Arts Blog

I don't usually see shows twice -- it's hard enough to find time to see them once. But my son, David, just can't get enough of Theatre Britain's annual panto (a proper British sillyfest where a man dresses up as a woman, a woman dresses up as a man, a ghost pops in, awful puns percolate and very tasty British treats are sold during intermission).

So there I was Sunday afternoon at Little Red Riding Hood again, but some of the jokes were new. It seems that Kevin Scott Keating, who sashays about as Mother Hood, has been updating his audience chats with Cowboy talk (including his disappointment that the Pittsburgh Pirates line-up did not include Brad Pitt and concerns that the New York Giants might be related to that large fellow who had given Jack in the Beanstalk so much trouble).

But he gives onstage credit for his new Bush joke to one of the trees, played by Sheila Payson (who did actually suggest Kevin comment on the Bushes moving to Dallas). And here's how it goes:

"Why is this part of the forest better than the forest down by the hollow? Because this part of the forest is still filled with big beautiful trees...and the Hollow is being overrun by Bushes."

We warned you that panto jokes can be punderful.

And while we don't know what jokes will make it in upcoming performances, we do know that the Saturday and Sunday shows are sold out with only Wednesday, Thursday and Friday tickets available.

Sometimes not knowing where you're going produces felicitous results. In a rare moment of indecision about where to get dinner between matinee and evening performance, my Brooklyn friend and I meandered aimlessly in the direction of the Jacobs Theatre. Once again a crowd was piled up in from of All My Sons. They weren't waiting for mere Oscar or Tony winners: John Lithgow and Diane Wiest (in a ski cap) graciously signed autographs for a long while, as did Patrick Wilson. No, the crowd was in wait for TomKat, or whatever part of that unit would emerge from the stage door. After quite a long wait, with male and female assistants coming out and going back in, Katie Holmes finally emerged. No Tom beside her, but somebody almost as famous in her arms -- Suri, probably the most famous toddler in the world. Everyone oohed and ahhed as a very few autographs were signed.

We couldn't get into the famous joint next door, so we strolled through Shubert Alley (sadly blazoned with posters for a great many shows about to shutter)...and lo and behold, an even greater mob was waiting outside a stage door on 44th St. It was no mere mortal they awaited...but Harry Potter himself. Hungry as we were getting, curiosity proved stronger yet. As the wait dragged on, we overheard some sensible folks say they were leaving to go see the (Rockefeller Center) Christmas tree. My pal and I stood around for about 10 minutes, I'm ashamed to admit (and my friend had already seen Daniel Radcliffe in this Broadway show, Equus, in which he bares it all). After a black SUV that looked armor-plated rolled up, the young wizard himself came through the door, wearing a multicolored jockey cap. He signed autographs too.

So we ate bad pizza served up quickly (and rudely). I'm happy to report, however, that the last three shows I saw in New York were much tastier than the slices. But as one or two of them haven't offically opened yet, you'll have to wait till later for the skinny.

Douglas Balentine, who founded Fort Worth's Hip Pocket Theatre along with Johnny and Diane Simons, has died. According to an email from Ms. Simons, Mr. Balentine had gone camping and a Texas park ranger discovered the body three days ago. Plans for services in Kerrville and Fort Worth are still pending.

Doug Balentine created the original musical scores for many Hip Pocket shows in the company's early years. His work was also seen and heard at the Kimbell Art Museum, the Edinburgh (Scotland) Fringe Festival, London's Queen Elizabeth Hall and Duke University.