When we went out on Saturday morning, it had not yet begun to snow, but it was in the air. And we had three shows to attend!
We began our day by taking the subway up to Chelsea to see “Ernest in Love” at the Irish Rep Theatre. This is a musical version of Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Ernest”. It was a delightful show and great fun to see Noah Racy and Beth Fowler on stage again. However, the book and the music seemed to perhaps be each designed for different shows. Delightful, fun, but not great musical theatre.
By the time we got out, it was snowing in earnest. We took the subway up to 42nd Street station then walked up to one of our old mid-t0wn stand-bys, “Pergola Des Artistes” next to the Imperial Theatre on 46th Street. This is one of the few remaining old New York Restaurants- in business since 1963 and still run by the same family. Good, hearty French country food.
Leaving the restaurant, it was clear we had reached blizzard time. We were going to see “Zero Hour” just a couple of blocks up 46th Street. It was a very long and frigid walk. It was performed in a converted Church hall as is the case for so many off-Broadway houses in New York. I have seen at least 3 different off-Broadway shows in former Churches. This is a good thing. In my mind, we definitely need fewer churches and more theatres.
“Zero Hour” is a one man show about Zero Mostel, the original Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof” and the original Max in the movie “The Producers”. It focuses on the his life and the Blacklist and the impact on artist of the 1950’s. It was a wonderful show and a wonderful performance. Seeing shows like this always make me fear we are forgetting our history–and those that forget or ignore history are often condemned to repeat it.
By the time we got out of “Zero Hour”, it was really nasty out. Luckily, we got a cab right in front of the theatre to take us to the Algonquin Hotel to see Andrea Marcovicci at the Oak Room.
I love the Algonquin and the Oak Room. They are among the increasing rare parts of “old” New York that I love. So much of the New York I dreamed about as a child and saw when I first started coming here has disappeared and been replaced by Starbucks, McDonald’s and Olive Gardens. I don’t understand why people travel and eat at the same chain restaurants they could go to at home. I’ll never get over the loss of “Barrymore’s” a great little after theatre place where the casts of the shows mingled with the after theatre crowd over cheap wine and commentary and reminiscences from true theatre people and theatre lovers. I almost miss the bad old days when you never saw teenagers on 42nd Street unless they were hustling. But I digress…
The Oak Room is very Olde New York. I was tastefully attired in a Brooks Brothers shirt, black cashmere sweater, grey wool pants and LL Bean Maine Hunting shoes. It seemed to be the look of the night in NYC. Prior to the show, we met Matilda, the cat who lives in the lobby of the Algonquin and sat to enjoy the atmosphere and the people. A group of drunken Brits dragged the Maitre’d out into the street to make him take their picture in the middle of 44th Street in the snow.
Andrea Marcovicci is the Queen of Cabaret. She is a true song stylist and chantuese. This is the 4th or 5th time we’ve seen her show at the Algonquin. She always has a different focus and act. This year it was Johnny Mercer, the composer of “Moon River” and about 17,000 other songs. She not only entertains, but educates. I think she plays a vital role in keeping both Cabaret performances and the American Popular Song alive for new generations. It was a delight to see her and chat with her after the show.
Then, out into the blizzard again. Once again, we were lucky enough to get a cab right in front of the Algonquin to take us down to the Washington Square Hotel.
The snow in New York was simply magical. There is nothing like New York at the Holidays and a New York with snow at the Holidays is just incredible.
More to come…
Lost in the 21st Century 