Well, dear readers, cough, cough, cough (that is three coughs). That is the sound emanating from me right now – endless, hacking coughs, and frankly or even georgely, I tired of it. I suck on Ricola’s, I’ve begun drinking a steady supply of EmergenC, and I even had chicken soup with Kevin Spirtas. I mean, Kevin wasn’t IN the soup, but we supped together and we both HAD soup, mine with noodles, his with matzo balls. It continues to be both hot and humid here in New York, New York, and I’ve sweated more on this trip than in the last twenty years put together. But, despite all the sweating and the power walking and not overeating, I have not lost one single pound. I have the feeling that I’ll wake up one fine morning and just suddenly be ten pounds thinner, but that fine morning hasn’t arrived. But what care I for tinsel and glamour? Where did THAT come from? What am I, Baby June all of a sudden? All of a sudden, I just sneezed three times. It’s beginning to feel like I had the throat part on Saturday, the starting to feel better again on Sunday, and now it’s traveled into Ye Olde Nose. I hope it hasn’t, but I just sneezed three times – however that could be allergies, too, as several people in our cast have been having allergy problems. Speaking of allergy problems, yesterday was a very interesting day, for reasons I can no longer remember. For example, I got up. I remember that. I then took my laundry to a drop-off place, then toddled off to rehearsal. I remember that. We then did a complete run-through – two of our design team were there, our designer and his assistant. Our other designers are busy designing and/or out of town. The run-through was actually pretty smooth, but we’re at the point now where we need to finesse things and set things – some cast members are and some need to begin doing it. Laughs were missed, lines were flubbed, cues were stepped on, but better to get that stuff out of the way now. Still, some of the show was very funny, and the cast continues to find new things, which is fun to watch. After the run, we ran some of the big numbers and cleaned them up, then had lunch, then ran a bunch of scenes to clean up stuff and focus things. After rehearsal, the General Manager came down needing yet more dough for more fees that are popping up like fetid warts, none of which were in the original contract. That seems to be the name of the game. After that, I picked up the laundry (shirts won’t be done until later today) and came home. By that time, the cough was getting worse, and at times I felt like my guts were going to come flying through my mouth. Wasn’t that a lovely image?
Last night, I had a quick supper with Mr. Kevin Spirtas, who was in the city for one day (he’s doing They’re Playing Our Song somewhere outside the city). We had fun, we dished dirt, and we laughed and laughed and just when we thought we could laugh no more, we laughed again. After that I came back home, had a very long telephonic meeting, sent out a bunch of e-mails, and didn’t do much relaxing. Our fundraiser team is in high gear in LA, and there’s just so much to do it’s not merely whelming, it’s overwhelming. Tickets go on sale this Friday. I’ll have complete information later in the week. Speaking of tickets, our NYMF sales are plugging along, with opening and closing nights looking very good, and even one of our matinees looking okay, too. I was happy to see at least a third of a house already booked for our performance that takes place on Yom Kippur – we’re hoping for a large Catholic turnout, with maybe even a few Episcopalians and Lutherans.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I’m coughing like a gazelle eating a horseradish, and frankly, what care I for tinsel and glamour?
Today, we’ll be working on Alet’s big number – our choreographer had an idea that didn’t work out, so we’re putting it back the way it was in LA and then he’ll embellish on that. And if I haven’t mentioned it recently, this guy, Adam Cates, is the real deal and it’s been one of my favorite collaborative experiences ever. So great that he’s coming out to LA to choreograph two numbers for the fundraiser. We’ll then work on acting scenes, and then at three we do a complete run-through again, with full cast.
I can’t remember if I have a dinner engagement, but I think I just might. If not, I’m definitely going somewhere to have chicken soup. I’ll have chicken soup for lunch, too.
I’m placing the order for then new book, so if you haven’t preordered yet, you still have time, and there are a handful of the special copies left. Act now or forever hold your piece or your peace or your peas. It’s $24 plus $5 priority shipping, paypalable to kritzerland@adelphia.net.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, rehearse, run scenes, eat chicken soup, do a run-through, eat chicken soup and attend to many fundraiser details. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your all-time most favorite movie quotable dialogue? I think most of you know that many of mine come from Ernest Lehman’s brilliant North By Northwest (“Games? Must we?” “Oh, Roger, pay the two dollars” “It seems you fellows could use a little less training from the CIA and a little more from the Actor’s Studio” and on and on), and an equal number come from the film of The Music Man (adapted from the stage show). “Forget it, Jake – it’s Chinatown.” “You know, Louis, I think this could be the start of a beautiful friendship.” “Be afraid – be very afraid.” “It was held over for a week in Pittsburgh. What do they know in Pittsburgh? They know what they like. If they knew what they like they wouldn’t be in Pittsburgh.” And on and on. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, and remember “What care I for tinsel and glamour?”