Thoughts Day by Day

Last night I saw "Don't Dress For Dinner" at Theatre Three in Port Jefferson.  The $18.00 senior citizen discount ticket was worth every penny.  This is a typical French bedroom farce: Mistaken identifies, deceit, bribery, pratfalls, cheating husbands, cheating wives, mistresses and lovers.  But even though the plot line has been done repeatedly in every farce this play was full of laughs and surprises throughout.  The cast was excellent.  In particular James Schultz, whom I have seen now in several Theatre Three productions.  I am always impressed by his comic timing and how he dissolves into his character.  He is not an intentional scene stealer.  It is simply that he is heads and shoulders more talented than the rest of a very good cast.  A standout.  To quote the Times Beacon Record, "James D. Schultz ... In one word, outstanding. Every line he delivers, every movement he makes, every facial expression is so on point that the man t...

How did I miss this musical when Hugh Jackman played Peter Allen on Broadway?   It is one of the best 'jukebox musicals' I've seen.   Great songs from Peter Allen and a compelling story about a great talent who struggled to reach stardom and died of AIDS just as he grabbed the golden ring.  I feel this musical's book is every bit as strong as that of "Jersey Boys".  Theatre Three in Port Jefferson created a great production.  I cannot imagine it was any better on Broadway except that this production lacks Hugh Jackman.  Steve McCoy, a regular at Theatre Three, played Peter Allen. To his credit he is a great singer and an energetic, credible actor.  But despite the makeup and wig it is obvious he is about 20 years too old for this part and a bit too overweight.  Throughout the performance he kept adjusting the toupee he was wearing to make himself look younger - and it was quite annoying.  The rest of the cast was perfectly chosen ...

I haven't blogged in a long time.  But I am inspired to write about a refreshingly light and amusing romantic comedy with a New York Jewish theme I saw last night. Crossing Delancey by Susan Sandler was presented by Theatre Three in Port Jefferson. This is a play about Isabelle, a young Jewish woman who works in an Upper East Side bookstore and who has a big crush on a writer named Tyler.  Tyler often stops by the bookstore to check on how his books are selling.  But the self-absorbed and egotistical Tyler hardly notices Isabelle and usually cannot even remember her name. Regardless Isabelle is enraptured with Tyler and keeps hoping they can begin a more personal relationship.  Meanwhile Isabelle's Bubbie (Jewish grandmother), who lives in the Lower East Side, hires a local matchmaker to find a husband for Isabelle - against Isabelle's wishes. Hannah, the meddlesome matchmaker, selects Sam the local pick...