Broadway revisited

I have often told people that the only thing about New York that I like is Times Square including Broadway.

Pro-Ukraine demonstration

Since my most recent visit, I think I will add the Manhattan waterfront to my likes, although due to time constraints, I just never got to explore it as much as I would have liked to.

On this trip, Times Square was somewhat a disappointment though. I have always enjoyed the amateur performers who show off their skills in the area in the hope of being ‘discovered’. 

This time however, they were missing and all we saw on two consecutive nights, was a few young men doing gymnastics but seemingly being more intent on squeezing out as much money as possible from observers, without doing anything spectacular.

On another occasion, we saw a pro-Ukraine demonstration there where a small crowd, including a few members of the Guardian Angels (allegedly a non-profit international volunteer organization of unarmed crime prevention activists) decked out in their uniforms, in attendance.

Broadway was spectacular though.

                                             THE MJ MUSICAL

My main draw to Broadway this time was the Michael Jackson musical, (MJ) playing at the Neil Simon theatre.

My interest in that musical was not only because I have always had an undying love for Michael but also, proudly, I have a young cousin dancing in that show. 

Yup, performing on Broadway is a big, big deal in my book!

Her stage name is Michelle Mercedes, and she holds a BFA from Florida State University and a MBA from University of Florida.

Posing with Michelle 

I really beamed with pride on seeing her outstanding credentials in black and white in the program.

I must confess though, that I had only met her once, and that was at a relative’s funeral no less. (You know, that seems to be the most popular place to meets relatives these days😏!)

That was also where I was introduced, via video, to her exceptional dancing talent.

I knew from I saw those videos that she would be going places!

It was therefore not much of a surprise when her beaming dad told me about two years ago, that she would be dancing on Broadway no less, in West Side Story.

Unfortunately, covid struck shortly after and Broadway closed down.

No sooner had Broadway reopened though, than I got the good news that she would be dancing in the MJ musical.

 Wild horses therefore could not keep me from seeing it as soon as possible.

The cast of MJ warming up

This musical surely lived up to the words ‘electrifying, vivid and gripping’ which were used in one of the reviews. For from start to finish, as it replayed the biography of the late, great Michael Jackson, the singers and dancers brought his life and exceptional musical performances to life.

Apart from the outstanding renditions, my most lasting impression was that it explains most graphically, Michael’s constant search for his childhood, which his abusive father had caused him to miss completely.

The part of the young Michael (from the Jackson Five days) was brilliantly and melodiously played by 13-year-old Walter Russell 111, who I had the honor of meeting after the performance. 

That young man is surely going to go places!

Walter Russell 111

The main star was Myles Frost who not only shares an uncanny physical representation, voice and agility with the late super star, but also, he was seamless in all his movements.

During the over two-hour performance, the singers and dancers brilliantly performed Michael’s greatest hits, appropriately closing “Man in the middle.”

Seeing all those young people putting everything into their craft, seemingly without effort, forced me to ask Michelle after the performance if she was not tired! She admitted that they often have to get their legs iced after performances.

That’s when it really made me appreciate the super-human effort these talented young people put into entraining us while making it look so easy!

TINA

Tina Turner, with those fantastic legs, is also another big favorite of mine. I was therefore excited to learn that her musical was still on at the Lunt Fontaine Theater on Broadway during our visit.

As most of her life’s story involved her father who abandoned her, a mom who did not like her and that late abusive husband of hers Ike, it was not as entertaining or as upbeat as MJ in the beginning, but in fact, rather sad.

When it started to take on a life of its own, was after she left Ike with just 36 cents in her pocket, the established name Tina Turner and two children to support.

What is especially exceptional about Tina, is how her career flourished after the age of 40, which is usually the stage of life when many other performers start on a downward trajectory.

The role of Tina was played by Nkeki Obi-Melekwe who was chosen by the great Tina Turner herself.

That lady can certainly sing.

What was great about this performance too, is that for the grand finale, we were allowed to take pictures whereas during the entire MJ we couldn’t.

Broadway is surely back in full swing and in all its glory.

UPDATE TONY AWARDS 2022

Myles Frost, the lead in "MJ" won "Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical."

Natasha Katz, "MJ"; Best Lighting Design of a Musical

Gareth Owen, "MJ"; Best Sound Design of a Musical

Christopher Wheeldon, "MJ";Best Choreography. My cousin Michelle Mercedes is a dancer so is part of the winning team!

Jason Michael Webb and David Holcenberg, "MJ"; Best Orchestrations

MJ deserved all those wonderful awards as does ADRIENNE WARREN  who  won "Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical for her role in Tina: The Tina Turner Musical". 

I am so happy that I got to see both wonderful musicals on this trip.

A Swinging Hindu Wedding

I always considered Hindus conservative so  I never expected to have such a swinging time at Danraj's wedding. Everything was wonderful except I kept feeling a bit sad that his mom Karla did not live long enough to be there.

Danraj is the son of the late uncle Joe and Karla and he got married in Stanford, Connecticut to Anjana, who is from India but who has been living in the states for many years. She like he has her PhD and she is really a full of life person. 

I have been to Hindu weddings before but the difference here is that liquor flowed freely and the music was fantastic. The only place I have ever heard this version of Indian music is on the minibuses in Guyana as they tend to be operated by young Indian men who play modern, blaring music. This music seems to be a very lively mix between traditional Indian music with a Caribbean/pop beat, so there is no way you could sit down as it drags you to your feet. Just like dancehall and reggae. Just about everyone there was on the dance floor at the Italian Centre which was the venue. And the liquor was certainly talking for at one time as I went outside an Indian man approached me to congratulate me on the speech I had made. I never made a speech, it was my daughter Michele who was even in a sari while I wasn't so his eyes were really blurred!

Michele in a sari sits with Michelle and Madelyn

But as I said, the liquor was flowing so I made my blooper too, hugging a lady sitting beside Danraj and telling her congratulations. Only problem it was not his bride but what the heck, after several glasses of red wine, Indian ladies in saris all started to look alike!

Incidentally, I don't think I will be eating Indian food for some some and it is not because it was not delicious, but on or arrival in Stamford, we stopped at a restaurant with an  innocuous name for lunch,. only to find it was an Indian restaurant with a great buffet. Then there was Indian food at the reception and an Indian brunch put on by the bride's parents the next day so after three  consecutive Indian meals, I need a break!

A family photo at Lincoln's memorial in Stamford

Stamford is quiet and clean, no way as developed and bustling as Hartford but apparently the very rich live there as I have never seen so many Porches, convertible sports BMW's and Ferraris being driven on the streets downtown and that includes Manhattan.

Stanford is also literally just around the corner from Mt. Vernon where we stayed with Michelle...a mere 20 minutes drive on the I95.

 What I found interesting is that we had to pay toll on the same highway going up but not on  the way back. Strange indeed.

Danraj is such a wonderful person that people came from Jamaica, Atlanta, Colorado and many other far flung places to share the day with him.

Michele and family came from Colorado and we spent a great week together. I think we only quarreled once, a miracle indeed.

We took Madelyn to Central Park and  she really had a ball.  I had no idea it was so huge in the middle of Manhattan, 800 acres, the guide told us with everything brought in except the rocks!

Then we went lyming in Times Square  and thank heavens there were  no exhibitionists around this time.

 

The huge rocks are the only things which were not imported into Central Park

Actually, my  trip to 

New York this time challenged all the stereotypes that I had always had about that city since spending a few months there before escaping to Canada when we migrated many decades ago.

For the subways are now clean and I was alone at the bus stop at 10 pm one night and felt no fear. Then when I took the trolley at La Guardia and did  not have a metro card, the driver took me free. Then a young lady helped me with my suitcase without me even asking and a young man swiped his card to let me into the subway for $$2.00 when the fare is $2.50, when he saw I no metro card and there was no one selling there.

Hanging out in Times square

If someone had told me they had such pleasant experiences in New York I would have marveled.

The experience that knocked my breath away however was when we went to the beach ( ie. the cold, dirty Atlantic ocean which we went to visit, not to swim) in Stamford. Two young men were arguing nearby and using some M....F....and a man pointed to the baby and told them to stop using that language. Later as Michelle and I walked around, they came up and apologised for using that language near us! Absolutely amazing. 

Anyway I don't see myself going back up north for a long time as my grandson has now relocated near Tampa where he goes to university and I don't know of anyone else getting married or any other important function up that way soon.

For more photos, see https://www.facebook.com/gratestj/media_set?set=a.10151881714136823.1073741837.763366822&type=1

Shadrach on the grounds of St. Leo's in Florida

OF ATLANTIC CITY AND LESBIANS

After seeing how hurricane Sandy had devastated Atlantic city, I had the urge to go see for myself what it looks like now, since I had seen ads saying they were again open for business. Although I am too much of a cheap stake to gamble, the fact that the casinos give back a large proportion of the greyhound bus fare in cash in the hope passengers will gamble in their hotel, spurred me even more to take the two hour trip. 

However, if these casino owners had more people like me, they would go bankrupt, for the last time I went there I got back my full $22 in cash and only gambled $5. This time I noticed that they only gave back $25 of the $37 fare, but what the heck.

I was pleasantly surprised to see how normal the place looked, no sign of the devastation less than  a year ago. It seems to me too that they have brought in a whole pile of white sand, (the sand looked grey the last time I was there) probably from Guyana which has an over- abundance of white sand which they export to as far as South Africa.

What was really great too was seeing Red Stripe beer billboards on the along the boardwalk, although the signs made no mention of Jamaica anywhere.

Anyway, the rest of the world does not seem to be aware that they are back in business as the numbers were really low with the majority seeming to be older retired folk many with walking sticks and other walking aids. But I guess that is normal as it was a Tuesday when most younger people would be at work.

The casinos and hotels are really fabulous and because Donald Trump is such a prig, I hate to admit it but the Trump hotel complex was really the nicest.

So they are back in business but it still remains a secret!

On the return to New York I had to go to Times Square as it is really one of my favorite places in the world and although I know everything goes in New York, I really was not prepared for this.

Two black lesbians in the middle of the street topless and feeling up each other.

Ugh, disgusting and all this while young kids and families were around in abundance.