Sunday, November 29, 2009
OK - I am finally admitting it! I LOVE Lady Gaga! She's a cross between Madonna, David Bowie, Grace Jones & Marilyn Manson! Total FREAK! http://ping.fm/6KXoo
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Journal Entry - 11/21/09
After many months of keeping this blog I've finally decided to write a personal blog entry.
For the most part, I have kept this blog as a way of virtual "scrap-booking." I get ideas, or want to remember certain images or performances and post them on this blog so I can go back to them later on whenever I feel the need.
I haven't really blogged about what it's been like to work as a "Background Artist" aka "Extra" on the many film and television productions I have been lucky enough to book beginning back in March of 2009.
My first background job out of the box back here in New York was back in March 2009 on the original "Law & Order" which is now in its 20th Season. I walked into Central Casting New York, registered, had a digital photo taken and the senior casting director, Ali Mehri, walked in the room and asked if I was free on Monday for "Law & Order." I enthusiastically replied "Absolutely!"
I had done background acting before in LA but really thought it was beneath me. I also didn't want to get pigeon holed as a background actor because I was planning on being a "star" or at least a principal player. However, years of struggling and working many B jobs including a 5 year stint at Sony Pictures Entertainment in Culver City combined with the worst economy I've ever seen, brought me to the realization that earning money in a legitimate way is my bottom line.
While this is definitely not the career I have always dreamed of and expected to have, it has been paying the bills for now. Occasionally, I do have to supplement with unemployment insurance when I don't book enough gigs. It is completely ironic that with 10+ years working as an Executive Assistant in corporate America, I can't even get an office job as a temp and I have to rely on background acting work to pay the rent. Who would have thunk it???
This past week I worked an night shoot on "Ugly Betty" from 3 pm until 3 am on location in Washington Square park. I was nervous about running into my former classmate Vanessa Williams. I know Vanessa would be nice but I would really feel like a loser working as a background actor next to her Emmy nominated performance as Wilhelmina Slater. Luckily I didn't have to cross that bridge. Vanessa had worked the shoot the night before. The night I worked it was just America Ferrera and the actor who plays her boyfriend.
I actually enjoyed working on "Ugly Betty." The 2nd 2nd AD (Background Actor Director) was a very cool guy named Kenyan. He was easy to work with and it was really kind of nice to be shooting outside in Washington Square Park. There were so many dog owners walking their pets that night. Several dogs stopped and let me pet them. It was almost like the dogs sniffed me out! They knew I was a dog owner and lover myself. One owner had to literally drag his dog away from me. The dog just wanted me to keep petting him. That kind of made me feel good. Dogs always have that kind of affect on me. They are very loving animals.
I stayed awake by drinking numerous cups of coffee and doing my best to eat healthy snacks like nuts, fruit and cheese. Craft services (also known as "Crafty") is one of the BEST parts of working on set. They set up a table of delicious and nutritious snacks and sometimes completely irresistible decadent snacks. It's definitely hard to stay disciplined when there is a piece of cheesecake, pumpkin pie or freshly made white chocolate macadamia nut cookies. THOSE are especially my weakness. I justify by thinking to myself "well I don't smoke or drink and I have to relieve the stress somehow." Eating the on-set treats seems like a semi-healthy coping mechanism. Although my waist and belt size can't seem to figure out how to maintain a consistent length which is appropriate for film and television work.
Now it's true that there are all different sizes on TV but in general to look the best on camera it has been pretty well established that thin or SUPER thin is the best size to be. I have only been thin for small windows in my life when I spent a lot of time dancing. My senior year of college I was a dance minor and the 3 plus hours of ballet, jazz and tap daily really helped me to easily maintain a 28-30" waist size. After I graduated, I continued to take dance classes so I was thin for several years probably right up until the year 2000. It's been about 9 years since I have been an average waist size of between 28" - 32." I'm older, I don't take dance class every day and I haven't been to the gym in several months because I can't afford it. I also had to stop running because of a stress fracture.
I digress. I am barely seen on camera anyway. My job generally consists of doing "crosses" while the camera shoots the principal actors and passes by me very quickly. Occasionally, when it does linger on me for a second or two, which is an enormous amount of screen time for a background actor, I can hit pause on my DVR and get a screen grab. This season I have been able to be seen on "Gossip Girl" as the Health Inspector for Chuck Bass' new club and "White Collar" as a CSU FBI guy.
I also have been working pretty consistently on "Mercy"as a Hospital Administrator. This is NBC's new drama about nurses which I believe the network would like to have replicate the success of ER. It shoots in a studio in Secaucus, New Jersey. It's not very far from midtown Manhattan but the production doesn't have a shuttle bus from NYC to NJ yet like "Law & Order: SVU" does. We have to take the NJ Transit to the Secaucus train station and then a shuttle picks us up and brings us to set.
Although I have worked background on four episodes which is about a dozen days of actual shooting I have not had any screen or on-camera time like I have on the other shows. Most of the other recurring background cast has actually had their own close-ups at one point or another. It's okay. I didn't get into background acting to get a close-up or even necessarily be seen on camera. I just needed to pay the rent and I since I've been paying my SAG union dues since 2001, it was time to let the union card work for me.
The most memorable experience I have had thus far was working as a stand-in for Paul Shultze on "Nurse Jackie." Stand-ins read and run through the lines and blocking (staging) while the camera and lighting crew set the shot up. The actor then is free to work on their hair, make-up, lines and/or just relax before they actually film the scene. I have onl done stand-in work a handful of times so I was a little nervous. But I have decent amount of experience as an "speaking" actor which started back in high school. So I felt relatively comfortable doing the scene when the director called action for 2nd Team. 2nd team is the official term that stand-ins are referred to on set. The principal actors are referred to as "1st Team." There is generally a 2nd Team rehearsal for the camera before the principals aka 1st time rehearse and then shoot the scene.
It's great practice and I was really excited. Since there were only a couple of lines I was able to quickly memorize them and copy what I saw Paul Schultze doing. The 2nd AD called "Action," I did the scene and then the 2nd AD called cut. Paul Shultze said "That was almost too good!" I was kind of embarrassed and didn't really know if he was being a dick and belittling me or just trying to be funny. I went back to my first mark to wait for the next rehearsal. Paul came out and introduced himself and said, "I really meant that. That was really good." I was SCHOCKED! Not only because of what he said but the fact that he actually went out of the way to introduce himself to me. It is VERY VERY VERY rare that a principal actor even speaks to a background actor let alone introduce themselves and pay them a compliment. I just said "Thanks man. I was just copying what you did."
The other really awesome experience was when I worked as a stand-in on "Wall Street 2" with Oliver Stone.
TBC . . .
For the most part, I have kept this blog as a way of virtual "scrap-booking." I get ideas, or want to remember certain images or performances and post them on this blog so I can go back to them later on whenever I feel the need.
I haven't really blogged about what it's been like to work as a "Background Artist" aka "Extra" on the many film and television productions I have been lucky enough to book beginning back in March of 2009.
My first background job out of the box back here in New York was back in March 2009 on the original "Law & Order" which is now in its 20th Season. I walked into Central Casting New York, registered, had a digital photo taken and the senior casting director, Ali Mehri, walked in the room and asked if I was free on Monday for "Law & Order." I enthusiastically replied "Absolutely!"
I had done background acting before in LA but really thought it was beneath me. I also didn't want to get pigeon holed as a background actor because I was planning on being a "star" or at least a principal player. However, years of struggling and working many B jobs including a 5 year stint at Sony Pictures Entertainment in Culver City combined with the worst economy I've ever seen, brought me to the realization that earning money in a legitimate way is my bottom line.
While this is definitely not the career I have always dreamed of and expected to have, it has been paying the bills for now. Occasionally, I do have to supplement with unemployment insurance when I don't book enough gigs. It is completely ironic that with 10+ years working as an Executive Assistant in corporate America, I can't even get an office job as a temp and I have to rely on background acting work to pay the rent. Who would have thunk it???
This past week I worked an night shoot on "Ugly Betty" from 3 pm until 3 am on location in Washington Square park. I was nervous about running into my former classmate Vanessa Williams. I know Vanessa would be nice but I would really feel like a loser working as a background actor next to her Emmy nominated performance as Wilhelmina Slater. Luckily I didn't have to cross that bridge. Vanessa had worked the shoot the night before. The night I worked it was just America Ferrera and the actor who plays her boyfriend.
I actually enjoyed working on "Ugly Betty." The 2nd 2nd AD (Background Actor Director) was a very cool guy named Kenyan. He was easy to work with and it was really kind of nice to be shooting outside in Washington Square Park. There were so many dog owners walking their pets that night. Several dogs stopped and let me pet them. It was almost like the dogs sniffed me out! They knew I was a dog owner and lover myself. One owner had to literally drag his dog away from me. The dog just wanted me to keep petting him. That kind of made me feel good. Dogs always have that kind of affect on me. They are very loving animals.
I stayed awake by drinking numerous cups of coffee and doing my best to eat healthy snacks like nuts, fruit and cheese. Craft services (also known as "Crafty") is one of the BEST parts of working on set. They set up a table of delicious and nutritious snacks and sometimes completely irresistible decadent snacks. It's definitely hard to stay disciplined when there is a piece of cheesecake, pumpkin pie or freshly made white chocolate macadamia nut cookies. THOSE are especially my weakness. I justify by thinking to myself "well I don't smoke or drink and I have to relieve the stress somehow." Eating the on-set treats seems like a semi-healthy coping mechanism. Although my waist and belt size can't seem to figure out how to maintain a consistent length which is appropriate for film and television work.
Now it's true that there are all different sizes on TV but in general to look the best on camera it has been pretty well established that thin or SUPER thin is the best size to be. I have only been thin for small windows in my life when I spent a lot of time dancing. My senior year of college I was a dance minor and the 3 plus hours of ballet, jazz and tap daily really helped me to easily maintain a 28-30" waist size. After I graduated, I continued to take dance classes so I was thin for several years probably right up until the year 2000. It's been about 9 years since I have been an average waist size of between 28" - 32." I'm older, I don't take dance class every day and I haven't been to the gym in several months because I can't afford it. I also had to stop running because of a stress fracture.
I digress. I am barely seen on camera anyway. My job generally consists of doing "crosses" while the camera shoots the principal actors and passes by me very quickly. Occasionally, when it does linger on me for a second or two, which is an enormous amount of screen time for a background actor, I can hit pause on my DVR and get a screen grab. This season I have been able to be seen on "Gossip Girl" as the Health Inspector for Chuck Bass' new club and "White Collar" as a CSU FBI guy.
I also have been working pretty consistently on "Mercy"as a Hospital Administrator. This is NBC's new drama about nurses which I believe the network would like to have replicate the success of ER. It shoots in a studio in Secaucus, New Jersey. It's not very far from midtown Manhattan but the production doesn't have a shuttle bus from NYC to NJ yet like "Law & Order: SVU" does. We have to take the NJ Transit to the Secaucus train station and then a shuttle picks us up and brings us to set.
Although I have worked background on four episodes which is about a dozen days of actual shooting I have not had any screen or on-camera time like I have on the other shows. Most of the other recurring background cast has actually had their own close-ups at one point or another. It's okay. I didn't get into background acting to get a close-up or even necessarily be seen on camera. I just needed to pay the rent and I since I've been paying my SAG union dues since 2001, it was time to let the union card work for me.
The most memorable experience I have had thus far was working as a stand-in for Paul Shultze on "Nurse Jackie." Stand-ins read and run through the lines and blocking (staging) while the camera and lighting crew set the shot up. The actor then is free to work on their hair, make-up, lines and/or just relax before they actually film the scene. I have onl done stand-in work a handful of times so I was a little nervous. But I have decent amount of experience as an "speaking" actor which started back in high school. So I felt relatively comfortable doing the scene when the director called action for 2nd Team. 2nd team is the official term that stand-ins are referred to on set. The principal actors are referred to as "1st Team." There is generally a 2nd Team rehearsal for the camera before the principals aka 1st time rehearse and then shoot the scene.
It's great practice and I was really excited. Since there were only a couple of lines I was able to quickly memorize them and copy what I saw Paul Schultze doing. The 2nd AD called "Action," I did the scene and then the 2nd AD called cut. Paul Shultze said "That was almost too good!" I was kind of embarrassed and didn't really know if he was being a dick and belittling me or just trying to be funny. I went back to my first mark to wait for the next rehearsal. Paul came out and introduced himself and said, "I really meant that. That was really good." I was SCHOCKED! Not only because of what he said but the fact that he actually went out of the way to introduce himself to me. It is VERY VERY VERY rare that a principal actor even speaks to a background actor let alone introduce themselves and pay them a compliment. I just said "Thanks man. I was just copying what you did."
The other really awesome experience was when I worked as a stand-in on "Wall Street 2" with Oliver Stone.
TBC . . .
Vanessa Williams on Ugly Betty's Wilhelmina Slater: 'My favorite role of a lifetime' | EW.com
Vanessa Williams on Ugly Betty's Wilhelmina Slater: 'My favorite role of a lifetime' | EW.com
Vanessa Williams on Ugly Betty's Wilhelmina Slater: 'My favorite role of a lifetime'
by Michael Slezak
Categories: Bitchery, EW Exclusive Video, Television, Things That Are Classy, Ugly Betty, Ugly Betty Bites
Wilhelmina Slater may be the only Ugly Betty character on EW’s list of TV’s Best Bitches (do check it out in the issue on newsstands right now), but for Vanessa Williams, who’s scored an Emmy nomination in each of the show’s first three seasons, bringing the ferocious editrix to life is hardly a solo effort. “The comedy comes from what’s on the page for sure,” she says. “Our writers are brilliant. I never know what’s going to come out of my mouth. And the people I get to play with are amazing!”
Williams says she especially enjoys when Willy is bantering with loyal sidekick Marc (Michael Urie) or baring her claws at rival Claire (Judith Light). “This season we’ve had some great stuff with Wilhelmina and Claire going back and forth, which is always tasty, because it’s two women of a certain age. Willy is basically calling Claire a corpse on a daily basis, and Claire retorts with ‘You scheming, conniving bitch,’ which is the reality,” Williams says with a hearty chuckle. And although the show’s writers have allowed us to see the softer side of Wilhelmina — through her failed romances, her rocky relationship with her father, her struggles to connect with her daughter — the woman never loses her beastly edge. “We’re about to shoot a scene, I think it’s for episode 11, and I’m tempting Becki Newton’s character with all this couture, luring her like the evil queen in Snow White,” says Williams. “I say to her, ‘Amanda, Amanda…it is Amanda right?’ After four years, she still doesn’t realize it’s her name!”
Of course, four seasons into Ugly Betty’s run, Wilhelmina often doesn’t need to say a single word to strike terror into the hearts of her underlings. “A lot of the stance, the carriage, and the facial expressions are where the real power lies. That’s what makes Wilhelmina great,” says Williams.”Sometimes it’s just a look or a sigh or a roll of the eyes or a turn of the back, and that’s weighted enough. It’s been my favorite role of a lifetime, and I truly enjoy coming to work every day.”
Check out bonus footage below of Williams during her photo shoot with Glee’s Jane Lynch and The Good Wife’s Christine Baranski to learn about the actress’s favorite Ugly Betty zinger, the reaction shot she most enjoys delivering, and the secret to surviving in Wilhelmina’s super-pointy, spike-heeled shoes. And for more on Ugly Betty and TV’s best bitches, check out Michael Ausiello’s latest Betty scoopfest, Tanner Stransky’s weekly rundown of the show’s best dialog, and bonus quotes from Mandi Bierly’s interview with The Vampire Diaries‘ Ian Somerhalder. (Yep, we’ve placed his deliciously evil Damon Salvatore right alongside Wilhelmina in the TV Bitch Hall of Fame.)
Vanessa Williams on Ugly Betty's Wilhelmina Slater: 'My favorite role of a lifetime'
by Michael Slezak
Categories: Bitchery, EW Exclusive Video, Television, Things That Are Classy, Ugly Betty, Ugly Betty Bites
Wilhelmina Slater may be the only Ugly Betty character on EW’s list of TV’s Best Bitches (do check it out in the issue on newsstands right now), but for Vanessa Williams, who’s scored an Emmy nomination in each of the show’s first three seasons, bringing the ferocious editrix to life is hardly a solo effort. “The comedy comes from what’s on the page for sure,” she says. “Our writers are brilliant. I never know what’s going to come out of my mouth. And the people I get to play with are amazing!”
Williams says she especially enjoys when Willy is bantering with loyal sidekick Marc (Michael Urie) or baring her claws at rival Claire (Judith Light). “This season we’ve had some great stuff with Wilhelmina and Claire going back and forth, which is always tasty, because it’s two women of a certain age. Willy is basically calling Claire a corpse on a daily basis, and Claire retorts with ‘You scheming, conniving bitch,’ which is the reality,” Williams says with a hearty chuckle. And although the show’s writers have allowed us to see the softer side of Wilhelmina — through her failed romances, her rocky relationship with her father, her struggles to connect with her daughter — the woman never loses her beastly edge. “We’re about to shoot a scene, I think it’s for episode 11, and I’m tempting Becki Newton’s character with all this couture, luring her like the evil queen in Snow White,” says Williams. “I say to her, ‘Amanda, Amanda…it is Amanda right?’ After four years, she still doesn’t realize it’s her name!”
Of course, four seasons into Ugly Betty’s run, Wilhelmina often doesn’t need to say a single word to strike terror into the hearts of her underlings. “A lot of the stance, the carriage, and the facial expressions are where the real power lies. That’s what makes Wilhelmina great,” says Williams.”Sometimes it’s just a look or a sigh or a roll of the eyes or a turn of the back, and that’s weighted enough. It’s been my favorite role of a lifetime, and I truly enjoy coming to work every day.”
Check out bonus footage below of Williams during her photo shoot with Glee’s Jane Lynch and The Good Wife’s Christine Baranski to learn about the actress’s favorite Ugly Betty zinger, the reaction shot she most enjoys delivering, and the secret to surviving in Wilhelmina’s super-pointy, spike-heeled shoes. And for more on Ugly Betty and TV’s best bitches, check out Michael Ausiello’s latest Betty scoopfest, Tanner Stransky’s weekly rundown of the show’s best dialog, and bonus quotes from Mandi Bierly’s interview with The Vampire Diaries‘ Ian Somerhalder. (Yep, we’ve placed his deliciously evil Damon Salvatore right alongside Wilhelmina in the TV Bitch Hall of Fame.)
Friday, November 20, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
The HAPPY Act—$3500 Tax Relief for Pet Owners-NextDayPets.com: http://bit.ly/3FoKVY Go to ASPCA 2 auto-generate a ltr to Congressman: http://ping.fm/70pNo
Monday, November 9, 2009
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Thursday, November 5, 2009
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
GO YANKEES-SEND PHILLY PACKING!!! I GOT A FEELIN' THAT 2NITE'S GONNA BE A GOOD NIGHT!!! & IT IS:) http://ping.fm/j5Lk5
Made In Heaven - Theatre Mania review
Reviews
Made in Heaven
Reviewed By: Barbara & Scott Siegel · Nov 3, 2009 · New York
Matthew Bondy, Alex Anfanger,
Kevin Thomas Collins and Maia Madison
in Made In Heaven
(© Carol Rosegg)
Matthew Bondy, Alex Anfanger,
Kevin Thomas Collins and Maia Madison
in Made In Heaven
(© Carol Rosegg)
If you think that one show about conjoined twins was all the theater market could bear, think again. Move over Side Show and make way for Made in Heaven, a deliciously dicey sex comedy in which two conjoined brothers share one penis and two different sexual orientations, now at the Soho Playhouse after a summer run at the Midtown International Theatre Festival. Jay Bernzweig's writing is broad, oftentimes vulgar, but it's also genuinely funny and consistently inventive. The result, under Andrew Shaifer's light direction, is 90 minutes of frolicsome fun.
The play begins with brothers Max (Kevin Thomas Collins) and Benjie (Alex Anfanger) waiting for Jessica (Maia Madison), the woman to whom they intend to propose marriage. Max, in particular, is full of joy at the prospect of this relationship working out, while Benjie is quick to point out all of the obvious obstacles. Finally, right before Jessica is to arrive, Benjie decides to come out of the closet. Max is stunned. How in the world could Max not have known? Well, that's part of the comic conceit of the entire piece.
The twist and turns of the plot all center on the conflicting desires of all four characters -- including "gay for pay" hustler Gilbert (Matthew Bondy) -- but the playwright keeps the motor running so smoothly throughout so that each new wrinkle, while perhaps not unexpected -- and perhaps even occasionally contrived -- still manages to be funny. And like a Marx Brothers movie, if you don't laugh at one joke, you'll laugh at another.
Made in Heaven is pointedly silly, but it has a lot of heart and four characters that are all rich in their comic potential. What's more, that comic potential is fully realized by some extremely zesty, even inspired, performances. Anfanger is comically adorable as the gay twin with a winsomely innocent yet comically exaggerated sexual desire. Collins is a wonderfully madcap actor who is out-and-out hilarious at physical comedy. Meanwhile, Madison gets to toss off her own fair share of comic lines with a ferocious quality, and Bondy plays his role with so much comic bravado that he almost steals the show.
Made in Heaven
Reviewed By: Barbara & Scott Siegel · Nov 3, 2009 · New York
Matthew Bondy, Alex Anfanger,
Kevin Thomas Collins and Maia Madison
in Made In Heaven
(© Carol Rosegg)
Matthew Bondy, Alex Anfanger,
Kevin Thomas Collins and Maia Madison
in Made In Heaven
(© Carol Rosegg)
If you think that one show about conjoined twins was all the theater market could bear, think again. Move over Side Show and make way for Made in Heaven, a deliciously dicey sex comedy in which two conjoined brothers share one penis and two different sexual orientations, now at the Soho Playhouse after a summer run at the Midtown International Theatre Festival. Jay Bernzweig's writing is broad, oftentimes vulgar, but it's also genuinely funny and consistently inventive. The result, under Andrew Shaifer's light direction, is 90 minutes of frolicsome fun.
The play begins with brothers Max (Kevin Thomas Collins) and Benjie (Alex Anfanger) waiting for Jessica (Maia Madison), the woman to whom they intend to propose marriage. Max, in particular, is full of joy at the prospect of this relationship working out, while Benjie is quick to point out all of the obvious obstacles. Finally, right before Jessica is to arrive, Benjie decides to come out of the closet. Max is stunned. How in the world could Max not have known? Well, that's part of the comic conceit of the entire piece.
The twist and turns of the plot all center on the conflicting desires of all four characters -- including "gay for pay" hustler Gilbert (Matthew Bondy) -- but the playwright keeps the motor running so smoothly throughout so that each new wrinkle, while perhaps not unexpected -- and perhaps even occasionally contrived -- still manages to be funny. And like a Marx Brothers movie, if you don't laugh at one joke, you'll laugh at another.
Made in Heaven is pointedly silly, but it has a lot of heart and four characters that are all rich in their comic potential. What's more, that comic potential is fully realized by some extremely zesty, even inspired, performances. Anfanger is comically adorable as the gay twin with a winsomely innocent yet comically exaggerated sexual desire. Collins is a wonderfully madcap actor who is out-and-out hilarious at physical comedy. Meanwhile, Madison gets to toss off her own fair share of comic lines with a ferocious quality, and Bondy plays his role with so much comic bravado that he almost steals the show.
"Made In Heaven" Website Review Clips
Made in Heaven
"A HUGE SUPPLY OF LAUGHS!"
- Associated Press, 3 November 2009
Read Jennifer Farrar's full review here.
"A GENUINELY FUNNY FARCE ... hilarious dialogue and inspired physical comedy. Adds a whole new meaning to the phrase "brotherly love"!"
- New York Post, 3 November 2009
Read Frank Scheck's full review at www.NYPost.com.
"A DELICIOUSLY DICEY SEX COMEDY ... genuinely funny and consistently inventive."
- TheaterMania, 3 November 2009
Read Barbara & Scott Siegel's full review at www.TheaterMania.com.
"A HUGE SUPPLY OF LAUGHS!"
- Associated Press, 3 November 2009
Read Jennifer Farrar's full review here.
"A GENUINELY FUNNY FARCE ... hilarious dialogue and inspired physical comedy. Adds a whole new meaning to the phrase "brotherly love"!"
- New York Post, 3 November 2009
Read Frank Scheck's full review at www.NYPost.com.
"A DELICIOUSLY DICEY SEX COMEDY ... genuinely funny and consistently inventive."
- TheaterMania, 3 November 2009
Read Barbara & Scott Siegel's full review at www.TheaterMania.com.
"Made In Heaven" Associated Press Review
wpix.com /sns-ap-us-theater-review-made-in-heaven,0,4454468.story
WPIX
Theater review: 'Made in Heaven' adds Siamese twins to a love quadrangle _ and get laughs
JENNIFER FARRAR
Associated Press Writer
11:48 AM EST, November 3, 2009
NEW YORK (AP) — A different twist on the eternal search for emotional fulfillment is provided by Jay Bernzweig in his new off-Broadway comedy, "Made in Heaven."
Brothers Max (Kevin Thomas Collins) and Benjie (Alex Anfanger) are conjoined adult Siamese twins, who share all major organs from the waist down.
On the eve of "their" engagement to their girlfriend Jessica, a cheerfully delusional, insecure woman (played with polished humor by Maia Madison,) Benjie confesses to Max that he's actually gay.
Sweetly naive Benjie has also selected his first gay date, from a catalog of male escorts, and the already-farcical humor increases with the arrival of Matthew Bondy as the handsome stud-for-hire, Gilbert.
Anfanger's wide-eyed, boyish face is perfect for his innocent character, while Collins has a more cynical appearance, displaying a wonderful range of expressions to suit every fresh revelation as the unusual love quadrangle progresses.
Bondy's part requires him to frequently stand around onstage wearing only briefs. While Gilbert is crass and opportunistic, downright lewd at times, Bondy's gym-toned attributes don't detract from his comedic timing or his ability to convey an occasional, if fleeting, thoughtful side to Gilbert.
Bernzweig has laced the script with humorous one-liners. When Max tries to tell Ben that Gilbert is nothing but "a bisexual Ken doll," the smitten Ben retorts, "Beauty has its own brains." There's also a lot of explicit sexual talk and cursing, although the actual sex, while frankly discussed, takes place offstage or underneath a blanket.
Director/producer Andrew Shaifer keeps the action moving pretty quickly, as the four characters experience overlapping sexual pairings during a monthlong trial of their relationships.
The affairs suffer from all the expected complications, particularly around the physical and emotional issues that the brothers must deal with. There are several sight gags, some of them almost tasteful. The three-legged twins do some hilarious comedic maneuvering, especially when one unconscious, flopping brother must be hauled around by the other.
Both Gilbert and Jessica become inconsistent in their commitment, while Max, who loathes Gilbert, tries to persuade both Ben and Jessica to operate with more self-respect. The power of brotherly love is definitely tested, but with a huge supply of laughs along the way.
"Made in Heaven" is in a limited run at the Soho Playhouse through Sunday, Jan. 3.
WPIX
Theater review: 'Made in Heaven' adds Siamese twins to a love quadrangle _ and get laughs
JENNIFER FARRAR
Associated Press Writer
11:48 AM EST, November 3, 2009
NEW YORK (AP) — A different twist on the eternal search for emotional fulfillment is provided by Jay Bernzweig in his new off-Broadway comedy, "Made in Heaven."
Brothers Max (Kevin Thomas Collins) and Benjie (Alex Anfanger) are conjoined adult Siamese twins, who share all major organs from the waist down.
On the eve of "their" engagement to their girlfriend Jessica, a cheerfully delusional, insecure woman (played with polished humor by Maia Madison,) Benjie confesses to Max that he's actually gay.
Sweetly naive Benjie has also selected his first gay date, from a catalog of male escorts, and the already-farcical humor increases with the arrival of Matthew Bondy as the handsome stud-for-hire, Gilbert.
Anfanger's wide-eyed, boyish face is perfect for his innocent character, while Collins has a more cynical appearance, displaying a wonderful range of expressions to suit every fresh revelation as the unusual love quadrangle progresses.
Bondy's part requires him to frequently stand around onstage wearing only briefs. While Gilbert is crass and opportunistic, downright lewd at times, Bondy's gym-toned attributes don't detract from his comedic timing or his ability to convey an occasional, if fleeting, thoughtful side to Gilbert.
Bernzweig has laced the script with humorous one-liners. When Max tries to tell Ben that Gilbert is nothing but "a bisexual Ken doll," the smitten Ben retorts, "Beauty has its own brains." There's also a lot of explicit sexual talk and cursing, although the actual sex, while frankly discussed, takes place offstage or underneath a blanket.
Director/producer Andrew Shaifer keeps the action moving pretty quickly, as the four characters experience overlapping sexual pairings during a monthlong trial of their relationships.
The affairs suffer from all the expected complications, particularly around the physical and emotional issues that the brothers must deal with. There are several sight gags, some of them almost tasteful. The three-legged twins do some hilarious comedic maneuvering, especially when one unconscious, flopping brother must be hauled around by the other.
Both Gilbert and Jessica become inconsistent in their commitment, while Max, who loathes Gilbert, tries to persuade both Ben and Jessica to operate with more self-respect. The power of brotherly love is definitely tested, but with a huge supply of laughs along the way.
"Made in Heaven" is in a limited run at the Soho Playhouse through Sunday, Jan. 3.
"Made In Heaven" NY Post Review
Joined in matrimony
By FRANK SCHECK
Last Updated: 4:31 PM, November 3, 2009
Posted: 12:12 AM, November 3, 2009
Even Alfred Kinsey might have been shocked by "Made in Heaven." This new comedy about conjoined twins linked by a part of the male anatomy adds a whole new meaning to the phrase "brotherly love."
The results are better than you'd expect. While Jay Bernzweig's comedy doesn't exactly inspire comparisons to Oscar Wilde, it's a genuinely funny farce that you'll only mildly disrespect yourself the next day for having liked.
Max (Kevin Thomas Collins) and Benjie (Alex Anfanger) seem to have adjusted to their condition pretty well, and are even planning on proposing to their zaftig, adoring girlfriend, Jessica (Maia
Madison).
There's only one slight hitch to the hitching: Benjie, as he's only recently accepted, is gay.
Jessica is barely fazed. "It's not like there's nothing to work with," she points out.
The problem then arises as how to satisfy Benjie's needs. He's already figured that out, having selected a male hustler from the ads in a gay magazine.
When Gilbert (Matthew Bondy) arrives for the assignation, he's only slightly nonplussed by the circumstances. But, despite a further complication that won't be revealed here, the foursome are soon living together in an arrangement that makes Noel Coward's "Design for Living" seem positively quaint.
It's all much funnier than it should be, thanks to the often hilarious dialogue and the inspired physical comedy from Collins and Anfanger. Wearing a single pair of oversize pants as if they've been sharing them forever, the two are particularly riotous in the scene in which Benjie is forced to fling his drugged, unconscious brother around like a rag doll.
Is "Made in Heaven" made in heaven? No. But it's a genuinely silly, entertaining romp that fits perfectly in the funky confines of the SoHo Playhouse.
NEW YORK POST is a registered trademark of NYP Holdings, Inc.
nypost.com , nypostonline.com , and newyorkpost.com are trademarks of NYP Holdings, Inc.
Copyright 2009 NYP Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy | Terms of Use
By FRANK SCHECK
Last Updated: 4:31 PM, November 3, 2009
Posted: 12:12 AM, November 3, 2009
Even Alfred Kinsey might have been shocked by "Made in Heaven." This new comedy about conjoined twins linked by a part of the male anatomy adds a whole new meaning to the phrase "brotherly love."
The results are better than you'd expect. While Jay Bernzweig's comedy doesn't exactly inspire comparisons to Oscar Wilde, it's a genuinely funny farce that you'll only mildly disrespect yourself the next day for having liked.
Max (Kevin Thomas Collins) and Benjie (Alex Anfanger) seem to have adjusted to their condition pretty well, and are even planning on proposing to their zaftig, adoring girlfriend, Jessica (Maia
Madison).
There's only one slight hitch to the hitching: Benjie, as he's only recently accepted, is gay.
Jessica is barely fazed. "It's not like there's nothing to work with," she points out.
The problem then arises as how to satisfy Benjie's needs. He's already figured that out, having selected a male hustler from the ads in a gay magazine.
When Gilbert (Matthew Bondy) arrives for the assignation, he's only slightly nonplussed by the circumstances. But, despite a further complication that won't be revealed here, the foursome are soon living together in an arrangement that makes Noel Coward's "Design for Living" seem positively quaint.
It's all much funnier than it should be, thanks to the often hilarious dialogue and the inspired physical comedy from Collins and Anfanger. Wearing a single pair of oversize pants as if they've been sharing them forever, the two are particularly riotous in the scene in which Benjie is forced to fling his drugged, unconscious brother around like a rag doll.
Is "Made in Heaven" made in heaven? No. But it's a genuinely silly, entertaining romp that fits perfectly in the funky confines of the SoHo Playhouse.
NEW YORK POST is a registered trademark of NYP Holdings, Inc.
nypost.com , nypostonline.com , and newyorkpost.com are trademarks of NYP Holdings, Inc.
Copyright 2009 NYP Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy | Terms of Use
Monday, November 2, 2009
The Yanks are 1 game away from winning the World Series. I can't believe I fell asleep at the top of the 9th after Damon's stolen bass! http://ping.fm/fMuXU
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