Well, dear readers, as I write these here notes I am listening to some swashbuckling music and it’s quite robust and wonderful and will soon be a Kritzerland release. Now I am in a mood to buckle some swash. I want to on a galleon in the high seas or, as my soprano friends like to say, the high c’s. I want to duel with swords, I want to hoist a sail or, at the very least, to sail a hoist. So, these here notes will be filled with swashbuckling bravado and esprit, fighting vainly the old ennui or, at the very least, the old Anouilh. But I do have to write these here notes in a hurry for she of the Evil Eye will be here, and then I shall have to buckle my swash and do things until she is through. Meanwhile, back at the swash, it is raining quite heavily and has been doing so for about eight hours now. Yesterday was quite an okay day. I got up just before nine, did my usual morning ablutions, answered e-mails and went and had some bacon and eggs. After that it was more errands and whatnot, then I picked up only one package and no important envelope, so I hope those will arrive this very day. Then I came home and we began our rehearsals with Dan Callaway singing his part of A Lovely Day For A Walk, I’m The Guy Who Guards The Harem, and Count Your Blessings. Then it was on to Jane Noseworthy, who sang her three songs (and beautifully), I Say It’s Spinach, Whisper It, and Nothing More To Say. Then Jessica Keenan Wynn did her stuff wonderfully – Take Me With You, Soldier Boy, You’re A Sentimental Guy, and then with the just arriving Kevin Symons, I Don’t Want To Be Married. Then Kevin did his two solos, How Can I Change My Luck and I’m On My Way Home. This is Kevin’s first time with us and he’s just terrific to work with and very talented. Then Juliana arrived and did her half of A Lovely Day For A Walk, and then her two solos, A Beautiful Day In Brooklyn and a put-together of If You Haven’t Got An Ear For Music and But I Ain’t Got A Man. We worked on each and she’s just great, as always. Then our mighty five-person ensemble arrived to run their part of A Lovely Day For A Walk and they are mighty indeed. Then came cute Melody Hollis who socked over Let Me Sing and I’m Happy, the song she sang on Broadway in White Christmas. Last, but not least, was Jonelle Allen. I hadn’t seen her in years and we had a really nice reunion. I first met her when she was doing Two Gentlemen of Verona at the Ahmanson and I was doing Forget-Me-Not Lane at the Taper (and at the Chandler was Gone With The Wind). But she reminded me that she’d been a regular on Dinah and Her New Best Friends with me – I’d completely forgotten. She’d gotten out while the getting was good, right after episode one. She did her song, Suppertime, one of Berlin’s darkest and moodiest songs, and she’s as great as ever.
After that, I went to Gelson’s and got a little of this and a little of that for dinner and came home, at which time I finally sat on my couch like so much fish and pondered an offer to be in a benefit reading of Death Of A Salesman as neighbor Charley. I’m not anything like the description of the character, but the director thinks it’s an interesting way to go. I read it and the part is fun. I’m not sure, though and will think about it today. It’s a staged reading, so I don’t have to learn lines or anything and it only involves a couple of rehearsals, and I like the idea of the Latino flavor with Tony Plana, Esai Morales, and Elizabeth Pena. We shall see.
Last night, I watched a motion picture I’d TIVOd in high definitions entitled The Killing. I can only say that when the Blu and Ray finally shows up (as it will, probably through Criterion) it will be a cause for celebration. The transfer looks incredible. As to the film, I never tire of seeing it and I’ve probably seen it about twenty-five times by now. It never loses its freshness or audacity. The way in which it plays with time was unique and very radical for when it was made – it’s been copied any number of times since, but it was the first. The performances could not be better, from Sterling Hayden to the great Ted de Corsia to Joe Turkel and Vince Edwards to Marie Windsor to Timothy Carey, it’s just perfection. And Mr. Kubrick in his youth was an amazing beginning director, astonishing really. If you’ve never seen it I cannot recommend it highly enough.
After that, I listened to music and finessed my contextual commentary a little. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must be up and on my way quite early, to be a swashbuckler all the livelong day and evening.
Today, I shall be a swashbuckler. I shall also do errands and whatnot, hopefully pick up some packages and an important envelope, eat something fun, and then I shall relax and watch motion pictures, hopefully hear our new master, announce our new title for you dear readers, and that will be that.
Tomorrow is, of course, our Annual Oscar Bash and you will not want to miss one moment of it, whether you like the Oscars or not. It’s always the best Bash in town and the posts are wild and wooly and also wooly and wild. It starts with the Red Carpet and gets wilder and wilder as the show goes on. So, be there or be round. Hoping to see all of our dear readers and lurkers take part in the merriment and mirth and laughter and legs.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do errands and whatnot, hopefully pick up a package and an important envelope, eat, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your Oscar predictions? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I unbuckle my swash and hit the road to dreamland.