ROCKING THE MAD MEN ERA
The celebration kicks off with a cigarette-smoking, vodka-sipping ode to the old days at the Malibu Playhouse.
Its latest production, “The Vortex,” which runs through May 18, is guaranteed to be a blast to the past. “The Vortex” is Noel Coward’s first produced play and it opened on Friday.
“It’s amazing,” says Artistic Director Gene Franklin Smith. The play takes place in the throws of the “Mod” scene in 1960s’ London.
Society darling Nicky Lancaster brings his fabulous fiancée, Bunty, to meet his famous mother, stage actress Florence Lancaster. Nicky is shocked to discover that Florence has taken a much-younger lover, and over the course of a long boozy weekend, Bunty runs off with Flo’s boy-toy, leaving Nicky and Florence to confront the truth about their relationship.
“The Vortex” premiered in 1924. Noel Coward stepped into the starring role and became an immediate sensation. The Malibu Playhouse joins an impressive list of Coward revivals all over the country, so put on your best beehive hairdo, grab your old mini and head down there.
MAD MEN MEETS DISNEY
Can’t get enough? Then checkout the “Music of the Mad Men Era” at Walt Disney Concert Hall on April 26. Cheynne Jackson makes his venue debut with the special program. Guest stars include Jane Lynch and Rebecca Romijn, who will be taking their first steps on the concert hall stage for the one-night-only performance.
Jackson, along with musical director Ben Toth, are slated to perform standards from the ‘50s and ‘60s, like the famous bolero “Bésame Mucho,” as well as snappy tunes made famous by icons of the era like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Tom Jones.
What else can you say but, “Come Fly with Me” and “That’s Amore!”?
IT’S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD
The Malibu Playhouse and Disney occasions couldn’t come at a better time. They get underway just as the ‘60s’ gem, “Mad Men,” begins its farewell run, which has been called “captivating but cryptic as ever.”
Madison Avenue adman Don Draper (played by Jon Hamm) has seen a lot of ups and downs in the beautifully stylized retro-drama. Of course, keep an eye out for Don’s ambitious Peggy (played by Elisabeth Moss), as well as love-in loving Roger (John Slattery) and the curvaceous secretary-turned-partner, Joan (Christina Hendricks).
It’s the end of an era and the show will be missed.
Cheers!