Well, dear readers, we had a wonderful rehearsal yesterday. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, we had a wonderful rehearsal yesterday. Melody embraced the last set of notes and she just threw herself into the show and did exactly what we’ve been working so hard for – she came on, took control and never let us, the audience, go. Actually, we didn’t have an audience at all, but the effect was the same. She was in charge of her patter, of her movement and of her songs. She never wavered, she never fumfered. When she was doing one high-energy number her shoe came off. She finished without a hitch, then quipped about the shoe while putting it back on. You couldn’t ask for more professionalism from a performer. It was fun, it was thrilling to watch her transformation, and I have had more fun doing this show than one should have. Of course, put me in a room with a thirteen-year-old and I become thirteen, so it’s just endless craziness and fun. The good thing is that she knew, too, and that’s very important. Over the last few weeks, she’s learned when she’s not giving her all (she frequently predicts my notes) and when she is. And so now, it’s onward to Wednesday night’s show. We’ll be having one more dress rehearsal, on Tuesday night at my home environment. I think she’s more than ready now. When we did the retirement home a week ago, I told her she was at eighty percent and that most cabaret performers that I’ve seen are lucky if they achieve that. I said we could just rest there or really push for the other twenty, and she just looked me in the eye and said she wanted to go all the way – and yesterday she got there. I only had two or three tiny little notes and that was it.
Prior to rehearsal, I’d gotten a little under eight hours of sleep, done the four-mile jog, done a little detective work for the release I was talking about in yesterday’s notes. Certain edits were made for the original LP and all those trims are on the ends of reels one and two. It took a little while to figure out where they go, and we still have to figure out two or three, but it’s pretty clear now. And fortunately, we have a guide with the stuff we transferred from the two-inch tape, none of which we’re using, but all of which has the full cues without the edits.
After rehearsal, we went to the Kansas City Barbecue – I hadn’t been there in ages. I had the barbecue brisket of beef sandwich, which was, as always, incredible. Melody had a half-rack of baby back ribs. One bite and she turned to me and said, “I’ve died and gone to heaven.” Her brother and father had the combo platter, which is huge, and mom had a half chicken. After that, I was so full I thought I was going to burst, but since all I ate all day was the sandwich and about a third of the fries and a little side of baked beans, I’m thinking my tummy has shrunk because two months ago I could have eaten everything and had room for more.
After that, I came home, where I did some work on the computer, finalized the packaging for our next release, and then I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched a motion picture on DVD entitled Divorce, Italian Style, an Eyetalian movie from Eyetaly, directed by Pietro Germi and starring Marcello Mastroianni. It’s a wickedly funny film with gorgeous black-and-white photography, a classic performance from Mastroianni, and wonderful supporting performances from Daniela Rocca, Stefania Sandrelli, and Leopoldo Trieste. It’s laugh-out-loud funny and since I’ve only seen the film twice before, I do enjoy rediscovering it from time to time. The transfer is nice – if they’re to put this on Blu and Ray it would have to be cleaned up a bit. It’s funny to see how little cleanup was done in the early days of DVD or even the waning days of DVD. All this maniacal dirt and scratch removal really began in the Blu-Ray age and now heaven forbid a scratch should go by or a piece of dirt and the reviewers feel they must point it out in large ways. This is how far we’ve either evolved or devolved. The film also sports a wonderful score by Carlo Rustichelli.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must get a good night’s beauty sleep.
Today, I have a lot of errands and whatnot to do, hopefully some packages to pick up, a four-mile jog to do, and I think I may have a meeting at some point. Otherwise, I have to deal with technical issues for our New York shoot. My cameraman for the Monday shoot is not so hot on the communication front and I cannot have that anymore. Four e-mails without response is as far as I go. He’s getting a call from the gal who recommended him and if I don’t hear from him by the end of the day, then I have to look elsewhere and I’ll probably end up having to pay a crew, which is what we were trying to avoid and what one is supposed to do on these web series. We’ll see what happens. I’ll eat something light, and then probably watch a motion picture.
Tomorrow, lots to do, and then we have our final rehearsal. Wednesday is more of the same and then it’s show time Wednesday night. I also have to pull all the music for our next Gardenia show and get it to our singers before I leave on Friday. I’m hoping that won’t be too difficult.
Why don’t we all put on our pointy party hats and our colored tights and pantaloons, why don’t we all break out the cheese slices and the ham chunks, why don’t we all dance the Hora or the samba because today is the birthday of the hugely errant and truant der Brucer. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer to the hugely errant and truant der Brucer. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO THE HUGELY ERRANT AND TRUANT DER BRUCER!!!
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do a four-mile jog, I must do errands and whatnot, I must pick up packages, I must deal with our New York shoot, and I must eat. Today’s topic of discussion: What are your all time favorite Eyetalian pictures from Eyetaly? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where I shall try to teach people the art of communication.