This Idina Needs Her Stage and Bryan Cranston Goes "All the Way"

It took me a few days to recover from last week's blog takeover, but I think I'm back to normal again!  It helped that I got to see two great shows in the interim, although both were vastly different from each other.

The first was a concert at Radio City Music Hall, featuring the "wickedly talented" Idina Menzel (I still picture John Travolta butchering her name at the Oscars.....ugh!).

The show was sold out and my seat was in the last row of the uppermost mezzanine, which would normally have caused some sadness until I remembered who this was.  Idina's voice can fill every inch of an auditorium without too much effort, a fact she proved on numerous occasions throughout the evening.  At one point, as she often does during her shows (have I seen her live too many times?), she sang without accompaniment and without her microphone, and even in the rafters we could hear her song, "For Good."

One of the great things about Idina is her ability to sing in such a classy, Barbra Streisand-style, way one minute, then tell the audience to cover their kids ears so she could talk like a grown up without fear of offending their innocence.  She tells great stories about her years struggling for success and has a good time making fun of herself (she almost popped out of the leather bra she was wearing at one point and this provided source material for most of the rest of the show) and, occasionally, others (funny bit about her ex).  Before her encore, she had to sing that horribly catchy and infectious "Let it Go" song from Frozen.  It seemed to me that she rushed through it (or was that my wishful thinking?), knowing we all had to be sick of hearing it, but knowing the kids in the audience would cry all the way home if she didn't do it.  I'm sorry Idina, but the best rendition I've heard of this song was when you were on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, with The Roots and Jimmy playing classroom music instruments (The Roots, Idina, and Jimmy kicking butt) as backup.

All in all, it was a great night of music in an iconic location.

Speaking of icons, the second show I caught was last night's performance by Bryan Cranston as LBJ in All the Way, a play about Lyndon Baines Johnson and his efforts to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964 before he had to run for re-election.

This is Mr. Cranston's (I'm using his formal title because I saw him in Breaking Bad and to disrespect "Walter White" is to do so at your own peril) first time on Broadway and don't you know he hits a home run on his first at bat (Why am I making baseball references you might ask? I DON'T KNOW!).

It was a fantastic show and included all the major players of the time: Martin Luther King, Jr., Hubert Humphrey, J. Edgar Hoover (who was clearly a little too obsessed with bringing down MLK, Jr.), and the "compassionate and inclusive" George Wallace.  The story reminded me of the movie Lincoln, in how it showed the behind-the-scenes action that takes place in order for a bill to pass.  Everyone, of course, has their own agenda, compromises are made, and threats are leveled; you know, the basic method for anything to get done in politics, even today.  The play highlighted the relationship between LBJ and MLK, Jr. and what I learned, more than anything, is that I need to bone up on my history, which the play made a living, breathing thing, not just something to read in an old textbook.  While I doubt I'll become a history professor anytime soon, it was good to be immersed in it for a few hours, rather than reading about the most recent celebrity gossip in Us Weekly (the new issue arrives Friday!) or watching Gordon Ramsay yell at some horribly under-qualified "chefs" (new episode tomorrow night!).

Next week's a big one: Pride in NYC and Alan Cumming in Cabaret!  Keep a lookout!

A sisterly takeover!!

So, it didn't take long for my dear, sweet sister to try and steal my thunder!  Just when I get something of my own, she swoops in to take center stage.  Isn't that just like a big sister?!  It's a good thing I love her so much, because I would never take this from some random person on the street.  Actually, there's not much I would take from a random person on the street; I've gotten good at ignoring people trying to shove pamphlets in my hand.  Anyway, here is Miss G. Faith's theatre (she spells it a different way and I just can't get on board with that) entry, I hope it brings her joy and happiness to "steal my sunshine" (I love that song!).

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I'm a homebody.  I mean a HOMEbody.  In 2006, when I wondered if I was home enough to care for a dog (I had wanted one badly for a number of years), I kept track of how many nights I was home and how much I was gone on the weekends.  The results: most nights & rarely.  So between being a homebody and a recovering co-dependent, workaholic who is still exploring healthy boundaries and the practice of putting on my own oxygen mask before assisting others, I find myself saying no to a number of offers to see plays, have dinner out meet in "the city."  

I seek balance between spending time with friends I don't see often enough and roaming the streets of our little Sunnyside, Queens with Madge (the dog) germinating writing ideas while taking photos of the beautifully-strange to post on Instagram.  

And then there's the time-consuming reality of actually doing the writing alongside developing a yoga practice, getting to the gym, cleaning, working, cooking, staying on budget, and Game of Thrones. This might explain why I avoid what are, no question, amazing offers of fun-city-life.  But on Thursday, I said, "Yes!"

*Seriously, yes, it's called that on my ticket, see...

Actually I texted, "Yes.  When?" A flat (text-wise) response to a friend's message: "My Colorado friend just offered me an extra ticket to see Violet on Broadway.  I'd love you to meet.  Can you come??? Say yes." But I was working under deadline when her text came in, so Yes. When? was the best I could get out.  For some reason I felt happily compelled to accept, and so I did.  Glenn graciously offered to walk Madge for me that night, so I could stay in the city (and go buy a pair of new shoes since I felt cloddish in my comfortable-I-have-a-blister-and-nobody-will-really-see-my-shoes-under-my-desk-all-day crocs) before meeting up with our friend at the American Airlines Theater*.

From the moment I took my seat, saw the stage and read a quote about the show, "It's about the journeys you take to discover who you are," I was all-in.

It is a beautiful show** about a young white woman with a disfiguring facial scar (instead of seeing through makeup, we see through Sutton Foster's* interpretation of her character) who takes a trip to see a televangelist healer she is convinced will make her pretty; along the way she encounters people who struggle with their own scars, including a young black soldier (Joshua Henry) whose friendship stirs up some conflict along the southern route of this 1964 bus ride.

The music moved me with its simple story-telling, soaring energy, and tender grief.  About 3/4 of the way through the show, I realized I was holding my shoulders up near my ears, and my muscles were tight across my back and chest.  It occurred to me that I was holding myself in; I imagined if I was alone in the theater, how would I be responding?  I realized I would be crying.  So, I relaxed and just let it out.  It felt good to connect with the show and myself, and, as it turns out, others in the audience who were also experiencing their own mini-journeys, making their own connections.  Like Joshua Henry's character, Flick, sang so gorgeously-melty and strong, "You've got to give it room and let it sing!"

Clips of some of the songs in Violet: http://www.roundabouttheatre.org/Shows-Events/violet.aspx

Thursday morning, I was sitting in my office wearing garden clogs, trying to finish an overload of work before heading home to share a great dinner with a wonderful brother; Thursday night, I was sitting next to a friend, wearing my new silver shoes, letting my own scars rise to the surface, not to be healed away but to be seen for what they are: strangely-beautiful evidence of life.

**Links for more on theaters, Violet, and Sutton Foster:

Short videos (5ish minutes) on Broadway theater, including the American Airlines Theater (previously the Selwyn): http://Spotlightonbroadway.com

Violet: http://youtu.be/_1gsQE5t3fE

Sutton Foster: http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2014/05/sutton-foster-violet-no-makeup

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Okay, so it wasn't half-bad and some of you may even say it's better than what I could have written, but you would be WRONG!

Seriously, though, I always enjoy reading Faith's writing and I'm glad she was spontaneous, and did something different from her usual routine.  She is BEST!

Later tators!

Let's Have a Tiki and a Tony!

Hello again!  I'm giving this another try and hope that it will bring a smile to whoever reads it.

This last weekend, I got together with some great friends and family to tour a few restaurants/bars in our little part of Queens called Sunnyside.

The theme, in case it eludes you from the picture, was beachy (Is that a word?  Spell check is telling me "no," but I'm gonna use it anyway).  The first place we hit was Claret Wine Bar, which is a nice place that we've frequented in the past and probably will again.  The main obstacle we came across here was our server, though.  She was a bit chilly, especially for this being an island themed event.  Had they been extremely busy, I could have understood, but seeing as how we were one of the few occupied tables in the place, it was a mystery as to what was causing her frosty demeanor.  Oh well, after a couple drinks we made our way off to the next location, determined not to let her ruin what we hoped was going to be a fun time in the neighborhood.

Is this a hit or a miss?  You decide!

There were hits and misses along the way, but I think the event succeeded in its intended purpose, since there are definitely some places we'll try again in the future.  I'd have to say, the best one we went to was the last place we ended up, Flynn's Garden Inn.  The staff was extremely friendly and the bartender even brought in food for everybody, free of charge!  Most of the crowd seemed to know each other and I thought, 'Could this be my Cheers?'  I'll have to go back and see if the experience is the same before making that big decision.

I have to thank Roberta, Larry, Faith, Danny, little Sammy, and Von for making it such a fun time and I look forward to the next crawl, walk, or sit we have together!  Oh, and I would be remiss if I didn't show off the excellent portrait Roberta and I took together.  It was a special moment I know I shall treasure for, at least, the next five minutes.

Look at those crazy kids!

The Beginning...

It was suggested to me, as I was relaying my experience attending a performance of Macbeth, that I should write a blog about all of the plays I see in NYC.  I thought about it for awhile, thought some more (I do a lot of thinking before I do almost anything), and then thought even more (see?).  My main thought was, 'who would want to read something like that?'  Do I really have anything interesting to say on a subject that has been written about countless times (theatre (yup, I wrote it that way) critics are great in number in NYC)?  Then, I thought (again) about what different perspective I might bring to a discussion on plays and musicals, being from an almost Midwest town like Denver, Colorado.  My exposure to theatre (I'm gonna keep spelling it that way, cuz I like it!) was pretty limited, but I was always greatly entertained whenever I made it to a show.  However, since moving to NYC almost three years ago, I've made it a point to see, at least, one show a month.  I know, that doesn't seem like a lot when you consider how much theatre is out there (Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway, Scary-Off-Broadway....), but I have to take into consideration actually being able to LIVE here, too.  While salaries are definitely higher here, so is a gallon of milk (ok, I don't drink milk, but you get the idea).  My final thought was that I should include some other tidbits about life in NYC and how theatre is infused as part of my whole experience with life here.  So, while I don't expect rampant exposure or notoriety from this, maybe I can connect a little better with those few who decide to take a gander at what I have to say.  So, to the three or four (if I'm lucky) people I think will read this, let's talk life in NYC!

I suppose the best place to start is with the performance I saw most recently, Macbeth.  This was staged at the Park Avenue Armory, which is an actual armory, "built by the state's Seventh Regiment of the National Guard, which was the first volunteer militia to respond to President Lincoln's call for troops in 1861."  Check out their website for more about this remarkable and beautiful (in my opinion) space: http://www.armoryonpark.org/.

Once I picked up my ticket, I was given a wristband with a "clan" name on it: Caithness.  This was curious to me, but I was open to the experience, so I went with it.  Each person was divided into different clans and we had to report to a room designated for our clan prior to the show starting.  The programs for the show were even specific to our clan, providing some history of where we were supposed to be from in Scotland (where Macbeth takes place) and whose side (Macbeth's, Macduff's, etc.) we supported.  Once we heard our name called, we made our way into the Wade Thompson Drill Hall, which is a huge space (55,000 square feet) and considering how space is at a premium in NYC, I'm surprised they've been able to keep it from developers.  Once we entered, there were few lights except for torches of cloaked soldiers we followed to find our seats.  The stage wasn't front and center as I expected, but was at one end, with bleacher-type seats rising on each side.  The rest of the space contained swamp and marshland with a path we had to stay on unless we wanted to get dirty.  I was impressed with how the creators really wanted to give the audience an immersive experience and not just have us passively watch the play.  I found my seat and to my dismay, I seemed to be on the only bench without a cushion.  So, I settled in for two hours of a hurting butt.

Fortunately, the action in the arena-style stage helped keep my mind off my numb behind.  The play starts with a battle in the mud and rain, with plenty of both splashing into the front rows of the audience.  The staging was such that it really seemed like the actors didn't know we were there watching them.  They used every bit of space and even went into the audience for sections.  The performances were all fantastic, but I would be remiss if I didn't highlight the power and ability of Kenneth Branagh (who also co-directed) and Alex Kingston; I've known Kenneth was brilliant when it comes to Shakespeare (hello!  Henry V!).

But Alex was a pleasant surprise, although I kept hoping she might sneak in her most famous catchphrase, "Spoilers."  It's a Doctor Who thing.

I've seen one other version of Macbeth in NYC and that version starred Alan Cumming.  He did a one-man version of the play, using the concept of someone in a mental hospital who does the entire play in their head and is every character.  That was a very remarkable and original idea and I don't know many actors that could pull it off as well as he did.  While Alan's version was more cerebral and the audience had to use more of their imagination, Kenneth's version was action-packed, laying it all out and making it highly accessible.  Not a bad night for theatre, that's for sure.  Now, if I can just get my sister and others coordinated to get tickets to Cabaret with Alan Cumming before it closes......

Oh, one last thing, on my way to the subway, I passed a cafe and sitting outside on the "patio" (it's really just tables and chairs on the sidewalk) was Roger Waters enjoying a meal.  It was a surreal moment seeing a legend like that just sitting there a few feet from me.  But, as always, my intimidation at meeting famous people took over and kept me from saying anything to him (that and I didn't want to bother him mid-chew).  Oh, and for those unfamiliar with who Roger Waters is:

This is my first attempt at something like this, so I hope it was everything you expected and more.  I can only get better from here, right?  RIGHT?!

Until next time......