Well, dear readers, today is an act two sort of day. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, today is an act two sort of day – a day in which I shall try to slog through as much of act two as possible, even if the blocking is just perfunctory. I have a two-hour block of time so I should be able to do at least twenty pages. Then, when I return in the late afternoon, I can hopefully do a few more, and also just run songs musically. There is a lot to do and we’re now counting down the days and hours. Yesterday, for example, after packaging and shipping several Kritzerland orders, I came back, jogged and then spent several hours with the musical director, putting down all the songs on MP3 for him, and going over each one as to feel and any particular little licks I really wanted him to feature. The only downside to all that was sitting at my piano for three hours, which killed my back. After that, I went off to sup with a friend and we had a very nice time, eating and chatting, not necessarily in that order. I then came back home, where I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night I finished watching a motion picture on DVD entitled The Poseidon Adventure. After all these years, it still remains a terrifically entertaining film, wonderfully directed by Ronald Neame, with a mostly-excellent cast and a moody score by John Williams. It’s so nice to look back on films like this and realize that one of the reasons they hold up so well is that they don’t have any CGI in them. One really believes the effects in these movies because there were human beings creating them, not little nerdy boys sitting in front of computers – when I see CGI it simply has no emotion for me – it’s the difference between a CGI Yoda and a puppet Yoda operated by an actual thinking, feeling person. The new transfer is excellent, as is the sound, and there is a second DVD with lots and lots of extras. It was fun hearing some of the cast reminisce about the filming. Prior to starting Poseidon, I finished watching the new DVD of Guys and Dolls. I must say, I find the film version of Guys and Dolls fairly awful – no sense of pace, everything slightly off, and with some really ordinary tunes replacing really excellent tunes, and the complete removal of three of my favorite songs from the score. It’s nice to have Vivian Blaine and Stubby Kaye, but the whole affair is leaden, instead of fast-moving and light. The transfer is basically a sham – out-of-focus, blah colors, although it’s nice to have it anamorphically enhanced for widescreen TVs.
What am I, Ebert and Roeper all of a sudden? Why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must get my butt cheeks in gear since it’s an act two sort of day.
After all the work today, I do get to toddle off to supper with our very own Pogue, who is visiting this week. I don’t know where we’re eating, but I’m sure that wherever it is it will be yummilicious. I was hoping to have another reading of the play this week, but that’s looking doubtful, as I’m still trying to find two actors to play the supporting roles, and because my evenings are filling up. I just got an invite to be a VIP guest at a film music concert on Thursday night at UCLA’s Royce Hall, said concert being conducted by my pal John Scott. I’m really looking forward to it, and I’ll know many people who’ll be there.
I do have a few errands to do between class and the afternoon rehearsal, and I’ll try to get a jog in as well. And, sadly, I’m still dealing with some of the stuff I was dealing with a week ago, and I once again am not sure how it’s going to resolve itself. I probably won’t do anything about it until after the performances of the musical. Although I must say it’s difficult for me to be that patient, but I shall try, oh, yes, I shall try.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, rehearse act two since it’s an act two sort of day, I must drive about in my motor car, I must dine with Pogue, and I must do a plethora of other things as well. Today’s topic of discussion: Who are your five favorite characters in all of musical comedy? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I have my act two sort of day.