Strippers and Matchmakers

Broadway Cares held the annual SOLO STRIPS event at XL nightclub on Sunday night, the short and sweet, low-key lead up to the bacchanalian BROADWAY BARES in June. I won't be in town for this year's BARES so I lent my support to a couple of mates disrobing solo.

The ever gorgeous James Brown III from PRISCILLA started off as a schoolboy celebrating a birthday and ended up like this. As you do.

Long tall Tim Hughes from my Roald Dahl reading did fireman acting. Good with props.

Then last night was a fully staged concert of HELLO, DOLLY! performed by an all Asian cast with the original Gower Champion staging reproduced by Lee Roy Reams and Randy Slovacek.

Considering the company had about 40 hours of rehearsal they acquitted themselves extraordinarily well and the quartet of young lovers were particularly appealing. It was a joy to see how well the original choreography still works. The current crop of choreographers don't seem to realise that simple and economical is usually better. I actually wept throughout the "Dancing" number as well as the title song. A delight. Must do that show one day.....