Well, dear readers, it is quite late and I’m just starting to write these here notes. Therefore I will dispense with all opening frivolity and just dive right in. Speaking of diving right in, yesterday was an interesting day for interesting reasons. For example, I got up. That was interesting. I then did the long jog, and then sat right down and began to write. I must say, I flew through five count them five pages. I then did some errands, went to Costco for some water and Diet Coke (Costco was very crowded), picked up a small package and ate some lunch. I dined at Hugo’s in the City of Studio. I ordered the Pasta Papa, which is Papa’s Eggs and pasta. It’s a dish I’ve been eating at Hugo’s for over twenty years. But this time the waitress warned me that they were now using gluten-free pasta. I had no idea what that meant, but apparently gluten is faddishly considered a bad thing, and Hugo’s likes to be part of any health fad. She told me that the new gluten-free pasta had a different taste. I ordered it, hoping for the best. Well, they’ve taken one of my favorite dishes and completely ruined it. The gluten-free pasta smells bad and has an awful aftertaste. Give me gluten, baby. Somehow we’ve all survived for decades with gluten and I will not be eating any pasta that is gluten-free because I want my fershluganah gluten. I then came home and wrote five more pages. I must say, the chapter I’m currently writing is really fun, which is why I probably kept on going. I then shaved and showered, had a couple of long telephonic calls, and then was on my way to our little informal reading of the very long script. I asked for this reading for two reasons: One, so I could hear the show read aloud to make sure I could follow everything in the plot, and to also hear how the songs flowed in and out of the scenes. The second reason was so that the author, composer, and lyricist could hear it for those same reasons, as they’d never actually read the show and played the songs. Not all the songs are finished, and for those spots, lyrics were read. We had about ten actors there reading a lot of roles. I’m happy to say that the reading did exactly what I’d hoped for – it was, for its creators, revelatory and an eye-opener. The author of the book leaned over to me fifteen minutes in and whispered, “We’re not going to be ready in February, are we?” I agreed. The first act ran two hours, and the second act ran about an hour and fifteen minutes. Certain things worked well, and it was very obvious to everyone when things weren’t working because of length, lack of focus, or too much plot and too many characters to keep track of.
After our cast left, we all sat down and talked about it, and the author totally understood that there’s a lot of work to be done, and is very much looking forward to my input – same with the composer and lyricist. I told them a few of my biggest problems, and I was not met with any resistance at all. So, starting next week, we’ll have a few work sessions, discuss my notes and feelings, and then the author and his writing partner will begin to address the book changes, and I’ll work with the composer and lyricist and tell them my thoughts on the numbers. When the work is done, we’ll do one more informal reading and then book the staged reading. I do think there’s a good show buried within what is now a very long piece – once the fat is cut away and the themes of the show are focused, and the score tightened and, in certain instances, rethought, I think the plot of the show will be a lot easier to follow. The actors all did a good job, and I think it will be fun to work on the material. I’ll be typing up my notes on Saturday.
I then came home to a very annoying e-mail. My initial reaction was to respond and be just as nasty as this person was. But, I’m taking a breath, and will write my response today, at my leisure, and will keep it nice, easy-going, and to the point. But, the bottom line is I’m probably going to have to make a decision that will not make me very happy. And all because there is some bullying and posturing going on that I feel is bogus in the extreme. But I won’t make that final decision until Monday.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must finish these here notes and get them posted so I can get my beauty sleep and dream of gluten.
Today, I shall do the long jog, I shall try to write at least five to seven pages (if I do I shall be a third of the way through the new novel), and then I have an afternoon meeting, and then the rest of the day and evening are mine all mine.
Tomorrow I have a noon meeting with composer John Scott – it’s always lovely to see him and he has a little project he wants to speak to me about. Hence, we shall speak.
I’m hoping Sunday will be mine all mine, but there’s a chance there will be a meeting – if there is, I’ll make sure it’s a short one.
Next week is very busy with writing and meetings and work sessions, and I shall be in both a foul and fowl mood if I have to make the decision I’m going to make. However, I will let it go and not worry about it, as annoying as it will be. It’s not the end of the world or anything, just a real annoyance.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do the long jog, write, have a meeting, maybe pick up a package or two and then eat something amusing. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/video player. I’ll start – CD, Jack Jones sings Michel Legrand. DVD, not sure what’s next, but maybe Foreign Intrigue. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, and make sure that all posts have gluten.