Well, dear readers, today we shall have blessedly short notes, since she of the Evil Eye will be here shortly, and since the last few days’ notes have been so very very long, which is one very too many. Today I shall be succinct and brief, not necessarily in that order. Yesterday (see how succinct and brief I’m being), I had a day. I did things. It was lovely. I wrote quite a bit, I bought some new shirts so I can continue to be the best dressed fellow in the City of Studio, and I spent a lot of time on the telephone. I then dressed up in some of my new duds and drove to the Dena of Pas to see a theatrical play entitled Private Lives, by Mr. Noel Coward. What a funny, witty, effervescent concoction the play is. The play, of course, is dependent on the star-power acting skills of its Elyot and Amanda. Back in 1969 I saw a revival at the Billy Rose Theater in New York, New York. It starred Tammy Grimes and Brian Bedford and it was magical and, above all, hilariously funny. Last night’s production had an interesting set, which everyone seemed to like, me included. What it did not have was two stars. It had two competent American actors who gave it their all, but their all wasn’t sufficient to carry the piece home. You really have to know how to land the laughs in this show – they’re there on every single page. I think there were only three times where they actually had the full house crowd all laughing at once, which is what you want in a comedy. Otherwise, we had silence, and occasional and sporadic chuckles from different parts of the house. That is just deadly for a soufflé like Private Lives. The direction seemed stilted and awkward, and there were several directorial “touches” that just made thing longer without adding anything interesting to the mix. Still, it’s always nice to see the play, and there was nothing terrible about the evening.
What am I, Ben Brantley all of a sudden? Why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below and why don’t we do it in a succinct and brief way.
My goodness, these here notes are just flying by like a gazelle in the valley of the dolls. But, never fear – all those who’ve been errant and truant have quite a bit to catch up on or, at the very least, quite a bit to ketchup on.
Today I shall be attending a Derby party at our very own Pogue’s home environment. That’s always a highlight of any week and I’m looking forward to it, as always. And, as always, I shall have a full report for you and perhaps even have some photographs to boot.
I then shall be seeing the Hamilton High School production of Thoroughly Modern Millie, which I’ll be attending with our very own Miss Juliana A. Hansen. She attended last night’s play with me, and I must say we had a most amusing time acting like we were engaged to be married. She held my hand, or put her arm around me and hung on me, and the looks from some of the people were priceless. It would be worth it to marry her just for more of those looks. She did meet Mr. Sheldon Epps, the artistic director of the Playhouse, and he thought she was great, and hoped that she’d come and do a show there. That’s why it’s always good to attend these events.
Now wait just a darned minute. Quick, let’s all put on our pointy party hats and our colored tights and pantaloons, quick let’s break out the cheese slices and the ham chunks, quick let’s dance the Hora and the Wah-Watusi, because today is the birthday of our very own dear reader Danise. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer to our very own dear reader Danise. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO OUR VERY OWN DEAR READER DANISE!!!
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must leave the home environment for a few hours, I must attend a derby partay, I must see a musical comedy, and I must also try and get in an hour of writing at some point. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite Noel Coward songs and plays? I’ll start – If Love Were All, and Blithe Spirit (which I adore as both play and musical). Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, and don’t you make them succinct and brief either.