Look at Any Man - 1963 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 6

Though the term is rarely used today, there was an era when ending up an old maid was the worst possible scenario for a woman. Hard times and modest dreams made finding a husband a requirement for happiness, especially during the Depression when people lived off the land, family meant all, and survival depended on the support of one's neighbors in times of need.

The fiftieth anniversary of John Kennedy's assassination last November turned up an avalanche of books seeking to present new angles or re-hash old ones. Larry Sabato's The Kennedy Half-Century does a bit of both. Those who read Kennedy literature basically break down in three camps: obsessives (about the presidency, the assassination or both), neophytes (looking to get a handle on the basics) and tweeners (interested and reasonably astute about those basics but not on the verge of giving up their day jobs to learn more). I count myself a member of the third category. While I can't speak for how it would strike those who are a great deal more knowledgeable about the subject, for me, this was an easy and reasonably rewarding read. The book is broken down into three parts: Kennedy's life and presidency; his assassination; and his legacy. I'm not sure much new could be said on the first two matters and, for the most part–excepting a few tidbits on the assassination that amount to debunking-of-previous-debunkings-of-previous-debunkings and so on–Sabato makes no real attempt to give any substantially new perspectives or draw any rare conclusions. However, within the bounds of what he clearly did set out to do–i.e., give a summation of those aspects of Kennedy's life and death that would hold the attention of the general interest reader and provide an easy-access overview for at least some newcomers–he delivers very nicely. The really interesting and, I think, valuable part of the book is the last: a long and fairly detailed look at the effect Kennedy's legacy has had on his nine successors. This is still relatively fertile ground and, here, Sabato does come to some surprising conclusions and offers solid evidence to back his thesis. If you want to know why and how a conservative Republican like Ronald Reagan was able to channel Kennedy's aura and style more effectively than Lyndon Johnson (who was Kennedy's own vice-president), then this is a good primer on the subject. Same if you want to know how a good-old-boy policy wonk like Bill Clinton could effectively utilize the Kennedy brand–both as campaign style and governing substance–without having much of JFK's rhetorical wit (Kennedy was not exactly long-winded) or having overly warm relations with Senator Ted Kennedy, who was long-established as the family patriarch by the time Clinton reached the presidency. In addition, Sabato does a fine job of treading on some tricky ground regarding the “real” JFK who actually governed the country for two and half years, and the mythical JFK, whose shadow hung over subsequent issues from Viet Nam to Civil Rights to the Space Program to the basic arguments over the tax code. Turns out, virtually every president since 1963 has tried in some form or fashion to use the aura of the Kennedy mythology–and, in some cases, the assassination mythology as well–to advance his agenda. While some have been far better at it than others, Sabato makes it clear that none have turned down the opportunity to exploit the legacy when the opportunity arose. The books final third really turns on personalities then, but it avoids most of the common traps. I don't think there is anything here that strains credibility and that's a relief. The tendency to over-reach is all but endemic in the approach Sabato chooses, but–based on interviews I've seen with him and on the even more compelling evidence of the book itself–he seems to be inclined to stick to the facts. For instance, although Sabato seems to side with elite political and historical opinion which consistently tells us that the Bay of Pigs invasion was an unmitigated disaster, he also reminds us that the poll taken immediately after the event gave Kennedy's performance an eighty percent approval rating. It might seem a small thing, but plenty of historians would choose to leave out a little remembered fact that raises questions about their own conclusions. It's to the author's credit that he provides this kind of exemplary even-handedness throughout. The happy result is a book where Kennedy's real accomplishments are acknowledged, as are the (mostly successful and highly self-conscious) efforts at hagiography carried on by his surviving family (especially his widow) and many of the political allies who served under him. By the same token, Kennedy's almost incredibly reckless personal behavior is explained without being either rationalized away or reduced to the usual morality lessons. Sabato eschews peep-show licentiousness as deftly as he avoids preaching. I didn't come away thinking either Kennedy's sexual peccadilloes or his often seedy political tactics (this book does not shy away from reminding us that the main difference between Nixon's operatives and Kennedy's where dirty tricks were concerned in the 1960 campaign was that the Kennedy ops were better at it) were less than unsavory–frankly, the man was no saint. But I didn't feel like taking a bath either. Frankly, the man was a pretty effective president for all his faults and–even more frankly–we're all sinners. It's a rare Kennedy book that doesn't make me feel like I'm being snowed just a little so I especially appreciated this book's lack of agendas. In Sabato's hands a simple recitation of the facts makes for a good read. I think it's safe to say that most people will find it satisfying–just so long as they aren't after feeding an obsession!

To mark the 50 th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's assassination, retired homicide detectives and officers from the Dallas Police Department (DPD) break their silence about the events of November 22, 1963, in the Military Channel's all-new documentary CAPTURING OSWALD.

NBC News marks the 50th Anniversary of the assassination of JFK with an extensive week of programming that culminates in a two-hour documentary "Where Were You: The Day JFK Died," reported by Tom Brokaw.

To mark the 50 th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's assassination, retired homicide detectives and officers from the Dallas Police Department (DPD) break their silence about the events of November 22, 1963, in the Military Channel's all-new documentary CAPTURING OSWALD.

Directed by Becki McDonald, who makes some excellent directing choices with her large cast of fifteen adult and children actors by combining brief oratory, traditional dialogue, and injecting cast members into the audience to DRAW viewers dead smack into the action. This created a theater experience that is equally educational, entertaining, and thought-provoking. Use of mixed media was also a component but the limitations of the performance space really hampered full immersion into the subject matter created by Robertson and Spencer in their script.

Terry Martin, WaterTower Theatre Producing Artistic Director, announced this evening the Company's 2013-2014 Main Stage season at a special VIP Sneak Preview held at the Addison Theatre Centre.

High school seniors of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) got the graduation ceremony of their dreams on Saturday, May 18, when Disney Theatrical Group President Thomas Schumacher delivered their commencement address, and the diplomas were presented by 'Mary Poppins' herself: UNCSA alumna Rachel Wallace. A 2009 college graduate, Wallace just completed a run in the national tour and the New Zealand company of the popular Disney show. Scroll down for photos from the ceremony!

Today, May 14, Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) releases 16 new single-disc collections in its acclaimed ICON series from some of music's most legendary artists.

The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) at Harvard University, under the Artistic Direction of Diane Paulus, has just announced its 2013/14 Season, which includes the previously announced Robert Schenkkan's play All the Way and the world premiere of the musical Witness Uganda.

In this new, in-depth interview below, RAIDING THE ROCK VAULT's Howard Leese [guitarist] and John Payne [Lead Vocals, Bass and producer of the show] discuss how the show was born, its evolution from premiering in Los Angeles last year (November) to kicking off a year-long engagement in Las Vegas

The Picture Show at Bay Street Theatre has announced announce that Peconic Landing is sponsoring its long-running, classic Picture Show Series for the 2013 Season.

The Film Society of Lincoln Center announced that it will present 15 films in their original 70mm glory, featuring a mix of beloved classics and rarely screened gems, all at the Walter Reade Theater - one of the last remaining cinemas in the country equipped to screen 70mm prints.

It's a Christmas Miracle! With MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET, the Georgetown Palace Theatre has breathed new life into a loveable but flawed and forgotten musical and in the process has given Austin a sparkling, family-friendly Holiday treat.

The Film Society of Lincoln Center announced today that it will present 15 films in their original 70mm glory, featuring a mix of beloved classics and rarely screened gems, all at the Walter Reade Theater - one of the last remaining cinemas in the country equipped to screen 70mm prints.

The idea for Eddie Upnick's book, Time Will Tell (Label Man Books), was born out of a chance meeting in Antigua in 1995 with an elderly Englishman named Sidney Dowse. Mr. Dowse was one of the courageous men who escaped Sagan, the prison camp portrayed in the 1963 movie The Great Escape. Mr. Dowse told Eddie details never revealed in any history book under the condition that Upnick would not release these facts until after Dowse's death…which occurred in 2008.

Flocking back to movie theaters nationwide on Wednesday, September 19, Alfred Hitchcock's THE BIRDS is the latest in a seriously impressive series of classic films being re-released for one night only in HD with special attendant interviews and behind-the-scenes features, hosted by noted film historian Robert Osborne, as part of an unprecedented, ongoing Turner Classic Movies film festival hosted by NCM Fathom-equipped cinemas. This special presentation of THE BIRDS will begin with an introduction, mini-documentary and interview with film star Tippi Hedren prior to the presentation of the film itself, so, today let us take a look back at one of the most influential and terrifying films of the 1960s, as well as the formidable icon who made it, Alfred Hitchcock.

Flocking back to movie theaters nationwide on Wednesday, September 19, Alfred Hitchcock's THE BIRDS is the latest in a seriously impressive series of classic films being re-released for one night only in HD with special attendant interviews and behind-the-scenes features, hosted by noted film historian Robert Osborne, as part of an unprecedented, ongoing Turner Classic Movies film festival hosted by NCM Fathom-equipped cinemas. This special presentation of THE BIRDS will begin with an introduction, mini-documentary and interview with film star Tippi Hedren prior to the presentation of the film itself, so, today let us take a look back at one of the most influential and terrifying films of the 1960s, as well as the formidable icon who made it, Alfred Hitchcock.

So many cabaret shows, so little time . . . to write reviews that is. During his almost two years as a cabaret reviewer, BroadwayWorld.com critic Stephen Hanks managed to do a pretty good job of writing critiques during a show's run or soon after the run ended. But this summer he just couldn't keep up. Finally, here are observations on 10 performances over the past two months.

With this week's news of the passing of American literary and political icon Gore Vidal at the advanced age of 86, now seems a particularly apt time to look back at a truly anomalous career and some of the highlights of a life lived on pages, stages, planes, trains and many of the most exclusive locales in the world.

Think of it as a newfangled take on our venerated Southern hospitality-my mama raised me right, for goodness' sake-and what's more Southern than welcoming newcomers into our community? Whiskey and barbecue, of course, but until then this column will have to suffice, even if the ensemble's Patrick O'Neill has suffered through some 20 years of barbecue deficiency. Until we can rectify that situation, this is just gonna have to do…

Today's spotlight falls on Ronnie Nelson, who hails from Ammon, North Carolina, and plays Norm in the show. When you go to see The Nutty Professor, keep this is mind: Ronnie's the tall, good-looking guy among an ensemble filled with tall (and not-so-tall), good-looking guys-and he's played Nashville before (as part of the national tour of Cats) and he's got a hankering for some good ol' down-home biscuits and gravy, so I predict you might see him at the Loveless Cafe or Pancake Pantry while he's in town.

Leading British specialist Acorn Media announces upcoming DVDs/Blu-rays including several must-see, brand new series as well as the first complete collection of Masterpiece Theatre favorite and addictive costume drama THE FORSYTE SAGA starring Damian Lewis (Homeland).

Today, May 29th, President Barack Obama awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Medal of Freedom is our Nation's highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. The Medals were presented at the White House in an afternoon ceremony. What follows is a transcript of the president's remarks. To read more about each of this year's honorees, click here.