THE CHEATERS CLUB==>D

Tuesday==>Last night around 2:00am I lost my internet service. Since it was time to crash I didn’t bother to attempt to report it. Well, this morning at 8:00am it was still down so I called the provider and was informed that there had been a “severe electrical storm” that was responsible for the outage. Of course they said they were working on the problem (obviously it is now up and running).

At least I knew the source of the problem because, frankly, I had been entertaining the thought that The Theatre Gods were pissed with me and were punishing me for sitting through last night’s awful mess, known as ...

THE CHEATERS CLUB, an orgy of sex and violence set at a haunted retreat for swingers in Savannah==>D

Frankly, the grade of D is giving the show the benefit of the doubt. The playwright couldn’t decide if he was writing a drama or a comedy and the mishmash result is a totally not funny, disappointing, too-long mind-fuck.

I felt sorry for the extremely talented cast of 26 performers who did their very best with the dreadful book. One other positive==>the set is outstanding.

The show is produced by The Amoralists theatre company and I have really liked their stuff in the past, so this added to my feeling of disappointment. 

My theater-buddies Dian Crystal aka My Lady and Marty Kosarik aka Whatever both left at intermission and I should have joined them, but I didn’t. I was hoping that Act II would be better. Well, it wasn’t.

And ... just getting to and from the theater, the Abrons Arts Center buried in the bowels of the Lower Eastside, was a rather unpleasant task, too. The show has a running time of 2:30, with an intermission, and runs through September 17th.

Billi Pod says==>you are hereby warned.

Moving on ...

At the moment your favorite blogger here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, has nothing scheduled entertainment-wise for this evening, but never fear my loyal and faithful readers and followers ... something will show up ... so ...

Last night up in Toronto The Yankees lost 5-2 to The Blue Jays as Phil Hughes continues his downward spiral. Derek Jeter returned to the lineup and went hitless. In the 5th inning A-Rod hit his 650th home run.

Tonight @ 7:00pm it will be Andy Pettitte (9-9) on the mound for The Yankees vs. J.A. Happ (3-3) for The Blue Jays.

OK, everyone, Billi Pod has things and stuff to do now, including his weekly trip to The Food Emporium (to take advantage of the extra 5% senior discount) and paying the first of the month bills ... so ... seeya later alligator ...

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.95 miles (or, 10,817 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>207.67 miles (average 3.64 miles per day)

GO YANKEES!! 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.”

Sunday==>Very Dramatic Doubleheader

Monday==>It is a kinda gray and overcast day on this Back To Work Monday here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World. The temperature is 70º @ 10:00am.

As most of you loyal and faithful readers and followers know, Monday is your favorite blogger’s errands and stuff day, so ... let’s get this posting started with Billi Pod’s report cards on yesterday’s excellent and highly dramatic entertainment doubleheader, starting with ...

BREAKFAST WITH MUGABE, Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, severely depressed, seeks treatment from a white psychiatrist==>A-

The acting is excellent, especially Andrew Peric as Ezra Barnes, the white, but native-born Zimbabwean, psychiatrist.

The verbal bouts between Mugabe and the psychiatrist are totally involving and realistic.

I found the story line, in parts, to be kinda difficult to follow but that didn’t detract from the powerful messages regarding colonialism, racism, loyalty, principles and political power which are depicted persuasively and credibly.

The 90 minute, without intermission, running time gives a sense of urgency to the show.

It is playing at The Pershing Square Signature Center, one block West of my building, and runs through October 6th.

Billi Pod says==>see this show.

When the show was over I came back to PHC and had the usual fruit and cheese plate while alternating between the Little League Championship Game (ultimately won by Japan) and the Yankees/Rays game. 

Then it was time to head down to the East Village for my second entertainment event ...

FETCH CLAY, MAKE MAN - “The improbable but true story about how Cassius Clay, the heavyweight boxing champion, forms an unlikely friendship with the controversial Hollywood star Stepin Fetchit==>A

The cast is outstanding, especially Ray Fisher in the role of the young Muhammad Ali and K. Todd Freeman in the role of the former Hollywood star Stepin Fetchit.

The story takes place in the tumultuous days leading up to the bout between Ali and Sonny Liston. Race, religion, suppression, fanaticism, family and perceptions are dramatically interwoven.

I question whether some of the things would have taken place in this time frame, but that is a minor quibble because the acting is the main feature. The staging is also excellent.

This show is directed by Tony Award winner Des McAnuff, is playing at the New York Theatre Workshop on East 4th Street in The East Village, has a running time of 2:30, with intermission, and runs through October 13th.

Billi Pod says==>you gotta see this show.

I have to admit that when I got back to the apartment I felt rather emotionally drained from seeing two such powerful dramas back-to-back.

Tonight’s entertainment event is gonna be of the lighter variety ...

8:00==>THE CHEATERS CLUB - An orgy of sex and violence set at a retreat for swingers in Savannah. A ghost story that creeps out of the shadows and Spanish moss to bring us face to face with the skeletons that are lurking in our closet and destroying our marital bliss.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

I will be seeing this show with my theater-buddies Dian Crystal aka My Lady and Marty Kosarik aka Whatever.

It has a large cast of 26 performers, highly unusual for an Off Broadway show.

The show is playing downtown at the Abrons Arts Center in the Lower Eastside, has a running time of 2:30, with an intermission, and runs through September 17th.

Moving on ...

Yesterday afternoon, down at that disgrace known as Tropicana Field, The Yankees avoided the sweep by defeating The Rays 3-2 in 11-innings on excellent base-running and a clutch sac fly.

Tonight @ 7:00pm The Yankees will start a 3-game series in Toronto against The Blue Jays. On the mound for The Bronx Bombers will be the struggling Phil Hughes (4-12) vs. the knuckleballer R.A. Dickey (9-12).

Derek Jeter will come off the DL for the third time this season and will probably/hopefully be in the starting lineup.

On this happy note, will post this and then begin working on my errands and chores stuff.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.08 miles (or, 8,916 steps)

Total mileage for the week==>23.33 miles (average 3.33 miles per day)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>198.64 miles (average 3.61 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.”

MR. BURNS, A POST-ELECTRIC PLAY==>C-

Sunday==>Your favorite blogger has a great entertainment doubleheader scheduled for today here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, and the weather couldn’t be better==>blue skies, nice breeze and temperature of 75º @ 10:00am.

But, first, before details on the doubleheader, let’s get started with Billi Pod’s report card on the mess that was his entertainment event last night ...

MR. BURNS, A POST-ELECTRIC PLAY==>After the world is mostly destroyed, some survivors cling to their recollections of “The Simpsons” in order to cope==>C-

This show is done in a mind-numbing 3 acts, with one intermission, and the final product is disturbingly bad, with only mediocre acting. 

I really wanted to like this show but when I finally processed my feelings I came to the conclusion that it sucks. Don’t get me wrong, I like “The Simpsons” but I’m not a fanatic like some of my seat mates were. Maybe I’m not “cool” enough to totally buy into the premise that recalling and then reenacting scenes from “The Simpsons” will help in surviving the apocalypse. The show just didn’t work for me.

I had a lot of theater buddies at the show==>Kim, Mary, Julie, Michael and Dennis and think they all shared my mixed feelings.

To those of you who disagree with my report card, Billi Pod says==>Don’t Have a Cow, Man! Ay Carumba! Cowabunga! Eat My Shorts. D’oh! Double D’oh!

You are so warned!!

Moving on ...

Today, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, your favorite blogger has what looks like a very interesting entertainment doubleheader ... first is ...

2:00==>BREAKFAST WITH MUGABE - “A drama Inspired by accounts that Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe, while severely depressed, sought treatment from a white psychiatrist.” (Off Broadway - discounted ticket)

This show is playing at The Pershing Square Signature Center one block West of my building, has a running time of 90 minutes, without intermission, and runs through October 6th.

When the show is over I will come back to PHC, have the usual pre-theater snack (fruit and cheese plate) and then head downtown to The East Village for my second show ...

7:00==>FETCH CLAY, MAKE MAN - “The improbable but true story about how Cassius Clay, the heavyweight boxing champion, forms an unlikely friendship with the controversial Hollywood star Stepin Fetchit.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This show is directed by Tony Award winner Des McAnuff, is playing at the New York Theatre Workshop on East 4th Street in The East Village, has a running time of 2:30, with intermission, and runs through October 13th.

R.I.P JULIE HARRIS - “Julie Harris, one of Broadway's most honored performers, whose roles ranged from the flamboyant Sally Bowles in ‘I Am a Camera’ to the reclusive Emily Dickinson in ‘The Belle of Amherst,’ died Saturday. She was 87.”

“Harris won five Tony Awards for best actress in a play and was honored again with a sixth Tony, a special lifetime achievement award, in 2002.”

Moving on ...

Last night, down at that disgrace known as Tropicana Field, The Yankees hopes to earn a post season wild-card slot took a serious blow as our former ace CC Sabathia failed to hold on to a 2 run lead and we lost to The Rays by a score of 4-2. A real Bummer!!

This afternoon at 1:40pm is the final game of the 3-game series as The Wankies fight to avoid the sweep. On the mound for The Wankies will be Ivan Nova (7-4) vs. Alex Cobb (8-2) for The Rays.

Folks, this is a “must-win” game.

So ... on this happy note ...

HAVE A GREAT REST OF THE WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

Oh, yesterday was a totally unproductive walking day ... 

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>1.11 miles (or, 2,434 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>198.64 miles (average 3.61 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.”

THE AWAKE==>C

Saturday==>It is a beautiful Saturday morning here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, with azure blue skies, a nice breeze off The Hudson River and a temperature of 71º @ 11:00am.

We will get this posting started with Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s entertainment mess ...

THE AWAKE, about three strangers - a devoted son, an Eastern European actress and a Canadian man on the run - awake to discover they are connected by a mysterious corporation==>C

Folks, superb acting saves this totally indecipherable heavy drama, with way too much yelling and screaming, from getting a D-. Thank God it has a running time of only 90 minutes, without intermission.

When the show was finally over I asked the ladies seated on either side of me if they had any clue about what had just happened in front of us and they both just shook their heads and basically said they, too, were totally mystified.

As I posted yesterday, there was a “talk back” with the playwright Ken Urban, but no way was I gonna stick around for that.

Billi Pod says==>you are warned!!

Before the show I had done something a bit different ... I walked from PHC to the theater, walking East on 43rd Street to Madison Avenue and then North on Madison Avenue to 59th Street, a distance of 2.25 miles. I usually don’t like to walk long distances before a show because I don’t want to show up for the theater all sweaty and icky, but the weather was great so it wasn’t a problem. 

Since I had walked to the theater I opted to subway back once the show was over.

Moving on to today ...

This afternoon I will stay in to watch Little League World Series games at 12:30pm and 3:30pm and then for the evening will be an Off Broadway show at Playwrights Horizons, right next to my building ...

8:00==>MR. BURNS, A POST-ELECTRIC PLAY - “An imaginative dark comedy propels us forward nearly a century to follow a new civilization stumbling into its future after the cataclysm arrives and society crumbles. ‘The Simpsons’ become the touchstone in a world gone dark.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

Billi Pod’s inner critic tell him that this is gonna fall into the “loved-it/hated it” category because there is that dreaded "dark comedy" reference.

The show is in early previews, has a running time of 2:10, with an intermission, and runs through October 6th.

Oh ... and speaking of cataclysm ...

Last night down at that disgrace known as Tropicana Field the Yankees received a rude awakening as they lost 7-2 to the division-leading Rays. Our ace Hiroki Kuroda just didn’t have it.

Tonight @ 7:10pm it will be our former ace CC Sabathia (11-10) on the mound vs. David Price (7-5) for The Rays.

Folks, CC has to step up and return to his former leadership role if we have any chance of reaching the post-season. Jus' sayin' ...

Anyhoo ... HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.41 miles (or, 11,837 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>197.53 miles (average 3.66 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.”

SOPHIA==>B

Friday==>The usual TGIF shout out to all of my Worker Bee friends out there in the morass known as cyberspace. I hope each and everyone of you has a great weekend.

Let’s get this posting started with Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s Off Broadway musical ...

SOPHIA, the comedic musical about Sophia, a beautiful, articulate, sophisticated, bright, and educated woman, whose blind spot is relationships==>B

It is an enjoyable experience but not mind-blowing. The show is well performed by a cast of excellent singers and dancers. I don’t know why I didn’t like it more, but I just didn’t. It is not on the same artistic level as the excellent Hollywood! Hollywood!, which is playing in repertory with this show.

One of my problems was the blocking. The weird layout of the theater insures that at any moment 1/2 of the audience, regardless of seat location, will be seeing the back and sides of the performers, regardless of the blocking. It gets to be annoying over time.

The running time is 90 minutes, without intermission, and it is playing at the Richmond Shepard Theatre on East 26th Street and the final performance is tonight @ 7:30pm.

Tonight’s entertainment event is an Off Broadway show ...

8:30==>THE AWAKE - “Three strangers - a devoted son, an Eastern European actress and a Canadian man on the run - awaken to discover they are connected by a mysterious corporation. Faced with lives they no longer recognize, they must confront a shifting reality of secrets, strangers and unmarked doors.” (Off Broadway - $9.00 TDF ticket)

Sounds kinda strange, doesn't it?

It is playing at the small Theatre C at the 59E59 Theatre Complex, one of my favorite venues, has a running time of 90 minutes, without intermission, and runs through September 8th.

After this performance there is a “talk-back” with the playwright, Ken Urban. At this time I am not sure whether I will stay or not. Stay tuned.

Now ... for some sports ... OK ... look ... I know that many of my loyal and faithful readers and followers could give a flying-fuck about baseball and/or sports ... but ... folks ... remember ... this is Billi Pod’s blog and it is about what is going on in his life ... and ... right now baseball is a huge part of it ... so ... deal with it ... and if it bothers you ... then just scroll on through ... OK? I didn’t hear you ... I SAID OK? That’s better ... now ...

Yesterday afternoon’s YANKEES/TORONTO game suffered a 3:32 rain delay. Thank God I wasn’t at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built - I would have gone nuts during the wait.

Once the game got started the Bombers got a good outing from Andy Pettitte; crucial hitting with runners in scoring position; the benefit of a blown call; and, a save from David Robertson, to win 5-3 and sweep the 4-game series.

The win improved our record to 11-3 over the past 14 games and brought The Bombers to within 3 1/2 games of the second American League Wild Card spot.

Tonight @ 7:10pm, down at that disgrace known as Tropicana Field, is the first game of a crucial 3-game series against The Rays (actually, from this point on every series is “crucial”). On the mound for The Bombers will be our ace Hiroki Kuroda (11-8) vs. Chris Archer (6-5) for The Rays.

Yes, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, your favorite blogger will admit that 3 weeks ago he declared the 2013 season to be over for the then struggling Yankees. Well, I was wrong and I apologize to The Baseball Gods On High, especially the spirit of GeorgeS ... so ...

Time to post this and do some serious walking and wandering in The Upper Westside.

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>4.40 miles (or, 192.12 steps)

Total mileage since 7/1/13==>192.12 miles (average 3.62 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.”