that girl allison
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After a delicious meal at Sauce on the LES, my best friend and I walked up to The Bitter End to watch my friend from high school’s (that him, with the microphone) band, Coalition play. We reminisced about New Years Eve 2008 when we watched some forgettable band play at The Bitter End, drank cheap, shitty beer, and took the Long Island Rail Road home at 4am.
We made it for about half of their set. Their music I would say is a fusion of hip hop and alternative rock. Tim, the vocalist, raps, and the musicians are incredibly talented and rockin’.
Their music is really interesting, and should you feel moved to give it a listen, check out their Facebook page.
The night concluded at Dive 75 on the Upper West Side where we indulged in some no-name wine with some more friends.
It was a good Friday night.
So, for the record, first, Zosia Mamet can act. And second: this is really, really late. I saw this piece at the end of February. Whoops. What can I say, life happens.
Maybe it’s because I went to see MCC’s Really Really with low expectations, but I left extremely moved. About a college girl from a poor background with a rich boyfriend and a now-bright future ahead of her. Then her life is turned upside down when she tells her boyfriend that she was raped by one of his teammates.
This was definitely a case of she-said, he-doesn’t-remember-because-he-was-blacked-out. And with one possible act of infidelity and another possible lie about rape, she begins to tear her life and the lives of those around her apart.
The play is frustrating in a you-don’t-know-who’s-lying kind of way. It’s frustrating but also leaves you with a lot to think about afterward.
Mamet definitely impressed. Her character in this was completely dark as compared to here overly-enthused one on Girls. And she was completely convincing too. Matt Lauria (from Friday Night Lights) was also very good (I’ve never watched FNL but onstage he was good).
I saw this a few months ago, but I still felt the need to say it was an interesting, and at times intense, piece.
Good job, MCC.
So, how many times did you end up seeing Rent?
This was one of the questions asked by a friend from 7th grade that I met up with last night for the first time in *years*. The term “friends” is generous considering we sat next to each other in our honors English class in 7th grade, and then didn’t talk much after that year, even though we had friends in the same social circle.
We were Facebook friends, and somehow ended up following each other on Instagram, and then I came up with the bright idea that we should meet up. Because why not.
I ended up on Long Island on Saturday night for Mother’s Day and he ended up being on the island too, so we met up for a drink at the local dive bar (the only place in our town opened by 11pm on Saturday nights) and eventually made our way to the local 24-hour diner. We chatted and caught up for three or so hours. The one vivid memory he had of me was that I loved the show Rent. Hah.
When we got in his car to leave the diner around 2:30, he looked up and said, “Oh I love that picture. I would totally put that on Instagram,” and I told him to do exactly that. He said, “Really? You think I should?” And I did, and he got out and took the above picture that made it’s way online at about 3am.
It was nice to see an old acquaintance, who will maybe become a new friend. He wants to see my favorite spots in the city, so there’s that.
So I finally got to see Kinky Boots last week. My friend grabbed two standing room tickets which were totally fine, view-wise. I’d heard many great things, like choreography and cast, and that this is the show that might beat Matilda for Best Musical. So I had an open mind.
Full disclosure: I’m incredibly, incredibly biased with regards to the Best Musical this year, I know. I think Matilda is the best thing since Rent (that’s an awful comparison, I know).
Verdict: I thought it was a well- written musical. Some of the music was very catchy and the cast was phenomenal. It had moments of serious boredom though. And I spent the entire first act waiting for the amazing choreography. The only amazing choreography was in the act one finale and the show finale.
Stark Sands is incredibly endearing and of course has an amazing voice. Annaleigh Ashford is hands down hilarious, with an incredible voice (and her character is definitely paying a bit of homage to Cyndy Lauper for sure).
And Billy Porter. MAN. I’ve always been keenly aware of his immense talents but he just blows the roof off the Hirschfeld with his performance. I think Porter and Ashford might reason enough to see this show.
The themes behind it, as directed by the brilliant Jerry Mitchell, are a tad confusing. Maybe a bit convoluted too. It’s partially about a drag queen coming to terms with his difficult relationship with his father but at center of that journey is a heterosexual relationship? Maybe it’s not meant to be analyzed in such a way.
I really did enjoy it. Do I think the choreography is competition for the likes of Matilda and Pippin? Certainly not. Will it win Best Musical? I’m nervous there’s a chance, purely for the fact that Lauper’s name is associated with (she did write the score, after all).
So I’m glad I saw it (so I can have an educated opinion about it and all that) but I’m still crossing my fingers for Matilda.
“I remember you being a lot taller in 7th grade. Or was I just shorter?”
And now I’ll return to re-reading an 11th grade novel: The Great Gatsby.
My brother just took the SATs for the first time and is registered to take it two more times. I wish this test go to hell and die.
(via evangotlib)
Saturday morning = blue nails (@essie’s Butter Please), @yogaworks, and @martinsolveig. #martinsolveig #yoga #yogaworks #essie #nails #saturdaymorning
I loved my outfit today. Five dollar black tank top (Old Navy), $15 black shrug (Gap), and a $10 hot pink skirt (originally from $17.50 from H&M, but I got it with the tags still on at Housing Works on Saturday!). The bracelet is from Housing Works too. It was $2 and I’m still not sure if it’s really a bracelet or a dog collar.
I topped it off with black combat boots and my hot pink leather jacket.
I haven’t been watching Smash this season (because… the writing, just.. enough said) but when I saw a former classmate complain how they blatantly ripped off Rent and the backstory on last night’s episode, I was intrigued and went on Hulu to watch it.
I was a little lost, to say the least, but as soon as they announced that one of the writers of their show had died, it immediately resonated with me. I remember reading about Rent’s road to New York Theatre Workshop, Jonathan Larson’s death, the transfer to Broadway, and everything else when I was 11. I poured over the “bible,” as it was called, for hours, reading all of the passages. Years later when I befriended a person who happened to be an original cast member since it’s off-Broadway production, I asked in an interview with him once, “What did it feel like when you heard that Jonathan had died?” And all he could say was, “I felt like I lost a very good friend.”
One of the complaints was that last night’s episode ripped off the backstory of Rent without even acknowledging the show. Well, I think it would’ve been a bit too cheesy, and more meta than necessary, to add in a line something like, “this is exactly like what happened to Rent!”
Duh. We’re theatre people watching this show. And if we’re good theatre people, we know the story. On the wall of Jesse L. Martin’s character’s office was a Rent poster from the run at New York Theatre Workshop. I think that was homage-paying enough.
I think Smash is horribly written, but I appreciated this episode. It was a flashback to the mid-late nineties and my childhood.
So, there were donuts in the conference room at my office today as we waited with baited breath for the nominations on NY1. The donuts were good; the fact that Matilda received 12 nominations was better.
Things I’m particularly excited about:
- Bring It On’s nominations (Best Musical, Best Choreography). I loved this show - though I may be biased. But I’m totally ecstatic that it got two nominations that it very much, IMO, deserved.
- Rob McClure for Chaplin. He was just phenomenal. There were no words.
- Condola Rashad in The Trip to Bountiful. She was endearing, and funny, and gave a great performance.
- Pippin’s nomination for Best Revival of a Musical. You just have to see it to get it.
The hysterical moment came when they announced Best Lighting of a Musical. Kenneth Posner received three out of four nominations. I’m not sure that’s ever happened before. If he doesn’t win.. it’ll be the biggest shock of the awards.
I guess nothing else is that big of a shock as far as the nominations go. I suppose I have to see Kinky Boots now. I guess I’ll be rushing it!
Congrats to all of the nominees!
