Update

THE WOMEN at the Le Petit Théatre du Vieux Carré A staged reading of Clare Boothe Luce's comedy about the lives, loves, and intrigues of a catty circle of Park Avenue women, circa 1936 (no nails retracted in this bunch of clawing beasties!) This is an encore performance. Its initial performance in October was wildly successful. It is presented by The Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival and Le Petit Theatre. It is directed by Ricky Graham (a New Orleans community theater giant - actor, director, producer - he resurrected our local theater scene in the '70's and shows no sign of letting up). The performance is Saturday, November 11th at 2:00 p.m. at Le Petite Theatre 616 St. Peter St. New Orleans. Telephone: (504)-522-2081 $25 The performer's read like a local who's-who from Community theater, TV personalities, Businesswomen, High Society. It is sponsored by the Gertrude C. Ford Foundation.

A WOMAN OF NO IMPORTANCE by Oscar Wilde, Sunday, December 8th at The Pickery in the New Orleans Warehouse District. Open calls were held earlier this month. Telephone: (504)-723-8206

Apropos - I just read Arthur Meiselman’s column, "Two Women" in the April 2000 "Life Upon The Wicked Stage". All should enter Scene4's Archives to read it again! It expressed Piper Laurie and Irina Kasvane's performances so vividly, I imagined I was there.

Reprise - The New Orleans Film Society presents the 12th Annual New Orleans Film Festival beginning October 12th with a Gala.  The Festival’s competitive arena called Cinema 16 begins October 13 through October 19.  Works by independent filmmakers from around the world will be shown.The festival features major art-house premieres, films that have limited exhibition in the U.S., resurrected film “classics” for big screen showings, and panel discussions with world-class industry guests.
And, alas, there will be social events where the local, regional, nation and international film-going community comes together.
Try these sites to whet the appetite!
www.neworleansfilmfest.com/filmfest.htm
www.neworleansfilmfest.com/snapshots.htm
and
www.neworleansfilmfest.com/00schedule.htm for screenings and venues

Native New Orleanian and a Tony nominee for her role in
Smokey Joe’s Café, Ms. B. J. Crosby, gave an impromptu performance at Le Chat Noir, recently, with two of her girlfriends who are in 7 GIRLS 7.

THEATRE - NEW

Now here’s a great idea! Dinner Theatre For Kids!
Feed ‘em what they like: hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken-strips, french fries, veggies with dipping sauce, fruit cup or brownie, milk and punch.
Then,  put on a play.  Start ‘em early … and ya hook ‘em.
Play is performed by Porta-Puppet players: real people & puppets. 
Performances will be at the Fine Arts Centre 1733 Constantinople St, New Orleans
Telephone: (504) 269 – 3922  $10
HORRIBLE MONSTERS (their Halloween Show)
October 18 Dinner at 6 p.m. Play at 7 p.m.
THAT’S ‘THE BE-PUZZLED PILGRIM’ (their Thanksgiving Show) November 15 

AMERICAN LANDSCAPES at Loyola University, Lower Depths Theatre
Eight short plays of contemporary America.
Directed by David Dalhgren.
From the Actor’s Theatre of Louisville 10-Minute Play Festival
October 4 – 7 at 8 p.m. & October 8 at 2 p.m.
$7.00 Seniors & Students, $10 General Admission
Telephone: (504) 865-3824

THE ROAD TO MECCA at The University of New Orleans, Lab Theater
By Athol Fugard – Directed by Polly Gormus-Hudgins
This play by the award winning South African Playwright is called by Time Magazine:
‘Fugard’s wisest, most balanced and most nearly universal play.”
Oct. 11, 12, 13, 14, at 8pm
Oct. 15 at 2:30 pm (Sunday)
$8 General Admission $5 Students & Seniors
Following The Road to Mecca is

THE WALL OF CRISPIAN at the Thrust Theater
An engaging, theatrical look at the aftermath of the Vietnam War.
The play by Karen Atherton is an original student written script; and,
is the entry in the American College of Theatre Festival.
It begins Nov. 3^rd. Then, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11 at 8pm and Nov. 12 at 2:30 p.m.
Telephone: (504) 280 - SHOW

MIKKO PRESENTS LUST at Le Chat Noir, 715 St. Charles Ave. New Orleans
Monologues and sketches on romantic, physical and emotional desire.
October 9 – 13 at 11 p.m.  $10
Telephone: (504) 581- 5812

AMERICAN LANDSCAPES at Loyola University, Lower Depths Theater
Eight 10-minute plays: Dramatic, touching, and laugh-out-loud funny
$10 General Admission $7 Students & Seniors.
Telephone: (504) 865-3824

COMEDY OF ERRORS by William Shakespeare will start-up Tulane University’s
Season on November 8th^h.
Telephone: (504) 865-5106

CONTINUING
(see our archived September 2000 report for the vitals)

BEEHIVE at Southern Repertory Theatre
KING LEAR  November 4th^h (Mark this on your calendars … it’s free and in
Mandeville, La. at the Mandeville Trailhead amphitheater.
Only 24 miles across the sea (Lake Pontchartrain). Make a day of it!
LATE NITE CATECHISM at Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre
SUNSHINE BOYS at Carolne’s Dinner Theater. Remember … you don’t have to dine there, if you don’t care to.
THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLENNIUM at True Brew Café Theatre.
WEST SIDE STORY at Rivertown Repertory Theatre
7 GIRLS 7: WOMEN’S MONOLOGUES FROM NATIVE TONGUES atLe Chat Noir

FILM

THE TAO OF STEVE
This over-weight, grungy, guy (Donal Logue) studies Steve’s – McQueen, McGarrett (Hawaii Five-O), Austin (Six Million Dollar Man) – and comes up with the unique philosophy on how to get chicks: men should be desire-less, be excellent, and, be gone. Retreat and they will pursue.
Naturally, his tao is tested. Incredibly brilliant screenplay.
A “Steve” flick … go figure.
 
Regarding the career of Mr. Logue, if I had anything to do with it:
The Confederacy of Dunces, a Pulitzer Prize-Winning Novel written by the late, New Orleans native, John Kennedy Toole has always been talked of as a cinch to be adapted into a screenplay. And, in recent years, a new New Orleans resident, John Goodman, is given the nod to be cast in the lead role as the fat, flatulent, fractious, fastidious, Falstaffian, French Quarter intellect, dead-beat, goof-off, glutton, one Ignatius J. Reilly. So far, no go. Well … Donal Logue should officially be on the short list, just in case it ever is. Anyone out there listening? He’s got the girth and grunge; and, I believe, the ability to ‘freshen-up’ (heavens … not literally!) the character to make it work on the Big Screen.

THE EXORCIST
Director William Friedkin’s 1973 classic horror film is re-released with 10 minutes of footage cut from the original release now added back. Screenplay (adapted from William Peter Blatty’s 1971 best seller) is awesome.
I give it 5 Chills.

TRASH
The LIGHT turns on for a troublemaking high school senior student: it’s revealed that he is a gifted writer whose talent will get him out of his no-life, trailer-park existence. But, he must break-away first, from his going-nowhere best friend. Compelling, impressive. Writer-Director Mark Anthony Galluzzo makes a good-looking debut.

THOUGHT
Greek drama, Opera, Shakespeare, Broadway or Any-way any-where stage plays, Vegas, Rock and Symphonic Concerts.  All have two things in common: Performers & Audience. Louis Prima gave this advice to a new band member (for anyone to take along onstage):
“If you’re an entertainer, make the audience feel like they’re entertaining you”

© 2000 Steve/Lucille Esquerre ALL RIGHTS RESERVED