Well, dear readers, here we are on a lovely Friday morning in the month of March on the planet Earth. My goodness, that was succinct, wasn’t it? That was just to the point, wasn’t it? And I feel the rest of these here notes will be succinct and to the point and without fancy flourishes or pointless prose. We will just put it on the line, put it out there, and not waste time with excruciatingly arch writing. We’ll just tell it like it is and we’ll tell is like it it. There will be no wasted words or wasted sentences or wasted paragraphs. Now wait just a darned minute – aren’t I doing exactly what I said I wouldn’t be doing? Aren’t I being long-winded and not to the point and isn’t this paragraph filled with nothing but pointless prose and excruciatingly arch writing? So much for good intentions. We now return you to the regularly scheduled notes. Where was I? Oh, yes, here we are on a lovely Friday morning in the month of March on the Planet Earth. Speaking of the Planet Earth, I had a lovelier than lovely day yesterday. It began with a really fun musical theater workshop (MTW), and then a nice lunch with Tammy’s friend Lauren, and then some writing, and then some telephonic calls, and then some picking up of packages and some more writing. I then headed over to the theater. They’ve completely blocked off the only street there is to park on because of all the equipment they have for taping the Jimmy Kimmel after the Oscars special in the big theater. How funny is it to have two Kimmels in the same theater space – the original and the poseur. There is parking available in our usual lot, but you have to get to it in a rather roundabout way and there are no signs to help people do it. We had about a third of a house, and I must say that overall I felt it was our best show ever. First off, when the play began I was ready to leave because the audience just sat there like so much fish, just staring and not reacting to anything. But, thanks to really expert playing by Mr. Matt Ashford and Miss Tammy Minoff, they grabbed them and worked them until they loosened up and began to laugh and be with the show. I was very proud of my cast for not succumbing to the non-reaction, and for having the perseverance to persevere. The first two-thirds of the act played perfectly and because of that the end of the act was especially powerful, with several audible gasps. I was, as always, prepared for the worst in the second act, but my problem actor, for whatever reasons, really played well – in fact, I felt it was the first time he ever really played my play and my character in proximity of the way it should be played. He got about seventy-five percent of his laughs (a record), and because he and Matt’s relationship was very clear for the very first time, the last half of the act played better than it’s ever played. All in all, I was very pleased. For the second time in a week, Tammy got hurt – this time her other leg got bruised. This is because of her fellow actor getting carried away and being sloppy. In the carefully choreographed (to within an inch of its life) end of act one, there is no room for any variance – so, we’re going to run it again tonight before the show.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because it is simply the thing to do. Everyone’s doing it nowadays because it is just too too.
Yesterday, I did manage to watch two count them two motion pictures on DVD, both of them quite short in running time. The first motion picture on DVD was entitled Lady and the Tramp, a Walt Disney motion picture entertainment with an emphasis on the latter. Lady and the Tramp has always been one of my favorite of the Disney animated films – it’s filled with beautiful images, wonderful characters, and excellent songs. In fact, everything about it works, save for a few too many “jeopardy” plot points. The animation is breathtaking, and this new Special Edition transfer is spectacular – and perfectly rendered in its original Cinemascope ratio. A total winner. I then watched the latest film from Dario Argento. Normally, I stay far away from his films because he is far too violent for my tastes (I like his early less-violent giallos like Bird With The Crystal Plumage). However, this latest film was actually done for Eyetalian TV, so I knew its violence wouldn’t be over the top and unwatchable. Plus, who can resist a film entitled Do You Like Hitchcock? It’s an entertaining homage and pastiche for Hitch lovers, and the references come fast and furious – it’s not brilliant or anything, but it’s fun and it moves right along during its crisp ninety minute running time. Shot on digital video, it actually looks terrific. And Mr. Argento’s direction is very stylish and very much in his early mode. There is but one scene of violence and it’s completely not over the top.
Today, I must really try to buckle down Winsocki and write like the wind. I must also do a few errands, do a bit of Xeroxing, and pick up a package or three. I will probably attend tonight’s performance, as I know a few people who’ll be in attendance.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, try to be succinct and to the point and have brevity and get to the point – or not. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/video player? I’ll start – CD, the film score to Pride and Prejudice, and the STAGE benefit mix CD. DVD, next up will be The Barbarian and The Geisha, a region 2 DVD, along with Miracle in Milan and then the Fox noirs. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, and we now return you to the regularly scheduled notes.