Well, dear readers, it looks like we’re going to be back on the boards at the end of the year, with a show at LACC. I’ve been trying to make this happen for some time, and everything converged in a good way yesterday and we got the go-ahead. The show will be a revue, a put-together of Lost In Boston and Unsung Musicals – each having its own act. This was of interest to me because I’d already built those shows for the Gardenia and the contextual commentary is already written, although I got better at that as I went along and I’m sure I’ll do some revising and making it funnier. We’ll add and subtract some songs, because I can do bigger numbers now with choreography. For example, I would definitely put in Tick Tock (Goes The Clock) cut from Promises, Promises, which we’d do in the style of Michael Bennett. We’ll cast in September – the plan is to use all students, along with one male and one female ringer, and a guest star – actually a different guest star for each performance, which I think will really be fun and won’t require any commitment – just one rehearsal and the show. It will be in their black box space and we’ll keep it simple but elegant – accompaniment will be one or two pianos – not sure yet. So, lots of details to be worked out, but I’m thrilled it’s happening. We open on November 30 and do six performances in a row, closing on December 3. I’m hoping some of you hainsies/kimlets will come in to see it, as you did for The Brain. So, that was yesterday’s big news.
I only got about seven hours of sleep (I’m quite in need of eight or nine hours), got up, and had to go pick up tapes. There were four tapes on one of the titles we’re doing, but it turned out that two of them were for another film entirely with a similar title. That was very good news because I’ll do them both. In fact, it will probably be our next release, or, at the very least, the one that follows that. Then I went to have my lunch meeting at Nate ‘n’ Al’s. That was fun and my New York (pastrami, cole slaw, and Russian dressing) was faboo (oobaf, spelled backwards). We also split some kishka and that was rather yummilicious. Then I came back to the San Fernando Valley and picked up a few packages, after which I came home, answered e-mails, and wrote episode four of the web series. I’m sure I’ll finesse, but I think it came out pretty funny. Then I finally sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a motion picture on Blu and Ray entitled True Grit. Not the original True Grit, mind you, but the remake by the Coen Brothers. I run hot and cold on the Coen Brothers – I don’t know if they enjoy that or not, but I just like to run hot and cold on them – I find it kicky. Where was I? Oh, yes, the remake of True Grit. I thought the original did a good job of capturing the flavor of Charles Portis’ novel, and the remake is even more faithful, retaining its somewhat bittersweet ending. The actors are all fine – Jeff Bridges is good, although hard to understand, Matt Damon isn’t one of my favorite actors, but he’s better than Glen Campbell was in the original, and the girl who plays Mattie was terrific. None of the supporting players makes you forget the supporting players of the original – in fact, several of them actually sound like their counterparts. It’s all very brown in the style of today’s films. The score is based mostly on “Leaning On The Everlasting Arms” and, like most scores today, it just sort of lies there like a fog on the film. Elmer Bernstein’s score for the original makes that a much more fun film with some real excitement, especially during the climactic shoot-out. So, even with the original’s imperfections, for me it’s just more enjoyable and colorful. The transfer is excellent as is the sound.
I then did some more work on the computer. The thirteen-year-old sent me her rough patter. Most of it’s fine and I won’t finesse it until we’re up on our feet, which is when things will come to me – I have to hear her speaking it and then I’ll be able to fix what’s not working or doesn’t sound right. I did move some stuff around and one set-up isn’t doing what it needs to, so we’ll redo that one in total.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must get my beauty sleep for soon I will be back on the boards, both as director and as narrator for the show.
Today, I shall hopefully awaken after a good night’s sleep. Then I have some writing to do, some errands and whatnot to do, some eating to do, hopefully some packages and an important envelope to pick up, and some relaxing to do.
Tomorrow, I have a work session, a meal, and then a film music concert to attend in the Pedro of San. I haven’t been to San Pedro – well, I don’t actually have a clew when the last time I was in San Pedro, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was fifty years ago. Sunday is, of course, our annual Tony Awards Bash and I’m hoping we have our usual wacky fun here at haineshisway.com, the best Tony partay on all the Internet.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, write, do errands and whatnot, eat, pick up an important envelope, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/video player? I’ll start – Blu and Ray, New York, New York and many others. CD, Bernard Herrmann scores written for The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland where I shall dream of being back on the boards.