MAXIMILLIEN de LAFAYETTE Most Recent Book:
ENTERTAINMENT: DIVAS, CABARET, JAZZ THEN AND NOW. A triumph! Absolutely fascinating.
By Marlin Trevor
Photo: The American Cabaret and Jazz super star Marlene VerPlanck on the cover of the book.
Out of the over one hundred books Mr. de Lafayette had written, “ENTERTAINMENT: DIVAS, CABARET, JAZZ THEN AND NOW” is my favourite. There has never been such a book. Many books exist about classical music and rock’n’roll, but Jazz and Cabaret? Never! The first of its kind! In this book you will find stories about the greatest American and International divas that you have never heard about before. Starting with the likes of Mata Hari and Mistinguett, Ana Held, Fay Templeton, and others of the golden era, to such living legends as Gloria Loring, Amanda McBroom and Diva Marlene VerPlanck whose picture graces the cover of this mammoth book – over seven hundred pages and weighs a ton – to new and emerging talents of the young and ambitious who will carry the torch of Jazz and Cabaret as it should be carried into the future. You cannot put the book down. Stories of gigolos, hustlers, shady characters of the night, greedy booking agents, struggling artists, gossip and altercations between great stars – it is so amusing, entertaining and satisfying, you will go on reading for a long time. And The pictures speak for themselves. The book is beautifully illustrated, so well that you feel you know the characters personally. But don’t think it is a frivolous book. Serious history of music, from the Colonial era and the cotton fields of America, to the last gig of a star in Manhattan, all this material is written in depth and encyclopaedic wealth of knowledge. One of the most unusual characteristics of this book are the interviews. The author interviewed zillions of mega stars and asked them the same questions, intentionally, as if each one was the only interviewee. Published in the book, the reader will understand the differences in character and persona, and the way of life of all those stars, because each answered the questions differently. To summarize, this is a not-to-miss book. It should be in the home of everyone who is interested in music, both professionals and those who simply love Jazz and Cabaret and want to immerse themselves in the lore and history of the genre. It will also teach you what make a diva tick! Buy it!
NEW YORK CABARET THEATER
THE NEW BOHEMIA
The Troupe. Photo credits: Rose Callahan. New York Neo Cabaret Noir: A blend of burlesque, fantasies and Visio-sensual delights. Elle magazine wrote: " Retro- bent- bump and-grindshow of dance and song."
Photo by Stacey Schwartz
The
show revives the delights extravaganza of 1920s and 1930s Berlin, Munich,
Paris and intellectual-erotic cabaret noir of the Mata Hari era. You can
call it the art deco or art nouveau of the New York new theater direction.
The show gathered first-class performers who added so much energy, flair and
artistic neo bohemian fragrance. It is a Cabaret Noire a la Dietrich's "Blue
Angel" but with contempo avant-garde. The performances and stage presence
of Julie Atlas Muz, Mae Rose, Jessie, Shelly Watson, Meryl Finger and
Daniel Izengart are commanding and most delightful. The show depicts and
retraces the story of the New York performance circle. It is a quasi
sweet-bitter tableau of what goes on behind the curtains. A comic-tragic
projection of the human drama of Cabaret and showbiz. Also, it is the story
of human decadence, extravaganza, elegance, finesse and the grotesque.
Stimulating, extremely visual and abundant with wealth of music, animated
dialogues and Caravan Serail type of an outstanding cast, "The New Bohemia"
becomes a fresh sweet-treacherous breeze hitting you wherever you look over
the the stage. "The New Bohemia" is a wonderful musical-theatrical
production steamed with action, sensuality, makeup, wigs, music, jarretieres,
fake eyelashes and human drama. Go see it. A triumph! Two thumbs up. Rating:
5 stars out of 5.
Photo of Julie Atlas by Aaron Schuman.
JuIie Atlas Muz Jessie Mae Rose Daniel Isengart