Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Sebbeth.

Wednesdays child is a quiet child. I'm finding the economy is a bummer. I've done my level best this year to restart the global economy with the 12 Days, but I'm not getting the dollar to go as far as I need it to. This is trying.





We are quiet this month as the sebbeth lets us reflect on the year. I'm pretty jazzed to where we've been and where we're going. Amazing events appear to happen all over the calendar not solo 17Th. Fall is here, Mexico is near, Halloween nearer, and the big event comes soon after both.




Last week LynZ, June and I made the trip to Ahmanson to see and a fun little number entitled '9 to 5; the musical. Yep, you've guessed it, the American cinema was mined again to try and find blond luck for the American theater. The best part that this had for it was that the music and lyrics were by Miss Dolly Parton herself. The familiar theme song has a co-starring role in the production that features my favorite Alison Janney cast as Violet Newstead; the role Lilly Tomlin brought to life. The music is cute and really enthusiastically put out there for all to love. All three leads kicked the hell out of their songs, if only the story had a little more zip to sell it. Dolly has put a great little number in for the Dora-Lee Rhodes character. The sexpot brings "Backwoods Barbie" to the laps of the audience and leaves the joint a-smilin'.




When we saw the show it had just opened and was still experiencing some growing pains. In the second act the recently freed boss, Franklin Hart, begins to extract vengeance on the three ladies who have held him captive all this time. As he unleashes his demands he grabs for the phone on his desk, who's cord has not been reconnected since Dora Lee ripped it out in the first act. Oooooopps. The cord sails around loose, even as the phone miraculously rings. We bust a gut laughing at what only live theater can bring to a night. The actors all tried numerous covers for the gaff and settled on not being able to fix it. This was fine by us in the house. Everyone was smiling. On a preview night earlier in the week the show was plagued with some technical difficulties causing the show to stop. Miss Parton watching the show stands and starts chatting the crowd up. She ends up buying the crew time by leading the audience in an Capella version of the theme song. Everybody ate it up, even Miss Parton. "C'mon, y'all know the words by now, don't ya?" To keep it going, she then sang "I'll Always Love You" with an intro letting the audience know that Whitney may have sung it prettier, Dolly made more money on it. Now that's pretty funny.




The show is off for New York where it will probably die a quick death. I'm glad I got to see it because it is one of my favorite movies. I was glad to see that so many of the great scenes in the film were translated in word and sentiment to the stage. This production did lovingly approach the movie in this, so I was thankful. It was a fun night.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Rabbit, rabbit.

Rabbit Rabbit. Here's a new month of joy to play and frolic towards forty with. Or to take forty steps to the playground and fall into the sand looking for the wormhole that brought me here. I think back to childhood and what is it I see? Sandboxes, inchworms and of course.................the Village People.



This manfest that rode (pun intended) the rising star of Disco in the late seventies until, well, now is as American as Liberace, Betty White and apple pie. This troupe of performers featured a cop, a cowboy, a leather man, an Indian, and a soldier each chosen to be typical masculine varieties. The homo eroticism was lost on a naive public. A concept band, Village People was the genius of Jacques Morali, a French musician who planned on cashing in on theDisco phenomena. After hearing the amazing voice of the original cop, Victor Wills, Morali auditioned for some manly talent to surround Wills with. So much the better that they could dance and carry a stage presence. Audition notices went out and a crew was assembled. When their hit "Macho Man" made number one, the splash that the Village People made had the American attention. It would be the iconic "Y.M.C.A" that would forever leave the Village People's mark on the United States and the world. Other hits include "Go West", "In The Navy" and "Key West".


This year the Village People celebrate their thirtieth anniversary and will receive a star on The Hollywood Walk Of Fame, not far from Liberace's ironically. Although the line-up of the band has changed over the years, the role's have still held fast. The typical masculine varieties have been recast but their orders are still being obeyed. At many a social event a tribe of people in a circle will be throwing their hands in the air in the forms of letters to lyrics.