Well, dear readers, we have survived our first day of colonizing at The Colony (a sparkling prize for the first person to name the film that is from). Yes, Virginia, we have survived our first day of colonizing at The Colony and I am here to tell the tale. But may I first say that I am officially addicted with sour peaches? There, I’ve said it and I’m glad. My name is BK and I am officially addicted to sour peaches (Hello, BK). Now that my confession has been heard, we can proceed apace. Speaking of apace, yesterday had quite a pace. I awoke at eight, made an important telephonic call, went to the dry cleaners, and then toddled off to The Colony for our first day in the theater. I spent the first hour working with Robert, our tech director, a very nice chap. He came up with several “looks” for the show, and we wrote the basic cues into the computer. We’ll be adding to them today, but the basics are done. While that was going on, the sound system was being installed, and the video unit was set up. The drum platform and drums were set up, as well. The cast arrived, and we ran a few dance numbers for them to get used to their new space. Then we did a run-through, which went very well, but which instantly showed me the main problem we have to address – which is, getting used to our new space and learning how to adjust the show energy to it. They had gotten the show energy just right in the rehearsal hall, but now we’re in a much bigger space and they have to learn to play it. I gave them very specific notes about it, and this group is so fast that I know we’ll see the results today. After notes, we adjusted just a couple of blocking things, then we dismissed the cast and the video screens were hung. I went off to sup at Chevy’s, a nice Mexican jernt a block from the theater – my second meal at a Chevy’s, after having been introduced to it in New York by dear reader FJL and Skip. The meal was quite nice, and then I went back to the theater for a bit, then toddled back to the home environment, where I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a motion picture on DVD entitled Welcome to Dongmakgol, a Korean film from Korea. You might ask how one even knows such a film exists let alone has occasion to watch it. Well, I’ll tell you how – because I got a copy of the film’s soundtrack. I got a copy of the soundtrack because it’s by one of my three favorite film composers working today – Mr. Joe Hisaishi. Well, it was such a lovely score (very reminiscent of his work on the Miyazaki films) and I was intrigued by the cover art – so, I went on eBay and found a copy of an import DVD. Korea really wanted the film to be eligible for last year’s foreign film category, but alas, it was not meant to be – a shame, as it’s quite a wonderful little film. It takes place in 1950 during the Korean War. A small group of North Koreans, a smaller group of South Koreans, and one downed American pilot all come together in a mountain village peopled with villagers who are completely unaware of the war – sweet and innocent, they live their lives humbly and simply. The three factions learn to like each other and to live happily in the village – until they get wind of a planned American bombing raid, because the Americans “think” there might be a hidden airstrip and bombs there. They “think” but they don’t know, but they decide to bomb it anyway, and the hell with any civilians. I won’t say any more, other than the film has a lot of humor, some beautiful images, and a wonderful performance by an actress playing a slightly retarded woman. Some of the direction is a little too Saving Private Ryan-ish, and some of the CGI is quite bad, but its magical parts more than make up for its small shortcomings. There’s a wonderful scene where they blow up some corn and it rains popcorn. There’s also a scene with a boar that is quite well done. The director is obviously smitten with Mr. Miyazaki because there are many images that seemed lifted right out of his anime films – the boar (from Princess Mononoke), a scene with beautiful lanterns floating (from Spirited Away), and scenes of people lying in the grass looking at the sky longingly (Kiki’s Delivery Service, The Cat Returns), plus using Hisaishi. The latter’s score, which was terrific on CD, is even better in the film. All in all, a very nice viewing experience.
What am I, Ebert and Roeper all of a sudden? Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because shortly I’ll be colonizing at The Colony again.
Today, I must once again get a very early start, as I have an errand to do prior to our ten o’clock start in the theater. Once in the theater, we shall add our extra lighting cues, and work on the sound cues until the cast arrives at eleven. They’ll get into their mics, and then we’ll run the show at eleven-thirty. Then a lunch break, then it’s into makeup and partial costumes for another run-through. Then we’ll do any cleanups and that should be that. Then, tomorrow, we’ll continue to do cleanups, and then we have a full dress/tech in front of an audience at three – very exciting. I got a copy of The Party Animals – Live CD – it looks very good.
I’m supposed to see the Brain booklet, hopefully by the time I get home this evening, and Joan Ryan’s CDs, which once again didn’t arrive yesterday, are supposed to be here by the time I get home. We shall see. Tonight, I have to spend the whole evening doing the press releases for The Brain and Joan, and also writing the stuff for the Kritzerland website, along with all the track info and getting our designer the lyrics for The Brain, along with lots of photos (including some that won’t be in the booklet). Lots to do, but damn it all, I shall do it.
Now wait just a darned minute – we’d all better put on our pointy party hats and our colored tights and pantaloons, we’d all better break out the cheese slices and the ham chunks, we’d all better dance the Hora or the Mashed Potato, because today is the actual birthday of the actual dear reader Pogue. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer to the actual dear reader Pogue. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO THE ACTUAL DEAR READER POGUE!!!
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, colonize at The Colony, rehearse, sup, and work all the livelong evening. Today’s topic of discussion: Continuing our desert island lists – what are your ten desert island books – the ones you couldn’t be without? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we?