Friday, February 12, 2010

The Halls of the Madhouses are Filled with Governesses



Pal and muse Vince Gatton is appearing in this through tomorrow night - Jeffrey Hatcher's creepy two-handed adaptation of "The Turn of the Screw." This production places the show - set in the 1870s - in the Merchant House Museum on East Fourth Street, built in the 1830s. It's an inspired choice for this material and they even brought in a 'historical lighting consultant' to approximate the look of gaslight and kerosene without setting the place on fire. Some things are too historically accurate, you know?

I'd tell you to go see it, but the joint only seats about 34 people for the performance, and all the tickets are sold. But Vince said those who show up for cancellations are getting in. There's one show tonight and two on Saturday night.

This was excellent, trust me. I loathe Henry James and I loved it.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

I Had a Snow Day Off So I Bought a Shitload of Used Jazz CDs







The World Wide Intraweb told me that Academy Records on West 18th Street had a much better selection of classical than jazz. Apparently, you have to go further downtown to dig that cool jazz. Perhaps this is true and if I had tromped in the snow to East 12th, I would have been even nuttier. But I gotta tell you - I found more than enough neat stuff at the 18th Street location to waste a whole winter afternoon. And they have good classical, too, it just wasn't what I was jonesing for yesterday.

And I ended up putting a lot of Eric Dolphy, Mel Torme and Dave Brubeck back because it was just getting out of control.

Monday, February 8, 2010

She Wouldn't Take the Dress Off

My review of Karen Finley's new show, a meditation on Jackie Kennedy, fame and assassination kitsch.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

I Can't Wait to Go to This!

I've been listening to the Jazz Loft series on NPR, and of course I'm totally smitten with the whole damn thing. Now I find out the NYPL is having an exhibition of over 200 photos taken at the Jazz Loft and I can't believe I have to wait like what - twelve days? - for them to hang the shit up so I can see it.