Reviews: Mark Russell at Ford's and Music and Lyrics

It was a big entertainment week for me last week. In addition to getting out to a movie last Sunday, on Thursday this week, I had the opportunity to work at Ford's Theatre for a performance by Mark Russell. For twenty-three years (he reports) he has been bringing his political satire and piano playing to Ford's. He is an equal opportunity skewerer, making sure to take shots at both sides of the aisle. He concludes his run at Ford's tonight. Check out his website and you'll get a taste of his humor, although without the piano, you aren't getting the full Russell. Try to make a point of catching him next year at Ford's.

The movie that my wife and I went to see with our best friends was Music and Lyrics, which our best friend pointed out could also be titled the "Andrew Ridgeley Story." Hugh Grant plays, Andrew Fletcher, an 80s pop icon who has been reduced to "Battle of the 80s Has-Been Stars" - facing off in a ring against Tiffany or Debbie Gibson. The "80s videos" alone are worth the price of admission and the realization you will come to that Hugh can actually sing.

He is given the opportunity to write a song for a pop star (read: Brittany before the shearing and the outright craziness), but he doesn't know how to do lyrics, he's a melody man. Enter Sophie Fisher, played very well by Drew Barrymore, who is an aspiring writer who suddenly shows Andrew that she is an excellent lyricist. Madcap hilarity ensues with some playful loving back and forth thrown in.

An amusing side note, during the movie, Fletcher gets a gig at Adventureland, an amusement park on Long Island. Trust me people, the place exists. How do I know? I broke my leg there in 1985. Someday I'll tell you all about it. Meanwhile, go see the movie, it's good mindless fun.

Review: Jitney at Ford's Theatre

I had the opportunity to usher on Opening Night for August Wilson's Jitney at Ford's Theatre last week. If you are in the DC area, I urge you to come out and sample this fine work of drama. Set in 1977 Pittsburgh, it tells the story of several gypsy cab drivers and dealing with the problems afflicting the city in the late 1970s. The interpersonal stories of each of the character weave a wonderful story and the play holds you tight for the full two and a half hours.

Here is the review that appeared in the Washington Post.

Review: A Christmas Carol

I ushered tonight at Ford's Theater. It was opening night (for press) of Ford's presentation of A Christmas Carol. The adaptation takes place at the time of Charles Dickens' visit to Washington, DC in 1867. The play begins with Mr. Dickens taking the stage and reading "his" story to the audience. The play gets underway with the actor playing Dickens assuming the role of Ebenezer Scrooge.

Many of the actors that appeared in last year's production returned for this year, including the three ghosts and Bob Cratchit. There is a new actor playing Scrooge and he is exceptional. There were a number of small children in the audience tonight and it might be too scary for very small children, but grown-up children should take the time to see it. I am sure the Washington Post will have a more extensive review this week.

Going to see this play and the fact that Thanksgiving is but one day away, means that Christmas is around the corner. I am not ready for the holiday yet and am having trouble finding the Christmas spirit. Those who know me know why, but I am hopeful that I will find a little trove of spirit tucked away among the decorations.

Review: For Your Consideration

Tonight my wife and I had a grown-up date with our best friends. We had a very nice dinner at a downtown restaurant (steak frites for everyone) and then off to the movies to see the new Christopher Guest film, For Your Consideration. All of the usual suspects from the ensemble were back to skewer the industry in which he works. The movie opened in limited release tonight at two locations here in DC. We went to the Landmark Theater on E Street.

The movie centers around the making of a film, Home For Purim. Harry Shearer, Catherine O'Hara play two aging Hollywood veterans with Parker Posey and Christopher Moynihan playing two new actors, rounding out the cast. An Internet (that's the one with email right?) story gets published about the film, generating Oscar buzz for the film and its actors.

The members of Guest's troop act their hearts out as always. It is clear that when he calls to say he is working on a new movie, they jump to be a part of it. You can tell they are just having so much fun. If you are a Christopher Guest fan, this is a film that you will definitely want to put on your list. I give it three and a half hamantasch (out of five). If you need to ask what a hamentasch is, you're either not Jewish or haven't been to a good bagel place on Long Island.

Hopefully, there will be an opportunity for more movie reviews here, but with a toddler it's hard to have the grownup dates but I have a really nice mother-in-law, who loves to babysit.