Friday night attended City Visions Film Fest to see actor I directed in several stage productions on film... a take off on film noir and nicely done. Brandon DeSpain did a great job playing a killer's goon in "Rocky Must Die." I was especially taken with the film "Folkswagon" in which cinematography, script acting and diretion were all stellar. I felt "Alix" could be expanded into a full length film with what happens next. Films in this MFA program were most impressive. Don't know who won, but all were well worth seeing.
Returned this year to the Drama Desk Awards after a few years' absence. When finally allowed to go to our tables (those who could find them, no body knew where they were suppposed to sit) - tables designed to seat 10 were crammed with 12. We were lucky to be wkth congenial people, some old friends, some hopefully new ones. Since the two appetizers I had during crowded, noisy crush of a cocktail party that far overran its time were less than tasty, I didn't expect much from the meal. I was not disappointed when salads - a few leaves of green and one slice of tomato -arrived - an hour late. Bread was eaten, despite its not tasting fresh. Half an hour or so later, mere moments before the awards event was scheduled to start, the so-called entree came: Two tablespoons of pasta with meat sauce and 4 ravioli.
Wine and champagne and booze flowed liberally, perhaps so we would not notice we were all very, very hungry. It was noticed, and noted by one man at the microphone during the ceremony. His remark got the biggest round of applause of the night. There was no coffee or tea or dessert - we ate the 4 packs of godiva chocolate at each place setting. Harvey Fierstein, with whom I worked on "Torch Song Trilogy" from its inception until it landed on Broadway, was in bad voice. In fact, his voice was bad enough to desert him part way through the ceremonies. Because everyone was packed tight, there was no easy access to the stage for many of the nominees who won.
There were two big laughs of the evening - the remark about the non-meal, and a young man who must remain nameless announcing an actor had appeared in "The Mechanic of Venice."
At the disco after party upstairs there were tiny gluten free cupcakes, lots more booze and some coffee - no tea. After mingling with some critic friends went home to have supper at 1 AM.
A few days later at the Outer Critics Circle Awards, held as usual in the Eugenia Room at Sardi's. Everyone gibed and jested about the Drama Desk disaster. Here were salads bigger than our entrees at DDA, and dinnere of normal proportions, plus dessert and fresh rolls, and a convivial atmosphere. Hardly a speech did not refer to the DDA event negatively. OCC ended EARLY and we went on to the Irish Rep to see Charlotte Moore's beautifully directed THE SHAUGHRAUN By Dion Boucicault
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These deightful LITTLE books about WEE folk to read to SMALL fry each have 5 fantasy stories illustrated by Maggie Cousins. Great presents for kindergarden graduations and special summer events for youngsters. Bring back the bedtime story with these and other childrens' books. Fight illiteracy by helping kids love books!
Talking of loving books. two I loved this week were
WHAT ALICE KNEW - involving the James family Alice, Henry and William - in Jzck the Ripper murder investigation and The War Horse - original book for tweens and teens which became the blockbuster Broadway stage hit.
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