Well, dear readers, well, dear readers, well dear readers – holy moley on rye did you see what just happened? Instead of one “Well, dear readers” we got three “Well, dear readers.” That just creeps me out, frankly. That just gives me the willies, frankly. What are these, mutant notes all of a sudden? Was it radioactive fallout that caused the mutation of one “Well, dear readers” into three? These notes are like a horror movie from 1958, perhaps one directed by Bert I. Gordon. The Mutant Notes. I seem to have lost my sanity – if anyone finds it, please return it to sender so I can continue the notes in the usual lucid and easy-to-understand way. Until then, I’m afraid we’re going to have mutant notes. Speaking of mutant notes, yesterday moved along at a steady clip. I got up at eight, answered e-mails, did other stuff, and then toddled off to rehearsal. We did some work on light and sound cues, and then we ran the show. It went very well and I gave some nitpicky mutant notes. Then we took a brief lunch break, during which I ate a mutant slice of pizza at the very bad Sbarro’s. Then we came back, fixed some more light stuff, checked out the graphics (we have two big screens onto which are projected various and sundried things), while the cast got into makeup and mics – they wore partial costumes for the next run-through. The makeup was much better, and the sound was better, too, although the left-side speakers were not working properly, so the sound was completely off-center and right heavy. The run went very smoothly with only a few hiccups. I’m still making tiny adjustments, and we fixed the one thing that was still bugging me, so everything is pretty well set now. Mostly, they’re ready to have an audience and do it for “real.” After rehearsal, I came home, answered a bunch of e-mails and telephonic calls, then went over to Amoeba and traded in some things and got quite a nice credit, and got a few new things (with credit left to spare), stopped and got a mutant Subway Club, then sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched one count them one motion picture on DVD entitled Les Aiguilles Rouges, a French film from France. I’d never heard of this film, but the box looked good, I like the composer, and I took a chance. I’ve had mostly good luck taking chances on DVDs, especially French films from France. I’m happy to say that Les Aiguilles Rouges was a very good film, one I gather got mostly poor reviews in France. The film concerns some boys who belong to a troupe called the Eagles, like the Boy Scouts. They range in age from twelve to sixteen, and they are asked to do a backbreaking three-day hike to the top of a mountain, unsupervised. It’s 1960, at the end of the French-Algerian war. During the hike and climb, they argue, fool around, bond, and argue. The trip is an impossible one and most of the film centers on their fight for survival in the mountains. The film runs a brisk eighty-four minutes, has wonderful moments of humor, and is ultimately touching. It’s beautifully photographed and the score by Frederic Talgorn is particularly wonderful (I’m trying to get the CD now). The transfer is gorgeous and I’m happy I took the chance and the French critics who didn’t like the film can kiss my mutant ASS.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below so we can view the next section of these here mutant notes.
Today, a mutant Friday, we will convene at the theater at ten and the cast will get into mics, costume, and makeup. We’ll then have a photo shoot, after which we’ll do a complete run-through with everything. Then they’ll get a nice break, and then at three we do our final dress/tech in front of a small crowd, which will include some kiddies. After that, we’ll do any final things that need doing, and then it’s show time on Saturday at eleven. We’re all very excited about it.
Can you believe that January is already half over? Surely, this is a mutant month. Soon it will be February, a short mutant month. There’s still so much left to do in January and I’d better get crackin’, that’s all I can say.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, get up, attend two run-throughs, sup, and then watch a DVD and relax in anticipation of a very busy Saturday (two shows, and then an opening night to attend). 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 Brain From Planet X. DVD, Jean Pierre Melville’s L’Armee Des Ombres, which I’m looking forward to. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely mutant postings, shall we, you dear, dear mutant people out there in the dark.