Milwaukee, WI — PrideFest Milwaukee opens Friday, June 7 at 3 p.m. for what has been dubbed the nation’s largest showcase of LGBT talent.

The three-day weekend headliners include Bruce Vilanch and Chad Michaels on Friday, June 6; Chicago-area native Steve Grand, Mary Lambert, Big Freedia, and Macy Gray on Saturday, June 7; and Lisa Lampanelli and Sandra Bernhard on Sunday, June 8.

They will be joined by nearly 100 national, regional and local performers on eight stages throughout the Summerfest grounds. Chicago‘s Scarlet Bar takes over the popular dance pavilion on Friday, June 7 at 6 p.m.

“We truly believe PrideFest Milwaukee offers something for every visitor,” said Kate Sherry, festival co-producer. “This year, we’re thrilled to host a dynamic mix of musical, comedy, and drag performances that reflects the diversity of LGBT culture and community. We’re honored to have access to such stunning talent — and our showcase continues to grow every day.”

Single-day admission prices will be $13 in advance, $16 at the gate. Single-day VIP passes, which includes access to the exclusive VIP Deck, will be $100 in advance, or $225 for the three-day weekend. Organizers noted ticket prices remained the same as last year.

Festival goers will have the option of adding $1 to their ticket purchases to support the American Civil Liberties Union in their critical battle for marriage equality in Wisconsin.

PrideFest Milwaukee is June 6, 7 and 8 on the Henry Maier Festival (Summerfest) Grounds. For more information, tickets or to volunteer, visit pridefest.com.

Related interviews: Macy Gray | Mary Lambert | Sandra Bernhard

Entertainment Schedule:

Day 1: Friday, June 6 (3 p.m. – midnight)

3 p.m. Fusion Radio – Dance Pavilion

3 p.m. DJ Mr. Fingers – Rainbow Stage

3:30 p.m. Ritchie “Rich” St. James of Rayvn Entertainment Presents 2014 Turn About Show – Miller Lite Mainstage

4 p.m. DJ Leo – Dance Pavilion

4 p.m. Spitfire/DJ Boogie Rainbow Stage

4 p.m. Elena Garcia – Wom!nz Spot Cafe

4 p.m. Sweet Music – Wom!nz Spot Lounge

5 p.m. Thank Goodness It’s Pride (TGIF at PrideFest) – Community Center Loft

5 p.m. Trannika’s Most Wanted – Dance Pavilion

5 p.m. Pridefest 2014 Opening Ceremonies – Miller Lite Mainstage

5 p.m. DJ Eleazar – Rainbow Stage

5:30 p.m. Miltown Kings – Miller Lite Mainstage

6 p.m. Trannika Rex (host) – Dance Pavilion

6 p.m. DJ Katy (DJs of Scarlet) – Dance Pavilion

6 p.m. Astor Stree Dance Studio with Salsabrosa – Milwaukee Gay Arts Center Stage

6 p.m. Cordj Sjerman with Butterfly and The Line Dance Junkies – Rainbow Stage

6 p.m. Alyce Hart – Wom!nz Spot Cafe

6 p.m. The Remedies – Wom!nz Spot Lounge

6 p.m. Youth Area Dance Party – Youth Area Stage

6:30 p.m. Interfaith Religious Ceremony – Health and Wellness Stage

7 p.m. Laugh @ the Loft, featuring Alex Corona and Tanya Atkinson – Community Center Loft

7 p.m. Bruce Vilanch (Emcee) – Miller Lite Mainstage

7 p.m. Rodney Poe/DJ Ultimate – Rainbow Stage

7 p.m. Eliza Hanson – MGAC Stage

7:15 p.m. Chad Michaels – Miller Lite Mainstage

7:30 p.m. DJ Luna (DJs of Scarlet) – Dance Pavilion

7:30 p.m. Jordin Baas – MGAC Stage

8 p.m. Lezy Dezy – Community Center Loft

8 p.m. DJ Blade – Rainbow Stage

8 p.m. Rocket Paloma – Wom!nz Spot Cafe

8 p.m. Amanda Suckow – Wom!nz Spot Lounge

8 p.m. Jordin Bass – MGAC Stage

8:30 p.m. Cream City Cabaret – Miller Lite Mainstage

9 p.m. The Upside – MGAC Stage

9 p.m. Roxie Beane – Community Center Loft

9 p.m. DJ Scotty T (DJs of Scarlet) – Dance Pavilion

9 p.m. Shanna Marie/DJ XXL – Rainbow Stage

9 p.m. Eryn Woods – Wom!nz Spot Lounge

9:45 p.m. BJ Daniels Revue – Miller Lite Mainstage

10 p.m. Elena & Saborinque – Community Center Loft

10 p.m. ReVamped Dance Company – MGAC Stage

10 p.m. Conversations – Wom!nz Spot Cafe

10 p.m. Lashes & Stashes – Wom!nz Spot Lounge

10:30 p.m. Cazwell with Traver Rains – Dance Pavilion

Day 2: Saturday, June 7 (noon – midnight)

12 p.m. Fusion Radio – Dance Pavilion

12 p.m. The Acoustic Orchard featuring Malori Reichenberger – Miller Lite Mainstage

12 p.m. Conversations – Wom!nz Spot Cafe

12 p.m. Conversations – Wom!nz Spot Lounge

12 p.m. DJ Kimberly – Rainbow Stage

12:30 p.m. A Show of Circus Skills, Magic Tricks and Laughs! – Children’s Stage

1 p.m. Corky Morgan – Miller Lite Mainstage

1 p.m. Post DOMA Planning: How Changes in Federal Law Affect Your Family – Stonewall

1:15 p.m. AIDS Network: Act Ride – Health and Wellness Stage

2 p.m. How to Grow Your Family Seminar – Children & Family Stage

2 p.m. Lady Gia’s Milwaukee Revue – Dance Pavilion

2 p.m. City of Festivals Mens Chorus – Miller Lite Mainstage

2 p.m. Building Stronger Ally Relationships – Stonewall

2 p.m. Karen Muehlbauer – Wom!nz Spot Cafe

2 p.m. Nadia Geiger – Wom!nz Spot Lounge

2 p.m. DJ Tonya – Rainbow Stage

2:15 p.m. Tamarind Tribal Belly Dance – Health and Wellness Stage

3 p.m. Shane Ashton – Miller Lite Mainstage

3 p.m. Drag Makeover with the Miltown Kings – Stonewall

3:15 p.m. Diverse & Resilient “It’s About Us” – Health and Wellness Stage

4 p.m. DJ duo AJ Dubbz and Carla Starla – Dance Pavilion

4 p.m. The Nearly Deads – Miller Lite Mainstage

4 p.m. Feminine Gender Presentation by Ashley Altadonna and Laura Ann Stuart – Stonewall

4 p.m. Lu Shanti – Wom!nz Spot Cafe

4 p.m. Mandy Capplemen – Wom!nz Spot Lounge

4 p.m. Costume Contest – Youth Area Stage

4 p.m. DJ Tyrone – Rainbow Stage

4 p.m. Moonlight Karaoke – Community Center Loft

4:15 p.m. LGBT Dance Milwaukee – Health and Wellness Stage

5 p.m. DJ Nikno – Dance Pavilion

5 p.m. Astor Stree Dance Studio with Salsabrosa – MGAC Stage

5 p.m. Beverly McClellan – Miller Lite Mainstage

5 p.m. Funkin Wassels – Stonewall

5 p.m. So You Think You Can Dance – Youth Area Stage

5:30 p.m. Shea Coulee (host) – Dance Pavilion

5:30 p.m. Yes Sir Leather/Fetish Gear Show – Dance Pavilion

6 p.m. Max Hardswells’ Drag King Show – Community Center Loft Area

6 p.m. Steve Grand – Miller Lite Mainstage

6 p.m. Lions Mouth – Wom!nz Spot Cafe

6 p.m. Roxie Beane – Wom!nz Spot Lounge

6 p.m. DJ Tonya – Rainbow Stage

6:30 p.m. Julie Brandenburg – MGAC Stage

6:30 p.m. DJ Tim Walters – Dance Pavilion

6:45 p.m. Dear Ruthie (Emcee) – Miller Lite Mainstage

7 p.m. Mary Lambert – Miller Lite Mainstage

7 p.m. Queen of the Castle, Sister Sweet Sister film screenings – Stonewall

7:30 p.m. Corky Morgan – Community Center Loft Area

7:30 p.m. DJ Chomper – Dance Pavilion

7:30 p.m. Elliza Hanson – MGAC Stage

8 p.m. The Upside – MGAC Stage

8 p.m. Jayme Dawicki – Wom!nz Spot Cafe

8 p.m. Katiebeth – Wom!nz Spot Lounge

8 p.m. DJ Tyrone – Rainbow Stage

8:30 p.m. Lex Allen – Community Center Loft area

8:30 p.m. DJ NMF (New Music Freak) – Dance Pavilion

8:30 p.m. The Acoustic Orchard – MGAC Stage

8:30 p.m. Big Freedia – Miller Lite Mainstage

9 p.m. Carey Nokey – Rainbow Stage

9:30 p.m. Fireworks

9:45 p.m. DJ Reid Stefan – Dance Pavilion

10 p.m. Shane Ashton – Community Center Loft area

10 p.m. Conversations – Wom!nz Spot Cafe

10 p.m. Moustache Ride – Wom!nz Spot Lounge

10 p.m. ReVamped Dance Company – MGAC Stage

10 p.m. DJ Kimberly – Rainbow Stage

10 p.m. Macy Gray – Miller Lite Mainstage

Day 3: Sunday, June 8 (noon-10 p.m. at grounds, noon-midnight at dance pavilion)

12 p.m. Julie Brandenburg – Miller Lite Mainstage

12 p.m. DJ Style/DJ Davi-D Southside Underground – Rainbow Stage

12 p.m. Conversations – Wom!nz Spot Cafe

12 p.m. Conversations – Wom!nz Spot Lounge

12:15 p.m. American Cancer Society presentation – Health and Wellness Stage

12:30 p.m. Tim Glander Magic and Balloon Show – Children’s Stage

12:45 p.m. The Upside Band – Miller Lite Mainstage

1 p.m. DJ Purple – Rainbow Stage

1 p.m. Groundwork Milwaukee – Stonewall

1:15 p.m. Zumba – Health and Wellness Stage

1:40 p.m. Women’s Voices – Miller Lite Mainstage

2 p.m. DJ Pep Lara – Rainbow Stage

2 p.m. Jenna Lynee – Wom!nz Spot Cafe

2 p.m. Delray – Wom!nz Spot Lounge

2:15 p.m. DJ Covlove – Dance Pavilion

2:15 p.m. American Cancer Society presentation – Health and Wellness Stage

2:30 p.m. Ian & The Dream – Miller Lite Mainstage

2:30 p.m. Alliance School’s Eight Annual Pride Graduation – Stonewall

3 p.m. Dial Tone – Rainbow Stage

3:15 p.m. DJ Michele McKnight – Dance Pavilion

3:15 p.m. Diverse & Resilient: “It’s About Us” – Health and Wellness Stage

3:30 p.m. Ronnie Nyles & Tallulah Who – Miller Lite Mainstage

3:30 p.m. Love Will Win: ACLU of Wisconsin & Marriage Equality – Stonewall

4 p.m. Figureheads – Children’s Stage

4 p.m. House of Brooklyn Entertainment presents “Orgulla Latino” – Rainbow Stage

4 p.m. Elena Garcia – Wom!nz Spot Cafe

4 p.m. Dots – Wom!nz Spot Lounge

4 p.m. Project Q Graduation – Youth Area Stage

4:15 p.m. Ballroom Dance – Health and Wellness Stage

4:30 p.m. Dangerous Muse – Miller Lite Mainstage

4:30 p.m. Stonewall Crafts – Stonewall

5 p.m. Trannika Rex (host) – Dance Pavilion

5 p.m. Astor Stree Dance Studio with Salsabrosa – MGAC Stage

5 p.m. DJ Pullout – Rainbow Stage

5:15 p.m. Bjorn (emcee) – Miller Lite Mainstage

5:30 p.m. Underwear Show with DJ HME – Dance Pavilion

5:30 p.m. Debby Holiday – Miller Lite Mainstage

5:30 p.m. DJ Short Style – Rainbow Stage

5:30 p.m. Keeping the Spark Alive – Stonewall

6 p.m. Dixie Kuppe’s Kamp and Kurlers Revue – Community Center Loft

6 p.m. Julie Brandenburg – MGAC Stage

6 p.m. DJ Bad Omen – Rainbow Stage

6 p.m. ESH – Wom!nz Spot Cafe

6 p.m. Lezy Dezy – Wom!nz Spot Lounge

6:30 p.m. DJ Teri Bristol and Psycho-Bitch – Dance Pavilion

6:30 p.m. Jordin Baas – MGAC Stage

7 p.m. Kaitlyn O’Keefe – Community Center Loft

7 p.m. Sandra Bernhard – Miller Lite Mainstage

7 p.m. Sandra Valls – Rainbow Stage

7:30 p.m. The Upside – MGAC Stage

8 p.m. Movie: Tying the Knot – Community Center Loft

8 p.m. DJ Grind – Dance Pavilion

8 p.m. The Acoustic Orchard – MGAC Stage

8 p.m. DJ Absolut – Rainbow Stage

8:30 p.m. Lisa Lampanelli – Miller Lite Mainstage

9 p.m. Dora Diamond’s Gay Cabaret – MGAC Stage

9 p.m. DJ Eleazar/DJ Green Eyez – Rainbow Stage

10 p.m. DJ Hector Fonseca – Dance Pavilion

The post Bruce Vilanch To Headline PrideFest Milwaukee Friday June 6 first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

Hotel Nikko San Francisco and Michael Feinstein have announced two upcoming performers at the all-new Feinstein’s at the Nikko — actor and comedian Bruce Vilanch and Tony Award nominated composers Pasek and Paul. Located within Hotel Nikko (222 Mason Street, San Francisco), Feinstein’s at the Nikko will present a wide range of entertainers all within an intimate 140-seat cabaret setting. Bruce Vilanch will perform for one-night-only on Thursday, July 18th at 8 p.m. Pasek and Paul will perform two performances only – Friday, July 19 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, July 20 at 7 p.m.

Tickets for Bruce Vilanch ($30-$40) and Pasek and Paul ($30-$50) are on-sale now and available by calling 866.663.1063 or visiting www.ticketweb.com.

Currently celebrating his fifteenth year as Lindsay Lohan’s sobriety coach, Bruce Vilanch is checking in at Feinstein’s at The Nikko for one night only, to dispatch more updates on his bizarre career behind, before, and squatting over the footlights. A Hairspray star, a Hollywood Square, and the latest success story on Christian Mingle, (who just hooked him up with a guy who used to be Pope), Bruce has more than a few stories to tell.

Benj Pasek and Justin Paul are the Tony-nominated songwriters of the Broadway musical A Christmas Story, which opened in November 2012 and enjoyed a critically-acclaimed, record-breaking run at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. In addition to the Best Score nomination, A Christmas Story also received Tony nominations for Best Musical and Best Book. The holiday musical was named one of the Top 10 Shows of 2012 by Time Magazine, shared recognition as the #1 Musical of 2012 in USA Today and received Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations for Outstanding New Broadway Musical. Benj and Justin’s score for the show also received a Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Music.

Benj & Justin are also the composers behind the Off-Broadway musical Dogfight, a Best New Musical nominee for the Drama League, Lucille Lortel and Outer Critics Circle awards. Benj and Justin also received an Outer Critics Circle Best Score nomination for their work on the show. Dogfight premiered in July 2012 at Second Stage Theatre, and a cast album, produced by Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight Records, was released in May 2013. The album debuted in the top 50 albums on iTunes.

As television songwriters, their original songs were featured on Season 2 of NBC’s “Smash,” and have risen to the Top 25 on the iTunes Pop Charts.

The duo made their debut as songwriters with their widely-acclaimed song cycle Edges, which is licensed by Music Theatre International and has had hundreds of productions worldwide, including South Korea, Australia, China, South Africa, Singapore, France, the Philippines, Denmark and more. Other theatrical works include James & the Giant Peach, Duck for President and If You Give a Pig a Pancake. Their other musical work for TV can be seen on “Sesame Street” and “Johnny & the Sprites” (Disney TV series). Performances of their songs have been featured on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” “The View,” “Good Morning America,” “CBS Sunday Morning,” “VH1 Morning Buzz,” “The Rosie Show,” “Fox & Friends,” and more.

Benj & Justin are the recipients of the 2011 Richard Rodgers Award for Musical Theatre from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, a 2011 Sundance Institute Fellowship, the 2011 ASCAP Richard Rodgers New Horizons Award, the 2011 ASCAP Songwriters Fellowship Award, and a 2007-2008 Dramatists Guild Fellowship. They are the youngest recipients of the Jonathan Larson Award (2007) in the foundation’s history. They have participated in ASCAP’s Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project and were named one of Dramatist Magazine’s “50 to Watch” in Contemporary Theatre.

As performers, Benj & Justin have traveled throughout North America, Europe & Australia performing concerts of their work. They also teach master classes in songwriting and theatre performance at universities around the world. They are proud graduates of the University of Michigan BFA Musical Theatre program and members of the Dramatists Guild of America. They are currently at work on a new original musical with playwright Steven Levenson and director Michael Greif.

There is a $20 food and beverage minimum per person inside the showroom which guests can use towards cocktails as well as a variety of small plates crafted exclusively for Feinstein’s at the Nikko by Executive Chef Philippe Striffeler, through Restaurant Anzu. Cheese and dessert platters will also be available in the showroom. All seating at Feinstein’s at the Nikko is cabaret style and available on a first-come, first-served basis within the section purchased. Guests who purchase the prix-fixe dinner at Restaurant Anzu will receive a complimentary section upgrade (subject to availability) and get to choose their exact seat locations within the upgraded section.

Guests of Feinstein’s at the Nikko can enjoy a variety of food and beverage options before performances. Kanpai Lounge, located in Hotel Nikko’s lobby, offers light cuisine, a full bar and specialty cocktails. Restaurant Anzu, Hotel Nikko’s intimate restaurant located on the second floor, serves sustainable California cuisine enhanced with Asian flavors. Restaurant Anzu will also offer Feinstein’s at the Nikko guests a special three-course prix-fixe dinner ($45 per person) prior to all performances. Reservations can be made by calling (415) 394-1100.

Other upcoming performers at Feinstein’s at the Nikko include:

NICOLE HENRY · “NICOLE HENRY LIVE”

Friday, July 12 at 8 p.m. & Saturday, July 13 at 7 p.m.

EMILY BERGL · “UNTIL THE REAL THING COMES ALONG”

Thursday, July 25 at 8 p.m., Friday, July 26 at 8 p.m. & Saturday, July 27 at 7 p.m.

CHRISTINE ANDREAS · “BEMUSED”

Thursday, August 1 at 8 p.m., Friday, August 2 at 8 p.m. & Saturday, August 3 at 7 p.m.

ARIANA SAVALAS · “AN EVENING WITH ARIANA SAVALAS”

Thursday, August 8 at 8 p.m.

MISSI PYLE · “SEXY AS HELL”

Friday, August 9 at 8 p.m. & Saturday, August 10 at 7 p.m.

DONNA MCKECHNIE · “SAME PLACE, ANOTHER TIME”

Friday, August 16 at 8 p.m. & Saturday, August 17 at 7 p.m.

ANDREA MCARDLE · “70’S AND SUNNY”

Friday, August 23 at 8 p.m. & Saturday, August 24 at 7 p.m.

CHRISTINE EBERSOLE · “LIVE IN CONCERT”

Thursday, September 5 at 8 p.m., Friday, September 6 at 8 p.m. & Saturday, September 7 at 7 p.m.

JACK JONES · “IN CONCERT WITH JACK JONES”

Thursday, September 19 at 8 p.m., Friday, September 20 at 8 p.m. & Saturday, September 21 at 7 p.m.

TOMMY TUNE · “TAPS, TUNES AND TALL TALES”

Thursday, September 26 at 8 p.m., Friday, September 27 at 8 p.m. & Saturday, September 28 at 7 p.m.

The post Bruce Vilanch and Pasek & Paul Set for Feinstein’s at the Nikko, 7/18-20 first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

If you thought that ‘Shark Tank’ couldn’t possibly get any more brutal than it already has been, the Friday, November 9 episode was certainly a force to be reckoned with. The sharks were vicious, the criticisms were plentiful, and the condescending laughs were intimidating the aspiring business professionals. Two out of four candidates were unquestionably chewed up, and spit back out.

First up, we had Drew with his “Drive suits.” You’re likely wondering what a drive suit is? Well, it is a wearable recreation device. It is functioned to instantly transform a costumed human from a walking state to a riding one. The project literally drives off the shelves. As difficult as this is to explain, I am speaking the truth. It is exactly what it sounds like. Drew wanted $150,000 for 20% stake. Though they seemed intrigued, all the sharks were on his case about all the mysteries involved with his product. They were recommending he take this transforming costume to a toy company. Drew had two offers, but being the gambler he is, he chose Kevin for $150,000 and 30% stake of the company.

Next up was David with his online PC classes. His main goal was to teach 50+ year old students how to use a computer, which to me, sounds like a universal need. Bruce Vilanch came along as a demonstrator because he said that David taught his Mom how to Skype. David tried to state his case, and to present his product, while Vilanch added humor, but it was obvious that the sharks just weren’t sharing their enthusiasm. Kevin called him a bozo, and he was told he was 30 years too late. They added insult to injury by saying that he gave them a good laugh. Ouch! Did anyone else think the sharks were a little too hard on him?

Following, the rejected David was Bill with Revestor, the real estate search engine of the future…or at least Bill hoped. He came in asking for $250,000 for 10% in his company. Bill was trying to explain how this can simplify a real estate search and help potential buyers find the house they need. However, the sharks just don’t understand his angle or his formulas, and they showed zero interest. If you thought they were hard on David, they were almost equally harsh on Bill. Dang!

The final potential business professionals of the future were two loveable grannies: Beverly & Charlotte. They were asking for $250,000 for 15% stake in their Ice Chips company. Ice Chips candy contains Xylitol – a natural sweetener. They wanted to have an alternative sweetener going rather than the usual sugar, or unhealthy options that are so common today. The sharks seemed to enjoy this sugar free candy, and the enthusiasm of these grannies was simply contagious. Ice Chips are already a big hit, being sold in health food stores, and dentist offices. The sharks could tell that these ladies knew their market, and they were not afraid to make offers. This was the most interesting product of the night as the negotiations got downright crazy. It seemed that everyone wanted the Ice Chips stake, and that they were stopping at nothing to get it. In the end, the grannies chose Mark and Barbara.

The post Were “The Sharks” Too Brutal Last Night? first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

The Pittsburgh International Lesbian & Gay Film Festival opens Friday at the SouthSide Works Cinema and runs through Oct. 23. Here’s a sampling of movies playing during the first week (reviews are 1 to 4 stars).

‘ Going Down in La La Land‘

3 stars = Good
Ratings explained
The situations are cliched, the plot somewhat predictable, but Swedish director-actor Casper Andreas has adapted Andy Zeffer‘s 2006 wistfully comic novel with such a light touch that the action moves swiftly, and the characters seem to jump off the screen.

Handsome New Yorker Adam (Matthew Ludwinski) drives to Los Angeles with hopes of becoming a movie star. He finds he can’t get work as an actor, can’t even hold a dead-end day job until a drug-addicted gym bunny — vividly played by Mr. Andreas — gets Adam work in the porn industry.

Adam starts as a secretary, quickly becomes a reluctant star, but he finds his niche when he goes as an “escort” to a handsome TV actor John (Michael Medico) who hires Adam as his assistant when the two begin to have real feelings for each other.

The catch is that rich-and-famous John plays an all-American father figure on his show, and his career might not survive hints of his being gay. Will he dump Adam when the going gets rough or tough it out and acknowledge his sexuality? It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out the conclusion. Don’t miss the marvelous cameo appearance by Bruce Vilanch as an over-the-top porn film maker.

‘ August’

1 1/2 stars = Bad
Ratings explained
Director Eldar Rapaport has created a dismally pretentious, tedious and trite tale about a drifter named Troy (Murray Bartlett), who returns from Barcelona to rekindle a relationship with his former partner, Jonathan (Daniel Dugan). The problem is that Jonathan is now happily partnered with a handsome Latino, Raul (Adrian Gonzalez), and the results are, to say the least, complicated. They are also predictable.

Not much happens, other than the predictable triangle issues, a threesome and the fickle and feckless Troy going back to Barcelona at the end. Mr. Rapaport unfolds the story very slowly, using techniques that recall among other directors of the past, Alain Resnais (“Last Year in Marienbad“).

The film’s 105 minutes seem at least twice that long, but there is some interesting Middle Eastern-influenced music on the soundtrack to make the lacunae in dialogue go by a bit more easily.

‘ The Sleeping Beauty of East Finchley’

3 stars = Good
Ratings explained
Writer-director Seamus Rea has created a moving tale of a lonely London spinster (Josie Walker) who works at a dead-end job and cares for her aged mother, finding her only refuge in singing along with Jessye Norman tapes in the solitude of her bedroom. One day her mother’s nurse, Trish, a member of the local lesbian choir, hears her singing and realizes that Joan has a beautiful voice and real musicality.

When Trish brings Joan to a rehearsal, Joan resists joining, shouting, “I am not a lesbian.” When she does join, she finds she has further qualms, including a budding yet unspoken attachment to Trish.

Whether the lady is protesting too much or whether she’s found her niche is the province of the remainder of this brief and charming film, acted with conviction by an excellent cast and filmed with an unpretentious simplicity that rings true.

Robert Croan is a Post-Gazette senior editor.

First published on October 13, 2011 at 12:00 am

The post Going Down in La La Land first appeared on We Got Bruce!.