Well, dear readers, weekend two in our cabaret series got off to a lovelier than lovely start with the first of two shows starring Miss Heather MacRae. We had about two-thirds of a house (we’re basically sold out tonight), so that was nice. Heather is simply a wonderful singer/performer and her stories are warm, sweet, and occasionally very funny. She did a few songs from her new CD (I Choose Love), a very sweet version of Surrey With The Fringe On The Top, a couple of Rodgers and Hart tunes, and, of course, Easy To Be Hard, which she sang in the original production of Hair. She also did a beautiful song from Falsettos, which she also starred in. She received a standing ovation and everyone seemed to like her very much. She sold and signed a few CDs afterwards. Once again, the food concession did really well and, again, everyone loved the space. I was happy to see several returnees from last week and I hope that will be the cast throughout the rest of the series. Sound and lighting were much better and smoother. Her pianist, John Boswell, was, as always, fabulous, and I grow more impressed with him with every gig (he’s part of next week’s Three Men And A Baby Grand, and he plays Kevin Spirtas’ show as well). All in all, a wonderful show. I only had one comment for Heather, and we’re going to try to address it first thing in the morning. Her first act desperately needs an up tempo number early on – so, we’re going to figure out what it is, and then cut one of the ballads. She sensed it, too, as did some of her friends. We had several interesting folks in the audience, including our very own Mr. Nick Redman, my pal Penny Peyser and her friend Molly Cheek (Penny did Hot L Baltimore with Heather), Heather’s pal Michelle Marsh, who played Hodel in the film version of Fiddler On The Roof, and other nice folks. After the show, Nick and company and I went to House of Pies, where I had a lovely sandwich. And that was the evening.
The day was somewhat uneventful (a blessing, really). I got no writing done, but I did do several important errands and had to do a lot of e-mailing and calling. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because these here notes are quite late and I must get them posted before someone bitch-slaps me from here to eternity and hell and back.
Yesterday I finished watching a motion picture on DVD entitled Emperor Of The North, a film of Robert Aldrich, starring Mr. Lee Marvin, Mr. Ernest Borgnine, and Mr. Keith Carradine. I’d never seen it before and I must say I found it one of Mr. Aldrich’s most entertaining films. They just don’t make ’em like that anymore. In fact, they wouldn’t know how to make this film today, and if someone brought this script in and tried to get a deal, they’d be run out of town on a rail. And we don’t really have actors like Marvin and Borgnine, do we? Mr. Carradine is the film’s weak link, but he’s okay. The supporting cast is great – Matt Clark, Elisha Cook (basically a silent role – no lines at all), Simon Oakland, and my muse Margaret’s daddy, the great Dave Willock. The film also has a wonderful score by DeVol. The transfer is great – perfect, really.
Well, I guess it’s Saturday, so that must mean that it’s time for an Unseemly Trivia Contest question. Here it is:
This particular season had some notable hit musicals, notable hit plays, and some not so notable flop musicals and plays. The season had several plays directed by directors who were much more well known for their film work. However, we’re not concerned with them. We’re concerned with one of the biggest flop plays of the season. It ran less than twenty-five performances. It was written by a playwright who would, a few years later, write a very successful novel that would then be turned into a very successful film. The film would be turned into a not-so-successful musical. The play was directed by someone who was not really known as a director, but was well-respected in the field he was known for. The star of the show had recently played a career-defining role in a hugely successful film. Also in the cast was a man who, just a few short years later, would star in a successful and beloved TV series. So:
Name the play, the playwright, and the very successful novel which would become a film and a musical.
Name the director who was known better as something other than a director.
Name the star of the show, the career-defining role and the film he played it in.
Name the cast member who would star in a successful and beloved TV series and name the series.
Remember: DO NOT POST YOUR ANSWERS TO THE SITE. Send them to me at bruce@haineshisway.com. You have until Monday at midnight to submit your answers. Good luck to one and all and also all and one.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, write, jog, eat, and then attend this evening’s performance of Miss Heather MacRae. Today’s topic of discussion: What do you think the best novels-into-films are, and what do you think the worst novels-into-films are? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst all of you, and I do mean all of you, put on your thinking caps so you can submit your trivia answers.