IN THE WINGS - May 2009 - Theatre

WHEW! NOW FOR LEGITIMATE THEATRE: Some excellent work done in Equity Waiver small theatres are at: The Ivy Substation in Culver City which houses

The Actors’ Gang, Tim Robbins company. I recently saw a revival of the powerful THE CATONSVILLE NINE there. In 1968 two brothers,Catholic priests, and seven activists, protesting US’s involvement in Vietnam, broke into a draft board office, stole hundreds of 1-A draft cards and burned them. The play is based on actual records of the trial where they were convicted. I remember seeing this at the Taper downtown in the ‘80s when the writer/priest, Father Daniel Berrigan was in the audience after his prison release and received a tremendous ovation. The Ivy’s production was wonderful. Currently playing there is Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize winning classic, OUR TOWN, about small town American life. Very good.

HALF OF PLENTY, at Rogue Machine in Theatre Theatre on Pico, deals with a young married couple taking care of an aging parent with dementia. The three main characters are great. I also saw the wonderful FATA MORGANA, a delightfully sensuous comedy at the Pacific Resident in Venice. I hope they bring it back.

THE ACCOMPLICES, a Fountain Theatre production, is presented at the Odyssey. Deals with one Israeli man coming to the U.S. trying to save thousand of Jews from Eastern Europe’s oppression and Hitler’s Germany during the early ‘30s. A historic time and very interestingly done. The Fountain always has an excellent play on their boards. PHOTOGRAPH 51 was extended by popular demand. It’s about Rosalind Franklin, a British biophysicist involved in the discovery of DNA and should have been in the sharing of the Nobel Peace Prize. So well done. Staged nicely and beautifully directed by Simon Levy, bringing tears to our eyes.

Playwright, screenwriter, director and drag legend Charles Busch takes on the role of Lady Bracknell in THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST June 17-21 in L.A. Theatre Works production at the Skirball Cultural Center.

THE PANTAGES in Hollywood is featuring DIRTY DANCING, the legit version of that marvelous Patrick Swayze film. The staging was fabulous and sexy dancing in this is so good and really ready for Broadway. See this before it closes June 28^th.

I’M anxiously awaiting the arrival of Lillian Hellman’s classic play, THE LITTLE FOXES at the Pasadena Playhouse. Kelly McGillis and Julia Duffy head the cast . It’s about a wealthy and greedy Southern family. Will be playing Pasadena by the time you read this. It’s a marvelous play, see it.

LA TRAVIATA, Verdi’s popular opera was done beautifully at the Chandler Pavilion downtown , sung in Italian with English subtitles.

ENOUGH SAID FOR NOW. More later. Continue to be entertained. I’ll be back soon. XOXO Harriette

IN THE WINGS - May 2009 - Films

THE OSCARS® are long over, the gowns and jewels have been returned to their rightful owners (I hope) and the praise for the amazing show still continues. Hugh Jackman deserves all the praise he can get. What a talent he is and the two new producers for the Academy truly did an extraordinary job. If I wore a hat, it would be off to Comden and Mark. The Cannes Festival, in France, is also over, with its not so splendiferous activities this year due to the economy.
NOW, let’s see what’s around in films for this year. I did see an extraordinary Swedish film called EVERLASTING MOMENTS directed by Jan Troell. Takes place at the turn of the 20th century Sweden where a woman lives with her children and her womanizing and alcoholic husband. She finds comfort in a camera her errant husband won in a lottery and in the kindly camera-store owner who encourages her photographic talents. Done with such sensitivity. Truly the best film so far. I hope it is recognized come Oscar® time. Also, a lovely Noel Coward-ish (actually based on his play) EASY VIRTUE with a tremendous cast consisting of Jessica Biel, Colin Firth, Kristin Scott Thomas and Ben Barnes as the young English gentleman who impetuously marries a glamorous American woman. It all starts when they return to his cold and stately mansion. Typically Coward in the ‘20s. A sweet Norwegian film, O’HORTEN, is about a train engineer’s retirement that brings about a life-changing event. RUDOY CURSI starring the two Latin hunks, Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna, as two Mexican laborer brothers who become huge soccer stars and then take a fall.
I haven’t seen many American films yet except for STATE OF PLAY, which was really taken from the British mini series and, despite the critics’ pans, I liked it a lot. Ben Afleck was excellent and a very large Russell Crowe as the news reporter was also good. Lots of action and excitement and the innards of the New York Times was a treat to see. BROTHERS AT WAR is a documentary of several brothers fighting in Iraq. Saw ANGELS AND DEMONS starring Tom Hanks. This was the book written before THE DA VINCI CODE. I found the film very frenetic, with the last 40 minutes very exciting, The photography was amazing and beautifully scenic.
Oh, by the way, TREKKIES are back! – with the latest STAR TREK (Duh).
Until next time,
XOXO Harriette