Overheard in New York

I was on the subway last week, standing near two old ladies on the 6 train, who were seated in front of me. They were talking about how horrible it is that no one in the U.S. speaks English anymore. One of them said to the other: "Well, after living in New York for so many years, I've picked up a little bit of Spanish. Don't you know any Spanish?" The second woman responded, "Why should I speak Spanish? My maid is Chinese."

Patti & Mandy, together again

I love this interview.

Tynan

Just returned from a one-night only benefit performance of "Tynan" a one-man show starring the inimitable Corin Redgrave as the legendary critic Kenneth Tynan. The play received critical acclaim at the RSC and then later on the West End in 2004, but had never appeared in New York until now. This was Redgrave's first public performance since suffering a heart attack and coma in 2005. What a comeback! Though a few slips of the tongue and pacing pauses seemed to slow the actor down, he forged through the work, a selection of readings from Tynan's diaries. The benefit, which raised money for Broadway Cares and the Actor's Fund, was well attended in the Public Theater's Anspacher space. Seen: Vanessa Redgrave (of course!), Alec (don't call me) Baldwin, and Patrick Pacheco, who sat next to me and was a delight.

Another 'wtf' moment...

From Tommasini's review of the Met's new "Lucia" comes this idiotic kicker:

"When Mr. Levine appeared for curtain calls, Ms. Dessay bowed and touched the stage floor in tribute. She probably thinks photographs of Mr. Levine should be plastered all over New York as well. She looks better and will sell more tickets, especially when word gets out."

Thanks, Jimmy, for your genius musicianship. But it's too bad that you're an ugly troll.

María de Buenos Aires

Tonight, you will see me in the audience for the Gotham Chamber Opera's opening night of "María de Buenos Aires," a tango opera written by Astor Piazzolla. Judging from the 1998 Teldec recording, I expect great things. It's the first of three performances.

And now, for a completely different Lucia ...

Vitas - Lucia Di Lammermoorr (il dolce suono)

Luciano Pavarotti (October 12, 1935 - September 6, 2007)

"Hair" in the Park

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of "Hair," the Public Theater will be hosting three free concert readings of the musical at the Delacorte Theater on September 22-24. Free tickets will be distributed the day of the show, just like its Shakes in the Park season. More information can be found here.

Censored and Loving It

For those who might be wondering about my presence on the Showshowdown, you'll have to inquire with Patrick, who removed my access today following a debate about some non-theater related videos I had posted earlier this week (two YouTube clips you can see below). Within a minute of telling him I wouldn't continue to participate in the competition if he continued to censor my content, he kicked me out. Very telling, of course, and also very childish. It seems some people are a bit obsessive about their blogging and have an unhealthy relationship with control. That's a theater blog, though. Never without the drama.

One for my baby …

More on the closing of Rose's Turn, courtesy of the New York Observer.

Ring Cycle, day 1 — It's A Wagner Crowd

The rare staging of a Ring Cycle means that the Wagner crowd will be out in full force. As I spend the rest of my week attending the Mariinksy Theater's Kirov Opera production at the Metropolitan Opera, I'll be surveying the crowd and posting photos of some of the enthusiastic Wagnerites I meet. Last night's performance of "Das Rheingold" gave us a glimpse of what's to come. First up, Karyn and Scott smile for the camera.


I spotted this woman in the crowd after the performance but couldn't catch up to her. She looked grandmotherly and cute.


And this woman just looks completely unsatisfied, but her Valkyrie helmet does seem a bit tight.


The Met has its own Alberich, who I like to call the Ticket Troll. He can often be found outside any theater in Manhattan begging for soon-to-be unused tickets. His usual mating call is "Does anyone have an extra ticket?" and he approaches everyone in vicinity, whether or not they're actually attending the performance or just happen to be standing nearby. Should we pity him? Obviously he's too poor to buy his own entry and I'm all for getting people in to see theater, having given away full-priced tickets to strangers so they don't go unused — the tickets, not the strangers. But he goes a bit over the edge in his desperation. At a performance of Philip Glass's "The Juniper Tree" I saw this past spring, a patron chastised him and he reacted a bit too violently for someone in his position. Beware of the Ticket Troll if you see him. He'll turn on you at the slightest provocation.

Notice how far away I stood and used my zoom lens to capture this photo of him. That's because I'm not stupid. I don't want to end up like the Nibelungen.