Recently I caught a 1949 movie on television — “On the Town.” It was filled with stars I recognized and you might, too, including Frank Sinatra (everyone knows him) and Gene Kelly. Yes, I enjoyed seeing the film but when I was invited to see the latest stage revival of “On the Town” I wasn’t very enthusiastic. I was already so familiar with the story but I knew that I would enjoy the music. Since all the “merrys” and “happys” are over I decided that it might be fun to hear “New York, New York, a helluva town” one mo’ time. My adult kids, both culturally aware, saw the current revival before I did and this was their reaction: “For anyone under 65 the music is not relevant; the show is sweet with no edge, a bit corny and dated, likable but not for the Rock ‘n’ Roll crowd.” Okay! Chacun à son goût (translation: to each his own taste. I do have a license to teach French!). I was happy to follow the urgent quest of three sailors on 24-hour shore leave. My reaction to this revival was that “On the Town” is a jubilant show. I enjoyed “The Bronx is up but the Battery’s down.” The current “On the Town” is a dance-heavy musical incorporating Tin Pan Alley and boogie-woogie. My kids probably don’t know what boogie-woogie is. (I still do those dance steps at Nutley’s Starlight Ballroom.) For me, the two hours and fifteen minutes filled in the lack of those “happys” and “merrys.” Of course I also have to admit that I am not part of the Rock ‘n’ Roll crowd!
When my daughter, Jolie (in French it means pretty – and she is), married her Michael, they went shopping all over the place for dinnerware. Nothing appealed to them until they looked into my kitchen closet and spotted Eva Zeisel’s white porcelain service for eight. As you can guess, they’ve been enjoying it for more than 20 years. Now, fast forward to several years ago when I visited my favorite museum, then called the Cooper-Hewitt. So what did appear to my wandering eyes? That same Eva Zeisel dinnerware. Well, three years ago the museum closed for a rethink. It’s now reopened and has put a big emphasis on audience involvement and play. I was accustomed to coming in by the original 91st Street entrance. There’s now an alternate route through the 90th Street garden, café, and gift shop. The grand goal is to get visitors to think about design in their daily lives. For example, the renovated museum includes allowing folks to design their own wallpaper with the help of a touch-screen kiosk. If historical background interests you, here are the details of the building that began life in 1902 as a home for Andrew Carnegie. He moved into his just-finished mansion at 91st Street and Fifth Avenue with his wife and five-year-old daughter. In his day by the lights of Manhattan society wherever Carnegie “a five-foot-two Master of the Universe type” decided to settle, became a someplace soon. His home was technologically advanced with full electricity and climate control. It amazes me to think that in 1902 the house even had an elevator and pipe organ. Andrew Carnegie’s family lived there for many years. If you’d like to know more, Heather Ewing has produced a book called “Life of a Mansion: the Story of Cooper-Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.” The idea of the newly renovated and expanded museum is that design is fun. If you go, you’re going to play. And here’s one important fact: its café opens at 7:30 a.m. daily and is accessible without an admission ticket. For more specifics you can phone (212) 849-8400.
In my earlier life I was an Explorer executive with the Boy Scouts. I thoroughly enjoyed the job since it was very interesting. I was expected to expose teenagers to the possibility of various vocations. A memorable visit was to see how a daily newspaper was put together which took me and my Explorers to the Bergen Record plant. Personally I found it very exciting and so did the kids. Possibly that might be why I was drawn to television’s “The Newsroom” on HBO. It took me some time to follow the thought-provoking plotlines which were frequently connected to actual events. But I did like the lead characters: Jeff Daniels starred as news anchor Will McAvoy, Sam Waterston as his boss, Emily Mortimer as the girlfriend, Marcia Gay Harden as the lawyer and still-stunning Jane Fonda as the owner of the fictional ACN Network. Season 3 of Aaron Sorkin’s “The Newsroom” was the final one. That surprised me especially since Jeff Daniels took home the Emmy for Best Lead Actor in a Drama last year. So well deserved! I did have to strain at times trying to follow the fast dialogue and intricate plots, many of which were based on actual events. Somehow I felt that the story softened one’s opinion of reporters and activists. It took an optimistic look at the people responsible for the television news. I assume that it’s costly to produce television shows and it’s too bad that they appear to be judged solely by the money they earn. Sigh! “The Newsroom’s” farewell season continued to be smart, riveting, and thought-provoking.
It has to be thrilling to be at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and, of course, especially to be an honoree. We ordinary mortals happily were able to watch the gala on television. In that way we enjoyed the talents of stars of the stage, screen, and concert hall. The outstanding event has been taking place since 1978. Walter Cronkite was host for 20 years, followed by Caroline Kennedy. Glenn Close hosted last year. This year it was Stephen Colbert, the late-night entertainer (I admit I never stay up late enough to enjoy his talents!). The Center bestows its highest honors on five distinguished artists. This year it recognized actor Tom Hanks (a favorite of mine), the comedian Lily Tomlin, the singer Al Green, the ballerina Patricia McBride, and the singer/songwriter Sting. The diverse crowd was a show in itself as it toasted the honorees. Included in the audience was Lady Gaga who apparently wears whatever she wants. One doesn’t expect normal from her even at an event the President is attending. I’m not a fan of wearing rhinestones on eyebrows or shaggy silver wigs anywhere. But this Lady pulls it off. Oh, well! The performance for the vibrant, exciting night was broadcast December 30 on PBS. It was certainly worth watching but if you missed it. Perhaps it will be repeated this month.
You can e-mail June Sturz at intunejune@optonline.net.