Well, dear readers, here we are, the beginning of a brand spanking new week and we need lots of excellent vibes and xylophones because there are many exciting things in the offing and also in the oning. But, there are also difficult things to deal with, so just send positive thoughts this way. I must say the hopefully big news around these here parts is that The Brain From Planet X has been invited to NYMF, the new musicals festival in New York. While there are still details to work out, I’ve accepted, although I haven’t had the official acceptance conversation (I did via e-mail) – that will happen Monday morning. There is much work to do, new people to cast, and all manner of stuff to sort through. It’s going to make the next few months the busiest I’ve had in years, going from one thing to the next – Joan Ryan’s show, prepping my book for its October release, casting The Brain, rehearsing the Brain, performing The Brain, but also casting and doing preliminary rehearsals for our fundraiser show. The latter will require major work before I leave for New York, New York – everyone must be cast, all keys must be set, and all arrangements must be done. Then, when I return at the beginning of October, it will be non-stop rehearsals for that show. In any case, we’re all very excited about the possibility for The Brain at NYMF, and if any dear readers or lurkers know of any sublets or spare rooms during August and September, please let me know. Also, for those who know the show, if you have any casting suggestions please e-mail them to me – I think all but four or five roles will be cast with New York performers. I will, of course, keep you posted on all the details as they come in. Speaking of the details as they come in, yesterday was a fine day, with not too much work to be done, other than several important telephonic conversations. I got the new book to proofer number two and she assures me she’ll get through it in short order, which will be good. I met up with former dear reader Hisaka at Du-Par’s for pancakes. Then I did some stuff around the home environment, including sending out e-mails to certain performers that I’d love to have in the benefit. Then I had some chow, then I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a motion picture on DVD entitled Caged, a shocking expose of women’s prison, starring Miss Eleanor Parker as a young, innocent widow whose husband has been killed during an armed robbery. She is sent to prison for being an accomplice. There she meets a whole potpourri of odd women prisoners – prostitutes, thieves, murderers, none of whom are as vile as the prison warden played by Miss Hope Emerson, truly one of the oddest and scariest screen presences in the history of film. The woman who runs the prison (Agnes Moorehead) is trying to change the awful conditions and to treat the prisoners in a more humane way, but she can’t seem to get rid of Miss Emerson because Miss Emerson has “connections.” Poor Miss Parker goes from bad to worse, and, at the end, instead of being rehabilitated, makes parole and leaves to embark on a life of crime. The acting is excellent (especially Miss Emerson and Miss Parker, along with Betty Garde and Jan Sterling), the direction is taut, and much of it is quite over-the-top. The transfer is acceptable and no more.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because there are more things in the offing and oning in the next section.
Today, I may be recording a bit of dialogue for the Susan Egan hidden track, but other than that I have absolutely no plans other than to get as much stuff organized as I can. I must do up a budget for The Brain, I must continue to book performers for the benefit, and I must prepare for a really busy week of rehearsals and meetings and whatnot. Other than that, I intend to watch several motion pictures on DVD.
For those who may have missed it, I did an impromptu Unseemly Trivia Contest question in yesterday’s postings, so if you want to play, check it out.
Tomorrow, it’s rehearsing with Joan and then a meeting with the LACC Foundation, to help them plan their benefit show (which occurs three weeks before OUR benefit show).
I’m going to start jogging regularly again so that I’m in good shape to begin the busy next few months. Jogging has been a real on and off affair this year, but I’ve got to get regular and also take off the pounds I’ve gained back (why is it so damnably easy to gain back weight, when it’s so damnably hard to lose it).
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do as little as possible, so I can recharge my batteries and be rested for the upcoming busy week. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s free-for-all day, the day in which you dear readers get to make with the topics and we all get to post about them. So, let’s have loads of lovely topics and loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst we ponder all that is in the offing and oning.