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Just a few thoughts on some recent, still-playing, or upcoming events:
CHAMPIONS ON ICE PREVIEW
If it’s April, the Champions On Ice tour must be starting. Yay! I can’t wait. This is my favorite ice show, and consists of mainly true champions; of Olympics, World’s, and Nationals. The other three are specialty acts, that actually bring down the house. There’s Irina Grigorian, who’s a girl who hula hoops on ice, big time, Dan Hollander, the clown of the ice with some top-notch moves, and Vladimir Besedin and Oleksiy Polishchuk, the most amazing acrobats you’ll ever see. Funny and charming, too.
Since Evgeni Plushenko and Shizuka Arakawa, the reigning Olympic Champions, and former World Champion, Irina Slutskaya weren’t on the competitive scene this year, this will be America’s only chance to see them since the last tour. I can’t wait for that! So much so that I’m trying my best to catch up with them on the east coast before they come to Los Angeles. I’ll let you know how it goes. Both my quest to see the show and how it was. Check this column in about a month for that info.
TAPER AND AHMANSON
“Distraction” opened at the Taper, as the next-to-last production before the big renovation, starting in July. I’m praying for bigger seats and extra legroom as part of the package. Actually, that’s all I don’t like about the Taper. So, I hope they leave the rest of it alone.
The audience was stellar, the play, not so much. Tom Hanks, who looked thinner than he has in a while, was there with Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw. They were a few rows in front of me, and I was two behind Rob Reiner. Guess I was in the “celebrity section.” Who knew?? There appeared to be a lot of actors at the opening.
The rest of the house seemed to really enjoy the play, but I just couldn’t get behind a comedy about a kid with ADD. What’s next? “Snake Pit: The Musical???”
I unfortunately had to miss the Ahmanson’s “Twelve Angry Men,” or as I like to call it, “Mr. X and Eleven of his Krump Dancin’ Buddies.”
SHANI RIGSBEE
I paid a visit to the Foundation Room at House of Blues for Shani Rigsbee’s record release party. It was packed, and I’m claustrophobic, so regrettably I didn’t get to stay for her performance, which was especially sad to me since I had just spent time in the Green Room with Shani and her equally lovely parents. But I’m familiar with some of her compositions, and I bet you are, too. She contributed to the soundtrack for the recent film “House of Sand and Fog,” just to give you a taste. So, here’s a good-looking and talented girl for you males who are sick of reading what I write about cute waiters.
NOBLESSE OBLIGE
“Noblesse Oblige” is an equity waiver show playing at the Stages Theatre Center in Hollywood, which is a new theater to me. I loved the venue itself, with a big old lobby that doubled as a party room on opening night. Writer/director Dave Kalstein made good use of the surprisingly deep stage. That couldn’t have been an easy task.
MAGIC BULLET
As I was writing this column, the bell just rang, and it was a package for ME! I was so excited because they’re always for Mr. X. I was even happier when I saw it was a Magic Bullet, a device that’s billed as “the world’s best blender.” Even though it’s not often that I cook, per se, I love whipping up the odd concoction. Like the perfume and soap deluxe that almost sent my brother to the hospital when we were little. I’ve improved my skills since then, I hope, and can’t wait to try it out.
And lastly, I wish everyone a very Happy Passover and Hoppin’ Easter. |
