This Is Our Youth - Phoenix - Sports (but not for Marty)

Tuesday==>Let’s get today's posting started with Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s 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-

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.

The show is in previews, opens on September 11th, 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.

Before the show and at intermission I had a nice running conversation with a very pleasant 70s guy, George Jones, seated to my right. He was born in Ft. Myers, FL, but now lives just outside of Atlanta. George and his wife are about to embark on a cruise across The Pond and then spend some time in Paris.

He said he would check out this blog when they return to the states ... so==>hope you guys had a great time.

Moving on to today ...

Billi Pod’s entertainment event for tonight is an Off Broadway show ...

8:00==>PHOENIX - “When Bruce and Sue meet four weeks after an uncharacteristic one-night-stand, Sue has to say to him: ‘one, I had a great time with you that night and two, let's never see each other again.’ Thus begins a 4,000 mile journey well beyond the confines of their carefully structured worlds. Bruce is fueled by an overwhelming but undefined compulsion to join her in Phoenix. Sue is reluctantly charmed by his persistence, but steadfast in her resolve to keep him at bay. Both are forced to consider a whole new world of possibility, though not one free of difficulty and loss.” (Off Broadway - complimentary ticket)

This show opened to very mixed reviews, is playing at the Cherry Lane Theatre in The West Village, has a running time of 90 minutes, without intermission, and runs through August 28th.

Moving on ...

Monday’s errands and chores were mostly done in-house and took longer than anticipated, meaning, I didn’t have my usual walk and wander session ... meaning ... yesterday’s mileage was only==>3.06 miles.

Gasp ... yeah, I know ... hopefully your favorite blogger can get back on schedule today.

Now ... moving on to some sports ... but not for Marty since he has been totally ignoring my efforts to keep him involved sports-wise ... anyway ...

Last night at Kansas City The Yankees (68-61) continued their winning-streak by beating The Royals (72-58) 8-1 in a makeup game that featured an excellent outing from Michael Pineda and, for a change, the long ball ... yep ... 3 HRs.

Tonight at 7:08pm is the first game of a crucial 3-game series against The Tigers (70-59), in Detroit. On the mound for The Bronx Bombers will be Brandon McCarthy (5-2) vs. Rick Porcello (14-6) for The Tigers.

I hope that you loyal and faithful readers and followers remember that Billi Pod==>HATES TIGERS!!

OK ... time to post this and then finish the leftover items on yesterday’s errands and chores list ... so ... 

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>3.06 miles (or, 6,681 steps)

Total mileage for 2014==>953.65 miles (average 4.02 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.”

Summer Shorts, Series A - This Is Our Youth - Some Sports

Monday==>Good morning to all of my loyal and faithful readers and followers. I hope everyone had a great weekend.

This errands and chores day has started out with another beautiful Summer morning here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, so your favorite blogger needs to get this posting started so he can work on his to-do list and also have a decent walk and wander session to take advantage of the great weather.

Let’s get started with Billi Pod’s report card(s) on last night’s Off Broadway show ... 

SUMMER SHORTS, SERIES A, featuring 3 one-act plays ...

The Sky and the Limit by Roger Hedden - Much to the amusement of his best friend, a young man dives into one of America's mesa strewn deserts in search of the perfect site for a wedding==>B<==the humor turned into a serious drama much too quickly.

Riverbed by Eric Lane, a lyrical drama about a married couple that experiences an intense loss and their struggle to find their way back to each other==>A-<==thought-provoking and very well acted.

Sec. 310, Row D, Seats 5 and 6 by Warren Leight, three guys share two season tickets as they watch the Knicks, and their lives, pass before their eyes==>C<==premise grows old pretty fast and we don't care about the characters after 5 minutes.

This show is playing at the 59E59 Theatre Complex (one of my favorite venues) on East 59th Street (duh), has a running time of 1:20, without intermission, and runs through August 31st.

I had gotten to the theatre area about 45 minutes early so I could have a nice walking session in Midtown East. Then, when the show was over the weather was pretty awesome ... so ... tada ... your favorite blogger walked back to the apartment.

This and the in-apartment walking during the afternoon’s ball games resulted in another good day==>5.66 miles. This brought the total mileage for the week to 37.19 miles or an average of 5.31 miles per day. Not bad, not bad at all.

Moving on ...

Today, being Monday, is, as I said, the usual boring errands and chores day. I do, however, have something really exciting booked for this evening ... and that is ... a Broadway show in previews ...

8:00==>THIS IS OUR YOUTH - “Set in the Upper Westside of New York in 1982, this show follows forty-eight hours in the lives of three very lost young souls: Warren (Michael Cera), a dejected nineteen year old who has just stolen $15,000 from his abusive, tycoon father; Dennis (Kieran Culkin), his charismatic drug-dealing friend who helps Warren put the stolen money to good use; and Jessica (Tavi Gevinson), the anxiously insightful young woman who Warren yearns for. Funny, painful and compassionate, it is a living snapshot of the moment when many young people go out into the world on their own, armed only with the ideas and techniques they developed as teenagers – far more sophisticated than their parents realize, and far less effectual than they themselves can possibly imagine.” (Broadway - full price ticket)

This is the first Broadway production of the Kenneth Lonergan play that had its Off Broadway debut in 1996, starring Mark Ruffalo, Josh Hamilton and Missy Yager. I saw it back then and remember that I liked it a lot although, frankly, I can’t remember much about the story line.

As I said ... I am totally charged about seeing this show because I really like Michael Cera for his work in Juno, Superbad, and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and Kieran Culkin for Igby Goes Down and also in Scott Pilgrim.

The show is in previews, opens on September 11th, 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.

Now ... on the sports scene ...

Yesterday afternoon out at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built, The Yankees (67-61) beat The White Sox (59-71) 7-4, in the bottom of the 10th inning on a HR from pinch-hitter Brian McCann. With the win we remain alive in the hunt for the second wild-card spot.

Tonight at 7:10pm is a make-up game out in Kansas City against The Royals (72-57). On the mound for The Yankees will be Michael Pineda (2-2) vs. James Shields (12-6) for KC. Shields has 15 career losses to The Yankees, his most against any team. He is 9-15 against The Bronx Bombers.

After the game The Yankees will fly to Detroit to begin a crucial 3-game series against The Tigers.

The team from Seoul, South Korea, beat the team from Chicago by a score of 8-4 to win The Little League World Series Championship Game. It was an exciting game to watch.

Now ... in closing ... 

In Sunday’s New York Times there was a very interesting article about Coach Will Muschamp and his current situation with the Florida Gators. This is the link to the article ...

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/24/sports/ncaafootball/college-football-preview-floridas-will-muschamp-is-on-the-hot-seat.html?ref=sports

It is worth reading.

OK ... now on to the errands and chores list ... 

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.66 miles (or, 12.367 steps)

Total mileage for the week==>37.19 miles (average 5.31 miles per day) 

Total mileage for 2014==>944.93 miles (average 4.02 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.”

Summer Shorts, Series A & B - Joe Torre & The Yankees

Sunday==>It is another beautiful Summer morning here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World.

We are blessed with azure blue skies, a few puffy clouds, a nice breeze coming off the Hudson River and a temperature of 71º at 10:30am.

Your favorite blogger wants to have a walk and wander session before he settles in for the afternoon to watch sports (details below) ... so ... we will get started with ...

Billi Pod’s report card on last night’s Off Broadway show ...

SUMMER SHORTS, SERIES B, featuring 3 one-act plays ...

Doubtless by Albert Innaurato - With such formidable opponents as hypocrisy, government, hysteria, neurosis, family, religion and pop culture - can we ever really know and accept who we are? Well, these two brave nuns are going to give it a go.==>A-<==profane, blasphemous and very funny. Well acted.

The Mulberry Bush by Neil LaBrute - About two men who meet up on a bench in the park. One of them is meant to be there. The other is not.==>B-<==rather unbelievable story line is saved by excellent acting.

Napoleon In Exile by Daniel Reitz - About Corey who is 25, living at home, can't hold a job, and is obsessed with Minecraft. His mother has other ideas for him==>B-<==rather formalistic in its story line with not very likable characters.

This show is playing at the 59E59 Theatre Complex, has a running time of 2:00, with intermission, and runs through August 30th.

When the show was over the weather was totally awesome so I walked back to the apartment. This and the in-apartment walking during the evening's baseball games made for yet another good working day==>5.03 miles.

As I posted above, this afternoon will be spent watching baseball ... then ... for the evening will be an Off Broadway show ...

7:15pm==>SUMMER SHORTS, SERIES A - The plays in Series A are ...

The Sky and the Limit by Roger Hedden - “Much to the amusement of his best friend, a young man dives into one of America's mesa strewn deserts in search of the perfect site for a wedding.”

Riverbed by Eric Lane - “A lyrical drama about a married couple that experiences an intense loss and their struggle to find their way back to each other.”

Sec. 310, Row D, Seats 5 and 6 by Warren Leight - “Three guys share two season tickets as they watch the Knicks, and their lives, pass before their eyes.”

(Off Broadway - $9.00 TDF ticket)

This show is also playing at the 59E59 Theatre Complex (one of my favorite venues) on East 59th Street (duh), has a running time of 1:20, without intermission, and runs through August 31st.

When the show is over I will walk back to the apartment, assuming, of course, that the weather is OK.

Now ... on the sports scene ... yes ... for you, Marty, yet again ... when will Billi Pod ever receive a "Thank You" ... ??? ... anyway ... 

Yesterday afternoon, out at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built, was a very emotional ceremony honoring former Yankee Manager Joe Torre. The Hall of Famer had his number, 6, retired and was rewarded with a plaque that will forever be housed in Monument Park in the stadium.

Yes, this time Joe remembered to thank George Steinbrenner.

Then ... The Yankees (66-61) beat The White Sox (59-70) 5-3 behind a journeyman outing from Hiroki Kuroda and more clutch hitting from Martin Prado.

This afternoon @ 1:05pm is the final game of the 3-game series. On the mound for The Yankees will be Chris Capuano vs. Chris Sale (10-3) for The Sox.

In conclusion ... this afternoon at 3:00pm on ABC will be The Little League World Series Championship Game between Seoul, Korea and the amazing team from the Southside of Chicago, IL. 

Of course your favorite blogger will be watching this game.

So ... HAVE A GREAT REST OF THE WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.03 miles (or, 10,991 steps) 

Total mileage for 2014==>944.93 miles (average 4.02 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.”

Gay Card - Summer Shorts, Series B - The Yankees

Saturday==>It is a gray and overcast morning here in The Big Apple, The Greatest City In The World, and the forecast is for more of the same for the remainder of the day. Oh well ...

Billi Pod has a show scheduled for the afternoon so we need to get this posting started ... so ... let’s move on to his report on yesterday’s staged reading.

Remember ... he usually doesn’t give letter grades to workshop, reading or festival performances ... so ...

GAY CARD, about freshly out of the closet Logan Kappler, who starts college knowing three things: he is gay, gay people are awesome, and because of that, people will now think he is awesome. His peers don’t see it that way. Someone as uncool as Logan cannot be gay. Undeterred, Logan begins a quest to prove his identity, earn his gay card, and get the awesome  college life he always dreamed of==>Has Potential.

This musical was both funny and thought-provoking as it addresses the question: “why must our sexuality be used by others to identify who we are when we don’t even know ourselves?”

The young cast was excellent, especially the guy who played Logan and the girl who played his female BFF. Unfortunately, there was no program so I can’t share their names with you.

Before the show began the audience was given a detailed sheet of questions regarding our reaction(s) to the show and our comments/suggestions. Part of it was 8 segments where we were asked to grade our reaction(s) to what had just happened, on a scale of 1 to 10, when the stage manager held up a card with the number of the segment. That was interesting.

And, not joking, two of the audience were actually fitted with devices to monitor their physical reactions during the show.

The producers of the show will take all of this info and rework the show with the playwright and then perform the new version next Friday afternoon. I will consider seeing it again.

It was a very interesting and entertaining experience.

As I posted yesterday, I got down to The Village early so I could have another nice walk and wander session. I didn’t walk back to the apartment after the show but my later in-apartment walking sessions while watching baseball games resulted in yet another excellent walking day==>5.20 miles.

And ... yes ... for the evening your favorite blogger stayed in the pleasant confines of PHC to watch the YANKEE/WHITE SOX game (details below).

Now ... let’s move on to today’s entertainment schedule ...

First is an Off Broadway show ...

2:15pm==>SUMMER SHORTS, SERIES B - “Summer Shorts 2014 offers six world premiere one-act plays, presented in two separate evenings of three each.”

The plays in Series B are ...

Doubtless by Albert Innaurato - “With such formidable opponents as hypocrisy, government, hysteria, neurosis, family, religion and pop culture - can we ever really know and accept who we are? Well, these two brave nuns are going to give it a go ...”

The Mulberry Bush by Neil LaBrute - “Two men meet up on a bench in the park. One of them is meant to be there. The other is not. What follows is a domestic thriller played out in the harsh sunlight of a weekday afternoon.”

Napoleon In Exile by Daniel Reitz - “Corey is 25, living at home, can't hold a job, and is obsessed with Minecraft. His mother has other ideas for him.”

(Off Broadway - 9.00 TDF ticket)

This show is playing at the 59E59 Theatre Complex (one of my favorite venues) on East 59th Street (duh), has a running time of 2:00, with intermission, and runs through August 30th.

Your favorite blogger will see Series A on Sunday evening.

As I am preparing this posting my plans for this evening are in flux. I am considering several Fringe Festival shows or a movie ... so stay tuned.

Now ... on the sports scene ...

Last night out at Yankee Stadium, The House That Greed And Ego Built, The Yankees (65-61) won a nail-biter, 4-3, over The White Sox (59-69) in the bottom of the 9th inning on a walk-off hit from Martin Prado.

This afternoon at 1:05pm will be game 2 of the 3-game series. On the mound for The Yankees will be Hiroki Kuroda (8-8) vs. Scott Carroll (5-7) for The Sox.

OK, my loyal and faithful readers and followers, it is time to post this and then get ready for my afternoon show ... so ...

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND EVERYONE!!

Yesterday’s Pedometer mileage==>5.20 miles (or, 11,362 steps) 

Total mileage for 2014==>940.53 miles (average 4.02 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.”