Previously on Drag Race, some straight people got married and Joslyn did her man’s make up with tin foil, causing her to go home. Everyone grabs their fake boobs in solidarity. Bianca’s already writing her postcards from Hawaii. [Read more…] about RuPaul’s Drag Race Recap: Silicon Valley of the Dolls
Theater Review: The Realistic Joneses
Will Eno’s The Realistic Joneses is far from conventional Broadway fare-and what a relief! What is perhaps the quirkiest show to play the mainstream is also one of the funniest, most profound, and well-acted pieces of theater this season.
Broadway can too often be an outlet for celebrity heavy hitters, clocking in some legit stage time between projects. This can work to a degree; It brings people to the seats and put smiles on the faces of producers. Sometimes though, film and television actors can fall flat when there is no camera to catch their nuanced close ups. This season has challenged that perception. We need not look any further than Bryan Cranston’s rousing portrayal of LBJ in All the Way , Michelle Williams’ heartbreaking debut as Sally Bowles in Cabaret, or Tyne Daly’s flawless performance in Mothers and Sons to prove that Hollywood is delivering the goods this year.
The praise continues with this top notch cast, directed with precision by Sam Gold. Toni Collette (Jennifer), Michael C. Hall (John) , Tracy Letts (Bob) , and Marisa Tomei (Pony) star as two pairs of neighbors living in Small-town, USA. Jennifer and Bob are reserved, discontent, and guarded. Bob is suffering from a medical condition which helps explain his slightly caustic but winning demeanor. His “glass half full” outlook is perfectly pessimistic. “I don’t think anything good is going to happen to us”, he says, “But, you know, what are you going to do”. His wife matches his defeatist attitude with her wry observations. Upon defending husband Bob’s name during a conversation with John, she states, “I like it. It’s easy to remember. I think dyslectics find it comforting.”
Meanwhile, John and Pony bring a fresh-spirited naiveté to their cynical new friends. Both seem delightfully dim on the surface yet, like Jennifer and Bob, they continually search for deeper meaning “out there”. All of our players are searching for a greater purpose in this existential new dramatic comedy. Thanks to Eno’s crisp writing and humorous observations, there is a realness to their quest that will be instantly relatable to anyone living a human experience. When the curtain falls at the Lyceum theatre, you’ll be glad you decided to keep up with these Joneses.
The Realistic Joneses is now playing on Broadway at the the Lyceum Theatre, 149 West 45th street (between 6th avenue and Broadway). For tickets, visit www.telecharge.com, call 212.239.6200 or go to the box office.
Theater Review: The Mystery of Irma Vep
From the moment I saw The Mystery of Irma Vep I knew it was destined to become one of my all time favorite comedies. I had first been introduced to it in 1995 while working as a house manager at Allenberry Playhouse, a small regional theatre close to my native home in south central Pennsylvania. Each night I was scheduled to work, I would grab a seat in the back and eagerly await the performance. During the 4 week run, I must have watched it at least 10 times and I would still howl with the audience as though it were the first time I was seeing it.
Another servicable production was presented in 2007 at New York’s Urban Stages. Again, it left me in stitches. So I was filled with absolute glee when I heard that Red Bull Theatre was reviving this 1984 gem from the genius mind of Charles Ludlam. Under the accomplished direction of Everett Quinton, Ludlam’s partner and original co-star, this 30th year anniversary production is every bit as outrageous and deliriously joyful as it should be.
The “penny dreadful” is a two person camp-fest which references countless classic films from Nosferatu to Wuthering Heights. Lady Irma Vep has died and her widow, Lord Edgar Hillcrest (Robert Sella) has taken a new love, Lady Enid Hillcrest (Arnie Burton). Jane Twisden (also played by Burton), is the head maid at Mandacrest, the estate on which they reside. She is not all enamored with Lady Enid and constantly compares her with the former lady of the house. Werewolves abound, drunken truths are revealed, and a trip to Egypt follows. There is delicious humorous value in all of it.
It is understandable why Ludlam was hesitant to immediately grant the rights to his show after the original 1984 production became a smash hit. In the hands of less skillful performers, it could be a complete train wreck. But Burton and Sella are both on point and manage to pull off the quick changes with tireless dexterity and sangfroid.
Shows with this caliber of wit are rarely seen and Red Bull Theater must be applauded for not only blessing us with this milestone production, but for executing it with the highest level of quality it deserves.
Mystery of Irma Vep is now playing through May 11th off Broadway at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, 121 Christopher Street (between Bleeker and Hudson). For tickets, call 212-352-3101, visit www.redbulltheater.com or visit the box office (hours vary).
Album Review: Afghan Whigs – Do to the Beast
Afghan Whigs: Do to the Beast
Similar Artists: Queens of the Stone Age, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Sublime, Marvin Gaye
Genre: Alternative hard rock
Label: sub-pop
Afghan Whigs may not be brought up as much as some of their other Gen-X peers(i.e. Rage Against the Machine, Foo Fighters), but that doesn’t mean they were any less a distinct yet universal voice for the 90s alt-rock explosion. While beginning as a post-punk/garage band, the Cincinnati quartet found more of their voice when they began to incorporate elements of soul and R+B into their music, and it eventually became clear that the band wanted to be seen as more of a class-act than others. They often performed wearing suits, and they avoided going for the childish trappings that made their contemporary acts more popular, plus, the band had the ideal frontman for their image in Greg Dulli, a man who would have one of the most fascinating on-record personas in popular music. He sang songs on being a lothario, but a tortured one, where he sang of broken romances and crippling excess, which actually felt close to the world of film noir (Dulli actually has a film degree from the University of Cincinnati), and the result was music that felt gritty, passionate, and fully realized. In my opinion the band’s three 90s masterpieces (Congregation, Gentlemen, and 1965) act as an indelible sequence for the band’s legacy, but the bandmates found themselves getting older and obligated by family around the time the 2000s rolled around, and the band broke up in 2001. Although the band had several brief reunions in the years that followed, the band officially reunited in 2011 where they toured again for the first time in over a decade, and now just a few months ago the band revealed that they were finally working on their first new album in 16 years, Do to the Beast.
I often avoid using the term “comeback album” as the label has become trite in recent years, although I suppose giving the long gap between this and last Afghan Whigs record, 1965, it does fit. Then again though, what exactly are the Whigs coming back from? While the band certainly had it’s mainstream exposure (Rolling Stone, a publication known for typically disregarding indie bands, called them “more than just a footnote in the annals of the Nineties alternative scene”), they were typically considered a fringe act, to arty for general listeners, and too grunge-y for indie appreciators. Still, they were critically lauded for most of their duration, and you can see that they are so fondly remembered by other icons of the era. The official announcement for Do to the Beast came from a tweet from actor/comedian Bob Odenkirk, who had made a chance encounter with Dulli who them gave Odenkirk his permission to do so, perhaps realizing how apropos that another underground (and snazzily dressed) icon of the era be the one to break the news. Also, the new record was mostly recorded at Pink Duck studio, which is owned by Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme, a musician who I feel has come the closest to mimicking Dulli’s swagger and penchant for serious hard rock. All these factors should be enough to make any musician truly think back on how big the concept of a new Afghan Whigs record really is for the pop-culture land scape.
So how’s the album though? Fortunately it turns out to be pretty damn good, and seeing that Afghan Whigs was always a mature band, age has only added to the band’s complexion, even if it’s dulled a bit of their more adventurous qualities. The album’s 10 track are all listenable, but a few come off as fairly generic (i.e. lead single “Algiers”) which used to be unheard of from the Whigs back when they were at their peak. However, the album shines brightest when Dulli lets the songs build up from minimalist introductions into towering compositions. On “It Kills”, the song starts with a simple piano fixture and Dulli singing “Over and over I get to know myself”, which eventually transitions into a much more full-bodied and wholly satisfying composition. Then on “Lost in the Woods”, it also begins with a similar intro with Dulli crooning over a simple piano tune, but then it evolves into a busy chorus, and from then an incredible guitar solo that lets you realize the band’s heart was really in the right place for this track.
Dulli’s time outside of the band would not appear to have been the happiest, as he admits he primarily worked as a bartender during this time, and that he partook in plenty of drug use. Perhaps for that reason, just like the Whigs’ previous albums, Do to the Beast feels most sincere during the moments when Dulli comes off just as masochistic as he his masculine. The man is nearing 50 now, so while we may not hear any lines like “you can fuck my body/but you can’t fuck my mind” here, it’s also clear that relationship troubles are still a fixation for him. On the album’s first track, Dulli sings “You’re gonna make me break down and cry” in a swoon that would make D’Angelo jealous. Still it isn’t all Dulli’s show, as he has R+B singer Van Hunt perform vocals on “It Kills”, making it clear how much Marvin Gaye has continued to have on the band’s definitive sound. Plus, the rest of the band members feel as in tune with each other, never once faltering or conflicting in their musicianship with each other, which isn’t particularly easy giving all the different styles the band incorporate.
Do to the Beast isn’t likely to be remembered as one of the Afghan Whigs best albums. It lacks the polish of the band’s aforementioned classic trilogy, and the album certainly isn’t trying to do anything different. Still, there are enough moments on the album that just scream vintage Whigs, and it just feels so riveting to hear another album from these guys a decade-and-a-half-later that still feels vital and heart-felt. Whether you’re a newcomer or a longtime Whigs fan, Do to the Beast is certain to leave you saturated, and appreciative of a rock genre you may have long thought dead (or even non-existent).
Track Listing:
1). Parked Outside*
2). Matamoros
3). It Kills*
4). Algiers
5). Lost in the Woods*
6). The Lottery
7). Can Rova
8). Royal Cream
9). I Am Fire
10). These Sticks
* Album Highlight
Denim Day 2014: Wearing Tight Jeans Doesn’t Mean Consent
Since April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, early spring marks the time for NYC to speak up about a problem that plagues more women and men than most would like to imagine. With statistics that point to approximately 237,868 survivors of sexual assault each year in the United States, according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, and a rate of one sexual assault in the U.S. per every two minutes, it’s important that we have a month dedicated to spreading knowledge of such a devastating issue that affects so many.
Wednesday, April 23, 2014, focused on a particular event concerning the month’s overall message. The day gave people a chance to reflect on one of the legal systems many failures to prosecute for sexual assault. Having grown out of a 1998 Italian Supreme Court decision that overturned a rape conviction, “Denim Day” got its name because the victim from the case worse tight jeans on the day of her assault. Thus, the presiding judge decided that the victim must have helped her attacker remove her jeans before he raped her, which, in the court’s mind, indicated consent.
Though we’d like to think that nowadays the courts know better than to equate tight jeans with consent, Denim Day serves as a reminder of such attitudes that help rapists get away with their crimes and re-victimize those who have already been violated. On Wednesday, the 23rd, people were encouraged to wear jeans as a symbol of discontent with the Italian Supreme Court ruling and the thinking that lead to it.
In New York City, Denim Day took a number of different forms. The NYC Alliance Against Sexual Assault, in conjunction with St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Crime Victims Treatment Center, Start Strong Bronx, YWCA of Brooklyn, and other organizations from around the city held a Denim Day press conference hosted by Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and Council Member Julissa Ferreras. Located on the steps of City Hall, the conference stressed the importance of men speaking out against sexual assault, which keynote speaker Police Commissioner William Bratton helped support.
Meanwhile, at Beth Israel hospital, a table set up in the main lobby held informational pamphlets, papers, and pins surrounding the day’s message. Glitter glue signs attested to attire, behavior, and time of day never serving as excuses for sexual assault. For example, a sign read something like, “I have the right to walk down the street alone late at night without the fear of getting raped.”
People’s reactions to the information varied. One of the most disappointing came from a man who sympathized with rapists, noting that rape is a stupid action to take because “it could ruin the guy’s life.” As this was certainly not the message passersby were meant to take from the table, it is important to note that the positive responses outweighed such misplaced sympathy. One hospital worker took a pamphlet about services the BI offers regarding sexual assault, planning to share the information with patients of his who had suffered from that particular trauma. Others showed equal enthusiasm, grabbing pins for coworkers and expressing thanks for spreading the message.
Jean brand Guess also showed their support by providing information on their website and requesting people take the pledge to wear jeans on April 23rd. The Columbia University dining hall even served a cake, decorated with roses, in solidarity of the message usually espoused by wearing jeans. Though intentions behind the cake were reportedly positive, the gesture was ultimately deemed inappropriate and the cake was taken away, unsurprisingly untouched. Sporting denim and spreading a message that condemns rapists and those who let them get away with their actions, of course, remain the best ways to show support. With about a week left in April, there’s still time to raise awareness for the month’s cause (and there’s always time to continue to do so indefinitely).
Bad Teacher is Better Than I Thought It Would Be
Bad Teacher: Thursdays at 9:30 on CBS
Last week, when discussing FX’s new take on Fargo, I brought up the fact that movie rehashes seem to be in vogue this year. However, what makes this year’s version seem considerably more different is that CBS, which tends to be more likely to stick to it’s own way of multi-cam comedies and procedurals seems considerably more game to jump in on these trends as it’s rating slowly descend back to earth. September’s Hostages was part of a cluster of hostage crises, January’s Intelligence was similar to ABC’s the assets, and tonight’s Bad Teacher is part of a string of movie adaptations we can expect to see over the next few months.
This version of Bad Teacher comes with a very fairly similar (if slightly more open ended) path of the original movie. Trophy wife Meredith Davis (Ari Graynor ) is kicked to the curb by her wealthy husband, and is forced to work as a middle school teacher while looking for a new sugar daddy. In this new world, she encounters a number of faculty members, including a stodgy faculty president (Kristin Davis )and a gym teacher from her past (Ryan Hansen) who show some skepticism about this new faculty member.
Typically, I find that CBS comedies tend to feel pretty monotonous in terms of their pacing, their jokes, and their styles. Instead, we get an interesting mix that combines zippy punchlines with a touch of surrealism and some great moments where Meredith goes on rants with much delusions of grandeur. For me the mixture was fairly reminiscent of a show like Sex and the City, with a bubbly tone that also carried a decent mix of snark to accompany it.
A large part of the credit goes to the amazing veteran cast the producers managed to assemble. Ari Graynor is a revelation as Davis, owning her character from minute one. Backing up Graynor are some formidable comedy veterans such as Kristin Davis (Sex and the City), Sara Gilbert (Roseanne), and David Alan Grier (In Living Color). We even get some extra support from Richard Kind, playing a close friend of Meredith’s who lets her crash in their guest house.
If there is one knock on the pilot, it’s in the storytelling. While I appreciate the fact that Bad Teacher did not draw out it’s origin story too long – it’s wrapped up before the credits begin – it also seemed to shoehorn in sitcom conventions a touch awkwardly. This was particularly notable when the show went to the “heart” moment in the third act, as it created the sort of emotional whiplash when one considers that a real bond was not well formed in the initial two acts.
The Final Verdict: While I was initially skeptical, I’ll be the first to admit that Bad Teacher is the most I’ve laughed at a CBS show aside from How I Met Your Mother. It’s a fast, fun, series that doesn’t try to occupy too much mind space (perfect for both the CBS lineup and 9:30 on a Thursday). Check it out, you won’t be disappointed with it.
Tres Carnes: An Awesome Alternative To The Norm
Tres Carnes… They got Brisket YO!!!!!
Even though there is a plethora of authentic Mexican food you can experience here in New York City, many of us tend to take the easy way out, or most known, by going to familiar places such as Chipotle, Moe’s or even Taco Bell. We don’t tend to venture out and see what really is out for our taste buds to salivate on, yet if you really open your eyes you will see how much there really is to experience. One of those places is Tres Carnes, located in the heart of Chelsea on 22nd and 6th. Dubbed as “Texas Smoked Mexican Fare” on their website, Tres Carnes takes authentic Mexican cuisine to a whole other level, by bringing well known flavors and products and elevating them to an insanely delicious level.
Tres Carnes has been open for a little over a year, they opened its first location at 22nd & 6th Ave in March of 2013 and is run by Michael Sinensky, BBQ Pitmaster Mike Rodriguez and Exec. Chef Sasha Shor. What is a great visual of the location, besides the food of course, is the interesting and innovative art that is on the walls. The art is a “living installation,” taking shape and form based on the creative direction of Chef Sasha Shor. The art is curated and transitioned based on Sasha’s inspirations, travels, etc…
Seeing as from the moment I walked in there I was instantly hit with the aromatic smell of all the food that was made, I couldn’t wait to get my mouth on so many different options that they provide. When it comes to the burrito option, you can choose the traditional kind or have them come in a bowl or soft tacos. The meat options are quite diverse, one being- BRISKET. Yes a 16 hour smoked brisket that is just as tasty as it sounds. You also have the options of Smoked Chicken in Adobo and Lime, Smoked Pork Shoulder or there is a vegetarian option for the non-meat eaters out there.
The sides that come with the dish can also substitute for what you can put on your taco, burrito or bowl. And they are just as yummy as the main dish itself. Tres Carnes offers street cart corn, which is hot and sweet and bursting with flavor as well as Chipotle Squash and Brisket Chili. All were definitely worth doing a Cookie Monster and saying “OM NOM NOM!!!” We finished off with a churro doughnut, which is just as it was described. Suffice to say, the fat kid in me (who is still around as an adult mind you) was very happy overall. Easily a 10/10 in my book.
Go visit for yourself and see what all the fuss is about! You won’t be disappointed!
688 6th Ave.
New York, NY 10010
Phone:(212) 989-8737
Theater Review: Mothers and Sons
Every so often, a play comes along which reminds us of why we love the theater so much. For in it, we find moments of enlightenment and truth which transform us into better people. We walk out, deeply moved, challenged, and changed by what we have just seen. Terrance McNally’s new Broadway offering, Mothers and Sons is such a piece.
The play opens in the elegant apartment of Cal Porter (Frederick Weller), shared with his significantly younger husband, Will Ogden (Bobby Steggart), and their adopted son, Bud Odgen-Porter (Grayson Taylor). Cal is making small talk with an unexpected visitor, Ms. Katherine Gerard (Tyne Daly). Katherine is the mother of Porter’s former lover, Andre. Years before, Andre was a promising stage actor whose life, like many gay men of his era, was snuffed out by the AIDS epidemic. Even after twenty years, an unfulfilled personal life coupled with the shame of a homosexual son is too much for Katherine to bear and she has come to their home to air her grievances, frustration, and disapproval. Meanwhile, Cal and Will remain proud of the lives they have led.
The subject of parental discontent over sexuality is too often drawn in shades of black and white. Here, there is proper room for gray. What is most humanizing about McNally’s script is that it does not vilify Katherine. It could simply portray her as rigid and unforgiving, and yet Tyne Daly has provided us with well-rounded matron of complexity, sure to resonate with many theatergoers. If a look is worth a thousand words, Ms. Daly is giving us the entire Wikipedia in 90 minutes. Her fellow co-stars shine equally in this sympathetic, heartfelt, and timely play about facing uncertainty and forging forgiveness.
Mothers and Sons is now playing on Broadway at the Golden Theater 252 West 45th Street between Broadway and 8th avenue. For tickets, call 212-239-6200, online at www.telecharge.com, or go to the box office.
RuPaul’s Drag Race Recap: Say Yes Gurl!, to the Dress
Previously on RuPaul’s Drag Race, we talked about Cher, Chaz, Chad, and Trinity took off. [Read more…] about RuPaul’s Drag Race Recap: Say Yes Gurl!, to the Dress
Guild Wars 2 Feature Pack – Part 3
Source: guildwars2.com
Guild Wars 2 goes “mega.”
Welcome back! This is the third and final part of our coverage of the Guild Wars 2 Feature Pack, which goes live on the 15th! We’ve covered balance updates, PvP, quality of life upgrades, the new wardrobe feature, and new traits, but this part of the patch figures to be bigger than them all! Responding to the game-wide issue of certain zones and cities being barren and unpopulated, ArenaNet has seen fit to completely overhaul the way servers operate, giving birth to the “Megaserver System.”
How will it work? Well, for starters, it won’t be going entirely into effect on the 15th. It will be a deliberate process, beginning with the Heart of the Mists PvP hub and the maps with the lowest populations, and should be complete by the end of the year. The Megaserver System seeks to provide players with well-populated zones around the clock, that way there’s always someone to play with and the less populated events in the game get done more often. Instead of each server having one main copy of a given map, the Megaserver System will combine all worlds together and only have the number of copies it needs to accommodate the player population in a given map. It will also allow for players who are in the same party or guild to play together more easily, with functions dedicated to ensuring that related players are placed in the same instance of a map or can easily join friends if they’re separated.
But wait! World bosses spawn at different times on each server! How will they be affected? Fear not, players. With the rollout of the Megaserver Systems comes a standardized schedule for the various world bosses, which you can find here. Bosses that previously did not have failure mechanics or timers will be getting them, to ensure that the game remains on schedule. Also, many of the bosses will be tweaked to preserve balance, and this includes abilities, overall difficulty, or even the event chains that lead up to their encounters. Such changes were not detailed in the reveal, but will be available in the release notes next week.
Waypoints, dungeons, and temples will be slightly affected by the new changes as well. For instance, you will no longer be able to tell if a waypoint is actually uncontested until you arrive on the map that it’s in. In the Orr maps, which have many contested waypoints, this figures to be a bit of a hassle. The same goes for the three dungeons that require event chain completion to open: Citadel of Flame, Crucible of Eternity, and The Ruined City of Arah. You will now have to waypoint to Fireheart Rise, Mount Maelstrom, or Cursed Shore, respectively, to find out the status of these dungeons. As for temples, the god statues that normally have cross-map mechanics will no longer function that way, and instead will only be active when the nearest temple becomes contested.
The final aspects of the Megaserver System covered were guilds and World vs. World. Guilds will remain separate for now; they will still be server-specific until the Megaserver System is completely implemented, but once that happens guild members will earn influence towards the same total regardless of their home world. Guilds will still have a hard cap of 500 members and if a guild has chapters on multiple servers, they cannot be combined. World vs. World will remain unchanged for the time being and logically speaking, it’s unlikely to be affected by the Megaserver System at all. ArenaNet is making many ambitious changes here, so it’s nice to see that they’re preserving the identity of Guild Wars 2‘s WvW game mode for the sake of those who have made their legend on the battlefield.
With all of these imminent changes coming to Guild Wars 2, the game will never be the same again! I’m admittedly skeptical about a few things that ArenaNet is trying with this patch, but I’m also greatly excited that a number of issues that have existed since launch are finally getting the proper attention they need. If you’ve never played Guild Wars 2, now would be a great time to jump in; it really is a fantastic MMO during its high points (and it’s on sale for $24.99 until Saturday). They may not get everything right, but I have a strong feeling that ArenaNet knocked this out of the park.
For more information regarding the Guild Wars 2 Feature Pack, click here. For more of our coverage on the Guild Wars 2 Feature Pack, click here (Part 1) and here (Part 2).