Well, dear readers, I don’t care what anyone says, today is a day off and I don’t care who knows it. Yes, Virginia, today is a day off, and even though I do have to do a few things, I shall do them at my leisure (pronounced “lehzure”) or, at the very least, my leisure (pronounced “leezure”). They can call, they can write, but they’re not dragging me in. I shall say phut to one and all and I shall relax and smell the coffee or the roses or the filet of sole. Speaking of the filet of sole, yesterday was a nice, long day in which I sat in a car for a total of three hours or more. Prior to the first hour-and-a-half car journey, I got up, had a visitor, and then took a shower and got ready for the journey to Newport Beach. The car arrived at noon, but Mr. Boswell didn’t arrive until twelve-thirty. The traffic was okay some of the time, wretched at others. We finally arrived at Newport Beach just before two o’clock. We went to the park where the concert was going to take place. They’d set up a nice stage, and the drums were already in place. However, we’d asked to begin our sound check at two but the sound people weren’t ready and we didn’t, in fact, start the sound check until three-twenty. That went fine, and then the band, Mr. Boswell, Miss Patti and I went off to dine at a locat eatery, whilst Miss Ryan went to her parents’ house to get ready (they live just around the corner from the park). A locat eatery? What in tarnation is a locat eatery? I think I meant to type local and yet I used the wrong finger and out came locat. I hate when that happens. In any case, our meas was quite yummilicious. Our meas was quite yummilicious? What in tarnation is a meas? I think I meant to type “meal” and yet I used the wrong finger and out came meas. I hate when that happens. I hate when I use the wrong finger. Where was I? Oh, yes, dinner was excellent (see last night’s posts for a complete description of the meal and/or the meas). We came back to the park about a half-hour before the show. Miss Ryan and I had a quiet chat, and then it was time to begin the show.
The show went very well – not perfectly, but for a first time through it was about eighty percent there. Oh, there were a few silly flubbed lyrics and lines of patter, and a few wrong moves, but the majority was fine, and the audience really seemed to like it. There were quite a few big laughs, they were very attentive, and the applause was very loud and long for many numbers, and at the end she received a nice standing ovation (what else is new). Her husband taped it all, and later this week we’ll sit and watch it together and discuss what worked well, why it worked well, and where it fell short. I think Miss Ryan was surprised by how well the stuff worked, and I think when she finally buckles down Winsocki and has all the lyrics and the patter letter perfect that she will then own this show completely.
After the show, we schmoozed, and then our car arrived and we began the journey home. Thankfully, we shaved twenty minutes off our drive time, as traffic was surprisingly light with the exception of one five-mile stretch. We arrived home at about nine, and I promptly sat down at my laptop like so much fish.
Obviously, I had no time to watch a motion picture on DVD, but the night before I had watched the special features on the Ace In The Hole DVD. There was a one-hour video interview with Billy Wilder, done by French writer Michel Ciment. It had fun things in it, and Mr. Wilder is always a delight to listen to and watch. There was also an older interview with Kirk Douglas talking about the film and his role.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because the bedroom environment is calling me for my beauty sleep and then it will be the morning and I will begin my day off.
As you may have read elsewhere, I’m taking today off, after having worked for most of the weekend. Oh, I have to talk to my casting director in New York, I have to book a place to stay for the early August trip, I have to finish proofing the last thirty pages of the book, I have to do one little errand, otherwise the day is mine all mine, and I intend to enjoy it, and even watch some DVDs, including Zodiac, which I’m really looking forward to.
Also, don’t forget, we need a ton and a half of excellent vibes and xylophones for our fundraiser show. As some of you know, we had an unexpected hiccup last week, when the president of the college, who’d arranged our funding, suddenly resigned. I’m assured that everything with the funding is still in the works, but until I have the check I’m nervous, so all excellent vibes and xylophones will be appreciated from now until said check arrives.
Speaking of the fundraiser, we’ve added a couple more people, including two members of the LA cast of Wicked. As soon as I return from the early August casting trip, we’re going to have to set everyone’s keys and get them their songs. That’s going to be a really crazy two weeks, but it has to get done, as I then don’t return until October 1st. We also have to get our invitations done, and gather all our e-mail and snail mail lists. It’s daunting, but it must get done.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, proof, have a few telephonic calls, eat a meas, and have a day off. Today’s topic of discussion: What is the best outdoor concert (or play) you’ve ever attended – who performed, what was so special, where was the venue, and was food served and, if so, what did your meas consist of? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I revel in my day off.