Nikki Blonsky, Lynne Meadow go Crazy at the Airport

Has the whole world gone totally batshit crazy? First MTC Artistic Director Lynne Meadow was detained and interrogated by the FBI after loosing her infamous fury on a flight attendant. The NYC artistic community shared a collective giggle. One anonymous insider said, "So THAT'S what Lynne is doing on her sabbatical!" Okay that might have been me that said that, to my mom. But it's true. What is she doing, anyway?

So now Nikki Blonsky, the perky star of Hairspray the movie-musical-movie, has been arrested with her dad for BEATING THE SHIT OUT OF SOMEONE, also at an airport! People, what the fuck is going on?!!??

US Weekly says Nikki Blonsky was charged with "actual bodily harm," while her dad got a scarier charge of "grievous bodily harm". The father/daughter beatdown took place at the Providenciales International Airport in Turks and Caicos, and the woman (yes, they beat up a woman!) was flown off the island to Miami. Oh yeah, and the story wouldn't be complete without this cherry on top: "America's Next Top Model contestant Bianca Golden — whose family resides on the island — was also involved in the brawl. It is unclear what role she played." There. Are. No. Words.

Check out this photo of Nikki and her dad. On the left, "Yes, I am adorable!", on the right, "I will cut you with my bling."

That's Nikki post-arrest. She's got a neckbrace on. The horror!

8/11/08: Here's an update. The Blonsky family lawyer is insisting that Bianca Golden sparked the brawl for publicity, which actually sounds totally possible.

I hear...

That Zoe Kazan won't be seen at the Biltmore this spring as planned. Shortly after MTC announced it's casting for Come Back, Little Sheba, Zoe booked a role in the big comic superhero move Justice League - a direct conflict with the show. Pretty sure MTC's already seen every actress in NYC for that role, so who will they cast?

Jugi totally called it!

MTC cancels Lonergan's The Starry Messenger

Here's something that slipped under my radar during all the strike(s) hubbub: MTC has cancelled it's upcoming production of Kenneth Lonergan's new play The Starry Messenger. Matthew Broderick was slated to star in the play off-broadway, and there was a lot of buzz around the show, as one of the highlights of MTC's season.

Manhattan Theatre Club's only expanation was, "Scheduling conflicts make it impossible to proceed in the allotted time slot," which means exactly nothing. Indeed, the production is still listed on the company's website, a full day after the announcement. I'm sure their subscribers will be thrilled to hear about the cancellation, and wonder what in the world would have stopped them from proceeding with the production. Casting was in progress, with some pretty great people lined up to star alongside Broderick. I wonder if it's something personal going on with Broderick or Lonergan, who was also set to direct the play.

Shoot! I was looking forward to this.

Review: MTC's The American Pilot

Moxie recently took in an early preview of The American Pilot at Manhattan Theater Club. The play is terrifying, emotional, and intelligent, though largely humorless. Because writing plot summaries makes Moxie want to pluck out her armpit hairs one by one, here's MTC's summary:

"In a rural village in a war-torn country, an American pilot crash-lands. Should the villagers in the region help him, murder him or use him as a pawn in a dangerous game with the enemy? This powerful, topical and very human new play just earned raves at London's Royal Shakespeare Company. This new production will mark its eagerly anticipated American premiere."

Aaron Stanton plays the injured and captive pilot with gut-wrenching accuracy. The Pilot's lines mostly consist of barking out "My guys are coming for me! Get me a phone! Get me a phone or my government will bomb you!" and occasionally singing along to stale rap songs like "Gin and Juice," but Stanton creates a real picture of a good-natured air force boy from Georgia caught in a terrifying situation.

Anjali Bhimani and Rita Wolf are the strongest actors in the ensemble. Greig injects the minimal amount of warmth required into their characters - welcome in an expanse of melancholy, angry, fearful, and agitated men. Wolf is pragmatic and human as a wife trying to negotiate life in a war-torn country, and Bhimani is spirited and fierce as her headstrong daughter. However, the play never really allows them room to take a breath from the drama/trauma, and so, neither can the audience. As the American Pilot is held captive and tortured, the audience verges on feeling subjected to something, as well. Waleed Zuaiter also shines as the conflicted Captain, but again, is only allowed to show a select few colors in the one-noted script.

Ultimately, it's a really smart play that sheds new light on the multitude of horrors going on abroad right now. With the slew of stale, unkempt, and unfocused political dramas like Eve Ensler's The Treatment around these days, The American Pilot is a breath of fresh air. If only the air were just a bit sweeter at points, if only to make the play's many brilliant points more digestible. However, it is an early preview, so things will certainly change for the better!

Photo courtesy of playbill.com