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Broadway: “Angels in America” Revival is So Good Now You See That it Was Always a Masterpiece

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You watch “Angels in America” at the Neil Simon Theater and think– Pulitzer, Nobel, Tony Award who cares? You see now with this revival directed by Marianne Elliott and starring Andrew Garfield and Nathan Lane that Tony Kushner painted his “Guernica.” Well, let’s say he also painted his “Rape of the Sabines” because “Angels” is two plays, so it’s two masterpieces.

Did I like it? “Angels in America” is well beyond liking.

And that’s because a play that premiered in and is set in 1985-86 turns out to be so much more prescient than I recalled or maybe almost anyone in an opening day audience that included Glenn Close (who does the voice overs), Joel Grey, Diane Sawyer, Lea DeLaria, Anna Chlumsky, Oscar winners Frances McDormand and Lupita Nyong’o (separately), Billy Eichner, stage legend Dana Ivey, TV presence extraordinaire Ru Paul and a variety of Broadway producers and tastemakers from the top of the A list.

“Angels” is two plays, as you may know, each over three hours long (with several breaks), directed by George C. Wolfe in 1994. The plays were made into an award winning mini series on HBO by Mike Nichols. The two plays– “Millennium Approaches” and “Perestroika” separately and together are the equivalent of masterful spoken word operas, with interlocking plots, politics, tremendously funny laughs, and deep sorrow all woven together. Now more than ever you see the grandeur of it all, and can only marvel at it. You watch these plays the way you see the pyramids in Egypt and wonder How the heck was this put together? Amazing.

And it’s all the more astonishing because Kushner took on the AIDS epidemic not as a polemic but a saga with characters very richly drawn. He added to those characters Roy Cohn, a real life person who was evil incarnate to Begin with — he sent the Rosenbergs to their deaths, destroyed innocent lives with the Black listing of the 1950s, ruined careers– then denied his own homosexuality as he lay dying from AIDS. He was Richard Nixon’s close cohort, Barbara Walters’s best friend (he was her beard for eons), and was ultimately disbarred on his death bed for stealing from widows.

Time has moved on, a lot of people don’t know about Roy Cohn. A woman waiting for her car with me after the show said she’d never heard of him. She was absolutely my age. So this story has to be told, and Kushner’s genius was not only to put Cohn at the center of the hypocrisy about AIDS but then also to have him hallucinate about Ethel Rosenberg (Al Pacino and Meryl Streep won Emmys playing them in the HBO movie). Roy Cohn was also Donald Trump’s mentor. And this is is key here considering where we were when the play debuted in 1994. Trump is not in the play but his presence now looms over the proceedings like a dark cloud. The anger, the hate, the dismissive behavior– it’s all there. It’s as if Cohn laid out the pattern like a tailor.

Garfield and Lane are the only names in this production, but I’ll tell you– by the time you’re done with three or six hours, this cast are all stars. Lane is Cohn, and we know him, he’s hilarious from “The Producers” and “It’s Only a Play” but really Nathan Lane’s turn as Roy Cohn is something from the beyond. Tony Award? Without a doubt. Lane is so wrenching as this monster (who’s hilarious– and there’s an early inside joke about “La Cage Aux Folles”– remember Nathan starred in the movie version “The Birdcage”–by the denouement of “Perestroika” you are thinking about death in new and disturbing ways. He reaches right into the gut of every single audience member.

Garfield as Prior Walter is the revelation. Even though he won the Olivier Award in London, New York audiences will be lining up around the block to see this extraordinary performance. What Garfield (a movie actor to us with “Hacksaw Ridge” and “Silence”) does here is what establishes an actor forever. He carries the six hours as Pryor Walter becomes infected with the AIDS virus and his world is turned upside down. Garfield is utterly absorbed into this role to the point where you almost can’t imagine anyone else playing it. He’s outrageous, serious, broad, and intense– what a roller coaster.

Ironically, Garfield will be up against Mark Rylance for the Tony (“Farinelli and the King”), whom Garfield reveres. Rylance should be flattered the student will best the teacher this time around. Garfield rises to that high level with this epic.

Every other member of the cast is perfection: James McArdle as Louis, Pryor’s cowardly intellectual partner; Lee Pace as Joe Pitt, the closeted Republican Mormon lawyer; Amanda Lawrence in several roles including Ethel Rosenberg; Denise Gough as Joe’s wife; Susan Brown as his mother; and Nathan Stewart-Jarrett as Belize, Pryor’s friend, confidante and nurse.

Kudos to everyone from Elliott– who keeps everyone moving on these phenomenal spare sets– to the entire production. Exhausting! Where you do the two plays in one day as we did today or separate them you can’t do anything but marvel at these people. And most of all Tony Kushner. I don’t care if he never writes anything again. His achievement is ever lasting.

One final note: “Angels in America” is far from depressing. It’s actually a celebration of life. It’s very moving in the least sentimental ways and hilarious in all the best ones.

Music’s Happiest Birthday: Aretha Franklin and Elton John Share this Auspicious Day

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Today must be the happiest day of the year in music. Aretha Franklin turns 76 and Elton John is 71. They’re two of our greatest legends. Bravo!

Metallica Follows Bon Jovi, Other Groups to Number 1 on Charts with Old Albums Sold in Concert Ticket Bundles

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A couple of weeks ago I noted that Bon Jovi’s “This House is Not For Sale” had suddenly jumped to number 1 on the album charts. Despite being a couple years old, “This House” sold 130,000 copies out of nowhere, hit the top and then fell right off the charts again.

This week, Metallica’s 2016 album, “Hardwired…to Self-Destruct” is the number 1 selling physical album. The chart says Metallica sold around 65,000 copies and jumped from number 42 to number 1. Amazing!

Well, not so much. These chart toppers, as well as others in the recent past (Pink, for example) should all have asterisks next to their names in the record books. The CDs and downloads sold came as part of a bundle with concert tickets for the acts.

Metallica is selling tickets right now for Europe. And with every ticket sale comes a CD or download for free. So “Hardwired” is actually trip-wired.

Madonna and Prince each tried this years ago. More recently, with business struggling, the chart keepers have been persuaded to count these albums as sales. But they’re not, are they? They’re like the Thursday night box office previews that get counted into the Friday opening numbers for movies. They aren’t real.

But hey– congrats to Metallica. You can say you had the “number 1” album of the week.

Paul McCartney’s Poignant Reminder at NYC March: “One of My Best Friends Was Killed in Gun Violence”

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The clip from CNN is 26 seconds but it crystallizes the whole March for our Lives today. Paul McCartney on Central Park West tells the CNN reporter “One of my best friends was killed in gun violence right around here so it’s important to me.”

McCartney is of course referring to the murder of John Lennon on December 8, 1980 in front of the Dakota apartment house by Mark David Chapman. That’s almost 38 years ago, it’s one of the most chilling examples of a mentally ill person who was able to secure a gun.

Paul and wife Nancy wore matching t shirts that read “We Can End Gun Violence.”

Paul was never the anti-anything marcher in the 60s. It was all John and Yoko. But this was an incredible grace note for him, and moved the message in new ways. I’m sure Yoko, just a few blocks away, must have appreciated the gesture.

Jim Carrey Goes Over the Top, Posts Clever R Rated Drawing of Donald Trump and (Fill in Blank Porn Star) Called “Fifty Shades of Decay”

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Movie star Jim Carrey has become something of a controversial artist on Twitter. He’s posted renderings of Sarah Huckster Sanders and Jared Kushner recently, each of which has ignited talk.

Now the once and always Pet Detective has depicted Donald Trump legislating with an unidentified porn star. They are covered by the presidential seal. Carrey calls it “Fifty Shades of Decay.”

I actually preferred the Kushner drawing, which I’m attaching below. Carrey is capturing the essence of this administration!

Rachel Maddow, Sean Hannity Split the Week So Far, But Maddow Leads in the Key Age Group

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It’s been as rough a week on cable news as it has been on the stock exchange.

Rachel Maddow and Sean Hannity have so far split the week. The MSNBC anchor won Monday night and last night. Hannity took Tuesday and Wednesday.

Really, their numbers every night are pretty close in total viewers. What isn’t close is the number of viewers in the 18-49 key demo. Maddow wins that hands down, usually with a .36 average. Hannity is well below that.

Hannity’s viewers are older by far, less likely to buy anything from an other than a sleep aid or a Magic Pillow.

Tonight’s numbers will decide the week. But in all likelihood, Maddow will address the real issues of the day while Hannity carps about Hillary Clinton’s emails or something with Monica Lewinsky. The older viewers like him because Hannity presents Nostalgia News.

Tragedy: NYC Firefighter Dies in Massive Fire on Harlem Set of Edward Norton Movie “Motherless Brooklyn”

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There are numerous reports this morning of a tragedy in Harlem on a movie set. Michael Davidson of Harlem’s Engine Company 69–a 15 year veteran of the FDNY– died after being separated from his company on the set of Edward Norton’s “Motherless Brooklyn.”

Davidson is survived his wife and four young daughters. FDNY Commissioner Daniel Nigro told reporters at a press conference: “Our entire city mourns his loss.”

According to reports, Norton spotted the fire coming out of the basement of the old St. Nick’s Jazz Pub at 773 St. Nicholas Ave. He called 911. “Our hearts ache in solidarity with his family,” said Norton in a statement.

It’s unclear whether the fire was caused by the film company or something else happening on the block.

Davidson had 15 years with the FDNY and had been cited for bravery four times in his career.

Let it Go? Never! Disney’s “Frozen” Opens On Broadway and It’s a Hit out of the Box

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“Frozen” arrived on Broadway Thursday night and it’s a hard nut to crack. Quibbles? Sure, everyone’s gota quibble. But the facts are clear: “Frozen” will be with us a long, long time. It’s a hit out of the box. Everything about it is satisfying on a large scale– the music, the staging, the actors, all of it. For Disney’s Tom Schumacher– who now has three hits on Broadway– “Frozen” is a triumph that will pay him back for years.

Disney, of course, over did themselves to make “Frozen” an unforgettable opening night. Guests came in black tie formal wear and gowns. The after party was at the cavernous Terminal 5, an un-Broadway place for a premiere gala. (Usual places are Gotham Hall, Tavern on the Green, Copacabana.)

But everything about “Frozen” is big, so spread the word: this is the box office killer of 2018. Negative reviews won’t even make a dent.

The biggest quibble about the musical is that it’s unclear what’s going on if you don’t know the movie. It’s sent in a fantasy kingdom. Two little sisters, princesses, are orphaned. One of them, queen-to-be, has the power through her hands to freeze things, so she wears gloves. The other sister is just a lot of fun and doesn’t mind that she won’t be queen. They look, on paper, like Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret from “The Crown.”

Then they are separated. When they’re reunited, the frozen Queen Elsa (dynamite Caissie Levy) is revealed to have this weird freezing power so she escapes and winds up in an icy Fortress of Solitude. Princess Anna comes to rescue her, and then they must reclaim their power in the castle. I mean, I think that’s it. The main thing is, “Frozen” is about girl power and sisters and facing down a good looking bad guy.

The Disney animated film was aided by the hit song, “Let it Go,” which ruled the top of the charts for weeks as sung by Idina Menzel. There were ten songs in the animated film. Four more have been added to the Broadway show by Robert Lopez and wife Kristen Anderson Lopez. They are all eminently catchy and charming, but “Let it Go” is the centerpiece. Elsa sings it at the end of the first act and gets cheers and some standing ovation. In the Denver tryout, that was it. But for Broadway, “Let it Go” returns as the closing number, too. And let me tell you, the bookending works like crazy. At the opening last night, a couple of people jumped up during the first act close and started singing along — loudly.

I’ve seen some criticism of “Frozen” that it seems cold, and a little Las Vegas-y. I disagree. Not even knowing the movie, I was able to follow along and actually cared about the characters. The actors are sensational. Levy and Patti Murin (Anna) are equally great singers and comediennes. They will each get Tony nods for lead actress in a musical. Jelani Alladin makes his Broadway debut as Kristoff, the “ice man” who is so winning, he is the find of the year.

“Frozen” — because it comes from Disney Theatricals– also features two puppets from the people who bring us “The Lion King.” Before the show puppeteer Michael Curry was telling me that one of the puppets, he thought, was a first on Broadway. He’s right. It’s a reindeer named Sven, and you just have to see it to believe it. Sven is so real he’s an actual character in the show, Bravo to all the production people involved, especially also lighting by Natasha Katz.

Director Michael Grandage and choreographer Rob Ashford just kept accepting praise all night at Terminal 5. They deserve it. (There’s a turntable scene with icicles I really loved, among others.) No, “Frozen” is not “Sweeney Todd.” It’s not even “The Band’s Visit.” But it’s totally original and satisfying. Little girls won’t let it go so easily.

No red carpet tonight but plenty of interesting people in the audience including filmmaker (and Mrs. Sting) Trudie Styler, Andrew Rannells, and designer Zac Posen. Disney supreme chiefs Alan Horn and Bob Iger were also there with their families, as was “Lion King” writer Irene Mecchi.

 

Sting’s Broadway Musical Gets Raves in Revamped UK Open, Singer Chosen for Queen’s 92nd Birthday Performance

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Sting’s Broadway show of 2016 is back, and it’s a hit. “The Last Ship” sailed two nights ago in Newcastle, UK and was found to be a sturdy vessel. The show opened this week in the city where it is set– Newcastle– and drew raves from all the papers there. It’s a re-thought version of the show, with a new slimmed down book, some characters excised, and a couple of new songs. Overall, the reception was rapturous, which goes to show that “The Last Ship” has a lot of life left in it.

I’m pleased to hear it. Such was the case for shows like “The Color Purple” and “Chicago,” which returned to Broadway in new versions and wowed audiences that hadn’t been so positive in the first place. I hear that the new “Last Ship” jettisoned the second male lead (it was confusing) and the very popular priest played by Fred Applegate. (We loved him, we’ll miss him, and it must have been painful to cut that character.)

What is left is a streamlined show with a dozen or more terrific songs that anyone who knows them is still humming. Richard Fleeshman, who starred here in the musical adaptation of “Ghost,” is now playing Gideon, the lead. Meantime, the original Gideon– Michael Esper– is starring in the new mini-series about the Getty family called “Trust” on F/X.

Meanwhile, Sting has been chosen to headline the annual birthday concert for Queen Elizabeth II next month in London. He’ll be bringing Shaggy (featured on Sting’s great new reggae album coming April 20th), as well as Sir Tom Jones, Kylie Minogue, Craig David, Anne-Marie, Shawn Mendes, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. What a way to celebrate turning 92– rocking out to “Message in a Bottle” and “Every Breath You Take”! That’s a hot ticket!

Elvis is Back in the Building: Priscilla Presley and Springsteen Manager Jon Landau Produce Historic Legacy Doc for HBO

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Elvis is back in the building. Maybe he never left the building. But on Tuesday morning the draw of meeting his devoted ex wife and keeper of the flame, Priscilla Presley, made us all overcome a snow and slush storm and brought us to the building– 30 Rock, that is.

A couple dozen journalists and rock people like famed photographer Bob Gruen put on their galoshes and headed to the restaurant adjacent to the Rainbow Room to meet the legendary Priscilla and talk about her HBO documentary, “Elvis Presley: The Searcher” elegantly written by Alan Light and directed by Thom Zimny. Visibility was limited, but Priscilla– who is now 72 and looks like she’s 50– was a beacon.

With Priscilla came Bruce Springsteen manager Jon Landau, who smartly exec produced and has a quantum knowledge of rock and roll as a real Rolling Stone journo from their heyday; Memphis songwriter David Porter (who just put his stamp of approval on a new Spanish recording of “Soul Man” by Sam Moore); and Memphis historian and Elvis specialist Jerry Schilling. They’ve been on the road since South by Southwest screening “The Searcher” and stirring the cauldron of Elvis history.

“The Searcher” is the perfect look at Elvis in 2018, especially if you know little about him or think he’s an old guy you’ve heard something vague about. Priscilla — mother of Elvis’s only child, Lisa Marie, grandmother of his actress descendant Riley Keough — has made it her business to keep Elvis’s flame burning bright. It was Priscilla who rescued Graceland and turned it into a destination for travelers all over the world– quite an accomplishment.

“The Searcher” is a smart film envisioned by Priscilla and helped by all those people I mentioned. It eschews all the negatives and locates itself on Elvis’s 1968 landmark TV special. It was a comeback for the King of Rock and Roll, who’d started to seem out of it to the generation of “Sgt. Pepper” and psychedelic rock. They’d forgotten that a decade earlier, Elvis was a god. So using this event as a culmination, Zimny uses the voices of Priscilla — as well as contemporary musicians like Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty– to build a case for Elvis’s continued supremacy.

There’s a lot of photos and home movies, and the soundtrack is selective. The best video comes from the TV show, where you see a resurrected King at the top of his game. This should go a long way to erase what would come later in Elvis’s life. But this is the snapshot that will supersede the later days: right at that moment, from 1969 to 1972, Elvis is back. You see that “Suspicious Minds” and”Burning Love” were just as important as “Hound Dog” and “Don’t Be Cruel.” Zimny is very careful to fashion a new legacy. And for once, Elvis becomes a sympathetic hero who battled to survive a kind of fame that maybe only Sinatra and Marilyn Monroe knew in that era.

“The Searcher” airs on HBO beginning April 14th.