August Favorites

Pretty Woman: The Musical: I had originally planned to go see this show at some point because Orfeh has a fairly significant role in it, and I was looking forward to hearing her belt some Bryan Adams penned songs, but then Andy Karl was cast in the role of Edward for the Broadway run, and seeing Pretty Woman became a huge priority. I truly enjoyed this musical, and was very glad that I already had a ticket in place to see it again a month later. While the show does have some minor issues (as much as I love Andy, he didn't seem to be settled into his role as a ruthless businessman at the preview performance I saw; and I don't think all of Samantha Barks's songs are suited for her voice), overall it offers an incredibly fun night at the theatre. It's a super sexy show (Andy and Samantha – who plays Vivian – have excellent chemistry) that showcases all the key scenes and lines from the movie while also being its own piece of art, thanks to excellent pop songs by Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance that add depth and dimension to the characters. I usually don't purchase cast recordings of new musicals (with the exceptions of Hadestown and Groundhog Day), but I was ready to buy the cast recording for Pretty Woman in the middle of the show (sadly it won't be available until the later half of September). Andy in particular nails the delivery of his songs, which are charming, sincere, and beautiful. I also like that many of the songs in the show have a strong message of empowerment and believing in yourself. Orfeh, Andy, and Samantha aren't the only cast members who shine bright; Eric Anderson does double-duty as two engaging characters (hotel manager Mr.Thompson, and Happy Man, a denizen of Hollywood Boulevard), Tommy Bracco steals every scene he's in as bellhop Giulio, and Jason Danieley oozes smarm as Edward's lawyer (the role played by Jason Alexander in the film). Anyone who loves the movie Pretty Woman will also enjoy this stage adaptation of this romantic modern classic.

Rod Stewart at Madison Square Garden: Even though this show was very similar to the one I saw in Vegas last year, it was still a highly enjoyable evening of music and didn't feel at all like a retread. Rod Stewart is such an excellent performer who truly understands the meaning of showmanship. He also has so very many amazing songs. The setlist was pretty much back to back hits, and even the one new song he did from his forthcoming album was totally rockin'. Sir Rod still sounds great, and he is fun to watch because he clearly loves being up on stage singing for his fans. I got into Rod Stewart just a couple of years ago, but now that I've discovered how magical he is, I'll see him perform live any chance I get.

Peace in the Valley, Isaac Taylor: Those who have known me a long time know that I have a deep affection for the extended Simon-Taylor clan of music-makers. Isaac is the nephew of James Taylor, and the cousin of Ben and Sally Taylor. Isaac's father Hugh has also released an album. I've seen Isaac perform at Ben's shows in the past, and like his voice and songs just as much as any of the other Taylors's, so I was excited to read in the Martha's Vineyard Times that Isaac had released an album (honestly, I had assumed that he already had multiple albums, but this is in fact his first!). Peace in the Valley is a gentle collection of folk songs with beautifully arranged instrumentations that remind me of Chris Bathgate, Brian Wilson circa Surf's Up, and Bob Dylan (whose "The Death of Emmett Till" is covered here). Standout track "Throw Down Your Heart" is strongly reminiscent of Jeff Buckley at his most transcendent. Other noteworthy tracks include "We're Not Leaving", "Ring Your Bell", and "Don't Paint Me Blue". This album offers a collection of lovely songs that recall simpler times through their beautiful, mellow vibe.

Alexandria: This play was written by my friend Vince Gatton, but I would have loved it even if I didn't personally know the playwright. Set in the South, the play offers a window into attitudes and philosophies that are foreign to many in the Northeast, but raises provocative questions no matter what parts of the country you are most familiar with. Not only does the play capture a certain Southern Christian mindset very well, but it also does a wonderful job exploring the differences in attitudes among three generations of the LBGTQ+ community. Additionally, Alexandria does a very good job giving voice to internal moral struggles via natural, intelligent dialog. With just a cast of five and action limited to one setting – a library – Alexandria kept me guessing about where it was going to go next at the end of every scene, but it never felt disjointed or contrived; it was subtle without being coy, and above all it was smart and never accused or condescended to any of its characters.

South of Broad, Pat Conroy: This book is basically a soap opera in written form, and like a soap opera, it is highly entertaining. South of Broad is packed with over-the-top characters, AIDS drama (part of the story is set in San Francisco in 1989), tons of coincidences, a hurricane, scandals, troubled marriages, discussions of race and integration (part of the story is set in Charleston in 1969), Catholic drama, and class issues. While it did take a little while for me to get into the groove of the book, once I hit "Part Two", the galvanization of the main characters' relationships totally drew me in. These friendships, which are the backbone and through-line of the story, are perfectly nostalgic, romanticized, and idealized; despite their dysfunction, I wish I had a group of friends as close and loyal as the group in this book. However, I did find the dialog throughout the book a little hard to take; I am pretty sure real people would never talk the way the characters in this book do. Conroy's ability to conjure richly detailed settings and atmosphere is on full display here, and his affection for Charleston makes the city just as important a character in this book as the narrator and his high school friends.

Kyle Eastwood at The Blue Note: I had been wanting to see Kyle Eastwood at the Blue Note for several years, but I could never make any of his dates work with my schedule until now. To be totally honest, I was mainly interested in seeing him because he is Clint Eastwood's son. However, now that I've seen Kyle perform, I am totally into who he is as a jazz musician. Kyle plays bass and has a very talented band (piano, drums, trumpet, saxophone) that plays with him. While Kyle sits in the middle of the stage, he is super low-key, and the music is clearly a collaborative effort among the whole band. The style of jazz is cool and piano driven; it reminds me of a classy cocktail lounge in the late 60s, as well as of Erroll Garner and early Herbie Hancock (there's even a wonderful version of Hancock's "Dolphin Dance" on Kyle's album Time Pieces). I bought two of Kyle's albums (In Transit and Time Pieces) at the show and liked them so much that I ordered three of his other albums right away (I plan on getting the final three soon). I highly recommend seeing Kyle's set if he comes to a jazz club near you, or checking out some of his albums, which just happen to be perfect mood music for late summer and early fall evenings.

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, Dee Brown: This is an eye-opening book about a part of American history that was certainly not covered in the schools that I attended. The way the American government treated the American Indians is shameful and heartbreaking. Dee Brown tells important stories that have had a lasting impact on our country and have great resonance with today's political climate. For further reading, I also recommend Empire of the Summer Moon, by S. C. Gwynne, though this book focuses on the Comanches and is written in a drier, slightly more academic style.

Support the Girls: Despite being directed by Andrew Bujalski, who also directed Funny Ha Ha (one of the worst movies I've ever seen), Support the Girls is a sweet, funny, and highly enjoyable movie. Regina Hall, Haley Lu Richardson, and Shayna McHayle all give excellent performances in this great story about staying positive, powering through, and the importance and power of female friendships. The movie mostly takes place over the course of one day, and the story is driven by Hall's character Lisa, who keeps her chin up no matter what that day throws at her. At its core, the film has a down-to-earth, slice-of-life vibe, but there are also touches of sunniness, optimism, and whimsy that elevate it to something special and memorable that could easily stand up to repeat viewings.

Tomorrow, Damian Dibben: I discovered this book through Bull Moose's twitter and thought it sounded interesting, so I ordered it even though it's still in hardcover. As a fan of some vampire books (namely Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles), I do enjoy a good story involving immortality, and Tomorrow delivers on that front. There is also a sort of magician element that reminded me the tiniest bit of The Night Circus. While none of the characters are vampires, they still have to deal with many of the same moral and existentialist issues that come along with eternal life. However, because there are no vampires and the narrator is an immortal dog, the story is sweet and very human. There are also some nice historical elements, like the 30 Years' War, 19th century Venice, and even the battle of Waterloo. Though it shares elements and themes with many other books I've enjoyed, Tomorrow is a wonderfully unique story told from a fresh perspective.