Well, dear readers, perhaps someone can explain to me how it can already be Thursday, because frankly and even georgely I do not understand. This week has flown by, like a gazelle on Facebook. Before I begin today’s notes, I had such fun with yesterday’s notes and their reminiscences of early 1960s LA theater, that I thought I’d just list a few other things of interest that I found. As I wrote in Kritzer Time, the first play I ever saw was in 1961 at the Huntington Hartford Theatre – Paddy Chayefsky’s The Tenth Man. I was hooked, and saw the following show there, A Thurber Carnival, several times. From then on, I went to big theaters, small theaters, anywhere I could get to. Also playing during the run of The Tenth Man was The Skin of Our Teeth at Rancho Playhouse (that would become Century City Playhouse), starring Majel Barrett and Rob Salvio – the latter would go on to play the Emcee in the national tour of Cabaret and the lead in the flop musical of Billy Budd. At the Players Ring we had Darren McGavin in Blood, Sweat, and Stanley Poole. At the Stage Society Theatre (where a mere decade later I would do the third production of my musical, Start at the Top) we had Period of Adjustment, starring William Windom and Collin Wilcox. At the Cameo, we had Tom Hatten in The Man in the Dog Suit. The soon to open A Thurber Carnival featured Imogene Coca, King Donovan an Arthur Treacher. Following Thurber was Farley Granger and Chester Morris in Advise and Consent – I wished I’d seen that one. At the Biltmore was Toys in the Attic. Appearing at the Coconut Grove – Lena Horne, followed by Milton Berle.
Then we move to the 1963-1964 season, since dear reader Druxy asked who starred in A Thousand Clowns at the Huntington Hartford. I missed it, but I have the program here – it was Dane Clark, Margaret O’Brien, and, reprising his Broadway role, Barry Gordon. Barry Gordon’s understudy? Someone named Barry Pearl. Also in this season at the Hartford and the other major theaters: the tryout of a new Broadway-bound comedy called Time of the Barracudas by Peter Barnes, starring Mr. Laurence Harvey and Miss Elaine Stritch. It would never see Broadway because of its tumultuous leading lady and the firing of the director. But I saw it, and I remember everything about it and absolutely loved it. It was a black comedy and very funny and very ahead of its time. Also that season, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, starring Nancy Kelly and Shephard Strudwick, The Private Ear and The Public Eye, and Never Too Late, starring William Bendix and Nancy Carroll, along with Enter Laughing, with Alan Arkin. Over at the Stage Society was The Night of the Iguana, starring Mala Powers and Carl Betz. And at the Comedy Theater in Van Nuys, William Jarvis’ production of The Drunkard. Those who’ve read There’s Mel know about my participation in The Drunkard for Mr. Jarvis about seven years later. As I said, it was a time.
And now, the regularly scheduled Thursday notes. I had a completely weird day yesterday, which began with me getting up at six-thirty. I know not why, but I stayed in bed and eventually fell back asleep about an hour later. I was awakened by the ringing of the telephonic device at ten. One of the performers on the Bacharach STAGE CD had their lady manager call Kritzerland, filled with attitude, saying we had no right to use his performance. We told her it had nothing to do with us, but that I didn’t really think she wanted to cause trouble to an AIDS charity. I told her she’d have to deal with them and she said she’d attempt to get hold of them because otherwise she might have to send a cease and desist letter. I told her that such a letter would be completely meaningless if sent to Kritzerland. Ultimately, I was told she got hold of the director of the show and gave him the same attitude – until, of course, he informed her that her client had, as all performers in the STAGE benefits do, signed a release. Oops. Rather than apologize for her jerky behavior, she said she’d need to see it. I hope the director told her to take a flying leap and I hope her client feels real good about his actions. This to be filed under “Things I Hate About The Show Business.”
Then I did some errands and whatnot, picked up one package (but not the overdue overseas package, which I’m going to have to send an e-mail about should it not arrive today), and then prepped our new release announcement, which will be made early this morning. Then I had an early dinner with someone who used to work at Varese Sarabande. We had fun catching up – she’s reading the book now and enjoying it. Then I came home and sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched two count them two Wallander movies – both terrific and right back up with the best of them, after the slight disappointment of the one I watched last. The first of them had really wonderful plotting and writing – very impressive. So impressive that I had to give myself a pat on the back since three years before this episode was written (it’s an original for series two, not based on an existing story) the end of one of the Hofstetter books has exactly the same ending in the reveal of who the killer is. In any case, I continue to love this series and am finally getting over the absence of two major characters from series one.
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must be up VERY early to announce the new Kritzerland CD.
Today, I shall be up VERY early to announce the new Kritzerland CD. Then I shall do some work on the computer, maybe jog, eat something light and soft and amusing, hopefully pick up some packages, and then have our second Kritzerland rehearsal.
Tomorrow I have a lunch meeting with Juliana Hansen, Saturday we have our stumble-through and then a belated birthday dinner for Melody at Dan Tana’s, then 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, announce a new CD, maybe jog, eat, hopefully pick up some packages, and rehearse. Today’s topic of discussion: What were the first plays you ever saw in either big or small theaters, but especially touring companies or on Broadway. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland where I shall hopefully dream sweet dreams and hopefully awaken to a beautiful and positive day filled with no annoyances.