One hundred posts

This is my 100th post since I started Gratuitous Violins on Sept. 30, 2007. The number 100 is considered a milestone in the school year, in Congress and in presidential administrations, so why not in blogging?

When I check my statcounter, I'm amazed to see the places readers have come from - all over the United States and all over the world. Unfortunately, I haven't always been able to answer the question that brought them to my blog. So, to mark my 100th post, I'll try to answer some of them.

Which Broadway plays have stage doors?
I think they all do. The actors have to leave the theater somehow. Although sometimes they have ways of slipping out unnoticed. I never did see Frank Langella or Michael Sheen after Frost/Nixon. Sometimes the stage door is right next to the theater entrance, other times, it's around the corner in the back. If you're unsure, ask an usher, or just look for the metal barricade and a crowd of people clutching Playbills and Sharpies.

Broadway meeting the cast stage doors
If you have the time, you can and should go to the stage door after the show. Most of the actors will stop and sign autographs, pose for pictures and chat with you for a minute as you express your admiration for their performance.

Easy to meet David Hyde Pierce at the stage door?
Yes, it's very easy. I met him in April after a Friday night performance. He was very nice, signing my autograph and posing for a picture. I told him that Curtains was my first Broadway musical, and the previous evening, I'd seen my first Broadway play. He seemed genuinely interested and talked to me for a few minutes about the experience. In fact, the entire cast of Curtains is friendly and gracious and I loved the show. So definitely stop by, and tell David Hyde Pierce I said hello. He'll be in the show through Aug. 31.

Are jacket and tie required for going to the theatre in New York?
No, a jacket and tie are not required to see a show on Broadway. Sure, some people will be dressed up, especially if it's a weeknight and they've come from work. But generally, it's pretty casual. A nice shirt and pants are fine. You can wear whatever you want - some people come in jeans, sneakers, t-shirt. It doesn't matter. Nowadays, people dress for the theater pretty much like they dress for a movie. Maybe that's good, maybe that's bad, I don't know. But that's the way it is.

Swordfighting in Cyrano
Yes, there was swordfighting in Cyrano. It was my first time seeing swordfighting on stage, and it was great. Unfortunately, the show, with Kevin Kline and Jennifer Garner, has closed. But don't despair: it was taped for airing on the PBS series Great Performances. There's no air date yet.

Lower East Side NYC dangerous
Hmmm, I don't know. I do know that crime is way, way down in New York City and I felt very safe and comfortable everywhere I went in Manhattan. As always, avoid unfamiliar, deserted places, especially at night, and especially if you're alone. But generally, the places where tourists venture in New York are safe, the subway is fine, and the people are incredibly friendly and helpful. As in any big city, or small town for that matter, just use common sense and keep your wits about you. So go, and have a great time.

Theme from Ice Castles
I guess this 1978 movie has lots of fans, because I've gotten a number of searches about it, including one for "hot sexy Lynn-Holly Johnson," who plays teenage figure skater Alexis Winston. Someone else wanted to know how the movie ends, but I don't want to give it away for anyone who hasn't seen it yet. The theme song is "Through the Eyes of Love." It was written by Carole Bayer Sager and Marvin Hamlisch, and garnered an Oscar nomination for Best Song. In the movie, it's sung by Melissa Manchester.

The 25h Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and Vanessa Ray
Vanessa Ray plays Olive Ostrovsky in the touring production, which I saw in November. I loved the show, and I thought she was great as the shy and vulnerable Olive, waiting in vain for her father to come watch her at the spelling bee. Here's a short video of Ray talking about the role, and here's an interview.

Who invented the violin?
No one knows for sure. The violin owes its origins to many instruments, dating back to the ancient lyre. The violin emerged in its present form in northern Italy in the 16th century. According to this site, some theories hold that it could have been invented around 1520 A.D., since that was when the first painting including a violin was created, Madonna of the Orange Trees by Gaudenzio Ferrari.

Happy birthday on the violin?
I'm not sure about this one, since I don't actually play the violin, or any other musical instrument for that matter. But this might help. Click on the "play" button if you want to hear how it sounds.

Jerusalem food
Since so many Israelis trace their roots back to Middle Eastern countries, the food is much more kubbe, and not so much knishes. When I lived in Israel 10 years ago, it was hard to find a good bagel. If you want to learn more, Joan Nathan has written some great cookbooks on Jewish and Israeli food, including The Flavor of Jerusalem and The Foods of Israel Today. If you're planning a trip, here's a list of restaurants to check out. I'm not sure if it's there anymore, but one place I liked is The Yemenite Step.

Shalom Chaver
This is the phrase that former President Bill Clinton memorably uttered to eulogize Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was assassinated in 1995. It's Hebrew for "goodbye friend." The phrase, and variations, such as "friend, you are missed," and "friend, I remember," became popular ways for Israelis to remember Rabin. It's also the name of CD from a memorial concert held in Rabin's memory in Jerusalem and featuring many well-known Israeli musicians.

Some of the questions stumped me: sentimental ideas for a 40th birthday party, (I can't think of any off the top of my head) using the musical Wicked in wedding speeches, (I guess it's ok. My suggestion would be to check out the "For Good" lyrics) and the length of Debra Monk's contract in Curtains. (I have no idea).

However you found my blog, thanks for stopping by. Hopefully, the first 100 posts are only the beginning.

The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee

I think there's a rule that any review of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" must include at least one spelled-out word. So here's mine: i-r-r-e-s-i-s-t-i-b-l-e. I caught up with the hit Broadway show on tour this weekend, and I was hooked from the first word, strabismus, which I'm proud to say I knew how to spell, to the last, which of course I cannot divulge. (I'm not even sure I could have spelled it).

This is such a sweet musical that treats the joy and pain of adolescence with humor and warmth and sensitivity. Anyone who's ever been a kid can relate to it. I mean, c'mon, who hasn't been in a spelling bee? I can vaguely remember mine from elementary school. (I was a very good speller, although nowhere near championship material. I tend to crack under pressure).

The cast, most of whom appear to be in their 20s, does a great job of portraying a group of gawky, quirky preteens and making them truly memorable characters. They are all excellent and I think could easily be performing the show on Broadway: Katie Boren, Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Justin Keyes, Vanessa Ray, Eric Roediger and Dana Steingold. (Concidentally, Keenan-Bolger, who plays Leaf Coneybear in the tour, is the brother of Celia Keenan-Bolger, who created the role of Olive Ostrovsky on Broadway.)

They're aided by Jennifer Caprio's inspired costume design that includes a parochial school uniform, pink overalls a couple sizes too small and a Boy Scout uniform complete with merit badges. The girls wear pigtails or braids, and the boys' hair is a little wild and uncombed. From their clothes to the way they talk and carry themselves, they all look and act like, well, kids. And choreographer Dan Knechtges really keeps things moving along. I especially loved how he gave the impression that these kids had spelled dozens of words in round after round of competition.

Also in the show are Roberta Duchak as the emcee and former spelling bee champion; James Kall as the vice principal who's back running the contest after five years during which he was mysteriously "unavailable;" and Kevin Smith Kirkwood, who's doing his community service at the bee, acting as the "comfort counselor," giving each speller a hug and a juicebox when they're eliminated, before gently leading them offstage.

Composer/lyricist William Finn and book writer Rachel Sheinkin (who won a Tony award) give each of the spellers a back story that's explored in words and music through the course of the show. (I can't quite get the catchy title tune out of my head!)

These are far from the most popular kids in school. In some cases, they may be ones who get teased or bullied for how they dress or how they look or how they act. Some of them are over confident and some of them lack confidence. For some, spelling may be the one thing they do better than anyone else. (And some of them have rather unorthodox spelling styles).

But Sheinkin and Finn don't wallow in self-pity. While we do feel sorry for these kids at times, I think the message is, ultimately, about resilience. I laughed and I felt sad, but ultimately, I sympathized with them. I found Olive's story, about a parent who may or may not make it to watch her compete, especially moving, and Vanessa Ray is very effective in portraying her insecurity and vulnerability.

It's almost as if Sheinkin and Finn use over-the-top stereotypes, the overachieving Asian-American, the nerd, to break down stereotypes, so that by the end, we get to know each of these children as the lovable individuals that they really are. And I have to admit, I actually got a little choked up at the end.

One of the unique features of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" is the audience participation. There were four guest spellers at the show I attended - three audience members and a local television anchorwoman. I really enjoyed watching the non-professionals interact with the cast. Some of them definitely seemed more comfortable than others. But they all deserve major kudos for doing something I'd never be brave enough to do.

The show's creators do a good job of keeping the material topical, making a few jokes that are specific to wherever they are on tour, keeping the political references current. Although this is a show about children, some of the material isn't quite G-rated. One speller with surging hormones sings a lament about "my unfortunate erection." Despite that caveat, I think this is a musical for anyone old enough to compete in a spelling bee. It really speaks to how kids often feel at this age.

I'm not an expert on spelling bees, but I have seen the documentary "Spellbound," and the movie "Akeelah and the Bee," both of which cover the same ground, although without music or humor. "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" is a gentle spoof that truly captures the atmosphere of these competitions - from the young contestants' anxiety to the sometimes unrelenting parental pressure and the sometimes off-the-wall words. It's a w-i-n-n-e-r.

At the conclusion of the performance, cast member Eric Roediger asked for donations to Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS. He mentioned specifically which local programs would benefit. So when the show comes to your area, it's a great way to make a donation to a worthy cause that will help people in your community. Every week of fundraising lost to the Broadway stagehands' strike is a loss of over $350,000 to BC/EFA.

The Broadway production of "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," which isn't affected by the strike, is playing at the Circle in the Square Theatre. While it's slated to close Jan. 20, the show is touring nationwide through the end of May. And the first regional production will be presented June 11 to July 12 at the Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, Mass., where "Spelling Bee" was created and developed in 2004. The Barrington Stage production is a joint venture with the North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, Mass., which will present the show from Aug. 12-31.