Well, dear readers, I slept in, I ate out. That about describes yesterday to a “t” or, at the very least, a “w”. I have nothing whatsoever to say and yet I must write these here notes because I lead a rigorous life, notes-wise. I slept in, I ate out. I slept in, I ate out. I sound like James Stewart in Vertigo, don’t I? I look up, I look down. I look up, I look down. Or, James Stewart sounds like me: I slept in, I ate out. I slept in, I ate out. Apparently sleeping in and eating out has caused a momentary loss of my occasional sanity. I have no idea what the HELL I’m talking about, but that’s never stopped me before, so I will just mush on no matter what.
Yesterday, I slept in, which, as you may have surmised, was almost immediately followed by eating out. I really needed the sleep, I guess, because I woke up at ten-thirty. I then had to hurry and scurry to meet Juliana Hansen for our eleven o’clock meeting at Jerry’s Deli. I made it just in the nick of time. There, I had a turkey sandwich and no fries or onion rings or other accouterments. We had a nice chat about everything concerning what will be her act and I think we’re on the same page now (page three) and it should all proceed smoothly from here on in. After that, I took some charts to get Xeroxed at Staples, then came home and answered e-mails and such things. Then I picked up a couple of packages and an important envelope, did some banking, and came back home. I had a few telephonic conversations, read a little something about the crime writing phenomenon from Scandinavian countries. The around six I went to the Studio Café and had a salad. I never heard from Pogue so I’m assuming he got busy for his last two days in LA. Then I came home and sat on my couch like so much fish.
Last night, I watched the second of the Branagh Wallander movies. It was similar to the first in style, of course, and I really cannot get with Mr. Branagh’s interpretation or all these Swedish characters in actual Swedish locales speaking perfect English and even using English catchphrases. It’s just weird. The story (based on the novel, Firewall) was good, although again I gather it is much changed from the book. Where this show is really failing in comparison to the Swedish series is in the supporting cast – all of the Swedish actors were wonderful and had interesting characters to play – here the focus is firmly on Branagh and the supporting cast is just sort of there with very little to do. I guess I’ll keep on watching. The direction of this episode was on the fussy side – no jerky cam or washed out color, but instead we get pumped-up color and weird trendy shots where the edges are out of focus for no reason or even an entire shot is out of focus for no reason – and there’s no consistency to it, it just happens occasionally for effect. Note to director: It’s a bad, distancing effect. Stop it. Again, the big differences are in the playing of Wallander himself – Krister Henriksson is subtle as can be, but there is a lot going on under the surface. In fact, there’s an ineffable sadness about him. Whereas Branagh is like a Man on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown – all the time. For me, his acting comes off as “acting” and I find him always on the verge of too much emoting, with occasional forays into over the top. It’s all personal preference, of course, and I’m sure there are others who prefer him to Krister Henriksson.
In the book on Scandinavian crime fiction, they had several interesting bits about other writers who sound really good and happily films have been made from some of those books – Swedish films – so I’ve got a couple coming to me so I can check them out.
Also, it’s looking like the New York book signing is probably going to be on a Friday – we couldn’t get the Monday, which was already booked up. So, the question is, can our New York denizens come to a five o’clock signing at the Drama Bookshop on Friday, June 15? I really want to fill the jernt and would invite many of the singers I’ve worked with, and we’d probably have a couple of them sing a couple of songs in conjunction with stories I’ll tell or read from the book. Please post your thoughts – hopefully it’s enough warning that everyone can clear that day and time, and then we can have a really fun get-together at Joe Allen afterward (or wherever we feel like going).
Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I really must get another good night’s beauty sleep.
Today, I have some errands and whatnot to attend to in the morning hours, and then we have our first rehearsal with the beautiful East Coast Singer at one. Lanny Meyers will be here and we’ll begin by running the act as we did it, so I can get it all back in my head. Then we’ll work on particulars, then we’ll go out and get a bite to eat and discuss the entire layout of the show and the songs, to see what changes we want to make. After that, I go to the LACC benefit reading of Come Back, Little Sheba.
Tomorrow we will have a long and intensive rehearsal, then a meal, then I’ll relax. Monday will be the same and I may or may not have to tape the Skip E. Lowe show in the later afternoon, although I’m kind of hoping that will get pushed again to later in the week or even the following week. Other than that, I finish choosing songs for the Kritzerland show, cast our two men, and gather up all the sheet music (I have two Newman songbooks on their way, so hopefully those will have most of what I need). I’ll also try to get a haircut this week, and I’ll keep up with the jogging, as I really must lose at least ten pounds in the next four weeks.
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, do a jog, do errands and whatnot, hopefully pick up some packages, rehearse, eat, and see a staged reading. Today’s topic of discussion: If you had to take ten CDs of classical music to a dessert island what would they be? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where I shall continue to repeat I slept in, I ate out.