If I've mentioned YOU in one of these reviews, and you would like to be linked to YOUR site or email address, EXPRESS YOURSELF at the bottom of the page and I'll link you up!

WHAT YOU SAY --- HERE'S SOME COOL NOTES FROM READERS:

Dear Jean,

I would like to say "smash it" (term used in Phoenix, meaning, LOVE IT!) to your voice, 
your talent, and the music!

The sound of your voice is so intriguing, sexy, yet so calming!!!! Your 
voice flows so smoothly in each of the songs I listen to!!!! I LOVE 
IT!!!!!!!! I want more!!!!!! =) =) I want to hear more originals, as well 
as not originals, all done by you. You are so awesome!!!! Your voice and 
the music behind it, as well, brings a shiver up my spine. I also wanted to 
say, that I love your website!! Keep up the fabulous work!!! I will keep 
tuning into it, for the hot spots, hot reviews and more!!!!

Lvstdnc, Phoenix, AZ

Dear Jean, 

I was excited when I came across GNUS n' REVIEWS on your
website. It's such a joy to have found a critic with such an extreme
passion in her multitude of experiences. Being a lover of fine food, I
was especially fond of your review of Farallon. It made me rush right
out and book a reservation. Though it was extremely difficult to get in
on a Saturday night, they were eventually able to accommodate me. Well,
it was definitely worth the wait. I can't be as explicit as you in my
firm agreement to your findings, but I will say the atmosphere was
uncanny, the food was marvelous, and yes, the service with Gwen was
impeccable. So to sum it up, "ditto" to your review and hats off to San
Frans long overdue find of gNUs n' reVIEws! 

BOBCLOT, Las Vegas

KEEP THOSE CARDS AND LETTERS COMIN' FOLKS!

live stuFF

The Griddle Hot Music Review

www.marktyne.com/griddlehotmusic

4/13/05

Imagine - A Sober John Lennon

The Griddle Hot Music Review reviews Bay Area music events within 24 hours after the end of the show.  This allows Bay Area newspapers to get scoops on the latest Bay Area concerts and performances.

On Tuesday, 4/12/05, the world premiere of the John Lennon Musical, Imagine, premiered at the Orpheum Theater in San Francisco.  For the record, I ingested no drugs or alcohol before, during or after the show.  Therefore, I feel qualified to give a sober review of Imagine.  I mention the substances I ingested before, during and after the show because the treatment of John Lennon’s drug and alcohol use was conspicuously missing from the musical.  Interesting.

First the good news.  Imagine is an original, innovative, creative and emotionally moving musical about the life of John Lennon.  The musical has the astounding energy and feel of Hair when it first hit Broadway.  The cast of ten singers each took turns playing different parts of Lennon’s life, which worked very effectively, showing Lennon’s multifaceted personalities.  I give the musical an extra ½ point for staging the first two Beatles numbers with an all female band.  Could Imagine be predicting that the next band to have the talent of the Beatles will be an all female group?

The cast of ten singers sparkled all the way through the show.  In particular, one soprano female vocalist was able to clearly hit all the high notes required to get good three part harmonies in both the Beatles numbers and the Lennon solo numbers.  The songs that shined out most were Whatever Gets You through the Night, All We Are Saying Is Give Peace a Chance, Beautiful Boy, Starting Over, Woman is the Nigger of the World, God and When You’re Crippled Inside.

There are a lot of time shifts in the plot of Imagine.  Even though all but three songs in the musical are from Lennon’s solo career, the musical keeps shifting back and forth from Lennon’s solo days and his Beatle days.  Imagine blows out the history of the Beatles from inception to breakup in about 20 minutes at the beginning of the show.  After this, Imagine uses some of Lennon’s solo songs to reminisce about his Beatles past.  Lennon’s song India, takes him back to his studies with the Mahariji Mahesh Yogi in India with the Beatles.  These time shifts are an innovative theatrical techniques which are used effectively in Imagine.

By the end of Imagine, I felt  I had seen the most innovative treatment of a pop musician’s life ever put onstage.  Imagine shows that despite the weak treatment of many of the rock bios coming to Broadway, this type of musical can be done exceptionally well.  If you like John Lennon or musical theater go see Imagine.

I have a few reservations about Imagine.  First off, only three Beatles songs are performed during the show:  Money, Twist & Shout and Real Love, released by the Beatles after John’s death.  It’s likely that the Producers of the Imagine were able to get the rights to John Lennon’s solo career songs, but had problems getting the rights to Lennon’s Beatles material.

This lack of Beatles material was a disappointment for me.  I think that if the musical had been able to concentrate on John Lennon’s role in the Beatles for the first act and Lennon’s solo career in the second act, it would have made for a stronger musical.  On the other hand, the lack of Beatles material does force the audience to measure Lennon’s solo work against his Beatles work.

One difference between Lennon’s solo and his Beatles work is that as a solo artist, Lennon seemed more inclined to write songs designed to shock his audience.  In Lennon’s song Cold Turkey, he describes physical and mental agony from heroin detoxification.  In the song Woman is the Nigger of the World, Lennon makes a case that slavery and oppression has shifted from blacks to women.  In God, Lennon states, “God is a concept by which we measure out pain.”.  Then after listing all the things he doesn’t believe in, “Bible, Buddha, Jesus”, he sings, “I don’t believe in Beatles”.  All these years later, the line still packs a punch.  It marks Lennon’s break with his Beatles past and an embracing of his new life, “I just believe in me, Yoko and me.” 

The biggest problem I found with Imagine is that the musical attempts to create a squeaky-clean revisionist history about the role that drugs and alcohol played in the life of John Lennon.  The musical only mentions Lennon’s drug and alcohol use four times:  John took diet pills in Hamburg, John got drunk and seduced a woman at a party, John drank a lot of Brandy Alexanders during his lost weekend and John was considered a “Suspected Heavy Narcotics User” by the FBI.  If I knew nothing about John Lennon before seeing Imagine, I would conclude that he took some diet pills for energy early in his Beatles career and got drunk a couple times after the Beatles broke up.  Yoko Ono is never seen having a drink or taking a drug throughout the entire musical. 

Since the Beatles are one of my favorite groups, I have read a lot about John Lennon.  All of the research I have done indicates that JOHN LENNON DID EVERY DRUG KNOWN TO MAN.  Lennon himself said that he probably took a thousand trips on acid.  One author claims that both John and Yoko were addicted to heroin for years and spent hundreds of dollars a day on their habit.  Another claims that the single factor that most likely broke up the Beatles was John’s heroin use.  In any case, it’s common knowledge clear that Lennon’s drug and alcohol use was a major influence in his songwriting and in his life.  I think Imagine would have been stronger if it had tried to be more honest about the role drugs and alcohol played in the lives of John and Yoko.

On a scale of 1-10 (1worst – 10best), I would give Imagine the Musical an 8.5, which is the highest rating I’ve given a musical in a while.  I give the musical an extra ½ point for the all female Beatles band, but subtract a ½ point for the revision history of Lennon’s drug use.  It was great to see the first show of the world premiere of Imagine.  Imagine will be playing at the Orpheum Theater in SF from April 12 – May 14, 2005.  Go check it out.

Mark Tyne is a concert hound, a musical composer and a music reviewer who lives in San Francisco.  Contact Mark at www.marktyne.com and msokoloff2001@yahoo.com

NINE

Run - don't walk! See this before it's been on Broadway forever and a day.  John and I spent a week in New York and this was the highlight of the large roster of shows we saw. We were lucky enough to see the matinee before opening. The cast was really on it - no one was phoning it in at this point. Live theater was truly alive! It made me remember the point of live theater in the first place - to have a co-creative experience with the actors.  Antonio Banderas did a great job, surrounded by a cast of women. His singing delivered, and he moves great, not to  mention the drool factor! Jane Kracowski (from Ally Mc Beal) did what she did best and then some. Her sex-soaked performance as the mistress was laced with a innocence and vulnerability not usually brought out in this type of character. And then there's the song where she comes down from the fly space wrapped in a towel. Mmmmmmmmm. Chita Rivera was truly the grande dame, but the biggest treat was Mary Stuart Masterson as the cheated on wife. We all know she can act, but this gal can really sing!!!  I about fell out of my chair when she opened her mouth. She was the only person that didn't make me think "oh, she's singing now" during her songs. They were perfect extensions of her character.  I loved the production values, and John really like the costumes, or lack thereof, on the women.  But hey, I had Antonio, so it was all fair.

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HEAVEN

I went to see a friend in this play and was completely satisfied. The script was written by George F. Walker (a dude I'll definitely be reading and seeing more of!) and directed by the fabulous Bill English (a dude I'll be watching for to see more of his plays!)  English took the edgy script and pushed the envelope even further. As a result, the material held that old mirror up to life and we got to squirm, to laugh, to cry. Hey a triple whammy and worth the price of admission! I admire anyone who chooses material that has razor sharp opinions about hypocrisy and the state of societal "con-shuns." I even more admire English for going for it. Not a watered down moment in the play. Thanks Bill! The acting rose to the occasion as well as each character was well developed and multi-dimensional. Jimmy, played flawlessly by Brian Scott, opened with strong believability and a young Michael Douglas quality, but went past that into a character's pain superbly masked with irony and twisted wit. His final monologue was mesmerizing. The beautiful Susi Damilano played the role of his wife Judy. A realistic performance as she addressed the loneliness of a woman in her marriage. Tough front, pain underneath, it was all there thanks to Damilano. And her range went even further in the afterlife, which I won't say anything about. Louis Parnell, played a tormented rabbi. Torn between his faith, prejudice and earthly feelings of jealousy, Parnell showed us a softer side. But was it really? See for yourself. The other characters, equally important and equally strong, made up a balanced cast and show. Go see this before it closes! Actors Theater of San Francisco, 533 Sutter. Tix 415-296-9179

BIG LOVE

Berkeley Rep has done it again! So has Charles Mee! Full frontal nudity, beautiful blue bathwater and padded stage reminiscent of those pink heart shaped beds you find only in honeymoon suites in Vegas or the Poconos. The acting was 80% there. The newcomer to the Rep failed to achieve the believability that the rest of the cast had, but good try anyway! If you love to laugh. love movement, risk taking and circular saw blades, YOU MUST SEE THIS SHOW!!!  So what are you waiting for? www.berkeleyrep.org

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fOOd

LuLu

John and I love this place, and last night was no exception.  Our favorite bartender, Chris Barry, turned us on to a great new gin called "Hendrix."  Similar style as Citadel, it made great martinis!  Our appetizers included the roasted beets - always fabulous, the english pea and goat cheese crostini - let's just say the goat cheese earthiness was enhanced and yet mellowed by the english peas, and the artichoke and fava beans - a cold, green appetizer with arugula. Very flavorful.  All of them matched perfectly with our martinis. Then we were graciously seated at our table. Since we just returned from France and Italy, I ordered the Tuscan flight of wine, and John the Rhone flight.  We  did our usual ritual of tasting them all first. I was more in the mood for French as it turned out, so my sweetheart was happy to trade with me.  I was very impressed with the French flight especially.  Last time I ordered it, I liked 2 out of 4.  This time I liked them all!!!  Entree-wise, John actually ordered something other than the pork chop with their famous olive oil mashed potatoes (the potatoes are a meal in themselves!), and  he enjoyed the chicken and fig sausage with some sort of "cheese frenchie" thing that tasted  o-so-good! I was torn between the sand dabs, which I love, and the rotisserie special of the day. I went with the special and was graced with a honey roasted squab, done to perfection (I like my meat rare, yet tender), on top of a bed of polenta and truffle stuffing.  I wasn't really into the polenta, even though the truffle flavor came through. I was too busy eating all the asparagus with lemon and parmesean.  I can't say enough good things about Lulu's! We are always pleased with the food and beverages, we love the atmosphere - upscale casual and fun, and who can beat the smell of the open wood grill?  Prices are very reasonable for the quality as well.  When in doubt, do as John and I do and head for Lulu!   816 Folsom @  4th, SF, 415-495-5775

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JOHN'S GRILL, 

located in the Union Square district, never disappoints me.  The bar is fairly straightforward, so if you want designer gins and infusions, you are in the wrong place.  The food is also straightforward, but tastes great!  I like to start with the blue Point Oysters and a salad.  They have Ceasar, of course, and greens with Roquefort which is very good also.  I love the Prawns Provencal and the Filet Mignon.  Oh, yeah, the mussels are some of the best I've had.  They are so good, I dip the bread in the juice, pretending I have more.  And these are the big, green lipped variety from New Zealand!  Not the little clam-like dudes.  For dessert, I love the white chocolate cheesecake and a Grand Marnier.  There is live jazz playing in the background.   The band is in the upstairs dining room and the music is piped in for the downstairs diners.  It's very popular and historic, so call ahead unless you have some pull.  I happen to go there with friends who do, so  I've rarely had to wait.  

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mOOvIEs

IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN ALEXANDAR YET...

...don't waste your money.

While it starts off with promise, and it is the first time in movies a major male character clearly expresses his love for another man, this movie is a mess.

I cannot remember ever watching people leave a movie throughout in a steady stream.  During the course of the movie, about 25 people left starting after the first hour.  Others --including myself-- voiced their opinions throughout.  On at least 5 different occasions I started to leave and wished at the end I could recover the 3 hours of my life that was wasted with this movie.

The talk in the lobby afterwards was unanimous: it is one of the worst edited, clearly unfocused, hackneyed and cliched movies with great pretension ever made.

One example --out of too, too many-- is the fact they realized 80% of the way through the movie they forgot to give important information regarding the death of Alexander's father and his relationship with his mother. 

The solution?

They did a flashback.  Instead of going back and editing it into the context and chronology of the piece, Oliver Stone rips you out of the forward momentum to cover his ass for something he forgot to complete earlier.  Then, when they return to the story, instead of tying the flashback in, it's made clear the moment is incongruous.

There are some good performances.  However, you never believe that this Alexander had the charisma to drive men and women to go to the ends of the earth to follow his quest.  He doesn't have it.

The score?  Oy.  Imagine a watered down John Williams composing for a Spielberg rip-off in the vein of 50's B movies directed by a first year film student.  It had that much originality, imagination and connection to the story at hand. 

For me to go into the specifics of every moment that is wrong would take you more than half of the movie's length to read.

The long and short of it: don't waste your $10+ on an Alexander that's not-so-great.

--mIKE wARD, ISIS ARTS

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GRACE OF MY HEART is about my absolute favorite film that never made it to the big screen, at least in my town.  Illeana Douglas (love her!) plays Edna Buxton, steel heiress, who, in a world of male singers, writes gold record songs for girl groups.  Her relationships and experience come through her songs and we get to vicariously live the songwriters life through a few decades.  I loved the costumes, John Turturro was fabulous, as was Matt Dillon.  Burt Bacarach and Elvis Costello wrote great songs for the soundtrack.  Great music, great acting, great movie.  OK, I'm sentimental and a singer/songwriter as well, so I've got a big bias here!

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eXPreSs yourself

let yourself go!  say what you feel!  What moved you, what didn't, what we have to see, where we better eat, who we gotta hear!  Each month I'll pick a few choice entries to appear right here on this page!  Have fun!

to eXPreSs yourself now, send me an email! EXPRESS YOURSELF!!!

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