IN THE WINGS - December 2008

Hi All,
This is my last blog for 2008. We have a new era coming in, Good-bye to the last few horrible years and with President-elect Barack Obama soon to be our new shining light and, hopefully, a much better 2009 to look forward to, this year goes out with an array of big pictures to end the year.
A Holiday assemblage of good films and many to contend for Oscar® consideration, they are: An outstanding Indian film, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE, a take-off on the British and our old TV show, WHO WANTS TO BE A MILLIONAIRE? starring Regis Philbin, remember? Here, an 18-year-old Mumbai orphan is going for the big jackpot toward winning millions on the game show. Young Dev Patel is excellent. It’s a very moving film depicting true life in India
. Another is MILK, starring Sean Penn (another statuette for him?) in his amazing portrayal of the true story of Harvey Milk, the gay activist of the ‘70s in San Francisco when he and the mayor are assassinated by a deranged opposing force. We realize that things haven’t changed that much with the defeat of our recent Prop. 8. Other winning actors are James Franco as Harvey’s longtime lover; young Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin as the assassin Dan White, and Victor Garber as Mayor Moscone.
Another amazing performance is given by Meryl Streep (when is she not amazing?) as the steely nun in John Patrick Shanley’s DOUBT. Takes place in a Bronx parochial school in the ‘60s. Philip Seymour Hoffman as the priest and Amy Adams both give sterling performances.
.
Director Ron Howard brings us FROST/NIXON in an electrifying battle between disgraced President Richard Nixon and TV personality, David Frost. Tony winner, Frank Langella and Michael Sheen reprise their theatrical roles in a dramatization of events surrounding the historic interview. Pretty powerful stuff here & so well done. Look for nominations for both at Oscar® time.
Haven’t seen this one yet but can’t wait to get my eyes on this gorgeous Down Under couple, Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, in a romance between an English aristocrat and a cattle-driver at the onset of World War II in AUSTRALIA and directed by another Aussie, Baz Luhrmann.
THE READER is set in post-war Germany; it’s about a man whose life has been influenced by an affair with an older woman. Kate Winslet and Ralph Fiennes star., but, Fiennes as a boy, is played by David Kross who is dynamite in his torrid love scenes with the older Winslet. VALKYRIE stars Tom Cruise as a wounded World War II German officer who joins the German resistance’s plot to kill Adolph Hitler.
Dustin Hoffman stars LAST CHANCE HARVEY as a middle-aged man at a low point in his life, who meets a bristly woman (Emma Thompson) in an airport, and is presented with an opportunity for a new life.
And lastly, Clint Eastwood directs and stars in GRAN TORINO, as an iron-willed veteran forced to confront his long-held prejudices in a changing world.
Continue to read my next post for L.A. stage news.

NOW, FOR THE LEGITIMATE STAGE FRONT: HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS…. What better place to be than in Los Angeles? Downtown at the Music Center on Grand Avenue a kaleidoscope of lights is creating a magical wonderland and the aroma of holiday foods greets us from the gourmet restaurants.
The sounds of happy applause coming from the Ahmanson as we await the arrival of MINSKY’S, one of Broadway’s racy, rollicking musicals set in the Prohibition Era of NYC. It arrives on January 21st.
SCHOOL OF NIGHT continues at the beautiful, newly remodeled Mark Taper Forum until the 17th and we’re awaiting the arrival of yet another Broadway musical, PIPPIN, but this time in collaboration with Deaf West Theatre who transform this classic musical into an exciting event featuring deaf and hard-of-hearing actors interwoven with music, dance and story-telling. Wonderful theatre.
A RECIPE FOR HAPPY HOLIDAY takes place on Wednesday, December 24th from 3 to 9:00pm on stage in the Music Center’s Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Doors open at 2:30 and parking in the garage is free as is admission. Just bring some canned goods and/or packaged goods to support L.A’s Food Bank. There will be 1200 performers and 7 celebrity chefs giving out recipes and their lovely foods. Six hours of music and dance in the largest multicultural Holiday Show with Highlights from THE NUTCRACKER and excerpts from the South Bay Ballet. Jazz, folk, Mariachi, Rock, Klezmer, you name it, all these live musicians to celebrate Christmas, Chanukah and all the other Holidays falling at this time. You can also see this 6 hours live spectacular show live on KCET.
Watta Show!
THE PASADENA PLAYHOUSE has a great holiday show, Victor Herbert’s BABES IN TOYLAND. This musical holiday fantasy is a definite “must see.”
More Holiday fare, CHRISTMAS PUDDING is at Theatre 40 on Beverly Hills High School campus. Features stories and poems by famous writers interlaced with traditional carols.
IT’S A STEVIE WONDERFUL LIFE at the Falcon in Burbank, bringing back Frank Capra’s holiday classic movie set to Stevie Wonders music. And, the Actors’ Gang at the Ivy Substation in Culver City has AaH! SCROOGE MUST DIE! It’s a rambunctious & raunchy retelling of the Dickens classic. This one is for adults, rated NC-17 so leave the kids at home to watch TV.
Guess what’s returning? THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, that’s what. Coming to the Pantages in January for only 5 weeks – so get your tickets NOW!
Haven’t seen much live theatre this season but what I did see was pretty outstanding. August Wilson’s first play, GEM OF THE OCEAN, ninth in his ten-play cycle, at the Fountain was awesome, the performances, the set, everything – and it’s extended, by popular demand, until February.
Bertolt Brecht’s A MAN’S A MAN is pure unabashed theatricality and ably directed by boss man, Ron Sossi.

FATAMORGANA is a lovely coming –of- age comedy set in 1924. Should be seen at the Pacific Resident Theatre in Venice. A MAJORITY OF ONE is a charming romantic comedy at the Pico Playhouse. It’s good to see Paula Prentiss again. We also saw SHOCK THERAPY at the Lillian in Hollywood. A very funny comedy. A party taking place at the home of a psychiatrist and his dysfunctional family.
That’s it for now. Wishing all of you a Happy Holiday Season and all good happenings for a wonderful 2009. See ya then!