REVIEW - HOLIDAY IN HEAVEN

         

HIH WRITE-UP





 
A Holiday in Heaven, Hope for Humanity, and a Happy Ending for Alexander the Great

Two angels, Allowishes (L), played by Erik Kuzmuk and Hortense the Southern belle, played by Julia Menn (R)greet Mary, played by Grace Bennett when she arrives in heaven.NEW YORK – Events like the annual Academy Awards in Hollywood remind the world that Greeks aren’t just pioneers in arts and entertainment. Theater in American is one of the many fields where they are still making their mark.
Festivals across the country have programs populated with Greek names. Demetria Daniels’ musical “Holiday in Heaven” was one of the featured presentations at the recent “Midwinter Madness Short play Festival,” presented by John Chatterton in Manhattan. Also listed in the program are “The Brink” by Eugenie Carabatsos, “One out of Ten,” originally created by Laertis Vasiliou, translated and directed by Aktina Stathaki, and “The Seven Stages of Grief,” by Dimitri Michalakis.
Daniels calls her play “a romantic fairy tale with a twist and a mission,” and Daniels herself welcomed the audience and introduced the theme cabaret style. The exuberant cast then burst onto the stage singing “Let’s celebrate a holiday in heaven - Eat angel cake and drink sweet wine,” and the audience encountered a play that is both fun and a vehicle for social commentary and spiritual uplift.
It’s the eve of the year 3000 and a great celebration is being planned. Despite the passage of 1000 years, there is still suffering on Earth - apparently our technology didn’t do the trick - but the feast will celebrate the enduring hope for a better world.
Two angels, Allowishes, played by Erik Kuzmuk with a touch of British pomposity, and Hortense the Southern belle, played by Julia Menn, are the musical’s drivers. They are appointed co-organizers of the festival, but there is just a bit of friction -ambition is one of the human emotions that survives the afterlife. But their hearts are in the right place as they both are devoted to raising funds to alleviate homelessness on earth.

Demetria Daniels (standing 3rd from L) with the cast and co-creators of Holiday in Heaven.Greek American actor John Vlachos (far L)played the "bad boyfriend."Myriam Phyro, who later appears as the 17th Century harpist Maria, makes her first appearance as a woman in tatters singing a song about the life of the homeless: “They live like shadows, discarded souls…but something will happen to change the day.”
That still appears long term, however. In the meantime, our angels hatch the idea of a harp-playing contest to anchor their fundraising efforts, but they need to find a judge. Even heaven, or its lower levels perhaps, is still subject to egoism and favoritism.
Apparently heaven also relies on computers – either they’ve become more spiritual in 1000 years – the expected quantum computers perhaps, or heaven always had its material elements (what else would ego cling to?)
Allowishes and Hortense find Mary, who cares for homeless people in New York, but as saintly as she is, she is subject to anger as her worthless boyfriend has forgotten her birthday and her apartment is trashed by robbers.
Mary is a musician however, and she can lose herself and her troubles in her music. And there are good people on earth. Mary’s piano accompanist has fallen in love with her, foreshadowing a happy ending, but matters in heaven are still up in the air. The boyfriend (played by Greek-American John Vlachos) scoffs at the golden invitation she received for the Holiday.
Earthly tragedy is a gain for heaven as Mary is struck by a car as she was rushing across the street one day. When she awakens in heaven the angels assure her that she is not dead and Allowishes immediately whisks her away with a waltz. The next one on her dance card is none other than Alexander the Great.
Questions abound for Mary and the audience, what does one say upon being introduced history’s greatest warrior? Mary maintains her composures, announcing “I speak a little Greek.” She pauses, smiles, and intones “Agape,” which was the magic word because Alexander asks her if she would like to see the garden. He has also arranged a weekend of wonderful concerts, reminding all that the man great fighting and organizational skills.
Clearly the Macedonian king (played by Noah Pielow) made it to heaven on extra credit for his vision of harmony among the nations of the world – after defeating them all in battle, that is. There are hints that the play unfolds in the Roman Catholic corner of heaven: the conqueror must have endured some Purgatory Time and now appears as quite the caring gentleman.
As impatient as ever, he presents his sing-song marriage proposal to a breathless Mary. Allowishes and Hortense are ecstatic, only to learn that higher authorities have decreed that Mary will survive the accident and must return to earth. Mary is distraught, but Alex declares that he will fix things. He finds Marie, and she and Mary agree to switch places.
“Are there rules against that?” Allowishes asks. “Not that I’ve heard,” Hortense replies. “Well just don’t tell anyone,” – he may have been part Greek – and the wonderful New Millenium wedding celebration begins.

HOLIDAY IN HEAVEN

HOLIDAY IN HEAVEN

a musical by DEMETRIA DANIELS

FINALLY FRIENDS, my musical HOLIDAY IN HEAVEN will be performed.

FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN ALEXANDER THE GREAT

FALLS IN LOVE.

PLAYING AT THE ROY ARIAS THEATER

FEB 14, 7:30, FEB 18, 8:45, FEB 19, 4:15

SMARTTIX.COM

part of John Chattertons, Mid-winter Madness Festival

********************************************************************

ELIZABETH TAYLOR

At Christies, the estate of ELIZABETH TAYLOR  held an auction of her jewels, clothes and other items, some going for 11 million dollars.  It was at Christies that GOTHAM GOSSIP (demetriadaniels.com - archives) first met Ms. Taylor and her dog Sugar. We will miss her.

                                                          ELIZABETH TAYLOR

DINO ANAGNOST

GRAMMY- AWARD NOMINEE MAESTRO DINO ANAGNOST was celehrated  for his life and legacy of 32 years with the Little Orchestra Society with a beautiful concert. at Cathedral of the Holy Trinity.  "Making a Joyful Sound" was sponsored by Mary and Michael Jaharis, under the high patronage of his eminence Archbishop Demetrios.  Constantine Kitsopoulos, music director of the QueensSymphony Orchestra conducted.  byzantine chants, classical works hymns, and carols with sopranos Indra Thomas and Anela Meade. Members of the Metropolitan Singers/The Greek Choral Society and the Orpheon Chorale joined in . A surprising fact that Dino was conferred the honor of Commendatore in the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic for his service to Italian music. He founded the Vivaldi's Venice series.   He also created "Happy  Concerts for Young People and the famous Lolli-Pops series for children ages 3-5. A gala reception and dinner was held afterwards at the palatial and most elegant Metropolian Club, a most befitting

tribute to a most remarkable and gifted composer and musical director.     

MAESTRO DINO ANAGNOST

SINGERS INDRA THOMAS and ANGELA MEADE

The world-wide known fashion designer MARY MCFADDEN attended the  magnificent opening
of the art exhibit at the Aristotle Onassis gallery ( 5th ave & 51 st) (Olympic Towers) "Transitions to Christianity - 3-7 century AD".  She told me that she had just flown in from Dakar, capital city of Senegal - which she found fascinating.   She was wearing one of her designs.Her early dress designs were very Greek-inspired with fluted pleated stichings like the karyatids at the Parthenon. The Greek defense minister flew in from Athens just for the event, which was hosted by President of the  Aristotle Onassis Public Benefit foundation, Anthony Papadimitriou, and  Executive Director Ambassador Loucas Tsilas.
                                                               *******



NEWT GINGRICH spoke privately to a group of conservatives at the Hyatt Hotel.  In his speech
he said he wanted to deliver paychecks for the people, not welfare checks.  - I was happy
to get his recent book "A Nation Like No  Other: Why Exceptionalism Matters" which he autographed.  And finally I got the chance to tell him in person that I used to watch his history lectures which he gave at the Un. of Virginia which were telecasted on New York Saturday morning television. - He was pleased to hear that!!

                                                       


                                           ******

john denver

      Impresario STUART F.LANE was awarded the "JOHN DENVER SPIRIT AWARD" and Park Bench Dedication at Central Park West and W 75 St.  Mr. Lane is the creator of "A Moment in Time", a new Broadway musical with music and lyrics by JOHN DENVER.  He was presented this award by the Starsong Foundation.  Here he shakes hands with Ron Denver, brother to John Denver. Mr. Lane has
received Tony awards for Thrououghly Modern Millie,  The Will Rogers Follies and La Cage Aux Folles.
He is a grand Broadway presence and was accompanied by his beautiful wife Bonnie Comley and 2 sons.

                                                         *****************

Run over to Theater for the New City to see Crystal Field's  presentation of SIREN'S HEART.
It is written by Walt Stepp, directed by Lissa Moira , musical director - Gregory Nissen, and stars Louisa Bradshaw.  The most talented and beautifull Ms. Bradshaw is exuberant in her portrayal of the famous MARILYN MONROE.  She sings beautifully some lovely songs written by Mr. Stepp.  The subtitle is "Marilyn in Purgatory: Songs She Never Sang Before".  Three songs are basen on W.B. Yeats poetry.  The actress examines the MM life story - her relationships with directors, other stars, her two husbands and the 17,000 GI"s she entertained, in the 50's.  Best is when she sings "Happy Birthday" to JFK, the audience joins in.!!!.


                                                                    
                                                            

NYMF

Run to see Jane Austen's "PRIDE AND PREJUDICE' at the NY Musical Theater Festival. It
is the musical version of the book.  With music/lyrics and book by Lindsay Warren Baker and Amanda
Jacobs.  It takes you to the late 1700's in England.  Growing up with 7 sisters, Ms. Austen for
sure was an expert on relationships, courtships, and marriages of those times.  What makes
this musical so divine is that the authors have written Ms. Austen into the plot where she adds
and discards characters; she also sings too.  The stageing is magnificent.  In particular I loved
the duet "Had I Been In Love" .  The opening number of "Choices :First Impressions" sets a theme
for the rest of the play. Originally, the book was called "Impressions" A terrific dance scene - "I
Can't Resist a Redcoat" was choreographed by Jeffry Denman. At the Signature Theater, Peter
Norton Space, W 42 St.


                                                    *********
At 23 Wall St.  "Loft in the Red Zone"    around the World Trade  center- about the artists that
live in the area and  were affected by 9/11.  The space is enormous.  Lots of art  - Look for work by Peggy Cyphers.  Videos, installations. paintings etc  - this is the last week in NY  -then goes to Moscow.
                                                  
                                                  **********