The food: Strawberry Shortcakes
The story:
Dance critic Alastair Macaulay had a great piece in the Sunday New York Times Arts & Leisure section yesterday about the best choreography nominations for this year’s Tony Awards.
I say it was a great piece because:
a) Macaulay talks about wonderful Broadway dancing being a big part of what made Golden Age musicals great, and works in a mention of Fred Astaire’s work on Broadway – amen,
b) Macaulay and I share negative/indifferent opinions about the dancing in both Spring Awakening and Hair (it’s about time someone in authority agreed with me on this)
c) we both found much to admire in the choreography of the otherwise frivolous musical 9 to 5.
I saw 9 to 5 in previews in April and quite enjoyed it, despite the weird and creaky book, and because of the high-end production values, some great ‘real’ dancing, and some top drawer talent. (Embarrassing that I noticed this sidenote: Neil Haskell dances in 9 to 5 in the chorus! Neil of Season 3 of So You Think You Can Dance!).
If you’re wondering what any of this has to do with strawberry shortcakes, they made an appearance on Sunday too, when my sister-in-law Monica served them as a birthday dessert at a family dinner.
The simple scumptious stacks (see above) of macerated strawberries and dollops of whipped cream were nestled inside homemade biscuits, and the fruit she served with it looked very pretty too.
Tags: 2009 Tony Awards, 9 to 5 the musical, Alastair Macaualay, Fred Astaire, Neil Haskell, So You Think You Can Dance, strawberry shortcakes
