The Extra Man opens today!

I can't wait to see The Extra Man starring Kevin Kline, Paul Dano (Little Miss Sunshine!), Marian Seldes, Lynn Cohen , John C. Reilly and Katie Holmes!   In New York City, it's only playing at the Clearview at 1st & 62nd and the Angelika on Houston, but I'll make it one of the few I see this year.    Unfortunately, it's getting only a limited release over the next few weeks in just a few states.

In a six degrees of separation situation, Marian Seldes was one of Kevin Kline's teachers at Julliard.  Also, I've encountered Lynn Cohen a few times at one of the 8th Avenue bus stops waiting for an uptown bus - I recognized her the first time from her appearances on Law & Order, which she laughed about since most people recognize her as Magda on Sex and the City. 

The Pirates of Penzance - a new dvd

The Pirates of Penzance is being re-released on dvd on September 14th.  It's available for pre-order on Amazon. Kevin Kline, Angela Lansbury, Linda Ronstadt, and George Rose star.

This production stemmed from The Public Theatre's Shakespeare in the Park.  Patricia Routledge played "Ruth" - fortunately it was filmed.

It transferred to Broadway in 1980, but Estelle Parsons played "Ruth" (Kaye Ballard replaced her!).   It ran at the Uris then moved to the Minskoff for 787 performances.

Much of the same cast did the film in 1983, except this time Angela played "Ruth."   Its been said that Johnny Depp's "Captain Jack Sparrow" was inspired by Angela's "Ruth."

Tonight: Cyrano de Bergerac on Broadway

Is there really a more perfect play of words than Cyrano de Bergerac? This period piece has everything - humor, farce, sword fighting, dashing heroes and above all, romance. Oh, it is romantic! And even better, it is FUNNY! Let's get it over with. Jennifer Garner, star of television and movies who can light up the world with that dimpled smile of hers, is making her Broadway debut. Wait! She's NOT making her Broadway debut! (Well, she sort of is, because she was an understudy in that play that only lasted for 55 performances, including previews and that was a hell of a cast! One never knows. Well, it was 1995 before its star was really a STAR.) So, Jennifer. She was true to the role of Roxanne, an airhead romantic looking for hearts and flowers in words and in looks from her man. Jennifer delivered her lines like a pro and her stage movement seemed easy and natural. She was gorgeous in her period piece satin dresses. There were members of the audience obviously there to see her, and I doubt they were disappointed. How could they be when I was so completely surprised and delighted with her performance? My friend Mary Ann and her son William, a diehard young fan of Jennifer's, are waiting to see this until November and I had warned her, "Whaddyakiddin' me?! Don't see this in previews! She won't be ready!!" I take it back. This was only her eighth preview and she was more than ready, as was the entire cast. BUT I was there for my Kevin Kline, not only because I love him in the movies but because he is a master of the stage! How does he do it? He is just there on the stage and I forget that he is acting. I was breathless, on the edge of my seat, completely engrossed by his presence, his voice, full of sarcasm and wit but also tenderness, hanging on to every one of his elegant words. Yet he was not breathless as his Cyrano tirelessly and effortlessly jumped and danced, galantly fought with his sword so nimbly all the while reciting poetry off the cuff as if these were really his words. He did get mthe most applause from the full house, as he deserved. My heart is still pounding from the thrill of seeing his performance. Joined with this beautiful play of words were the sensitve lighting, gorgeous use of fabric and thoughtful staging. The three hours flew by for a completely fulfilling and entertaining evening.







God of Comps*, again I bow down to you!




*I warn you. This is NOT who you think it is. How do I do it? I attribute it mostly to my clean living and my ever sunny disposition, but there is the little thing of it never hurts to have friends in certain places. I'd give you directions to that certain place, but then I'd have to kill you, so you may as well not even try.

King Kline

My motivation to see a show usually has to do with Sondheim. This time the deal was sweetened: Shakespeare's King Lear at the Public Theatre with Kevin Kline as Lear, Michael Cerveris as Kent and Larry Bryggman as Gloucester under the direction James Lapine with special music composed by Stephen Sondheim. Unable to resist the cast or the promise of Sondheim, Noah and I bought rush tickets for the sold out first preview. No, this is not a musical. The musis serves only as prelude, sometimes interlude and especially as dramatic emphasis, much like the Law & Order sound effects, as Noah pointed out. In modern costume and with an interesting set, it's still Shakespeare and it's still King Lear - heavy, confusing, sometimes funny, and of course, very intense. Kline seems like he is just having a conversation. It's that easy for him. Bryggman impressed me (I've know him as Dr. John since I was a child watching As the World Turns and Cerveris, although with a shaky start and briefly in a strange wig, engaged me (how could Sweeney not?), but it was Logan Marshall-Green as the traitorous son Edmund who really sold me. He gave as an intense and perfect performance as any I've seen. At over three and half hours, one cannot simply pay attention to the drama...one must stare directly across the theatre at The Master himself: Sondheim. He sat with the orchestrator Michael Starobin. He was on the aisle, slouching in his uniform of khahis and pullover sweater, fidgeting, biting his nails, taking notes, looking bored. Sigh.

*The Public Theatre holds true to its creed of serving up great theatre to the public at little or no cost (whether you're a starving student or just generally a cheap bastard). At every peformance, approximately ten tickets are set aside for this purpose. An hour before curtain, tickets are sold for $20...if you've got the time, it's worth it especially considering almost all of their productions sell out immediately in advance.

Oh yeah, Meryl Streep was there...

Last night there was a cool breeze coming in over the audience in Central Park's Delacorte Theatre and a full moon rose in the clear Manhattan sky. It was the perfect setting for the first preview of Berthold Brecht's Mother Courage and Her Children. Tony Kushner, Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning playwright of Angels in America and Caroline, Or Change, translated and updated Brecht's work from German. Jeanine Tesori wrote new songs for piece. George C. Wolfe directed. Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline and Austin Pendleton starred. My friend Noah's friend Bruce Coughlin, the Tony winning orchestrator, provided tickets for us. Oh, how lucky I am to know a Broadway insider. It was indeed good to avoid the long, long linesin Central Park for free tickets; some waited overnight in hopes of nabbing tickets. They will do it again today and until September 3rd. Berthold Brecht is known for his dark work that is heavy in political satire. He wrote the book for ThreePenny Opera which I saw earlier this summer. Like ThreePenny, it was dark and disturbing, although not quite the shocking and messy train wreck. Still, I couldn't look away. It's about a long war in the 1600's in which a woman named Courage profits from the war but also loses her three children to it. I understood the point to be that nobody really wants peace as there is no profit in peace, no matter the losses you suffer in war. It is very wordy with moments of shocking sadness, however it was not without it's funny moments as well. Austin Pendleton and Kevin Kline provided the brief comedic respites, although Meryl's often dry delivery brought laughter at times. Kevin Kline has little stage time, although he does have one song to perform. It's almost all Meryl, as it should be, of course. She's definitely an actor who sings – she doesn't have a gorgeous voice, but one that conveys what it needs to. Her delivery is thoughtful and powerful. Her voice brings shivers. At times I could hardly believe I was hearing her voice live. I kept watching her mouth, trying to convince myself that the voice I heard from the speakers was coming from her. Her energy is astounding and she makes the whole thing look effortless. The performance was exhausting, starting about 8:00 and ending after 11:00 with just one 15 minute intermission. I'm glad I saw it, but it is definitely not the light fare and I have no plans to see this one again. I am sure it won't be my last Brecht piece though.

Tuesday in the Park with Streep

Yeah, that's right, we'll be in the park tonight with Meryl Streep - and some guy named Kevin Kline. It's Bertolt Brecht's Mother Courage and her Children with new translations by Tony Kushner and musicalized by Jeanine Tesori.