Tomorrow, Neil Simon Theatre, LBJ lives again in “All the Way.” So Bryan Cranston knows how to play Lyndon Baines Johnson?
“This unheralded president’s remembered unfortunately for his Vietnam failure. But he accomplished enormous domestic legislation. His 1964 civil rights proclamation backed laws supporting Lincoln’s words. He instituted the now-challenged Voting Rights Act. Behind Medicare and Medicaid. Out front for Public Broadcasting, National Endowment for the Arts, Highway Beautification . . .
“I was 8 when he was president. But I read bios about him, Johnson’s own memoirs, watched newsreels. I’ve met his people, speech writer, lawyer, daughter Luci. He recorded all telephone calls. I listened to them. You hear the tenor of his voice. The aggression and oppression.
“A most complex individual, this covers his first year. From the assassination to election night 1964.
And about his bad-boy ways?
“We cover his infidelities. See him drinking. Afraid of heart problems, he stopped smoking when he got into the White House. Johnson died 10 years after becoming president.
“It’s 19 actors onstage playing Herbert Hoover, Strom Thurmond, LadyBird, Martin Luther King, Hubert Humphrey.
“His political acumen was strong. He cajoled, threatened and used colorful language, which we try to incorporate judiciously.”
Pay attention
I forgot to report that at the Waldorf’s Human Rights dinner keynote speaker Eric Holder — who should stay in bed or anywhere but in office — movingly endlessly thanked Rep. Carolyn Maloney for her service and noted her retirement. Nice. Problem? Obama’s attorney general genius meant Carolyn McCarthy . . . AND I hasten to report Columbus is hustling for 2016’s Dem Convention. Also nice. How better to mark unBarack than with liverwurst sliders and Ohio bagels.
Dining for ‘Neverland’
Harvey Weinstein’s Friday dinner at the Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills included a tryout for an original six-years-in-the-coming Broadway musical “Finding Neverland.” He’s producing. The idea’s from his film 10 years ago with Johnny Depp. Now in workshop with Matthew Morrison, the teacher from “Glee,” the director is Diane Paulus from “Pippin.”
Gary Barlow, composer of its 16 songs, performed. Jason Alexander MC’d. Meryl Streep and Sharon Osbourne began the standing ovation. Taylor Swift applauded. Bono, nodding to the music: “The songs are terrific, and that’s the first piece of the puzzle.”
Glad I’m home
Hollywood. Mention Ukraine, and somebody replies: “Where’s it playing?” Having walked the red carpet and Hollywood’s yellow-brick road, I’m now back from the Land of Odds. And thanks to flight attendant Eric’s cool and JetBlue for returning $50 to all passengers on its maintenance plagued flight home. . . A QUESTION: Anybody know where’s Assad’s wife, Syria’s first lady? Nobody sees her. Nobody hears about her. Qué pasa?
Oscar rewind
Backup on the Oscars. Days beforehand know-it-alls stated: Alfonso Cuarón wins for “Gravity.” Also Cate and Jared Leto. Not bothering to compete and do p.r. and winning last year, it’s goodbye, good luck to Jennifer Lawrence. Director David O. Russell, “desperate to win,” didn’t for “Silver Lining” last year, didn’t for “The Fighter” the year before, and won’t for “American Hustle.” Guess they knew it all.
OFF-B’WAY. Forget eyeing your cell. Two rows ahead of Jim Fragale, a gent drank from a plastic cup plus puffed an e-cigarette. Future pre-curtain announcements may soon run longer than the productions.
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.