FUN HOME the award-winning musical story of a closet gay father, his very funny  gay daughter and their family. I enjoyed the dialogue, as did the packed opening day audience who roared at every nuance, spoken word or song.  

Unfortunately for this reviewer, who, incidentally stands thisclose to being 5 feet 11 inches, I couldn't see most of the show because sitting immediately in front of me was a young man who was at least 6 feet 3 inches.

A few minutes into the play, I realized the guy in front wasn't going to slink in his chair, I stretched my neck moving it to the left of his head. I then heard the grumbling of the person sitting behind me. I moved my head back to the center of my shoulders.

Due to the seating plan of most theaters built decades ago, there is not much hope for someone who is six feet or under. As each generation grows taller, a six footer who grew up many years ago as did I, we are shorter than today's men AND women. It was very scarce to see a tall woman during my years in Brooklyn. Today, tall women offer their assistance as I try to snag a cereal box from the top shelf  in a super market. So, with this affliction, how can I see a theatrical presentation unless I choose a seat behind a shorter person?

The problem is, seats are assigned in the theatre and I cannot pick and choose. Therefore, before I attend a play, I pray that a shorter person is sitting in front of me. Sometimes, like all of our prayers, they are answered. However, with my luck of late, more often than not, I don't often see a play, I listen to a play.

From what I heard, "Fun Home" is very clever in spoken word and song. I have never in my life been privy to a more bombastic appreciation of a play following the final curtain. The audience, including me as I had no other recourse (my wife was poking me in the ribs), stood and clapped for at least a two minute ovation.

Needless to report, "Fun Home" is a very funny play gracefully handling a topic that is thankfully in the open. And, when you go, and you should, if you are not as tall as this generation, say a prayer.

4 Bagels out of 4 for the dialogue and song

The Comedian is no laughing matter.  Starring is one of the world's acknowledged iconic actors, Robert DeNiro, playing a comedian. I accepted him playing Vito Corleone and Jake La Motta receiving Oscar's for both portrayals. Following La Motta's retirement from the ring, he tried his hand as a stand up comic. Jake's lines were funnier than DeNiro's as well as his delivery. Don't get me wrong, DeNiro will always handle serious and comedic roles with great ease and passion - but a stand up comic? It's just not his forte.

DeNiro's character is Jackie Burke, originally Berkowitz, and he is trying to revive his career since his glory days when he starred in a TV sitcom, "Eddie's Home" over 20 years ago. He is trying to move on from those days but the viewers still remember him as 'Eddie.' He is looking to make a comeback as Jackie Burke but his fans want the original 'Eddie.'

Unable to make inroads he becomes dissatisfied and during his appearances at small coffee houses and clubs his routines go into attack mode and he lashes out at his audiences with a barrage of insults far from the image he had during his TV days.

Without gigs or money, Jackie goes to his brother Jimmy's kosher deli and borrows five thous

and dollars with the promise that he will attend the wedding of his niece, Brittany(Lucy DeVito) to her partner, Frankie. Decking a heckler at a club appearance Jackie is ordered to do kitchen service at a community center. While there he meets Harmony who has been sent to the kitchen for attacking her two-timing husband.  This is a good thing because Harmony is played by Leslie Mann whose gift of comedy is a reward for all of us - and definitely the producers. Jackie talks her into attending the wedding with him. Brittany begs Jackie to get up and entertain the crowd. He does and unleashes a torrid stream of sexual lesbian jokes and other diatribes.

Jimmie's wife, Florence (Patti LuPone), an out of control stereotypical yenta from the lower East Side, runs out of the wedding hall and verbally attacks Jackie and Harmony. Harmony is turned on by the whole scene and invites Jackie to her house. Meeting Harmony's father, Mac (Harvey Keitel), a big "Eddie" fan from the old days, turns disastrous. Mac, a wealthy Floridian land developer, pulls some strings and gets a court order transferring his daughter to assist in an old a

ge home in Florida.  

Jackie follows Harmony down south to reignite their relationship. Eddie's appearance in the community center's hall gets everyone abuzz and finally he gets up to entertain. Again, there is a flurry of obscene humor followed by a parody of the song 'Making Whoopy.' The refrain is 'Making Poopy' with the entire audience chiming in.

"The Comedian" is an homage to garbage and terribly unfunny and insulting. The only reason to go is Leslie Mann who is beautiful, funny and a highly gifted actress. She is everything the producers could have hoped for.

 

No Bagels, just a schmeer. Ms. Mann's performance gets a 4