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September 30, 2007:

THE SIXTH BRAIN

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, it’s rather hard to believe that tonight we will have our final performance for the NYMF version of The Brain From Planet X – the sixth Brain. It’s been quite the ride, I must say, and certainly the best way to describe the journey would be to quote the title of a Sergio Leone film: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, not necessarily in that order. As stated before, I’m really ready to go home and dive into the fundraiser. I basically won’t get a day off until next weekend and even then I’m sure I’ll be catching up on things that I’ve let go during this trip. In any case, this trip has been a trip. I had a blast directing the show, working with our wonderful cast, and especially spending time with people I don’t see enough. It was great to see Cason and BJ fit right in with some pretty seasoned professionals – they did themselves proud. I forged a creative relationship with Adam Cates, our choreographer that will probably last quite some time. One or two other members of the creative team certainly won’t be working with me again, but all in all the aspect of actually doing the show was a positive one. We received some excellent reviews and some not so excellent reviews, which is par for the course. I’ve had some great meals, walked heaven knows how many blocks, and probably need to catch up on about eighty hours of sleep. I’ve missed watching motion pictures on DVD (I think I’ve watched all of three on the computer). And this whole last week I’ve just been really homesick – the thought of sleeping in my own comfy bed is so enticing I can’t even tell you. Of course, I’ve got six weeks’ worth of mail to go through, so that should be both fun and annoying, and I’m sure there’s a whole pile o’ bills that need paying. This is the longest I’ve been away from home since the early years of Varese album producing, when I’d be away routinely for four to six weeks at a time at least five times a year. Speaking of five times a year, yesterday was a pleasant day. I’d gone to sleep very late (three in the morning) and I managed to do the impossible and sleep right through until eleven (wonderful dreams, I must say – total wish fulfillment dreams – they should only come true). I had to shave and shower and get my butt cheeks over to The Last Starfighter performance at one o’clock. Once there, I met up with Vixmom and the vixter, William F. Orr and his ever-lovin’ Joe, and we all sat next to each other. I knew a few others in attendance, and seated right behind me was Talkin’ Broadway’s critic, Matthew Murray, who I’d never met – I thanked him for his lovely review. I’m not exactly unbiased when it comes to The Last Starfighter or the work of FJL and Skip Kennon, who I think is one of the finest theater composers working today. Not only did Kritzerland issue the CD, but I was actually in the show at the NYMF reading last year. I will say that it was really well produced by their pal Julie, and that the technical aspects were the best of all the NYMF shows I’ve seen (all three, which include mine). Yes, there were the pesky occasional sound issues, but many less than we’ve had at certain performances. The set worked very well, and the lighting was very impressive. I happen to really like the show, but whether you like it or not, what is very clear from the get-go is that it’s a show that knows what it’s about – there’s no fumfering or guesswork – FJL and Skip tell their story clearly and it’s shocking how many musicals don’t know what they’re about and how many shows don’t have clarity of concept and storytelling. The score is infectious and the book is concise and to the point. The cast was excellent, although I’d be lying if I didn’t say I missed certain people from the reading. The young man playing Alex was terrific, and Joe Kolinski, reprising once again his performance as Centauri, is just wonderful. The show is performed to pre-recorded tracks and there were times I wished that they’d had a live band – I know why they didn’t, but I just wanted it during certain numbers. The direction and choreography for the most part got the job done just fine. All in all a very enjoyable two-plus hours. There seemed to be quite a few friends and family in the almost-full house, but thankfully they weren’t the whooping and hollering sort – they just showed their appreciation in a normal and appreciative way. After the show, I stopped by FJL and Skip’s gathering for the cast and passed on my kudos, then I joined WFO, Joe, Cilla and Sam, Vixmom and vixter and Ginny and DH for some lunch at the Westside Cottage. Cason and Miss Karen stopped by, too. It was fun, and then I headed home, where I had to deal with a bunch of stuff that needed dealing with.

After doing all that, I headed over to the Brooklyn Diner for about the fourth time this week to meet up with Jose, Cilla and Sam, and edisaurus and Greg, who’d been out to Coney Island. I had a salad and then some yummilicious chocolate pudding pie with whipped cream. Then I finally came home and sat in my chair like so much fish.

Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because if we don’t I’m going to be up until three again and I really don’t want to sleep until eleven again.

This morning I’ll toddle over to Fed Ex/Kinko’s to print out my boarding pass, then I may meet a friend for lunch or see if there’s a meal being planned pre-show, although I doubt it since many dear readers are seeing Noel’s show, at which I’m sure there will be many strangers, too. I think it’s wonderful that this here site has three contributors, two regulars and one returning, who all had shows in NYMF and whose shows have all gotten nice reaction. Who knew?

I’ll toddle over to the theater around seven and pass out my closing night gifts, and then it will be our sixth Brain, which I’m hoping will go well, with all tech stuff working. After the performance, we’ll probably go out for a drink, but I’ll have to get home not too late as I leave for the airport at four-fifteen in the morning. I have to pack (not that much stuff, since I shipped so much in advance), too.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, print a boarding pass, pack, sup, see the sixth Brain, have a drink, and then get as much sleep as possible before leaving for the airport. 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, whilst I get my beauty sleep and prepare for the sixth Brain.

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