"When I eventually looked in the mirror I just thought I looked like my gay brother."—Anne Hathaway tells how she felt after seeing her new haircut for Les Miserables. It's good to know she has such a cute brother!
I spent last week in New York City, catching up with friends, stalking some celebs and going to the theater. Alas, it was a rather dour experience, with many of the shows I saw falling far short of expectations.
The revival of The Heiress sports a sumptuous physical production and a great supporting cast (particularly the riveting Judith Ivey, who never disappoints). But imagine, if you will, the lead being played by a high school drama student—and not even the best actress in the school. That would prepare you for the performance coming-out of Jessica Chastain. What's perplexing is that, on paper, it seemed the perfect role for the winsome film actress, who is Juilliard-trained and well-versed in classical theater. Inexplicably, her entire portrayal came off completely false and one-note. This led to an unintentionally funny moment towards the end of the play, when her suitor says, "You've really changed." That got a laugh—at least from me—because for the better part of two hours, she'd had that same blank expression on her face and spouted lines with the same monotone delivery. Some people blame the director, so I'd like to give her the benefit of the doubt. But, oy, that's a lot of doubt!
Then we turn our attention to the opening night of Theresa Rebeck's new play, Dead Accounts. I must confess I went into this with some trepidation. After all, one doesn't expect much out of that thespian, Katie Holmes. And after Jessica Chastain, the bar was quite low. Perhaps that is why Holmes' performance is oddly satisfying. She clearly aspires to be the latest ex-Mrs. Tom Cruise to transform herself into a serious actress. Alas, she ends up somewhere between Nicole Kidman and poor Mimi Rogers. What Katie has going for her is that she wants it so badly, you almost root for her. She is certainly not completely devoid of talent. She has some presence and some vocal range. That alone puts her head and shoulders above Miss Chastain. The play itself has interesting ideas that are never fleshed out or go anywhere. Rebeck writes good dialogue, but doesn't know how to tell a story. The real reason to go is for Norbert Leo Butz, who gives a riveting (if somewhat maniacal) performance that will surely not be forgotten at the Tonys. The rest of the play, however, will likely be a distant memory by then.
And now, more of Billy's Holiday Gift Giving Suggestions. This week, I'm suggesting two very different DVDs that would make great gifts. The first comes from my good friend Dirk Shafer—a former Playgirl centerfold and Man of the Year (both in the magazine and mockumentary) as well as talented auteur behind the flick Circuit. Since many of us want to look like Dirk, he's sharing his secrets in "SWAPOUTWORKOUT with Dirk Shafer." This DVD includes ways to work out virtually anywhere and focuses on core strengthening, Pilates, circuit and weight training. Since he's maintained (and improved) his physique since his 1992 Playgirl shoot, he must be doing something right. To order the DVD, go to SwapOutWorkOut.com . To see him naked, pick up the latest issue of Playgirl, in which he's returned as a centerfold some 20 years later—or simply go to BillyMasters.com .
The concert version of Company starring Neil Patrick Harris and Patti LuPone with the New York Philharmonic has finally been released on DVD (something I told you would happen eons ago). I can't think of a better gift for a theater lover than this glorious DVD, which you can buy at Amazon.com .
This is the perfect week to tackle a theatrical-related "Ask Billy" question I received a few weeks ago. Rory in Virginia asks, "What do you know about Sebastian La Cause? He has a web series called Hustling and he is SO hot. I know he's been on Broadway, so I figured you were the perfect person to ask."
Indeed I am, as I have actually met Mr. La Cause. Back in 1999, he was one of the dancers in "Minnelli on Minnelli," Liza's Broadway tribute to her father. Elsewhere on Broadway, he's played Rocky in The Rocky Horror Show, and gone in and out of Chicago numerous times. On the small screen, he's turned up on Days of Our Lives and Law & Order: SVU. Many of you might recognize him from Bear City, but did you know that he also appeared in both Boogie Nights and Showgirls? Talk about range!
A year ago, he met several people who were either escorts or worked in the adult film industry and thought it was a great subject for a web series. Being an enterprising chap, he created Hustling, in which he writes, directs, produces, designs, casts, caters, costumes and stars. The show has developed a loyal following and is now starting its second season. In fact, my bon ami Wilson Cruz appeared in a recent episode, matching La Cause ab for ab (but I still think Cruz is hotter all around). I hear a few gay porn stars will also be popping in, including Jake Steele and Brian Slater. You can check it out at Hustling.tv . Of course, I'll run the clip with Wilson Cruz on BillyMasters.com .
When Broadway stars see hustling as a positive career move, it's definitely time to end yet another column. I was thinking—maybe after the holidays, I could work out with Dirk in a series of web videos to see what results he can get out of me. On the other hand, that sounds terribly exhausting. While I weigh the pros and cons, you can check out www.BillyMasters.com, the site that always leaves you breathless. Feel free to send any questions along to Billy@BillyMasters.com and I promise to get back to you before Katie Holmes wins a Tony! So, until next time, remember, one man's filth is another man's bible.
