Well, dear readers, it is finally the weekend, and though there is some work to be done, I am going to have to find time to relax and smell the roses or the coffee or the poutine, for if I don’t I feel that I shall implode. These last couple of weeks have been really difficult, and it all came to a head yesterday, which is, I suppose, better than coming to a foot yesterday. I awoke to the news that my friend Richard Valley, publisher of Scarlet Street magazine had passed away after his two-year valiant battle with cancer. This is not the first person I’ve known that has been lost to cancer, but I sincerely hope it’s the last. Richard was a wonderful man, an excellent writer, and a good pal. He leaves his partner of twenty-six years, Tom, and his mother. The rest of the day was like every other day for the last few weeks – ups and downs. I had a nice brunch with Miss Lauren Rubin, but then that was followed by all sorts of annoying things to deal with – not just the fundraiser, but all manner of things. As I said in a post, I began to feel like I was drowning, which is, I can tell you, not a pleasant feeling. There’s too much in my head, when all I should be doing is concentrating on making the fundraiser an excellent show. But then, in between all these irksome and tiresome annoyances, I talk to performers, figure out songs, rehearse with people I adore, and that part is terrific. We added my friend Greg Jbara to the fundraiser cast – he’s a wonderful singer/actor who appeared on Broadway in the revival of Damn Yankees, Chicago, as well as Victor/Victoria and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Best of all, we’ve already chosen his song. That’s surprisingly difficult with some of the talent, but we’re getting closer. So, we now have a cast of twenty and I’m hoping to have another five and then we’ll be fine. We had a good production meeting, and I spent the early evening with Alet and Andy Taylor going over their solo songs and their duet. After that, I finally came home and sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a motion picture on DVD entitled Misery, directed by Rob Reiner, from a screenplay by William Goldman, from a novel by Stephen King, starring Miss Kathy Bates and Mr. James Caan, along with Richard Farnsworth and Francis Sternhagen. I hadn’t seen the film since its premiere at the Grauman’s Chinese. Back then, I had reason to root for the film’s success, even though I didn’t think it quite came off, despite many excellent things. The reason I had reason to root for the film’s success is because its soundtrack was released on Bay Cities, my label. It was, in fact, a huge undertaking for us (no deals like they have today), but we all loved Marc Shaiman’s score, and we figured the film would be a huge success. While it did okay business, it wasn’t the huge success everyone thought it was going to be given its amazing creative team and cast – nowhere near. It may have just been bad timing or perhaps the box-office gods were not smiling that week. Watching it seventeen years later, the film plays better now than it did then, mostly because films have devolved so much. But, there is just something about it that doesn’t quite jell. The performances are terrific, especially Miss Bates, who is truly frightening and funny in a difficult role to pull off. Mr. Caan is her equal, and Mr. Farnsworth and Miss Sternhagen are colorful and endearing. Mr. Shaiman’s score (his first dramatic score, if I recall correctly) is really good. I wish I could say the transfer was amazing, but while there’s nothing wrong with it, it has a certain washed out quality – the contrast is too milky. It’s certainly a clean transfer. Best of all, in the credit block on the back of the box and on the film itself reads the credit: Original Soundtrack Recording available on Bay Cites CDs and Cassettes. The CD, like the film, was a huge disappointment in terms of sales. But, if you can find a copy, it’s worth having for Mr. Shaiman’s marvelous debut dramatic score.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I am reviewing the situation and trying to figure out how best to deal with all this stuff that is pouring down on me.
TODAY I SHALL TRY TO GET OVER THE INERTIA I AM FEELING – why am I shouting? This is what happens when your left pinkie accidentally hits the caps lock button – suddenly you’re shouting like a madman for no reason. In any case, I shall try to get over this sinking feeling because frankly I’m tired of it and it is bugging me and a bugged BK is not a pretty thing. In any case, I’ll be reviewing the situation to see what I can do to ease some of the pressure so that I don’t give myself a heart attack. I don’t know if the moon is in Jupiter or Uranus or Buffalo, but I need the fershluganah moon to get itself in a good place because I’m bored of all the crap. Or is it Mercury that’s in Uranus? I can’t remember. Something is where it shouldn’t be and whatever that something is, take a hike, amscray, be gone with the wind, baby, before I kick your ASS from here to eternity and hell and back.
That felt good. So, I will try to get whatever work I have to do done apace and then I will just try to clear the windmills of my mind and gird my loins for the next three weeks. Certainly, I would gratefully accept any and all excellent vibes and xylophones so that I don’t keep having that drowning feeling. That Drowning Feeling – wasn’t that a Bobby Darin/Sandra Dee movie?
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, leave the home environment early, for she of the Evil Eye will be here to prettify things, I must return, I must do a little work, and then I must get my head cleared, and then screwed on straight. Today’s topic of discussion: What is your favorite Stephen King book or story, and what are your favorite film adaptations of his work? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I continue reviewing the situation.