My Top 5 Obsessions This Week
Greetings to all my semi constant readers. It has been a very busy summer so far and moving so quickly I want to take it all in and share it with you.
1) The Cher Show in previews at The Oriental Theatre in Chicago is the must see of the summer. It will be on Broadway very soon , so prepare to get your tickets. As in all previews it is a work in progress. Coming in at almost 3 hours , there was not a a slow spot in the show. Featuring 35 Cher songs spanning decades worth of music and fashion (primarily Bob Mackie who designed for this production as well) this show has it all. Three amazingly talented women play Cher through the decades ( Stephanie J. Block, Teal Wicks and Micaela Diamond as Lady, Babe and Star). All have beautiful voices and bring each version of Cher to life. Jarrod Spector as Sonny Bono and Emily Skinner as Georgia Holt (Cher's mom) breathe a vibrant life into their roles To top it all off we were treated to a Bob Mackie fashion show as well. See you on Broadway!!!
2) Kathy Griffin's new touring comedy special Laugh Your Head Off World Tour is heading your way and she has something to get off her chest- 3 hours worth!!! She is in rare form and ripping up everyone who turned on her infamous photo shoot. In the climate today I think it would have had a very different reaction. She read her mean tweets from the angry online mob as well as some real physical death threat letters in the only way she knows how with -comic timing. Taking aim at everyone in DC and Hollywood , she is back in the game and sharing with her loyal fans.
3) The Go-Gos 40th Anniversary tour at The Fox Theater in Oakland was so special because all of the original lineup was there ( Jane Wiedlin, Belinda Carlisle, Charlotte Caffey, Kathy Valentine and Gina Schock -who recovering from a recent surgery was not drumming but up on stage being hilarious during the entire show. Treating us to 20 hits from the opening number This Town to Lust To Love, Skidmarks On My Heart, Vacation, Head Over Heels and two encores ending with the very appropriately politically themed Can't Stop The World but the surprise for me was Belinda and Jane coming together for Jane's big hit with Sparks Cool Places. Opening act all girl group Potty Mouth rocked the house and were so happy and touched just to be there. Ally, Abby and Victoria you have arrived!
4) Frameline Film Festival 42 Lights Camera Take Action was one of the more diverse in recent history. I only saw 3 of the many many entries because of time constrictions but they were so interesting . Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood based on the Scotty Bowers memoir Full Service was a revelation of old Hollywood film stars from the 50s. Known as the pimp of the stars Scotty Bowers was the procurer of young men for Spencer Tracy , George Cukor and Cary Grant and young women for Kate Hepburn and many more. Working out of a gas station in Hollywood after serving in the Marine Corps during WWII he fulfilled the dreams of many a closeted star. The 94 year old still alive and kicking and answering questions at the Roxie Theater was a legendary meet. Closing night featured another documentary from the same director Matt Tyrnauer Studio 54 bringing unseen footage of the legendary club with never before seen interviews with owner Ian Shrager and other club patrons . Ending the closing night film was the themed closing night party at Oasis with dance music from the 70s and some performances from Mother herself Heklina.
5) Ideal Home my favorite film this year was part of the festival but it brought much needed comedy and heart to 2018. Starring the adorable Paul Rudd with a full beard and his husband the hilariously droll Steve Coogan as a power gay couple in Santa Fe producing a cooking series. The ultimate bickering gay couple are on the verge of a breakup when Coogan's character Erasmus has a grandson show up at a fancy dinner party with a plastic bag containing a bible and a bag of coke. They come together over the boy and Taco Bell and come to some life decisions about what matters in affairs of the heart and family. Coogan and Rudd are the ultimate pair with chemistry and laughs plenty.
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