I will come back to PHC and settle in to watch the 6:30pm GIANTS/NINERS game on Fox. I think this should be a nail biter right up to the final whistle. Even though The Niners are slight favorites Billi Pod believes Big Blue will win by a touchdown and advance to The Super Bowl. GO BIG BLUE!!

You know ... I have not written about the fiasco known as the Republican primary race because ... what can I say that would make any sense?

I do have to ask my Republican family members (you know who you are) and my Republican friends this simple question==>DO YOU HONESTLY BELIEVE NEWT GINGRICH IS ELECTABLE AND WILL YOU VOTE FOR HIM?

Really? Honestly???

Billi Pod

“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”

ALEX-152

Billi Pod Has A Tripleheader Today!!

Good morning everyone.

It was 23º and snowing in The Big Apple @ 8:30am this morning. And, as I write this posting at 11:00am, it is still snowing.

The forecasters say to expect a 4-5 inch accumulation by mid-afternoon. That’s enough to make getting around a bit tricky.

This nasty weather is kinda bad news for Billi Pod’s Saturday tripleheader ... yes ... that is correct ... I said tripleheader ... so take a deep breath and calm down ... it is a tripleheader and this is the schedule ...

3:00==>OUTSIDE PEOPLE - “Set in modern-day Beijing, this dark comedy is the story of a young American man who falls in love with a young Chinese woman and the impact this foreign culture has on his deepest fears and desires.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

Hummmmm ... this sounds a lot like the recently closed Broadway show CHINGLISH, doesn’t it?

Anyway, I wanted to see it and it is playing downtown in the Union Square area. When the show is over I will find someplace for coffee and a snack and then head down to the West Village for my evening shows ... which are ...

7:00==>CEMETERY GOLF - “A solo performance back to the Deep South with preachers shoutin' from the mountaintops, mamas pickin' switches, and Hellfire is just a heartbeat away.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

The advance buzz on this show is very good.

It is playing at The Barrow Street Theatre which usually has pretty good stuff.

Then ... at the same theatre is ...

8:30==>HONOR AND FIDELITY - “A woman’s journey to find her cultural identity by unraveling the history of her family's past, set at a boarding gate at JFK airport.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This show also has a running time of approximately 60 minutes.

Now, I want to share with you loyal and faithful readers the fact that I had scheduled the two evening shows about a week ago. Late yesterday afternoon OUTSIDE PEOPLE showed up on one of my ticket services and I immediately booked it.

Well ... as soon as I had booked it the thought hit me ... WTF have you done butt-wipe ... it is supposed to snow and be majorly nasty in the afternoon ... what were you thinking? Or better yet ... why the f**k weren’t you thinking??

But ... it is done and all I can do now is talk to the Weather Gods and ask that the snow stops no later than 2:00pm. Are you listening Weather Gods? Please ... no later than 2:00pm.

Anyway ... moving on to last night’s entertainment event ... which was ...

AMERICAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA @ Carnegie Hall: Stravinsky Outside Russia==>highly entertaining.

My seat, as expected, was in the upper nosebleed section but not as high up as Thursday’s American Cancer Society Gala Concert.

The individual soloists and the choral group were excellent and the orchestra did its usual highly professional job. It was a very enjoyable evening’s entertainment, and, yes, Billi Pod stayed for the complete concert this time ... thank you for asking.

In closing==>I am happy to report that Alex aka Army Guy made it safely back to his base in Kuwait.

Now ... awwwwwwww ... YES ... a tripleheader in the snow ... bring it on!!

Billi Pod

“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”

ALEX-151

Confession Time==>Billi Pod Is Sometimes A Wimp ... gasp ...

What does this mean, you loyal and faithful readers are no doubt breathlessly asking? Well ...

This morning I had a “session” with my dentist, Dr. Steven Gualtieri, whose office is in Midtown East, close to where I once lived.

Dr. G. is an excellent dentist, highly professional and very patient-orientated and I have been seeing him for over 10 years ... but ... OMFG!! It still doesn’t make it any easier for Billi Pod, who is such a f**king wimp, to be reclined in that dental chair, mouth wide open, staring at a drill and silently praying for salvation. Yes ... even willing to sell what is left of his soul to the Devil to make it all go away. Wimp!!

Yes, the procedure ... a second filling ... was virtually pain free and was completed in less than 45 minutes ... but ... as usual ... I felt mentally and emotionally drained when it was over and Billi Pod was ... shamefully ... afloat in wimpdom.

I staggered back to PHC and flopped down on the couch and immediately went to sleep and slept for over an hour and a half ... which ... as you loyal and faithful readers know ... is something Billi Pod almost never ever does ...

Feel a lot better now although the area is still a bit numb. Thank God this was my final session. I hate being such a wimp.

OK ... OK ... I know ... l know ... no one likes going to the dentist (except the Bill Murray character in the movie “Little Shop of Horrors") and this is totally boring and uninteresting ... so ... Billi Pod will move on to ...

Last night’s American Cancer Society A TRIBUTE TO HOROWITZ @ Carnegie Hall was entertaining but overly long due to awards and “thank you’s” to everyone in the World.

It was hosted by Donald Trump, who pledged $100,000, and stage and screen star Julie Andrews, each of whom received "Lifetime Achievement Awards" from The Society.

The house was sold-out, and, as I had anticipated ... my comp. seat was in the upper balcony.

When the awards and thank-you’s were finally over the music part of the program started. The featured performer, Lola Astanova, started off with 3 works by Chopin and they were excellent ... but ... in the name of fair and unbiased reporting ... I have to admit that for me, solo piano works get a bit tiresome after awhile.

Oh, don’t get me wrong ... I love piano works with orchestras but ... solo piano concerts are not my forte.

Intermission came at approximately 9:45pm and the second portion of the program was to be works by Scriabin and Rachmaninov. Billi Pod made a judgment call that he had had enough so he headed for the stairs down to the exit, 5 floors below. He was joined by a steady stream of like-minded folks, too.

Don’t get me wrong ... I am glad I went and the first part was entertaining but ... enough was enough ...

Anyway ... moving on ... tonight Billi Pod will return to Carnegie Hall for yet another classical music concert ...

8:00==>AMERICAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA @ Carnegie Hall - Stravinsky Outside Russia. “Six pieces that represent Russian composer Igor Stravinsky’s work in France, Venice, Los Angles, and beyond.” (complimentary ticket)

This sounds interesting. I like Stravinsky’s work.

Hummmmmm ... think I feel the need to return to wimpland ... perhaps to even suck my thumb for awhile... so will close this posting out ...

Oh ... it was 23º @ 8:00am and it hasn’t risen above 30º as of 4:00pm, as I write this posting. Snow is predicted for later in the day/evening - burrrrrrrrr!

Billi Pod

“Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.”

ALEX-150

Yesterday’s Doubleheader Was==>A+!!

A+!! Yes my loyal and faithful readers yesterday’s entertainment doubleheader was totally mind-blowing, even better than I had anticipated ... so let’s get right to it ... with the usual ...

Billi Pod’s report card on DANCING AT LUGHNASA, about 5 unmarried sisters set in a small town in Ireland in 1936==>A+.

It is every bit as good as the critics said, plus some. It is amazing what they were able to stage in the cramped confines of The Irish Repertory Theatre. The acting was superb. Had very little difficulty with the Irish brogues.

My only problem with the show was that I had some difficulty in keeping the characters straight in some of the fast moving scenes and dialogue.

And yes, since it is Irish ... there was the usual “Irish Factor” (a phrase which Billi Pod just created) in the interaction between all of the characters. What do I mean by “Irish Factor” you are no doubt breathlessly asking? Well ... this is it ...

"I friggin hate ye ... but I really love ye ... but I still friggin hate ye."

You are welcum.

It ends its extended run on January 29th, so if you haven’t seen this theatrical gem==>do it now!!

The show was over about 5:15 so I had to rush back to PHC to change clothes and have a quick fruit and cheese snack before heading uptown for the second part of the doubleheader ... which was ...

NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA @ Avery Fisher Hall and it also gets the highest grade==>A+<==because of Lang Lang’s blazing performance of the extremely difficult Bartok Piano Concerto No. 2.

He didn’t appear to be as “animated” in this performance as he had been in others I had seen. When it was over he got a roaring ovation, but not a standing one, which was a bit of a surprise to me.

Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 2 was beautifully performed by the orchestra. I don’t remember ever hearing it before.

The only downside of the evening was the opening number, “Feria,” a piece of atonal dreck written by Magnus Lindberg, who is the orchestra’s Composer-in-Residence. Thank God it was only 17 minutes long. It got a very tepid response even when Lindberg came on stage.

When the concert was over I was really feeling good and happy and would have walked back to PHC while reliving the concert in my head ... except for the fact that it was 21º and windy ... no way.

Today’s entertainment event is certainly something different ...

8:00==>A TRIBUTE TO HOROWITZ @ Carnegie Hall. “A gala benefit for the American Cancer Society, hosted by Donald Trump and Julie Andrews, featuring Lola Astanova, who will play works by Chopin, Scriabin and Rachmaninov, all performed on the legendary Horowitz Steinway.” (complimentary ticket)

Now this time I am certain my comp. seat will be way up in the nosebleed section. Yesterday I received an email from my ticket service asking me to pick up my ticket at least 1 hour before curtain time.

I am confident that the reason is ... “they” don’t want the freebies rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous donors. I will, of course, honor the request.

Folks out there in the vast hinterlands ... Billi Pod has already scheduled some AWESOME entertainment events for the remainder of the month and he wants to share the basic details with you now ...

Jan. 19 - Thurs - 8:00==>A TRIBUTE TO HOROWITZ @ Carnegie Hall. (complimentary ticket)

Fri - 8:00==>AMERICAN SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA @ Carnegie Hall - Stravinsky Outside Russia (complimentary ticket)

Sat - 7:00==>CEMETERY GOLF (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket); 8:30==>HONOR AND FIDELITY (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket) - at the same theater.

Sun - 3:15==>FALL TO EARTH (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket); 6:30==>GIANTS/49ers on Fox

Mon - 8:00==>YOU ONLY SHOOT THE ONES YOU LOVE (Off Broadway - $9.00 TDF ticket)

Tues - 7:00==>HOW TO SUCCEED AT BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING (Broadway - discounted TDF ticket) - Nick Jonas and Beau Bridges join the cast.

Wed - 8:00==>THE NIGHTMARE STORY (Off Broadway - $9.00 TDF ticket)

Thurs - 8:00==>RENT (Off Broadway - discounted TDF ticket) - FaceBook friend Josh Grisetti joins the cast

Fri - Jan 27 - open at the moment

Sat - open at the moment

Sun - open at the moment

Mon - 8:00==>STONE AND STONE (comedy show - complimentary ticket)

Tues - Jan 31- 6:00==>WAGNER’S GOTTERDAMMERUNG (Metropolitan Opera - full price expensive ticket) - gets out at 11:30pm

WOW!! How about this ... Nick Jonas, Josh Grisetti, Beau Bridges and Wagner ... WOW!!

The opera is part of THE RING SERIES being staged by The Metropolitan Opera Company. I have seen the complete RING SERIES twice and had no interest in doing it for a third time ... but ... I very much like the music from Gotterdammerung, the final piece in the series, so I thought I would give it a shot.

And yes ... it starts at 6:00pm, has two rather long intermissions and gets out, hopefully, at 11:30pm. No need to say any more.

In closing ...

As I write this posting my oldest grandson and new father Alex Falletta aka Army Guy is on his way back to Kuwait. Gina and Saylor were at Tampa International for an emotional farewell ... just the three of them.

Hopefully he and his unit will return in late April or early May to be deactivated. MAY GOD BE WITH YOU ARMY GUY!!

LOVE TO ALEX, GINA AND SAYLOR.

Bill aka Great-granddaddy.

ALEX-149