Report Card---"The Humans"

The final play I saw in New York was "The Humans".
It won the Tony Award for Best Play of the Year.
I don't get it.
The clip I saw on the Tony's looked pretty funny.
So I  assumed it was a comedy.
But that clip was the only funny scene in the play.
So okay, maybe it will be dramatic.
It made a very minor pass at drama.
It was what they started to call in the eighties, a dramedy.
It was neither fish nor fowl.
I have two plays that I think are Broadway worthy, and even Best Play worthy.
I have had little success getting either of them there.
In all fairness, I haven't tried very hard to get them there.
But a play like this that really raises the hackles.

On to the scoring:

Is it interesting?

Just barely.
C-.

Compelling even?

Never.
F.

Is it controversial?

It's too tame to be controversial.
F.

Is it a story worth telling?

I honestly don't think so.
D.

Is it good storytelling?

It has no arc.
D.

Is it well written?

The dialogue is better than the storytelling, but that's not saying much.
C-.

Is it well cast?  Well played?

There was good acting going on, and it's harder to be good when the play is not.
B.

Well staged?

Nothing impressed me.
C.

Did the director put such a personal stamp on it so that no one else could have made it?

No,
F.

How long does it take to establish the show's locale and time period?

Immediately.
A.

Is it too long? Too short?

It's very short, and as they approached the end there were story revelations that could have been elaborated interestingly, but they seemed more intent on getting done.
F.

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?

Yes, and no.
D.

Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?

Only in that I expected more .
D.

Do you think about it after you've seen it?

I left with the same chip on my shoulder that I came in with.
F.

Is it funny?

Only that one scene.
C+.

Was it  worth the two hundred bucks it cost to see it?

Not any bucks.
F.

Is it impressive?

Not at all.
C-.

Overall grade: C-.

There have been many plays that I have seen that deserved the Best Play Tony's that they received.
Usually they are by David Mamet.
So this isn't just sour grapes.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My books, "Show Runner" and it's sequel, "Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
They are all compilations of blog entries that have since been removed from the blog.
So this is the only way you can find them.
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne and Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, If and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperbacks, "Mark Rothman's Essays" and my new novel, "I'm Not Garbo" are not e-books.
But they are available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings lined up for those, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one of the paperbacks, personally autographed, contact me at macchus999@comcast.net

And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne and Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Recount..

There's all this talk about how Hillary's popular vote lead is approaching two million votes.
And how the leads in three swing states, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, which made the difference in the Electoral College, and gave us President-Elect Trump are so narrow and can be subject to a recount if acted on quickly.
The margins are that small.
Under a hundred thousand votes in each of these states.
The next eight years, and all those Supreme Court appointments are on the table.
Does it not behoove us to at least attempt to make things right?
The money's already been raised to start the process.
We break no laws by attempting this.
If we don't follow through here, there is only one person to blame: Hilary Clinton.
She would be the only one standing in the way of a fair outcome.
If, in fact, the outcome is unchanged by the recount, then we can all take our lumps and go home,
and that's what we do.
But there's too much at stake.
It's two fucking million votes.
Maybe she's afraid that if she condones it, being prosecuted will still be on the table.
If that's what it takes, she has to take one for the country.
She's stared down the FBI before, she can do it again.
Even then, worst case scenario is President Tim Kaine.
You can't let this many people down without even trying.
Former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell was interviewed by Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC.
His advice was unless there was overwhelming evidence that it would be overturned, let it rest.
This is the same Ed Rendell who was guaranteeing that Pennsylvania was in the bag for Clinton before the votes were counted.
This is who we should listen to??
If the shoe was on the other foot, and Trump had a popular vote lead that Hilary has, but lost those rust belt states like Hilary did, and Trump had the opportunity to attempt a recount in those states, class, what do we think he would do??
Do the recount!!
It's too fucking close!

P.S.  It's Saturday, and I just read that Hilary will participate in the recount.
However it turns out, bravo!!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------    My books, "Show Runner" and it's sequel, "Show Runner! Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
They are all compilations of blog entries that have since been removed from the blog.
So this is the only way you can find them.
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne and Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, If and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperbacks, "Mark Rothman's Essays" and my new novel, "I'm Not Garbo" are not e-books.
But they are available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings lined up for those, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one of the paperbacks, personally autographed, contact me at macchus999@comcast.net

And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne and Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Report Card---"Something Rotten!"

"Something Rotten!" was the third show I saw in New York.
It's a musical approaching the end of its New York run.
It will probably have some sort of national tour, so it's worth talking about.
That's probably the only reason it's worth talking about.
Just to caution you.
I was intrigued to see this show because of its opening number, which aired on last year's Tony Awards, which depicted, quite humorously the invention of the modern musical in the 1500's.
If I had only known that it was the only funny thing in the show, I could have saved the next two and a half hours of my life, and a nice piece of change.
It involves Shakespeare and his inferior contemporaries, who think they are on to something with their musical called "Omelette".
Yes, that's the level of the humor.
It is unrelenting farce that is painfully unfunny.

On to the scoring:

Is it interesting?

After the first scene, never.
C-.

Compelling even?

Never.
F.

Is it controversial?

It's very tame satire.
F.

Is it a story worth telling?

If they kept it funnier, perhaps.
B.

Is it good storytelling?

It's way, way complicated, to no point.
C.

Is it well written?

The music is undistinguished, as is everything else.
C-.

Is it well cast?  Well played?

Nobody impressed me.
C-.

Well staged?

Nothing impressed me.
C.

Did the director put such a personal stamp on it so that no one else could have made it?

No,
F.

How long does it take to establish the show's locale and time period?

Immediately.
A.

Is it too long? Too short?

It seemed like an eternity.
D.

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?

No, and no.
D.

Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?

Everything was obvious.
D.

Do you think about it after you've seen it?

Only about the mistake I'd made.
F.

Is it funny?

Only that first scene.
D.

Was it  worth the two hundred bucks it cost to see it?

Please.
F.

Is it impressive?

This might be  good time to indicate how amateurish it all seemed.
C-.


Overall grade: C-.

My shit detector just let me down on this one.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My books, "Show Runner" and it's sequel, "Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
They are all compilations of blog entries that have since been removed from the blog.
So this is the only way you can find them.
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne and Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, If and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperbacks, "Mark Rothman's Essays" and my new novel, "I'm Not Garbo" are not e-books.
But they are available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings lined up for those, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one of the paperbacks, personally autographed, contact me at macchus999@comcast.net

And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne and Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Report Card----"A Bronx Tale, The Musical".

On my second night in New York,  I saw "A Bronx Tale, The Musical".
Based on the movie that starred , Robert DeNiro and was written by Chazz Palminteri,
This musical version is written by Palminteri and co-directed by DeNiro.
The music is by Alan Menken, and the lyrics by Glenn Slater.
What I saw was the second preview.
It was overwhelmingly wonderful.
It was ready to open, but they're not opening until the beginning of December.
I don't know what they're waiting for.
I've seen just about every musical that I've wanted to.
This show is in the top five in my book.
It's kind of a cross between "Jersey Boys" and "West Side Story".
But all the music is original and wonderful.
And the storytelling is much better than "West Side Story".

On to the scoring:

Is it interesting?

Always.
A+.

Compelling even?

Never not
A+.

Is it controversial?

Only if it doesn't get anything but unanimous raves.
A+.

Is it a story worth telling?

Absolutely.
A+.

Is it good storytelling?

Nothing but.
A+.

Is it well written?

Brilliantly.
A+..

Is it well cast?  Well played?

I didn't know any of these actors.  They are all wonderful, and terrific singers.
A+.

Well staged?

It's a total grabber.
A+.

Did the director put such a personal stamp on it so that no one else could have made it?

No, but it really doesn't matter.
A.

How long does it take to establish the show's locale and time period?

Immediately.
A+.

Is it too long? Too short?

It could have gone on and on.
A+.

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?

Yes, and totally.
A+.

Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?

I was never ahead of it.
A+.

Do you think about it after you've seen it?

You can't not.
A+.

Is it funny?

Often, and it's always appropriate.
A+.

Was it  worth the two hundred bucks it cost to see it?

If it ever is, now's the time.
A+.

Is it impressive?

Astoundingly.
A+.

Overall grade: A+.

If you usually agree with me, don't stop now.  If you have to, hop on a plane, go to the Longacre theater, and pony up the dough.  Just a suggestion.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My books, "Show Runner" and it's sequel, "Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
They are all compilations of blog entries that have since been removed from the blog.
So this is the only way you can find them.
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne and Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, If and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperbacks, "Mark Rothman's Essays" and my new novel, "I'm Not Garbo" are not e-books.
But they are available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings lined up for those, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one of the paperbacks, personally autographed, contact me at macchus999@comcast.net

And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne and Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Rare Retraction.

About seven posts ago, I took a major crap on the TV series "Our Miss Brooks".
I thought the writing was horrible, even though I thoroughly enjoyed the performances.
But I stuck with it, and after about twenty episodes, the writing got much sharper, and it's been
consistently way above average.
I recommend it heartily.
I judged it too soon.
It is now a highlight of my day.
Particularly Gale Gordon's work.
He really hit his comedic stride in this show.
Far funnier than he ever was with Lucy.
And Eve Arden's timing is perfect.
If I discouraged you the first time, I'm sorry.
Mea Culpa.
But there are many episodes left, and it's definitely worth your time.
Next time, I'll once again do a Report Card on one of the plays I saw in New York.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My books, "Show Runner" and it's sequel, "Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
They are all compilations of blog entries that have since been removed from the blog.
So this is the only way you can find them.
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne and Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, If and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperbacks, "Mark Rothman's Essays" and my new novel, "I'm Not Garbo" are not e-books.
But they are available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings lined up for those, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one of the paperbacks, personally autographed, contact me at macchus999@comcast.net

And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne and Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Report Card---"The Front Page".

Well, I'm back from New York, and it was certainly not without adventure.
For the first play, it was 6:30 pm, and we had to make a 7:00 curtain.  No late seating.
We were four blocks away from the theater when my wife wheeling me down the street in my
wheelchair, hit a rut in the pavement, and a wheel broke off the wheelchair, and we had to
grab a cab.
The wheelchair immediately became garbage.
I had to resort to hobbling and Ubers for the rest of the trip.
But I adapted.  I got to the theater on time, and it did not affect my appreciation of the plays I saw.
"The Front Page" is a play that was written in the 1920's.
I had never seen it on stage before.
But I had seen it as a movie in its three incarnations:
The 1931 version with  Adolph Menjou and Pat O'Brien as Walter Burns and Hildy Johnson, which was pretty good, 
The 1941 "His Girl Friday" where Hildy Johnson was turned into a female, Rosalind Russell,
opposite Cary Grant as her boss, Walter Burns.
This was probably the best version.
And 1974's version with Jack Lemmon as Hildy and Walter Matthau as Walter Burns.
I liked this version better than most people who saw it.
The stage version had an all-star cast, top-billed by Nathan Lane as Walter Burns.  John Slattery was Hildy Johnson.
John Goodman was in it, Robert Morse, Holland Taylor, best known as Charlie Sheen's mother on "Two And A Half Men"....shtarkers all.
The problem, and it is a HUGE problem, is that Nathan does not appear until nearly the end of the second act of a three-act play.
This was not the case in any version of the movies.
Walter and Hildy shared equal screen time in all the movies.
The first two acts without him are pretty tedious.
John Goodman got entrance applause and was very good, but he didn't make much difference.
The only reason I went to see this was to see Nathan Lane.
After the end of the first act, there were audience walkouts.
At the end of the second act, there were more walkouts.
People felt ripped off.  I couldn't blame them.
But once Nathan hit the stage, he hit the ground running.
It immediately became explosively funny.
And it remained that way until the end.

On to the scoring:

Is it interesting?

Hardly at all.  Until Nathan entered.
C.

Compelling even?

No.
F.

Is it controversial?

With all the better versions of the script, why would they use the one that keeps Nathan offstage for almost the first two hours?
C-

Is it a story worth telling?

I always enjoyed it before.
B+.

Is it good storytelling?

Not this version.
C-.

Is it well written?

It was, once.  The third act seems well written, but that's because Nathan has every other line.
B.

Is it well cast?  Well played?

Only Nathan mattered. Check out "His Girl Friday".  Billy Gilbert played the part that Robert Morse plays.  It was pure brilliance.  Morse was merely adequate.

Well staged?

A little unfocused.
C.

Did the director put such a personal stamp on it so that no one else could have made it?

Not at all.
F.

How long does it take to establish the show's locale and time period?

Immediately.
A+.

Is it too long? Too short?

It was starting to feel endless, until Nathan showed up.
B-.

Is it believable? Do you care about the characters?

Only Nathan.
B.

Is it predictable? Does it surprise you?

Only that they used this script.
C-.

Do you think about it after you've seen it?

Often, and with much confusion.
C-.

Is it funny?

Not as much as it could have been.
B-.

Was it  worth the two hundred bucks it cost to see it?

Not at all.
F.

Is it impressive?

I can't say that it was.
C.

Overall grade: B.

I had much higher hopes.
But any time Nathan Lane does a play, I try to show up.  That won't change.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My books, "Show Runner" and it's sequel, "Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
They are all compilations of blog entries that have since been removed from the blog.
So this is the only way you can find them.
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne and Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, If and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperbacks, "Mark Rothman's Essays" and my new novel, "I'm Not Garbo" are not e-books.
But they are available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings lined up for those, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one of the paperbacks, personally autographed, contact me at macchus999@comcast.net

And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne and Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Broadway Bound.

I'm flying to New York later today.
It's the first time I've gotten on a plane since I had my stroke over a year-and-a-half ago.
I'm going to see four plays, and go to my favorite restaurants.
I'm not taking my computer, but when I get back on Monday, I will start doing Report Cards on the plays that I will have seen.
I will need a wheelchair to get around.
Fortunately, I have a wife who is willing to wheel me around the city, and theaters that will provide me with wheelchair access.
See you next week!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My books, "Show Runner" and it's sequel, "Show Runner Two", can be found at the Amazon Kindle Store.
Along with the newer ones, "The Man Is Dead", and "Report Cards".
They are all compilations of blog entries that have since been removed from the blog.
So this is the only way you can find them.
You can search by typing in my name, Cindy Williams, Laverne and Shirley, The Odd Couple, or Happy Days.
Check them out.
You don't need a Kindle machine to download them.
Just get the free app from Kindle, and they can be downloaded to an IPhone, IPad, or Blackberry.
The paperbacks, "Mark Rothman's Essays" and my new novel, "I'm Not Garbo" are not e-books.
But they are available for people without Kindle.
I have many readings and signings lined up for those, and the thing about Kindle is you can't sign one.
If you'd like one of the paperbacks, personally autographed, contact me at macchus999@comcast.net

And now, we've got my reading of my "Laverne and Shirley Movie" screenplay on YouTube.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------