Getting Out - Me & My Peeps

Much as I would rather have stayed in to watch a couple of hours of DVR joy, 

I left my comfy sofa and popped over to Bob Baker's Marionette Theater with my friends, Billy  and Barry to catch Pretty Things Peepshow.

I'm really glad that I did.   Except for the poor seating in the theater, rendering anything beyond the 3rd row an obstructed view, I thought it was a really fun show!  

First of all, the lobby was filled with the musical stylings of one of my favorite women in the world, Deven Green.

She is as hilarious as she is delightful.  She invited me to sing a duet with her and I joined her for a strained "Summer Nights" from GREASE- I had trouble figuring out what "Key" is, but she plowed on saving the song from me as much as she and her ukulele could!

Inside the theater, the performers were all talented and I loved the retro vibe.  Go Go Amy was a fabulous hostess with a mind-reading dog, Scraps.

She had a wide array of dresses that she showed off through out the show.

Rasputin,was a handsome co-host who entertained us with his marionette puppets (when one could see them through the blocking heads in rows 1 & 2)

I found the stripping skeleton lady amusing, but the well strung Cupid's rendition of "Love Is IN the Air" was a real stand out.

Charlie Atlas, the Scottish Hunk showed his strength by bending a steal bar and throwing knives.

For some reason I was drawn to Charlie more than any of the other performers.

Charlie's knives were thrown at his voluptuous sword swallowing partner, Rachel Atlas.

I admired her abilities very much. Also... BOOBIES!

These four performers rotated throughout the evening, topping each of their last acts.

The audience volunteers were nice, too!

Things did get a little wild during intermission when folks who got up to get a drink or to take a tinkle, returned to find that their seats had been taken by selfish, selfie-taking Millennials, who simple replied "Well, someone took our seats..."  Luckily Barry, Billy and Jeb were willing to fight to keep out obstructed view seats!

The only downside to the evening is that the show was longer than I anticipated and I missed a bon voyage party for my friend Jeb Havens, who is leaving to travel the world for a year.

 He's leaving on the heels of releasing a new album called HOME BASE.

Check out a few of the tunes and buy it to help support his world tour!

Despite missing Jeb's goodbye, I'm really glad I resisted my T.V.'s charms by getting out and seeing a new and different kind of show.  Also, if I hadn't, I might not have gotten a brand new crush!

Oh, that Charlie Atlas!

This Is Why I Am Single - sigh

When you're watching porn
and you see a poster
for one of your favorite Broadway musicals!

Gay of A Certain Age - Purple Balls?

IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW STUFF ABOUT THE SHOW CUZ YOU AIN'T SEEN IT, DON'T READ THIS.  SKIP DOWN TO THE SPOILER -FREE MINI REVIEW.

Of all the shows I saw this past weekend, THE COLOR PURPLE touched me most.  My eyes were moist at several points in the show.  I think the part that had my cheeks most wet was close to the end, when Celie sings I'M HERE.  This song comes at a point when aging Celie realizes that she has all she needs, even without a lover next to her.  I couldn't help but sit there listening to the song wondering if that's going to be me.  These lyrics hit home:

Got my house

It still keeps the cold out

Got my chair

When my body can't hold out

Got my hands doin things like they s'post to

Showing my heart to the folks that I'm close to

I got my eyes though they don't see as far now

They see more 'bout how things really are now

I'm gonna take a deep breath

I'm gonna hold my head up

Gonna put my shoulders back

And look you straight in the eye

I'm gonna flirt with somebody

When they walk by

I'm gonna sing out

I believe I have inside of me

Everything that I need to live a bountiful life

With all the love inside of me

I'll stand as tall as the tallest tree

And I'm thankful for each day that I'm given

Both the easy and the hard ones I'm livin'

But most of all

Yes I'm thankful for lovin' who I really am

I'm beautiful

Yes I'm beautiful

And I'm here.

As a Gay of A Certain Age, I suppose that there are fewer things more rewarding that realizing your beauty and strength to love yourself.

SPOILER FREE REVIEW

WOW!!! I came for the Hudson, but left enraptured by Erivo!

First, I thought I was going to continue my growing frustration with John Doyle's direction, but this streamlined version flows scene to scene beautifully. The cast is very strong. Jennifer Hudson sounds great and delivers a great Shug Avery, but Cynthia Erivo, as Celie, grows from unassuming, quiet girl to powerhouse grand dame who deservedly received a standing ovation after her song "I'm Here". This production moved me very much. My favorite this visit.

Single Perks - Picking My Seat

I love going to the theater!  The only thing I love more than that, is having a great seat at the theater! Being single makes it so much easier to find a seat!  I don't mind seeing shows on my own because my ticket purchase time is cut dramatically when I'm picking a seat for only myself.  I don't have to worry about anyone else's preferences, and very often there are single seats orchestra center, whereas the only pairing of seats will be way off to the side or rear balcony.  For example, when I saw SPAMALOT for the first time, I went with my friends Dana & Eddie.

When I was purchasing tickets for three, the only available ones were off to the side in the mezzanine.  Normally, I wouldn't take these seats and look for another day, but this arrangement was day specific, so I took those seats at full price.  When we were seated I was dubious, then I got angry once the curtain went up and revealed that about a third of the set was blocked from our view.  I had a hard time enjoying the show because I was so angry that they would even sell these seats at all, especially at full price!  Luckily, my friend Jeff was later cast in the show, so I had occasion to go back and see it again- in a fabulous single seat, orchestra center.  I enjoyed the show much more, then.

So, last night, last minute, I popped up to the TKTS window, saw BLACKBIRD listed, asked  if there were any good seats for the show and the lady said yes, (I have opted to not to see any show for an evening because there was not a good seat, even at half price) and by 8:00 pm I was seated just a few feet from Jeff Daniels and Michelle Williams as they performed.  Seeing an intense play like this from the fourth row; them's the perks!

Here's my mini-review:

Blackbird by David Harrower is a rough play about damaged people, only getting more damaged. The show is in previews, so this isn't exactly the final product. I think the preview time is still needed, because I felt while the acting was really good, there still some developing to occur. Right now, I feel like Michelle is not committing to the actions of her character, mostly because those actions are a clear detriment to said character. It's also because those actions are contradictory to her character's reasons for being there. Her physicality is great, though. These are not easy roles.  Also, I think the tension was a little slack, but I think in a week or so, this is going to be top notch.   I loved the set, too!

Too Busy For Love - New York Kisses

I would love to go to that hilarious super hero movie with you and make out in the back row, but I can't!  I'm too busy!  You see, I have to go to New York tomorrow and catch up on Broadway shows (Mostly revivals)!

I'm most excited about DISASTER!  I love a good disaster movie parody with hit songs and a nun!

After I get back from New York, I have to write, rehearse and perform in a show (2 different ones, really) that will eventually take me to Puerto Villarta in March!  Yeah, it's the drag again...  Drag Season is warming up!

See above?  I play Reba Areba one night, then Frieda Laye the next! Crazy!

If you wanna see how the L.A. run goes for me, you can get tix HERE.

So think of me when you're watching the hunky guy in the tight red body suit and I'll try to make you laugh in person, when I'm not so busy!!

Getting Out - Talk It Out!

I am previously engaged with a work meeting, otherwise, tomorrow night at 7:30, I'd be at the West Hollywood Library, talking to a group of gays, and others, about the FEAR OF BEING SINGLE.  I checked the list of topics for discussion tomorrow and they all seem to be things I cover here in my dead blog.  Topics like:

Do you think single people are incomplete?
Does relationship status define men in the gay community?
What are the benefits to being single?
Are you currently in the best relationship status for you? (whether single or coupled?)
...and more

I encourage you to go, it is open to the public.
You can get all the info you need HERE

Go to talk and maybe meet someone, or at least enjoy the fabulous West Hollywood Library!
The talk is hosted by TRIBE - WeHo Gay Men's Discussion Group

From the Interwebs - It's Funny 'Cause It's True