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January 13, 2006:

DAY OF RECKONING

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, the day of reckoning has arrived. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, the day of reckoning has arrived and I reckon that I hope you’ll all pray for Rosemary’s Baby. Actually, we have three days of reckoning, as press will be attending all weekend. It’s been an interesting journey, this play has, and I’m very proud of the cast, each and every one of them (well, all three). Some took longer than others to get where they needed to, but everyone, despite the occasional off moment, is now doing great work, and they all just need to get it to be consistent and we’ll be hunky-dorey and also dorey-hunky. Last night, it was Tammy and Greg’s turn to be slightly off, but it wasn’t bad and the show ran well. We had the same size house as the night before (about half), and the same sort of mix of young and old. The top of the show was the best its been, but then our stage manager hit the wrong button and a light cue got screwed up and it really hurt the next few minutes. But, he got it fixed finally, and the actors carried on very well despite the problem. There was sort of a weird energy from the audience, but they still seemed to enjoy it, and several things got the biggest laughs they’ve gotten, so that’s always a plus. The end of the act worked perfectly (although this was the first audience that didn’t gasp at a certain point – but I pinpointed the reason and the actors will go back to what they’ve been doing and it will be fine), and our two technical things have now been completely fixed. There were a couple of other annoying technical flubs, but I’d rather they happened last night rather than tonight. Matt had a pretty great night – hit all the beats and had a very good energy. The previews have certainly been helpful in showing the actors where their energies need to be, and they’re getting used to the laughs now and how to hold for them. I gave a few notes after the show, we ran a couple of things, and that was that. Once again, about fifteen of the older folks came up to me and were very vocal about how much they enjoyed the show. And, our final preview was the first time we had a walkout – during the end of act one. It was a very elderly lady, and I just think it got too intense for her. And now, it’s on to the three days of reckoning, I reckon.

Yesterday, I had a very nice rehearsal with Miss Linda Purl, and we staged her five-song presentation for New York. She’s very easy to work with – open to trying anything, which is lovely. We roughed out some patter, and now I’ll edit and finesse it over the weekend. I also finished watching a motion picture on DVD entitled Ride The High Country, a film of Mr. Sam Peckinpah. It is, in fact, my favorite Sam Peckinpah film, and one of my favorite films of all time. It’s a magical, beautiful, touching, funny, tragic film, with some of the best dialogue ever written for a western. It also includes two great, iconic performances by Mr. Joel McCrea and Mr. Randolph Scott, both of whom should have been nominated for an Academy Award (neither were). You will not see finer screen acting from anyone ever. Every move, every line reading, every look, just perfection. The photography is stunning, as are the locations. The supporting cast is wonderful – Mariette Hartley, Ron Starr, L.Q. Jones, Warren Oates and the rest – all marvelous. While the film’s score has just a couple of unfortunate overdone Micky Mouse moments, the theme and most of the score is wonderful – it’s by George Bassman. I wish I could say I thought the transfer was perfection, because it should be perfection, but unfortunately it falls short. It’s a fine transfer, but not stellar – the contrast is occasionally milky, there’s a very annoying screwup where a day for night scene isn’t printed correctly, and the whole thing could just be sharper. But, that’s nitpicking and if you’ve never seen this film it’s just something you owe to yourself to watch. Our very own Nick Redman provides a very nice little documentary with Mr. Peckinpah’s sister.

What am I, Ebert and Roeper all of a sudden? Why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because frankly it is the day of reckoning (1 of 3) and I reckon I must gird my loins for said reckoning.

We’re having a full house this evening (if everyone shows), and there will be some fun people in attendance. I shall, of course, have a full report for you as soon as I arrive back in the home environment. We’re having a party in the lobby after the show, with champagne and wine and hor d’oeurves and cake.

Today, I must travel to the Dale of Glen to record our pre-show announcement, and then I shall travel home, where I shall do nothing but relax until it is time to go to the theater. I plan on getting there around six, just to hang out.

Have I mentioned that it is day one of our three-day reckoning? Have I mentioned that I’m girding my loins, whatever the HELL that means? Pray for Rosemary’s Baby, baby, that’s all I can say.

Now wait just a darned minute. Not only is it day one of the reckoning, but it is also a day in which we must put on our pointy party hats and our colored tights and pantaloons, we must break out the cheese slices and the ham chunks, we must dance the Hora and the Pony, for today is the actual birthday of our beloved TPunk. So, let us send a big haineshisway.com birthday wish to our beloved TPunk. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY WISH TO OUR BELOVED TPUNK!!!

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, not do much of anything other than record our pre-show announcement, I must perhaps ship a few packages, I must perhaps pick up a package or two, and I must eat something light during the day. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player, and your DVD/video player? I’ll start – CD, many soundtracks, including Munich, Memoirs of a Geisha (neither of which I love), Ladies in Lavender (mostly classical, but a very nice listen), and a few others. DVD, next up, Mr. Peckinpah’s The Wild Bunch, which I’m a third of the way through. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, as we all pray for Rosemary’s Baby on our first day of reckoning.

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