Well, dear readers, I completely forgot that we are all supposed to beware the Ides of March. Does anyone know exactly when it Ides are, so we can be sure to beware them? Did we miss the Ides or are there still some Ides left? If there are, we’d all better beware them, if we know what’s good for us. While I’m thinking about it, what exactly are Ides anyway? And why do Ides only make an appearance in March. Why shouldn’t we, for example, beware the ides of August or November? Don’t those months also have Ides? What is it with Ides and March? What are they, lovers? Frankly, I’ve had it with the Ides of March, but I feel we should all beware the Ides just to be on the safe side. Have I gone off the deep end, Ides-wise? Speaking of Ides, yesterday was a curious day. I did quite a bit of writing, my UPS package finally arrived, I shipped a few things, faxed a few things, and got some things organized. I then had a dinner meeting, after which I came home and sat on my couch like so much fish, at which point I remembered the Ides and that we were supposed to beware them, whatever the HELL they are.
Last night, I watched a motion picture on DVD entitled The Stepfather, starring Terry Quinn, Shelley Hack, and cutie-pie Jill Schoelen. I saw the film when it came out, and it was a bit of a sleeper, thanks to an excellent script, and Mr. Quinn’s wonderful performance. I haven’t seen it since then. I must say, it holds up beautifully, and, in fact, would be a minor classic were it not for the incredibly cheesy and stupid-sounding synthesizer musical score by Patrick Moraz, one of the worst scores I’ve ever heard. It literally almost kills the film. If this movie had a score by Pino Donnagio or Jerry Goldsmith, or even Angelo Badalamente, it would be considered a great little thriller. As it is, it still works because, as I said, the script is really fun (written by the great mystery writer, Donald Westlake), the direction by Joseph Ruben is taut and to the point, and the players all acquit themselves terrifically. Sadly, the film is not available on DVD in region 1 – this DVD is from Germany, and its transfer is excellent. But that score (along with a few completely unnecessary rock songs – in an effort to be hip, the film instantly dates itself, whereas a classic score would have made this as fresh as they day it came out), that score is just dreadful and harmful and they should just nuke it and have a new score commissioned.
What am I, Ebert and Roeper all of a sudden? Why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below whilst we figure out if there are any Ides left in March, so that we may beware them posthaste.
The Ides, the Ides, I’m sick of the Ides. Today I must do the musical theater workshop (MTW). Our wonderful pianist, John Boswell, will be there to play, and everyone will be singing a song of their choosing. Hopefully, we’ll get everyone in – I’m going to take notes, but not discuss them until next Tuesday’s class. Also, next time we have John, I think I’m going to ask for our class to go an extra hour – the fellow who has the students after me has offered to do that if need be. After that, I have many things to do, including a trip to the theater for a pick-up rehearsal with Tammy and Matt. Our other actor is now rehearsing for another play, and won’t be with us. I find that sickening – I have the right to have a certain number of rehearsal hours every week per Equity, and this guy just doesn’t care – not about his fellow actors, not about me, and not about the play. It’s all about him. So, he won’t get a rehearsal – he and Matt will have to do a quick line-through at seven prior to tomorrow’s show. Thankfully, I won’t be there – I’ll be seeing this year’s STAGE benefit at the Luckman Theater. Tammy will report to me as to how the performance went, and I will see the show on Saturday. And then, we shall see what we shall see.
At some point, I really need to catch up on my sleep – I’ve been only getting six hours a night, which is not good. But, I won’t be able to sleep in on Saturday, and my Interior Clock has been getting me up at seven-thirty every day. Isn’t there a holiday coming up soon?
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, beware the Ides of March if there are any Ides still around, I must drive about in my motor car, I must try to eat some lunch, as I won’t have time to dine again until late in the evening, and I must attend a pick-up rehearsal, as well as get some writing done. Today’s topic of discussion: There are many classic musicals – which ones have your least favorite scores? And which flops have your favorite scores? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, and watch out for them Ides.