A recent performance of “The Lover” by the great playwright Harold Pinter was moving in both its performance, and later with the thoughts of the two stars.
Both Brandon Walker and Erin Cronican excelled in performing the tricky Pinter tale of a married couple trying to “spice up” their marriage in 1964 Windsor, England. Walker, who is the founding artistic director for the Seeing Place, a new creative theater group, shows his versatility and excellent voice quality in playing the roles of Richard and Danny. Playing opposite Walker, Ms. Cronican, also the managing director of The Seeing Place, gives a fine performance as the stay home wife, who has a lover. The story is both more complicated and intriguing than that.
Walker is very committed to “The Seeing Place” and talks about theories suggesting we as a society are becoming desensitized. Such theories talk of us not being able to appreciate art. In both his performance and in his commitment, Brandon Walker is helping us appreciate the great art. In bringing us work such as Pinter’s “The Lover,” Walker and company are steering us back in the right direction.
Both “The Lover” and “Danny and the Deep Blue Sea” by another fine playwright, John Patrick Shanley are being performed at The Seeing Place at ATA’s Sargent Theater. The location is 314 West 54th Street.
It is noteworthy that 3 anniversaries all of sad events in the next month or so will be “exact” anniversaries. That is to say on the same day of the week as they occurred.
It was exactly 33 years ago that one of the great clutch hitters of modern times, Thurman Munson died in a plane crash. It was Thursday August 2, 1979 and now August 2nd some 33 years later falls on a Thursday.
Speaking of plane crashes, the events of Tuesday September 11th, 2001 will come into sharper focus this year, perhaps, as September 11th falls on a Tuesday for the 2nd time since 2001.
Finally in our trio of “exact” and sad anniversaries this Sunday August 5th is the 50th anniversary of the death of screen icon Marilyn Monroe. Ms. Monroe died in the early hours of Sunday August 5, 1962.
A year before Marilyn Monroe’s death, a pair of Yankees known as the M and M boys, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris combined to hit 115 home runs. A year later, “M.M.” was dead and now exact anniversaries of the passing of two M’s, Marilyn Monroe and Mr. Munson, (both died in their 30’s) is noted. The world is not what it should be and who knows what will happen next? Yet thinking of these 2 people and those lost on September 11, 2001, one needs to appreciate time on this angst ridden planet and also try to help and care for others. More doing, helping, and appreciation of what one has and that will yield less angst.
In their 51st and last season in the National League, the Houston Astros, (they are moving to the American League starting in 2013) after a decent start went into a horrible free fall. They lost an incredible 25 of 27 games at one point, in what has to be one of the worst records ever for that span of games.
Thus it is safe to say that in 51 years of National League play, the Astros, nee the Colt .45’s, will have but one pennant and no World Series wins. That is not to say they were completely without success. They were involved in 4 NLCS, going (1-3) and losing in two of the best LCS ever played. The other loss was in 7 games. Their 1980 NLCS vs the Philadelphia Phillies was not so arguably the best LCS ever contested. It was a best of 5 series which the Phils took with an (8-7) 10 inning win in the decisive 5th game. Games (2-5) of that epic LCS went into extra innings. The Phillies, having a surprising awful 2012 season, and with just 2 World Series wins in their far longer history, went on to win their first World Series after surviving vs the Astros in 1980.
The other epic LCS involving the Astros resulted in the New York Mets (the Mets, the Astros/Colt 45’s fellow 1962 expansion team, recently lost 14 of 16 games and very likely are out of contention for post season play after a very good first half of the season) winning a series clinching 16 inning, 6th game which is considered one of baseball’s all time great games.
So on to the American League in 2013 and here is remembering Jimmy “The Toy Cannon” Wynn, Rusty Staub, Mike Scott, Jose Cruz and others. Some great National League memories regarding the Astros from Mike Scott’s division clinching no hitter in 1986 to Nolan Ryan’s record breaking 5th no hitter in 1981. Right now “Houston we have a problem” but new league, new hope in a new year but alas that is next year regarding the Astros.
A tremendous interview of Ernest Borgnine, conducted by Robert Osborne a few years back served as a great remembrance of Mr. Borgnine, who passed away recently at the age of 95. The interview was part of the Turner Classic Movies series, “Private Screenings.”
Over the course of the interview, I learned about Borgnine and his classy ways. He said almost all good things about his fellow actors and gave us insight into his dinner scene with Esther Minciotti, who played his mother in Marty. Mr. Borgnine won the Academy Award for Marty in 1955. Ten years later, Lee Marvin, talked about fondly by Borgnine in “Private Screenings” as one who often played around during Borgnine scenes, won the Best actor award for Cat Ballou. It is noteworthy that in an early scene in the classic film, “The Dirty Dozen,” Academy Award winners Borgnine, Marvin and George Kennedy (who won as supporting actor for “Cool Hand Luke”) are together sitting at a table.
Only regarding Ethel Merman, a great singer and the third of Borgnine’s 5 wives, was anything remotely negative stated by Mr.Borgnine. Even that was a feeling that Ms.Merman was jealous of Borgnine’s fame. Their marriage lasted 38 days.
Ernie was truly himself by trying to help others by giving them some happiness. He learned that from his mother and perspective from a man selling chestnuts on 10th Avenue in Manhattan when Borgnine could only smell but not afford to taste the chestnuts. However, getting close to the cart to take in the smell, he noticed writing affixed to the cart. It read “I am not trying to set the world on fire, I am just trying to keep my nuts warm.” Keeping that perspective, Borgnine gave us many warm memories and great performances in what was a marvelous career and life.
Tonight is opening night for the Olympics, but this afternoon I was watching a vintage game on the NHL Network, and I offer some perspective, with the 20/20 vision of hindsight. Two great hockey teams, one at the end of its championship run and the other at the beginning of their title glory, met in the Stanley Cup Finals in 1984. The Edmonton Oilers, who would win 4 Cup Titles in 5 seasons, won the series in 5 games vs the New York Islanders, who had won 4 straight Cup Titles.
The Islanders’ slogan that year was “The Drive for Five.” The Oilers had a raucous crowd for their clinching win on a Saturday night in game 5 of the 1984 finals. One banner read “The Drive for Five 1988.” It was meant as not only no 5th straight title for the Isles but that Edmonton would go for its 5th straight title in 1988, quite a lofty expectation. As it turned out, the Oilers won 4 Cups in 5 seasons including one in 1988.
Only the Montreal Canadiens from 1956-1960 won 5 straight Stanley Cups. The Islanders(1980-1983) and Montreal Canadiens (1976-1979) won 4 straight Cup titles. As cited, the Oilers won 4 titles in 5 seasons and went on to win 5 in 7 seasons. All of these teams were great and their “eras” of greatness are virtually unmatched in all major team sports.
Noteworthy is that the Islanders have not won the title since 1983, the Oilers not since 1990 and even the glory team of the NHL, The Montreal Canadiens, have not won the title since 1993.
The new play ” Lady and the Champ” about former middleweight champion Jake LaMotta and his lady, Denise Baker, was really well done and informative. The music, and an interview with LaMotta, conducted very well by boxing historian Carl Shimkin, alternate, and keep the play going at a nice pace. The singing of Patrick Jude and Bonnie Lee Sanders who co wrote the play along with Ms. Baker is also a treat. Musical direction is in the able hands of Joel Diamond.
LaMotta is 90 years old but still sharp. He gives good, informative, and often humorous answers. He also dances with Ms. Baker, who is a talented, attractive woman, and “shadow boxes” in addition to answering Shimkin’s questions. Jake rightfully calls Ray Robinson, known as “Sugar Ray” Robinson, the greatest pound for pound fighter ever. He recalls that Marcel Cerdan, from whom LaMotta won the middleweight title, died in a plane before their rematch. Having met both Cerdan and his lover, the great singer Edith Piaf, LaMotta called them both “nice people.”
Living 90 years plus and still going, LaMotta has had many ups and downs. Sadly, his two sons are gone and that plus Denise losing her parents brought the two together. Comforting, and then love. They are good together in real life and in this most enjoyable play. It is at Richmond Shepard Theatre. Three performances remain: at seven thirty on July 27th and 28th and at 3 P.M. on Sunday, July 29th.
The movie, “The”Babe,” about the great Babe Ruth, which starred John Goodman, had two major spelling errors in its credits. Two of the Babe’s teammates, both close to being great players, had their names spelled incorrectly. The credits read Meusal when it is Meusel, for outfielder Bob Meusel and Lezzari when it is Lazzeri for Hall of Famer Tony Lazzeri.
In the movie “J.F.K.,” Kevin Costner played Louisiana District Attorney Jim Garrison, a man who spent a great deal of his life stating and trying to prove that Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963. Coincidentally, Costner’s character Crash Davis in “Bull Durham,” feels the opposite. In telling Susan Sarandon’s character (Anne Savoy) about himself, he states his strong like for long wet kisses and that Oswald acted alone.
Babe Ruth and Tony Lazzeri
Babe Ruth and Bob Meusel
History repeated itself in the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies, played on July 18th. The game tying play in this regular season tilt evoked memories of the far more important, pivotal 3rd game of the 1977 National League Championship Series.
In both the regular season game and the playoff game, the Dodgers tied a game they would eventually win, when their batter was called safe, barely beating a Phillies shortstop’s throw at first base. Both times the Dodgers were down to their final out. Most incredible, 35 years apart, Davey Lopes was in close proximity on both plays.
Lopes hit the ball in the 1977 playoff and just beat shortstop Larry Bowa’s throw to tie the game. Then in the regular season game, Lopes was the Dodgers first base coach witnessing Matt Kemp just beating shortstop Jimmy Rollins’ throw to tie the game.
Celeste Holm, who died at the age of 95, was a true great both on stage and in film. Her “away from the ball” roles as Karen in “All About Eve” and Anne Dettrey in “Gentleman’s Agreement,” for which she won the Academy Award in 1947, stand as superb testimony to the importance of the supporting player. I used the sports term “away from the ball” because in sports, the arts, and in life–support, team effort and to stretch it, care for others, can manifest in greatness and at least good.
I met Ms. Holm at an event in 1988 when with new found access to such events and a new, first significant other (ie girlfriend, others always had them not me) life was moving rather fast. Yet I knew I was in the presence of greatness and I treasure my picture with Celeste Holm. Her outfit with a beautiful mix of stylish colors was superb. It is too bad we can not “bottle” not only her classy ways but the free flowing way in which she communicated. Please listen to her recreating her “hog call” as a way of explaining her getting a first big role in “Oklahoma.” It was part of her obituary as reported by National Public Radio. Totally uninhibited, she does a long, loud one. “Brass” and class, Celeste Holm had both in great abundance.
On my last cable show in the now far away year 2000, Celeste Holm talked to me via the telephone. She talked of her time with Bette Davis while filming “All About Eve” and how happy she was when the great Moss Hart told her she would be Anne Dettrey in “Gentleman’s Agreement.”
When Celeste and her grandmother went to Radio City Music Hall in her youth, they both noticed and spoke to a dashing usher, who wanted to be an actor. His name was Gregory Peck and Ms.Holm talked of the enormity of both she and Mr. Peck fulfilling their dreams and how much playing/acting with him in “Gentleman’s Agreement” meant to her. While my dreams have not come true, my glass is closer to half full because I did meet and interview Celeste Holm. So many greats are gone, so few left. We have their art and thank goodness for that. The likes of Celeste Holm, a classy, talented, storytelling woman do not come along very often. Maybe Mr. Peck will “usher” you into the better place.
It was great going to see Ernest Hemingway’s classic, “A Farewell to Arms” come alive on the big screen. Gary Cooper, Helen Hayes and Adolf Menjou are the stars in the story of doomed love between Cooper’s Henry, an ambulance driver in World War 1, and nurse Cathy Barkley (Patty Duke’s Cathy “saw” Barkley Square, sorry a tangential moment). When Hayes’ Cathy tries to encourage Henry she says he will return home and become an architect. Perhaps he did, and certainly Gary Cooper played the consummate architect in “The Fountainhead” based on the Ayn Rand novel.
One can dream, connect, and walk out, albeit into tremendous heat, after time spent at the movies. Both Cooper and Hemingway died in 1961. That year Roger Maris broke Babe Ruth’s single season home run record. Cooper played the great Ruth’s immortal teammate, Lou Gehrig in the movie “Pride of the Yankees.” Surely, avoiding the heat and watching Cooper, Hayes and Menjou on the big screen in a classic, I felt as though I hit at least a triple and that is a darn good feeling.
Andy B Sports 