In ‘Mr. Parker’, Getting on With Life as You Don’t Know It

Derek Smith is the title character in “Mr. Parker,” a middle-aged gay man who must find a way to move forward in a strange world after the death of his husband. Photos by John Quilty.

By MARI S. GOLD

“MR. Parker” offers what at first seems like a collection of clichés but thankfully switches course to provide insight into what resilience is all about.

At Theatre Row by way of the Penguin Rep Theater until June 25, the work reveals a middle-aged gay man who finds himself adrift after the death of his artist husband, a sexy young gender non-conforming man picked up in a bar and the stylish, powerful sister of the artist. The three play effectively off of one another.

Terry Parker (Derek Smith) grapples with his loss. No longer part of the Jeff and Terry couple, he has been reduced simply to Mr. Parker by the doorman of his upscale building. Stuck and unable to move ahead, he clings to the studio emptied by the loss of his husband until a chance encounter with Justin, a bartender/Uber driver (Davi Santos), leads to a change of outlook.

The situation is both hindered and helped by Cassandra, the artist’s sister (Mia Matthews) who has managed her brother’s work and, to some extent, his and Terry’s lives. Taut, controlling Cassandra recognizes that the Justin-Terry relationship won’t benefit either man and gives it a painful, if necessary, push.

All three actors inhabit their roles with naturalness of voice, gesture and meaning. Writer Michael McKeever could have developed just as successful a script had he eliminated a little of Justin’s backstory, but overall the situation works. The world has moved on and so must these characters with a nod to cell phones, today’s gender pronouns and contemporary art.

Things heat up quickly after a chance meeting between Terry (Derek Smith) and Justin (Davi Santos) in “Mr Parker.”

Costumes by Myra Oney are particularly effective on Cassandra whose role provides the greatest opportunity to make a fashion statement. Max Silverman’s music separates elements well without overtaking them; Joe Brancato’s direction keeps sufficient tension in the air to allow the actors the scope they need to work.

Penguin Rep Theater, where “Mr. Parker” originated, has grown over 40 years from a summer theater to become one of the Hudson Valley’s most influential nonprofit cultural institutions, reaching tens of thousands of theatergoers each year at its home in upstate New York.

In New York City and beyond, its work moves to off-Broadway and to stages across the country and around the world. Penguin has presented works by playwrights, including Ronald Harwood, Arthur Laurents, Lanie Robertson and Elizabeth Swados. Andrew M. Horn, producer and executive director, has overseen nearly 200 productions for the group.

In “Mr Parker,” Justin (Davi Santos) and Terry (Derek Smith) begin a relationship that is doomed to fail and it is left to Cassandra (Mia Matthews) to sort it all out.

“Mr. Parker” isn’t grand drama but it deals head on with major life situations, including sexuality, power and loss. The story is almost entirely believable and presented by skilled actors who fully inhabit their roles. Moving on is tough but is a necessary part of life.

Visit https://bfany.org/theatre-row/shows/mr-parker/ to learn more about Mr. Parker.

NYGASP's ‘The Pirates of Penzance’: A Gilbert & Sullivan Classic Done to a Turn

Sarah Caldwell Smith leads “The Pirates of Penzance” ensemble in “Poor Wand’ring One.”

By MARI S. GOLD

IN today’s world filled with strife and angry disagreement, it is a pleasure to see an entirely lighthearted theatrical performance. Opposite sides each have their say. Conundrums are resolved and the audience gets two-plus wonderful hours of escapism.

Thanks goes to “The Pirates of Penzance, or The Slave of Duty” in its brief run at the Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College. With music by Sir Arthur Sullivan and a libretto by W. S. Gilbert, the production by the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players (NYGASP) is richly rewarding.

Among the many delights of all Gilbert & Sullivan works is the overture. Though small, the NYGASP orchestra has a hearty, full sound. Founder, artistic director and general manager Albert Bergeret conducts the musicians with vigor.

Starting with “Pour, O Pour the Pirate Sherry,” the opening number sung and danced by the pirate ensemble, the production explodes with energy. As the cast guides the audience through the convoluted plot, the bright colors and clever design of Quinto Ott and Gail Wofford’s elaborate costumes (note the epaulets on Major-General Stanley’s bathrobe) fill the eye.

Now to the shenanigans: Frederic’s nursemaid, Ruth, mistakenly apprentices the boy to a band of pirates instead of a group of pilots. Frederic (Christopher Robin Sapp / Andrew Corson) has vowed to devote his life to the extermination of piracy – until a ludicrous leap year snag threatens to keep him apprenticed to the pirates for life.

Although considerably older than Frederic, Ruth wants to marry him. He demurs, realizing he lacks experience with other women. Subsequently, Frederic sees and is smitten with Mabel, one of the many wards of Major-General Stanley (James Mills).

A particular special moment in Gilbert & Sullivan operettas involves a patter song in which a character discloses his background. In “Pirates,” Mills does a splendid job with the much-parodied “I Am the Very Model of a Model Major-General.”

A group of bumbling policemen captained by Ott – as good at comedy as he is at costumes – becomes involved. The police antics with the young ladies and pirates are fun and do full justice to the number, “A Policeman’s Life is Not a Happy One.” Sarah Caldwell Smith as Mabel has a lovely soprano enhanced with a great sense of timing. Cáitlín Burke as Ruth conveys a sense of fun and good stage presence also complemented by a fine voice.

The entire company dances with verve on the small Kaye Playhouse stage. Choreographer Bill Fabris does a creative job with simple movements, especially for the hapless policemen as one inept officer struggles – and mostly fails – to match the steps of his colleagues.

The stage business is vigorous. There are many bright moments: the badminton game played by two young ladies; a policeman lying on a bench as though he is an effigy, and the Major-General’s expressive use of his handkerchief. Holding Queen Victoria’s portrait aloft so the pirates can express their loyalty to the crown, Frederic mimes a hilarious parody of the modern British Royal’s wrist-wave.

The very capable NYGASP, which bills itself as the country’s “preeminent professional Gilbert & Sullivan repertory ensemble,” gracefully covers minor mishaps. For instance, when the lights at the start of Act ll are delayed. A fallen pistol? Uncaught flag? No problem.

James Mills (front and center) as the very model of a modern major-general and “The Pirates of Penzance” ensemble. Photo by William Reynolds.

My only quibble is a lack of crispness in dialogue, both spoken and sung. This may be owing to acoustics at the Kaye Playhouse. Unfortunate because every syllable of Gilbert’s words is worth savoring.

“The Pirates of Penzance” is one of the strongest works in the Gilbert & Sullivan canon. It includes a melodious score as well as ample humor, parody and overall charm right down to the pardon of the pirates who are all “noblemen gone wrong.”

Maidens, policemen, pirates, nursemaid, Major-General and the rest of the cast deliver a very pleasurable experience.

Visit https://www.nygasp.org/ to learn more about “The Pirates of Penzance.”

Ambitious 'Once Upon a Time Called Now’ Inflames, Then Overwhelms the Senses

Russell Hall, Roxanne King, Michela Marino Lerman, Orlando Hernández and Alfonso Horne making merry. Photo by Kevin Lau.

BY MARI S. GOLD

“ONCE Upon a Time Called Now” is a kaleidoscope of tap dance, live jazz, creative lighting, dazzling costumes and just plain hoofing to intricate rhythms set against a spoken narration.

The work, at the Joyce Theater through 3 April, opens on a background aglow with apricot-colored lights illuminating the silhouettes of musicians and empty peacock chairs. It’s Mardi Gras, evidenced by twirling parasols and bodies – sad and joyous – in semi-single file as they weave through the imagined streets of New Orleans.

Renowned dancer Michela Marino Lerman is at the center wearing a suit ablaze with sequins. Not that of a bullfighter, but with the sparkle that befits the winner of the 2019 Hoofer Award (See video below of Lerman&Co. in action). She is also a bandleader, educator, director and all-around creative wonder behind this 90-minute entertainment set in the spirit world.

Love Moment, the band led by Lerman, plays a tight blend of original music. The mostly jazz and spiritual numbers combine with energetic arms and legs tapping one- and two-footed movements to impart a sense of community to every moment. In “Once Upon a Time Called Now,” Lerman casts herself as Kahina and invites the audience to accompany her on a journey back from the afterlife on a quest to achieve self-love, acceptance and enlightenment. Music, dancing and projections are set against a recorded narrative by writer/actress Anna Deavere Smith.

Kahina’s journey of self-discovery begins with revisiting her ancestors in ancient Egypt. There, she searches for her ba, a major aspect of the soul that can appear in bird form expressing the soul’s mobility even after death. As she works to rid herself of negative character traits like materialism and ego, Kahina recalls Orpheus whose instructions during his descent into the underworld were “don’t look back.”

These ideas, developed as Kahina’s internal monologue, are implicated in Deavere Smith’s poetic narrations. Thankfully, they move the ideas forward because these notions of Kahina are sometimes hard to follow. The narrations are also often enmeshed with self-help truisms along the lines of “find your center.” These unfortunately distract, rather than enhance the power of those brightly beating feet.

The dancing, comprising solos and group movements, is interspersed with the narrative as feet stamp out intricate rhythms. The tapping is vigorous, demanding and often flashes brilliantly, but the overall effect grows somewhat repetitive as do the steps. Sometimes, there is almost too much to take in as the mind tries to follow the narrative while the eye – and heart – is drawn to the dancing, music and onstage energy.

“Once Upon a Time Called Now,” blends internal self-seeking and a quiet, meditative state with great tapping, demonstrating the physical control evident in every step of the dancers. The costumes by Angela M. Fludd are free-flowing and designed to embrace every body type in keeping with the underlying theme of self-acceptance. Also, they have the added benefit of enhancing the exuberance of each dancer’s performance.

Michela Marino Lerman (center), surrounded by collaborators (from left) Russell Hall, Roxanne King, Orlando Hernández and Alfonso Horne. Photo by Martina DaSilva.

Meanwhile, the band and vocals add another layer of sensory satisfaction to “Once Upon a Time Called Now.” Yet as thrilling as it often is, the unceasing volume of the music grows hard to listen to as the evening wends on, making this writer wish for a brief change of decibel level.

This production is a sweeping, immersive experience with dazzling dance moves. And Lerman is a genuinely creative spirit both as dancer and leader, but she might be better served with less complex surroundings and greater concentration on what she and her talented troupe do best, minus the mumbo- jumbo.

Visit https://www.joyce.org/performances/michela-marino-lerman to learn more about "Once Upon a Time Called Now."

God Save the Queens: Protecting the Mane of Palimore Triplets, as Well as Girls and Women in Every Corner of Country with CROWN Act

BY VW

WITH all of the problems that plague the United States, one of the very last ones we should be dealing with – in the 21st century! – is hair discrimination. Yet, it is a problem that persists. And you, you, you and you can help from the comfort of home and device.

Are you scratching your scalp, wondering what I'm on about? I get it. It’s a ton of botheration to even bring it up, but needs must, hence the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act of 2021, for instance. But I will return to that shortly.

First, some background: Fellow Americans all across the United States – an overwhelming majority of them black, if media reports and at least one study are to be believed – have been experiencing discrimination because of their hairstyles. One might think such practices were left behind in 1919 or 1984 or 1999. Alas, no. They persist in 2000, 2010, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 …

It could be a situation where an athlete is told he must cut his locs to compete. A little girl is sent home because she is wearing braids in violation of school policy. A woman receives a job offer contingent on her abandoning her locs or braids. Little girls are bullied at school because of their hairstyles. Many of these same little girls begin to dislike their hair and desire straight hair.

This hair discrimination impacts mostly women and disproportionately black women who wear natural hairstyles like afros, braids, locs and ringlets. In fact, the 2019 Dove CROWN Research Study found in part that 80 percent of black women compared with 65 percent of nonblack women reported hair dicrimination.

The study also found that black girls as young as 5 have experienced hair discrimination (See "As Early As Five" above. It is a short film from Dove that dramatizes this finding). Yikes! This should not be the future of the Palimore Triplets or any little girl regardless of her hair type.

To paraphrase Marcus Garvey, “Don't force them to remove the kinks from their hair! Remove the kinks from your brain!

Not surprisingly, these outrages have spawned activism and legislation, giving rise to the CROWN Coalition and the CROWN Act. The former is an alliance of various non-governmental organizations, including Dove. Its mission is to push anti-hair discrimination legislation across the United States.

The coalition has had success. Currently, 14 states and more than 30 municipalities have passed hair discrimination laws under the rubric, CROWN Act.

You can follow the Palimore Triplets on Instagram (@palimore_triplets). Image from Palimore Triplets Instagram page.

The CROWN ACT, which outlaws hair discrimination (particularly the race-based type) in institutions and workplaces, passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in September 2020 and was introduced in the U.S. Senate in March 2021. There is a big push to get the bill passed in the Senate. President Joe Biden is expected to sign the CROWN Act, making it the law of the land.

I hope yous will get on board and support the CROWN Act (use the links below to act). Because in 2022, we don't have time for this.

Visit the following links to support the CROWN Coalition and the CROWN Act of 2021:
Join the CROWN Coalition: https://www.thecrownact.com/join-crown-act

Get help if you have experienced hair discrimination: https://www.thecrownact.com/hair-discrimination-help

2019 Dove CROWN Research Study: https://bit.ly/3ubzl9j

2019 Dove CROWN Research Study for Girls Infographic: https://bit.ly/3s8RZMe

Sign petition to support an end to hair discrimination in all 50 states and the District of Columbia (Washington, DC): https://www.dove.com/us/en/stories/campaigns/the-crown-act.html

Use online form to request your U.S. Senator’s support of the CROWN Act of 2021: https://www.thecrownact.com/email-your-senator

Holiday Gift Guide 2021: LoveLit Candles Is Young Hailei Beckwith’s Labor of Love (Sans Beeswax)

Hailei Beckwith, owner of LoveLit Candles, receives a Young Entrepreneurs Day proclamation from Monroe, LA Mayor Friday Ellis. Photos courtesy of LoveLitCandles.

HEADS UP: Dear Reader, we’re back with a Holiday Gift Guide after a two-year hiatus! Until 24 Dec., the elves at The Wright Wreport will introduce at least one or a series of products, items, services and/or brands that we believe are worthy of consideration as holiday gift(s).

BY VW

HAILEI Beckwith has it going on!

Not only is she a good student, nice person, attractive girl and a pageant winner (Miss Monroe's Outstanding Teen 2022), the 17-year-old is an entrepreneur. And she’s been in the game for four years as the founder of LoveLit Candles. Since she was 13, in case you didn’t do the math.

Who’s to say? One day Hailei might be mentioned in the same breath as Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook), Frank DeLuca (Subway) and Mike Kittredge (what became Yankee Candle).

The LoveLit Candles Holiday Collection: Christmas Cabin, Mistletoe + Cranberries, Spiced Pomander and Winter Romance.

Today, she has peers like Maya Penn (Maya’s Ideas: sustainable fashion), Caroline Bercaw and Isabel Bercaw (Da Bomb: bath bombs) and Femi Adebogun (ScholarMe: platform for applying for college aid). All founded their enterprises in their teens; some are still teens.

There are no hard-and-fast statistics on the number of children in the United States who own businesses, but anecdotally the number is in the millions.

The LoveLit Candles room/linen sprays (Graceful Host, for instance) neutralize odors and refresh the air in various spaces.

It’s as though Hailei took the advice of former President Barack Obama: “We are the change that we seek.” Or many a grandmother: “If you want something done right, do it yourself.”

Undoubtedly, these are some of the self-starter/solution-oriented attitudes – plus, a bee allergy – that led the adolescent to start her Monroe, LA-based candle company.

“Most candles use beeswax and I wanted to enjoy candles and also allow that opportunity for other people that are allergic to beeswax to enjoy candles,” she explained during a recent interview after receiving a Young Entrepreneurs Day proclamation from Monroe, LA Mayor Friday Ellis (play video for the entire interview).

Don’t want an open flame? LoveLit Candles has you covered with Wax Melts (Brandied Pear, anyone?).

Beeswax-less Lovelit Candles come in a variety of scents: Mahogany Teakwood, Kakadu Plum + Amber, Southern Belle, Jamaican Me Crazy, Monkey Farts, Baja Cactus Blossom, etc. The Christmas Cabin candle – currently, the candle BFF of Yours Truly – is simply sublime. The evergreen, mess and pine notes combine to create an intoxicating aroma of the forest. Nothing cloying and clingy, here!

Add wax or aromatic oil of choice and plug in with a LoveLit Candles Pluggable Fragrance Warmer.

Each candle comes with care instructions. Who knew that the wick should be cut by one-quarter inch after the first use?! Or that one should burn candles for up to about three hours at a time? Such best practices extend the life of the candle and improve the burning experience. A nice little differentiator, no?

Surprise, surprise, the company peddles more than candles. For those concerned about open flames, there are Wax Melts in hot scents like Cool Citrus Basil. Amongst the stock, too, are Room/Linen Sprays, Pluggable Fragrance Warmers, Diffusers and Car Air Fresheners (new).

The LoveLit Candles DIY Candle Making Kit comes with supplies for two candles (jars, lids wax, wicks, wick stickers, wick bars, fragrance oil, warning labels and instructions).

Incidentally, all LoveLit Candles scented products are made from organic and eco-friendly ingredients. To that end, there may be extra-special enthusiasm for the DIY Candle Making Kit.

Peach Magnolia over here!

Visit https://www.lovelitcandles.com/ to learn more about LoveLit Candles.

Holiday Gift Guide 2021: High Hopes for Potentially Game-Changing (and Award-Winning) Kikkerland Design Turtle Tofu Press

According to Kikkerland Design, its award-winning turtle tofu press can drain tofu within 20 minutes. Photos and video courtesy of Kikkerland Design.

HEADS UP: Dear Reader, we’re back with a Holiday Gift Guide after a two-year hiatus! Until 24 Dec., the elves at The Wright Wreport will introduce at least one or a series of products, items, services and/or brands that we believe are worthy of consideration as holiday gift(s).

BY TAMARA BECK

FOR years now, I have been trying to figure out how to drain tofu. Piling plates over the logs I have laid out in a sifter was an improvisation that yielded less than success.

Such fits and starts would result in my leaving the tofu in the store’s refrigerated section. Some of you might consider that a gift in and of itself. After all, the stuff has very little flavor. But, oh gosh, tofu has a tremendous amount of protein, calcium and iron. And few calories! It is decidedly good for you.

But I digress. There is a possible solution to this drainage problem: Enter the Kikkerland Design Turtle Tofu Press, a design challenge winner. Alas, there is a problem with this possible solution: The tofu press is sold out. Another supply chain issue?

And more questions. How well does the turtle press drain tofu? Is it fast, or more like a snail (or turtle)? Will it make my Tofu Life easier?

Is it really as user-friendly and effective as Kikkerland says:
1. Insert tofu in the strainer
2. Place lid over it
3. Wrap silicone band around the press
4. Excess water is drained from tofu within 20 minutes

Meanwhile, the merits of tofu are many. When prepared in a quick-and-easy stirfry or scramble, it absorbs the yummy around it to make a delicious lunch or breakfast. Tofu complements bell peppers, especially the juicy red ones. And mushrooms, garlic and black pepper. Soy sauce and edamame are a nice addition, too. Well, this is making me hungry.

The Kikkerland Design Turtle Tofu Press is made from bamboo, which fights off bacteria.

Further considering this Kikkerland turtle tofu press, it is cute as a button and exotically fashioned of bamboo. This wood is a natural for use with food because of its antibacterial property. Its place in your kitchen depends so much on the answers to those burning questions. But if it were me reading the tea leaves, I’d say it's a keeper.

Let’s revisit this pressing matter in 2022.

Visit https://kikkerland.com/products/turtle-tofu-press to learn more about the Kikkerland Turtle Tofu Press.

Holiday Gift Guide 2021: What Is One Thing Oprah and David Spade Have in Common? All-Occasion, 'Gift Wrap My Face' Gift Wrap Paper (and More)

The "Gift Wrap My Face" Elfie Dance Smart Gift Wrap is designed with trademarked augmented reality that is activated by a QR code. See video below. Images and videos courtesy of "Gift Wrap My Face."

HEADS UP: Dear Reader, we’re back with a Holiday Gift Guide after a two-year hiatus! Until 24 Dec., the elves at The Wright Wreport will introduce at least one or a series of products, items, services and/or brands that we believe are worthy of consideration as holiday gift(s).

BY VW

YOU see it on the Wall Art, Banner, Gift wrap paper and so on. It is you or possibly someone you know.

Essentially, some likeness is superimposed onto items with themes associated with holidays, celebrations and events. One company – “Gift Wrap My Face” – makes the magic happen. As co-owner Aryel Rivero put it during a recent virtual press conference, “We make all kinds of things with faces on them.”

When the Florida-based company was founded in 2014, it mainly produced themed gift wrap paper. Now, “Gift Wrap My Face” plasters faces on items like Christmas stockings, Posters, Socks and Stickers.

The “Gift Wrap My Face” Little Miss Elfie Selfie Wine Socks – like all of the wine socks – can replace wine-type gift bags. After the bottles are removed from them, they will be ready to wear.

It’s all “kitschy but well-designed,” Rivero pointed out with a smirk.

It’s easy-peasy, too. On the website:
1. Select themed paper (Advent Calendar, Christmas Sweater, Evergreen Christmas, Menorah Head, Selfie Ornaments)
2. Upload a high-res photo
3. Select product and theme (Banner and Birthday)
4. “Gift Wrap My Face” team does its thing and you have your customized order in as few as three to four business days.

The items are tied to themes and occasions that include Anniversaries, Birthdays, Christmas, Everyday, Graduation, Hanukkah, Motivational messages, Pets, Superheroes, Thanksgiving, Weddings, etc. (All products are made in the United States.)

Of course, selfie gift wrap paper and the like aren’t new. After all, we live in a selfie culture.

The personalized “Gift Wrap My Face” banners are 60 inches wide by 24 inches high.

Part of what sets “Gift Wrap My Face” apart, however, is that it is truly custom. It does all of the work for you, saving you the botheration of going to a Zazzle, for instance, and doing much of the custom production – which can be rather tedious and user-unfriendly – yourself.

Further, “Gift Wrap My Face” uses trademarked Augmented Intelligence that can produce floating faces like the one on the paper that Rivero used to wrap a gift that he sent to co-owner and wife, Vanessa Clavijo, who at the time was his girlfriend.

Another “Gift Wrap My Face” product is Video Paper. It has a personalized and private QR code that allows gift givers to share a video message with recipients.

Quality-wise, the paper “Gift Wrap My Face” uses is different from the gift wrap paper one buys in a store in that it is matte and of a heavier stock, preventing ink from bleeding and smudging.

The company also eschews coated paper and paper made with “harmful shiny chemicals.” Socks are a polyester-spandex blend with a reinforced heel and Christmas stockings are made from 100% polyester.

The “Gift Wrap My Face” Money Maker and Aqua socks (inset) are a crew design made from a polyester-spandex blend. All styles come in adult and child sizes.

Not surprisingly, this outfit is on the radar of the celebrity set: Khloe Kardashian and David Spade. Its biggest endorsement to date has come from none other than king and queenmaker, Oprah.

Visit https://www.giftwrapmyface.com/ to learn more about “Gift Wrap My Face.”

Holiday Gift Guide 2021: When You, You, You and You Are Ready to Venture Back Out, Broadway (on and off) Lights Are Ablaze

Nkeki Obi-Melekwe as Tina Turner in “Tina - The Tina Turner Musical.” Photo byManuel Harlan.

HEADS UP: Dear Reader, we’re back with a Holiday Gift Guide after a two-year hiatus! Until 24 Dec., the elves at The Wright Wreport will introduce at least one or a series of products, items, services and/or brands that we believe are worthy of consideration as holiday gift(s).

BY TAMARA BECK

FINALLY! This year– and after all we've been through – we can return to the theater!

That in and of itself is a gift. But don't jump your personal gun. Do only what you are comfortable doing. When you're ready, the stage shows will be waiting for you to take your place among the vaccinated and enjoy a live performance.

FINALLY! This reporter could not help repeating herself.

So ... what would make a special holiday treat? Well, you can't go wrong with "Tina - The Tina Turner Musical."

Broadway serves up the icon's story of endurance, overcoming adversity and talent in a hard rocking entertainment. Adrienne Warren, who was nominated for a Tony last year and won it at this year's awards, has relinquished the role.

Stepping in to this work created by Katori Hall is Nkeki Obi-Melekwe under the direction of Phyllida Lloyd.

Other Broadway productions held over from the before-times include the fascinating and much lauded Hadestown. It's a Tony- and Grammy-winning hit that welcomes us back to Anaïs Mitchell's whimsical world. The playwright spins her yarn by modernizing not just one, but two Greek myths. Her imaginative retelling was developed with Rachel Chavkin who also directs this production.

History is still being taught in Lin-Manuel Miranda's "Hamilton," a clever rap and sung-through musical that earned all those big Tonys in 2016. (One of my commendations from back in that day: http://www.vevlynspen.com/2015/08/lin-manuel-miranda-ascends-new-heights.html?m=1.)

Tickets to this strikingly smart and funny musical were always hard to get and still are. It's worth all the work you're going to put into it, though

Adrienne Walker as Nala and ensemble in “The Lion King.” Photo by Deen van Meer. Meanwhile, a Disney-fied Broadway has proved to be a good thing. The shows the organization stages are heartwarming and filled with wholesome, old-fashioned values. "The Lion King," celebrating 24 years on the Great White Way, is positively exciting.

Likewise, "Alladin" is a genuinely pleasing experience for the entire family. Hits from the film version include Alan Menken's Academy Award-winning "A Whole New World," as well as a score full of toe tappers. It features a genius genie styled after jazz legends Cab Calloway and Fats Waller, played by Michael James Scott, a vereran of New York musical theater.

In fact, its cast and creatives are from top to bottom seasoned theater stars (interestingly, a couple are making a Broadway debut) with director/choreographer Casey Nicholaw at the helm. Michael Maliakel makes his Broadway bow as Alladin with plenty of priors in regional theater and a little work on TV. Ditto for Alladin's love interest, Jasmine, portrayed by Shoba Narayan. Her resume belies her youth and witnesses her talent.

Speaking of Broadway veterans and talent, the veteran Meredith Wilson musical is in revival starting 22 Dec. "The Music Man" stars Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster, so there's 76 Trombones worth of excitement right there! The supporting cast features four Tony-winners: Jayne Houdyshell, Jefferson Mays, Marie Mullen and Shuler Hensley.. Buyers beware: I am told that ticket surcharges are out of control. A stop at the box office might be in order. But take heart that "Disney pays your ticketmaster fees."

Happy holidays and happy times on and off-Broadway!

Visit the following websites to learn more about the productions:
"Tina - The Tina Turner Musical"
https://tinaonbroadway.com/

"Hadestown"
https://www.hadestown.com/

"Hamilton"
https://hamiltonmusical.com/new-york/home/

"The Lion King"
https://lionking.com/

"Aladdin"
https://aladdinthemusical.com/

"The Music Man"
https://musicmanonbroadway.com/

Holiday Gift Guide 2021: Some Serious Reading to Do as You Begin to Transform Your Diet From Bad to Good (and Help the Planet in the Process)

The 50th anniversary of edition of “Diet for a Small Planet” contains scores of updated plant-centered recipes.

HEADS UP: Dear Reader, we’re back with a Holiday Gift Guide after a two-year hiatus! Until 24 Dec., the elves at The Wright Wreport will introduce at least one or a series of products, items, services and/or brands that we believe are worthy of consideration as holiday gift(s).

BY VW

THIS time you are serious; committed. You want to eat far better than you do now. REAL talk. You are sick and tired of being sick and tired.

If you're really on the real, real, first do some serious reading about what this might look like. Share these reads with the foodies in your network. By the way, loosen your belts, because you are going to be taken to the heart of the matters.

These titles break down – no mincing words here – how we became a nation and increasingly a world that is fat and sick because of the food we eat. The major culprits are various forms of colonialism, human rights abuses and capitalism on steroids (like much of the meat we consume). All are debilitating us and the planet.

The bottomline message in all of these books is that if we are going to heal, trim our bottoms and save the planet, we must take the necessary steps – on a personal and policy level – to become and remain bullish on fruits, vegetable and grains and far less reliant on animals for food. Further, to stop business practices that harm organisms and the planet.

In short as it regards food, a "Pword"-based diet (don't fret, recipes are provided) and I don't mean pudding or primerib.

Without further adieu …

DIET FOR A SMALL PLANET

Author(s): Frances Moore Lappé
Synopsis: In the 50th anniversary edition of this classic tome, food expert Frances Moore Lappe doubles down on the benefits of a plant-centered diet.

In chapters like “One Less Hamburger” and “Who Asked for Fruit Loops?,” she reminds the average Jane and Joe that they have the power to make change through what foods they choose to purchase. These choices, she asserts, can not only improve their personal health, but that of the environment and climate, plus promote democracy. The anniversary edition features 85 updated recipes with contributions from celebrity chefs, including José Andrés, Mark Bittman, Padma Lakshmi and Alice Waters.
Publisher: Ballantine Books
LINK to title: https://www.dietforasmallplanet.org/

INFLAMED: Deep Medicine and the Anatomy of Injustice

Author(s): Rupa Marya and Raj Patel
Synopsis: According to the authors, our planet, societies and bodies are inflamed, hence the main title. They explain, for instance, why you who live in the “global south” may have a perfectly goodlooking apple that may not be good for you while that one of your neighbor in the “global north” is probably good for her/him. It boils down to some type of inflammation.

This inflammation, they posit, is caused by all manner of global injustices, from pogroms to prejudice to pollution to poor health care. To connect dots, the book is divided into sections that use the language of the body, e.g., “Digestive System.”

“Salmon are to rivers what the heart is to blood vessels,” says co-author Rupa Marya, in the writers’ notes in reference to the section, “Circulatory System: Salmon Are the Pump.” Marya is also the co-founder of the Do No Harm Coalition. The authors cleverly and persuasively make the argument that societal ills from poor health to pollution to persistent forest fires and beyond are inexorably linked and perpetuated by the same forces.
Publisher: Farrar Straus and Giroux
LINK to title: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374602529/inflamed

VEGETABLE KINGDOM: The Abundant World of Vegan Recipes

Author(s): Bryant Terry
Synopsis: “Big Beans, Buns, and Broccoli Rabe” (page 95). Once you try this baby, you may not go back to meat, which would be just fine with James Beard award-winning chef Bryant Terry (“Afro-Vegan”).

In all of his books, Chef asserts that the vegetable kingdom provides enough bounty to more than meet our nutritional needs. In “Vegetable Kingdom,” he does not pander to carnivores by including recipes made with meat substitutes. Here, it’s straight, no chaser. Recipes are separated by plant types – bulbs, fruits, roots – making the cookbook uber user-friendly.

One chapter is dedicated to tools, ranging from the familiar like the knife and food processor to the uncustomary “mortar and nestle” (Terry uses them to “pound spices, crumble nuts, and make pastes.”). Of course, there is a “soundtrack” (a Terry staple) as varied as the recipes: Stevie Wonder, OutKast, Mongo Santamaria

The father of two believes that food should be kid-friendly as are the recipes in “Vegetable Kingdom,” most of which were tasted and greenlit by his daughters, Zenzi and Mila, his inspiration for the book. He writes in the introduction: “I wrote this book to make a diversity of foods of the plant kingdom irresistible to them, to inspire their curiosity, and to show them the pleasure of a lifelong adventure with good, nourishing food.”

To wit, “Pan-seared Summer Squash Sandwiches” (p. 121), “Jerk Tofu Wrapped in Collard Leaves” (p. 143), “Barbecue Sunchoke Chips” (P. 186).
Publisher: Ten Speed Press
LINK to title: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/564101/vegetable-kingdom-by-bryant-terry/

More titles to come shortly.

Musing on Major Merit of Miniature Smart ForTwo (the Vehicle Formerly Known as SmartCar)

The Smart ForTwo license plate says it all. FULL STOP. Photo by Tamara Beck.

BY TAMARA BECK

IT’S a small reminder from our little Upper East Side neighborhood that halfway around the world the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference recently shuttered.

Literally small. Compact automobiles like Daimler AG’s Smart ForTwo are an asset in the city.

I know we can attribute their role as energy-savers to their diminutive size. But their maneuverability is an asset most rare.

The Smart ForTwo is the envy of the road on the parking-challenged streets of Manhattan. Photo by Tamara Beck.

One of them sports the aptly-named license plate, PARKABLE, which advertises what is to New Yorkers its most valuable attribute.

Space is what we crave. And parking spaces are much prized. We envy those who can squeeze in between the hydrant and bus stop.

Let’s face it, both PARKABLE and the other fellow can slip into spaces your SUV can only admire (and understandably envy) from its spot in the garage.

Visit https://sidewalksuperblog.wordpress.com/ to read more observations from The Wright Wreport Theater and Dance Editor Tamara Beck.

Hello Again: Relying on the Power of Cannabis and Other Relaxants to Give Menopause a Chill Pill

"Hello Again sleep" and "Hello Again everyday" are cannabis-based vaginal suppositories that alleviate many of the side effects of menopause. Photo by Jennifer Skog.

BY TAMARA BECK

FOR too long, menopause has been a punchline and the menopausal the brunt of the joke.

To the more than half of the population subject to its unseasonal cruelties, throwing open an overcoat or demanding that a window be opened is not funny.

Longtime friends, Carrie Mapes and Patty Pappas, certainly didn't think so. Instead of joining the laughs, in 2019 they developed two cannabis-based vaginal suppositories with the wellness of women suffering from menopausal side effects in mind.

"Hello Again everyday" can be used (inserted) daily for a sharper mind, regulation of hot flashes and hydration down there instead of dryness. Meanwhile, "Hello Again sleep" offers the relief of "everyday," plus supports uninterrupted sleep and reduces night sweats.

As the founders' story goes, "Their grandmothers tolerated, their mother's medicated and they created."

October marks World Menopause Awareness Month, amplifying that we no longer laugh at the sufferer.

Cheers to Carrie Mapes and Patty Pappas, the founders of the Hello Again products. Image courtesy of Hello Again.

For many, menopause is an exercise in aging. It can occur in women as young as 40 (Hello Again targets women 21 and older). Along with the sudden loss of a reliable thermostat, a woman of a certain age also begins to feel left out sexually.

Hello Again suppositories combat some of these more annoying side effects using a bevy of natural ingredients. They contain oils and extracts like Hops, Rose geranium, Chamomile, Neroli oil and Valerian root.

And there is also the addition of the cannibals compounds, THC and CBD. In combination, they promise a daily path to "Clear mind. Good moods. Less sweat."

Relying on Hello Again, this reporter wore a sweater during the day all day. Overnight, I slept peacefully. No sweat.

A clear mind in the woman's version of a midlife crisis might curtail impulse-buying. In crisis mode, for instance, she is less likely than her husband to buy a red Porsche to ease the pain.

And real – not just real psychic – pain can certainly be one of the traits of "the change." Along with the world famous hot flashes, moodiness and depression are definitely involved. Sleep deprivation may add to the anxieties menopause brings. Vaginal dryness may render sex more painful than pleasurable.

When these changes happen, it is wise to look toward meditation or deep breathing, yoga or other exercises that reduce stress. Women facing this natural decline in reproductive hormones are well advised to take care of themselves.

"Hello Again sleep" and "Hello Again everyday" are cannibas-based suppositories that are inserted into and that dissolve inside the vagina. One is for use at night and the other is for daily use. Image courtesy of Hello Again.

Hello Again offers a lifeline. The company's motto is just the self-care advice you need while in the throes of menopause: "FEEL LIKE YOURSELF AGAIN."

Visit https://helloagainproducts.com to learn more about "Hello Again everyday" and Hello Again sleep."

'WhyHunger's Drum Together' Is a Recipe for Drumming Out Hunger, With Backup From an Epic (E-P-I-C!) Group of Percussionists

BY VW

WHAT a treat!

It swings; it's jazzy and sassy. The symphony is in da house, rockin' out! On The Beatles' classic, "Come Together." See the 10-plus minute video above.

All of these organic ingredients make up "WhyHunger's Drum Together." It is the latest iteration (having debuted on 4 Oct.) of uber-famous musicians united for an uber-worthy cause: ending hunger (again).

See/hear it and do make a donation: https://www.WhyHunger.org/drum

What sets "Drum Together" apart from all of the fine efforts that have preceded it, however, is the percussionists, mostly drummers. They – rather than singers – are the centerpiece on this cover featuring more than 100 recording artists. Yes, the percussionists are the frontmen / frontpersons.

We're talking: Ringo Starr, Cindy Blackman Santana, Steve Gadd, Brian Frasier-Moore, Chad Smith, Max Weinberg, Jonathan Moffett. Plus, the future represented by 11-year-old phenom Nandi Bushell.

Meanwhile, lest we forget, the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed many fissures in the global society such as hunger and food insecurity. A shame, since it is fairly common knowledge that enough food is produced to adequately feed the world.

All funds raised through "WhyHunger's Drum Together" will go toward ending hunger through various entry points.

Cindy Blackman Santana is among the drummers featured on the cover of “Come Together” in support of “WhyHunger’s Drum Together” fundraiser. Photo courtesy of Gretsch Drums.

As much of the world is still living through a global pandemic, the performance of "Come Together" is virtual. But no less engaging and entertaining, thanks to the production prowess (Dakota Lupo, take a bow for your fine video editing, among other work on this affair) of the team helmed by Tony winner Brian Resnik and veteran drummer Don Famularo aka the global ambassador for his instrument. The duo is also the creative force behind "Drum Together."

It's funky. Bluesy, baby. It's all good. It feeds the soul!

Come together RIGHT NOW ... to end HUNGER!

Visit https://www.WhyHunger.org/drum to learn more about WhyHunger's Drum Together.

2021 US Open: Halep Outshines Competition in Nike's Gold&Blue NY Slam Dress, and Here's Why

SIMONA HALEP (5'6"/1.68 meters) of Romania has the winning slam dress look because it is on-point where it matters the most. Debuted look in first-round defeat of Camila Giorgi of Italy. Photo by Darren Carroll/USTA

BY VW

NO, your eyes have not deceived you. They are seeing double, triple, quadruple and more.

Yes, they have seen the same gold&blue tennis dress nearly every day of the 2021 US Open. On a different player. Many different players, from Marketa Vondrousova of the Czech Republic to Amanda Anisimova of the United States.

The dress is a pandemic at this year's US Open and the vector is Nike.

That gold&blue number is called the Nike Fall NY Slam Dress. Besides binary blue and university gold, it comes in gorge green. The slam dress in the two color schemes is the lone style in dresses available to Nike-sponsored WTA players.

MARKETA VONDROUSOVA (5'8"/1.73 meters) of the Czech Republic looks good in the slam dress but could have benefited from a more supportive bra. Or should she stand up straighter? Debuted look in first-round defeat of Elena-Gabriela Ruse of Romania. Photo by Brad Penner/USTA

Does this uniformity — Nike is hardly alone (Adidas, among others) — signal the beginning of the end of the days when major players got the bespoke treatment and everybody else threw on whatever they could find? Let's hope not! At this year's open, Nike-sponsored Naomi Osaka of Japan may be one of a very few players who was presented with a tennis outfit, a gold dress designed especially for her.

This situation with the attire in a largely individual sport is yet another aspect of this year's tournament that may have Serena, Venus, Rafa and Roger shaking their head.

KATIE BOULTER (5'11"/1.80 meters) of the UK has perfect bra support and imperfect length in the slam dress. Debuted look in first-round loss to Liudmila Samsonova of Russia. Photo by Kathryn Riley/USTA

An attractive frock, the dress is a throwback look to the tennis fashions of the '80s. This is most apparent in its A-line shape and sleevelessness.

Obviously, the green is far more subtle than the gold&blue. Indeed, the latter catches the eye because of the bright, brash bold gold in its DNA. Much like New York. Seeing it over and over again, however, begs the question, "Who wore it best?"

PETRA KVITOVA (6'0"/1.83 meters) of the Czech Republic, like most of the really tall women, wants a smidgen more leg coverage in the slam dress. Debuted look in first-round defeat of Polona Hercog of Slovenia. Photo by Kathryn Riley/USTA

Before the answer is revealed, a few more remarks about the dress. It is no surprise that Nike constructed it with tennis players and court conditions in mind. For instance, an A-line shape ends with a flared skirt. This supports, rather than constricts movement, particularly running.

The dress is also constructed of a lightweight, breathable fabric, keeping sweating to a minimum on courts that can swelter.

AMANDA ANISIMOVA (5'11"/1.80 meters) of the United States would be en forme in the slam dress with more bra support and more length. Debuted look in first-round defeat of Zarina Diyas Kazakhatan. Photo by Garrett Ellwood/USTA

It has a crisscross bodice and empire waist. The latter detail is designed to minimize hips and tummy, plus maximize the breast. To really slay in an empire waist though, you need a killer bra that lifts the girls to high heaven.

Otherwise, it looks like you have no waist and your girls are down in the dumps. This has been an issue with most of the players who have sported the dress.

Because the navy band is positioned high on the waist, it is important to wear a bra with heavy support to prevent a sagging bustline that bleeds right into the band, choking off the waist and closing off what should be a sliver of gold directly beneath the breastbone and directly above the band. Virtually no one has pulled this off.

MARTA KOSTYUK (5'9"/1.75 meters) of the Ukraine is the 2nd runner up in the slam dress, with only a couple of inches or so holding her up. Debuted look in first-round loss to Maria Sakkari of Greece. Photo by Mike Lawrence/USTA

Another area of concern is the bunching at the waist, something the Nike designers should be able to easily fix. It could be using a less pliant lightweight fabric or using lycra/more lycra. OR specially fitting the dress to each player.

And oh, the length: It is too short on many of the players, looking more like a tunic. Most female tennis players are tall — at least around 5'8" (1.73 meters) and leggy. Again, an easy fix is customizing the dress to each player by adjusting leg exposure accordingly.

ANASTASIA POTAPOVA (5'9"/1.75 meters) of Russia comes up short just so length-wise in the slam dress. She also has more-than-normal bunching below the breast. Both easy fixes for that look of perfection. Debuted look in first-round loss to Jessica Pegula of the United States. Photo by Rhea Nall/USTA

Now, that ends the comment period. No one has looked hideous, but who has worn our gold&blue slam dress the best. Drum roll, please ... Simona Halep of Romania! (See video of her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CTm8QcMlg5i/?utm_medium=copy_link)

She is wearing a better bra, which does the necessary lifting and separating. And the length is perfect. On Simona, who is the shortest of the group at 5'6" (1.68 meters), it looks like a rather fetching minidress.

BELINDA BENCIC (5'9"/1.75 meters) of Switzerland is the bronze winner and 1st runnerup in the slam dress stakes, wirh only razor-thin margins separating her from winner Simona Halep. Debuted look in first-round defeat of Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands. Photo by Garrett Ellwood/USTA

Congratulations, Simona, you've got the look!

Visit https://www.usopen.org/ to watch and listen to live tennis, plus get scores, schedules, stats, draws and more information about the 2021 US Open.