The Magic Touch

Hello World,     Well, it seems that the time has certainly come, as it surely must, when we can say that June is busting out all over, and as inconceivable as it may seem, even the recalcitrant weather has started cooperating, at long last. In fact, around here The Flag Brigade found the conditions pleasant enough to actually run up the colors for Memorial Day (observed) on Monday, as well as traditional Decoration Day on the 30th, for good measure - and not to have to go scampering out to pull them back in ahead of the usual thunderstorms, blizzards, hurricanes, Nor'easters, hailstorms, tornadoes, earthquakes, plagues of locusts, fire and brimstone, or worse, by golly. Unfortunately, this happened to work against anyone hoping for a rain-out as the latest Subway Series got underway this weekend, with the hapless 27-33 Mets taking on the division-leading 41-18 Yankees, with not too much in the Amazins' favor, including the math, alas.     Now that it's getting to be the middle of June, we're finally starting to wrap things up in winter sports like basketball and hockey, and not a moment too soon, I dare say. It seems that the stalwart Washington Capitals dashed the Cinderella hopes of the plucky Las Vegas Golden Knights, and skated away with their first Stanley Cup in franchise history, after 43 seasons. On the hoops side of things, the Warriors are having their way with the Cavaliers so far, in surprising fashion, and could close it out with a sweep on Friday night - but if there's one thing we've all long since learned about the playoffs over the years, it would be not to order those commemorative championship jerseys before that last game is over and done with, no matter how much it may look like a sure thing ahead of time, believe me. Let's face it, 70 years after the DEWEY DEFEATS TRUMAN headlines, that newspaper has yet to live it down.     And speaking of sports ahead of time, we find ourselves perched on the very brink of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday evening, and staring down both barrels of horse racing's rendezvous with destiny in the offing, as it were, or hypothetically may be. Of course, it goes without saying that the whole world is agog any time there's a potential Triple Crown to be had, especially since they've been so few and far between over what seems like centuries that they've been doing this sort of thing. (Technically speaking, there have been 12 in about 140 years or thereabouts, so they're certainly no run-of-the-mill occurrence, that's for sure.) And it also goes without saying that while I certainly wish Justify all the best in his endeavors at chasing the elusive prize, I personally I wouldn't turn my back on the evil spirit of Affirmed, and that's putting it mildly, and with decades worth of cautionary tales (I'm talking about you, War Emblem) to show for it. If Justify somehow manages to pull this off, it would be the 2nd Triple Crown in 3 years (who could ever forget American Pharoah in 2015) whereas before that, there hadn't been one since way back in 1978. And after all this time, it would seriously make me think that the evil spirit of Affirmed had really turned over a new leaf, or finally gotten a different hobby, or something. And once again, not a moment too soon, I dare say.     Any confirmed old curmudgeon who doesn't believe in magic, and wants to continue in that opinion, should at all costs avoid the Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center, where they have staged an impressive revival of "My Fair Lady," of all things, that is so over-stuffed with stardust and wonder, that it would charm the socks off of the marble representation of the namesake explorer in nearby Columbus Circle, and leaving his proverbial tootsies exposed for all the world to see.  Bill and I tossed off our workaday shackles on Wednesday to treat ourselves to the matinee, and to say that it was "loverly" would be such an understatement of epic proportions, that mere words would be hopelessly inadequate, I can assure you. The cozy theater (1,200 seats) has not a bad seat in the house - although it should be pointed out that you can actually reserve a seat that is somewhat TOO close, so that you find yourself with your legs technically UNDER the stage, and looking up the nostrils of the players as they strut about above you, thanks not. The stage features an interesting "turn-table" mechanism, so that the action and sets rotate around in front of you, giving a varied and evolving perspective on the business at hand, which otherwise would seem decidedly static. The production is as fresh and lively as if Lerner & Loewe had just jotted it off last month, and features the considerable talents of Lauren Ambrose and Harry Hadden-Paton in the lead roles (seen on television and movies, as well as from stages on both sides of the Atlantic) and even the estimable Diana Rigg, lending an imperial air to the proceedings. It was truly magical from beginning to end, and even the usual petty annoyances of train, taxi, crowds, and inedibles, couldn't help but fade into trivialities in its wake, and soon forgotten. And unlike the evil spirit of Affirmed, I think this is exactly the kind of extra-special magic that we can all jump up and applaud. Loverly, indeed. Elle