What can you do, really, with Prince? He’s great but he has a scattershot career now. How many times have I written about a new single from Prince? Who releases them? Where do they go? Anyway, he was on “Arsenio Hall” last night and was funky as ever. Here’s a clip:
Emma Thompson Sheds Mary Poppins for Mrs. Lovett in Magnificent “Sweeney Todd”
I’d have paid double last night and would pay it again to see Emma Thompson and Bryn Terfel in “Sweeney Todd” at Avery Fisher Hall with the New York Philharmonic. Plus, we got value added indeed: Christian Borle as Pirelli the Barber and an uncredited surprise appearance the amazing Audra MacDonald as the Beggar Woman.
Lonny Price directed what I thought was going to be a concert version of the great Stephen Sondheim musical, my favorite of all musicals ever on Broadway. I’ve seen it so many times since the original production in 1981. This one, though, was kind of a mind blower because it was not just a concert, but a full fledged show minus a few props that were cleverly replaced or substituted.
You know from the start a lot is going to happen. The whole cast comes out dressed in formal wear, holding scripts, as if they are about to do a concert in Avery Fisher Hall. Then one by one they drop the scripts on the floor, turn over the potted plants, and rip off their finery. The whistle blows, and “Sweeney Todd” begins on Fleet Street in old London. Very clever.
Emma Thompson would get Angela Lansbury’s stamp of approval and a nod from Patti Lupone. For all her dour officiousness in “Saving Mr. Banks,” Thompson lets loose as crazy, happy, lovelorn pie baking Mrs. Lovett. If only Thompson would come to Broadway in this! She wouldn’t need to campaign to get a Tony Award. Her Mrs. Lovett is a comedic gem. And it turns out Thompson can sing, especially Sondheim, with the best of them. At last night’s performance she was so playful that she even grabbed a real mink piece off the neck of a female audience member, and wore it for some time through the show.
I’m not breaking any news when I tell you that Bryn Terfel does the Sondheim score justice and more. He may be a bigger, more towering Sweeney than ever, but his robust bass baritone gives the character a textured richness. Even if you loved Len Cariou, George Hearn, and Michael Cerveris, Terfel’s Sweeney is one for the ages. And he moves on stage like a musical comedy actor.
Of course, having Christian Borle as Pirelli the blackmailing barber is a gift. As for Audra, she won’t be in all the shows because of other commitments. But I could listen to her sing forever. She was last in “Sweeney Todd” 14 years ago at the NY Philharmonic Production in 2000 with George Hearn and Patti Lupone. Her reprise last night was a real treat.
So who was there? It was the opening of the season with a gala dinner but a lot of people just bought tickets to see the show. Backstage I ran into Meryl Streep, Christine Baranski, Barbara Cook as well as Sondheim, who got a thunderous ovation himself at the end of the show. In the theater: Bob Balaban, Michael Stuhlbarg from “Boardwalk Empire,” and Daphne Rubin Vega. I probably missed few. There will be celebs there for every show through Saturday.
Sting on Paul Simon: “He’s the Jewish Grandmother I Never Had”
I’ll start with this: Art Garfunkel has nothing to worry about. Paul Simon is not cheating on him. But he is performing a short concert tour with Sting that works better than I ever would have imagined. They come from different generations, but Simon and Sting have a lot in common. What unifies them is a love of jazz, a basic rich musicality, and a gift for storytelling in their lyrics that is not heard anymore.
The two and a half hour show has no intermission. You don’t want one. Both bands are on the stage most of the night at Madison Square Garden, meaning, as Sting told me the other day, “there are more musicians on stage than the New York Philharmonic.”
Ironically, Sting and Simon lived in the same building on Central Park West for a long time. They never thought of playing together. I’d never think of it either. Simon’s heyday of the soft rock singer songwriter was ebbing in 1977 when The Police rode in on Britain’s post punk New Wave. “Roxanne” quickly replaced “Cecilia.” Simon said he was still crazy after all these years. New wavers actually were crazy.
Indeed, Simon had a fallow period in the early 80s with “One Trick Pony” and “Hearts and Bones,” while Sting and the Police charged by them with the Clash, the Jam, the Pretenders, and Elvis Costello. Paul Simon seemed so out of it until “Graceland” brought him back in the mid 80s. Both artists have also experimented widely with Third World music and other new influences rather than repeat themselves.
Now together, surprisingly, Simon and Sting segue in and out of each other’s songs effortlessly. Simon joins in on “Fields of Gold” and “Fragile.” (Simon said of the latter, “I love that song. I always wanted to sing it.”) Sting literally remakes Simon’s “America.” He explains how The Police first traveled across this country in a station wagon playing gigs in terrible places; he infuses the song with a memory of that journey. Sting also makes “Bridge Over Troubled Water” soar almost Garfunkel-like. (Simon’s voice wavers only here. He wrote one of the three or four best ballads in pop history but it’s beyond his range.)
The second show in NY is on Thursday night, then the tour moves on. Get in there to hear them do a countrified “The Boxer” together almost like Simon does it on Jerry Douglas’s album with Mumford and Sons. And to hear Sting revive, at last, one of my favorites of his solo numbers, “They Dance Alone.” It’s about Chile and Pinochet but it could easily be directed to the Ukraine or Venezuela.
Each artist has enough songs for four hours or more. Simon leaves out “Mrs. Robinson” and “The Sound of Silence.” I wish they added “Loves Me Like a Rock.” Sting could slip in “If Ever I Lose My Faith in You” or “When You Dance.” The whole thing could go on all night. As it is, they conclude on neutral ground: the Everly Brothers’ “When Will I Be Loved.” Simon says, “It all began with two guitars and a microphone. That’s the way it should end.”
Sting is clearly enjoying Simon’s tutelage. He joked after the show last night that Simon, who’s his senior by exactly a decade, had re-arranged all his songs. “He’s the Jewish grandmother I never had,” Sting quipped.
Something tells me this pairing isn’t done yet.
photo of Sting and Paul Simon c2014 Showbiz411
Catching Up with Adele Dazeem, aka Idina Menzel, via Eric Stonestreet
You know, I saw John Travolta and Kelly Preston after the Governor’s Ball. They were downstairs where you go to valet service for limo pick up. As we were walking out, they were kind of walking back in, and John was saying to someone from the Dolby Theater, “We really need your help.” Maybe he’d forgotten his driver’s name and was asking for Adele Dazeem.
Anyway, Eric Stonestreet posted this Vine of Johnny boy forgetting Idina Menzel. He’s also wearing one of Mary Tyler Moore’s wigs from her famous show, which was a tribute I think to the great actress and comedienne.
I’ve made the main picture here what he actually looks like, we think, sans hair piece. Why does he keep wearing that thing? What was he really saying? Was he speaking Xenu? And how in heck did he get a job presenting an Oscar? He doesn’t have one, hasn’t been nominated in 20 years, and releases bomb after bomb. Go figure.
Liza Minnelli Post-Oscars: Look How Gracious She is in this TMZ Video
Liza Minnelli and musician/club owner Michael Feinstein went to dinner at Craig’s in West Hollywood last night. TMZ videogs stand out there all night hoping someone will talk to them. A lot of people don’t. And some celebs use the back entrance to avoid the paps. Look how gracious Liza was when she was stopped last night. This is the Liza we know in New York– a great friend, supportive and enthusiastic. I wish she were treated better on the snarky blogs:
Elton John’s All Star Oscar Party Raises $5.1 Million for AIDS Foundation
And now the good news from Oscar night: the viewing party for Elton John’s AIDS Foundation raised a whopping $5.1 million for education and research. Not bad!
It was a rockin’ dinner too with guests like Elton’s great songwriting partner Bernie Taupin, Ann and Nancy Wilson from Heart, Josh Groban, Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne, Kenny Babyface Edmonds, Steven Tyler, Taylor Swift, plus record producer Richard Perry and Jane Fonda. Whoopi Goldberg dropped in after presenting at the Oscars, Jared Harris stopped by, as did Lady Gaga and dozens upon dozens more. I also heard there were Kardashians roaming around, as is their wont.
British sensation Ed Sheeran entertained the crowd with a set that included a duet with Sir Elton. My nieces introduced me to Ed, he’s their 1971 Elton of 2014– they just don’t know it. Later in the night I caught up with Sheeran, who’s 23 and a lovely chap. He literally looks like the son Van Morrison never had! His new album comes out in June. I asked him what it’s like to be a rock star with all the sex and drugs. He quipped: “Is it all right if I’m the rock star who doesn’t do drugs?”
It is, I replied!
Justin Bieber, take note.
As for the whole big Elton party, set up next to the Pacific Design Center: it’s like a trip to heaven, with massive spaces all draped in what looks like white sheets. A lot of the girls, including Petra Nemcova, walked around barefoot on the thick white carpet. And you always get the best chocolates at the Elton John party! A great night!
Oscars Etc: Harrison Ford, Johnny Knoxville, Tupac, Stars’ Moms and Dads
Harrison Ford, just as he arrived at the red carpet on Sunday afternoon, with beautiful and gracious wife Calista Flockhart. Red faced and a little confused. Was he stoned? Medicinal marijuana, likely. Nothing illegal. I asked if he were presenting on the Oscars? Harrison replied: “Yes.” Which category, I wondered? “Best Picture,” he replied in a whisper. Now, that’s a big deal. He is Hollywood royalty now. Makes sense. So imagine my surprise when shortly into the show, Ford appears on the stage He introduces clips from three of the Best Picture nominees. This is what he meant, I guess. He was showing clips from the Best Pictures, not giving the Best Picture award…
Spotted in the audience but not otherwise detected: Johnny Knoxville. Keith Carradine. Eli Roth. Colleen Camp. John Stamos. There are plenty of actors who don’t walk the red carpet, but are invited by the Academy. They just come and enjoy the show like everyone else. In the blur of dealing with nominees, these people are like happy non sequiturs. In the parterre section, which just above the orchestra, I ran into Dr Mathilde Krim, founder of amFAR, widow of Orion Pictures’ Arthur Krim, who was Woody Allen’s guiding light for years and years. Another lovely surprise.She clapped hard when Woody’s name was called out in the Original Screenplay category.
Favorite bar mate of the evening: director John Singleton and his beautiful wife. He’s working on the Tupac Shakur movie. Crossing my fingers. Should be amazing. Also: shout out to Cate Blanchett and her posse including husband Andrew Upton, agent Hylda Queally, and publicist Lisa Kasteller. They rock! Also, Sally Hawkins. If we could bottle her we’d make millions. When Cate met Julia Roberts in the bar, they showed each other pics of their kids on cellphones, of course.
So many mothers, and fathers: Jennifer Lawrence’s parents are the nicest, classiest couple. Everyone loves Leonardo DiCaprio’s mom. His dad, George, is a character. They were all there. Matthew McConaughey’s mom is hot stuff, she was even in “Dallas Buyer’s Club.” Jared Leto’s mother has to write a book. You can tell she is amazing, and really toughed it out for her sons. Lupita Nyongo’s mother is gorgeous, naturally, and very articulate. David O. Russell’s dad worked at Simon & Schuster before he retired; he and his wife are tireless supporters of “American Hustle.” And don’t let me forget Will Forte’s mom, whom we met last year on the set of Peter Bogdanovich’s “Squirrel to the Nuts.” At 2am she was raring to go to Madonna’s party with Will. I hope that worked out!
Oh one more thing: who did Sandra Bullock take as her date to the Oscars? Why, her publicist, the wonderful Cheryl Maisel. Many stars relegate the publicists to ‘help’ status. You know we love S Bullock and this is why. Maisel worked like crazy on “Gravity.” Sandy said, ‘You should be there.’ And she was, in the front row. Mensch!
PS Loving Cindy Adams writing about the Oscars and LA in the NY Post. No one else like her!
Vanity Fair Builds a Big Tent, And Two by Two The A-List Came
Vanity Fair upped its Oscar game last night. They build a huge multi level tented building in the parking behind Sunset Plaza. Traffic snaked back and forth on Sunset Boulevard in both directions. There was a big security plan, with metal detectors at the check in. And then you arrived to find an avalanche of stars. Stars and stars. Two by two, or three by three, they came.
Inside the main room, just to the right, if you could find them through the fog of formally attired people, Jane Fonda and Anjelica Huston set up a beach head. Many stars, old and young, were crowded into this area including Jane’s beau, Richard Perry, and Sarah Paulson, plus Quincy Jones, who was busy looking for Petra Nemcova, and Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks. Rosaria Dawson and Gabrielle Union weren’t far away. Sitting on a couch in a section nearby, the fabulous oldies group– Mickey Rooney and Martin Landau. And they were hosting this year’s nominee June Squibb.
Praise god– Don Rickles and his wife were entertaining Don’s many fans. “Do you have any Oscar jokes? I asked Rickles. “If you’re paying me!” he said. I did get a photo.
Just at the entrance to this room I tripped over Bill Hader, who was reconnecting with Will Forte and Paul Rudd, with a big group of comics around them. Hader made a beeline to see Larry David. In time that group was joined by hit pop star Ed Sheeran, who’d just come over from playing at Elton John’s AIDS Foundation fundraiser. Only 23, Sheeran– who’d been hanging with Taylor Swift–is about to break out in a big way. His new single comes this week, with a new album in June.
From there I headed to the upper level party, where Bill Murray and a big group had come to occupy a huge round room with Art Deco-ish banquettes– a hold over from past VF parties. They store their sets! This is where a lot of guests were dining on In and Out Burgers. Here were lots of people carrying Oscars, from “Gravity” and “12 Years a Slave” crew to winner Lupita Nyong’o. Super model Karolina Kurklova and her husband Archie Drury were getting burgers. Amazing since it looks she only eats celery stalks!
And yes, chowing down, was our old pal Kerry Washington, a month away from giving birth, radiant and round.
The thing about Vanity Fair’s parties is that when they’re at their peak, you really think you’ve seen the magazine come alive. The rooms just seem to turn and churn with celebrities: Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan obviously didn’t sleep last night since they were still up at almost 2am and did their show live at 6am!
Spike Lee was busy being asked to take pictures with everyone. Michael B. Jordan scooted around. Seth Rogen was in deep conversations. I did get to meet Clint Eastwood’s squared jawed son Scott, and the great actor DB Sweeney hanging out with Sony Pictures Classics’ Tom Bernard and media mogul Jay Penske.
Sometimes the party seemed like a parade in a dream. Kate Hudson, more beautiful than ever, waved at me and mouthed Hello as she swept through the room.Who had time to stop? Maybe she was on her way to Lady Gaga, who was easily the hit of the night after also coming over from Sir Elton’s soiree.
Another great VF bash– maybe the biggest ever and the best. When we left at 2:30am, guests were still in force. Wow!
Oscars: 40 Mil People Watched the Show, And Not Much Else
Oscar ratings: 40 million viewers watched the show, and a huge number of them (a 12 rating) were between 18-49. But Hollywood should remember that a lot of those people were over 49, and went to see “Philomena” and “12 Years a Slave” and “Captain Phillips.”
The real winner is the Red Carpet Live show that preceded the Oscars. Those ratings increased every half hour leading up to the real show. Robin Roberts had been on my flight out to L.A. with a big crew of assistants and stylists. I guess it paid off!
The broadcast of the Oscars seemed good if a little flat inside the Kodak theater. All the musical numbers worked, and Ellen DeGeneres played it safe throughout. The weird things were John Travolta mispronouncing Idina Menzel’s name– and looking like a vampire. Why doesn’t he take that crazy wig off his head? Zac Efron had trouble reading the TelePrompter.
And then the whole issue of Will Smith getting to present Best Picture, not even wearing a tie. He had the biggest flop of the year with “After Earth.” Will and Jada in person are very very nice. But maybe Oprah or Sidney Poitier should have given Best Picture.
Oscars Bring Rewards for “12 Years,” “Gravity,” Darlene Love
There were some sweet victories at last night’s Academy Awards. “12 Years A Slave” picked up Best Picture, Adapted Screenplay and Supporting Actress. The movie made history too as first one ever directed by a black man to win Best Picture. Thank god, because it was the best. When the ceremony was over Harvey Weinstein told me: “The best movie did win.” And he meant it.
At the same time “Gravity” won Best Director for Alfonso Cuaron, plus Oscars for cinematography, editing, musical score, and so on. At the Governor’s Ball following the show, one table had about six Oscars mixed in with empty bottles of Champagne and designer water. David Heyman, who brought Cuaron to “Gravity” from directing the best Harry Potter movie, couldn’t believe his eyes.
Meantime Darlene Love got sweet revenge on Phil Spector. The Morgan Neville directed documentary “20 Feet from Stardom,” won Best Doc. Darlene took the stage and sang a cappella. It was a glorious moment in Oscar history. I can only hope convicted murderer Spector, who screwed Darlene and all his artists out of money they were owed, was watching from prison. If “12 Years a Slave” was about liberation, then so was “20 Feet from Stardom.” Hallelujah!
Meantime, the show was so oddly set up by category that the main floor bars were constantly crowded. Cate Blanchett and Sally Hawkins hung out there for a bit, as did director John Singleton, Julia Roberts, Dermot Mulroney and Anne Hathaway.
I ran into Lady Gaga at one point, who couldn’t have been sweeter or more low profile. When Lupita Nyong’o won her award, there was a huge cheer from all the bars. You could hear a pin drop as she gave her beautiful acceptance speech. Bette Midler also got a thunderous ovation after she finished singing “Wind Beneath My Wings.”
Later at the Governors Ball, Bette told me, “I’m glad I did it, but I’m glad it’s over. I hadn’t sung live in quite a while. I was very nervous.”
More from the Oscars shortly…