Take A Bow

Helen Mirren on stage in DC. I'm a total theater-moron and I even know that's a big deal. When I first heard the rumors back in the spring... I mentioned it to Linds. Well she about had a heart attack on the spot. Then the details started to trickle in. She would be playing Phedre at the brand new Shakespeare Theater downtown.

It would be the only American appearance for the National Theatre of Great Britain on their International Tour, and they selected DC. Chew on that New York. And guess who will be playing her ill-fated step-son....yep, Dominic Cooper. Ring a bell Mamma Mia fans? He was the fiance in the movie. It gets better.. Wait for it... we managed to get tickets.

It was a perfect night. Linds and I grabbed pizza at Edna's in Gallery Place before walking over to pick up our nearly-impossible-to-get tickets. While we were killing time we splurged and bought copies of the academy award winning actresses' memoir, then made sure to have them signed.

I'm not even going to attempt to give my opinion on the show, other than it was nothing short of perfection. We were watching Helen do for stage, what Maryl Streep does for film. Not just hit the right lines and memorize what must have been impossible dialogue from Jean Racine's 17th century classic, but she completely owned it.

Ben Brantley in The New York Times wrote, "Ms. Mirren remains not only incomparably majestic but also compellingly credible. Her Phedre is a more extreme blend of artifice and conviction, but boy , does she make it work in Nicholas Hytner's modern dress interpretation."

Waiting for us just outside the doors after the third curtain call was champagne for the audience. Linds and I toasted to her brilliance, and our success on a perfect evening.

Bowl This

Bowling…who doesn’t love a game where form is not necessary, just as long as a) the ball hits the pins at the end of the lane and b) you don’t fall on your ass chasing the ball down the lane.

But there is something to be said for drinking beer by the pitcher over Formica laminated tables and wearing funky shoes whereby the only thing separating you from foot fungus are your trusty sucks (if you remembered them) and the Lysol a teenager sprayed (hopefully) before you slid those suckers on.

Well a few years ago, someone had the brilliant idea (hey bob, I’ve got an idea) to try and glam this ritual up! Let’s make bowling posh! So no more beer for you ….lets charge $10 for a G & T and another $15 for chips and salsa. Then…..we’ll turn the lights down and make you dress in your uncomfortable but fabulous club gear. But you still have to wear the shoes….and this time no socks, because lets be honest….who can really fit those in their clutch.

That’s the idea behind Lucky Strike in Gallery Place. Wow! In addition to the unbelievably lousy service and lounge crowd lacking panache, I’ve gotta say…let’s keep this American pastime where it belongs…in the 1970’s throwback we like to call an ally! (complete with disco balls and beer bellies)