Well, dear readers, it’s a brand spanking new week and we’re already in the middle of April. Who knew? It’s been a wacky little month so far, but very productive. Ah, baloney. Why did I just write “Ah, baloney?” That just came out of nowhere like an unexpected hernia, didn’t it? Is there an expected hernia? Just asking. Do they still make baloney or, as the hoity toity and also the toity hoity put it, bologna? I have always hated baloney/bologna and would dread those days when mumsy would put baloney/bologna sandwiches in Ye Olde Lunchbag. Can someone please inform me what the HELL I’m talking about? Why am I going on about ah, baloney? Ah, baloney I say to going on about ah, baloney. You say baloney and I say bologna. Shall we write an original song entitled Baloney? I think we shall.
You eat baloney
While I eat Rice-A-Roni
One makes me happy
And one makes me groan-y
But when I’m alone-y
I’ll sneak some baloney
So call me a phony
Let’s make rigatoni
And mispronounce money
And say “Ah, baloney” right now
That was a lovely baloney/bologna song, wasn’t it? Speaking of baloney, yesterday was a long and winding day. For example, I got up and had an early breakfast with dear readers Laura and Miss Adriana Patti. We all had pancakes at Du-Par’s – they simply are not what they used to be, much as I’d like to say otherwise. But, we had a very good time. After that, I came home and took an allergy pill to combat my allergies. I then did things around the home environment, ant then toddled off to sup with Mr. Kevin Spirtas and see a play at the Ahmanson. Supper was lovely – sitting next to us was the ever-beautiful Miss Barbara Rush.
Last night, I saw a play entitled Twelve Angry Men by Mr. Reginald Rose (based on his TV play and the film of his TV play). I’m very fond of the Sidney Lumet film version, but had never seen this show onstage (apparently this Roundabout revival was the first time the play had actually played on Broadway – it has, of course, been a staple of summer theaters and stock and amateur for years). It’s a wonderful old-fashioned play, the kind I love – a riveting courtroom drama, one set, and juicy roles for twelve actors good and true. I find the director, Scott Ellis, rather hit and miss, with an emphasis on the latter, but he doesn’t get in the way of the play and he keeps it chugging along for its ninety minutes (performed without intermission) – the play basically plays in real time). It’s actually a pretty indestructible show – all you need are good actors. This touring company has some excellent performances and a couple that don’t quite rise to the occasion. I would like to have seen it on Broadway in 2004, just to have seen what Philip Bosco would have done with Juror Three. Randle Mell, while good, isn’t quite up to the play’s final moments, and I imagine Mr. Bosco was more than up to them, from what I’ve read (in the film, juror three is Lee J. Cobb). Playing Juror Eight (the Henry Fonda role in the film – originally played on TV by Bob Cummings!), Richard Thomas plays it with lots of energy and passion, rather than subdued like Fonda. I quite liked him, actually. George Wendt, who it top-billed over the title, plays the foreman and Juror One, the least interesting part in the show and hardly worthy of that billing. The other actors all do fine, especially Alan Mandell, who must be close to ninety years old. But, the play’s the thing here and I really had a good time. One little rant – why has it become the “thing” to not have a curtain? I like the old-fashioned way – walk into a theater and the curtain is down – then it rises and you discover the set. At the end, the curtain comes down – it’s theater, and no one does it anymore.
What am I, Ben Brantley all of a sudden? Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below whilst we all say “Ah, baloney.”
Today, I have a lunch meeting, then must ship a couple of things, and have a little work session with Miss Joan Ryan, but otherwise will try to treat this as sort of a half-day off. I actually thought that this week would be sort of not too busy, but it’s filling up quite quickly. The French film festival screenings I’ll be attending begin tomorrow and I’m quite looking forward to the films.
I’m continuing watching The Untouchables – sometimes the guest stars are rather surprising. In the episode I just finished we had Lloyd Nolan as Bugs Moran, and in the previous episode, Ma Barker and Her Boys, we had Claire Trevor and a very, very young and beautiful Louise Fletcher. She was not quite an overnight discovery in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, was she? And, of course, I have that infernal theme in my head day and night.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, jog, lunch, meet, have a work session, ship, and then relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your all-time favorite TV themes and theme songs? And what are the ones you hated and that drove you up the wall? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we? Ah, baloney.