A Love Letter From Suko

It's 6:32 pm New Year's Eve and I'm about to get ready for the two parties I will be attending tonight, but I've been thinking about this past year which was a very difficult one for me on a personal level but also a very rewarding one. This year I "met" some friends that I will cherish forever including James and Madame Aries, Chris Reardon from United Kingdom Talk, A Non E Moose, Joe Morris from American Talk USA and the listeners of all three shows. By happenstance I found United King Talk and became addicted to the Master of Merriment, the very befitting name someone dubbed Chris Reardon. I dubbed him "The Connector" because it is he who connected me to James and Madame Aries and all of you. Thank you for indulging this Long Island housewife with a modicum of knowledge about musical theatre and musicals. I hope this gig goes on for a long, long time. I look forward to the coming year sharing whatever I can find out, giving you my opinion on shows that I see and my weekly or whatever chat with James and Madame Aries. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

One more thing, I look forward in the new year to James' eyeglass appeal with video pleas from Nicki French, Rowetta, Dolly Parton, Stockard Channing and Babs.

Joy in the new year to all.

Love,

Suko

p.s. Have a listen to me and my family with Chris Reardon on his Christmas special part 1, Christmas day, www.unitedkingdomtalk.co.uk

Old Year For New

Well 'tis almost the end of another year!!!!!!
As I Get older I am always amazed how quickly 365 days can go by.
This year thanks to James, Suko and the fabulous Nicki French not only has this year fled by at an alarming rate but also at an extremely enjoyable one too.
Interviewing some of the UK's top musical stars and more than a handful of up and coming ones has meant I have made new friends as well as reuniting me with one or two old ones.
2008 looks set to be as busy theatre wise as 2007, so with any luck my circle of friends will grow even wider, I do also count as part of that circle all of you who listen to James and myself week after week. Going into the studio on a Sunday afternoon is such a joy knowing we are all going to be sharing music and gossip about one of our fave subjects. Musical theatre! and ballet,and opera,and musical review. Keep listening dear friends and don't Forget in 2008 I will be starting a new feature "STAR" The First Of Which is almost completed. No not saying who till the new year but lets say She's come a long way from singing "God save the King" on the Royal Variety age 11 years. Mail me the name if you know it at matinee@tameside.co.uk when I announce it will also read out your name. Till 2008 hears to you all have a safe and successful year.

The Story Behind West Side Story

Happy new year my friends. Hope your Christmas was wondrous. Two shows ago Madame Aries asked me if I had heard anything about a revival of West Side Story possibly coming to Broadway. I mentioned that I had but didn't know too many details. She said that third season "The X Factor" winner, Leona Lewis, had been approached by David Winters* to play the part of Maria. This prompted me to do some research and I found out some very interesting facts about the history of the show. First of all, yes, there is a revival in the works. 90 year old Arthur Laurents who wrote the book of West Side Story will purportedly be directing a revival. He said the 1970 revival was too white-bread and that he has come up with a way of doing it that will make it contemporary without changing a word or a note. Laurent, for your information, also wrote the "book" or libretto (the text of a dramatic musical work) for Gypsy** and Do I Hear A Waltz, among others, and won the Tony Award in 1983 for Best Direction of a Musical for La Cage aux Folles.

* David Winters, a Brit by the way, played Baby John in the original Broadway and A-Rab in the movie of West Side Story.
**A revival of Gypsy will open in March 2008 starring Broadway legend Patti Lupone as Mama Rose.

Besides the book being written by Arthur Laurents, listen to this list of greats who were connected with the original show. The score was composed by Leonard Bernstein who wrote the music with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim in his debut. Does it get any better than that? Well, listen to this. It was conceived, directed and choreographed by Jerome Robbins with the original cast including Larry Kert as Tony, Carol Lawrence as Maria and the one and only Chita Rivera as Anita. And it was produced by Harold Prince. With all this genius behind it, it couldn't miss, right? Well it debuted on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre in September 1957 and only played 732 performances before closing June 27, 1959. It had been nominated for Best Musical in 1957 but lost to Music Man. Jerome Robbins did, however, win the Tony for Best Director of a Musical. It was the 1961 blockbuster movie that put it on the map winning 10 Academy Awards including Best Picture. The classic Bernstein-Sondheim score boasts such tunes as "Tonight", "America", "Maria", "I Feel Pretty" and "Somewhere".

West Side Story premiered in Europe in 1958 at the Manchester Opera House, later that year transferring to Her Majesty's Theatre in London's West End. It was more successful in the West End than Broadway, running from December 1958 until 1961 with a total of 1,039 performances. Jerome Robbins directed and choreographed it with co-Choreographer, Peter Gennaro. The cast included Chita Rivera as Anita and George Chakiris as Riff who later won an Academy Award playing Bernardo in the film.

There is currently a tour of West Side Story making it's way through Europe which is slated to play at Sadlers Wells for six weeks in the summer before touring the rest of the United Kingdom after which it will return to Sadlers Wells for another 8 week run. And I'm happy to tell you that Manchester is confirmed for the winter of 2008.

Christmas Wishes and Some Random Thoughts From Suko, If Anyone Cares

Thought this very busy week before Christmas that I would just blog about nothing in particular. I was going to talk about my favorite Christmas movies but when I was picking my daughter up from school I saw a sign on a bus advertising "Finding Nemo on Ice". Disney just can't get their fingers out of the pie. Anything for a buck. How many axels, and camels and schmamels can one endure? Okay, I was suckered into "High School Musical on Ice" and really enjoyed it but it had all that familiar music, albeit bubblegum, that is very catchy and high-spirited. We've seen "Disney Princesses on Ice", "The Jungle Book, Lion King and Tarzan on Ice" show and I remember one with Mickey and Minnie at camp, and some others that are not so memorable. Thankfully, my very mature 12 year old has outgrown them. We are looking forward to seeing some Broadway shows that I will report on on The Matinee. Two of them will be surprises for me, but I know that we will be going to see "A Year with Frog and Toad" again which I really, really loved. It is not, as James has mentioned, for kids only. It is so cleverly staged with minimal costumes and scenery which handily suggest the animals and their habitats. The music is lyrical, the lyrics witty. Jade and I liked it enough to want to see it again and this time we're bringing Daddy because we know he'll love it.

I've seen a lot of Broadway and off-Broadway musicals, A Chorus Line, Grease, Les Miz, Phantom, Lion King, Mama Mia, Fosse, Victor Victoria, Gypsy, Annie, Chicago, Beauty and the Beast, Pippin, Miss Saigon, Riverdance, Sweeney Todd, Cats, 42nd Street, Pirates of Penzance, The Producers, Evita, La Cage Aux Folle, Bombay Dreams, Forbidden Broadway, Godspell, The Fantasticks, Sweet Charity, Oklahoma, Hello Dolly, The Wiz, Company, Mame, Starlight Express, On the Twentieth Century, The Boy From Oz and more. But my favorite, favorite show was Bob Fosse's Dancin' and I'm happy to say it is being revived and projected to open in the spring of 2009. It's a long way off but I look forward to sharing it with my daughter who has great potential as a dancer. I, too, was a dancer and I loved this show. I must have seen it 10 times. I remember everytime a friend came from out of town I would get tickets for it because I wanted to share it with everyone. Bob Fosse was a genius, my very favorite choreographer (also did Sweet Charity, Pippin, Chicago, Damn Yankees and The Pajama Game, to name a few). My brother produced a tribute to him with Fosse's former wife, Gwen Verdon, now deceased. It was one of the most memorable nights of my life. I will write about it in a future blog. Ann Reinking, his protege and girlfriend, was in the original production and will be the artistic consultant of the revival. I met her at the tribute and she was so friendly and down to earth. More about the tribute another time.

So what are my favorite Christmas movies. The best are "Miracle on 34th Street", "White Christmas", "Holiday Inn", "A Christmas Story" and "Polar Express" (I saw it in 3D Imax, amazing). Some fun ones are "Elf", "Scrooged" and "Christmas with the Kranks" (there's a sidesplitting scene involving botox and believe it or not, this movie is a hilarious adaptation of the book "Skipping Christmas" by John Grisham, the novelist best known for his legal dramas such as "The Firm" and "The Pelican Briefs"). One day this week, drop the shopping, the baking, the wrapping, the decorating, and writing cards, and get yourself a couple of hot toddies or some rum-laced eggnog and relax with one or four of the above. Any one of them will put you in the holiday spirit of which I am not yet in. So do as I say, not as I do because I haven't afforded myself the time to watch any of them yet but I have tivoed "Miracle on 34th Street" and have "Polar Express" and "Christmas with the Kranks" on DVD. Maybe tonight, no, tomorrow night, no. Oh well, I'll fit one in somehow. Now where did I put the rum and the remote?

I wish James and Madame Aries, Bengarrion, Ocean, the Tameside management and staff and all the listeners and readers of The Matinee's blog a very happy and healthy Christmas and New Year.

Love, Suko

Bah Humbug Scrooge comes to Manchester

Yes Shane Ritchie is back in Manchester with Scrooge the Musical

A rather lavish press night ensured that all guests were filled with an air of excitement even before the show started, and what a show followed. The score itself is fab but a show like this also has the pontential of being very drab. A fact that the producers and cast avoided excellently. What is infact a very dark story was told in such a way that even the most stubborn theatre goer would have found something to enjoy. Shane was superb in the role (even if some people didn't recognise him with all the makeup. One woman behind me commented "so which one is Shane". The set was very well done, with all sorts of clever ways of turning in to each scene without long periods of dark whilst the scenery changes (something I hate with a passion)

The magic effects were great if not a tad scary. For Magical people out there, A Dekolta Chair in reverse for one, A very effective mirror penetration and some effects that really fall in the catagory of staging but with the same effect. As someone who loves both magic and theatre I was actually quite suprised to be trying to work out how some were done.

All in all one of the best christmas productions I have seen in a long time.

Shane very kindly also appealed for Madame Aries new teeth when we spoke to him for the show. Check below for the video of the appeal.

Catch A Glimpse of Suko's Daughter and the World Renown Elite Dancentre's Jazz Petites

I mentioned on Sunday's show about my daughter, Jade, and her dance competition team performing for the troops as part of The Trees for Troops extravaganza which has become an annual program. Our friend Gigi's family owns a local nursery in Oceanside, New York called Dee's who for the past four years has been shipping 1,000 Christmas trees to the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan in partnership with DHL which ships the trees at no charge. The program included Miss Colleen's Elite Dancentre's Jazz Petite Competition Team, including Jade doing a solo at the beginning to "All I Want For Christmas" choreographed by Miss Colleen. The girls also did a spirited number choreographed by Miss Lauren to "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy". The show included four USO singers and several local school children reading letters they had written to the troops. They performed at Dee's and then accompanied the trees and care packages to the DHL hangar at Kennedy Airport with police escort where they performed again. Thanks to Dee's and DHL who treated us to both breakfast and lunch.

The above was covered by several local news stations including Fox 5 News. Here is the link to a clip:http://www.myfoxny.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=8BAB88EF78F1040D2137F3BB19E3D560?contentId=5108273&version=2&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1. (Jade is the only one in a black jacket.)

American Idol - A Ticket to Broadway?

Say what you will about reality tv but American Idol has contributed several fine performers to Broadway not to mention the amazing Academy Award winning performance by Jennifer Hudson in the movie Dreamgirls. The latest Idol alumnus to join the ranks is Clay Aiken who is taking over the role of the timid Sir Robin in Spamalot. Clay will make his Broadway debut on January 18th playing the role which has been played by David Hyde Pierce since the musical opened on Broadway in March of 2005. Also currently on Broadway is the fabulous Fantasia Barrino starring as Celie (played by Whoopi Goldberg in the movie) in The Color Purple. The news of Fantasia being cast in The Color Purple was met with trepidation but she proved herself to be more than worthy of the role. She received rave reviews from many of Broadway's most respected critics including Charles Isherwood from the New York Times who said she was "pretty terrific". "So terrific that this earnest but mechanical musical is more effective and affecting than it was when it yawned open a year and a half ago at the Broadway Theater." Other Idol veterans who have appeared on Broadway are Tamyra Gray in Rent and Bombay Dreams (a show which I adored; I thought she did a great job), Constantine Maroulis in The Wedding Singer (which, incidentally, is coming to Manchester's Palace Theatre from February 18 to March 1, 2008), Diana DeGarmo in Hairspray, and Frenchie Davis also in Rent.

So, you see, the American Idol alumni have made a generous contribution to the Great White Way. They've already garnered fans from the television show and made "names" for themselves which does sell tickets (in a way a sad commentary to the many gypsies who have pounded the pavement the hard way.) Maybe Clay Aiken (I must say I love 'im) will find his "holy grail" on Broadway. If he can pull off the show stopper at the top of the second act "You Won't Succeed on Broadway" (...You may fill your plays with gays/Have Nigerian girls in stays/You may even have some shiksas (non-Jewish girls) making stews/You haven't got a clue/If you don't have a Jew...) he's got it made. May his quest be a success.

New York, New York and It's Wondrous Christmas Trees and Windows

Now that the strike has ended I invite you all to visit New York where your dollar goes far. There are so many great ticket deals and restaurant discounts in place to help put New York City back in everyone's graces. Here are some special offers for the holiday season: Hairspray $65 weekdays, $70 weekends through January 31, 2008; Rent $40 rear mezzanine, $55 front mezzanine, $65 orchestra through December 23, 2007; Spamalot Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday at 8pm, Sunday at 2pm & 7pm $60 mezzanine, $75 orchestra through January 17, 2008 excluding performances from 12/26 through 12/31; Xanadu $59 all performances through 12/23; Curtains $59.50 front mezzanine, $78.50 orchestra. Offer valid Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings and Sunday matinees through 12/16 and all performances 12/18-12/23; The Drowsy Chaperone $52.25 mid-mezzanine, $76.25 orchestra and front mezzanine, Tuesday, Thursday through Saturday at 8, Wednesday at 2 and Sunday at 3 and 7. Also available are bargains for Tom Stoppard's Rock 'n Roll and The Seafarer.

While in New York be sure to visit the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree on 5th Avenue and 49th Street on display until January 6, 2008. This year the tree is an 84 feet tall, Norwegian spruce planted in 1947 in Connecticut. Chris Reardon and all eco-conscious folks will be happy to know that the Christmas landmark has gone green for the first time. It was lit with a new set of energy efficient LED lights fully powered by solar panels. You can also watch the ice skaters below or go for a skate yourself.

There are other trees of interest around the city including the Origami Christmas Tree at the American Museum of Natural History, a wonderful place to spend the day. This year the theme of the tree is Fantastic Creatures, mythical and real, from dragons and mermaids to narwhals and peacocks. They also have two 19 foot Holiday Barosaurs lit up for the holiday season. The Chorus Tree at South Street Seaport is a tree made up of carolers performing Fridays at 6 & 7 pm, Saturdays and Sundays at 3 & 4 through Christmas. There's great shopping and restaurants down there as well. The Peace Tree in the Cathedral of St. John the Divine at 110th St. and Amsterdam Ave. is decorated with 1,000 paper cranes and other peace symbols. Children can participate in a workshop to learn how to make the cranes and there is also a walking tour of the Cathedral that highlights the pre-Christian origins of Christmas. And don't miss a day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and it's breathtaking 20 foot blue spruce featuring 18th century Neapolitan angels and cherubs planking a Neopolitan Baroque creche. The museum is located at 1000 5th Avenue and 82nd Street.

And not to be missed is Holiday Window Gazing at some of midtown New York's biggest department stores. Macy's Herald Square's theme, West 34th and Broadway, is Santa's Great Adventure that takes him into space. This year window gazers can see their own images captured and beamed to Santa's naughty and nice television monitors. There are regular updates on the percentages of naughty versus nice. In addition, one window is actually a two-in-one that flips upside down to represent the northern and southern hemispheres as Santa barrels through the night bearing gifts. Lord & Taylor’s theme, 5th Ave. and East 38th St., this year is the five senses of Christmas portrayed through a series of miniature holiday scenes with a largely European flavor. Taste is portrayed as a Christmas dinner in an upper class New York city home. Feel is a wintry Copenhagen scene where a child prepares to throw a snowball and others are building a snowman. Smell is captured by the fragrant pastries and breads of a Paris bakery making holiday treats. Sight is Santa Claus arriving in Venice’s exquisite facades. Sound portrays a group of musicians playing in a Vienna mansion. A final window shows children from all over the world, dressed in their native costumes, celebrating the holiday. This year Saks Fifth Avenue windows, 5th Ave. & East 49th St., are scenes full of quirky, spinning snowmen who are off on an adventure to discover their own identities. The Saks windows are a constant swirl of whirling, twirling, spinning and swooping with spunky snowmen characters. One snow-woman even gives off the aura of a shimmying Carmen Miranda. Bloomingdale’s windows, 3rd Ave. & East 59th St., are the creations of children's imagination. In collaboration with the Children’s Museum of Manhattan and the Children’s Museum of the Arts this summer, Bloomingdale’s invited children to create collages, paintings and sculptures which were then converted into life-size scenes. The plots may not make so much sense, but the visual impact of the scenes are intense, featuring characters like an alien queen with five eyes and two mouths, a robot with a candy heart and a glowing purple snowflake with oracle-like qualities.

These are requisite traditional activities my family enjoys during this holiday time. Hopefully, these will leave my daughter with fond memories of her childhood Christmases. I can guarantee you will love doing any and/or all of them. The nice thing is that most of the tree viewing and window gazing is free. And remember that the pound is worth 2 to 1, in your favor. You lucky son of a Brits.

Yippee!!!! Broadway's Back

I'm happy and relieved to report that the Broadway stagehands' union (Local One) and the League of American Theatres and Producers came to a tentative agreement and most of the shows on Broadway will reopen tonight with tickets for at least one show a phenomenal bargain, $26.50 for all available seats for "Chicago" (which I've seen several times and can tell you this is definitely worth the price.) There will probably be some good deals at the TKTS booths for tonight's shows as well. Wish I had the time to go tonight. I've been on pins and needles because I have tickets for a couple of shows in the near future. If the strike continued: 1. I would have been disappointed in not being able to see the shows and report back to you, and 2. I dreaded the thought of going through the refund/exchange process. I mean, I have enough to do to keep up these blogs and talk about the shows and what's going on in NYC plus my other responsibilities and commitments. Boohoo Su, that's what they call me, hehe. Anyway, hip hip hooray for the Great White Way!!!!!!!

Sinatra or The Jersey Boys?

Last week a tribute to Frank Sinatra "Our Sinatra: A Musical Celebration" reopened off-Broadway at the Storybook Theatre at the Broadway Comedy Club located in the heart of Times Square at 318 W. 53rd Street. I'm continuing to report on shows that are open during the strike just in case someone from Tameside/Manchester area or anywhere else in the world you might be listening is planning a visit to New York City in the coming weeks. I, myself, would love to join Madame Aries in Grand Canaria (we call them the Canary Islands). But you could have a great time in NYC even during the strike.

Getting back to "ole blue eyes". In case you didn't know, Frank Sinatra is inarguably New Jersey's (or as locals call it "Joysey") most famous son. If you like Sinatra, and who doesn't, this might be right up your alley. "Our Sinatra" is a musical revue featuring 50 songs made popular by Sinatra including My Kind of Town, Fly Me to the Moon, In the Wee Small Hours, All or Nothing (his first recording), and The Lady is a Tramp from "Pal Joey". Two men and a woman share their passion for Sinatra and his music singing individually and together in different combinations. Sinatra's music runs the gamut from classic ballads of the 40's, saloon and torch songs, 50's and 60's swingers as well as all time hits like New York, New York. Ticket prices are $65 for orchestra and $80 for ringside VIP (whatever that is).

And then, if the strike happens to end while you're here, maybe you can get a ticket for "Jersey Boys" which won four Tony awards in 2006 including Best Musical. It's the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, one of the most successful 60's rock and roll groups. Or you can wait until it opens in London on March 18, 2008 at the Prince Edward Theatre. If the medley James and Madame Aries played on yesterday's (11/25) "Matinee" whet your appetite, book your tickets now. Or you can just take a day trip to Joysey and meet "the boys". Whatever ring-a-ding-dings your bell.

The Matinee Heads for London

Yes as if Tameside wasn't enough we head for London. Madame Aries if off for her yearly botox injections and I am off for the first time to London. Never Forget the musical based on the music of Take That is heading for the West End and the DVD is also now available and to celebrate this Nicki French and Myself will be chatting to the guys behind the show at an exclusive party in the West End. Expect all the usual on next weeks show but instead of Madame A, Nicki will take on the mantle of being drunk in charge of a microphone (after a few white wines). I of course will be sober as I never touch a drop (before midday). After the show I will be popping in to Chris Reardons United Kingdom Talk also on Tameside Radio (at 10pm and podcast) to show him how radio presenting is really done. (actually hes putting me up...or should that be putting up with me) and I will give an honest review of his Bingay night. The week after expect something big but thats all Shhhhhh at the mo so keep it here till its confirmed.... Take Care James Dean xxx (ps ill remember you all when i'm at the exclusive party honest ...hic..............)

On The Town

Canaries Here I Come Whooopeeeeee

Well Dear readers. Finally I have decided the time is right to have a vacation. So along with a couple of friends I will be in Gran Canaria for ten days from the 29TH Nov. Am so looking forward to it, but before that will be at the Opera House to see Carmen and to the Palace for the ballet The Snow Queen. Will tell u all about it on the show, as I shall be recording a review for the show before I ship out. All in all its been a quiet week here at Aries Towers needed to get the boiler man out twice this week. like I Said Not A Lot Happening. Well Time To Go. If You Are In A Panto Or Know Of One Locally Let Us Know As James & I Would Love To Come And See It. Be It A School, Amature Or Professional Production Makes No Difference Its All Good Fun. You never know we may discover a star in the making.
Till next time, take care ARIES XXX

Horrible Histories and Never Forget

Well this week myself and Middle Aged Mary went to see the kids show Horrible Histories. Its a panto style show with lots of singing and sillyness and a fair dosage of Yuck. The show makes learning fun, infact you forget that your learning. The back of the stage is filled with a gigantic video screen and the interaction between the actors and the screen is flawless. In the second half they handed out Boggle vision glasses (3D glasses) and I wouldn't be suprised if there are not a few nightmares after the flying Mummy. (I know I did and i'm 26) Well worth a visit though and good fun for the kids. Middle Aged Mary even got up dancing.

Never Forget DVD
Yes its finally happened. Never forget, the musical based on the music of Take That and follows the life of Five er misfits as they audition for a Take That tribute band. The casting is flawless and Tim Driesen as Adrian Banks is brilliant. Watch out for the Gold Thong and the Green Shorts. We will be featuring more on Never Forget on the show 2nd Dec. This is a special show featuring Myself and Nicki French as Madame Aries is off on her hols.

"Die Mommie Die" Lives Off-Broadway Starring the Dazzling Charles Busch

I want to preface this blog by saying that this is not a musical I'm reporting on but while the strike continues I've decided to tell you about some off-Broadway shows worth seeing. All of the four shows mentioned have had positive critiques from both the critics and the public alike.

The New World Stages located just west of Times Square on 50th between 8th and 9th Avenue is a five theatre state-of-the-art facility housing some of the best of off-Broadway shows. For a limited time, New World Stages is offering tickets for all of their shows at the bargain price of $36.50. Some of the Broadway area's most popular shows are currently playing here including: "Altar Boyz", "Celia" (celebrating the life and music of Celia Cruz), "The Gazillion Bubble Show", and "Die Mommie Die" starring Charles Busch.

Charles Busch, writer, actor and one of America's most celebrated drag queens, wrote this play in 1999 and played the lead in Los Angeles before it was made into a feature film of the same name with Busch again in the lead. Now Busch recreates the story of Hollywood has-been Angela Arden here in the New York area for the first time. In the part Mr. Busch embodies such Hollywood divas of yesteryear as Joan Crawford, Bette Davis and, of course, Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond. You want camp, you get camp here. From the gaudy costumes (40 in the movie, several of which are used in the play), the wigs, the eyelashes, the horribly extravagant sets, the cliches, the kitsch you'll find loads of laughs in this murder mystery/thriller/comedy. "Busch and his five co-stars handle bad style with great style." (a quote from Newsday.com)

Angela Arden is a "this side of 50" fallen pop diva trapped in a hateful marriage trying to find happiness by planning a comeback and taking a younger lover. Angela murders her husband using a poisoned suppository, leaving her two children to avenge their father's death. The play follows Angela, her film producer husband, their gay son and "daddy's girl" daughter, the out-of-work actor lover and their live-in maid through the twists and turns uncovering other crimes Angela has committed and finally a confession to her children afer they lace her drink with LSD.

So if you're in New York City during the strike or after for that matter, don't discount seeing this or any of the other plays at New World Stages. Remember that many a Broadway hit including "A Chorus Line", "Rent" and "Spring Awakening" started off-Broadway.

Back at last

Technology I hate it. Lost the entry codes for the site. So here I am re invented and reinstalled.

Well what have I been up to?

Glad you asked, show after show after show.

Starting with "Godspell", Star of the show Steven Gatley enjoying a return to musical theatre. A very good revival with a strong supporting cast. Next "Hot Flush", with a stellar cast featuring Marti Webb with a voice as strong as ever, Rula Lenska stunning as ever with a surprisingly strong voice, the vivacious Sheila Ferguson, soon to return to Manchester in February with the show "Songs from Sister Act"alongside Rowetta, and the last of the ladies the excellently funny Rachel Izen. Not forgetting the man himself Sam Kane. Hunky talented and a perfect Foil to the ladies. All in all a very good show funny touching and raucous. Next up was "Aspects of love" Star of the Show David Essex was in good voice. As were his costars Shona Lindsay Matt Rawle & Poppy Tierney. A good show with an excellent score. Now for my two favorite Shows, Gary Wilmot Starred in "Half A Sixpence" A show full of life, fun and pathos. Now for the young and young at heart, "Doctor Doolittle"A show with Colour Spectacle and Fun. Mr Tommy Steele a veteran performer of 40 years experience

The Broadway Strike Continues But Have No Fear, Suko's Here

Okay, so no one wants to visit New York without seeing a Broadway show. Well, there are many alternatives including Radio City Music Hall, Lincoln Center, The Roundabout Theatre, Manhattan Theatre Club, and the Theatres at 45 Bleecker among others to consider while the strike continues. While 27 Broadway theatres are dark, there are 8 that remain open during the strike including Mary Poppins, Young Frankenstein, Xanadu and The Putnam County Spelling Bee. The TKTS booths at the Marriott Marquis and the South Street Seaport remain open so you can still check out what's available at discount prices. Most of the shows off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway are very reasonably priced and there are some fabulous ones definitely worth seeing including Forbidden Broadway playing at the 47th Street Playhouse which is a satiric panoply of many of the most popular shows on Broadway today and from the past. (See my blog of October 30th.) Also The Ritz at the Roundabout Theatre, a nonprofit theatre not affected by the strike, is a worthwhile option. The critics said it was dated but Rosie Perez's performance was worth the price of the ticket. (See my blog of October 9th.) The Radio City Music Hall Christmas Show featuring the Rockettes is open now until December 30th, Nutcracker at Lincoln Center from November 23rd to December 30th and Cirque du Soleil's Wintuk now until January 6th at Madison Square Garden's WaMu Theatre. Your best bet is to visit or call The New York Convention and Visitors Bureau at 810 Seventh Avenue at 53rd Street, 212 484-1200 or purchase a copy of Time Out New York which lists everything going on in NYC for that week. Please don't cancel that long-awaited trip to New York City. There's lots to see and do. Come and enjoy your stay.

Legally Blonde the Musical is Pretty in Pink

The curtain opens. Omigosh, the stage is awash in pink, the new navy. It's all so glittery and sugary sweet like cotton candy. This is my idea of what the opening scene of Legally Blonde the Musical must look like. I spoke briefly of it on Sunday's Matinee but I had a lot more to say about it so thought it would make a good blog entry. I read several critiques and spoke to someone, a friend of a friend, who saw it and the following is what I gleaned from the many sources. From what I've read Legally Blonde is a high energy, dance-driven piece of sparkling fluff. The cast is loaded with talent, great dancers, great voices, lots of pizzazz. The bad thing is Reese Witherspoon isn't in it. I mean, if ever there was perfect casting it was Reese as Elle Woods, the California Valley girl who follows her rich haughty boyfriend, Warner Huntington III, to Harvard only to be rejected by him because of his political aspirations. "If I want to be a Senator, I need to marry a Jackie not a Marilyn." But Elle with her innate confidence continues her Harvard education and goes on to discover that you can use your brain without giving up the advantages of being blonde and beautiful, and staying true to yourself. Laura Bell Bundy in the role of Elle is a terrific singer and dancer, has oodles of energy but lacks the irresistible quirky egotism of Reese. I mean, how do you follow Reese Witherspoon? The role was tailor-made for her.

The opening number is one of the liveliest seen in years and the second act opener, an homage to Riverdance, is electrifying but the score for the most part is lackluster. They kept in the hilarious "Bend and Snap" number in which Elle's manicurist friend, Paulette, instructs her on how to drop and retrieve items to attract men. A worthy addition to the stage show is a Greek chorus of sorority sisters who comment on what is going on in Elle's head.

The general concensus of the critics, mostly male, is that although it is geared towards 'tween and teenage girls and their mothers and grandmothers, none of them were bored nor turned off. I'm really looking forward to seeing it with my daughter. It sounds like a perfect mother/daughter day out. Lunch and a matinee. Omigosh, awesome!!!!!!

Aspects of Half a Sixpence

Well this week was a marathon week of shows for us, Aspects of Love followed by Half a Sixpence. Aspects was a shock to me. You don't expect bare breasts and copulation on stage at an Andrew Lloyd Webber. Then there is the story line. Nephew falls in love with actress. Uncle falls in love with same actress, Actress falls in love with Uncles old girlfriend. Uncle and actress have a daughter, Nephew falls in love with daughter. Uncle has heart attract because of this so nephew goes off with uncles old fling......My head hurts. The music was top notch although Love Changes Everything sung by anyone other than Michael Ball is not the same but was still top rate. If the tour is anywhere near you we strongly recommend it. Half a Sixpence is more of a camp musical lots of dancing, fancy sets and jokes. Gary Wilmot was an excellent piece of casting. We tapped our feet all the way through. There were plenty of songs you would know and a few you wouldn't and when Gary sang a very emotive song the audience gave rapturous applause. It was also the first show I have been to where they have complied with the audience shouts of Encore.

Next week is an even busy week.
Monday: Miss Bollywood with Shilpa Shetty
Tuesday: Dr Doolittle with Tommy Steele
Wednesday: Get Naked - Hear the interview on this weeks show.

A Rude Awakening: Don't Miss Forbidden Broadway

Now in it's 25th year, Forbidden Broadway is still a hot, hot ticket off-Broadway at the 47th Street Theatre located right in the heart of midtown New York at 8th and 47th Street. First I'll give you a little overview of what it's all about. The show is a four-person satirical caberet revue which spoofs current and classic Broadway shows. The cast is made up of two men and two women who sing, dance, act and mimic about a dozen shows and a dozen characters each. It was created and written by Gerard Alessandrini who periodically rewrites it to include parodies of newer shows. The latest incarnation is called "Rude Awakening" obviously a parody of this year's Tony award winner for Best Broadway Musical "Spring Awakening" which is served up several times in this 97 minute performance. Although it is a plus to be familiar with the shows they are mocking, I don't think you'll miss much of the humor. Just a little sampling of what's in store: Les Miz's Eponine singing "On My Phone" bemoaning the amount of time spent backstage with nothing to do but text message, the tribute to A Chorus Line: "Kiss Cliches Goodbye", and Mama Rose ineptly coaching a soft-spoken Phantom from backstage to project his voice and then exasperatingly making her way on stage to join him in a climactic duet.

So if you can't decide whether to see Spring Awakening, Mary Poppins, Jersey Boys, Curtains, Grease, Xanadu, Legally Blond, A Chorus Line or Les Miserables there's always Forbidden Broadway where you'll get a hilarious taste of 'em all. And with ticket prices a bargain at $60 - $65 dollars (holiday season November 22 - 23 and December 22 - January 1 $85) it's the biggest bang for your buck.

Suko's Night with Genius

Something will usually trigger what I write about and this week it was the song James and Madame Aries played just before I came on the show. It was "I Think I'm Gonna Like it Here" from the movie "Annie". It's hard to believe the movie opened in 1982. It certainly doesn't seem that long ago to me but perhaps it's because I watched it for the first time with my now 12 year old daughter only a few years ago. The movie starred Aileen Quinn as Annie, Albert Finney as Daddy Warbucks, Carol Burnett as Miss Hannigan, Ann Reinking as Grace Farrell, and two of James' favorites, Tim Curry and Bernadette Peters as the villanous Rooster Hannigan and Lily St. Regis. But it is the actor who played Punjab, Daddy Warbuck's faithful bodyguard who rescues Annie at the end, to whom the word "genius" refers to. The brilliant Geoffrey Holder. It was last month that I met him and his wife, the famous dancer, Carmen Delavallard. My brother invited me to a screening of a documentary about the couple called "Carmen and Geoffrey" at the Film Forum in New York's Greenwich Village of which my brother is the director of reperetory programming. The movie was shown after which they were introduced by my brother and interviewed by Jennifer Dunning, the distinguished dance critic for the New York Times. This couple is elegance personified. So striking, he being 6' 6" tall and she still unbelievably gorgeous for a woman of 76. Geoffrey who was a magnificent dancer and choreographer uses a cane now due to a hip replacement but still possesses his wonderful laugh and joie de vive he is famous for. The movie tells how they met doing a musical by Truman Capote and Harold Arlen called "House of Flowers" and wed a month later. Fifty-three years later they seem madly in love. Geoffrey has not only been in many movies including "Live and Let Die", "Dr. Doolittle" and most recently the narrator in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" but he is a Tony award winning director and costume designer ("The Wiz"), a choreographer, set designer and an acclaimed fine artist whose paintings appear in museums and private collections around the world. Carmen, dancer, actress, director, writer has appeared in many movies, notably "Carmen Jones" and "The Egyptian" and television productions as well as the stage including the Metropolitan Opera Ballet. Their marriage is a symphony of brilliance. And to top it off, they are really, really warm and lovely. Geoffrey even said to me "I love you" as he drove away. I'll post some pictures of the evening including one of me with the dreamy actor, Frederico Castellucio, who played Furio on "The Sopranos", the pony-tailed "hitman with a heart" who was getting a little too close to Carmella when he suspiciously disappeared. He, also a brilliant artist, is a good friend of Geoffrey. He was so sweet and attentive to me which really topped off this amazing night.

Hot Flush

Well Madame Aries and I went along to see Hot Flush, a new musical all about, well, women going through the change. It was hilarious I have never laughed so much at a show. Rula Lenska was brilliant and with her husky voice, brought the house down with some fabulous one liners. There was a fab moment when Rachel Izen struggled o slip in to some tight jeans culminating in the zip being pulled up by a coat hanger to massive applause. Even the odd technical glitch on the night we attended only seemed to improve the comments from stage. There was even some interaction from "The Man" and one of the stage hands who was struggling to carry on props after the moving base failed. All in all a good show but definitely one for the adults with a rather unusual version of "Run Rabbit Run"

Sweeney Todd Comes to the Big Screen

Just in time for the holidays, another gruesome tale from the twisted mind of Tim Burton. This is the story of the demon barber of Fleet Street "who shaved the heads of gentlemen who never thereafter were heard from again." And who do you think stars in the title role? None other than Johnny Depp. Shock-horror! Yes, Jack Sparrow makes his transition from pirate to barber. Quite a stretch. Is Johnny Depp Tim Burton's far more attractive alterego? Does Tim Burton think he cannot make a hit movie without Johnny Depp? Apparently he does since he's cast Depp in a musical. Tim, Johnny Depp, although a fabulous actor and not hard on the eyes, is not a singer. Neither is Helena Bonham Carter who plays Mrs. Lovett, the barber's love interest and cohort in crime. Also starring are "the three tenors" Alan Rickman, Timothy Spall and Sacha Baron Cohen.

This screen adaptation of the Broadway horror musical "Sweeney Todd" with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim is the story of barber Benjamin Barker who returns to London after being unjustly imprisoned and vows revenge not only for his imprisonment but the ill treatment of his wife and daughter. He opens a barbershop above Miss Lovett's Meat Pie Shop and proceeds with her assistance to rid himself of all those who have done him and his family wrong by slitting their throats in his barber chair and sending them down a chute to Miss Lovett who bakes them into her pies. Miss Lovett had the reputation of baking and selling the "worst pies in London" making the addition of the man-meat hard to detect.

As bizarre as it sounds, the casting I mean, not the story, I think it has all the makings of a hit. It's slated to open in a limited capacity on December 21st and then to be widely distributed sometime in January. Sure the story's a little dark to be considered a holiday offering, but to be honest it sounds deliciously intriguing.

A Review of "Wicked" on Broadway Through the Eyes of Children

The following was written by my daughter, Jade, age 11, and her friend, Stephanie, age 12.

Is your skin green? Does your mother drink a lot of green fluids? Then you know the beginning of the life of Elphaba. Get ready for a journey of twists and turns during Elphaba's roller coaster life. Elphaba's green skin caused loss of friends and gained enemies. How much longer would she be able to withstand this cruel lifestyle? She needed to put her green foot down and make it right. So she did. On her first day of college she met her future friend, Glinda. There's only one word to describe Glinda.......POPULAR. "You're gonna be popular. I'll teach you the proper ploys when you talk to boys, different ways to flirt and flounce. I'll show you what shoes to wear, how to fix your hair, and soon you'll be popular, but not quite as popular as me." But sooner or later it was going to happen. Glinda turned against her. Elphaba couldn't take this insanity much longer! She ran away with her prince charming and became a malevolent, insolent person. If only they treated her with more respect. "Go away. You are no longer welcome here." It's true. Nobody really does mourn the wicked. Whatever happened to the witch of the west? One word........WICKED.

We thought it was a thriller! Unexpected openings and endings! A shocking story. We give it five stars. If only we had a newspaper. Wicked was wicked awesome, but just see for yourself.

Broadway's Puttin' on the Ritz

Although not a musical per se, I thought this revival of Terrence McNally's comedy "The Ritz" might be of interest to the Matinee blog's readership. American playwright McNally is famous for many brilliant theatre pieces, most of which have gay themes. He has won four Tony's, Broadway's highest honor, two of them for his collaboration on Broadway musicals "The Kiss of the Spider Woman" and "Ragtime". His very controversial play "Corpus Christi" in which Jesus and his disciples are homosexuals, had an on-again, off-again start in 1997 due to death threats against the producers who withdrew the play early on. Several other playwrights stepped up to the plate and threatened to withdraw their plays if "Corpus Christi" was not produced and the board members of the Manhattan Theater Club who produced it finally relented. The play opened with 2,000 protesters besieging the Theatre. When it opened in London, the Defenders of the Messenger Jesus, a British Muslim group, issued a Fatwa (death sentence) on McNally.

But I digress. "The Ritz", currently in previews on Broadway at Studio 54, will open this week for a limited engagement until December 2. This is a comic farce about mistaken identity and general confusion. It's the story of a midwest mobster, Gaetano Proclo played by Tony nominee Kevin Chamberlin of "Seussical" fame, whose dying Mafia chief father-in-law orders a hit on him. Proclo flees to Manhattan and hides out in a gay bathhouse thinking its a Turkish bath, not knowing the sexual orientation of the place. Eventually, with the help of his newfound "friends", he pretends to be a big-time Broadway producer to avoid being discovered. What ensues is hilarious mayhem. Rosie Perez, the nasally Brooklyn actress known for such movies as Spike Lee's "Do The Right Thing", "White Men Can't Jump" and "It Could Happen to You" plays Googie Gomez the role originated by Rita Moreno on Broadway in 1975 and then in the 1976 movie. Googie is the starstruck bathhouse performer with visions of Broadway in her eyes despite her very noticeable lack of talent and her very pronounced Puerto Rican accent.

"The Ritz" is directed by Joe Mantello who also directed "Wicked" and won a Tony for his direction of "Assassin". I can't imagine this melange of McNally, Mantello and Perez being anything but fun and fabulous.

So, if you're New York City-bound in the next two months why not give it a go. Who knows, it might even make it to London's West End or perhaps even Manchester and Tameside. And there's always the movie which is ridiculously entertaining. In fact, writing this blog has whet my appetite. It's been a while since I've seen it. Think I'll take a ride over to Blockbuster.

First Show Under Wraps

Well there we go, the first show on 103.6 Tameside Radio has been broadcast and I am so pleased that we got off to such a good start. I thoroughly enjoyed the show and Madames Aries seemed to be in her element (scary when that happens). A big thanks goes out to Nicki French who joined us on the phone at the end of the show. Nicki has quickly become a member of the Matinee family (whether she likes it or not) and foolishly said she would come back on the show soon. Thanks Nicki, we really appreciate it. A big thanks also to our broadway reporter Suko (you can see her pic in the gallery and read her blogs on this site). I also want to say a big thanks to the boss at Tameside Radio, His busy schedule means he cant get around to sacking us. Finally a big thank you to all of you, without you the show wouldnt be where it is today. Well I must dash, things to do, stars to interview and free wine to drink. See you next Sunday 3-5pm UK time. Remember if you missed the show you can download it as podcast from www.matineeshow.co.uk. See ya next week.

Suko's Whoopi Connection

Good luck James and Madame Aries on your new station, Tameside. I'm so thrilled to be part of it, albeit in a rather miniscule way. Unfortunately I can't hear the show live in New York but I'm told I'll be able to podcast it in the near future. On today's show James asked me about a photo I sent him this week. My daughter, Jade, and I had been looking through pictures last weekend when we came upon this particular one. I sent him the photo because ironically it was of me kneeling over Whoopi Goldberg's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre. I had remembered taking the picture but did not remember whose star it was. If you are a regular listener to The Matinee you'll have heard me talk of two encounters with Whoopi, one only a few weeks ago, so it was just so funny to find that it was this particular star I had chosen to be photographed next to. Check out the Gallery on The Matinee's website to see the picture.

Duran Duran Broadway Bound

Yes, the divine divine boys (?) are taking a new direction and fulfilling a lifelong dream to appear on Broadway in celebration of the debut of Duran Duran's upcoming album, "Red Carpet Massacre" including a song with Justin Timberlake called "Falling Down". The British pop group will play a two-week engagement at Broadway's Ethel Barrymore Theatre from November 1 to November 12 with the CD debuting on November 13. Simon LeBon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor and Roger Taylor will play the entire new album plus some of their classics like "Rio" and "Hungry Like the Wolf". LeBon said recently, "We have made an album that we are all really proud of and we wanted to present it in a very unique way. Staging a run on Broadway is something that we've often talked about over the years but the time has never seemed right until now. We started work on 'Red Carpet Massacre' in New York so it feels fitting to be launching it here." I wonder if your ticket will allow you to buy the album before it goes on sale to the general public along with all the other overpriced promotional items. This is one I would love to see as it promises to be awesome awesome.

Welcome

A big welcome to you all to the Matinee Blog Page.
Next week sees the start of our show on Tameside Radio, Nervous and exited at the same time.
Will tell You more next time.

The Matinee. First Blog

Well hello and welcome to the first blog for The Matinee, The Matinee is a radio show that is broadcast live on Tameside Radio and world wide via podcast at www.matineeshow.co.uk.
This blog will be updated by either Myself, Madame Aries or our Broadway correspondant, Suko.