Well, dear readers, I must write these notes speedily, like a gazelle on a go-cart, because she of the Evil Eye will be here shortly, and I shall have to hie myself out of the home environment. That means I have to get up super early to shave and shower and coif my hair, because that’s the only time I’ll have to do it. I shall then have to kill some time prior to attending my sixth grade class reunion at Roxbury Park. I intend to stay there only a couple of hours, and then I shall hie myself back to the Valley to pick up the food platters from Jerry’s Deli, after which I shall return home, catch up on posts, and then hie myself to LACC to set up for the CD launch party. I had some disappointing telephonic calls yesterday from Sammy Williams and Alan Abelew, both of whom cannot make the party. One of Sammy’s close friends lost a parent, and so Sammy is going out of town to attend to the funeral, and Alan is doing The Threepenny Opera at the Odyssey Theater and won’t be finished until eleven. Still, we should have a lovely turnout, and I’m really looking forward to it. Yesterday was a most peculiar day all around. The good part was that we had quite a few book preorders, which I’m very appreciative for. For those who haven’t preordered yet, you still have a little time to be part of the first fifty preorders – those purchasers will all be getting a little sparkling something-or-other with their signed copies of the book. I’ve gotten lovely comments on the website, too. Otherwise, the day was simply peculiar and I couldn’t wait for it to be over. It was overcast and sort of chilly for most of the day (it’s the first overcast non-sunny day we’ve had in months), and the whole day just felt weird to me. I did get some shipping done, so that was good, but there were no packages and no mail for me, which is really starting to bug me. And a package of Kritzer books I sent out two weeks ago never arrived. I mean, how does the USPS get away with this shoddy service? And they just don’t care. It’s getting so that the guy at the post office is basically telling me that if you don’t do priority with delivery confirmation and insurance, the package most likely will not arrive. Isn’t that heinous (heinous, do you hear me)? I’ve been doing the delivery confirmation thing, but I didn’t do it on the books, although I did send them priority. Sickening. I have many overdue packages, a big check has gone missing and has had to be resent, and it’s just peculiar. But, I did have a two nice meals with my visiting friend, and it was fun catching up. I think my friend will be visiting with other people tomorrow whilst I’m at the reunion, and then we’ll all meet up at the party. I didn’t even know up was going to be at the party, but I’m told we’ll all meet up at that party. Stop me now, before I become completely incoherent.
I had no time to watch DVDs last night, what with having to play the host, but I hope to catch up or, at the very least, ketchup tomorrow. In the meantime, here as I posted late last night, here is a quote from a “review” of The Fly from that DVD newsgroup I so loathe. This is one of the all-time greats:
“Black specs still pop up every so often and there is quite a bit of fluff strands that mark the picture once and a while”
FLUFF STRANDS? FLUFF STRANDS? And none of the idiots there ask, WHAT ARE FLUFF STRANDS? And, of course, no one brings up “once and a while.” I must now watch all my DVDs and see if I can find any FLUFF STRANDS. I know all of you will want to do the same.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because we’ve got us an Unseemly Trivia Contest question, and I’ve got a class reunion and launch party to attend, and FLUFF STRANDS to locate.
Well, if it’s Saturday it must be time for an Unseemly Trivia Contest question, which may just have some FLUFF STRANDS if you look closely. I had to do this one quickly, but here it is nonetheless:
In this interesting theatrical season, there were many unsuccessful shows, both musicals and plays. One such flop play was by a playwright with a somewhat odd name, said play being the playwright’s only Broadway credit. This play was directed by someone who would, just a few years later, direct a classic motion picture which was a multiple Academy Award-winning film, although, despite a nomination, the director did not win the Oscar. The play was produced by someone who would also go on to make a couple of classic films, first as producer, and then as a director. In the cast was an actor who’d made a name for himself a few years earlier for his performance in a classic film in which he uttered an immortal closing line. Also in the cast was someone who would go on to star in a long-running beloved TV series. Also in the cast was an actor who would go on to win an Academy Award for Best Actor. Also in the cast was a beloved character actor who co-starred in many wonderful motion pictures. Also in the cast was an actress who had been nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar some years before for playing a very memorable character in a very famous motion picture. Also in the cast was a very quirky actor who would go on to co-star in some very interesting motion pictures. This quirky actor would also go on to appear in a classic Broadway musical just a short time later – he would marry one of the musicals chorus girls – she later went on to co-star in a legendary Broadway musical and then a hit TV series. Finally, one of the production team would go on to have a major impact on New York theatre. With me so far? So:
Name the flop play and its oddly named one-time-only-on-Broadway writer.
Name the play’s director who would make a classic motion picture.
Name the play’s producer who would both produce and then direct a few classic motion pictures.
Name the actor who’d made a name for himself several years earlier in a classic film in which he uttered the film’s immortal closing lines.
Name the actor who would go on to star in a long-running beloved TV series and name the series.
Name the actor who would go on to win an Academy Award for Best Actor.
Name the beloved character actor who appeared in many wonderful films.
Name the actress who’d been nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar in a classic film playing a very memorable character.
Name the quirky actor, name the Broadway musical he’d appear in shortly after this play, name the chorus girl he married from that cast, and name the legendary musical and TV series she co-starred in.
Name the member of the production team who would go on to have a major impact on New York theatre.
Whew! That is so convoluted even I have a headache, and I know the answers! Remember: DO NOT POST YOUR ANSWERS TO THE SITE! Send them to me at bruce@haineshisway.com (pay no attention if you get a bounced e-mail notice – I do get the e-mails). Remember, you have until Monday at midnight to submit your answers. Good luck to one and all and also all and one.
Oh, dear, oh, dear, I do wish she of the Evil Eye wasn’t coming so that I didn’t have to run around like a chicken with its head cut off. But, she of the Evil Eye IS coming so I have to run around like a chicken with its head cut off. Damn them, damn them all to hell.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, hie myself out of the home environment, I must perhaps attend the Santa Monica Book Fair, just to kill some time, I must attend a class reunion, I must pick up deli platters, and I must attend the CD launch party for Stages/Together Again. I will have my trusty digital camera with me, and I shall be taking a plethora of photographs to share with you. You must keep the home fries burning and I shall endeavor to be here at least a couple of times before the party. Today’s topic of discussion: What are the flop plays, musicals, and movies that you thought were given a bum rap – that you thought should have done better, had better critical reception, and had longer runs. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst we all try to locate those elusive FLUFF STRANDS.