One of the great musicals of all time is La Cage aux Folles. Music and lyrics were written by Jerry Herman. The show has won numerous awards, both the original production and revivals. The first time I saw ”Cage”, Yul Brynner was sitting right in front of us with his Wife, Bob and Delores Hope were sitting next to me. She was wearing about $2 million worth of emeralds. A few rows back President Ford and Betty Ford were seated. I have been going to the theater since I am five years old. This particular evening is the only time that, at intermission, virtually no one left their seats. It was the most thrilling audience one can imagine.
George Hearn won the Tony for his brilliant performance. If anyone is not familiar with the show or the movie, go on YouTube and read about it. Many of the performers were in drag because that is, in a sense, what the show is about. It is really about love. In this case, love between two men. On this cruise, Ross Roberts, our cruise director, performed “I Am What I Am” and I think only Hearn’s performance matched Ross’. It is a song full of pathos. Anyone with half a heart had tears in their eyes. Others, I among them, were almost balling.
I thought about this now because I was wondering if Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis would arrest the performers? Would he arrest Brynner, Hope and President and Mrs. Ford, herself an icon? Would DeSantis try to revoke Seabourn’s liquor license? That is what he is trying to do to the Hyatt in Miami. Just asking for a friend.
Further reflecting, by posting this, I am asking my friend Alan Glist if he would consider producing a new production of “Cage” and open in Miami Beach. Think DeSantis will try to shut it down?
Hell, there are many roles in the musical theater that absurdly could easily not pass muster with DeSantis who is really nothing more than a Facist. Would he shut down Peter Pan. He is a male character played by a woman including Mary Martin and Sandy Duncan.
What about Mary Sunshine from ”Chicago”, Edna Turnblad from “Hairspray” Lola from “Kinky Boots” or Ms. Trunchbull from “Matilda”? Would Julie Andrews be barred in “Victor/Victoria”? These are just a few examples.
Think about this people because it should scare the living s—t out of you.
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I can hardly wait for Trump and DeSantis to debate. Will be surprised if it is not on Pay For View. Just love the idea. It will be just like a circus particularly if an elephant act goes on before these two monkeys. Anyone with even half a brain is better off going to the zoo, standing in front of the monkey cage and listening to the monkeys chatter.
Then, we have the issue of the running mate. Marjorie Taylor Greene wants to be Trump’s choice. That is my dream ticket. My bet, however, is that Trump will choose Kari Lake who is just slightly less of a lunatic.
A mystery, given that Eva Braun is dead, is who will DeSantis choose. Hawley or Cruz would be perfect for DeSantis but he would probably pick a woman. The odds are high that whomever is picked, that person will be a white, heterosexual, Christian.
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Sea day yesterday. We should have won trivial pursuit and are appealing an adverse ruling on the allied correct answer. Cannot get Carnival to change the rules for the poker and so sometimes the game last 10 minutes. Will not allow any rebuys and can only get a few chips for one $60 purchase. Whole system is dumb. Have appealed the policy, but no answer yet.
Nice dinner with Percy and Phoebe last night. Barbara had yoga and then a zoom call.
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Dock in today. Spending the day with our great friends from Perth who are driving many hours to meet us, then driving back to Perth to meet us tomorrow. Few people would do that.
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Looks like Trump gets indicted on Tuesday. I am confident he will call this the biggest witchhunt in history since the last time his hand got caught in the cookie jar. Get ready for a lot of whining.
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Yogi Berra once said “when you come to a fork in the road, take it. I am coming to a number of forks and hope I take the right ones at least the majority of the time.
Remember the book “Flowers For Algernon”. ? Cliff Robertson starred in the movie version titled ”Charly”. It is a haunting science fiction story. Simplistically put, Charly is not smart. Science makes him smart, but in his smart phase, he realizes his problems are not resolvable. I sometimes feel I am smart enough to see the issues that at least I think need to be resolved, but that the solutions are just not all there.
Everyone, at some point, has to address “how am I going to live the rest of my life”? Fortunately, so long as Barbara is by my side, the worst that can happen is still manageable. Still, I don’t have to be happy about some things I see looming. One day at a time.
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See you tomorrow. At least that is my plan.
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Go Ukraine
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