Well, dear readers, I love our stumble-throughs of the Gardenia shows and yesterday’s was no different. I must say, this is the most people we’ve ever had in one of these, so I had a houseful of people for the rehearsal, not only the cast but the parents of the three young gals and our very own Adryan Russ and her ever-lovin’ Dale. Our cast consists of our five principal singers, one guest star, three ensemble singers, and three youngsters for the Annie numbers. While there were some rough bits – forgotten lyrics, piano errors, etc. – the rehearsal was kind of wildly entertaining. Alet killed with her You Can Be A New Yorker, Too, as did Jason with Applause and Dan with I Lost The Rhythm (we had a bit of trouble with the accompaniment, but worked it out afterwards, but even with the trouble it was hilarious), but everyone did splendidly with every song. The kids, of course, were amazing, too. The thing that’s so fun about the stumble-through is that everyone has only been to their private rehearsals so it’s not only the first time they all get to hear each other, but the first time they see that it’s actually a show and not haphazardly thrown together. In any case, I’m really looking forward to the show. Earlier, just prior to rehearsal, I’d heard there were only fifteen people coming, but that proved to be incorrect information. Later, the total was upped to twenty-one, but I know that’s also incorrect, as he didn’t have one reservation that I know was made for eight. And he doesn’t have a few show-only reservations, so I’m hopeful we’ll have at least thirty to forty people there. It is really hard to get people off their ASSES in the city of Los Angeles. I have an eBlast list for this show of about eighty people – I send a blast each and every month, and out of these eighty supposed friends only a handful have ever actually attended. Yet many of these same people have invited me to THEIR events and I’ve come and I’ve supported – well, no more, baby. Sorry, tit for tat, I’m afraid. So, if you’re a lurker in LA then get off your ASS and come on down – it’s not painful, it’s FUN.
Prior to our stumble-through, I had a very nice day. I woke up a bit earlier than I wished, but the telephonic call was important and will result in me getting all the Nudie Musical film elements finally, so that we can set about doing a Blu and Ray of the film, this time not from a print, but from the internegative, which should yield a very nice image. Then I did some work on the computer, did a two and a half mile jog, then went and had a sandwich and a half-order of onion rings (actually a regular order of which I only had half). Then I did some errands and whatnot, I did some writing, and then it was time for rehearsal.
After rehearsal, I watched another motion picture I’d TIVOd in high definitions, The Taking Of Pelham 123. The DVD is horrid on this title, so it was nice to see it in full scope and looking quite good. I love the film bunches – it’s just a perfect little thriller with superb writing by Peter Stone (from the book by John Godey), tautly directed by Joseph Sargent, brilliantly scored by David Shire, with great performances by Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw, Hector Elizondo, Martin Balsam, and a whole slew of great New York character actors, all shot by Owen Roizman with his usual gritty New York look. The pacing is perfection and you just sit there and marvel at the entire thing and think they could never make the movie today. And yet, that’s exactly what they did and the resultant piece of crap shows that they cannot indeed make this kind of film today. They completely mucked it up in every way, giving a “backstory” to the Matthau character (played by Denzel Washington), and making the lead bad guy so stupid and over-the-top and ridiculous that you never ever take the story seriously. Robert Shaw is chilling as the lead bad guy and he never raises his voice once in the entire film, but he’s a hundred times more frightening and real than Mr. Travolta’s cartoon version. And how come Matthau’s character works perfectly in the first film – really, let’s analyze it – there is no backstory at all, all you ever know about him is that he’s a transit cop, period. And yet, with Matthau playing it and the great writing, that’s all you need to know. You don’t need a backstory because, guess what idiot screenwriter of the remake – it’s not ABOUT that. These fools don’t even know what story they’re telling these days. So, if you’ve never seen this film, seek it out – it’s classic 1970s filmmaking.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must try to stumble through some good beauty sleep.
Today, I shall hopefully wake up after a good night’s sleep. Then I’ll jog, do some errands and whatnot, hopefully pick up a package or three, then do a sound check at two, after which I’ll come home, get ready, and then go back to the club and sup, after which it will be show time.
Tomorrow, I will hopefully have at least a half-day of rest, which I really need and then I’ve got a lot of stuff to do. Friday we have an arranging session with Boswell, and the weekend I’ll prep our new release announcement and get ready for my trip to New York, New York. In fact, the new release announcement I haven’t quite figured out yet, because we normally do it at six, but at six I’ll be at the airport. So, I’ll either announce at four or five, and then, of course, I won’t be able to print out any orders until I return, and that’s going to be some pile o’ printing I have to do a week from tomorrow. It’s actually making me want to announce on Friday, but I don’t think our master will be quite ready by then, unfortunately.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do a jog, I must do errands and whatnot, I must hopefully pick up some packages, I must do a sound check, I must sup, and then I must do a show. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Ask BK Day, the day in which you get to ask me or any dear reader any old question you like and we get to give any old answer we like. So, let’s have loads of lovely questions and loads of lovely answers and loads of lovely postings, shall we, as I hit the road to dreamland where I shall stumble through some hopefully sweet dreams.