Well, dear readers, this week is already flying by, like a gazelle doing the Lambada (The Forbidden Dance). I really have nothing whatsoever to say, so perhaps I’ll recount the story of The Randy Vicar and the Licorice Twist. Speaking of the licorice twist, I want to twist right now. Perhaps I shall put on a Joey Dee recording and Twist again like we did last summer whilst eating licorice. Speaking of Joey Dee, yesterday was Dee-Day – a Deelightfully delightful day for reasons I no longer recall. Oh, I got up. That was delightful. I did quite a few things that needed doing, and then I toddled off to a fun lunch meeting, where I ate a fun lunch. After that, I did a few errands, and then had a work session with Miss Joan Ryan. We’re actually a little further along than I thought, song choice-wise, so that’s good. There’s still a lot of work to do, so when Mr. Boswell returns this weekend, we’ll start having regular sessions with him. After that, I did a few more errands, answered a plethora of e-mails, and then sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a motion picture on DVD entitled Le Testament Du Docteur Cordelier, un film de Jean Renoir. This was a film made for French television in 1959. I confess to not being all that up on Mr. Renoir and his films – yes, I’ve seen his classics, Grand Illusion and The Rules of The Game, and a few others, but while I appreciate and admire them, they haven’t really gotten to me in the way that some other classic auteurs have. I actually found this TV film really entertaining. It features a wonderful leading performance by Jean Louis Barrault that is worth the price of the DVD (it’s actually a box set with several Renoir silents, a couple of early talkies, and then his final film). The tale will sound very familiar as soon as you hear it – Doctor Cordelier has been doing hidden experiments. Meanwhile, he has changed his will and left everything to a man named Mr. Opale. Mr. Opale is an evil, violent, and quite odd person who goes around causing mayhem. Yes, you guessed it – it’s a modern day retelling of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. From what I’ve read, this is, in fact, the version that’s closest to Stevenson’s novella. Mr. Barrault does the two characters without aid of special effects – just some padding in his mouth and different hair, but Mr. Barrault is an accomplished mime and he’s brilliant as Mr. Opale. It’s very simply filmed (not a big budget show), and it has an odd but strangely endearing score by Renoir regular Joseph Kosma. The aspect ratio is for TV. The transfer is very good and I shall watch the film again soon.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below whilst we eat a licorice twist and tell the tale of The Randy Vicar and the Button Hole.
Today, the Direct TV repair people will be coming to clear the shrubbery that has once again grown in front of the dish. You’d think they’d just move the fershluganah disc, but they don’t, so two or three times a year they have to trudge over here to do it – I have their protection plan so it costs me nada. I’ll also be having a work session with Mr. Kevin Spirtas. We’re planning a whole new two-act show for him – a completely different show in every way. After that, I’ll have some shipping to do, and then I get to go to a French film festival where I’ll be seeing a French film. I will also begin my second read-through of the new book, and I will also be delivering it to my official proofers this week. I also hope to dine pre French film one night this week at a restaurant that my hair dresser Teddy swears by – it’s called Jar, and he says I’m going to love it.
I’m out of breath from all this twisting I’m doing whilst writing these here notes. I’m so out of breath that I don’t even think I can recount the story of The Randy Vicar and the Fondue Stick. Oh, that’s a good one.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, get reception, have a work session, ship, sup, and see a French film in French. Today’s topic of discussion: Name all the wacky dance craze dances that you’ve actually done. And, if called upon to do so, how many could you do today? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst we eat a licorice twist.