Well, dear readers, if I had a hammer I’d hammer in the morning, but since I don’t have a hammer what the HELL am I talking about? I can’t hammer in the morning, I can’t hammer in the evening, I can’t hammer all over this land. Actually, I do have a hammer so I could do all of the above, if only I could remember where I put the fershluganah hammer. Can you tell I’m exhausted? I am. I’ve been up since six in the morning, when I announced the new Kritzerland title. Then the brother got up so I couldn’t go back to bed. Instead, I printed out orders, we chatted, and then he toddled off to meet the cousins whilst I got ready for my ninety-minute meeting. That went well and then I had to toddle off to the home environment of a fellow Studio City scribe. We had a nice chat, then I picked up some mail and one little ol’ package, came back home, printed out more orders, tried to relax and then it was time for dinner. That was fun and then some, and then I came back home. I was joined by a human being and we proceeded to sit on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I had occasion to screen a motion picture on DVD entitled Li’l Abner. I really don’t have much to say about it, as my views on Li’l Abner are well known around these here parts. I simply adore the musical and the film version is quite faithful in spirit to the stage show. A few songs have gone missing, and one new song has been added, with some new Mercer lyrics and a few new and very funny jokes. The cast, save for two of the principals, is mostly from the original Broadway production, as is the choreography. If I were to nitpick, the film’s pacing is a little lethargic, but that’s just a nitpick. The songs are brilliantly brilliant, with effervescent music and great lyrics. Everyone always says how dated the show is, but other than having been written in the 1950s, many of the jokes and lyrics are still relevant today and there’s nothing that’s so dated that you’d sit and scratch your head and wonder what they were talking about. Leslie Parrish could not be better and, for me, is the definitive Daisy Mae, even though she does not do her own singing. She just gets it all – the comedy, the sexiness, the pathos. And there will never be a better Abner than Peter Palmer. Howard St. John is perfection as General Bullmoose, Stella Stevens is fetching and funny as Apassionata Von Climax, and Stubby Kaye is a dream Marryin’ Sam. And Joe E. Marks and Billie Hayes are a great Mammy and Pappy Yokum. I was very happy with this DVD when it came out, but watching it now, even upscaled, it could be much, much better. While I enjoy the orchestrations and arrangements of Nelson Riddle, they’re not a patch on the butt cheeks of the originals.
After the movie, I went out and had some rice pudding for dessert, then came back home, answered some e-mails, and printed out a few more orders. Then I tried to find my hammer so I could hammer in the morning all over this land, but alas, the hammer is being elusive, like the butterfly of love.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below, because I’ve got to get a good night’s sleep, for I love a long and winding day tomorrow and perhaps a show to see tomorrow night.
Today, I must do some errands and whatnot and then meet Mr. David Wechter for lunch and then a two-hour work session at my home environment. Then I’ve been invited to a staged reading of a new musical – I’m thinking about going, even though it would be nice to have a nice night at home. We shall see.
Tomorrow will be another work session, and then tomorrow night is mine all mine. Thursday brings another work session and then I’m either seeing a show at the Geffen or not – that may get pushed to Sunday. Friday brings a lunch meeting, no work session, and a show in the evening. And then I have my book signing in the Dale of Glen on Saturday.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do errands and whatnot, lunch, have a work session, and then maybe see a staged reading of a new musical. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your all-time favorite folk songs and folk song singers. I was quite fond of some of them back in the day. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, and perhaps we’ll all hammer in the morning all over this land.