Well, dear readers, let’s get the notes off to a rousing start, shall we? How? How shall we get the notes off to a rousing start? I mean, it’s all very well and good to say we’re going to get the notes off to a rousing start, but then there’s the reality of getting the notes off to a rousing start. However, since we’ve now used the word “rousing” four times, I think that we have gotten the notes off to a rousing start. In fact, they have begun in such a rousing fashion (pink taffeta sample, size 10), that I must pause before continuing, as I am completely tuckered out from how rousing the notes have begun. Perhaps we should take a small break whilst I recount the story of The Randy Vicar and The Door Knob. Perhaps not. Speaking of The Randy Vicar, I had quite a long day yesterday. It began with my finishing up the two Disney spots and getting them approved, which I did. They are now onlined and ready for Friday’s audio session. As soon as I wrapped the session, I was on my way to rehearse with Miss Linda Purl. The first order of business was dealing with a piece of special material that Mr. Kirby Tepper and Mr. Ron Abel are writing. We’ve gotten two versions of what we commissioned, neither of which has been quite right. So, to help them along, I actually sat down and wrote an introductory verse as a guide to the tone and what Linda and I feel the point is. Well, they liked it so much that they’ll probably use it as is, just adding a line or two at the end. Hopefully, the third time will be the charm, and we’ll be hearing it on Saturday. These first two shows we’re doing are going to be a bit crazy, as I haven’t had the time I had with Kevin Spirtas to stage and hone things (I basically had two solid months of rehearsals with Kevin). But, these dates were in stone, so we’re doing all we can. The problem is, that between Linda and Ron’s schedule, we have no time to rehearse properly. Thankfully, I’d already staged some of the big stuff, so that’s done. But, I basically have today and Saturday to roughly block out the rest, but we won’t have time to hone it before doing it, as Linda goes out of town Saturday afternoon and doesn’t return until the day before the show. That day, we’ll have a full eight hours of rehearsal and we should be able to smooth a lot of it out. Then, after the two shows, we can settle back down and fix what isn’t working and make everything sharp and defined. We did run the first half yesterday, and the order felt very good (still one or two things I may switch around), and as soon as we smooth out the patter, I think it will play very well. We’ll work on the second act today and see how that feels. I will say that the big band medley I asked for came out wonderfully and it will really be a highlight. After the rehearsal, I came back home, but it was too late to ship the stuff that needed shipping, so I got a sandwich and then sat on my couch like so much fish.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because this section has been so rousing that I cannot write more until the next section, lest I fall over from all these rousing notes.
Last night, I finished watching a motion picture on DVD entitled Ryan’s Daughter, a film of Mr. David Lean. A long film of Mr. David Lean. A three-hour-and-twenty-minute film of Mr. David Lean. This film was received a critical drubbing upon its release, so much so that Mr. David Lean didn’t make another film for fourteen years. Audiences were equally apathetic and despite what MGM would like you to think, did not do well at the box-office. Is it a disaster? Of course not. The film is visually stunning, with Freddie Young’s Oscar-winning photography sometimes taking the breath away. The performances are all excellent, with two exceptions. Trevor Howard, who is beyond excellent and whose performance was virtually ignored, even though it is the film’s finest. And Christopher Jones who, despite having his complete performance dubbed by another actor, is one of the most annoying screen presences in the history of cinema. Yes, he’s pretty, but by the end of the film I just wanted to thrash him. Then there’s the score by Maurice Jarre, which everyone seems to praise. I occasionally like Mr. Jarre, but this is not one of those occasions. In the film, the score is truly jarreing. It’s odd, doesn’t compliment the scenes and, in certain instances, hurts them or makes them unintentionally amusing. Mr. Lean’s direction is, as always, very professional and very striking. So, it’s not a disaster. But, is it the masterpiece that practically everyone on the imdb says it is? Of course not. It’s simple story simply gets lost amidst the hugeness of the landscapes and the length and the 70mm frame. I like huge movies as much as the next person, but I know when they’re not masterpieces. The DVD transfer is almost as good as they’re saying, but not quite up to the “second coming” status that it’s being accorded by certain know-it-alls. The extras are okay – the usual snoozefest that Laurent Bozeareau serves up. And will someone please explain to me what his credit means – Written, Produced and Directed. Who does this guy think he is? Since the “documentaries” or whatever you want to call them are all comprised of people speaking their own words, what exactly did this guy “write”? This man’s ego, apparently, knows no bounds.
What am I, Ebert and Roeper all of a sudden? Don’t I have things to do today? Why, yes I do. For example, I must do the musical theater workshop (MTW) this morning – not much for me to do today as we’ll be putting the students’ songs on tape for them and that will take the entire hour. After that, I rehearse with Miss Linda Purl for a few hours, and then I shall attend the evening performance of the play.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do rousing things in a rousing way for I wish the day to be a rousing day, I will also try to write a page or three and finish act one, and I shall tell the rousing tale of The Randy Vicar and The Shoehorn. Today’s topic of discussion: What are the best pasta dishes you’ve ever eaten? I’m in a pasta sort of mood, so tell us where you ate it and what it was and what made it the best, with lots of loving description so our collective mouths can water. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, and let those postings be rousing.