Well, dear readers, our second Kritzerland rehearsal was much smoother than our first, so that was excellent. We still had a few things to adjust and work out, but everyone is on top of everything and they now have two-and-a-half full days to work on stuff before our stumble-through. I think it’s going to be quite a fun show – these songs are just real smilers. First to rehearse was Julie Garnye, who did her three songs – the pretty unknown How Could I Know from Prettybelle, then the pretty known People and Don’t Rain on My Parade. She’s got a terrific voice and is doing all three wonderfully. Then came Juliana Hansen, who’s doing A Very Nice Man/Mira from Carnival, then two Breakfast at Tiffany’s songs, the title song and I’ve Got a Penny, and her final number is I’m Blue, Too from Henry, Sweet Henry (our MD does the harmony parts in that one). Next up was Melody, who, as always, just socked home her three numbers – a medley of Merrill hits (If I Knew You Were Coming I’d of Baked a Cake, How Much is that Doggy in the Window, Honeycomb, and Mambo Italiano – just delightful – I gave her some new bits of business and she did them instantly and terrifically). Her second song is I’m the Greatest Star from Funny Girl (again, lots of new bits and she’s assimilating them), and then Poor Little Person from Henry, Sweet Henry. Then came Kristofer McNeeley, who sang a put-together of Take Me Along and Sunshine Girl (New Girl in Town), Her Face from Carnival, and then Jeffrey Todd arrived and he and Kristofer did their two duets, Pitiful Penniless Bums and The Beauty That Drives Men Mad, both from Sugar. And yes, the latter will be done in drag, a Kritzerland first. Then Jeffrey did his two solos, Who Are You Now and a put-together of Nine O’Clock (Take Me Along) and Look at ‘Er (New Girl in Town). That’s our show, all in a good and proper order, of course. I still haven’t figured out what the finale is – at the end of every Kritzerland show we always do a chorus of one song where the audience gets to sing along. Maybe we’ll repeat Doggy in the Window, but if anyone has any ideas pass them along – something everyone would know, something catchy, and easy. The best news of all is that the show is not only completely sold out, but has quite a large waiting list, so even if we have no-shows, we’ll be totally full. That is wonderful.
Prior to rehearsal I’d had a really nice little day. I got nine hours of needed sleep, did some work on the computer, then had a taco salad with chicken for the meal o’ the day. I picked up one package, did some banking, wrote an obscene number of checks for Kritzerland bills (man, are things tight – oy and vey – but we’ve got some great titles upcoming so we’ll be fine in a month or two), had a nice visit with Mr. Nick Redman, and then it was rehearsal. That didn’t end until almost eight-fifteen, and then I sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched two more episodes of The Killing II. This second season has entered the pantheon of great TV shows for me. And episode seven had such a great ending that I almost thought about just staying up till three in the morning to finish the season, but my sanity prevailed and I’ll finish today. The first season cast was very strong, but this cast is even better, all led by the fantastic Sofie Grabol. I’m sure the US version of the second season will not be anywhere near as good, and frankly I don’t see how they can start it in the middle of a season – and if they’re dragging out the episodes of the first plot to twenty-four, that one will have gone on way too long. Keeping this second season to ten episodes in the Danish version was perfect. No time to see the plot mechanics and much easier to keep us in suspense and guessing and enthralled. I’ve now also heard about a Swedish detective series that’s apparently the berries, so I’ll be on to that next – it’s called Wallander. I know the Brits did their own version, but according to everything I’ve read, it’s not a patch on the butt cheeks of the original Swedish.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must get another good night’s beauty sleep.
Today, I have errands and whatnot to do, a light meal to eat, and a lot of stuff to listen to in terms of upcoming Kritzerland projects, and hopefully some packages to pick up. We’ll also be shipping out both of our new releases and any books that go with those CDs, so by the end of today, everything will be shipped and the helper has a week off.
Tomorrow, it’s more of the same and then my co-producer of the Kritzerland shows, Adryan Russ, and I will go to the new venue to do some tests with the sound system, check out the layout of the room, the piano, and the lighting. Saturday is our stumble-through and then I’ll be dining out, and Sunday is sound check and show.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do errands and whatnot, eat, listen, and ship. Today’s topic of discussion: What are the most exotic and weird drinks you’ve ever had – both alcoholic and non? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland singing How Much Is That Doggy In The Window (arf arf).