"Search Party" on TBS is a Show to Follow

"Search Party" is a comedy with a mystery centered on a quartet of self-involved 20 somethings living in NYC who act as though the world revolves around them.  The lead, Dory (Alia Shawkat) is the most unassuming of the four.  She works as an assistant for a neurotic, narcissistic wealthy housewife.  Dory is most in need of a life - and becomes obsessed with finding a missing former college roommate, Chantal.  Dory barely knew Chantal, hasn't seen her in 6 years but is convinced she recently spotted her. Dory's passiveness is pushed aside as are all boundaries of appropriate behaviors as she makes it her adventurous quest to find her.  Dory's live-in boyfriend of 3 years, Drew (John Reynolds) is a mousey grad student.  He's tall but lacks backbone.  The couple are still close with 2 former classmates, Portia (Merdith Hagner) and Elliot (John Early.)  Portia is a struggling actress whose conceit knows no bounds.  Their gay friend, Elliot is a hoot.  He's completely self-absorbed & we can't help but be infatuated with the group.  This offbeat comedy has a shady edge and the barrier between the eccentric and the mundane is constantly shifting.  "Search Party" pushes boundaries & blends the genres of quirky comedy with menacing mystery.  Celebrities pop in & out in roles that add sizzle with Dory's story as a burgeoning sleuth.   And, all side characters are compelling in their bizarre bits.  TBS' hit "Search Party" is a resounding find. If you don't look for it, you'll never know what you're missing.

Melinda's Holiday Movie Pick-You Probably Wouldn't have Guessed...

Did you think "A Christmas Story?" Puh leeze, let the kid stay stuck to the pole with his stupid tongue. How many morons were inspired to try that at home?  And, throw that leg out with the trash - or try re-gifting it.  "It's a Wonderful Life?"  It's torture every time that movie comes around and every time a bell rings.  (We know - an angle gets its wings - yaddah yaddah.)   "Miracle on 34th Street?" Nope, although Natalie Woods was cute and the real miracle is that people on the boat got away with murder.  "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer?"  Getting warmer - I'm always a sucker for the Island of Misfit Toys which is no longer politically correct which makes it all the more endearing.  Give up?  What else you got?  My yearly holiday treat is "Camelot" with Richard Harris & Vanessa Redgrave.  Wait, that's not a holiday movie you say?  It's my holiday pick nonetheless and with good reason.  It's a wonderful, magical musical.  It's a love story on & off the screen.  Guinevere (Vanessa Redgrave) had an affair with Lancelot (Franco Nero) while making the film.  (They have a son together.)  Why Guinevere fell for Lancelot when married to King Arthur (Richard Harris) beats me; so what if he's a knight in shining armor that performs miracles.
   It's true.  It's true.
   In short, there's simple not -
   A more congenial plot
   For happily-ever-aftering
   than my pick, Camelot.
When dealing with family during the holidays try watching the film.  There's a lesson here on how to handle family - it's to love them… simply love them…merely love them.

Bah humbug!  My favorite holiday character still remains Ebenezer Scrooge

Michelle Says Go High and I Say Good-bye and Oprah Get Out of the Way

I watched First Lady Michelle Obama's final interview from the White House conducted by the effervescent Oprah Winfrey.  First, Michelle is the finest First Lady our nation has ever had in the White House.  The reasons are crystal clear here: her initiatives v. obesity, support of our troops & their families, healthy eating & gardening, your role as a family matriach, and being the bearer of grace & good cheer.  Michelle has always been eloquent, outspoken, inspiring & inviting.  Her lovely & genuine smile served as a beacon of hope & camaraderie.  Never before has a First Lady been as inclusive, accessible & embracing (metaphorically as well as literally) especially to our young people.  Michelle was there with open arms (fab arms) to welcome dignitaries, all ethnicities, families and children.  When Pres Obama made his surprise (staged) stop - he did cover all Michelle's power points.  Hitting home the message of hope for our next generation.  And, I believe this is true.  I also believe Michelle's message of what we say & what we do matters.  This was a trope that served our troops, our country and one that should reverberate long after the Obama family closes the gate on the White House lawn.  "They go high, we go low."  This slogan, despite what the omnipotent Oprah thinks is not one I favor. (Oprah needs to know when to take a backseat.)  This High Lo motto has a condescending tone.  Actions are better served than a haughty catchphrase.  Again, Michelle gets high marks for being a woman of positive action, an admirable role model for young women & young men.  I also love the love we saw in the White House between the Pres & his First Lady (his best decision ever) and their daughters.  We've watched 2 young girls grow into sophisticated, young ladies in front of our eyes.  They have remained steadfast to each other and their parents.  I got a kick out of their eye rolling with the turkey pardoning.  (It is a goofy tradition that has grown tired.)  Ms Winfrey, you are a woman who has earned high esteem.  You were on top form with your intelligent questions but your enthusiasm needed some checking at the door.  Save your glamping for off camera.  (Does anyone think this is going to take place under the camera's len?)  Dear Mrs Obama, thank you for being an example of true partnership, open mindedness, for giving us hope, showing us dignity & bringing fun & humor with your office & to our nation.   First Lady Michelle Obama doesn't need a Camelot tagline - she just did a lot.  Words matter, action matter - thank you.  Michelle, I miss you already!

"Touched with Fire" a Film Focusing on Bipolar Disorder Featuring Katie Holmes

"Touched with Fire" is a film I recommend for numerous reasons.  The main reason being the serious nature of its topic, bipolar disorder, which is handled in both with sensitivity and artistic flair.  The artistry of the movie does not overshadow the significance of disease which most often manifests itself in young adulthood and becomes a lifelong struggle for the individual and their families.  The illness, which has afflicted many great artists (Dickinson, Hemingway, Tchaikovsky, Byron, Wolfe to name but a few) is seen as both a gift and an illness in this dramatic love story revolving around a couple Carla (Katie Holmes) & Marco (Luke Kirby.)  Carla & Marco first meet in the hospital while being treated & monitored for their disorder which was in a state of mania for both.  Unable to sleep (insomnia a main symptom) they feed off each other's manic state; intensifying their mania.  The movie is written & directed by Paul Dalio, who has a bipolar disorder.  Kay Jamison, a psychologist and writer, plays herself in the film.  Jamison counsels the couple on how she manages her bipolar illness by staying on her prescribed medication.  She assures the couple that being medicated hasn't impinged her creativity or productivity.  Jamison calls her medication & treatment "a godsend" that has allowed her to do her work & live a productive life.  The movie aptly portrays the frenetic, disorientation & paranoia that are associated with this mental health issue in a thoughtful and empathetic manner.  The love story between Carla & Marco, finely acted by Holmes & Kirby, is a contrivance that is most effective at showing how shattering a bipolar prognosis can be for a person's life and the lives for those who care for them.  Christine Lahti plays Carla's mother & Griffin Dun Marco's father.  Both actors are superb in evoking strong feelings of love, confusion, helplessness, frustration & devotion.   Poetry is implemented throughout to express both the extreme range of emotions felt at both the manic & depressive phases.  "Touched with Fire" is a princely film that helps to explore what it means to live with bipolar disorder which can only be grasped by those who share the illness or love someone suffering mental health problems.

TV's Funniest Show "People of Earth" on TBS-An Alien Abduction Support Group

"People of Earth" will appeal to earthlings or E.T. alike.  It is a clever comedy about an eccentric, group who've come together to share their alien abduction/experience.   Before you go judging their sanity, know they have all indeed encountered aliens.  (Well, except for one who wants more than anything to be abducted.)  Once you start watching (and you should) you can form your own opinions on how in touch they are with reality.  All the abductions have been in a small upstate NY town, Beacon.  A reporter, Ozzie Graham ("Daily Show") is sent to investigate for a human interest story.   From the moment Ozzie crosses into Beacon bizarre things start happening to him.  "Don't get weird on me people."  The more Ozzie interacts with the "Alien experiencers" the more he becomes open to the possibility of the truth to their encounters.  The support group is led by Gina (Ana Gesteyer, "SNL") a social worker with a disastrous work history.  The group meets in the local church led by Father Day (Oscar Nunez "Community.")   The motley group bring their own hangups & quirks to the mix.  Together, they form a support system where they genuinely care for one other.  Ozzie moves into the town & somewhat begrudgingly into the group.  He becomes attached to the whack pack and weird stuff keeps happening to him.  The "Alien Experiencers" are portrayed as lonely oddballs and not E.T. fanatics.  The actual aliens are also portrayed as a squabbling, bizarre bunch who fumble & blame each other for mishaps.  The aliens are poised to prepare for the pending mother ship and its plans for domination.  There maybe mutiny on board the ship. The producers are veterans of "The Office" & "Parks & Recreations."  There are similarities in the likability of off-beat characters meshing together.  This comedic premise, "People of Earth" who share an alien abduction promises a uniquely funny & endearing experience.

Amy Schumer's Auto-bio "The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo" Too Much Info

"The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo" is Amy Schumer's auto-biography.  In it she shares everything (well how would I know that?) & anything about her childhood, family, sex life, comic personna, introvert personna (huh?) and did I mention sex life.  Schumer's writing is self-deprecatingly hilarious especially her footnotes of her own earlier journal entries.  Her writing has a comic timing you don't see coming which is LOL (don't you hate that?)  It seems Amy gives us a full disclosure, full dose dossier of her life from infancy (yep) through adolescence, parental relationships, boyfriends & sexual relationships and her penchant for the spotlight & making people laugh.  There are serious, somber reflections on sexual abuse, self-doubt & sensible gun controls.   Her pontificating on finding your inner strength is palpable mixed with her dry wit & wisdom.  "Know what it is to depend completely on yourself in life." "What's wrong with being alone anyway?  Being alone is sometimes a great place to be but people are always trying to correct this problem for you."  Amy's upbringing was unique (whose isn't?)  But really, her mother made a lot of mistakes by sharing way too much information & being too permissive rather than being a responsible parent.  (Perhaps, Amy gets her sharing of TMI from her mom.)  Amy's father's alcoholism & degenerative muscular disease are an open book.  Again, more shit than I needed to know.  However, whenever 2 sisters are as close as Amy & her sister, there was something unerring in the home.  And, Amy's outlook on life is resplendent. "Life is full of pain & disappointment.  I've made a whole career out of pointing this out and reliving it in ridiculous ways so everyone can laugh and cry along with me."  Amy's never ending lust for the comic hustle under the spotlight is surprisingly at odds with her inner introvert core.  (Is this part of her ultimate hustle at being funny?)  Amy grasps that making people laugh allows her to dismantle power structures (albeit to her advantage.)   Schumer does what comediennes do best, they push boundaries allowing us more space to examine the ludicrousness in life with humor & a sense of kindred-ship.  Schumer's "…Lower Back Tattoo" has too much intimate info but this is what makes it the most entertaining & rewarding autobiography I've read by a comic.  "Sitting & writing & talking to no one is how I wish I could spend the better part of everyday."  Schumer's on-stage talents are rooted in her embracing of the mundane to the insane.  HEY LADY!

Chilean Dir Pablo Larrain's "Jackie" Starring Natalie Portman

The historic biopic movie directed by Chilean director Pablo Larrain is a myopic look at the tumultuous days surrounding JFK's assassination seen through Mrs Kennedy's eyes.  Jackie (as she asked to be called when no longer 1st Lady) is portrayed by Oscar winning actress Natalie Portman.  As Jackie, Portman appears her doppleganger, complete with her breathy voice & mannerisms.  Mainly, Portman's performance emanates from her doleful eyes.  But aside from scenes of JFK's assassination & the removing of JFK's blood, Jackie displays a narrow emotional range.  We see a poised facade & steely determination.  Jackie's assistant, Nancy, (Greta Gerwig) remains nearby cueing her to smile.  The intentionally blurry timeline covering the fateful day in Dallas through  JFK's ceremonial burial, evokes a disorienting feeling of shock & grief.  Jackie refused to change her blood stained clothing before leaving the airplane where she witnessed LBJ's swearing in as President.  Robert Kennedy (Peter Sarsgaard) becomes Jackie's solicitous support & advocate while seeming opportunistic & plodding.  LBJ & Ladybird are not given a sympathetic portrayals.  Rather, they appear eager for Jackie to vacate the White House & tried to quell Jackie's plans for a stately, ceremonial funeral procession.    The movie's intent is ambiguous & hazy.  I felt as if in a fugue alongside Jackie given the voyeuristic focus of the lens.  "Jackie" reveals a limited insight into her life other than her calculated determination to keep her husband's legacy (and perhaps hers) alive.  In short, there's simply not, a deeply stirring plot.  There does seem an endless limit to the fascination with the Kennedys.  They were here for a mere spot.  Yet, Jackie's orchestrated Camelot comparison, ensures they will not be forgot.  

The Film "LA LA LAND" is a Neo-Musical Romance Starring Emma Stone & Ryan Gosling

The vibrantly colorful cinemascope film "LA LA LAND" is a new take on the old school sing & dance musicals (Rogers & Astaire) stuffed with old school romance you'd find in Bogart & Bergman films.  The painless plot is moved along in song & by season.  If people break out in dance for no reason, at least the choreography is spectacular.  Yes, both Emma Stone & Ryan Gosling are convincing hoofers.  As far as singing, they should both keep their day jobs.  John Legend adds his musical talents but his lecture on new jazz falls flat.  The ole story goes boy meets girl, boy gets girl, boy loses girl with pipe dreams & let's put on a show mojo.  The opening number of cars at a standstill on the LA freeway is a show stopper.  People start to get out of their cars (they're not moving anyways) and burst into camaraderie singing & stomping on rooftops complete with congo drums.  The charm of the movie lies in its vivid wink to the golden days of cinema.  However,  the glitter & dazzle become blinding (but the color blind casting is crystal clear.)  The platitudes hit you like lead pipes keeping the mode from hitting all the right notes.  Still, Stone as Mia, the wanna be actress and Gosling as Sebastian the jazz purist; strictly old school have enough spunk & charisma to keep us entertained.  The break from all the frilly froth for more serious talk on their dreams for  themselves & where the relationship is going, goes on too long.  Of all the movies playing in all the theaters, why pick to go in & see "LA LA LAND?"  I've seen better.  I won't pay to see it again, damn.

Neo-Noir Thriller "Nocturnal Animals" Starring Jake Gyllenhall and Amy Adams

"Nocturnal Animals" (NA) is a raw, emotional roller coaster that is disturbing, perplexing and riveting.  It's no less daunting for Tom Ford's remarkable screenplay & direction.  Ford made his make in the fashion world for Gucci & now has his own successful line.  He made a remarkable leap from fashion design to his 1st film "Single Man" ('05) starring Julianne Moore & Colin Firth which garnered Critics Choice & Golden Globe nominations.  With NA, Ford proves his  filmmaking talents are not merely a trendy phase,  NA, Ford's 2nd feature is another stunning looking film with exceptional acting that provokes gut wrenching, emotional responses.   NA has  received a Critics Choice & Golden Globe nomination.  Susan Morrow (the incomparable Amy Adams) plays Susan Morrow, a successful gallery owner.  While in art grad school & in NYC she runs into Edward Sheffield (an intense & striking Jake Gyllenhal) an old high school crush from TX.  They quickly spark a romance that leads to marriage despite the snobbish objections of Susan's mother (Laura Linney) who disdains Edward as weak & an unsuccessful writer who won't amount to anything.  Mother knows best (Linny is always marvelous.)  Susan comes to the same conclusion and leaves Edward despite his pleading.  Several years later, Susan is a wealthy, successful art dealer & married to a handsome philandering husband (Armie Hammer.)  Alone while her husband is out of town with another woman, she receives a draft of a novel "Nocturnal Animals" sent by her ex which he's dedicated to her.  The movie has an enticing & mysterious  contemporary noir look.  The cinematography is stunning.  The film cleverly shifts to the novel with Susan's reading  envisioning Edward as the main character, Tony Hastings.  Tony, with his wife & teen daughter set off on a long drive through TX where things take a harrowing & violent turn.  The movie morphs into a psycho crime thriller. The family is ambushed by a menacing trio of thugs.  Tony watches helplessly while his wife & daughter are forcefully driven away.  He manages to evade his captor & contacts the police the following day.  Det Bobby Andes (a forceful Michael Shannon) is assigned the case.  Tony is wracked with quilt and grief when his family is found gruesomely murdered.  The plots of the film & novel are wrought with anguish, tension & confusion and intertwine in a beguiling fashion.  The movie could be summed up in one word REVENGE.  Although, I would add the words, intoxicating, suspenseful and brilliant.

Alvin Ailey's World Premier "Unititled American" A Monumental Performance with Profound Impact

"Untitled America" had its world premiere with the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater at City Center last night.   The brilliant choreographer, Kyle Abraham aptly named his powerful work "Untitled America" as it reflects the tragic, rampant killings, massive arrests & mass incarcerations that has buried our nation in a malaise of sorrow, oppression & social disintegration.   Abraham has created a work of art whose poignancy is palpable & undeniably imbedded in what we witness in the violence & mistreatment of a group of people, specifically men of color.  The dancers with their sinewy backs turned and arms lifted resonated with tension and sorrow.  The supplicant posturing is in response to the "Hands up, don't shoot" protest which arose from the tragic killing of Michael Brown in 2014.  Brown stood with his hands up in surrender to police moments before being fatally shot.  The crumpling of inert bodies was scorchingly realistic.  So too were aggressive movements indicating handcuffings & imprisonment.  The solemn dancers dressed in smoky shades of slate under hazy lighting.  The dancers flayed their bodies in a frenzy of struggle against imminent confinement.  Audio interviews of prisoners lamented their sentences, their pain of separation from their families and their loss of free will.  The imagery of people communicating through a call glass was achingly mournful.  "Untitled America" was choreographed with intense genius, expressive movements, harsh ambiance & startling imagery it shocked me into awareness.  We are living in a pervasive society of force & state brutality.  We're all implicated in this mistreatment.   I felt revulsion & deep compassion.  Espcially at this time, we all need a measure of grace and hope.  The dignity & poise of the Ailey dancers to Kyle Abraham's visionary "Untitled American" serves as wellspring of awareness for mass incarceration being the most oppressive racial injustice issue of our time.

Julliard Jazz Ensembles-Assembles Elite Jazz Musicians; Joel Ross on Vibraphone

Last night the Julliard Jazz Ensemble paid tribute to The Latin Tinge.  The compositions were by Ray Baretto, Cal Tjader & Carolos Henriquez.  Guest coach for the Ensemble was Carlos Henriquez.  Henriquez, a native New Yorker (b 1979) & Julliard alum, is currently a member of the Wynton Marsalis Septet & the Jazz Orch at Linc Ctr.  Sitting in the audience was legendary artist Wynton Marsalis.  He is also the founder & director of the Julliard Jazz program.  Marsalis & numerous great jazz musicians are dedicated to inspiring, mentoring & insuring jazz remains a thriving art form.  I'm  always thrilled by the performances, the mutual respect between students & professional jazz artists & the infectious enjoyment both on stage & by audience members.  The talented & humble students share their passion for jazz & their struggles to master jazz with its many modules, styles & rhythms.  Joel Wenhardt on piano proudly introduced guest artist Joel Ross on vibraphones.   "Never have I been prouder to share my name & the stage with the great Joel Ross."  Ross has performed & recorded with legendary jazz musicians:  Wynton Marsalis, Herbie Hancock & Christian McBride.  The musical number "Linda Chacana" featured Ross' virtuosity on the vibraphone.  "Linda Chacana" has the innate joy of rhythm that brings up a visceral feeling of Copacabana Club style dancing; shoulders were swaying in the seats.   Onstage, Ross, when not playing actually danced along to the music.  The other jazz musicians are enraptured with their bandmates playing, keeping time with their bodies.  "Gauchi Guara" was another sensual & exciting number with obvious Cuban flair.  The Juliard students play & arrange the compositions.  It's hard to single out individuals from the exceptional ensemble but a shout out to Zoe Obadia on alto sax who also played a trilling flute in "Linda Chcana."   Kanoa Mendenhall played a melodious bass.  Her instrument overshadowed her in height & girth but her sound was rich & vibrant.  The second set brought out another fabulous ensemble who skillfully played the "complex 6/8 timing/rhythm."  The students credited their coaches for helping them to " expand & understand music that is distant from us and for allowing us to figure it our for ourselves while helping us find our direction."  Music is an int'l language & artform melding people of different cultures & heritages.  The sizzling evening of Latin jazz was an affirmation of friendship, co-operation & regard for one another.  I believe music has the capacity to enrich our lives & bring us together.

Doc. Screening "A Good American" Bill Binney's Battle to Detect & Protect US & Discussion Following

The Aspent Instit Arts Prog screened "A Good American" a doc. on Bill Binney (BB), a genius mathematician formerly with the Nat'l Security Agency (NSA.)  Binney brilliance & relentless pursuit to intercept & decipher communications from terrorist organizations was undermined by US govt intelligence agencies:  NSA, CIA, NRO (Dept of Defense) & Homeland Securities.  It's always painful to watch video of the 9/11 attacks.  It becomes intolerable to discover this heinous attack & previous assaults: on the World Trade Center, foreign US Embassies, the Cole Naval Ship & Laden's invasion into Afghanistan should have been circumvented had BB decryption of meta data communications been heeded.  The astounding findings of Binney's small mathematics/tech team were thwarted by our govt agencies, top level generals and Sec Hair & VP Chaney ("the dark sides.")  BB's abilities & breakthroughs are similar to Alan Turing (b. Britain 1912-1954) a mathematical genius, cryptanalyst & pioneer of computer science.  Both trailblazers' were shamefully treated & prosecuted by their own countrymen.   (Legal actions have been dropped v. BB & his "Thin Thread" analysis team.  Turing's breakthroughs are credited with decoding enemy information in WWII.  BB's resourceful findings were ignored & obfuscated.  The film starts with footage of the Twin Towers' demise.  BB professes "I would never commit suicide. If something happens to me - it's not suicide."  Jonathan Capehart, Pulitizer Prize-winning journalist & MSNBC reporter asks post screening, "Is anybody else freaked out by this film?" (Absolutely!)  Capehart inquired if BB fears for his life.  Thankfully,"No." He feels now he's  too much out in the open.  He's in the process of getting into court to present his case.  (Several cases are pending.)  BB & his partner's homes were raided by armed militia & their computers & data confiscated.  This documentary is extremely enlightening & infuriating.  It's an amazing portrait of a brilliant mind & brave whistle blower.  His patriotic & pacificist motives are driving him is to uncover the truths behind the corrupt, financially driven conspiracies within our govt.  "The worst of war is to make others as vicious to stop it.  Mistakes by leaderships perpetuate wars.  My goal is to provide information to leaders so as not to make mistakes."  

French/German Film "Things to Come" Starring Isabelle Huppert

"Things to Come" is written & directed by Mia Hansen-Love (b France 1981) and is a pain quotidian family drama sautéed in philosophical debate.  The star of the film is French actress Isabelle Huppert who plays Nathalie.  Huppert is as much a French icon as Catherine Denueve.  Nathalie is a philosophy teacher/writer.  At the beginning of the film, Nathalie is married with children.  She writes & teaches philosophy & has an eccentric mother who is depressed & very demanding of Nathalie.  Time frames elapse either at a snail's or fleeting pace.   In midlife, Nathalie's children have left to lead their lives and her husband of 25 years leaves her for another woman. "I thought you'd love me for ever," she tells him.  She continues teaching, amidst student unrest, her editors decide to make changes to her book withoug her consent and her exasperating mother dies.  Nevertheless, Nathalie has an indomitable spirit and is handling these setbacks with flair.  She has the support & admiration of a former student, Fabian.  Fabian is a published writer who credits Nathalie as his inspiration.  It's to Fabian she laments the loss of the family's vacation home on the coast where they raised their children.  Fabian invites Nathalie to visit him in the farm compound he shares with other writers/philosophers.  She visits during the summer and winter and while the setting is idyllic, she has her own life in Paris to live with complete freedom.  A French film would not be complete without food, flowers, music, protest, sex & incessant dialogue.  In other words, this film is tres French, and the Americans daily grind does not quite have that je ne sais quois of the French.  Although, woe to him who desires nothing.  My philosophy is that Paris is always a good idea.

"From Oy to Vey" & "The Lady of the Castle" Musical Tales of Jewish Humor & Heartbreak

Theater for the New City and The After Dinner Opera Co had a and early bird special:  2 shows with live music & singing for the special price of $18 per person.  Vat a deal!  Actually it is more than you bargain for and the earnest cast & musicians bit off a little more than we could all chew.  "From Oy to Vey" is Jewish comedy popular in the Borscht Belt or Yiddish Theater.  It was all kidding aside, kitschy.  In a politically correct sensibility there was stereotyping.  I didn't find it offensive.  As for hilarious, meh.  But, each of the 5 short singing skits had its zinger punch lines that earned a laugh.  A Henny Youngman humor for the not so young, sung with a lot of zip.  I enjoyed this 1/2 hour comedy schtick of yesteryear.  "The Lady of the Castle" was an about face & too long in the tooth based on a true story; "A Ghostly Operatic WWII Tale."  The horros of WWII didn't just end in 1945.  We follow 2 Jews, Dora (mezzo Darcy Dunn) & Sand searching to find surving children, relatives & belongings stolen by the Nazis.   Their quest leads to an ancient castle that served as a Nazi headquarters.  Zabrovsky (Bennett Pologe) is the quasi-sinister owner of the manor.  His manners are at first brusk, dismissing Dora & Sand.  He relents & offers them hospitality for the stormy, eerie night.  Dora senses something is amiss.  They discover Zabrovsky kept a young Jewish girl, Lyda (Amanda Yachechak) hidden in his castle during the war & 2 years more.  Zabrovsky changed from Lyda's savior to her captor.  We're meant to feel outrage at Lyda's forced imprisonment & simultaneously sympathetic for Zabrovsky who had protected & loves Lyda.  He sings a lyric much more than politically incorrect, it's sexually perverse & unlawful.  "I've loved you as a daughter, sister & wife."  "The Lady of the Castle" is a smorgasbord with too much schmaltz.  Still, the earnest ensemble cast were all commendable especially Amanda Yachechak with a lovely singing voice. The impressive original musical score was performed by a pianist, cellist & flutist.  This was an all you can eat entertainment bargain at $18.  You will leave feeling overstuffed.  

Melinda's Malarky Around the Apple 10 Top Music & Dance Performance Picks 2016

My top 10 favorite music & dance performances in 2016 in alphabetical order:


1.   Alvin Ailey's "Deep" by choreographer Mauro Bigonzettie

2.  Alvin Ailey II's " "Breakthrough" by choreographer Manuel Vignoulle

3.   Jazz at Lincoln Ctr with Wynton Marsalis & Dancers Jared Grimes & Lil Buck

4.  Jazz at Lincoln Ctr with jazz vocalist Cecile McLorin Salvant

5.  MET's:  Live Arts "The Colorado River" with live musical performance

6.  Nederlander Dance Co at City Center

7.  NYPhilharmonic:  Bartok, Dvorak & Bruch

8.   NYPhilharmonic:  Holst's "The Planets"

9.   Steely Dan at the Beacon

10.  Tap Dancer Kazuroni Kumagai at 92ndY  

Melinda's Top Ten Theatrical Productions for 2016

The following plays are in aplhabetical order by title:


1.   Boy - by Anna Ziegler

2.   Dear Evan Hansen - a musical by Dan Pasek & Justic Pasek

3.   Familiar - by Zimbabwe playwright Danai Gorira

4.   Ingonito - by British playwright Nick Payne

5.   Love, Love, Love by British playwright Mike Bartlett

6.   Notes from the Field - by playwright social activist Anne Deveare Smith

7.   Oslo - by J.T. Rogers -the Israeli/Palestinian clandestine peace process

8.   Smart People - by Lydia Diamond

9.   The Royale - biopic play on boxer Jack (Jay) Johnson

10. Turn Me Loose - biopic play on Dick Gregory

Melinda's Museum Exhibits that Hit the Top Ten List for 2016

The following exhibits are in alphabetical order by artist or title comprise a motley mixture:


1.   Diane Arbus photos: "Further Beginnings" her earliest photos at Met Breuer

2.  "The Battle of Brooklyn" at NY Historic Society

3.   "Max Beckmann in NYC":  oil paintings at MET

4.   "Jerusalem Everyday People under Heaven 1000-1400" at MET

5.   Maholy-Nagy "Future Present" at Guggenheim

6.   "Manus v Machina" Fashion Institute at the MET

7.   Agnes Martin "Minimalist Art"  at Guggenheim

8.   Kerry Marshall "Mastry" at Met Breuer

9.   Larry Silvers "Black & White Photos of NYC 1949-1955" at NY Historic Society

10.  Van Dyke Art Collection at Frick  

Melinda's Top 10 List for Favorie Films in 2016

The following top picks are placed in alphabetical order by title:

1.   "Arrival" - Alien invasion starring Amy Adams & Jeremy Renner

2.   "Come What May" - French/German film at the outbreak of WWII

3.   "Disturbing the Peace" - Doc. Israeli/Palestinian peace activists

4.   "45 Years" - British film starring Charlotte Rampling questioning her 45 year marriage

5.  "Our Little Sister" - Japanese film of sisterly love

6.   "Manchester at the Sea" - Family anguish starring Casey Affleck & Michelle Williams

7.   "Moonlight" - Transcendent coming of age story in an artistic triptych format

8.   "Rams" - Icelandic film - Fueding brothers struggling amidst an agricultural/livestock crisis

9.   "The Measure of a Man" - French film - a quiet film of human dignity & compassion

10.  "The Handmaiden" - Korean/Japanese film - an erotic thriller

Special mention to:

Kujo and the Two Strings - a beautiful animated Japanese folklore
 
"The Eagle Huntress" -Doc of a Mangolian girl the first to become an Eagle Hunter

The MET Opera Presents L'Amour de Loin by Finish Composer Kaija Saariaho

The fairly new opera "L'Amour de Loin" by Finish composer, Kaija Saariaho (b Finland 1952) had its world premiere at the Salzburg Festival in 2000.  For those who are not true opera lovers, this will not convert you into a fan of this magnificient art form.  I faulted the staging which might have caused the late, great installation artist, Dan Flavin (b Amer 1933-66) to see red.  The opera takes place in the 12thC on the Mediterranean Sea.  The set for the sea was a layering of neon lined lights.  The raked lights were vivid in oscilating tones of turqoise, azure, amber, vermillion & a trillion other shades.  In fact, viewing required shades the flaring lights were that blinding.  This was a minimalist opera featuring only 3 characters:  a mezzo-soprano, soprano & bass baritone.  Soprano, Susanna Phillips' voice was exquisite.  Phillips sang in La Boheme at the Met earlier this season.  She received the Met's Beverly Sills Award in 2010.  The sole object on stage (besides the lights) was a retractable bridge/  staircase.  This moveable structure proved a distracting device.  Every so often a chorus, comprised of all black torsos would rise above the waves.  The effect intended to be sombre was somewhat silly & was met by a temerity of tittering.  The program notes "…the score earned immediate praise for its beauty and individuality."  I'm not a huge opera buff, I admit.  "L'Amour de Loin" was not a big hit for me.

NYPhil Rehearsal of Mozart's Music Had Many Stops and Starts under Maestro Bernard Labadie

The anticipated pleasure of listening to the NYPhilharmonic's all Mozart performance:  Symphony #31 in D and Flute Concerto #2 in D was distressing & atypical with the numerous fits & starts by guest conductor Bernard Labadie.  Labadie (b Canada 1963) was named the Artistic Dir of the Opera de Quebec (1994) and nominated at L'Opera de Montreal (2002.)  And while he has conducted the LA, Chicago, Boston, SF Orchestras & many more, I've never before heard a rehearsal requiring so many repetitive stops & restarts.  In Symphony #31, I counted a score of disruptions & instructions from Labadie.  I began to feel badly for the orchestra members.  Mozarts magnificient music was so chopped up and chewed out that many in the audience walked out.  The 3 movements moved at a snails pace and the dissatisfaction was palpable.   There was only a short pause between Symphony #31 & the Flute Concerto #2 probably due to the drawn out rehearsing of the Symphony.  Robert Langevin, principal flutist with the NY Philharmonic (2000) was stopped by the conductor & given several corrections.  I heard a very courteous Labadie thanking Langevin for rephrasing his playing but I'm just saying…I've never ever been to a rehearsal where the orchestra had so many pitfalls.  I felt pity for our illustrious NYPhilharmonic.  So did other patrons who walked out early.  I left at intermission.  I missed hearing Exsultate, jubilate K 165 and Symphony #39.  I was not exalted by the rehearsal which should have been a resounding jubilation.

The New Musical "In Transit" Not Worth the Price of a Metro Fare

The driving contrivance for the new musical "in transit" at Circle in the Square is its all acapella  performance.  Unfortunately, this show never pulls out of the station.  The acapella musical numbers run on the local with rap, gospel, blues and razzle dazzle broadway tunes.  Sadly there is neither razzle in the music and less dazzle in the story lines construed out of the 8,000,000 commuters daily in NYC.  The plots derail with a wanna be Broadway musical star, temporarily working as a temp, a gal who dropped out of grad school to follow a guy ("and who hasn't") to NYC and then gets dropped, and a gay couple planning their wedding but one partner isn't planning on coming out of the closet to his mother.  The one number with some zing was "Wingman."  Friends watching a hockey game at sports bar choreograph sleek moves to help one of the guys score with a lady.  But, the musical score is a snore and the characters stuck in banal situations "souls between stations."  The emcee is Boxman, a subway performer trying to promote his own music.  Boxman crosses paths with all the characters but his panhandling act doesn't pan out on the platform station.  The spotty levity comes from common commuters' frustrations: unintelligible intercom information, hostile MTA confrontations, a rat taking out pizza and peeing on the tracks. "Don't sleep in the subway darlin' Don't stand in the pouring rain."*  Don't buy a street umbrella and don't waste time on this uninspiring show.  Skip "in transit" you'll find somewhere better to go.  (*P Clark)