Well, dear readers, I am quite bleary-eyed from proofing away and I can barely see what I’m typing so I do believe I shall keep these here notes short and sweet as well as sweet and short. Perhaps instead of notes we should just recount the tale of The Randy Vicar and the Slinky. That’s a wonderful tale. I don’t really have any wonderful tales, other than I got a really good night’s sleep. That was wonderful. I then got up (quite late), answered e-mails and then I had to mosey on over Mo’s for a lunch meeting with two young women who are putting together their first cabaret show. I’d worked with one of them (she was in the Nightmare Trio doing Getting Married Today at the Gardenia Sondheim show), and she’d just asked me to look at their song list and to give them my opinion. I discussed my feelings about cabaret in general, looked at their song list, and gave my opinions about the choices. They’re both very precocious and cute, so I’m sure it will be a fun show if they do the work necessary and really think things out and don’t just get up and wing it. I was a good boy and had the Chinese Chicken Salad and no bread or anything else.
Then I picked up a couple of packages, did some errands and whatnot, proofed two chapters, and did some work on the computer. My Lord, these here notes are boring. I’m falling asleep just writing them. Where was I? Oh, yes, I then sat on my couch like so much fish and watched the seventy-three minute documentary on The Ten Commandments. There was some interesting information in it and some nice archival interviews and footage, so I enjoyed it.
I then did a two-mile jog, after which I proofed two more chapters, then sat on my couch like so much fish and watched a motion picture on Blu and Ray entitled Tangled. I really had no desire to see it, because from the trailers it just looked like a hodge-podge of other movies – a little Pixar, a little Shrek, a little Little Mermaid, a little Beauty and the Beast. And that’s exactly what it was and I was quite resistant to it for the first thirty minutes. Even the songs were not to my liking, especially the terrible boxy reverb they put on the thin voice of Mandy Moore. But, slowly, I just sort of gave into it and by the end I’d enjoyed some of it. Certainly it’s beautifully done and looks great. But I could have lived without the occasional “hip” dialogue that the film did not need, which just sounded like some screenwriters trying to appeal to a current audience. I kept waiting for a song as good as anything in Enchanted, but it never arrived. Not only that, several golden opportunities for songs within the plot were just passed by. Instead we get a clone of Gaston’s number from Beauty and the Beast. And not a very good clone, either. There are several Miyazaki-like visuals, and the character of the horse was the best thing in the film. Donna Murphy was, well, Donna Murphy, and neither she nor her character were up to the usual Disney villains, at least in my opinion. The transfer is just what you’d think it would be – perfect. Sound is robust, but the mix is really odd, with the song vocals occasionally completely drowned out by the orchestra mix.
After that, I proofed three more chapters, hence the bleary eyes. I’ve found a few more things, and it really won’t take very long to enter the fixes for what I’ve found. I’m on chapter thirteen now, out of twenty-one. I should finish by Wednesday, I should think.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because these here notes are like a laundry list – five pairs of pants, four shirts (no starch, please), two sweaters, and a sport coat.
Today, I must arise at a reasonable hour, return some tapes to the vault, then ship as many CD orders as I have postage for. I cannot wait for the helper to return. Then I’ll hopefully pick up some packages, I’ll proof another two or three chapters, I’ll finesse my patter for the Gardenia show, and then we have our stumble-through at five. After that, I’ll go get something to eat.
Tomorrow will be more proofing, our sound check, and then show time. Thursday and Friday will be busy with finishing proofing and getting everything ready for the helper’s return – she’s going to have a humungous number of packages and labels to prepare in a very short period of time. Also, be sure to tune in to our radio show – Donald Feltham has a contest going on with a fun prize for the winner.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, return tapes, ship packages, pick up packages, jog, proof, finesse, have a stumble-through, and then eat. Today’s topic of discussion: If you could write a book on any topic, what would it be and why? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where I’m quite sure I will dream of a laundry list.