Well, dear readers, it’s late and I must now write these here notes in a hurry because the clock is ticking and tocking, not necessarily in that order, and in a mere fifteen minutes the notes shall be posted come hell or high or even low water. For what is midnight without new notes? The new notes are like an oasis and soon it will be midnight at the oasis – what am I, Maria Muldaur all of a sudden? Should I put my camel to bed, or should I put my Kimmel to bed? What a wacky song that was, but it was the 70s and you could not only write and sing a song like that, you could even have a hit with it. Not so anymore. Not anymore so. So not anymore. Does anyone have a clew as to what the HELL I’m talking about? Shouldn’t I be writing the notes in a hurry? Speaking of a hurry, yesterday was a usual day for me, considering I knew I had to do the reading last night. I went into complete neurotic Jew mode and didn’t talk almost the whole day, choosing instead to rest Ye Olde Voicebox. For example, I got up and didn’t speak. I viewed a video of The Party Animals and did speak, but only to give a few notes for changes we’ll put in at today’s rehearsal. I then got an early lunch and ate it (and didn’t speak). Of course, before any of that, I jogged, which is actually very helpful getting the phlegm out of a person. Then I sat on my couch like so much fish for an hour or two, then I did some work on the computer, and then I shaved and showered and got ready to toddle off to the theater.
I arrived at six-fifteen to find very few people there – apparently, the call time changed to six-thirty and no one told me. Anyway, I just roamed around clearing my throat unnecessarily. We rehearsed a couple of things, then I waited in our dressing room for show time. Show time began twenty minutes late. As we entered the stage we noticed that the cast outnumbered the audience. There were exactly twelve people in the house. Still, the show must go on, as some wag said, and thus the show went on. The company of players all did a fine job keeping things moving along and there was a huge amount of energy expended, but I’m afraid there were only a few chuckles and one big laugh (in the second act – one of my lines, I’m happy to say) and it was pretty deadly to play to silence, especially when you’re expending a lot of energy. It will be interesting to see how the next two performances go – if they’re similar, then I think the writers really have to do some serious looking at their show. I would be happy to sit down with them and discuss it, because I think a good dose of what musical theater is all about would be helpful (it’s always helpful, to everyone, including me when I’m the writer). This is actually the first time I’ve been involved in anything as an actor that went over like this, so I suppose I’ve been very lucky. Still, I commend our company and Gene Castle for giving it their all. As I’ve said, I really am enjoying working with everyone, especially Gene, and Barry Pearl, and the lovelier than lovely Bridget Hanley. And the authors are very nice, too, so that part of everything has been fun and fine. My voice held out just fine, although I was hoarse after the show. I went and got a big bowl of chicken soup and had some hot emergenC and felt better. Hopefully, I’ll wake up with a voice and all will be well.
Why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because it’s already after midnight and the fershluganah oasis is nowhere in sight.
Let us see how fast one human being can write a section of the notes. And they’re off and running.
Today, I shall try to sleep till nine, then I shall jog, then I shall attend a rehearsal for The Party Animals to do a run-through and see how much the cast remembers. I suspect I’ll have to work with them on their timing and energy level. It’s a four-hour rehearsal, but I’m only going to do two of the hours and then let the choreographer have the rest of the time. I shall try to keep my talking to a minimum.
After rehearsal, I may have a small sandwich so I’m not starving when doing the next performance. Then I’ll toddle off to the theater for performance number two, and hope that there will be more people in the audience. I, myself, have invited exactly no one. I’ll see how I feel today, and maybe I’ll invite a human or two.
Tomorrow, I have a tech rehearsal for The Party Animals at the venue where we’re doing the show – I have to set the light cues and make sure the staging works on the new stage, as well as making sure the sound is good. Thursday, on the other hand, is mine all mine, and baby, am I going to do exactly nothing.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, jog, rehearse, eat, relax, do a second performance and then come home to sit on my couch like so much fish. There – exactly five minutes to write a whole section. Not bad. Today’s topic of discussion: What is the single most unfunny musical comedy, or comedy play and film you’ve ever had to sit through. And for the play and musical, how did the actors cope with not getting laughs? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, and now it is time to post these here notes for it is midnight at the oasis and I’ve got to put my Kimmel to bed.