Well, dear readers, the time has come to write Ye Olde Notes, and thus I am writing Ye Olde Notes. My goodness, that was informative, wasn’t it? That was illuminating, wasn’t it? In any case, I’m quite bleary-eyed so I shall write the notes as quickly as I can so that I can rest my weary bleary eyeballs. Speaking of weary bleary eyeballs, yesterday was a long and fruitful day, although I didn’t eat one piece of fruit. I got up early, answered a few e-mails, then began writing. As always, I began by going back over what I wrote the day before and fixing, smoothing, and futzing. Fixing, Smoothing, and Futzing – isn’t that an accounting firm? In any case, after I fixed, smoothed, and futzed, not necessarily in that order, then I finished the chapter I was on and began a new chapter. I ended up writing over seven pages. I also did my pianistics. That all took up most of the day, and I only went out to proof some photos, buy some ink for Ye Olde Printer, and get some water for the reading. At five-thirty, Mr. Cason Murphy and Miss Marlana Filannino arrived, and we went over their material. Then the author of the show, Michael B. Druxman, and his lovely wife Sandy arrived with a lot of Subway sandwiches and cookies. And then our cast began arriving. By 7:05 everyone was there. I made a little pre-reading speech, and then we began.
Last night, we had a reading of the new act one of the musical I’m mentoring. I’m happy to say that I thought it went pretty well, and that all of the changes and hard work certainly paid off in terms of clarity and structure. We had several people from the last reading, and they all felt it immediately, right in the opening number. Of course, it helps to have wonderful actors, and among our merry troupe were Alet and Andy Taylor, Barry Pearl, Bridget Hanley, Jerry Hoffman, and a few others whose names I’m not recalling at the moment. I was especially fascinated by Alet’s take on her role, and based on what she did we’re going to make some changes to her character and give her a little more to do in act one. After the reading, everyone had some sandwiches and cookies, then we reconvened and I went around the room, asking for comments. Many of the comments were right on the money, and a couple of suggestions were excellent. The act is still too long and too wordy, book-wise, but I think that what can be cut and what can be futzed with became pretty clear. I think we’ll try to implement the good suggestions, but the happy news was that the structure worked much better, and I think when we address some of the remaining problems, it will be a fairly strong act. There were lots of laughs, so that was good. After everyone said their goodbyes, I cleaned up the home environment, and then finally sat on chair like so much fish, catching up with things on the Internet.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I’ve got a severe case of weary bleary eyeballs.
Today, I shall, of course, write, then take a quick tour through this latest batch of fifty-plus pages, do whatever I think need be done to them, and then print them out for my muse Margaret. I shall also do a few important errands (including picking up an advance copy of the new DVD of El Cid), I shall eat something interesting, and then I shall endeavor to watch the new DVD of El Cid.
Tomorrow, I’m having luncheon with my cousin Lori – I haven’t seen her in probably eight years, so it will be nice to chat and have a fine dining experience at Stanley’s.
Have I mentioned that I have weary bleary eyeballs? That sounds like a country western song, doesn’t it? Weary Bleary Eyeballs, the natural successor to Achy Breaky Heart.
Oops (spoo, spelled backwards), let’s all put on our pointy party hats and our colored tights and pantaloons, let’s break out the cheese slices and the ham chunks, let’s dance the Hora and the Monkey, because today is the birthday of dear reader Elan. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer to dear reader Elan. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO DEAR READER ELAN!!!
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, write, fix, smooth, and futz, I must print, and then I must watch a very long motion picture entertainment. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Bad Casting Day here at haineshisway.com – so, give us your worst possible casting choices for the haineshisway.com revival of Showboat. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I go rest my weary bleary eyeballs.