Theater Thursday - Beaches

We received complimentary tickets to Beaches for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own. 

What: Beaches

Where: Majestic Theatre 

             245 W. 44th St.

             New York, NY

Who: Recommended for Ages 12 and Up

When: Through September 6, 2026

Me - Beaches is based on the 1985 book and the 1988  movie of the same name about a lifelong friendship between two women. I have never read the book or seen the movie, so I had no point of comparison in terms of the plot. That said, I enjoyed the story even though it was sad. I didn't love the conflict between the two main characters, C.C. and Bertie, because the incident that led up to it didn't feel significant enough to lead to it.  However, I still enjoyed the friendship between the two women overall. 

The highlight of the show was a phenomenal performance by Jessica Vosk as C.C. Her acting was great, but her voice especially blew me away. She makes singing appear effortless. The little girl who played young C.C. was also extremely talented, especially for someone so young. She radiated star power, and I can definitely see her going far in her future. 

Mom  - If you attend the show Beaches expecting to see a replication of the popular movie, you will be disappointed. Although the basic story of a lifelong friendship between two women is the same, many of the details adhere more to the original book than the movie. One of the characters' names isn't even the same. In the book, the main characters were named C.C. (short for Cecilia) and Bertie (short for Roberta). In the movie, for some inexplicable reason, Bertie was changed to Hillary, but here it is back to Bertie. 

The songs from the movie have also mostly all been scrapped here. Admittedly, there were some pretty odd songs in the movie, but there were some nice ones too. None of the new songs are very memorable, although a few may hit hard for any woman who has ever lost a best girlfriend. The only song from the movie that remains is the popular "The Wind Beneath My Wings", but it is more of an afterthought here than an actual part of the story, which does not mean that it is not a highlight of the show, as Jessica Vosk does sing the hell out of it.

In fact, Jessica Vosk as C.C. is a powerhouse all-around. Her acting and dancing are both great, but her singing is particularly phenomenal.  Unfortunately, here, however,  unlike in the movie, where Bette Midler's C.C. did most of the singing, the vocals are more shared not just between older C.C. and Bertie but among other characters as well. Although all of the singing is good, none of the others can hold a candle to Vosk in that department.

Of course, Kelli Barrett, as Bertie, has the thankless job of playing the less showy role.  Her Bertie spends most of her time contending with an overbearing mother (a character that didn't even exist in the movie) and a domineering husband. Both aim to control her and make sure she stays a good little wifey, and doesn't exercise autonomy and become the lawyer she dreams of.  Although it's easy to sympathize with her, it's not as easy to admire her as the confident, strong, and fiercely independent C.C.

There is one other standout in the cast aside from Jessica Vosk, however. Samantha Schwartz, in the role of young C.C., is an absolute firecracker. She acts, sings, and dances up a storm, and even though her character appears more in the show than in the movie, it is still not enough. We will surely see more of her in the future, and I, for one, look forward to it. 

And that's our view. For more about Beaches or to purchase tickets, visit beachesthemusical.com.

Tune in Saturday for Still More Theater Saturday.

Photo credits:

All Beaches production photos by Marc J. Franklin

Images used in this post were sent by publicists, artists, and/or  PR firms and are used by permission.  Any Concerns regarding image usage can be addressed here.

Where-To-Go Wednesday: Mystery & Wonder: A Legacy of Golden Age Magicians in New York City

What: Mystery & Wonder: A Legacy of Golden Age Magicians in New York City 

Where: New York Library for the Performing Arts 

            40 Lincoln Center Plaza 

            New York, NY

Who: All ages

When: Through July 11, 2026

The heyday of magic occurred from around the late 1800s through the mid-1900s. The current exhibit at the New York Library for the Performing Arts, Mystery & Wonder: A Legacy of Golden Age Magicians in New York City, celebrates this period with a particular emphasize on the magicians who inhabited New York City and its environs. The area was, indeed, a mecca of magic at the time.

Most people are, of course, familiar with Harry Houdini, but there were so many other marvelous magicians performing as well. They included female magicians like Beatrice Foster and Dell O'Dell, and at least one married couple, The Zancigs. Other popular magicians of the time included Alexander Hermann, Harry Keller, and Howard Thurston. The latter was a protege of Keller, the father of Belle Foster, and one of Houdini's greatest rivals.

The exhibit was largely taken from the vast collection of the late Dr. Saram R. Ellison, the co-founder of the first professional organization for magicians in the United States, The Society of American Magicians. It includes numerous posters, pictures, scrapbooks, and artifacts. Objects on display include an entire collection of wands. There is also an area of the exhibit where a video of various magicians performing some of their most famous tricks runs in a continuous loop. 

Another section of the exhibit is devoted to magic shops. These were not only places to purchase magic equipment and books but places where magicians could convene and confer. The most well-known is Martinka & Company, which was once owned by the great Houdini himself. The company is still in business today.

And that's our view. The exhibit is open during normal library operating hours. For more, visit www.nypl.org/events/exhibitions/mystery-and-wonder-legacy-golden-age-magicians-new-york-city 

Tune in tomorrow for Theater Thursday.

All pictures used in this post are our own.  Any concerns regarding image usage can be addressed here.

Tips for Tuesday - Books: West of Wicked, Save the Date, Too Close Too Home, & Hope Rises; & Movie: Pretty Ugly: The Lunachicks

 We may have been given complimentary copies and/or access for review purposes to any books, products, and/or any other visual or audio media mentioned below. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

Books: West of Wicked, Save the Date, Too Close Too Home, & Hope Rises

Me - West of Wicked is a dark retelling of The Wizard of Oz, following a grown-up Dorothy who lands in Oz and must figure out whom she can trust and how she fits into the past and present of this strange and perilous land, all while trying to return home to Kansas.

This was an interesting and unique take on the classic story that so many of us know and love. The most enjoyable aspect of the book, by far, was learning about the history, magic, and politics at the heart of this version of Oz, in which nothing and no one is quite as they seem.  Dorothy’s journey begins similarly to the original story, with her heading off down the yellow brick road in the hopes that the wizard will help her find her way home. However, after that, the story quickly diverges from its source material. Many of the twists and turns were pretty obvious and predictable, but others took me by surprise. Either way, it was entertaining to see how everything unfolded. The book ends on a cliffhanger with some questions answered and others left to be explored in the sequel. I look forward to seeing where things will go.

Though the plot was a lot of fun, the characters and relationships were, unfortunately, much weaker. In addition to Dorothy, we see takes on other familiar characters such as the scarecrow, a man who has lost his memories and may be harboring dangerous secrets and the tinman, a vicious, heartless mercenary who is hunting down Dorothy on behalf of the wicked witch of the west. Additionally, original characters are introduced, most prominently being Cleo, a former servant of the witch of the east. Each of these characters was mysterious and intriguing in their own way. Although I was interested in learning more about their backgrounds, none of them were developed enough for me to truly care about them.

This book also featured the beginnings of a romance between Dorothy and the scarecrow– called Rook in this version– but it was so insta-lovey that I never cared much for it, especially since there seemed to be nothing more between the two of them than lust and attraction, since they didn’t even know each other well enough to have developed real feelings. That said, there was decent chemistry between them, and they shared a few cute moments. The end also seemed to hint at a love triangle that I expect to form in book two, and I’m curious to see how that will play out.

Those who don’t enjoy retellings, or specifically dark and/or romance-heavy takes on classic children’s stories, probably won’t enjoy this one, and I wouldn't recommend it to readers searching for fleshed- out characters or a beautiful, moving romance. However, if you enjoy creative retellings with fun and engaging plots that will leave you craving the answers that will hopefully be revealed in the sequel (or sequels– I'm not sure whether this is meant to be a duology or a longer series– ) then this one is well worth the read!

Mom - Today, I am recommending Save the Date by Mallory Kass.  This book is the story of not one but three romances revolving around a wedding. The bride, Marigold, has to deal with an unresolved relationship from her past on the eve of her wedding. The maid of honor, Natalie, is secretly in love with the groom. The bride's sister and the groom's best friend are in a fake relationship.

Two of these stories are really heartwarming, sweet, and believable. The third is less so. Marigold and her ex, Hugo, don't feel believable as a couple. While they are as cute and sweet as the others, it doesn't seem likely that they would make it as a couple, as their lives are too completely different. This takes away a bit from the enjoyment of their story.  

Natalie and Jonathan have been friends since college. Thus, they have a history and a deep friendship, which makes their relationship feel very real and credible. You don't really see Marigold and Jonathan interact much, which makes it easy to root for this pair as a couple. 

Olivia and Zack work together really well. He clearly cares about her and is always there when she needs him. He is extremely good for her because he tones down her Type A personality, which is something she really needs. 

The book is filled with plenty of romantic novel clichés, but there is enough uniqueness to keep it interesting. Plus, the characters are mostly likable, and the romances are mostly charming and convincing. Any big fan of romantic stories will enjoy this triple dose.

Mom again - Today, I also recommend Too Close to Home by Seraphina Nova Glass. This book also involves three intersecting stories, but this time, it is a thriller. Reagan is still processing her neighbor's death from a car bombing that was allegedly meant for her when her supposedly dead husband turns up in a picture. Sasha is preoccupied with the mysterious behavior of her son, Dex, and is afraid he may have had something to do with the bombing. Meanwhile, Andi is trying to hide the fact that she accidentally killed her nemesis, her ex's new wife, after having a very public fight with her. 

Separately, these stories are quite intriguing, and the way they connect is exciting and plausible. The book is quite fast-paced, and there is no letdown in the action. Plus, the story is unique enough to stay interesting throughout. There are also plenty of shocking and unpredictable twists.

The main characters, however, are not differentiated enough.  At the beginning, so many characters are introduced at once that it's hard to remember who is who. Once you get into the story, the three main characters still don't seem that different from each other. The only way to tell them apart is to remember which character name is associated with which storyline, so if you're not good with names, you may find this story confusing. However, if you are, you can probably still enjoy it despite the character's similarities because the plot is extremely compelling.

Mom yet again - Today, I also recommend Hope Rises by David Baldacci. This book is a sequel to his previous book, Nash Falls. Although you don't necessarily have to have read that book to read this one, the two books work well together, and I would recommend reading them both. Also, be warned that this review may contain spoilers regarding the previous book.

Walter Nash, using the new identity of Dillon Hope, completely unrecognizable as himself, and ostensibly still working with the FBI, gets a job as a bodyguard to Victoria Steers, the woman who destroyed his family. He is really just waiting for the right moment to exact his revenge. However, disconcertingly,  he finds that Steers isn't the woman he thought she was, and he begins to feel empathy for her, which distracts him from his mission. 

Unlike the previous book in the series, this one is mostly told from Walter's point of view. However, the book is also very much Victoria's story, perhaps even more so than Walter's. She is also the more interesting character.  She is uniquely well-drawn with numerous shades to her that lift her beyond a normal cartoony one-sided villainous character like those that appear in most books of this type. 

It works well that the book is mostly told from Walter's viewpoint, as seeing Victoria mostly through his eyes more effectively establishes her character than seeing her from her own would.  Her presence elevates this book to a whole other level. It is so much more than the average vigilante story that it seems like it will be.

Movie: Pretty Ugly: The Story of the Lunachicks

Today, we recommend Pretty Ugly: The Story of The Lunachicks. This fascinating documentary tells the story of the groundbreaking all-female punk rock group, the Lunachiks. The group, which was active from the late 80s through the early 2000s, was known for blending punk rock and female activism. Their story is largely told through the point of view of the band's various members.

And that's our view. All books mentioned in this post were published last Tuesday, April 14. Pretty Ugly: The Story of The Lunachicks will be available in select theaters as well as digitally for purchase or rental starting this Friday, April 24. 

Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go Wednesday.

All images other than film images used in this post are our own.  Film images have been sent to us from publicists, artists, and/or  PR firms. Address any concerns regarding image usage here.