THURSDAY--Another Edition of......:

The weekly flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon.

NOBODY ASKED ME BUT......

1) It is strange that Helen Thomas said what she did since she should have a better grasp of historical fact since she looks like she has been around since the beginning of recorded history.

2) You have to wonder why someone with a somewhat sterling career insists on clouding it just as that sun is setting and she is going the way of print media---sad about print media, not sad about such a person.


3) Pixies, Gorillaz, Klaxons (OK you probably never heard of them---neither did I) have cancelled their Israeli tour along with Elvis Costello (OK you heard of him) because of the Flotilla incident; so, I wonder what made some mindless music makers mavens of monumental moments in diplomacy.


4) If Hamas had its way the groups that would have toured would have had no place to tour.


5) How sad it is that all those suicide bombers and terrorists got to the Pearly Gates (or wherever they were supposed to go) and discovered that it was not Virgins but Virginians ---and they beat the hell out of them. They really should have had a spell check on their marching orders. As to Virgins---don’t these folks ever want anyone with experience?


6) It always surprises me when I think something or somebody is universally known and it turns out people never heard of it or that person. I guess that brings us back to the old Odd Couple expression from Felix (Tony Randall) –“Never assume—it makes and ass out of u and me”


7) A program at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ (Newark) has a program for dying patients that you should read about in the NY Times (6/8/10). It will bring, not only a tear or two, but might make you wonder how you can get involved in something like this.


8) It is great to see the positive theater review in the NY Times that starts with “.... a new hero has come to town and his name is Hershelle. Hershelle Ostropolier.”. Either they agreed with me---or more likely me with them---though check below and see it here first.


9) How many people recall this holiday---Juneteenth Day? We’ll address that this Sunday on Traditions.


10) If the answer is blowing in the wind then where did the question come from---and what was it?

REVIEW---THE ADVENTURES OF HERSHELLE OSTROPOLYER

A bit of a tongue twister to the uninitiated to be sure. A simpler and briefer start to this is to tell you that it is now playing at the National Yiddish Theater (Folksbiene) in the Baruch Center for The Arts  in NYC (25th St. /Lexington Ave.).  The brief run ends on June 27.2010.

This is a musical play based on a real, supposedly, folk hero of a play written by Moishe Gershenson.  The cast includes--and not in order of appearance---Mike Burstyn (Hershelle), I W Firestone (Reb Kalmen) Dani Marcus (Tsipke), Daniella Rabbani (Dvoshe) and a bevy of other talented artists.

If the children of Tevya were orphans and one of them wanted to marry this might well have been her story.  A comedic tale in the tradition of Fiddler, Gilbert and Sullivan, and totally Yiddish in concept with music to add to that concept. And also totally equal to the power and story line of Fiddler on the Roof thanks to this brilliant cast and the interpretation of the director.

An opening number featuring the entire cast singing the number in Yiddish and each chorus of that in English is musically brilliant and then shifts to the entrance of the two lovers singing entirely in Yiddish (fear not---supertitles in English and Russian (?) for that and the rest of the show.  Enter, then, our hero---Hershelle (Mike Burstyn) in a number that will floor anyone who sees it. 

The two lovers have, of course, a problem and the only thing standing in their way is Reb Kalmen---the Pawnbroker who holds the ring of the girl's grandmother that is needed for the wedding and can only be returned to her. She, however, is dead.    

What transpires to bring off a wonderful wedding thanks to Hershelle and to the many characters he creates to fool, not only, Reb Kalman, the pawnbroker and miser (I W Firestone), Genendl (Lori Wilner), Zaydl (Steve Sterner) and the redemption of Kalman in the likes of Scrooge is a wonderful tale filled with some joyous music that will have everyone's feet tapping.

While Mike Burstyn will totally grab you with his solo numbers---and even his Michael Jackson "moonwalk"--there are numbers that have the power to move you in so many ways---Meshuge, Koynim (where are the Customers) , and so many more.  

Eleanor Reissa directed and choreographed this production and Zalmen  Mlotek (with thanks to his mother for initially starting the project---years ago) is the musical director for the Folksbiene.

The credits could go on for a long time since the lighting, stage setting, and all the other accoutrement need for for such a production are endless but, suffice it to say, here are some credits"

Lighting:   Kirk Brookman
Costumes   Gail Cooper Hecht
Scenic Designer: Roger Hanna


This production runs through June 27 and tickets can be purchased by calling 646 312-5073 or go to www.folksbiene.org

THURSDAY--Another Edition of......:

A flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon.


NOBODY ASKED ME BUT......




1) The NY Times critic hit it on the head when commenting on the cancellation of “Law and Order”---An operetta compared to the Grand Opera of “Homicide---Life on The Streets” (I paraphrased and it was more detailed).

2) Richard Clarke’s latest book---“Cyber Wars” is a must read if you want to know the newest battlefield---and, strangely, being non-wired might make a nation less subject to successful attack and being totally wired (power grid, communications, etc;) more vulnerable.

3) Since less technology might be better---as in less is more---moving into a cave might not be so bad and I doubt that Bin Laden would be my neighbor since I suspect he is living high off the hog (well, not “kosher”—or whatever expression a Muslim would use) in a posh pad somewhere.

4) Why do nations play into the hands of provocateurs when it comes to PR? Israel did not do wrong---they just handled it wrongly and gave the publicity hounds exactly what they wanted.

5) You have to wonder why an Arabic Knesset member was aboard the ship and then spouted off to the news media. That says more to Israel’s openness to people than to Hamas’ flouting of rules of civility.

6) Memorial Day has come and gone and TCM played some grand old films---but the only one two I watched were real classics---From Here To Eternity and Mr. Roberts. Hard to believe that those films are around 60 years old---way past draft age.

7) Seems that acting had gotten a lot better around the time those films came out and I still think Frank Sinatra was a better actor than a crooner.

8) I am always delighted to find that the writers of “Family Guy” have the same sense of humor that I do and I always wish that it were possible to let youngsters watch---but not a good idea.

9) Having lost track of how many channels are now offered on Cable, Satellite, and whatever else there is out there I am still trying to count the programs that might be of interest (and new) and have to use two hands with, thankfully, ten fingers. So far---one hand does it. One finger does it for some of them---the middle one.

10) Having seen a Podiatrist today I am happy to find that he found nothing wrong in the area where my brains are stored.

MEMORIAL DAY

A brief prelude to our TRADITIONS program for May 30 to let you know that here we will commemorate Memorial Day as, one hopes, it should be commemorated. Song and Story and not bargain sales and other such moments of total missing of points.

As you know Si Kahn will be joining us for a period that will prove to be memorable in commemorating the day and also so shall the music for most of the program. I do promise we will end with a family reunion and barbecue---that is what our heroes fought for---though, one has to admit it has been a long time since we defended anything---that's for a later commentary.

Now let me give away the ending of the program right here---we will forego the theme and just play TAPS---but here is the entire history from this brilliant fellow and is also the person who performs it for us in the most moving way----

THURSDAY---ANOTHER EDITION OF......

The weekly flip of the fedora to Jimmy Cannon

 

NOBODY ASKED ME BUT......

1)      Some performers can go on forever and some just don’t know how to leave gracefully with all fond memories of them intact.

2)      If people open their minds for entertainment not in the large venues they will have just as good (of better) of a time than in the large expensive venues.  Opening of minds can mean closing your wallet for overpriced tickets.

3)      Richard Clarke’s new book shows us the danger and the promise of the possibility of “Cyber War”---no bombs needed.  The world has become a video/game console and we are the players.

4)      I don’t know what guns, bullets, ships, and planes cost but it has to be more than “1”s and”0”s.

5)      It seems that NYC bus drivers are friendly and courteous and NYC Subway booth attendants are surly and clueless to the system. Could be the lack of daylight.  OK—there are a few exceptions in both categories.  Very few.

6)      Pensions are an important thing and people have worked many years for them but some police (NYC and Suburbs) have really gamed the system and we are all paying for it.  Overtime in the last year or so as a basis for some to get even more than their salaries---in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.  Their services are a necessity but the taxpayer generosity is not.

7)      One has to wonder why investors (landlords) buy rent controlled or rent stabilized apartments in NYC knowing full well that they cannot get the market rate---without a fight (and usually an ugly one).  The note just handed to me gave the answer---“greed” and “lack of honor”.

8)      It’s said that “...they don’t build them like they used to..”  but it seems that cars last a lot longer but you don’t really drive them anymore---the computer does.  And the computer sometimes tells on you at inspection time and also when it forgets to slow you down no matter what you do.

9)      I never watched “Lost”. “24”, but did watch “Law & Order” (which I will not miss---since it will always be there in re-runs) but of all those programs the only series that ever held an interest to me (and is in re-runs on Centric) was “Homicide—Life on The Streets”   Non-formulaic (as Law & Order is ), with a great cast, and created by the wonderful Baltimore aficionado, Barry Levinson.

10)                    Are “friends” on Facebook not really “acquaintances”---if that ? 

 

     11)    When Si Kahn joins me this Sunday on TRADITIONS I guarantee meaningful music and memorable moments.

                 

ENTERTAINMENT NOTES AND THOUGHTS---AND A FEW SUGGESTIONS

A few suggestions for TRADITIONS and SUNDAY SIMCHA  will be posted later this week.  Interesting themes and guests to talk about.

 Now for the thoughts regarding entertainment and I surely hope I am not preaching to the choir here.  If I am just post "Amen" and  I will know it was the choir.

An interesting weekend of entertainment--or something that purports to be entertainment-- that drove a few thought home.  Friday evening was a delightful evening with some great performers--Buskin and Batteau (ably abetted by Marshal Rosenberg on percussion).  The venue a nice hall in Garden City, NY fully filled (approx. 150) with a wonderfully enthusiastic and receptive audience. The lads delivered, as always, a performance that goes down as great musical mastership along with great and pointed humor. 

We'll skip a video here and move on to the next evening at The Theater at Westbury aka The Westbury Music Tent (or something like that but now a Live Nation venue---heaven help us).   A relative generously purchased tickets for a performance that evening featuring Don Rickles and Joan Rivers.  Admittedly I did not expect her wholly inappropriate (  a polite term) appearance.

Starting with the performance it has to be said that Joan Rivers should stay home and practice speaking without an obscenity as every other word and also try to make some humorous points that are not is the worst taste one can imagine---from deaths in Haiti, the suicide of her husband, and descriptions of her gynecological problems among others.  Enough said about her since the alleged headliner was Mr. Warmth---Don Rickles.

It is a sad thing when a good performer---I won't say great since that is reserved for others--is too lame (in all aspects of that word) to appear on a stage.   A sad sight to watch him flounder about the stage and have one pray he does not fall.  Routines that are old hat that then evolve into tributes to people like Sinatra, Martin, and then morph into a tribute to troops in Iraq with a singing of Yankee Doodle Dandy ala James Cagney.  Sad!!

Sadder is that the audience asked for an encore and he then stayed on and on and on.  Seems like either he did not want the evening on stage to end or, my thought, he was waiting for handlers to help him off stage---there are no wings at this venue--you have to go up an aisle.

Best Don Rickles stick to the voice-overs he does for Toy Story  and leave the live stage looking like a winner and not a replica of the character Olivier portrayed in The Entertainer.

As to the venue.  That is one disaster waiting for a tragedy to happen.   One narrow road leading in and inept parking attendants creating a total traffic mess.  Leaving can take hours and no access for emergency vehicles at that time.

Which, if you stuck with me this long, brings me to the final point.   Individualism or Herd Mentality.  Terrific talents in a small venue at reasonable prices or highly hyped entertainment with either fading "legends" (in their own minds) and highly hyped current performers for astronomical ticket prices.  You have to make that choice and you may well be surprised at the real enjoyment you will get at the former rather than the latter.

Well, maybe a video is called for after all----Buskin and Batteau---you really do not want to suffer the other option.