Congratulations President Barack Hussein Obama on being sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America. It is hopefully the dawn of a new era. We have nothing but high hopes for our future under your leadership.
Works by RICHARD GORYCKI – January 22 – February 7, 2009
January 18th, 2009 by
Respond
Paraphernalia and Other Treasures, organized by Jeffrey Haddow, will be shown at M.Y. Art Prospects 547 West 27th Street 2nd floor. Between 10th and 11th Avenue 212 – 268 7132. Tues.-Sat. 11am-6pm.
I received this e-mail announcement from a producer friend of mine, Pat Addiss. The story of Richard Gorycki and his art really intrigued me and I immediately was impressed with his style. His colors. His imagination. With markers, colored pencils, watercolors and pastels – some framed and some not – the artwork of Richard Gorycki grips your attention immediately. There is meaning in each and every one of them.
Mr. Haddow, the organizer of the exhibition and he were childhood friends. Attending different high schools they remained close. According to Mr. Haddow “Richard was always the smartest guy in the room with interests and ideas that seemed to have no limits.” But then, after college he dropped out of sight. Had a breakdown. Was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Today, he lives on a small disability pension in Western New York – “But even now, in spite of his illness and all the hardships it has caused him, the thing that strikes me most when I speak to him is that he hasn’t lost a scintilla of his old brilliance.”
The artwork on display at M.Y. Art Prospects was produced in art therapy sessions at Gowanda Psychiatric Institute. Mr. Haddow’s wife, Miyako, has never displayed so-called “outsider art” in her gallery before – so this is a first. They must all be applauded and I hope that you have an opportunity to see the exhibition. Hopefully, “Mr. Gorycki will be motivated to coax more wonders from his distinctive imagination.”
For those of you who cannot come to the show, an online exhibit has been created to browse Richard Gorycki’s art images:
http://picasaweb.google.com/myartprospectsgallery/RichardGorycki
For any other inquires contact haddow@aol.com or info@myartprospects.com
Prices range: $125.00 – $595.00
Tags: Jeffrey Haddow · M.Y. Art Prospects · Pat Addiss · Richard GoryckiComments Off on Works by RICHARD GORYCKI – January 22 – February 7, 2009
Line Renaud and Israel Horovitz in Paris
January 17th, 2009 by
Respond
Well, I’ve covered Cleveland and Pasadena – so I thought I’d return to Paris.
One year after her triumph in FUGUEUSES with Muriel Robin, Line Renaud will open TRES CHERE MATHILDE by Israel Horovitz opening January 28th at The Marigny Theatre in Paris. At the age of 80, Line Renaud continues to amaze.
In December of 2006 I was invited by Line to see FUGUEUSES as I had written to her after not seeing her for about 30 years. We had a grand reunion. In my review of the two character comedy I wrote…
Line Renaud’s star has been shining for many years and everyone adores her. She is a singer. An actress. A comedienne. A humanitarian who has done much for SIDA – Aid’s Research. She is natural and charming and has a sparkle in her eye that is impossible to ignore or to forget. I must also mention her legs – which she is obviously very proud of. She headlined at the Casino de Paris and brought her review to Las Vegas. It was on the West Coast – Los Angeles to be exact – that a friend of mine was giving a party for her. It was there, thirty years ago that I first met her. Being American I did not even know who she was at the time. But we hit it off and stayed in touch for a while. Then last year, at a small dinner in Paris I was given a DVD – a documentary of her life on stage. Of course, I chimed in that I had met her. Everyone was extremely impressed.
I decided to write to see if she would remember. I still had the address and phone number she had given me in Los Angeles. But I did not hear from her. And so I Googled “Line Renaud” – you might want to do the same – sent her off an e-mail which was answered a few days before I left – with a request to call her once I got to Paris. Which I did. She graciously accepted my call. Busy though she was, I was offered two of the best seats at Le Theatre des Varietes for the Saturday matinee at 4:30 which was sold out. The two hundred year old theatre is magnificent. The play – formidable! – I loved it.
And the best part was to come. I was invited backstage to speak with Line. She thanked me for the bouquet of flowers I had sent (all white – her favorite) and hoped that we wouldn’t wait another thirty years to see each other. With another performance that night and with the television special to think about and everything else that she had to do Line Renaud took the time to be gracious and welcoming to someone she hadn’t seen in such a long time. She is a very special lady. www.linerenaud.com/ www.murielrobin.com
Back to MATHILDE. Something rang a bell in my mind about this play. I have a very good memory and it slowly came back to me. I could visualize the program in my mind but could not remember where or why I saw the play. Found the program – October 2002 in New York – before my tenure at Talk Entertainment as theatre critic. I did remember the set and the fact that there was rain and the central character of Mathilde – which is a terrific part. A character that Line Renaud will win another bouquet of sensational reviews for portraying. Friends of mine in Paris told me that she wanted to be challenged by a different type of part and that’s why she chose to be in TRES CHERE MATHILDE – which was called MY OLD LADY. I’m so glad they changed the title.
Tags: Israel Horovitz · Line Renaud · Muriel RobinNo Comments.
Stormy Weather is coming to Pasadena
January 15th, 2009 by
Respond
January 31st – March 1st, 2009 PASADENA PLAYHOUSE
Leslie Uggams in Stormy Weather
This is not a weather alert. But a brand new on the way to Broadway musical starring Tony Award winner, the fantastic Leslie Uggams as Lena Horne in the sometimes stormy, always extraordinary journey of this American icon. With Dee Hoty, Robert Torti, Kevyn Morrow and Niki Crawford.
Conceived and written by Sharleen Cooper Cohen, it is suggested by the biography LENA HORNE, ENTERTAINER published by Chelsea House. STORMY WEATHER features songs by Cole Porter, Rodgers & Hart, Johnny Mercer & Harold Arlen, Billy Strayhorn and other popular composers.
Michael Bush directs. Randy Skinner will choreograph. Two excellent choices. I know this first hand as they performed the same duties with “The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde” written by Michael Aman and myself with a score by Dana P. Rowe – first produced at The New York Musical Festival in 2005.
Don’t miss the West Coast Premier presented by special arrangement with Stewart F. Lane, Bonnie Comley and Armica Productions. TICKETS (626) 356 7529 www.pasadenaplayhouse.org
Tags: Leslie Uggams · Michael Bush · Pasadena Playhouse · Randy Skinner · Sharleen Cooper CohenNo Comments.
OddyFestival goes historical/comical in Cleveland
January 15th, 2009 by
Respond
In 1999 The Caldwell Theatre – Boca Raton, Florida produced my comedy THE KING’S MARE which was adapted from a French play “La Jument du Roi” by Jean Canolle. It was a huge success. It lay dormant for eight years. So much for “a huge success”.
Then in 2007 The Amateur Comedy Club, based in Manhattan, couldn’t get the rights to a Gore Vidal play and one of the members remembered that a friend had recommended my play to their black-tie-on-Friday and Saturday night-private-comedy club some years back. They contacted me and produced A ROYAL MESS www.aroyalmess.com which is its new title. Again, my play about Henry VIII and his fourth wife Anne of Cleves was a huge success.
Some months later, one of its members asked if I would speak with a budding young playwright, and give him some pointers – like be very patient, I thought. He was from Boca. First coincidence. He is a fellow Gemini. Second coincidence. We met and exchanged plays to read. Liked each other. Liked each others play.
His name is Matt Greenfield and he has since moved back to Cleveland where he had founded a little group at Case Western in 2004 – known as IMPROVment – where they performed monthly, plays that juxtaposed intellectual humor, human drama and physical humor.
On February 4th and 18th the OddyFest presents “Follow the Leaders” – three plays: a staged reading of a “scene excerpt” from A ROYAL MESS, EUPHORICATION by Timo Aker and THE LIFE AND DEATH OF KING EDWARD VIII – by Matt Greenfield. Henry VIII and Edward VIII. Third coincidence.
Plus the musical stylings of Ryan Ferren and the dance of MegLouise Dance Co.
HEIGHTS ARTS STUDIO – 7PM (doors open 6:45)
2340 Lee Road (across the bridge – on the west side of the Cleveland Heights Library)
All tickets $10.00 Mention NEOhioPAL, you get in for half-price ($5)!
Matt Greenfield
The Oddy Festival
216-WAM-TOGI (216-926-8641)
Tags: A Royal Mess · Matt Greenfield · OddyFest · The Caldwell Theatre · Timo AkerNo Comments.
Washington Square Windows – “Be Seated”
January 14th, 2009 by
Respond
Lines of little stuffed chairs with papier mache human legs created by Loie Glasser are on display through April 13th. These fanciful, sculpted chair portraits are in the Washinton Square East windows. It’s worth investigating. They reminded me of many of the theater seats I sit it.
Theatrical Must See
January 14th, 2009 by
Respond
The Judgment of Paris, a ribald musical dance theatre piece, skillfully and creatively directed and choreographed by Austin McCormick for Company XIV www.CompanyXIV.com has just opened at the Duo Theatre – 62 East 4th Street and it is astonishing. But you only have until January 31st to see it. Tickets are $35.00 www.smarttix.com Students and seniors $20.00. To read my review go to www.TalkEntertainment.com TE Features.
Natalie Toro: B’way Diva makes debut in Paris
January 13th, 2009 by
Respond
Well, sort of. At the residence of Monsieur Alphonse, on the left bank of Paris, 6th Arrondissement where I recently spent some down time which was actually a very up time we listened to Natalie Toro’s new CD – aptly titled Natalie Toro. So, in effect she has made her Parisian debut.
I caught a glimpse of Natalie in Glimpses of the Moon at the Algonquin where she was “guest artist” the night before my departure; the same night I received her new CD from Judy Jacksina – press person extraordinaire. Natalie got packed in my luggage, made the transatlantic trip with nary a dent or scratch and I must say it was worth the wait to listen to it. Over and over. Monsieur Alphonse agreed.
It’s rare that one listens to a new CD and the voice that you hear captures your attention immediately. Streisand, Celine Dion and Lara Fabian come to mind. Natalie Toro has her own special distinct voice. It can be warm, vibrant, tender, comforting or amusing and she sure as hell can belt with the best of them – especially in her rendition of “Out of Sight, Out of Mind” from the ill-fated A Tale of Two Cities where I wrote of Ms. Toro in my review for Talk Entertainment.com – “As the avenging Madame Therese Defarge, Natalie Toro is someone who you don’t want to cross. She is out for revenge at any costs and stopping the show with her powerful voice.”
In addition to Natalie’s wonderful vocals, the CD has some of the most original and exciting arrangements of well know Broadway show tunes that make them seem totally new and fresh. In particular, “Something’s Coming” arranged by David Loud.
She also does a magnificent job with Maury Yeston’s “Unusual Way”. Not that any of the others don’t come up to the bar. They do. Including “Here I Am” by David Yazbek and Sondheim’s “Another Hundred People”.
She has been most daring by including four Streisand hits including the famous duet that Barbra sang with Judy Garland – “Get Happy”/”Happy Days” – here recorded with Sutton Foster in another fantastic arrangement by Matt Perri. Some may wonder why? Comparisons are inevitable. While Natalie Toro holds her own and does a terrific job with “If I Could”, “Something’s Coming” and “Where is it Written” she isn’t Streisand. But why should she be? She is Natalie Toro. With her own voice, singing to her own tune. And very well, thank you.
NOTE:
Tags: Barbra Streisand · Celine Dion · Dana P. Rowe · Judy Jacksina · Lara Fabian · Michael Aman · Natalie Toro · Sutton Foster · The Ballad of Bonnie and ClydeComments Off on Natalie Toro: B’way Diva makes debut in Paris
Janice Martin – Discovering a rising new star
January 12th, 2009 by
Respond
I’ve been reviewing theatre for almost three years now for www.talkentertainment.com and I’m always looking to discover someone who I think has the talent to become a star. This past Saturday at the Hilton Hotel I did.
The press release for Janice Martin’s show “A Gershwin Fantasy” reads: “A world class concert violinist, pianist, opera singer who does comedy, dance, gymnastics, trapeze, pop singing, martial arts and plays many other instruments such as guitar and trumpet. She is also an expert marksman with a rifle.” As a reviewer I thought twice about all this. Especially the “expert marksman” business. What if I didn’t like her, would she track me down? How could a woman possess so many talents and be an unknown entity that didn’t ring any bells whatsoever.
So, at the invitation of Robert Blume, I traipsed off to the Hilton Hotel this past Saturday afternoon just as the flakes began to fall to what I thought would be a 45 minute segment of the 90 minute full course concert of “A Gershwin Fantasy”. Little did I know that it was part of a huge convention of the Association of Arts Presenters and Producers – where all kinds of acts are seen to be sold and booked across America and beyond. Somewhat like auditions for “America’s Got Talent”.
In the Beekman Parlor I sat while the fifteen members of the Gershwin Showcase Orchestra settled in. No trapeze in sight. The conductor, Anthony LaGruth lifted his baton and began a thrilling Gershwin overture that sounded great. What followed is how I discovered a rising new star – Janice Martin.
She is blonde, petite and confidant. She started with the violin. Very good. Played the piano. Very very good. Then started singing “Summertime”. I was swept away by the sheer beauty and power of her voice. Where was it coming from? Starting out legit she then jazzed it up. What a terrific arrangement. She continued to wow the audience. An amazing vocal of “The Man I Love” segued into her playing the violin which takes the song into some high Celtic magical place and comes back again to Ira’s great lyric. Another fresh and exciting arrangement – courtesy of Bob Goldstone and David Bixler.
Her range is incredible. When she sits down quietly with her guitar to sing “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” you will be entranced, get a lump in your throat and a tear in your eye. Checking my notes, I wrote “It doesn’t get much better than this.” Janice Martin does not need a trapeze or a shotgun. She has what it takes to be a star without them.
Changing tone midway through she does a duet with herself dressed in a very clever two sided costume. She sings “”Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off” as a sophisticated snobbish opera singer and a street wise cracker (exploring her Tracy Ullman inner child). It is unexpectedly hysterical.
All of this is surpassed by her passionate rendition of “Rhapsody in Blue” where all three talents shine through like lasers and get the audience standing to praise her performance. Have I made myself clear? Have I mentioned Janice Martin’s name enough times for you to remember it? Will you be anticipating her appearances? You can start with her web site –
www.janicemartin.com. Just remember, I told you so.
Tags: George Gershwin · Ira Gershwin · Janice Martin · Robert BlumeNo Comments.
New Year’s Resolution #1 – See DEAR EDWINA
January 9th, 2009 by
Respond
cast of DEAR EDWINA
Producer Daryl Roth has made this one a slam dunk! DEAR EDWINA’s limited run at the DR2 Theatre has been extended thru April 19th. So get your tickets now to this feel good, uplifting and fun celebration of family and friends to shake off the blues that the current news of the world offers. You’ll love it. Oh, and don’t forget to take the kids.
I first met the creators – Zina Goldrich and Marcy Heisler at the BMI Musical Theatre Workshop where they performed “The Alto’s Lament”. I never laughed so hard and have been a fan of theirs ever since. They are extremely gifted and lots of fun.
Children attending DEAR EDWINA can leave a letter to her – asking for advice. One lucky child’s question is chosen per week and posted on the DEAR EDWINA website along with our heroine’s savvy reply.
Tickets at www.DearEdwina.com or Telecharge 212 239 6200 or at Box Office. Group rates available.
My original review which was posted on www.TalkEntertainment.com 11/18/08 follows:
Dear Edwina – a musical comedy for kids
Oscar E Moore from the rear mezzanine for Talk Entertainment.com
What better way to introduce musical comedy to children than to “put on a show” for them. So in the MGM /Mickey Rooney/Judy Garland tradition of “Let’s put on a show” that’s just what Zina Goldrich (music) and Marcy Heisler (book and lyrics) have done with their fast paced, funny, tuneful, 60 minute long sophisticated Sesame Street type musical titled “Dear Edwina” which has just opened at DR2 Theatre at 103 East 15th Street, NYC.
Edwina Spoonapple (Janice Mays) has oodles of advice to bestow. So she decides to put on a show in her overflowing with props garage to dispense her helpful hints and lessons of life so that she can get herself an honored place on the family fridge alongside her seemingly more successful siblings – especially her mathematician expert sister.
In her “cast” are Bobby (Tyler Adcock) the new kid in town, Scott (Ernie Pruneda) with a special pink letter for Edwina, Billy Vanderploonk (Doug Thompson) , Annie (Shannon Tyo) and Kelli Poshkonozovich (Katie Whetsell) a prima ballerina – all friends and cohorts in the show within a show. All are delightful.
Much like a musical Dr. Phil with tuneful toe tapping numbers and advice on such matters as how to be polite when served food that doesn’t suit your picky taste buds SAY NO THANK YOU, how to behave at a party and not turn into FRANKENGUEST, how to set a proper table FORK, KNIFE, SPOON, how to budget PUT IT IN THE PIGGY and most importantly how to make friends HOLA LOLA. I defy you not to get that tune out of your head long after you’ve left Dear Edwina and friends.
Timothy A. McDonald directs with zest. The dances by Steven G. Kennedy are lots of fun. While the score is a mixture of styles it is always catchy and the lyrics are top drawer. If sometimes a bit over the heads of the younger ones in the audience they are always a pleasure for their parents to hear.
Edwina’s final bit of advice is good for young and old alike – “no matter how anyone tries to knock you down, it’s important to do what you love no matter what” – SING YOUR OWN SONG. Obviously the team of Goldrich and Heisler follow their own creed – and do it beautifully. And they are truly lucky to have cast members that also feel the same way. Dear Edwina will help instill the love of musical comedy for all newcomers and delight those already hooked.
www.DearEdwina.com Running through January 25th. All seats $39.00
Note: The Kids Play Bill is also lots of fun!
Tags: Daryl Roth · Marcy Heisler · Zina Goldrich2 Comments