for your VINformation

Was it Miller’s words
or the talent on stage who
gave us a great View?

Harper as Bankhead;
funny, moving and campy -
a fearless triumph.

Dreams, indeed, come true,
all you have to do is “shine” -
Billy showed me that.

I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to see the ten-time, Tony Award winning, musical Billy Elliot - I guess, I never felt it was a must see.  It’s not like it’s closing anytime soon and while I’m sure the Original Cast was flawless – the replacement cast I saw, were phenomenal.

In fact, I was afeared I’d have the same disappointing experience I had when seeing The Producers. I saw it after Lane & Brodrick left and came back; it was so hard to get tickets and it was one of my favorite movies and two of my favorite performers and Mel-freaking-Brooks for crying out loud how could I not love it? I did not love it. I did not love it a lot.

Luckily, the same thing did not happen with Billy.

I have no words that describe exactly how the show made me feel, but if I had to, I would saw it made me feel Yellow. It made me want to shine. It made me think about the fact one has to be true to oneself and use the gifts god gave you.

One of the many highlights of evening was losing my hat:

During intermission, Tom 2I’s 2E’s, were heading outside for a smoke when I noticed my hat was missing.

“I’ll meet you outside, give me a minute to look around for my hat.” I said.

After bothering people for about five minutes, I grabbed my coat and bee-lined it the nearest exit, a little pissed and a little upset. I stepped out the door onto 46th street, looking for Tom – it was the closest exit to our seats who knew the lazy bastard’d go all the way out to 45th? Anyway…

With lighter in hand, I’m about to ignite my fag when I notice a striking older woman with long white hair pulled tightly into a pony tail bringing a cigarette to her lips without benefit of flame.

“Have you a light?” She asked.

“Of course I do, Vanessa Redgrave! I’m a big fan.” I replied as I flicked my Bic.

“Are you enjoying the show? It’s quite historically accurate, you know. I was there.”

“I’m enjoying it very much.”

“Thank you for lighting my cigarette.”

“You’re welcome. I’m a big fan…”

“Aren’t you a dear?” She smiled and turned back to her companion, I stepped away to give them their space and finished mine.

I went back inside and looked around a little more for my hat but still couldn’t find it before the show started back up, but, I knew the theatre fairies didn’t carry it off so surely, it’d turn up eventually.

Sparse, deconstructed. A ragtime history class – slice of a lifetime.

An amazing, pared-down production of a musical whose flaw has been it’s over-production. I don’t know how long this show will last, it certainly has a limited appeal, so everyone, if you get the chance – see this show!

My only criticism – that horrid graphic!

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Simon in the Mezz? Watching him – watching his life. There was a show?

I do love Brighton Beach Memoirs, I’ve been a fan of Neil Simon forever – watching him watching his own life unfold on the stage was almost as good as the show…

The performances were great, Laurie Metcalf and Jessica Hecht were wonderful – this simple, small comedy should be seen.

An original – on the Broadway even. Wow! Music? Great. Book? Not.

Set in the turbulent south in the 1950s, Memphis is the story of Huey Calhoun, a white radio DJ whose love of good music transcends race lines and airwaves. Thanks in part to his passionate persistence, “race” music reaches the center of the radio dial, quickly exploding throughout mainstream America. But when Huey falls for a beautiful black singer he has set on the path to stardom, whether the world is really ready for this music, and their love, is put to the test

I’ll be first in line – to see Leia live, on the Broadway. Book a blast!

Again, "Best Picture" Oscar™® won’t go to the best movie of the year!

Serious subject – informed and entertained.  New. Original. WOW!

This show blew me away!

Alice Ripley is amazing – she more then deserved that TONY!

In fact, all the performances were awesome, the packed theatre rose to it’s feet in one fluid moment when the cast took their first bow. The strength of the score with a perfectly crafted book and the strong convictions of the six member cast conspired to give the audience an electric evening.

I need to own the cd!

Angie wowed; Jane – great!
Rupert charmed; Christine, well, blah…
Laughs for the masses.

Angela is certainly going to win her fifth Tony for this performance. She was just adorable. She may’ve been getting her line piped in through earpieces hidden by her Mrs. Lovett buns but the reactions and characterizations were pure, genuine genius; her timing, spot on.

I don’t wait at the stage door to get anyone’s autograph, it’s just not me.

Vinnie at the stage door – it’s only a matter of time until some chubby gay waits for me!

But the other day I made an exception to that rule; armed with an original Mame Playbill from 1966, I rushed from my seat at the Shubert Theatre to the stage door in a matter of seconds to wait in the drizzle for the one and only, Miss Angela Lansbury.

Now, I wasn’t going to be rude to Jane Atkinson or Rupert Everett, I accepted their autographs on my Blithe Spirit Playbill, BUT it was Angela I wanted – she’s what? 160 years old? Who cares if she’s being feed her lines her’s was near flawless performance.

Vinnie and Jane Atkinson – she was a sweetheart!

The timing was a little off, but Rupert Everett came to me first.

After about a half hour of waiting and chatting with the other woman waiting – median age: 70 – the doorman came out and said Angie had left the building. He had a stack of about 15 signed playbills and gave the first one to me, as I walked away looking at the shaky signature of Broadway royalty I heard him say, "No grabbing. Ok, ok, that’s it! No more…"

On a side note, who the heck does Christine Ebersole think she is, sneaking out the other door?

I Pledge to pick-up,
pet hair perfectly each stroke.
Cats, start your shedding!

I used it on my chofa and living room pillows, this $7.99 little gadget picked up so much cat hair I could create a third cat!

Recommended for all pet owners!

Doing what you love -
without motives brings joy
and inspires those lost.

I think everyone should watch the new Fox show, Glee when it returns in the fall; I laughed, I cried, I’m going to see it twice more!

Hitchcock gone funny -
with correct amount of dread.
Hitch would be proud!

And finally, a show on Broadway with an actor who looks like me in a role I myself could play. I know they just cast the first national tour, but I have a feeling this show will be done all over the country, I just need to keep my eyes open for the audition notices!

Dolly does Broadway -
results – mixed; leaning towards good.
I’d see it again.

Face melting? – check! The
power ballads? – check! The crowd?
Trailer Park Trash + beer  – check!