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MAE WEST shared a sheet (of paper) with Mario Fratti recently, who admired the recent production of "Courting Mae West" that was staged as part of the 6th Annual Fresh Fruit Festival. 
• • Teatro — — Broadway & Dintorni
• • New York e tutta un festival
• • di Mario Fratti
• • "D'estate si hanno numerosi festival di nuovo teatro," writes the America Oggi columnist and Tony-Award winning playwright. . . . Partecipazione italo-americana al Festival Algonquin Fresh Fruit [123 East 24th Street, New York, NY 10010] e stata la presentazione di una nuova versione di "Courting Mae West" della poetessa e giornalista LindaAnn Loschiavo. Molte rivelazioni sulla formidabile personalita della West (la convincente Yvonne Sayers). L' audace difesa dei suoi testi a delle sue interpretazioni, la censura, gli arresti, il tribunale. E' aiutata da attori validi . . . ." 
• • Here is an English translation of his article:
• • Theatre — — Broadway & Elsewhere
• • New York is full of festivals
• • by Mario Fratti
• • Summer offers numerous festivals of new theatrical productions. . . . Italian-American participation in the Annual Fresh Fruit Festival [Algonquin Theatre, 123 East 24th Street] included the presentation of an all new version of "Courting Mae West" by the poet and journalist LindaAnn Loschiavo. There are many insightful revelations into the formidable character of Miss West (convincingly portrayed by Yvonne Sayers). Mae West mounts her audacious defense and rebuttal to the police witnesses who have interpreted her plays as indecent, and she is shown dealing with censorship, her arrests, and her courtroom trials. Yvonne Sayers is surrounded by an able cast: the journalist Mario (Jason Emanuel); Beverly West (Sarah Kanter Emanuel); news vendor Declan Rourke and his daughter Eliza Rourke (Steven Viola and the very enjoyable Mary Murphy); the elegant Gloria M. Buccino (in multiple roles). Well directed by Louis Lopardi.
• • In the same festival there is also "Sapphire's Kiss" by Maggie Zarillo and . . .
— — Source: — —
• • Column: "Teatro — — Broadway & Dintorni"
• • Byline: Mario Fratti
• • Published by: America Oggi
• • Published: during July 2008
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • MARIO FRATTI, professor emeritus of Italian literature at Hunter College, is an internationally acclaimed playwright and drama critic.
• • Author of such works as Suicide, The Cage, The Return, The Academy, Mafia, Races, and The Bridge, he is best known for his musical Nine (inspired by Fellini's famous film, 8 1/2) which in its original production in 1982 won the O'Neill Award, the Richard Rodgers Award, two Outer Critics Circle Awards, eight Drama Desk Awards, five Tony Awards, and in 2000 was a recipient of the Otto Award for Political Theater.
• • In its 2003 revival, Nine won three Outer Critics Circle Awards and two Tony Awards.
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • 1935 • •
NYC
Mae West.
This summer MAE WEST will get an extra special birthday gift: a spotlight. 
• • "Courting Mae West: Sex, Censorship, and Secrets" (based on true events when Mae West was arrested and jailed for trying to stage two gay plays on Broadway) will be presented at The Algonquin Theatre during July 2008 as part of The Annual Fresh Fruit Festival.
• • According to Artistic Director Carol Polcovar, The Annual Fresh Fruit Festival encompasses theater, performance, poetry, comedy, spoken word, music, dance, visual arts and some talents that defy categorization. Artists come from around the city, nation and, indeed, the world. Australia, Canada, Philadelphia, Chicago, Seattle, Boston, San Francisco, San Diego, France, Maui, Israel, the Philippines, the United Kingdom, and all of New York City's boroughs and suburbs have been represented.
• • As Ms. Polcovar explains: Fresh Fruit is the most inclusive expression of LGBT arts ever held in the City of New York. Performers of all racial and many ethnic backgrounds, sexualities, gender orientation fill out stages. They have been African-, Caribbean-, Chinese-, East Indian-, Filipina-, Hispanic-, Japanese-, Korean-, Native-, and even unhyphenated Americans were among groups represented by both performers and audience. The work brought forth is always fresh, exciting and insightful."
• • Their brochure says, “Fresh Fruit seeks variety, challenge, excitement, and FUN! “ — — www.freshfruitfestival.com
• • Hard-working Carol Polcovar wears many hats; she is a playwright, poet, director, and producer who has been working in NYC theater since the 1980s. She founded New Village Productions in 1989 to expand the vision of theater to include greater diversity.
• • A 95-minute play set during the Prohibition Era, "Courting Mae West: Sex, Censorship, and Secrets" will be directed by Louis Lopardi, who has also worked with The Annual Fresh Fruit Festival as their very capable Production Manager and Technical Director.
• • The Algonquin Theatre (at 123 East 24th Street, NYC 10010) houses two air-conditioned performance spaces: the 99-seat "Kaufman" and the 40-seat "Parker." The Kaufman features a proscenium stage that is 21 feet wide and 23 feet deep.
• • The larger playhouse is named in honor of George S. Kaufman [16 November 1889 — 2 June 1961], an American playwright, theatre director and producer, humorist, and drama critic. The petite playing space honors another Algonquin Round Table member: author Dorothy Parker [22 August 1893 — 7 June 1967]. Both writers attended performances of Mae West's plays during the 1920s and critiqued them.• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
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Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • Maebill • •
NYC
Mae West.
