Well, dear readers, this holiday weekend if flying by, like a gazelle using a Vick’s Inhaler. Does anyone still use a Vick’s Inhaler? I was quite addicted to Vick’s Inhaler when I was in college. I loved how it cleared my sinuses. I loved it so much, in fact, that I used to just walk around with it in my nose. At some point I stopped using it. Wasn’t there some brouhaha about the ingredients contained in a Vick’s Inhaler – like cocaine or something? So, do they still make such a thing as Vick’s Inhaler and have they changed the ingredients? Well, they still make it, but I can’t find anything about any controversial ingredients past or present. Why the HELL am I talking about fershluganah Vick’s Inhaler. Doesn’t that just take the cake? Actually, that just DID take the cake and now there is no cake. Damn them, damn them all to hell.
And we’re off and running. Before I tell you about yesterday, I forgot to mention something I overheard at Jerry’s Deli on Saturday. It was spoken by a middle-aged woman at the table next to me, said woman having one of the most annoying voices I’ve ever heard. This is what I overheard, word for word (I wrote it down): “The vagina is one of the most beautiful things on the planet.” I do not know the context or what they might have been talking about, but I did a wonderful Danny Thomas spit take when I heard it. It’s an odd sentence to hear when you’re eating a waffle. Actually, it’s an odd sentence to hear no matter what you’re eating. So, that’s going to be the title of my next novel.
Yesterday was a VERY long day of seeing theatre and dining. I got up at ten, answered e-mails, and then had to be on my way to the Music Center, where I met FJL in front of the Mark Taper Forum. I had never heard about the show we were going to see, something called Los Otros, with book and lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh and music by Michael John LaChiusa, directed by Graciela Daniele. I was excited to see my old friend Michele Pawk, who is starring the show – it’s a two-person musical. I don’t know that it’s actually a musical, but it’s got a LOT of music and has some monologues in between. The first half of the intermissionless show is Michele, the second half is her co-star, Julio Monge. The characters live in Los Angeles and environs and immigration is one of the show’s themes. Now, I don’t think it’s much of a secret around these here parts that I’ve not been a real fan of the composers, although I did rather enjoy See What I Wanna See, which I saw at the Blank Theatre. So, I wasn’t really expecting to love this, but you know what? I kind of did. I found Miss Fitzhugh’s book and lyrics very affecting, and Mr. LaChiusa has written his most accessible score with real by-God melodies. I don’t know that it will be everyone’s cup of tea, but I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. A lot of credit goes to Miss Daniele – she really understands how to be simple – how to let a piece breathe and how to let actors breathe. There are no show-off moments, just simple movement and truth, and that’s enough for the likes of me. Yes, there are some beautiful scenic and lighting moments (there really isn’t a set, but what the do with the space is great and the lighting is masterful), but mostly it’s about the material and the actors. And what actors. Michele Pawk is simply one of the best singing actors we have. She’s so subtle and human and beautiful, and Julio Monge is her equal. The band sounds great, and special kudos to the sound designer for making it all sound REAL, not like American Idol on steroids, which is what most crappy Broadway musicals sound like these days. So, for those looking for something interesting and unusual and affecting, this is highly recommended by the likes of me. In fact, I’ll probably go see it again towards the end of the run.
After the show, we went backstage and it was so great seeing Michele again and we had a wonderful chat. We’ll get together for lunch as soon as they open, and I will, of course, give her a copy of my book, since she features prominently in it. I also saw our regular reed player, Phil Feather – he literally played on every single LA session we did and he’s the featured soloist on my film noir album, Sax and Violence. Then we met actor Joe Kolinski, who’s standing by for both Danny Burstein and Ron Raines in Follies and the three of us went down to Kendall’s, the restaurant downstairs from the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. I don’t actually think I’ve been there since it’s become Kendall’s and I have to say the food was really terrific. As was the company and conversation – lots of fun. Joe is a terrific chap with whom I worked when I appeared in the NYMF reading of FJL and Skip’s The Last Starfighter musical. We were later joined by the delightful and beautiful singer/songwriter, Harriet Schock, who I adored immediately. I think both she and Joe may come to the midnight screening of Nudie Musical, which would really be fun. I then had to hie myself across the city to the Hills of Beverly to see an evening of eight one-act plays, co-produced by our very own Miss Adryan Russ.
It was a sold-out performance and I was happy to sit with Mr. Richard M. Sherman and his ever-lovin’ Elizabeth. They were so sweet and said they’d had to go to some event the other night and had arrived way too early and had sat in their car and listened to the entirety of Haines His Way. Elizabeth said she was very taken with the CD, its arrangements and songs, and especially the singing of Mr. Haines, which I promised to pass along to him. Also in attendance was Mr. Doug Haverty and his ever-lovin’ Dorothy. Seeing an evening of eight one-acts by one playwright has never been my favorite thing. It just starts to feel herky-jerky at some point, no matter how well written the plays are. So, I enjoyed some of the plays quite a bit, and others not so much. The cast was very good, though, and they did end with their strongest piece, which was delightful. It was fun to see Miss Barbara Bain onstage, looking beautiful and doing a great job.
After the play, I came right home, exhausted from my VERY long day of theatergoing and supping. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below whilst I remember the glory days of having a Vick’s Inhaler stuck up my nose, and while I reflect on, “The vagina is one of the most beautiful things on the planet.” That ought to help me get some good beauty sleep.
Today, I shall hopefully arise after a good night’s beauty sleep. Then I shall write an article for Backstage magazine – it’s only six to eight hundred words and frankly today’s notes are longer than that, so hopefully it won’t take more than an hour or two. Then I’ll eat something light but amusing, and I may try to jog. Then we have our first Kritzerland rehearsal, which will go from three to six-thirty. After that, I’m quite certain I shall watch a motion picture or two and last night’s episode of Mad Men.
Tomorrow and the rest of the week is filled with meetings, meals, Dr. Chew, the second Kritzerland rehearsal, writing new liner notes for our next release, our stumble-through and then sound check and show.
Let’s all put on our pointy party hats and our colored tights and pantaloons, let’s all break out the cheese slices and the ham chunks, let’s all dance the Hora or the Monkey, because today is the birthday of our very own dear reader Arnold M. Brockman. So, let’s give a big haineshisway.com birthday cheer to our very own dear reader Arnold M. Brockman. On the count of three: One, two, three – A BIG HAINESHISWAY.COM BIRTHDAY CHEER TO OUR VERY OWN DEAR READER ARNOLD M. BROCKMAN!!!
Well, dear readers, I must take the day, I must do the things I do, I must, for example, maybe do a jog, write an article, eat, rehearse, and watch. Today’s topic of discussion: What is the craziest conversation you’ve ever overheard? And have you ever used a Vick’s Inhaler? Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, where I’m quite sure I will dream of a Vick’s Inhaler and a vagina, not necessarily in that order.