In the past I’ve been a fan of many television sitcoms: “Friends,” “Mad About You,” “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” to name a few. When I learned that the creative people behind the scenes plus the executive producers of CBS’s new sitcom, “The Class,” included the same team as the above, I had to tune in. I also was curious to see Jason Ritter since his father, John, was one of my favorites. “The Class” concerns young adults (in their late 20s) from the same third-grade class who reunite 20 years later. Don’t they know, as you and I do, that “you can’t go home again” (thank you Thomas Wolfe!)?
I’m put off by laugh tracks, but I did find myself listening for the funny punch lines (as I do in the older Woody Allen films). “The Class” has a charming and eclectic cast. I think this new sitcom has a great chance of graduating to hit status. I’m curious to see how the characters are developed, so I’ll stay tuned. It’s on CBS, Mondays at 8 p.m. (before my bedtime, thank goodness!)
My literate daughter-in-law, Andrea, and my bright 10-year-old grandson, David I., recommended a movie to me. It’s not easy to find a film that can satisfy an adult and a child. I really wasn’t interested in seeing “The Illusionist.” I’m too much of a realist. However, I do value the opinions of my family, so I did go to see their recommendation – and I’m glad I did. By the way, I wondered about the film’s title so I went to Webster’s Dictionary: “a sleight-of-hand performer or a magician.” The title is perfect for this film. Actor Edward Norton is exactly right in the title role. In the past I remember admiring his acting in a great variety of roles – among them as a street-smart hood, a wimp and even a singing role. He is a genuine and admirable actor. In “The Illusionist” all the performances are rewarding. Paul Giamatti, with his undistinguished face fully bearded, is delightful as the Chief Inspector. As a police official he is both close and loyal to the sadistic crown prince, yet fascinated by the magician, The story takes place in Vienna in 1900 and the scenery, the customers and even the music all adds to the intent of the film. You’ll need to suspend your sense of realism. However, if you do enjoy a good story, richly acted and beautifully produced then I, too, like Andrea and David, recommend you see “The Illusionist.”
* * * * Here a Picasso, there a Picasso, everywhere a Picasso, Picasso! Picasso has come to New York City in at least six museums. Though he himself never visited the United States, his work did and it profoundly influenced the way oil hit the canvas in mid-20th-century America. The Whitney Museum of American Art has well over 100 Picassos – paintings, sculptures and drawings – on view through Jan. 28. Most of the Picassos at the Museum of Modern Art are from early in his career. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, a museum that has just about an impressive number of everything, also, of course, has an impressive number of Picassos. As a bonus there’s the exhibition “Cézanne to Picasso: Ambroise Vollard, Patron of the Avant-Garde.” The title is slightly misleading since the star of the show is not any of the artists but a dealer. On view through Jan. 7 are numerous portraits of the pioneer dealer/patrol/publisher by leading artists including Picasso but also Cézanne, Bonnard and Renoir. Vollard’s genius lay in his ability to identify undiscovered talent. Picasso once remarked that Vollard’s likeness was painted more often than the world’s most beautiful women. Pablo Picasso had his first Parisian exhibition in 1901 at Vollard’s gallery and eight paintings from that are on display. Every museum has art books to look at, but I find myself strolling past them in exhibitions where there is much else to see – at times too much for me to absorb.
* * * * A group of gals from my Healthy Bones class were lunching at Broadway Lite (and, of course, eating healthy!) when the talk turned to Broadway shows (no connection to the restaurant!) Many are frequent theatergoers and know angles on how to get discounted tickets. Recently, I read an article in the New York Times entitled, “Walking the Line, Stalking Bargains on Broadway.” The long story included an insert titled “This Way to Your Half-Priced Seats.” Since “premium” seats for many shows are now in the $200 to $300 range it’s certainly not “penny-pinching” to know how to get “cheaper” tickets. According to the Times article, one of the simple and reliable ways to get lower priced tickets is the TKTS booth, which is situated in the ground-floor plaza of the Marriott Marquis Hotel between 45th and 46th streets and Seventh and Eighth avenues. There is also a TKTS annex at the South Street Seaport. You just have to hope your seats are not in the last few rows of the balcony. Another headline caught my attention: “Broadway Weighs Plan to Reward Frequent Theatergoers.” It will be something similar to frequent flier miles making benefits available to returning customers. The Nederlander Organization has unveiled a Web site: www. audiencerewards.com. If you enjoy Broadway and off-Broadway shows it might be worth checking it out.
June can be reached at intunejune@optonline.net