Do You Know Juno?
I was a little shocked while watching Charlotte Moore’s splendid revival of Sean O’Casey’s Juno and the Paycock at the Irish Repertory Theatre. I wasn’t surprised that J. Smith Cameron was sensational as Juno, the housewife who’s unlucky to be living in a Civil War-torn Ireland in 1922. That Juno is married to “Captain Jack,” […]
Give Him a Grinch and He’ll Take a Smile
At last! After years of waiting, one of the most endearing scores of recent vintage has finally been recorded and released. It’s going to be in a number of stockings that are hung by the mantle with care, and not just because CDs tend to fit in Christmas stockings. Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole […]
The So-Bad-It’s-Good Halloween Party List
Having a Halloween party? Many of my friends do, although they do demand that their guests come in costumes that were seen in Broadway musicals. My favorite memory: I was dressed in Hugh O’Brian’s John Adams costume from his summer stock tour of 1776; Raymond Wood was attired as a Munchkin, even though he was […]
50 Years for 110
Broadway already had Starbucks long before every street corner did. Starbuck Number One appeared as a pivotal character in N. Richard Nash’s play The Rainmaker fifty-nine years ago next week, on Oct. 28, 1954. Starbuck Number Two showed up fifty years ago this week on Oct. 23, 1963 in the play’s musical version, 110 in […]
Twenty-two Shades of (Joel) Grey
Forty-seven years ago this week, Cabaret opened in Boston, where the show would have its sole pre-Broadway tryout. Although Tony-winner Lotte Lenya and Tony-nominee Jack Gilford were “only” supporting characters, most everyone had greater interest in them than the leads. Oh, many were interested in Jill Haworth, who’d play Sally Bowles, and Bert Convy, who’d […]
