Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Wednesday 10 april 2019
Go behind the dancing to see what fueled FX's 'Fosse/Verdon'

By MARK KENNEDY of "Fosse/Verdon ," a new in 1971 when Fosse's wom-
Associated Press eight-part series on FX this anizing finally took its toll.
NEW YORK (AP) — He was month starring Sam Rock- Despite their personal tur-
a director and choreogra- well and Michelle Williams. moil, both remained in
pher whose signature was Fosse was the exacting each other's lives, inspiring
the backward lean and mind behind the angular and elevating the others'
the pelvic thrust. She was movements and bowler work until Fosse died of a
his muse and a ferocious hats of "Chicago," the bru- heart attack in 1987. As
dancer in her own right. tally autobiographical "All ever, she was by his side.
They were perfect together That Jazz" and the dark Thomas Kail, the Tony
and they were also terrible punch of the film "Caba- Award-winning director of
together. ret." Verdon won four Tony the musical "Hamilton" who
The complex, fiery relation- Awards within six years in directed and is an execu-
ship Bob Fosse had with the 1950s. They were mar- tive producer for "Fosse/
Gwen Verdon is the subject ried in 1960 and separated Verdon," said the series This image released by FX shows Michelle Williams as Gwen
explores the couple who Verdon in a scene from the series "Fosse/Verdon."
make up the show's title Associated Press
but also the nature of artis-
tic creation itself. creator Lin-Manuel Miran- portrays Dustin Hoffman.
"This felt like a chance to da is an executive produc- Norbert Leo Butz, a two-
use this relationship — the er and the key writer, Ste- time Tony winner, plays
connection, the messiness, ven Levenson, won a Tony the acerbic screenwriter
the clarity and the love be- for "Dear Evan Hansen." Paddy Chayefsky, a close
tween these two — as a Broadway veterans, includ- friend of Fosse, but one
portal to investigate how ing Santino Fontana, Byron who also fought with him.
things are made," he said. Jennings and Ethan Slater "They didn't have any filters.
Fitting for a portrayal pair have roles. As do Laura There were no boundar-
of Broadway superstars, Osnes, who plays Shirley ies. They would just say the
the series has grease paint MacLaine, Kelli Barrett who truth to each other but they
running through its DNA. In plays Liza Minnelli, and were also very sensitive,
addition to Kail, "Hamilton" Brandon Uranowitz who very neurotic," he said.q

Rachel Howzell Hall writes

a breakout novel

to Agatha Christie while her husband to leave her,
finding its own individual wrecked the relationship
approach. with their daughter and
Hall's "They All Fall Down" gotten her fired. The police
uses the same set up as also want to question her
Christie's classic "And Then regarding an incident that
There Were None" in which may have led to a death,
strangers are lured to an and a neighbor may be su-
isolated island and then ing her.
start dying. But the Christie Yet Mimi may be the week-
homage quickly morphs end's most congenial
into Hall's perspective with guest. The others include
a diverse cast of charac- a former policeman, a
ters and her own spin on chef, a financial adviser,
the plot. a nurse, a lawyer, and a
The narrator of "They All young widow. They've all
Fall Down" is Miriam "Mimi" been lured to the island
This cover image released by Macy, who is probably the for different reasons_Mimi
Forge Books shows "They All last person anyone would thinks she will be on a real-
Fall Down," by Rachel Howzell
Hall. want to be marooned with, ity TV show. Actually, each
Associated Press even in a mansion as nice has been brought there by
as the one on Mictlan Is- their late attorney, Phillip
By OLINE H. COGDILL land near Puerto Penasco, Omeke, who leaves a letter
Associated Press Sonora, Mexico. The vain, promising that by the end
"They All Fall Down" (Forge) anxiety-riddled Mimi is con- of the weekend each will
by Rachel Howzell Hall sumed with jealousy and be remembered in his will.
After four well-received hatred. Every conversa- That promise may hinge
novels about LAPD ho- tion and minor slight be- on who's still alive as one
micide cop Elouise "Lou" comes a challenge for her by one the guests begin
Norton, Rachel Howzell to pushback, or to plan dying. Each's secrets, and
Hall confidently delivers a revenge, as she is incapa- reason for being invited
highly entertaining stand- ble of letting anything go. to the island, are carefully
alone that pays homage Her attitude has caused doled out.q