"An American original and purveyor of urban cool, the cultural satirist and author is pointed, forthright, unapologetically opinionated, and known for her hilariously dry social commentary on American life. Lebowitz’s recent Netflix documentary series directed by good friend Martin Scorsese, Pretend It’s A City, was an unmitigated hit with its offering of a tantalizing snapshot of New York in full bloom, along with Lebowitz’s lively and unapologetic commentary on what it means to live there.
For a limited run of dates, Lebowitz will be live in conversation, sharing her invariably cutting take on anything and everything; from growing up in New Jersey and being expelled from her high school for being a bad influence on her peers, to moving to New York City in the ’70s, and writing a column for Andy Warhol’s Interview magazine. She’ll offer insights on such timely issues as gender, race, gay rights, and the media, as well as on her own pet peeves—including celebrity culture, tourists, and baby strollers."
I purchased tickets for this event more as an indulgence. I can't claim to have read any of her work and I've only ever seen her on tv, such as on Real Time with Bill Maher and Pretend It's a City. She's always funny, in a character-comic sense. Only it's not an act. She states her opinions and, generally, they are hilarious. She has no concern if you agree with them or not because she is correct in her own mind.
For the first act, she was interviewed by journalist Matthew Stadlen, who sounded very plummy with his posh London accent. His questions were neither probing nor that interesting and jumped all over the place but at least she could understand him. Her responses were witty and in character. I got the sense that she hadn't warmed to him.
The audience loved her. The demographic was mainly middle-class with a few rich arty types, who'd dressed up for the theatre, with fancy haircuts and designer spectacles. FANE must have kept the ticket prices lofty to keep out the Glasgow riff-raff.
Then came the second act, where the audience got to ask questions. I think you'll be able to guess why this section was less satisfying: a New Yorker in her seventies with little experience with Scottish accents, in a theatre with four floors, asking the audience to shout out their questions. We either got silence or too many people shouting out. Those in the upper levels who raised their hand had no idea if she was pointing at them or someone else. Then she couldn't make out what they were saying and had to rely on those in the stalls to repeat/ translate. Fran did her best and was consistently funny but her not getting the question wore thin.
The question I wanted to ask was why she'd requested no mics (see image). It would have been far more sensible to have the audience email or text in their questions and allow Fran to pick the ones she wanted to answer. But then she doesn't use or own a mobile phone or a laptop.
I noticed a few in the Dress Circle leaving before the end. I found out why as we left. The queue for the book signing was looooong. I didn't wait.
As a curiosity, the event was okay but not much more.
Ticket Price: £41.50 (x2) plus booking fee £5.80 and transaction fee £2.80 (via ATG)
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