Rangers Sap the Maple Leafs

Yes Virginia, there is a (shortened) hockey season.  Last night @ MSG the Rangers took on the Toronto Maple Leafs.  In the 1st,  the power plays the Rangers had came from their punches; gloves off, fists flying.  Penalties minutes racked up on both teams.  The Leafs got on the scoreboard first with 2 goals.  The Rangers racked up more than twice as many shots on goal before they scored their 1st goal in the 2nd.  The Rangers went on to play with a vengence. They put the Leafs into deep freeze scoring 5 unanswered goals with a stunning come from behind win.  The Leafs couldn't decide to pull their goalie off or on in the 3rd.  It just didn't matter.  Yes, Virginia, I do believe the Rangers have their GAME ON!

Artist's Choice Show @ MoMA's

The Artist's Choice Show @ MoMA is an annual show where an artist is chosen to select from MoMA's archives, whatever they deem for an exhibit.  This year's artist is Trish Donnelly, a performance artist known for working with video, photos & sound art.  This exhibit is dispersed on 2 floors in 3 separate galleries.  The 4th floor gallery consists mainly of microchip designs on paper attributed to various corporations, not individual artists. These works are happenstance stemming from technology.  Some of these designs are aesthetically pleasing.  Donnelly described these pieces as a "type of dimensional mental transit.  They are artifacts of the origins of the Universe."  The gallery displays a motley collection of outdated objects juxtaposed with contemporary technology in a compact fashion.  The 2nd gallery on the 5th floor is dominated in the center by what appears to be a life raft, a staircase to nowhere, a large oil painting of a sightless  face by De Dominicis entitled "No!" and Vicent Van Gogh's sketch "Sorrow."  There are a series of black & white photos of wave patterns and solitary, fallen tree trunks.  Pyramid structures were a recurring fixture in both these galleries.  Donnelly was quoted, "We are running out of time." I felt a pervasive sense of gloom & doom in this room.  The 3rd gallery is comprised solely of nature photos by Eliot Porter of birds.  Birds caught mid-flight, in natural habitats &  feeding their chicks, mouths agape.  Donnelly's selections were works she felt "were necessary to her."  The Artist's Choice Show's are fascinating.  You see through the eyes & of an artist viewing other artist's works.  I find it intriguing trying to discern any theme or message from the artist's selections.  Donnelly may have been thinking, "Don't it always seem to go, you don't know what you've got til it's gone."

NY Philharmonic Open Rehearsal

Great Russian composers & artists was the theme for both the NY Philharmonic & the NYC Ballet this week.  NYC Ballet had an all Balanchine/Tchaikovsky program Wed. night & Thursday, The NY Philharmonic's program featured Tchaikovsky's Romeo & Juliet Overture & Shoshtakovich's Symphony No. 5.  Tchaikovsky is heralded as the great romantic Russiam composer.  The music to Romeo & Juliet is one of the seminal compositions from the Romantic era.  Shostakovich's music was both lauded & denounced by the Communist authorities as "bourgeois decadence" & irreverant in regarded to Russia's military successes during WWII.  Shostakovich's 5th Symphony is regarded as his most influential work both for its continuous powerful momentum breaching classical restraints mowing towards a neo-classical format.  The middle piece by Polish composer, Witold Lutosklawki, Chain 2: Dialogue for Violin & Orchestra (1985) was a contemporary.  The violin is discordant with the structure of the symphony as if in a defiante discourse. The violinist was Jennifer Koh who played majestically.  Lorin Maazel was welomed back conducting for a full-house.

NYC Ballet - All Balanchine, All Tschaikovsky

Last night @ the Koch Theatre, the New York City Ballet performed three of George Balanchine's ballets, all choreographed to the music of the great Russian composer, Peter Tschaikovsky.  Both composer & choreographer have transformed the world of ballet with their beautiful music and influential styles.  Balachine's choreography set to Tschaikovsky compositions elevates ballet to the precipice of elegance in dance.  The program began with a piece from Swan Lake, followed by the Allegro Brillante and ended with Tschaikovsky Suite No. 3.  A combined program of timeless beauty and magic that is breathtaking.  All Balanchine, all Tschaikovsky, all extraordinary dancers, who can ask for anything more, other than an encore?

The Birth of Cool - Jazz @ Lincoln Center

Last night Wynton Marsalis & his Orchestra performed a program of the music of Gerry Mulligan & John Lewis.  Set 1 was the music of John Lewis & Set II the compositions of Gerry Mulligan.  The incredibly talented jazz pianist, Jonathan Batiste, played 2 piano solos & with Marsalis & his Orchestra.  Batiste tinkled the ivories with unrestricted elegance and tonal creativity.  In addition to his remarkable musical talent, Batiste serves as a traveling ambasador for the NY based non-profit org. Music Unites.  The late, great jazz legends, Lewis & Mulligan crossed paths in the late 1940's along with Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker & Gil Evan's whose combined talents in rehearsals & arrangements coalesced into "The Birth of Cool" a hybrid of emerging innovative styles.  Marsalis, introduced family members in the audience and talked of his personal experiences & mentoring by both Mulligan & Lewis.  Marsalis is our greatest communicator & champion of jazz.  Each band member shined in their solos & other members helped conduct while Marsalis played his magical horn .  You're invited to feel at home. I think dancing in the aisles would have been welcomed.  The artists on stage were exuberant in their performing.  The jazz that evolved from the birth of cool gets your blood flowing & body swaying.  If not, check your pulse.  I won't be dancing in the aisles but I will be for Marsalis' "Blood on the Fields" in February & at the Tribecca Y for the talk on "Why Jazz Happened."

The Other Place - Has Other Interpretations

 The Other Place is an intense, one act play that takes you through one woman's anguish? dementia? or mental breakdown?  Laurie Metcalf, emmy winning actress from "Roseanne." plays Julianna.  At the start of the play, she claims to be a Research Scientist for a pharmacuetical company. She tells us that at 52, "on the balance sheet of life, I'm happy."  The play is an enigma as to what is factual in Julianna's life.  What is apparent, she's anything but happy.  Daniel Stern,  ("Home Alone") plays Ian, Julianna's  loving, supportive spouse or soon to be ex?  What he's definitely not, is at peace.  Zoe Perry, is cast as The Woman, the daughter of Julianna & Ian or the delusional fixation in the deteriorating mind of Julianna.  The Woman is played by Zoe Perry, Metcalf's daughter in real life.  As in real life, there is countless suffering.  Julianna speaks of  "death by 1,000 cuts.  A death so painful it transcends pain as in losing one's child." The play is a clever puzzle for the systemic downward spiral of Julianna's life.  The Other Place is open to various interpretations.  This intelligent play challenges you to solve the painful pieces for the puzzle, and for life.

Julliard Jazz Orchestra, Just Jazz!

Just the best in jazz by the next generation of jazz musicians.  The Julliard Jazz program is barely 10 years old &  has developed into the highest level training ground for young jazz musicians.  Julliard Jazz students are being taught by today's most talented & innovative performers & teachers in both the classical & jazz world.  The Julliard Jazz orchestra travels throughout the U.S. & abroad.  The students regularly perform at the Dizzy's Club @ Jazz @ Lincoln Center.  And of course, there are free performances throughout the school year @ the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre on 65th.  Last night's program was a mixture of classic jazz standards by such jazz greats as Benny Carter, Quincy Jones & Wynton Marsalis.  Oliver Nelson's "Ballad for Benny" was written for Benny Goodman who dismissed it as "too much like Duke Ellington," which thanked him for the best compliment, ever.  The clarinet solo from this ballad was one of my favorite pieces and Neal Hefti's "Lil Darlin'."  James Burton III, the orchestra's conductor has recorded alongside illustrious artists:  Ron Carter, Thad Jones & performed with both the Ray Charles' & Duke Ellington Orchestra.  Try not to miss the next Julliard Jazz performance, you'll find it impossible not to revel in great jazz or refrain from tapping your feet.

The French Language film Amour, I Didn't Love It

Amour the French Language, Austrian film, just received the Golden Globe Award for best picture and received 5 Oscar nominations.  It Is written & directed by Michael Haneke, Oscar nnominee & Palm d'or winner.  The film stars Emmanuelle Riva whose Oscar nomination makes her the oldest nominee, ever.  Her daughter is played by French actress Isabelle Huppert.  What's not to love?  Haneke is known for his bleak & disturbing style.  He may have outdid himself here.  Just know what you're in for: an elderly couple, the wife's debilitating stroke leads to a rapid deterioration, she is cared for by her aged spouse to the best of his abilities & patience.  This movie plays as a realistic, gut wrenching look at the indignities & hardships of aging and dependency.  It is artfully filmed and finely acted.  More importantly, it is a frank look at our futures in old age and the painful burdens left those who tend the needs of loved ones.  The Amour between the couple is palpable  - until it isn't.  If that's a buzz kill for the movie, be advised, the movie is a real downer.  I'm sure Amour will continue to garner more awards for its excellence but I have no love loss for this dismal film.

Forbidden Broadway @ the 47th Street Theatre

Forbidden Broadway is a theatre goers' soiree.  Gerard Alessandrini the creator/writer is the recipeint of an Obie, 3 Drama Desk Awards for Best Lyrics for Forbidden Broadway & was awarded the 2006 Tony Award for Excellence in the theatre.  The tiny 47th Street Theatre packs a wallop of hysterics.  In addition, to a pianist on stage, there are 2 actors & 2 actresses.  All of whom are riotously funny, excellent singers and spot on satirists.  The bulk of the credit goes to Alessandrini whose lyrical parodies & clever staging kept a smile plastered on my face the entire show.  Forbidden has gone through 25 revisions as Broadway shows continue to come & go.  Being a thespian myself, I have voiced my jabs @ numerous shows.  Perhaps a certain writer has been reading my blogs and "borrowing" a line or two.  Although, Alessandrini puts his words to lyrical spoofs and actors to irreverant & humorous parody which make for an unforbidden guilty pleasure.  I'll continue to enjoy the every changing Broadway shows.  I'll also make a point of going to future renditions of Forbidden Broadway.  I would encourage you to do so, also.  Who knows, perhaps my name will "share" in future writing credits.  One of the highlights of the show was the dance number from Newsies & the battling duet between Julie Taymor (as Spiderwoman) & Bono, "Sue me, sue me, what can you do me?"

Golden Boy - Has Some Punch

Golden Boy a 1937 revival by iconic playwright Clifford Odets about a young man struggling between two opposing careers:  a violin virtuoso or violent boxer.  The dichotomy between the artisitic world and boxing world are too punishing to reconcile.  Joe Bonaparte, a brash young fighter barges into the run down offices of Tom, a boxing manager, promoting himself as the next great white way.  Bing, bang, boom - Joe's taken under the wing of Tom and finds himself quite taken with Tom's mistress, Lorna.  This takes place on the eve of Joe's 21st birthday.  Joe's Italian, immigrant father is played winningly by Tony Shalhoub (a real pro.)   Mr. Bonaparte is waiting at home to present Joe his birthday gift, an expensive violin he has worked & saved for to ensure his son a musical occupation.  Shalhoub does not hit a false note.  In fact, he delivers a knockout performance of a loving father who wants what's in his son's best interest.  Joe's interests have taken a surprise left hook into the boxing ring  baffling his father and taking his own soul down for the count. There are various other rounds of conflicts in the play.  The major bout is Joe's, "I'm a sparrow but I wanted to be an eagle and soar.  Now I'm half a man.  I'm useless."  Mr. Bonaparte also mourns the loss of Joe's freedom & future.  "An artistic man must be free for music."  Odets' Golden Boy is still a contender, but it is Mr. Shalhoub's performance that gives the show power in its corner.

Knicks' blues to Celtic's Green - I'm just saying...

No celebrating @ the Garden last night despite Walt Frazier's colorful deep purple suit & vivid pink pointed boots.  When asked what his least favorite color was, Frazier replied, "Green, especially Celtic Green."  Carmello Anthony hates green also and there's no love loss for the color garnet or Garnett.  Anthony was just named Eastern Conference MVP for the last 2 weeks with the league average best of 29.5.  Last night, Anthony was 6/26.  The only Knick who really showed up for game (and I'm not naming names) just inititals, was J.R.  Hey Knicks, I don't care if you're eating your Wheaties but you need to start eating glass, especially offensive glass.  In the 4th period, the Knicks pulled within 1 but fell to the Celtics 102 to 96.  The biggest excitement of the game came in the last period when Anthony & Garnett, who were jawing each other the entire game, almost came to blows.  A double technical foul was called on both players.  After the game, it was "rumored" that Anthony approached  Garnett in the Celtic's locker room where their altercation became heated.  When Knicks' teammates were questioned by the media about the alleged incident, no one was talking.  Kudos teammates, stick up for each other.  But's let's do your talking on the court…I'm just saying.

Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike-Theatre Delight

The play Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike by Christopher Durang @ Linc Ctr is a thespian's treasure. It is a smorgashbord of theatrical styles: drama, melodrama, parody, farce.  It is an homage to great playwrights, actors, movies & popular culture.  This delectable feast is served up with wit & humor leaving me satiated with pleasure.  Nostalgia for past innocence is mourned and today's woes of violence, vulgarity, disconnection, global warming are hilariously delivered in a vitriolic rant.  In fact, the only thing that wasn't thrown in was the kitchen sink, but coffee cups do go flying on this enticing set by David Korins; Obie Award winner for Sustained Excellence in Design. Playwright, Durang has been awarded Obies & Tony noms. and undoubtedly will receive additional accolades for this entertaining play loosely structured on a Chekov family drama.  However, it has a unique mishmash style all its own.  The excellent ensemble cast featuring David Hyde Pierce & Sigourney Weaver all shine in their roles. Weaver who plays an aging movie star exclaims, "Actors give the audience what it wants."  The actors provided everything I wanted in a oh so witty and gay play.

The Promised Land, David vs. Goliath

The Gus Van Sant film, The Promised Land, is stocked with grade A stars:  Matt Damon, Marie DeWitt, John Krasinski, Frances McDormand and the indomitable, Hal Holbrook.  The movie pitches Steve (Matt Damon) & Sue (Frances McDormand) as commissaries for a major GLOBAL "natural gas" company against Dusty (John Kraskinski) an environmental advocate.  Mr. Van Sant films have always been hit or miss with me but never formulaic; until now.  It's the typical billion dollar profit driven corp. vs. an idealic, bucolic farming community, rich on land & heritage but low on dough.  Global is ready & all too willing to solve their financial woes.  Wait a minute; not so fast.  Of course, there are the down home folks that having been living & working their family farms for generations not quite convinced to take the money & run.  Shucks, just cause we're poor, benevolent folks doesn't mean we're all a bunch of local yokels.  Yates (Hal Holbrook) the h.s. science teacher, is a retired Boeing engineer who confronts Steve & Sue,  He warns his community of the vast destruction wrought from GLOBAL's drilling.  Besides, he asks Steve, who he deems a good man, "where would we all go?" Dusty riles most of the locals to oppose the evil & omnipotent company.  What is in the best interest of the town, the country and one's own moral compass?  The story is by Pulitzer Prize winning author, Dave Eggers (go figure.)   The only thing keeping this film from smelling like manure is the county fair blue ribbon cast.  Don't be snookered, pass on this unpromising movie.