Dee Davis's Blog, page 5

Best. Dog. Ever.

As many of you know we lost our Cardigan Welsh Corgi last week.  Max was almost twelve.  And quite honestly, the best dog ever.   Except for the final two days, I can never remember him being unhappy.  He approached life with a joy and abandon I can only wish to achieve.  Every single day was an adventure.  Whether chasing squirrels in Central Park, posing for his fans on walks, herding the cat, or just sleeping across my feet as I wrote, he was always happy.   And because of that, my spirits were usually lifted as well.   So just a few moments to honor my dog, who is hopefully somewhere up there running with the big boys.  Max, we love you!

Rest in Peace Puppy!

 

Merry Old England

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The beauty of Hyde Park

Just returned from an absolutely fabulous trip to London with my good friend Julia London.  I am exhausted.  But happily so!  Although, I arrived last night from England to find a 2 and a half hour wait at customs.  Man o’ man was that a room full of unhappy people.  But once through to the other side it was home and bed and goodbye to tea and crumpets.

We really did have a marvelous time.

High Street outside of Windsor Castle

The weather was gorgeous (no rain at all if you can believe it!).  And the museums, castles, parks and walks were to die for.  We ate bangers and mash,  sausage rolls, fish and chips, leek and potato pastys, and really amazing Moroccan food.  We shopped until we dropped.  Harrods, High Marleybone, Knightsbridge, Oxford and Portobello Road.  We rarely got lost.  Which was a miracle a couple of times.  We rode the tube and the trains like professionals.  And walked our rear-ends off.

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Charming building in Lacock where, among other things, they filmed Cranford

We watched telly with a glass of wine.  The show about the groom planning the wedding was absolutely wonderful.  Not to mention the one about choosing a manor house (I’ll take all three).  We also watched a comic that had us in stitches (unfortunately I can’t remember his name, but he was very naughty). And also saw several game shows that were beyond anything we have here–my favorite one being where teams of celebrities guess whether or not the others are lying (they all quite good at it).  The only sad note there is that we missed episode one of Season three of Downton Abbey–it was the night we arrived and we weren’t clued in.)

We had drinks at the Savoy.  And went to Covent Garden.  We saw London from the top

The Pump Room in Bath

of the Gherkin.  Traipsed through Bath and Mayfair, dreaming of gorgeous dresses and men in top hats and tails.  We saw Stonehenge and Windsor Castle.  We went to Lacock where they filmed Cranford, parts of Harry Potter, Emma, and scenes from Pride and Prejudice.  We saw the Victoria and Albert museum (complete with a period clothing exhibition).  We strolled through the gardens at Hampton Court, and the lovely wilds of Hyde Park.  Julia London ran along the canal (not for her life, but actually for fun–which I simply can’t fathom).

Courtyard from a window in Hampton Court (can you see who is walking across the way?)

We drank loads of tea, a little bitter and learned the difference between light and dark beer in Britain.  And of course we some great Malbac (from our own local wine store on the corner).  We shopped for our own supper.  And salivated over the fabulous offerings in the various Food Halls.  I had scones at the V&A,  and Julia had chocolate confections and we were in heaven.  We also can report that Stinky Bishop’s cheese lives up to it’s name.

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English Gardens!

All in all it was a magical trip!

Restaurant Week, Month…no, no…Summer! UPDATED

So one of my favorite things in New York is when they have Restaurant Week.  Great restaurants throughout the city offer a fixed price menu for both lunch and dinner with and appetizer, entrée and dessert.   It’s a great chance to try out new places, go to a place you normally wouldn’t splurge for, or just go back to an old favorite to try new dishes.   This summer the original Restaurant Week actually ran three weeks and then many of the restaurants participating extended their run until Labor Day.

As you may or may not know, I’ve been watching what eat, so that means that Fridays and Saturdays are my only non-restricted eating days—which meant that for Restaurant Week, which typically does not include Saturdays, that Fridays were my only option.  So suffice it to say we’ve had a great fun of Friday meals.  So here’s the run down on where we’ve been:

Week 1

Mr. Chow.  A high-end Asian fusion restaurant, Mr. Chow has several locations including one right down the block from us.  We’ve walked by it many times, and seen the limos and town cars waiting outside for diners enjoying the food.   So when I saw that it was available for Restaurant Week, I knew we had to give it a try.  The wait for our reservation was short, the restaurant beautifully appointed, and the wait staff friendly and helpful (which sadly isn’t always the case on Restaurant Week).  The first course—a spicy noodle dish was my definitely favorite.  It was followed by a green shrimp dish (so named for the herbs the shrimp was coated in).  Although the dish was tasty, the shrimp were very small and not as tender as I would have liked.  My husband’s dish was quite spicy, which was perfect for him, but not for me—so I didn’t have a taste.  Dessert was a medley of ice cream.  Nice, but again underwhelming.  All in all while I would consider going there again, I wouldn’t put it in the list of my favs.

Week 2

21 Club.  Okay, honestly, I’ve been here before and love it.  So wasn’t thinking much about going other than knowing I’d enjoy the food.  But have to say that the restaurant week menu was fabulous.  I started with an heirloom tomato salad that was delicious.  And then moved on to a grilled flat iron steak that was cooked to perfection.  And I’m picky about my steak.  The night was finished off with an excellent crème brulee with blueberries and a lemon shortbread cookie.  We ate downstairs, and the service was tremendous, the atmosphere, as always, fun, and I thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

Week 3

The Post House.  I’d heard a lot about the Post House.  Old NY and clubby steak house (which I happen to love), so figured I was in for a treat.  However, of all the places we’ve been over the course of this extended Restaurant week, it was my least favorite.  Which isn’t to say that it was bad, just neither interesting nor memorable.   I started with a goat cheese tart, which was essentially a hunk of goat cheese on top a small round of puff pastry.  Basically it was like eating cold cheese right from the refrigerator.  Uninspired and disappointing.   The steak was delicious, but compared to the week before at 21, lacking—although my husband loved his.  But my key lime pie was delightful.  A nice ending to what was a lovely if not particularly memorable evening.

Week 4

Megu.  This was the week we’d planned on going to Bobby Flay’s Mesa for our anniversary.  But when I realized that Restaurant Week had been extended, I changed our reservations from Saturday to Friday, and then when we decided to celebrate with our daughter instead of just the two of us (we went to the Village Vanguard on our own on that Saturday and had a fabulous time) I knew that Southwestern food wasn’t her favorite.  So I shifted gears, and made reservations at Megu (in the Trump Tower on First Avenue).  And I wasn’t disappointed.  This was definitely in my top two meals.   I started with a crispy kanzuri shrimp.  Coated with some kind of peanut sauce, these were so good, I could easily have had them in a larger portion for dinner.  AMAZING.  Next up, Premium Kobe Washugyu Sirloin Steak.  Marinated, it was tender, perfectly cooked and served on a block.  Again absolutely wonderful.   And for dessert, a delightful green tea crepe.  Service was excellent, and the appointments were lovely.  Definitely a restaurant I will go to again.

Week 5

Le Cirque.  This one started on a bad note I have to say because my husband lost his wallet.  And so we lost our reservation, but when I realized I could still get us in later that night, we rebooked and returned after all the hassle of dealing with the mess of losing the wallet.   I have to say the restaurant is definitely an island of calm.  And after the beginning of the night, it was a lovely way to end.  That said, compared to some of the other places we ate, the wow factor just wasn’t there.  Still the staff was lovely, and the food was excellent.  I started with an heirloom tomato salad with sucrine, cucumber, capers, marjoram.  It was excellent.  And every bit as delightful as the one I had at 21.  Next up roasted chicken with fricassée of fingerling potatoes, corn, scallions, bacon, jus basquaise. The chicken was well cooked, but nothing out of the ordinary. However, the purple potatoes were delightful.  And for dessert, I had the crème brulee.  I am a HUGE crème brulee fan, and I do have to say that this was one of the best I’ve ever had.  So kudos on dessert at Le Cirque.

Week 6

Tom Colicchio and Sons (Tap Room).   I’m a huge fan of Craft, so was eager to try this restaurant across from the Chelsea Street Market and under the Highline.   And I was not disappointed.  This restaurant, like Megu comes in as one of my top two for this summer’s Restaurant Week.  More relaxed than some of the other places we ate, it was still elegant and the staff was attentive and well-informed.  My husband enjoyed a flight of beer and I had a lovely Bordeaux.  I started with a cold corn soup with truffle oil and grilled corn kernels.  It was fabulous!  My husband had a beef tartare with a smoked egg vinaigrette and homemade potato chips.  Equally fabulous, although I preferred mine just slightly to his.  After much debate, because it all looked so fabulous, for my entrée, I had the roasted hanger steak with potato puree and bone marrow butter.  Melt in your mouth meat.  It was served with spigarello, greens of some kind, slightly resembling spinach but not as bitter.  Very lovely.   My husband had the roasted pork belly with succotash and okra.  He enjoyed every bite.  And then for dessert—I had beignets with fudge sauce and vanilla ice cream.  Perfection.  Seriously great meal.  I’m definitely going back.  A lot.

Week 7

DGBG.  We haven’t actually been yet… this one is on tap as our last Restaurant Week restaurant, this weekend.  But I am a fan of Daniel Boulud and looking forward to trying his East Village restaurant.  It’s Lyonnais-inspired bistro cooking.  So I’m expecting great things. Okay–so went to DGBG and must report it wasn’t the experience I’d hoped for.  While the food was good the service was not.  Maybe because it was  Friday night and it was really busy?  But still… And although I enjoyed the meal, nothing really stood out as exceptional.  Maybe I had just been to too many other wonderful places.  Still it was a great month of eating high on the hog as we say in Texas.  So well worth the effort!

Restaurant Week, Month…no, no…Summer!

So one of my favorite things in New York is when they have Restaurant Week.  Great restaurants throughout the city offer a fixed price menu for both lunch and dinner with and appetizer, entrée and dessert.   It’s a great chance to try out new places, go to a place you normally wouldn’t splurge for, or just go back to an old favorite to try new dishes.   This summer the original Restaurant Week actually ran three weeks and then many of the restaurants participating extended their run until Labor Day.

As you may or may not know, I’ve been watching what eat, so that means that Fridays and Saturdays are my only non-restricted eating days—which meant that for Restaurant Week, which typically does not include Saturdays, that Fridays were my only option.  So suffice it to say we’ve had a great fun of Friday meals.  So here’s the run down on where we’ve been:

Week 1

Mr. Chow.  A high-end Asian fusion restaurant, Mr. Chow has several locations including one right down the block from us.  We’ve walked by it many times, and seen the limos and town cars waiting outside for diners enjoying the food.   So when I saw that it was available for Restaurant Week, I knew we had to give it a try.  The wait for our reservation was short, the restaurant beautifully appointed, and the wait staff friendly and helpful (which sadly isn’t always the case on Restaurant Week).  The first course—a spicy noodle dish was my definitely favorite.  It was followed by a green shrimp dish (so named for the herbs the shrimp was coated in).  Although the dish was tasty, the shrimp were very small and not as tender as I would have liked.  My husband’s dish was quite spicy, which was perfect for him, but not for me—so I didn’t have a taste.  Dessert was a medley of ice cream.  Nice, but again underwhelming.  All in all while I would consider going there again, I wouldn’t put it in the list of my fav.

Week 2

21 Club.  Okay, honestly, I’ve been here before and love it.  So wasn’t thinking much about going other than knowing I’d enjoy the food.  But have to say that the restaurant menu was fabulous.  I started with an heirloom tomato salad that was delicious.  And then moved on to a grilled flat iron steak that was cooked to perfection.  And I’m picky about my steak.  The night was finished off with an excellent crème brulee with blueberries and a lemon shortbread cookie.  We ate downstairs, and the service was tremendous, the atmosphere, as always, fun, and I thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

Week 3

The Post House.  I’d heard a lot about the Post House.  Old NY and clubby steak house (which I happen to love), so figured I was in for a treat.  However, of all the places we’ve been over the course of this extended Restaurant week, it was my least favorite.  Which isn’t to say that it was bad, just neither interesting nor memorable.   I started with a goat cheese tart, which was essentially a hunk of goat cheese on top a small round of puff pastry.  Basically it was like eating cold cheese right from the refrigerator.  Uninspired and disappointing.   The steak was delicious, but compared to the week before at 21, lacking—although my husband loved his.  But my key lime pie was delightful.  A nice ending to what was a loving if not particularly memorable evening.

Week 4

Megu.  This was the week we’d planned on going to Bobby Flay’s Mesa for our anniversary.  But when I realized that Restaurant week had been extended, I changed our reservations from Saturday to Friday, and then when we decided to celebrate with our daughter instead of just the two of us (we went to the Village Vanguard on our own on that Saturday and had a fabulous time) I knew that Southwestern food wasn’t her favorite.  So I shifted gears, and made reservations at Megu (in the Trump bldg. on First Avenue).  And I wasn’t disappointed.  This was definitely in my top two meals.   I started with a crispy kanzuri shrimp.  Coated with some kind of peanut sauce, these were so good, I could easily have had them in a larger portion for dinner.  AMAZING.  Next up, Premium Kobe Washugyu Sirloin Steak.  Marinated, it was tender, perfectly cooked and served on a block.  Again absolutely wonderful.   And for dessert, a delightful green tea crepe.  Service was excellent, and the appointments were lovely.  Definitely a restaurant I will go to again.

Week 5

Le Cirque.  This one started on a bad note I have to say because my husband lost his wallet.  And so we lost our reservation, but when I realized I could still get us in later that night, we rebooked and returned after all the hassle of dealing with the mess of losing the wallet.   I have to say the restaurant is definitely an island of calm.  And after the beginning of the night, it was a lovely way to end.  That said, compared to some of the other places we ate, the wow factor just wasn’t there.  Still the staff was lovely, and the food was excellent.  I started with an heirloom tomato salad with sucrine, cucumber, capers, marjoram.  It was excellent.  And every bit as delightful as the one I had at 21.  Next up roasted chicken with fricassée of fingerling potatoes, corn, scallions, bacon, jus basquaise. The chicken was alright, but nothing out of the ordinary. However, the purple potatoes were delightful.  And for dessert, I had the crème brulee.  I am a HUGE crème brulee fan, and I do have to say that this was one of the best I’ve ever had.  So kudos on dessert at Le Cirque.

Week 6

Tom Colicchio and Sons (Tap Room).   I’m a huge fan of Craft, so was eager to try this restaurant across from the Chelsea Street Market and under the Highline.   And I was not disappointed.  This restaurant, like Megu comes in as one of my top two for this summer’s Restaurant Week.  More relaxed than some of the other places we ate, it was still elegant and the staff was attentive and well-informed.  My husband enjoyed a flight of beer and I had a lovely Bordeaux.  I started with a cold corn soup with truffle oil and grilled corn kernels.  It was fabulous!  My husband had a beef tartare with a smoked egg vinaigrette and homemade potato chips.  Equally fabulous.  Although I preferred my just slightly over his.  After much debate, because it all looked so fabulous, for my entrée, I had the roasted hanger steak with potato puree and bone marrow butter.  Melt in your mouth meat.  It was served with spigarello, greens of some kind, slightly resembling spinach but not as acidic.  Very lovely.   My husband had the roasted pork belly with succotash and okra.  He enjoyed every bite.  And then for dessert—I had beignets with fudge sauce and vanilla ice cream.  Perfection.  Seriously great meal.  I’m definitely going back.  A lot.

Week 7

DGBG.  We haven’t actually been yet… this one is on tap as our last Restaurant Week restaurant, this weekend.  But I am a fan of Daniel Boulud and looking forward to trying his East Village restaurant.  It’s Lyonnais-inspired bistro cooking.  So I’m expecting great things. Will report back!

 

Into the Woods

We had the amazing opportunity to see Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park thanks to a wonderful friend who couldn’t go and gave us her tickets.

First off, the night couldn’t have been better—the temperature was wonderful and setting Into the Woods in a park is brilliant.  Second, the set itself was amazing.  A series of “trees” set with stairs and risers that rose all the way to a bower at the tippy top.  So there were always levels in the choreography and that added a lot to the mystical feeling of the woods.

I’ve never seen Into The Woods Before, so have nothing to compare it to.  But I loved the difference in the tones of the first and second act.  The first (by Sondheim’s own definition) was farcical. Very funny. And the second was much more sobering (melodrama according to Sondheim) but still at times quite funny.

Donna Murphy as the witch was amazing.  Her voice is so powerful and she physically embodies each character she plays. (We first saw her in Wonderful Town.)  The costumes was really powerful as well.  Especially hers.  Although there are two places where the wardrobe malfunction I read about in the Post could have happened, thankfully for us, and Donna Murphy, it didn’t.  The song Last Midnight was marvelous and Children Will Listen was so beautifully done, even the crickets (a nice touch—by nature) shut up.

Amy Adams was also good as the Baker’s wife.  Not as strong a singer, but a delightful soprano and she definitely carried her role.  The Baker (Denis O’Hare) was also good.  Although for his big number, No One is Alone, his voice couldn’t quite keep up with Cinderella (Jessie Mueller, who was absolutely marvelous.  We’d seen her in On A Clear Day).  However, the Baker’s missteps, didn’t hurt the song.  It was still so moving and powerful.

Gideon Glick who played Jack (of Beanstalk fame) was delightful, but for his big song (Giants in the Sky) he wasn’t up to the task, sadly.  And so we lost a little of the power of his triumph.  Still, he was really good otherwise and so it still worked for me.

photo of the cast from Broadway.com

My favorite in the entire cast (except maybe Donna Murphy) was Sarah Stiles who played Red Riding Hood.  She was hysterical.  (We also saw her in Putnam County Spelling Bee and I think in Avenue Q—although she might have been gone by the time we saw it).  She has a great voice and uses it to full capacity. And the scene with her and the wolf had me laughing out loud (which I don’t do often).  The wolf (played by Ivan Hernandez, also Cinderella’s prince) was so good—and reminiscent of a 1980′s romance hero.  Which made it all that much more funny.  The song Hello, Little Girl was wonderful.

The set was fairly simplistic electronically speaking, none of the technological pyrotechnics you so often see these days, which for the most part was charming and added to the dreamlike quality of the narrator’s story.   I did think that the beanstalk was a bit hokey. But Glenn Close’s voice as the giant was a nice touch.  And there are a few things that I’ll leave as a possible surprise…because it’ll be more fun that way.

The real star of the show though, was—as it always is with Sondheim—the music and lyrics.  Music most specifically.  It was haunting, memorable, intricate and everything we love about Sondheim.  In short, possibly my favorite of his.  Although I would probably say that about whichever I’ve just seen.  If you have the chance this month enter the lottery or head to the park in the early hours to stand in line for tickets.  Or like me—maybe your fairy Godmother will bestow them on you.  Anyway you choose, it’s well, worth it.

Delacorte Theatre, Central Park.  Tickets are free but must be obtained in advance.  Runs through August 25th.

Last Chance Series

I’m pleased to announce the reissue of my Last Chance Series in digital format.

Three friends bound by unspeakable horror. Three men who will stop at nothing to save the women they love. Three novels that will leave you breathless…

“Psychological suspense…expertly combined with action and romance.” –Romantic Times

 Endgame:

FBI profiler Madison Harper and CIA undercover operative Gabriel Roarke go together like oil and water, but there’s no denying the physical attraction.  As they work together to track down a murderer, Madison finds herself in the killer’s sights—and she and Gabriel must trust their instincts to stay alive.

Amazon  B&N

Enigma:

CIA undercover operative Payton Reynolds is stuck babysitting bomb specialist Samantha Waters as they try to outmaneuver a serial bomber.  But as the situation intensifies and the bomber circles closer, the two begin to rely on each other in ways neither could have imagined.   As sparks begin to fly, their world literally explodes, leaving them in a fight to outwit their foe — or die…

Amazon  B&N

Exposure:

British special agent Nigel Ferris has devoted his life to working covert operations, and avoiding relationships. Until he’s called upon to help foil an international terrorist plot, and comes face to face with the one woman who ever came close to scaling his emotional walls.

Amazon  B&N

 

 

For excerpts  and more go to www.deedavis.com

Sister Act

So my daughter wanted to see Raven Symone in Sister Act.  She’d watched Raven on television when she was little, so it was fun for her to see her all grown up.  I was a little more hesitant.  I loved the movie with Whoopi Goldberg so was less certain that I’d like the musical.  Still, Ms. Goldberg played a big role in bringing it to Broadway, so I figured it would be a fun afternoon.

And I was right.  While it definitely doesn’t fall into my top ten (or even twenty) musicals, it was a lot of fun.  And Ms. Symone was a delightful Delores.  She had the requisite twinkle in her eye.  But even more impressive were her supporting cast members, including, Carolee Carmelo, Sarah Bolt and Marla Mindelle.

Ms. Carmelo played the mother superior and had an absolutely wonderful song in Here Within These Walls.   And Marla Mindelle brought down the house with The Life I Never Led.   And the nuns, with the assistance of Delores, finding their voices in Raise Your Voice filled the theatre with laughter and made everyone smile.

Lady In The Long Black Dress was also an enjoyable number.  Sung by a trio of thugs working for the man chasing Delores, the song is about how the trio is going to seduce their way into the convent.  And although the constant poking fun at the late seventies and early eighties got a little old, it worked nicely for this song.

The Broadway Theatre is quite large.  Much more so than most of the theatres in New York.  It definitely makes for a less intimate experience.  We also saw The Color Purple there, and I felt then, as well, like I was in an auditorium rather than a theatre.   But all in all, I was pleasantly surprised by the musical, and had a lovely afternoon with my daughter.

Sister Act closes Aug 26th.

Broadway Theatre, 1681 Broadway.

Clybourne Park

So, Clybourne Park won best play at this year’s Tony Awards.  And I was lucky enough to have had the chance to see it.   Playing at the Walter Kerr Theatre, I’m delighted to say that I was in full support of the win. And that’s with a lot of other fabulous plays in the running.  Some of which I’ve already talked about here.

Written by Bruce Norris, Clybourne Park is a stirring dark comedy that weaves a story around the people occupying a house in both 1959 and 2009.  The biting play examines difficult subjects with both poignancy and wit. Neighborhood identification and race are key components of the play.  But it is the characters that make the sometimes difficult topics resonate.

In 1959, the house is occupied by a middle-class white couple who have recently survived the death of their son.   As they pack up their house, intending to leave their painful memories behind, their neighbors drop by with concerns about the people who have just bought the house.  Present also are the couple’s maid and her boyfriend, bringing a subtext to everything that’s said, and finally building to an expected but still heartrending climax.

The second act opens in 2009.  The neighborhood is “reemerging” and the white couple buying the house meet resistance from the neighborhood coalition who very much want to retain the flavor of the old neighborhood.  Again tension underlies laughs, as we see the situation from the reverse side.   And face the reality that although fifty years has passed not all that much has really changed.

The cast was marvelous, especially Jeremy Shamos and Annie Parisse.   In particular in the first act, when Ms. Parisse’s character is deaf, the added layer of subtext is particularly well-done.  Christina Kirk and Frank Wood were also excellent.  Mr. Wood in particular plays physical comedy very well.  Rounding out the cast were Crystal A. Dickinson, Damon Gupton and Brendon Griffin.   Mr. Gupton was superb in both acts.  And he gave his character both emotional depth and believability.   The scene where Ms. Dickinson and Mr. Gupton carried the trunk was marvelous on so many different levels.

It isn’t easy to write about difficult subject matter.  And it’s even harder to make what can be uncomfortable at the same time funny.  And Mr. Norris is successful in both making us laugh and making us think.  Bravo!

Clybourne Park, Walter Kerr Theatre, 219 West 48th Street.  (212) 239-6200

The Lyons

We recently had the opportunity to see The Lyons at the Cort theatre.   Nicky Silver’s dark comedy centers around the Lyons, a New York family in crisis.   Linda Lavin (of Alice fame) plays the matriarch, Rita Lyon.  I wanted to see the show particularly because I had heard she was so good.  And she didn’t disappoint.   Both she and actor Dick Latessa, playing her husband were hysterical.  The secondary characters, the couple’s daughter and son, played by Kate Jennings Grant and Michael Esper respectively, were less interesting to watch, although I suspect this was due more to the uneven nature of the play than the actors themselves.

While I found the first act delightful, in a deliciously dark comedic sort of way, the second

Photo by Carol Rosegg

act seemed to have come from an entirely different play.  There was a sadistic twist that left me feeling uncomfortable and truly didn’t seem to fit in the play at all.   But by the end, when Ms. Lavin was back on stage, we had circled back to the biting humor that set the first act apart.   And despite the uneven nature of the piece, I have to say that I still enjoyed it.  Although mostly because of that first act and Ms. Lavin’s Rita.

The Lyons.  Cort Theatre.  138 W 48th St.  New York

Seminar (Redux)

As you already know, I saw Seminar with my daughter when Alan Rickman was in the play.  And it was fabulous.   But, as you probably also know, my husband did not make the performance and so he still very much wanted to see it.   To that end when Rickman left and Jeff Goldblum—who I also love—joined the cast, it seemed like the perfect way for me to see it again, this time with my husband and mother in tow.

I’m not big on revisiting something I like.  Especially if there have been major cast changes.  And in this case not only was Alan Rickman gone, but also the actors playing Kate and Martin, both of whom I thought were excellent—particularly Lily Rabe as Kate.  In the new version, the role of Martin had been taken over by Justin Long (yes, Mac guy) and Kate was played by understudy Christina Pumariega.   I’ll also admit that I always hate seeing that little slip of paper in the Playbill saying that a major cast member won’t be performing.

But in this case—all my worries were for naught.  Jeff Goldblum was wonderful.  A completely different interpretation of the role from Rickman’s.  And I have to say I thought a better one.  Definitely funnier.  And wonderfully off-beat.  Somehow this Leonard made more sense in the context of the story.  Rickman played him as tortured and somewhat cruel. Enigmatic which was by no means a mistake.  He was excellent in the role.  But Goldblum’s slightly jaded, definitely off kilter Leonard was more vulnerable somehow, and I actually could see him taking the journey revealed to become the man he was more so than I did with Rickman’s version.

And Justin Long was absolutely wonderful.  While I thought Hamish Linklater was strong in the role, Long was so much better.  There were more layers to the performance.  And his physicality playing against Goldblum was superb.  Maybe it was just the two of them together.  But I was totally impressed.  (As I have been in his movie appearances, particularly the last Die Hard.)  He also walked a tightrope between repression and vulnerability.  And he almost perfectly captured the obtuse reactions of a man missing the woman standing right in front of him—until it was too late.

Lily Rabe, the first Kate was absolutely pitch perfect.  I’ve enjoyed her in several Broadway performances and think she’s definitely an actress to watch.  Christina Pumariega, as an understudy (replacing Zoe Lister-Jones), was someone you wanted to cheer for.  I mean, who doesn’t love the underdog.  And she didn’t disappoint.  While her performance didn’t have the complexity of Lily Rabe’s, it was spot on perfect with comedic timing.  And if you’d missed the little white slip of paper, you’d never have known she was the understudy.

All in all, I actually enjoyed this performance more than the first. Both Jerry O’Connell and Hettienne Park were still playing the same roles from the original cast.  And as is often the case, they had settled into their roles nicely.  Hettienne still hitting the perfect notes for her character Izzy and O’Connell seeming more relaxed and natural in the role.  I appreciated his character much more this time. Whether it was his acting or the shift in the tone due to Goldblum’s interpretation, I can’t say.  But I highly recommend it.

Theresa Rebeck, who brought us SMASH for NBC, has written a poignant, funny story about writers and their fears both real and imagined.  It’s worth an evening at the theatre.  In my case—twice.

Seminar, Golden Theatre, 252 West 45th Street