Broadway Bridge and Tunnel Test

The Broadway Bridge and Tunnel Test is our personal and highly opinionated Commuter's Guide to New York theater and cultural events, with an emphasis on Broadway and Off-Broadway theatrical productions. The test is simple: is an event worth the always expensive, time consuming, and too often horrendous struggle to commute to New York City from New Jersey, Long Island, Upstate New York or Connecticut? Only truly great or near-great performances and productions may meet this stiff challenge!

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Location: Princeton, New Jersey, United States

James Camner is an antiquarian dealer of autographs, manuscripts and printed music and books of Opera, Classical Music, Theater, Dance, and Film, as well as a published author of more than 10 books on the performing arts including "How to Enjoy Opera" (Simon and Schuster), "The Great Opera Stars in Historic Photographs" (Dover), "Stars of American Musical Theater in Historic Photographs" (Dover - with Stanley Appelbaum); was for over 20 years a reviewer for Fanfare Magazine and has written feature articles and reviews for Opera News.

Thursday, August 23, 2007

Absinthe at the Spiegeltent, South Street Seaport. This is the second year for the risque circus Absinthe. The first time we saw Absinthe, our jaws dropped, but this time we didn't find it either as shocking or as stylish as the first edition. Sometimes sequels are hard. Nevertheless there was much to enjoy including the Gazillionaire and his ditsy helper Penny, three beautiful lady acrobats and two hunky males, Cooper, whose riff on an old time British Music Hall act is hilarious and even a little frightening (he is a hold over from last year) and Paul Capsis who does quite a fine imitation of Marlene Dietrich and, hilariously, Judy Garland at the end of her career. Plenty of eye candy for men and women alike and in the very special and beautiful 350 seat Spiegeltent made in 1920, I can't think of a nicer way to spend a summer's eve right on the magnificent downtown New York City Waterfront. Be warned -- there is nudity and while not a crude sex show by any means, the ultra risque Absinthe is not for children. Broadway Bridge and Tunnel Test grade B.