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July 26, 2004:

IN THE LOOP

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, we had a very long but good rehearsal yesterday – running each of the choreographed numbers as many times as we could. Learning this much so fast is confusing sometimes – people forget which number they’re in occasionally, in terms of what steps go with what number, but it’s sinking in and everyone hopefully will have it in their bodies and minds by the end of the week. Also, as I begin staging all the solo and duet numbers as well as entrances and exits, when people aren’t needed they can work with the choreographers to drill the numbers they’re still unsure of. Set construction begins today, and we’re in our final three days of rehearsal at the rehearsal studios – on Thursday we move into the theater for our final two weeks of rehearsal, a wonderful luxury. I’ll say again that I think our company of players is really top-notch – each of them brings something unique and different to the table and they all play off each other exceedingly well. And that is where we’re at at the moment. Isn’t that exciting? Isn’t that just too too?

Last night I watched a DVD entitled The World of Suzie Wong, starring Mr. William Holden and Miss Nancy Kwan. I’d never seen it before, and I am now totally enamored with it. It has a wonderful script (based on a play and novel) by John Patrick, and terrific direction by the then-terrific Richard Quine (his was not a happy career, ruined by alcoholism). And what a score by the great George Duning. I just love these sorts of films with good dialogue, interesting characters and star turns by the likes of William Holden. The transfer is excellent, albeit a bit on the soft side occasionally, but with perfectly perfect color and contrast. The stereo sound is very nice, too, and serves the Duning score well.

Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must soon hie myself to my storage facility to get some CDs and music that I need.

If you missed any of the merriment and mirth and laughter and legs from this weekend’s notes and posts be sure to catch up on them or, at the very least, be sure to ketchup on them. We had lots of photos and lots of interestingly interesting postings. We also had a sparklingly sparkling Unseemly Live Chat last night. Also, check out Donald’s new radio show if you haven’t already.

My goodness, these here notes are just so informative today. Even though I’ve written them I have learned so much from such informative notes. For example, I learned that yesterday’s rehearsal was long but good. I would never have known such a thing if I hadn’t written these here informative notes. I feel I am in the know, I feel I am in the loop. Do you realize I’d be in the pool if we spelled loop backwards. Yes, Virginia, I am in the loop and all of you are in the loop because I am in the loop and I share the loop, you see. I am a loop-sharer. So, we are all in the loop, loop-wise and we’re all the better for it. There, I’ve said it and I’m glad. Of course, I have no idea what the hell I’m talking about, but that’s another story.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must go hither and thither and maybe even yon, I must organize and write, not necessarily in that order, I must rehearse and I must make phone calls and attend to many things that need attending to. Today’s topic of discussion: Today they call it “lounge” music or exotica. When I was growing up they called it easy listening. I loved that type of music (as you know if you’ve read the Kritzer books) and love it still. So, who are your favorite lounge or easy listening artists of old and what are your favorite tracks and albums by them? I’ll start – of course, high on my list if not at the very top is Percy Faith. His classic A Summer Place is, of course, one of my favorites, and his covers of Broadway shows are brilliantly brilliant albums. I also loved Kostelanetz, Ferrante and Teicher (especially Exodus, and whatever album had In a Little While from Mattress), Dick Schory, certain Mantovani film theme albums, Frank Chacksfield (great!), Stanley Black, Robert Farnon, Ronnie Aldrich and many others. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we? We shall.

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