Haines Logo Text
Column Archive
August 9, 2008:

MY NEW LOVE AFFAIR

Bruce Kimmel Photograph bk's notes

Well, dear readers, I must write these notes in a hurry because tomorrow is a long and busy day doing long and busy things, and besides, she of the Evil Eye will be here bright and early and I will be up even brighter and earlier so that I’m able to do my jog, shower, and get ready. I’m already worn out just writing about it. Before I begin, let me just say that I am having a new love affair. Yes, Virginia, I, BK, am having a new love affair. You see, I have become very enamored of flavored sparkling water beverages, most especially the Safeway brand, Clear. They are very refreshingly refreshing and I haven’t tasted a bum flavor yet. The cherry is excellent, the orange tastes like a Creamsicle, the Apple Pear is terrific, the Strawberry Watermelon is very good, and the Blackberry Rasberry is equally nice. I never thought I’d see a day when I’d drink only one Diet Coke, but that has indeed been the case on several days, thanks to Clear. And now we return you to our regularly scheduled programming. Yesterday was a day that began early and ended late, a day of ups and downs and also downs and ups, although the ups outweighed the downs. For example the ups weighed 173 pounds while the downs only weighted 162 pounds. Where was I? Oh, yes, yesterday. I got up early and did a really early jog. I’d planned to do my new routine of two-and-a-half miles of jog and two miles of walk, but when I got to the two-and-a-half point I decided to just keep going because I figured it would be easier than the walk. I ended up running three-and-a-half miles and then walking the final mile. I haven’t run that far in twenty years and frankly I was surprised I could do it. After that, I printed out the orders that had come in, then did some work prepping for the weekend’s rehearsals. I did a few errands – books arrived, but only half the shipment, and it was the softcover free copies rather than the hardcover, which I’m told will be here Monday, for sure. I then avoided some mine fields and pot holes as best I could, and then it was time to head over the hill to have some supper and see a reading of a new musical. I decided to sup at the West Hollywood Hugo’s, which puts the Studio City Hugo’s to shame in just about every way. The trendy rich Studio City people have turned the Studio City Hugo’s into a loud hell-hole, and the hosts are rude and uppity, and it’s just a vile place to be, whereas the West Hollywood site (the original) is cordial, helpful, not overcrowded, not populated by rich, trendy and entitled people, and the food is twice as good. I had their yummilicous pasta papa, which is pasta (no oil, no butter, nothing but the pasta itself), and scrambled eggs with sausage, bits o’ bacon, and scallions. It was very filling and very good and since it was my only meal o’ the day, I think I’m fine, calorie-wise. I had a small Caesar salad with it. After dinner, I had some time to kill, so I walked all around the neighborhood, which is very interesting. There’s a street called Orlando, and if you walk it just south of Santa Monica Blvd. there are some really interesting houses – I’m sure owned by TV people who can’t quite afford to live in Beverly Hills or Hancock Park but who like to pretend that they do, with gates, walls, security cameras – I was just amazed by it. I walked here, I walked there, and finally I entered the Coast Playhouse to see the reading.

Last night, I saw a staged reading of a new musical. I don’t have the program in front of me and I can’t recall the name of it. I don’t want to say much, because I suspect it’s the first time they’ve ever heard the work in front of an audience, and I also suspect that everyone involved in the writing is a first-timer. Alison Appleby, our most recent Joyce in the Brain, directed and she did a very good job of keeping the thing moving along at a steady clip. They only had the standard fifteen hours to rehearse (we actually are rehearsing ours only twelve hours), and those constraints make everything difficult. There were no hiccups or anything. The piece itself needs work – it’s very unfocused and I think they need to decide what exactly they’re trying to say, and which characters we’re supposed to care about – right now, it’s a lot of people doing a lot of things, but without a center. There’s certainly some interesting things in it, and I wish the creators well.

Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below whilst I take my last swig of the evening of sparkling flavored water.

Today, I shall be getting up at the crack of dawn so I can do my jog and walk, which takes about an hour. I’ll then have to shower and get ready to leave, just as soon as I let she of the Evil Eye in the house. I shall then head over to the Stella Adler Theater for our six-hour rehearsal, which I’m looking forward to. I’m starting the day with about five actors, then the rest of the cast arrives at noon. My plan is to completely block the show by the end of the day. It may be rough, but we’ll get it done, and then we can finesse things tomorrow. We’ll also do a walk-through on Monday before we do our first performance. It’s a really good cast, so I’m sure we’ll move along quickly.

After rehearsal, I’m not sure what I’ll do. The Museum is doing a tribute to director Richard Quine, who I’m a big fan of, and I’m tempted to go over there to see a double bill of Strangers When We Meet and The Solid Gold Cadillac. Then again, I may be too tired, in which case I’ll come home and watch all these James Garner movies I just TIVOd.

Tomorrow will be another six-hour rehearsal, and then I think Mr. Barry Pearl and I may just go over to Genghis Cohen for some dinner.

Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do an early jog, rehearse, sup, and then either see a double bill at the museum or see a double bill at home. Today’s topic of discussion: I have always loved James Garner – what are your all-time favorite James Garner performances and films (and TV shows). Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I continue my new love affair with flavored sparkling waters.

Search BK's Notes Archive:
 
© 2001 - 2024 by Bruce Kimmel. All Rights Reserved