Bizet’s “Carmen.” The 19th century’s political unrest, social class, power struggle, murder, scandal, gender, race, now fits our 2lst century. Result? Rejiggering the opera as a film.
Director’s Benjamin Millepied — choreographer, plus husband of Oscar winner Natalie Portman who played a ballerina in “Black Swan.”
Tall, handsome, French, his sneakers were spotless.
“My film’s set in Mexico, a country in chaos. I began this career as a child. My mother, a dancer, had some link. A love of music and expression, dance is no financially rewarding career — only fulfilling.
“Took me six years to write this. Drama told through music — like ‘West Side Story.’ I reinvented her. More freedom. She’s not just an object of desire.”
She’s independent. Mother’s murdered. Illegal border guard kills others in her group. Standoff. Escape to LA. Police close in. For the rest see the movie.
“Onstage, dance, music, lights, costumes come together. A single experience. I approached this same way I approach dance, the language of dreams, the mystical and the earthly. My conscious and subconscious.”
Oddity No. 1. The screening drew Mikhail Baryshnikov who kindly introduced himself to me. Not sure why since last we met he was sitting at my kitchen table.
Telling royal tales
Oddity No. 2: 2,000 years late Cleopatra’s ready for her close-up. Jada Pinkett Smith narrates the series.
Jada: “Don’t often get stories about black queens. That was important for me, my daughter, my community. Cleopatra’s displayed as sexual, excessive, corrupt, yet she was a strategist, intellect, fought to protect her kingdom.
“Her heritage is debated. We’ll dive into her history.”
“Queen Cleopatra” premieres in Queens May 10. Netflix. Grab a barge. Watch it.
Aided and a’booked
Long back I reported: “Melissa DeRosa, Gov. Cuomo’s former aide, has inked a tell-all book.”
Immediate denials. No-no-no. Madam Adams knows not what she burbles about.
Well . . . HARK! Comes now news that truth-misser Melissa’s written a dump-all.
The Sanitation Department has been placed on alert.
Learning history
Oddity No. 3: Roger Smith was a “77 Sunset Strip” actor married to Ann-Margret. Now gone. I’ve just had news from some outlet which has invoked the phrase “Who the F - - k Is Roger Smith?!”
It alleges knowing Time Warner’s Steve Ross, Schwarzenegger, Spielberg, hit on by Grace Kelly, Menendez trial testifier, opera subtitles creator and dishes on now gone Sinatra, Michael Jackson, Gerald Ford.
Just letting everyone know if in case should they hear from him.
Morning regalia
Comes an invite from Emma Wade-Smith OBE, His Majesty’s Consul General here, to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III on May 6. It says: “We will livestream it at Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall. Doors open 5:45 a.m. The Coronation starts 6:00 a.m.” Great. Hope Roger Smith knows.
I’m off Monday and Tuesday. So Hail Britannia, plus only in New York, kids, only in New York.
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