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August 28, 2004:

WILD HORSES

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, we had a splendidly splendid show last night, with a splendidly splendid audience. It was sold out (apparently we are also sold out tomorrow night), and it was one of our most boisterous and vocal audiences – screaming at the funny stuff and quiet as a mouse for the ballads. I’m still dealing with an inconsistent young actor, whose inconsistencies are driving me batty. I’ll be having a very strong talk with him tomorrow, and hopefully he will take said talk to heart. I really cannot understand inconsistent performances – when I was an actor and I found something that worked, wild horses couldn’t get me to change it, and believe me wild horses tried. Have wild horses ever tried to get you to change something. Those darned wild horses can be pretty wild, trying to get you to change-wise. Tammy’s Joshua Noveck was as good as it’s been last night – it really landed as well as I think it’s ever going to land. I just have to decide if that’s enough or whether I want to find a replacement that will land better. Susanne is amazing to watch in terms of working an audience. She’s a performer who is consistent – she finds what works, keeps it, and then, when the audience is the right audience, builds on it. But, nitpicking aside, the entire cast is doing wonderfully and the show is really playing. I’m looking forward to dumping the couple of songs I don’t love (one in particular) once I find replacements that are better. Whatever the replacements are, I have to find the equivalent kind of song, in terms of what it needs to do at that point in the show and what it needs to do for the performer doing it. It’s a bit complex, but I’ve begun the search, and am working on a new song myself, and also working on one new What If for the second act. I knew many people in the audience tonight, including our very own Grant Geissman and family, my pal Penny Peyser, my pals Barbara Deutsch and David Galligan, and our very own Mr. Donald Feltham. All in all, it was a delightful evening after a most annoying day.

I’m still watching The Alligator People – it’s the longest seventy-seven minute movie ever made. But, I’m enjoying the hammy Lon Chaney, Jr. and the pretty Miss Beverly Garland. And I will finish it – wild horses couldn’t keep me away from finishing it. My goodness, those wild horses are keeping busy, aren’t they?

Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I’ve got things to do, places to go, people to see.

Might I just say that I love the music of Mr. Andre Previn. He’s one of the great unsung heroes of film music, at least for me he is. I’ve been listening to Inside Daisy Clover, an amazingly amazing score. No one works an orchestra, color-wise, quite like Mr. Previn. His sound is totally unique, especially his French horn writing – those countermelodies are always my favorite things in his scores. Next time you’re listening to a Previn score, or even a Previn adaptation of a musical (like Bells are Ringing) listen for the French horn lines. I love his song You’re Gonna Hear From Me, especially in the ersatz big movie-musical version. And his score to Dead Ringer is brilliant. I’d also recommend Elmer Gantry (that’s my favorite main title of his, and one of the great main titles of all time) and Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. I’m also quite fond of his Irma la Douce score – both his adaptation of the musical’s melodies, and his original contribution – and oh, those French horns.

Have I mentioned that the wild horses are working overtime? Have I mentioned that our Unseemly Live Chat will be tomorrow at six o’clock Pacific Mean Daylight Savings Time? Be there or be round. Have I mentioned that Donald will have a brand new radio show up tomorrow? If I haven’t, wild horses will not be able to stop me from mentioning these things.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must try to sleep a full eight hours, I must watch a DVD or two whilst relaxing on a Saturday, and then I must go to the theater. Today’s topic of discussion: Since we’re talking about Daisy Clover, what are your favorite Natalie Wood movies? And, while we’re at it, what are your favorite Andre Previn scores and songs. I’ll beat all of you to the punch and say Theme from Valley of the Dolls. Even though I beat you all to the punch there is still plenty of punch left, so partake of the punch and post up a plethora of lovely postings. I feel that wild horses will not be able to keep you from making a plethora of postings.

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