That Was the Week That Was

This was an interesting week. Monday I interviewed the cast of [title of show] for an upcoming video feature on Back Stage.com. I went straight from there to a critics' preview of A Tale of Two Cities at the Hirschfeld. In my review, I called it a retread of Les Miz. The next night I saw both shows parodied in Forbidden Broadway Goes to Rehab. This final edition of Gerard Alessandrini's satirical revue is as fun and nasty as ever. The audience at Forbidden Broadway was very young and exuberent. It was very refreshing after seeing so many mature crowds. This is not to imply that I am ageist or have anything against older people (I'm practically one myself; many youngsters would probably consider me ancient). It's just weird to be nearly 50 and be the youngest one in the audience. It was great to be one of the older ones, meaning that there is hope that theatre will survive if youngsters are attending.

I got home in time to catch the last half-hour of The Rachel Zoe Project. Disaster strikes when all the dresses for Debra Messing's fitting for her SAG Awards gown are stuck by Fed Ex in Tennessee. I have a love-hate relationship with this show. It's glamorous and fun, but who wants to watch people yelling at each other at work--even if it is over an Oscar De La Renta gown. Wednesday was The Tempest with Mandy Patinkin at CSC. Patinkin had a fine intensity as Prospero, but he poured it on so heavily it became too much. Got home to find my damn TiVo did not record Project Runway. Damn! Now I have to wait till the 5,000th rerun to catch up with it. You think I watch too much Bravo?

(Forbidden Broadway photo by Carol Rosegg)

--David Sheward