Well, dear readers, sometimes I just don’t get people. Yes, you heard it here, dear readers, sometimes I, BK, just don’t get people. Last night, for example, I went to see my pal Stacy Sullivan’s tribute to Peggy Lee show. She’d done an early show that was SRO, but for the later show, which I was attending with our very own Miss Adryan Russ and Mr. Doug Haverty, it was a very small but very appreciative group of about fourteen. About halfway through her show a group of five people came in and we’re taken to a table. Why they felt the need to barge in halfway through a show is anyone’s guess, but it would have been fine had they done it quietly. But no, not these five people. These five people were talking loudly to the gal who sat them and to themselves. When they finally were seated and the server had taken their drink orders (which they gave noisily) we thought it would finally be fine. Stacy acknowledged their entrance very nicely and just carried on. She then proceeded to do Till There Was You – very quietly – and these rubes began talking again, laughing, and one guy was not only the worst offender but was sitting with his BACK to Stacy almost the entire time. Adryan got so angry she went to their table and told them to quite down. That worked for about ten minutes, then they were back to their chattering. One woman in the group kept looking in my direction and every time she did I gave her a real good BK glare. What is the matter with people? Oh, and I forgot to mention that the woman who kept looking in my direction decided to have a telephone conversation when she first sat down. Yes, you read that right – she opened her phone and had a telephonic conversation. Are people really so selfish and entitled that they think this kind of behavior is acceptable? Note to Rubes: It isn’t, you cretins. Stay home. Get drunk there. Be cretins to your heart’s content, but do NOT inflict your disgusting, rude behavior on others. The only good part of it was that Heather got their cover charge.
Normally, this is the kind of act I absolutely hate. I just don’t respond to a singer doing a tribute to another singer, because usually I don’t understand the point of it. But Stacy did a really good job of making the show hers, while still occasionally bringing to mind Miss Lee, but not in a slavish way, which was very wise. We got just enough information about Miss Lee, the songs were well chosen and we never lost site of Stacy, which is the key thing. Her arrangements were jazz-flavored, but that suited what she was doing. Her musical director, whose name escapes me, was a terrific pianist and they had some fun interplay, as she did with her excellent bass player. I was a huge fan of Miss Lee, from the first moment I heard Fever (although my first exposure to Fever was not Miss Lee – it was on an RCA 45rpm record (I’m pretty sure it was RCA) by a male singer named Ray Peterson. How do I remember these things? It’s unnatural. And yes, I just checked and it was RCA. I surprise even myself sometimes. In any case, when I finally heard Miss Lee’s version, I just fell head over heels. Stacy wisely stays away from Fever (although they cleverly use the famous vamp as underscore for an entirely different song) and she very wisely stays away from Is That All There Is? All in all, it was a very entertaining evening, and Stacy did a terrific job with the show all the way down the line.
Prior to that, I’d had a very nice day. I got up after eight hours of sleep, printed out a few orders, did some work on the computer, and then did a two-mile jog. I picked up no packages, had some telephonic calls, the helper came by to pick up some invoices, and I can’t remember what else I did. Isn’t it funny – I can remember Ray Peterson, Fever, and RCA circa 1958 or thereabouts, but I can’t remember everything I did less than twenty-four hours ago.
Then we had our second Kritzerland rehearsal. It was much smoother than the first Kritzerland rehearsal, but there were still some rough spots we had to work out. We got everything sorted out and I think we’ll be fine for our stumble-through on Saturday, and hopefully everyone will have their lyrics down by then. I’ve been quietly starting to figure out the two-year anniversary show – thus far, schedules permitting, it looks like we have our little Ruthless! reunion with Joan Ryan and Lindsay Ridgeway, Jason Graae (he thinks he’ll be in town, but he sometimes has to run off somewhere, so we shall see), and yesterday we got Lea Thompson as one of our guest stars. How much fun is that?
After rehearsal, Doug, Adryan, and I went to the Studio Café for dinner. I had their chopped Eyetalian salad and we all split some drumettes, which were the best they’ve ever been. Well, why don’t we all click on the Unseemly Button below because I must get a good night’s beauty sleep.
Today, I shall jog, I have some errands and whatnot to do, I shall hopefully pick up some packages and an important envelope, I shall write liner notes, I shall continue choosing material for the anniversary show, I shall eat, and I shall relax.
Tomorrow is our stumble-through and then I’ll have some dinner, Sunday is sound check and show. Next week will be very busy – I have to finish choosing the numbers, get all that sheet music, ship out CDs, announce a release involving three separate items, have meals and meetings, and take possession of a large Follies poster.
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 and an important envelope, write, eat, and relax. Today’s topic of discussion: It’s Friday – what is currently in your CD player and your DVD/video player? I’ll start – CD, lots of upcoming projects. Blu and Ray, more Marilyn Monroe. Your turn. Let’s have loads of lovely postings, shall we, whilst I hit the road to dreamland, happy to be rid of The Rubes.