Off Broadway, Dreams of Flying Dreams of
Falling has a superb cast, but it is a
very strange, unbelievable play. Two
wealthy, weird families attend a dinner and
behave badly, while wild geese, and one of
the fathers die.
Motherhood Out Loud
is a series of sketches about bringing
babies into the world with a cast of four
fine actors, and the opening night party
took place at 48 Lounge with guests like
A. R. Gurney and Elizabeth Wilson.
Jewels, at the
New York City Ballet, is one of Balanchine's
most beautiful ballets. Three sections
represent emeralds, rubies and diamonds,
with music by Faure, Stravinsky
and Tschaikovsky. Maria Kowroski
and Charles Askegard excelled in the
final section, and Teresa Reichlen
was outstanding in Rubies. Another splendid
performance by our magnificent home
company.
The Stage Directors
and Choreographers Foundation ((SDCF)
presented the Mr. Abbott Award to George
C. Wolfe at the Edison Ballroom. It was
another grand evening. Among the many guests
were Bobby Cannavale, Ellen Barkin, S.
Epatha Merkerson, Jeffrey Wright and
Norm Lewis.
The 1st Irish Festival
for Irish playwrights took place at Papillon
Bistro & Bar, and Bogboy won three of
the awards. George C. Heslin,
Artistic Director of the Origin Theatre
Company was the host and Gabriel Byrne
attended.
Former Governor
David Paterson was among the guests at
the Children's Rights Sixth Annual Benefit
honoring Douglas Durst at the Plaza
Hotel.
A Pre-Gala Cocktail
Reception was held for Career Transition
for Dancers 26th Anniversary Jubilee A
Halloween Thriller at the home of
Anka K.Palitz on Fifth Avenue. Among the
guests,were honoree Michele Riggi,
Michelle Herbert, Anne Marie D'Angelo
and Lynn Cohen.
Barbara Ligeti
hosted a party for William Kennedy
and his book Chango's Beads and Two Toned
Shoes at Trattoria Dopo Teatro.
Angelica Page
received her portrait for Fame-Wall at
Hurley's. Dale Badway introduced her
after performing, and then introducied other
Broadway performers, who also regaled the
many guests with a song. It was an
entertaining evening.
Seven gorgeous
calendar girls appeared in person to sign
the 2012 Hooters Calendar at Hooters in
Manhattan. Supermodel Roshumba Williams
was present to congratulate the lovely
ladies.
The new cast of Love, Loss, and What I
Wore celebrated the second year
anniversary of the show at B. Smith's
Restaurant. Many of the previous cast
members were present to enjoy the party
along with the new cast member La La
Anthony's husband, basketball star
Carmelo Anthony. Another great evening.
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I saw three films of Velvet
Bullets and Steel Kisses: Celebrating the
Nikkatsu Centennial, part of the NYFF,
which will be shown from October 1-16 at
Elinor Bunin Film Center. Season of the
Sun, by Takumi Furukawa, 1956, is
a tragic love story. It captures the
rebellion of youth in modern day Japan. The
influence of western music makes it seem
like an American bobby-sox film of that
period. Gate of Flesh, by Seijun
Suzuki, 1964, takes place immediately
after World War II. We see the devastation
of Japan, and the fight for survival by its
inhabitants. A group of prostitutes form a
gang to protect themselves, but their bond
falls apart when a wounded criminal seeks
refuge in their home among the bombed out
ruins. The star Shishido Joe was
present to tell the audience about the
making of the film. The World of Geisha,
by Tatsumi Kumahiro, 1973, is about
geishas at the turn of the twentieth
century. We see how they are trained to
entertain their clients. It is quite erotic
and sensual, and contains much nudity.
A Dangerous Method, by David
Cronenberg, 2011
France/Ireland/UK/Germany/Canada, is an
intelligent, well acted film about Carl
Jung (Michael Fassbender), and
his relationship with Sigmund Freud (Viggo
Mortensen) in the early days of
psychoanalysis, with a brilliant performance
by Keira Knightley as Jung's patient
Sabine Spielrein. I recommend this
film highly. Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory,
by Joe Berlinger and Bruce
Sinofsky, 2011, USA, is an excellent
documentary about the miscarriage of justice
in Arkansas with the "West Memphis Three".
It is an impressive achievement which
resulted in their release after eighteen
years in prison. Again I recommend this film
highly.
Martha Marcy May Marlene, by Sean
Durkin, 2011, USA, is a about a young
woman (Elizabeth Olson), who flees
from a cult to the home of her sister (Sarah
Paulson) and brother-in-law (Hugh
Dancy). She is so damaged mentally, that
many problems arise. The acting is first
rate, and Olson gives a splendid
performance. A Q & A followed the screening
with Durkin and Olson. The Kid With a
Bike, by Jean-Pierre Dardenne and
Luc Dardenne, 2011, Belgium/France,
is about an 11-year-old boy living in a
children's home (a remarkable performance
by Thomas Doret), who searches for
his father, who abandoned him. He meets a
kind hairdresser (Cecile de France),
who allows him to stay with her on weekends
as a foster mother. The troubled youth
causes many problems for everyone around
him, but the film ends on a hopeful note.
Shame, by Steve McQueen,
2011, UK, is a tale about a young man (Michael
Fassbender) who is addicted to sex.
It takes place in New York City, where he
lives alone in a small, modern apartment,
having impersonal sex, with prostitutes,
occasional pickups, at brothels and gay
men's club. Problems arise for him, when his
disturbed sister (Carey Mulligan)
moves in with him. The film features lots of
nudity and simulated sex acts. A Q &A
followed the screening with the director and
the star. All three films are impressive.
10-07-11 2012 Hooters Calendar Girls (L-R) Morgan Meyer.
LIndsey Way. Crystal Cunningham. Liz Lugo. Alex Dumrauf.
Jasmine Syed. Sarah Hinton at the 2012 Hooters Calendar
worldwide release party at Hooters of Manhattan. 211
West 56th St. Thursday evening 10-06-11 |