I just wanted to share how impressed I was with myself for being organized enough to make it to opening night of Shakespeare in the Park in Central Park the other night. But I forgot how it is an all-day ordeal. You gotta line up for the vouchers, then squeeze in some errands, maybe a meal and then go back to turn in the vouchers for tickets, then do more errands and another meal and then get to the theater. This is the season when people take the day off from work just so they can go to Shakespeare in the Park. But then again, don’t fret if you don’t think you can swing that. The standby system works well too. I mean, it’s all hit or miss but just have a back up plan if you don’t get the tix and then you can still enjoy the evening, right?

So it was quite a different affair than recent productions due to the absence of Hollywood casting this time around. It seems someone somewhere decided to make the play the main attraction. The only actor I recognized was John-Boy from the Waltons. Of course, I believe he goes by Richard Thomas now. The best thing about it was how as the sun went down, the elements of the park and NYC in general melded into the backdrop of the play. Just beyond the stage you could make out the outline of Belvedere Castle as Turtle Pond glimmered under the moonlight and one visible star (and numerous airplanes, helicopters and satellites passing over us). The other wonderful thing about the experience is how it is free although you have to work for the tickets. I appreciate the democracy of it all.

The cast was steady and made the most of the lovely setting and nice costumes. The audience was appreciative. The seats were fairly comfortable but we also got seat cushions there which ended up helping a lot as far as comfort level. I highly recommend bringing your own or supporting the cause and getting them there. Of course it was a full house as it always is. The only celebrity audience member I recognized was Keanu Reeves. He appeared to be relaxed and in good spirits. He was smiling and signed many autographs. So after my pleasant experience this weekend, I am less turned off at the idea of planning to get tickets for the musical version of Two Gentlemen of Verona, the second Shakespeare in the Park production this summer. It will run August 16-September 11. As You Like It is scheduled to run June 25-July 17, 2005.



I must admit I’ve been watching Hit Me Baby One More Time. It is no VH1 Bands Reunited. It doesn’t have the emotional depth or draw. But it is oddly appealing to watch artists perform their big hit one more time and then do a rendition of a more current song. I find it most palatable with my finger on the fast-forward button in case I can’t deal with the cheesiness. I enjoyed seeing Howard Jones the other day.



I never mentioned how I was riveted by Ryan Adams’ performance on Jay Leno a little while back. He performed “Let It Ride” with his new band the Cardinals. The song itself is straightforward. He has a nice voice. And we know he can play guitar. What was riveting was how his hair was long and messy and covering his face the entire time. He was wearing glasses and looked down for the whole song. It seems he might’ve been reacting to his overexposure after Gold (although he has released a few albums since then). That was so strange to me how it was the album everyone was talking about practically overnight. Of course I had to re-watch his performance a few times and in the process got sort of attached to the song itself. I remembered watching him on a VH1 or MTV show where he went to Jamaica and performed outside. Remember that series? Whatever it was called, I caught BBMak performing songs from Sooner or Later on it and found them, I don’t know exactly, calming maybe? For a time, I found myself listening to Into Your Head. Anyway, the jury’s still out on Ryan Gold’s newest album but I like his voice and his songs remind me a bit of Paul Westerberg’s. Incidentally, I am unequivocally enjoying Besterberg!




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