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Column Archive
February 18, 2003:

OVERTURE

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, the holiday is over and everyone has gone back to work or school or wherever they go when it is not a holiday. I have watched quite a few DVDs over the weekend, most of which I’ve already mentioned.

Last night I watched a motion picture entitled Ed Wood. I’d seen it when it came out in the motion picture theaters and I’d mildly enjoyed it. I liked it better the second time – it’s very sweet and the performances are quite good. Mr. Martin Landau truly deserved his Oscar for his portrayal of Bela Lugosi. For some strange reason, this is only available as a PAL region 2 DVD, but it’s a great transfer and it’s loaded with extras. I was especially taken with the production design’s period detail, even though I don’t believe Plan Nine from Outer Space could possibly have played at the Pantages Theater.

I’ve also been listening to two count them two CDs I made of classic overtures. That’s eighty minutes of overtures per CD. May I just say I love overtures and I don’t know why there is such an aversion to them today (I guess most revivals keep them, but what is the last new musical that had a full overture?). I mentioned this the other night in our chat – while Gypsy remains one of the greatest if not the greatest of all overtures, I must say the one I have played over and over since making these CDs is the one from Bob Merrill’s Take Me Along. It’s just wonderful and I’d forgotten how much I like that score. Other favorites – Flower Drum Song, Li’l Abner, Minnie’s Boys, Annie, Wildcat (it’s interesting that sometimes flops have great overtures), Whoop-Up, Stop the World, I Want to Get Off, and on and on.

Well, I feel it is time for all of us to click on the Unseemly Button below because I am having trouble coming up with anything else to write about in this here section of these here notes.

Speaking of these here notes, if you missed one word of them over this holiday weekend you need to catch up. There were lots of interesting tidbits over the weekend, including a Meltz and Ernest song. Also, Donald has a brand spanking new radio show up, so be sure to check it out. Also, our new Unseemly Interview with Mr. Brent Barrett will be up and running within the week, depending on the schedule of our very own Craig Brockman. It’s a corker the interview is – Brent is in fine fettle and fine form, and quite vocal about everything we discussed and let me tell you we discussed everything.

Has anyone noticed that the East Coast has a lot of snow? It’s been quite a cold winter in New York, hasn’t it? I think New York and environs is ready for some fun in the sun, don’t you think so? I think New Yorkers and environers are ready to put on their various and sundried Speedos so they can romp about gaily whilst eating gummy candies. Yes, that’s the ticket and I hope the snow abates soon, you East Coast people.

Surprisingly, we only had two High Winners for our Unseemly Trivia contest, but then again, many were errant and truant over this long weekend. Here was the question:

This hit musical was based on a very popular hit movie. In the movie, one of the main characters offers one of the leading characters a pair of tickets to a then smash Broadway musical, which were accepted. The movie featured two former Tony award winners. Name the musical, the movie on which it was based, the smash musical to which the tickets were offered and the two former Tony award winners in the movie.
And the answers are:

Promises, Promises
The Apartment
The Music Man
Ray Walston and Edie Adams

Congratulations to our two High Winners, Macchus and Td. Our Electronic Hat has randomly chosen Td as our Highest Winner.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must make lots of phone calls, take lots of notes, and drive hither and thither in an attempt to get somewhere. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your all-time favorite overtures and which would you include on your very own Overtures CD? I’ll check back in a bit to see your excellent choices.

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