"Saturn Returns" a play by Noah Haidle

Tonight, I was invited to the theater by my dear friend, Erica Minutella, who writes for Philly.com. Her review should pop up online in a day or two. We had press tickets, but unfortunately, they didn't have reserved press seating! Anyway, the play, took place in a renovated "theater" in a Church, which made both of us a bit skeptical.

I must say I was impressed with the concept of the story. The cast consisted of 4 people, three of them being the main character, a man at different stages in his life, and the other a woman playing the triple role of wife, daughter, and nurse/caretaker.

The story was well constructed. There were a few monologues and scenes that were completely unnecessary, but the message was abundantly clear. This was a story about an insufferable man who's been set in his ways all his life and now he's old, alone, and terribly, terribly lonely. The acting wasn't the best I've ever seen, but it wasn't bad either. Speaking of which, the director and producer made a speech before the show announcing that their actors get health care and all these great benefits... I was livid! They're performing in a church! I've never been treated that well in the theatre or paid that well!

At any rate, we had an enjoyable evening and despite the few short comings, I'd recommend seeing it if you're looking for something to do and/or enjoy live theatre. Again, the story and it's construction really interested me, though some of the writing could have been tweaked a bit. I also appreciated the way the story went back and forth in time through the memories of the heroine.

It's presented by Theatre Exile in the second building of the church on 2nd and Market. It's running until March 22.

"Furious Love" by Sam Kashner & Nancy Schoenberger

As most of you know, I've been a huge Elizabeth Taylor fan all of my life. I've read a few books chronicling her life including, "Elizabeth" and "My Love Affair With Jewelry". This book was published a few months prior to Elizabeth's death and focuses on her relationship with Richard Burton.

I found it compelling and fascinating. The whole "Liz & Dick" scandal was handled, I thought with great respect and the authors managed to make this more than just another tell all piece of trash. I understand it was written with the cooperation of Elizabeth herself, which is a good sign. She's always been very honest and candid about her personal relationships (particularly with Burton, who I believe was the true love of her life).

The book goes into great detail about what it was like to be the super stars they became. No celebrity or celebrity couple can compare to what these two went through together. Things are so sterilized today. Remember, this all took place at a time when scandal wasn't exactly accepted by the public. These were two people who literally had to live in a bubble for their entire married (and unmarried) life. They fell in love in Rome on the set of "Cleopatra" and as in all great love stories, didn't seem to like each other very much. Obviously, that quickly changed. At the time, they were both also married to other people. Elizabeth to Eddie Fisher whom she "stole" from Debbie Reynolds and Richard to Sybil Burton, who, even through his well known philandering, he refused to divorce.

This is a love story greater than any work of fiction. The sex, the passion, the jewelry... it's all here in one of the most enjoyable books I've ever read. Not for a moment does it drag. These two were the first real Hollywood couple born from scandal and then transformed into American royalty. Simply put, it's one of the best biographies I've ever read.

"I'm Over All That" By Shirley MaClaine

I've been reading Shirley's books for years. This newest one is probably one of her best! She tackles every subject with her own brand of wit which makes the book impossible to put down. She's always been extremely honest and candid and this newest book is no exception. She touches on everything from past lives to fame to sex to close mindedness. She's brave, outspoken, and she keeps it very real, which is what I've always admired about her as a person, not to mention her incredible talent as an actress. Even after reading so many of her books and going beyond those to research and study what she writes about, I still found myself learning more and becoming even more fascinated with these subjects, like UFOs and reincarnation. Shirley MaClaine is an extremely smart woman who knows there's always more to learn and that's what I admire about her. Life is merely a learning experience and we never stop learning (if we allow ourselves and open ourselves up to it). All in all, it's a fabulous book by a fabulous woman and I would recommend it to anyone with an open mind and an eagerness to learn.