Well, dear readers, I spent early last evening doing something I truly love doing – musical arrangements. John Boswell and I do this so easily it’s a little frightening. We had to do about six arrangements for the thirteen-year-old’s show and we did them in ninety minutes. We play through a song, Melody sings it, and I begin to suggest things – an opening vamp, a turnaround, a repeat, extending an ending, having an exciting rideout, starting a song with bass notes only then bringing in the accompaniment, doing a key change. And I can say anything to him and he just “gets” it instantly. I can tell him to “John” something and he just does it and it’s always great. Or I can say “What about this kind of feel” and he just comes up with it instantly. There’s no effort and those sessions are just my favorites. We still have a White Christmas medley to do (Melody was in the Broadway version of the show), and then we can really start working on the act in earnest. The other thing I love about working on acts is having meals – I always like to have lots of meals with my singers because that is where I observe them, their personalities, and where they’re completely natural. So, we had a nice pre-arrangements dinner at Zach’s Eyetalian Café. I always forget how much I like that jernt – I had two of their incredible garlic cheese roles, and their calorie-friendly chopped salad with turkey – they have really great Eyetalian dressing, too. And after our work session Melody and her mum and I moseyed on over to Farmer’s Market for a soft vanilla cone, since Melody had a hankerin’ for ice cream. And interestingly, when I got back home I saw on Facebook a photograph from Vintage LA (if you haven’t friended them yet, do it, do it now) of Farmer’s Market circa the early 70s – no Grove, just the Farmer’s Market, the Gilmore Drive-In (where the Grove now is), and lots and lots of empty lots. What a difference thirty years has made and I can’t say for the better.
Prior to all that, I’d had a very good night’s sleep, I did some work on the computer, I did quite a few errands and whatnot, I picked up two count them two packages, I did some banking, I did a two and a half mile jog (slightly more, actually), made some important telephonic calls and did some organizing.
I also watched a motion picture I’d TIVOd entitled The Spanish Prisoner, a film by Mr. David Mamet. It is, of course, not about an actual Spanish prisoner, but about a con that had its genesis in a con called the Spanish Prisoner. Mr. Mamet has made several movies like this, and if you’ve seen them you pretty much know the deal and where the film is going. But I have to say, it’s compulsively watchable, and seems even better today than it did thirteen years ago when it came out. The cast is fun – Campbell Scott is terrific in the lead, and I quite like the new Mrs. Mamet, Rebecca Pidgeon, and there are good turns from Steve Martin, Ben Gazzara, and Ricky Jay. I didn’t quite remember how it all turned out, but it’s a very satisfying film all the way, and if you haven’t seen one of these Mamet films, this is as good a place as any to start (I mean the Mamet con films). The hi-def transfer looked quite nice on the Sony-HD channel.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I need another good night’s beauty sleep so I can be twitchy and bitchy and manic and alive for tomorrow.
Today, I have more errands and whatnot to do, I shall jog, I shall eat something light but amusing (I’m almost tempted to go back to Zach’s), I will hopefully pick up a package or two, and then we have our stumble-through, which will hopefully go smoothly. After that, I shall definitely watch a motion picture.
Tomorrow we have a sound check at two, and then it is show time. I’m really looking forward to it and hope we have a full house. I have no idea how many reservations at this point and am praying it will be enough to fill the jernt. Otherwise I have to do damage control and try to get more people there. The rest of the week is meetings and meals and maybe our next arrangement session. And getting ready for my trip to New York, New York.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do errands and whatnot, jog, pick up packages, eat something light but amusing and have a stumble-through. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your favorite David Mamet films and plays? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland in a groovy new arrangement.