Around the Town
Posted: Monday, October 29, 2007 3:51 PM by Jaclyn Levin
(From Andre Poulin, TODAY Producer)
Pop quiz!! What’s Kiku and what the heck is it doing in the Bronx? Claire Danes is playing Eliza Doolittle but why isn’t she singing? MORPHOSES has arrived in New York and why does it have some people dancing in the streets? True or false – a rare stamp collection can be the basis for a Broadway play. Already thinking about a Christmas gift for a loved one? How about a seat? Not following me? Well, read on – I’ve been AROUND THE TOWN and back!
The fall season is now in full swing and it’s been keeping me out at night, which makes me pretty happy. I was recently up in the Bronx - short for “da Bronx” - one of New York City’s five boroughs and home to The New York Botanical Garden. Founded in 1891, the Garden is on a 250-acre National Historic Landmark site and has one of the world’s great collections of plants many housed in an evocative and stunning glass Victorian Conservatory. The Wall Street Journal calls it “a garden of earthly delights.” But let me get to the point. On October 18th, I was invited to the grand opening of KIKU: THE ART OF THE JAPANESE CHRYSANTHEMUM. Now through November 18, 2007, what’s being billed as the most elaborate flower show and cultural exhibition ever presented by the Garden is in full majestic bloom and ready for you to visit. The exhibit is on a scale never before seen outside of Japan.
Here’s a little background: This month long exhibition was five years in the making – . The Kiku mystique began over 1,500 years ago. The press materials tell us this – “Cultivating and training kiku is exceptionally difficult, requiring expertise and constant attention throughout a 12-month growing period, during which time the plants are vigilantly watered, pinched, staked, and tied to grow in a variety of specialized shapes”.
Remarkably, a single plant can produce virtually hundreds of simultaneous blossoms.
I was just about to write that for all of you flower lovers out there don’t miss this exhibition. But I’ve changed my mind – for all of you who love rare beauty in a rare setting, The New York Botanical Garden in da Bronx, is waiting for you.
Without ever leaving New York, one night I found myself in a Japanese garden. Just three nights later, I was in London’s Covent Garden, via Broadway in a revival of George Bernard Shaw’s PYGMALION written in 1912. One of his greatest successes on the stage, the play inspired the award winning musical, MY FAIR LADY. It stars Claire Danes who is making her Broadway debut as Eliza Doolittle in this non-singing role. I never watched Danes in the television series, MY SO CALLED LIFE, where I read she first caught the attention of critics and audiences. But I do recall seeing her for the first time in the 2002 film, THE HOURS and remember enjoying and being intrigued by her performance. The PYGMALION production is a very handsome one and for me, a night well spent. In the play, Eliza Doolittle often repeats defensively, “Eeow, I’m a good girl, I am.” Based on the warm audience response she received the night I was there, she’s not only a good girl but also a good actress.
Now, on to the world of dance! In May 2006, I had the honor of producing a profile on 34-year-old dancer and choreographer, Christopher Wheeldon. He’s New York City Ballet’s first ever artist in residence and recently launched his own company called MORPHOSES – THE WHEELDON COMPANY. MORPHOSES made its New York debut on October 17th at City Center on West 55th street. I was there on Friday, October 19th.
It was in early 2006 that a friend of mine and I attended a New York City Ballet performance at Lincoln Center. It was exciting to be there of course, but there was one piece that I found absolutely electrifying. Who was the choreographer? Hmmm… I looked in the program and saw the name – Christopher Wheeldon - who is this guy? Days later, I did a little research and after reading the materials, thought to my embarrassed self, “I’m the only ballet fan who doesn’t know who Mr. Wheeldon is.” So I redeemed myself by producing the profile and learned, according to the New York Times, that Christopher Wheeldon “may well be the world’s most in demand choreographer.” On Friday, I was reminded why!
MAURITIUS is not only an island nation off the coast of the African continent but it’s also the title of a new Broadway play starring Oscar winner F. Murray Abraham and Bobby Cannavale. When I first read about the play, I discovered it was about a rare stamp collection. Okay. Here’s an understatement for you. I was skeptical! Did I really want to see a play about ….. well, stamps? I took a leap of faith and attended a performance the other night and was not sorry. The cast was wonderful. Forgive me for saying this but I give the production my stamp of approval.
Not that I’m counting the days, but word is Christmas is just around the corner. If you agree, here’s something to think about. Be warned - it’s terribly extravagant but wonderful. One of my Lincoln Center friends, Eileen McMahon, informed me that Lincoln Center, the world’s largest performing arts center has launched a seat-naming campaign for one of its performance venues, ALICE TULLY HALL, which is currently undergoing a massive renovation. It’s fully tax deductible – I’m just trying to cushion the sticker shock – and priced at $5,000 and $10,000 based on location. It’s not exactly having your name up in lights but pretty darn close!
That’s it for AROUND THE TOWN – more to come!
