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.

Work It Out, Fosse

Get This Party Started

Dan: this is the gayest video ever
Dan: gayest
Dan: video
Dan: ever
Dan: there's bel ami porn less gay than this
Christopher: true
Christopher: and that's why I love it
Dan: it's fabulous

I'm leaving my family; I'm leaving all my friends.

I was going to post this yesterday, but I was too busy drowning my sorrows in a Stoli & tonic to even think about turning on my computer. Having awoke this morning still in the throes of depression brought on by the news, I now feel the responsiblity of spreading word about the imminent closing of the greatest piano bar in the world, Rose's Turn. I'm told that the building has been sold. Last call will be this Sunday, July 22. See you there.

Il Trovatore

Photo by Thomas McDonald
The reason to go to Caramoor for this "Trovatore" was to hear famed contralto Ewa Podleś in the role of the gypsy Azucena, which was written for mezzo soprano. However, it soon became clear that Ms. Podleś's top notes really weren't there, and this was probably one of her worst public performances. Please remember, though, that the standard is very high, and that even a mediocre performance by Podleś still draws whoops of delight from the audience, as it did on Saturday. But the real stars of the evening turned out to be the tenor Francisco Casanova as Manrico and Julianna Di Giacomo, an up-and-coming soprano who will be appearing this coming season as Clothilde in the Met's "Norma." Both were in top form. Will Crutchfield drew a shimmering bel canto interpretation from the orchestra, which for me, was worth the trek to Katonah. Following the performance, Ms. Podleś confided to someone at the after party that she hated singing Azucena and that it wasn't the right role for her. At least she's aware. Tickets are still available for the second and final performance, which is Friday July 20th. And it's also on TDF, if you're a member.

Broadway! Broadway! How great you are!

With all this talk of a B'way transfer for the LuPone "Gypsy," has anyone noticed that the Imperial is sitting empty? I'm told it's being saved for "Billy Elliot," but until then? My mind reels with possibility.

Bryn Terfel as "Elijah"

Though it's really not the right time of year for a visit from the prophet ("Come back in April!"), Bryn Terfel is scheduled to sing a concert performance of Mendelssohn's "Elijah" oratorio with the Collegiate Chorale at Carnegie Hall on Monday, November 19th at 8 p.m. And as if that weren't enough, Metropolitan Opera mainstays Hei-Kyung Hong and Eric Cutler will be joining him. Until August 31st, you can order tickets during the Chorale's pre-sale by going here.

Cattle Battle Is Still A Bitch

According to my source in Aspen, Kathleen Battle is up to her old tricks as a whining fit-throwing diva. In town this weekend to sing a program of Gershwin tunes at the Aspen Music Festival, the Battle Axe was put up in the St. Regis — the city's poshest digs — and upon being shown to her room, she flew into a rage of discontent and demanded to see every available room in the complex (which resembles an upscale hunting lodge), until she found something suitable to her needs. She also turned down an interview request by the local radio station, saying that the music "should speak for itself," and also has refused to meet with the festival's student singers, defying the tradition of master classes led by seasoned professionals. Perhaps that's because she doesn't have anything nice to say.

"Les Fables de La Fontaine" by Comédie-Française

The visionary director Robert Wilson has returned to Lincoln Center with a new offering from the Comédie-Française, one of the oldest and most respected theater troupes in the world. A staging of a handful of the French poet Jean La Fontaine's fables based on those of Aesop, "Les Fables de La Fontaine" is an accessible introduction to the tales and makes great theater for children of all ages. The actors wear masks representing the animals and a throaty-voiced Christine Fersen plays Fontaine himself, addressing the audience while weaving between the masquerading characters. The haunting original music by Michael Galasso, lighting and set design by Wilson, and inventive costumes by Moidele Bickel come together to create an engaging spectacle that's not to be missed. My one complaint: inadequate supertitles that only summarize every 10 lines of text instead of giving line-by-line translations of the original French. Thankfully, English language versions of the poems are included in the program, but you'll have to wait until after the show to pour over them.

Online extra: Calvin Klein is looking leathery these days. Did his contract with Mephistopheles expire or has he stopped drinking the life-giving boy juice that had kept him young for so long? Maybe he's finally started practicing the heterosexual lifetstyle he's claimed all these years?

"Gypsy" by Jule Styne, Stephen Sondheim, and Arthur Laurents

In a word: Flawless. And that's not just Patti we're talking about, but every single performer on a cramped City Center stage (shared with a full orchestra) who's been directed with the knowing hand of Arthur Laurents. Thankfully, he has been able to capture perfect nuance with the smallest bit of staging, making the tiniest gestures evolve into character defining moments. Encores has spared little expense with a fully-staged production that makes the 2003 Broadway revival look like summer stock. Even the performers outdo their recent predecessors, with LuPone arguably the first Mama Rose to have the vocal chops of Merman, and boy does she use them. Just before the show ended, she stopped it with an incomparable rendition of 'Rose's Turn," audience applauding wildly with a well-deserved standing O. Laura Benanti gets major kudos for her transformation into Gypsy Rose Lee and for her perfect "Little Lamb," which she acts with weepy sincerity. City Center would be smart if they offered frequent flier miles for return visits to "Gypsy," because just like a Pringles potato chip, you can't have just one. I need to go back again and again because it's just that damn good.