James Cagney was Hollywood’s 1940s rootin’, tootin’, shootin’ Fig Newton. An Oscar winner song-and-dance man as George M. Cohan in “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” his fame was playing gangsters.
After pushing a grapefruit in actress Mae Clarke’s face in “The Public Enemy,” there was no bigger or badder in movies.
Born in New York 1899, gone in New York 1986 — he newly suddenly theatrically is alive again. Westside Theatre. Robert Creighton immortalizes this toughie in tap shoes in “Cagney: The Musical.”
“I tap dance, dyed my hair red like his. I’m his same size — 5-foot-6. In school, I studied his films. In ‘Man of a Thousand Faces,’ he actually said the name ‘Creighton.’ So I found a connection.
“Obsessed, I wrote a one-man show with rare photos and exclusive information from his executors and caretaker, who encouraged me. It was exciting, but the project fizzled. I’m not an experienced writer.”
In 2009, an experienced writer later, they opened in Florida. But, broke, they couldn’t last. An American Academy of Dramatic Arts student and a working actor, Creighton persisted. He “dreamt of playing New York.” So, with co-producer Jamie deRoy, who co-produces half of what’s on B’way, what’s so great about this new production?
“How about the audience going nuts when Mae Clark’s character gets that grapefruit in her face? Ours is made of sponge so no water spurts. It’s soft.”
The movie star’s niece and goddaughter plus his friend Burt Reynolds have praised it. Burt, who owns accomplished artist James Cagney’s signed painting, tells of wanting a second artwork from him. And Mr. Cagney’s reply? “Tell that cheap bastard he can’t have another one.”
The independent factor …
It was 1976. Carter and Ford struggling for the presidency. Eugene McCarthy’s independent candidacy, siphoning New York’s 41 crucial electoral votes, needed filed petitions. They had to be signed by 20,000 voters, 100 of whom had to reside in each of half the state’s congressional districts. McCarthyites had nearly 500,000 signatures. But at the deadline, New York state law required these petitions separated according to congressional district. McCarthyites said “impossible” given the random method of signature gathering that volunteers, opposed to organized party ward workers, would have to employ.
Lower courts allowed the signatures. New York Court of Appeals, holding that strict compliance with state law was essential, reversed. By a single vote of one Court of Appeals judge, McCarthy was axed. Carter won us by 289,000 votes.
What’s happening
Following the Astaire Awards, where Judith Jamison and Nigel Lythgoe will be honored, is something at designer Romona Keveza’s penthouse. She’s dressed bones from Angelina Jolie to Kate Beckinsale . . .
More parties. Resident magazine’s one for Dylan Lauren, who jazzes up the current issue at her Union Square location . . .
Kate Bosworth: “I have a Superman doll with my correct eye colors. One blue, one hazel.” I don’t know if she got a party.
Please try to pay attention
Sandra Bullock: “After I made ‘Speed,’ a New York cabbie told me: ‘Don’t worry. I won’t go under 55’ ” . . .
“Fiddler on the Roof” singers on floats will partake in June 5’s 52nd annual Celebrate Israel Parade . . .
Pamela Geller. Know the name? Verbally, visibly, violently, virulently anti-Muslim journalist who may have hit their do-her-in list. She moved into a Manhattan building. It’s grabbing more security, more NYPD protection than Blubber Obama. How do I know? I know!
A proverb making local political rounds: “When the chips are down, the buffalo is empty.” No idea what it means. That’s your problem.
Only in New York, kids, only in New York.