At the big neon sign by the old Bowladrome: The PNG Follies!

Last night it was Follies Time @ the Venus de Milo (Swansea), and one of the best shows in years for sure. As I say almost every year, though at times I miss the raggedy informality of the Providence Newspaper Guild Follies of old (flubbed lines, crappy mikes, bumbling "choreography"), the talent level is now frighteningly high and makes for a great show: powerful musical numbers with hilarious costumes, cool set, great comic timing, great moves, tremendous vocals - thanks, all, and congratulations. Everyone's been talking about the surprise star turn from mystery guest Bob Flanders (he was never so funny when he was Regents chair - who knew he could sing?), but let's also give the cast members their due: Andy Smith, director and opening monologue with some truly funny lines (haven't been watched by so many people since I went to take a piss at the Coffee Exchange), and fabulous cast members (couldn't ID them all from my seat among the gods) with great impersonations of Governor Chafee (treated rather kindly this year - though the subject of a fundraiser for politicians suffering from Delayed Gesture Syndrome) and of Angel Taveras, in a hot Latin number! The Gina Raimondo # was very powerful as well, and, as one of the gags had it: If you're here from North Providence, thank you thank you thank you. Plenty of zings for what co-worker H. calls "The Guido Triangle" (Cranston, Johnston, NP) - and only the Follies cast would do a costumed skit that begins: Hello, I am Angel Taveras's sperm. I had a very good year! And it was a very good year for the Follies, too. Thanks, all!